The cloud in cloud computing is an abstract concept that does not mean that servers and storage devices are floating around, hidden in fluffy congregations of water vapor. But while the current computing environment may not incorporate those cumulus clouds floating across the sky, you might be surprised to learn that there is a lot of interest in locating servers deep in the ocean.

The cloud may seem to be an ephemeral concept, and is marketed as a way to eliminate concerns over storage capacity. But all that data needs to actually be stored somewhere, and that means large data centers are required to serve the storage needs of cloud customers. While cloud customers enjoy the flexibility of storage on demand, their cloud providers do not share that luxury. They need to provide real storage to handle the needs of their clients.