Cloud computing specialists in hot demand

San Francisco

AMAZON Web Services (AWS), a globe-spanning cloud computing network that is part of the online retailing giant Amazon, has rapidly become one of the most powerful forces in technology. It has also become a target for poachers.

Last October, at a conference in Las Vegas with thousands of corporate executives and software developers in attendance, AWS's chief, Andy Jassy, strode before an intentionally poorly disguised image of Lawrence J Ellison, founder and chairman of the Oracle Corp. Foot-tall words like "bullies", "extorted" and "strong arm" appeared next to Mr Jassy and the image of Mr Ellison. The logo of Oracle, one of the biggest companies in Silicon Valley, was barely crossed out.