The world of cloud computing continues to expand as companies of all sizes are recognizing the benefits associated with using only what they need without making substantial hardware and software investments.

Even as the popularity of maintaining key business practices in the cloud gains more traction, the process can still be a confusing one when it comes time to select the optimal site to use for specific purposes.

A recent Cloud Distribution News blog provided a list of Cloud Service Providers (SaaS (News - Alert), PaaS, IaaS) that continue to pop up on the cloud computing radar. While there are a number of large technology companies, such as AT&T, Dell, EMC (News - Alert), HP, Microsoft, Unisys and others that offer cloud options as part of their portfolio, this list focuses solely on those who focus on cloud computing exclusively.

The following is a list of what Scott Dobson of Cloud Distribution News believes are the Top 25 Global Cloud Services Providers gaining mind share in the first quarter of 2010:
 

1. Amazon Web Services (News - Alert), Elastic Compute Cloud, Simple Storage Service andVirtual Private Cloud
2. Salesforce.com / Sales Cloud 2, Service Cloud 2, Force.com, Chatter
3. Google Apps
4. Citrix - XenServer
5. VMWare - vSphere
6. Rackspace - Mosso
7. NetSuite (News - Alert)
8. Rightscale
9. Joyent
10. GoGrid
11. 3Tera - AppLogic
12. Caspio
13. Zuora
14. Eucalyptus
15. CohesiveFT
16. Boomi
17. Appirio - Cloud Connectors
18. Relational Networks - LongJump
19. AppZero
20. Enomaly - Elastic Compute Platform
21. Astadia
22. Bluewolf
23. Intacct
24. 3PAR
25. Elastra

While this list is certainly not inclusive of all cloud computing companies operating in the market, it does represent key players that position their offerings as delivering value to end users.

Keep in mind that this list could easily change as the market changes, users change and new technologies emerge. The important point here is to take this list and continue to research before making a selection on a cloud computing partner.

Cloud Distribution is considered to be a value added distributor focused on the security, management and optimization of devices providing access to the Cloud. Solutions from Cloud Distribution are designed to ensure that 'whilst your computing might be in the cloud, a successful implementation is very much at your feet'.