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I highly doubt that anyone will leave PDC thinking that Microsoft is aimless. They have a very clear vision, which they pursue with an almost feverish fervor. Everyone at Microsoft seems to be keenly aware of that vision, their aggressive strategy to realize that vision and how it will impact the industry in the decade to come.  If I were to summarize PDC, Microsoft’s vision and their agenda, it would be cloud computing. According to Microsoft, computing as we know it is changing. Just as we saw the emergence of client/server based software in the 90’s, which evolved into SOA architecture in the last decade, we will see that concept taken a step further where everything is delivered as a service. Infrastructure, platforms, applications, data, you name it.

Microsoft has presented some compelling arguments as to why this will happen, cost benefits, architectural benefits, technical benefits, and so on. I can truly see their point. Cloud computing really is the coolest thing since sliced bread.

I cannot begin to convey the benefits and opportunities of a global computing cloud where everything from processing power to gigantic raw data feeds are available at everyone’s fingertips. All the world’s statistics; flight traffic information, stock markets, civic registries, motor registries, price and stock lists from manufacturers, news, periodic tables, historical data and statistics on toxic waste and energy consumption, all of it, at my disposal. This is the single largest effort to embrace the mentality of the digital generation, where consuming, remixing and publishing is as natural as breathing. This could very well change the way we use and think about information and computing in the future.

I am not alone in worrying about such things as data sovereignty, information ownership, data protection and standards compliance. Microsoft is taking steps to acquire the necessary certifications, such as PCI, to allow the business community to fully commit to their take on cloud computing and the Azure platform, but they’re not quite there just yet.

The problem is that standards such as PCI aren’t designed to be implemented on a cloud computing scenario. What is more likely to happen is that such standards will adapt to cloud computing terms and scenarios. That will take time. Until then, interconnected public and private clouds will be the name of the game.

For now, I’m happy to sift through all the free t-shirts and blinking beer mugs I got at the partner expo.