Monday, December 24, 2012

What Does Scalability Mean in Cloud Computing?

What Does Scalability Mean in Cloud Computing?


What is Scalability?


The question is of what is scalability is often asked. Scalability can handle growth of a Cloud database network by embracing storage and promoting power of a virtual environment. multiple computers hosting information join together so more information and data can be added creating a bigger and faster network that will serve societies needs. Cloud computing is considered scalable with economic growth. As the economy grows relying on data being stored a cloud has the ability to increase storage capacity. A special algorithm is used to determine the needs of a user and will scale the storage environment accordingly. The design and settings of the cloud must be configured properly so the algorithm is able to detect the changes made by the user approximating the amount of bandwidth that is needed to suite the needs of the user. Scale out such as adding a computer to an application. Scale up denotes increasing the storage capacity of the CPU.


 Cloud Computing Basics : What Does Scalability Mean in Cloud Computing?



Software as a service SaaS is a pay per usage type of capacity this reduces a business IT Cost immensely by outsourcing hardware and software maintenance. The downside is SaaSs stores your data on other clouds giving there a slight chance for data obstruction. End users are individuals who access the cloud based serves through software or through a web browser, light weight app, or mobile app think of you accessing your mobile apps on your smartphone. Cloud hosting relies on sharing resources to achieve economies of scale. This means in the cloud computers rely on other computers to keep data storage capacity large and access fast. The meaning of Cloud Computing is a metaphor for data storage, along with sharing abilities over the web hosting and storing information without using a large expensive server. Amazon for example use of Cloud Computing has cut down their IT costs significantly, and runs all of their data and infrastructure efficiently. They are safe, elastic, and scalable. Their computing power allows them to continually grow their database as well there many applications.

Cloud computing can also be used in the gaming environment gaming direct on demand streams games onto a computer through a thin client. There is no console involved. You can store an infinite amount games from classics to new depending how much you want to spend for space. From the client when buttons are pressed data is sent to the cloud host, recorded, and sends back a response to the controller giving you seamless interaction of data from the database to your screen. Cost efficiency of Cloud Computing is the biggest advantage. The main benefit of Cloud Computing is it is cost efficient. You are able to pick how much bandwidth you want to use and pay accordingly depending on your intended use of a cloud host. The cost can be as little as pennies on the hour. End users are eligible to access all of their data from one device, and share with anyone who is a part of their network. Cloud computing can be very efficient for tracking down lost devices as well especially with iCloud. Cloud Computing is a booming technology that has multiple purposes that will continue to scale, and become more sophisticated. Stay in tune to further explore cloud technology and the benefits it brings today for it is the tomorrow you are educating yourself for.

Bryan L.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bryan_Lechelt
http://EzineArticles.com/?What-Does-Scalability-Mean-in-Cloud-Computing?&id=7394364

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Is Cloud Computing Here to Stay?

Is Cloud Computing Here to Stay?


CEOs, IT managers, and business owners alike are all rushing to jump head-first into cloud computing. In fact, the shift to cloud-based systems has been so swift that some are starting to wonder whether it's actually a revolutionary way of managing IT, or just a fad that's lasted.

 Cloud Computing Basics : Is Cloud Computing Here to Stay?

Although there certainly is a danger in following the crowd to sudden conclusions, there are hundreds of reasons to think that cloud-based systems are here to stay - and that you should be investigating it if you haven't already made the change. That's because, by freeing your company up from the need to continually buy new hardware and software, cloud computing makes your business more profitable and efficient at the same time.

Consider these three things you get from making the switch to a cloud computing plan:

Systems are cheaper. Like managed services agreements, cloud-based systems allow you to trade big, unpredictable hardware and software expenses for a regular monthly invoice that doesn't change over time. As wonderful as that consistency is, however, it also brings huge savings. That's because cloud computing is, on average, more than 50% less expensive than keeping traditional hardware and software is.

Safer. One thing business owners and executives have trouble understanding about cloud computing is how their company's data can actually be more secure when it's outside their own office or facility. To see why, they have to understand that a state-of-the-art cloud computing facility has trained technicians on staff 24/7/365, security personnel on the premises, backup power and industrial-grade surge protection, along with continuous save points to ensure the data is never lost. What's more, your data will be transmitted securely back and forth. Put all of those elements together, and it's much, much safer than it would be in most offices.

More convenient. While businesses typically make the switch to cloud computing based on cost savings, you shouldn't overlook the gains in convenience and productivity that come to you, as well. By moving your applications and data into the shared space, you gain the ability to have your employees communicate with each other (and work on the same files) in real time. That means fewer e-mails, phone calls, and long meetings. In other words, the cloud saves you a lot of time and money, even if you didn't expect it to. Best of all, switching to cloud computing can be quick and painless!

Peter Marsack is the vice president of business development at Vision Computer Solutions - a leading Michigan IT consultants company based in Northville, MI. Founded in 1995, Vision Computer Solutions offers managed business IT consulting and Michigan IT services. With offices in Northville and Ann Arbor, MI, Vision Computer Solutions is a Microsoft Small Business Specialist. http://www.vcsolutions.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_Marsack

http://EzineArticles.com/?Is-Cloud-Computing-Here-to-Stay?&id=7328611

Sunday, October 7, 2012

An Overview of Cloud Computing

An Overview of Cloud Computing


Cloud computing - we hear the term almost daily. But really, just what is cloud computing all about? That seems to be a common question. In June of this year, TELUS and IDC Canada released a study on cloud computing which surveyed 200 Canadian business and IT executives and directors at large Canadian companies (500+ employees) across a range of industry sectors. The study found that 63% of Canadian companies surveyed did not have enough or had only a base level of knowledge to make decisions on whether to use a cloud service or their internal IT department.

 Cloud Computing Basics : An Overview of Cloud Computing

A recent article from eweek.com also indicates that there is a great deal of confusion about cloud computing. The article makes reference to a recent study commissioned by Citrix Systems which included more than 1000 adults in the U.S. The study showed that most respondents thought that the cloud is related to weather. 51% of respondents thought that the weather could interfere with cloud computing. Despite the confusion, the study also found that 97% of participants are using cloud services today with examples including on-line banking, shopping, social networks and file sharing. Further, 59% of respondents indicated that they believe that the "workplace of the future" will be in the cloud which is somewhat contradictory to the prevalence of cloud computing today.

This insight above mirrors what we find amongst our own clients. Knowledge of cloud computing is relatively limited and as a result, organizations may be missing out on significant opportunities to make their business stronger by reducing cost and risk. Our hope is that this article provides insight into cloud computing to help you to assess its fit for your business requirements.

What is cloud computing?


First of all, it's useful to understand where the term cloud computing came from. It most likely originated from the use of a cloud image to represent a networked computing environment or the internet.
A quick Google search will reveal a number of definitions for cloud computing. I like a definition I picked up from Wikipedia which defines cloud computing as the delivery of computing as a service whereby shared resources, software and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility, similar to the electricity grid, over a network which is most often the internet.

What are the various cloud computing models?


To sort out some of the confusion around cloud computing, it is helpful to understand the various cloud service models, of which there are three - software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service (PaaS) and infrastructure as a service (IaaS).

SaaS is the most widely known flavour of cloud service. SaaS is sometimes referred to as on demand software. With SaaS, software and its associated data are centrally hosted and are typically accessed over the internet using a browser. What are some examples of SaaS? MailChimp, the application we use to distribute our newsletters, is an example. Google Apps is another example as is Dropbox, and the list continues to expand.

PaaS provides the delivery of a computing platform and required solutions to facilitate the deployment of applications without having to invest in the cost and complexity of hardware and software. Some examples of PaaS include Microsoft Azure and Google's App Engine.

The IaaS service model allows clients to avoid the procurement of servers, software, data centre space and network equipment. Such resources are provided as a fully outsourced service. Examples of IaaS include Amazon's Elastic Compute Cloud and Rackspace.

In addition to the various cloud service models, it's useful to understand the delivery models through which cloud computing is distributed. The main delivery models include public, private, community and hybrid.
A public cloud offers infrastructure and solutions to the general public and is typically owned by a large organization that sells cloud services.

A private cloud is designed solely for one organization. A private cloud may be managed by the organization which uses it, or by a third party, and the infrastructure may be located on the site of the cloud user or elsewhere.

A community cloud is shared by several organizations and supports a community of users, usually with some common interest, such as regulatory concerns.

A hybrid cloud model consists of two or more clouds, for example a public and private cloud, bound together by technology to facilitate data sharing and portability. Egnyte, a file storing and sharing service, is an example of a hybrid cloud computing solution.

What are some benefits of cloud computing?


Earlier this year I participated in a webinar that featured a round table of CFO's commenting on what they believed to be the major benefits of cloud computing. The benefits cited included the following:
  • Cost savings over on-site installations
  • Anywhere anytime access through an Internet connection
  • Reduced dependency on IT support
  • Cloud solutions are most often faster to deploy than on-site solutions
  • Cloud solutions typically enables organizations to buy into a bigger product with much more functionality which would be cost prohibitive if similar functionality was acquired through a non-cloud on-site solution
  • IT can focus more on value-add activities as opposed to managing IT infrastructure because infrastructure management shifts to the cloud provider
  • Cloud solutions typically contribute to the following:
    • More timely financial information
    • Optimizing business processes
    • Connecting with employees and enabling staff to work remotely

What are some of the risks and concerns associated with cloud computing?


Not withstanding the benefits, there are a number of common concerns associated with cloud computing. It is very important to carefully consider risks that could impact your sensitive information, no matter whether you are evaluating cloud or on-site solutions. In doing so, it is also important to evaluate risks associated with cloud solutions in the context of similar risks you could face with your own on-site alternatives.
The most common concern is security. For most small and medium-sized organizations, security with cloud solutions is often better than on-site solutions because reputable cloud solution providers can invest in the skill sets and capabilities to address emerging and evolving threats. Many small and mid-size organizations rely on part-time IT support or have no dedicated IT support at all. This combined with constantly evolving IT risks, would tend to suggest that most small and medium organizations just can't keep up with threats to their information assets. To address security concerns, a reputable cloud provider should be able to provide assurance relevant to the following:

  • Access to data - There should be a rigid authentication process that all users should go through to access their data
  • Transmission - Data should be encrypted as it travels from your local site to the cloud service provider
  • Network - Strong security should be in place to protect the cloud provider's network
  • Physical access - The cloud provider should be able to demonstrate solid controls over physical access to its facilities where your data will reside
  • Data security -The cloud provider should be able to provide assurance that your data is encrypted when it is "at rest" in the cloud
  • Privacy and Compliance - Your cloud provider should be able to provide assurance that it can protect the privacy of your information and comply with relevant standards and legislation that may be relevant to your organization.

Availability of cloud solutions is another concern. It is relevant to assess the impact of a cloud solution becoming unavailable due to circumstances such as an internet outage or a technical failure by the cloud provider. Again such concerns should be analyzed in the appropriate context. Internet outages, especially elongated outages, tend to be uncommon. Reputable cloud providers can most often demonstrate very high levels of uptime performance, and if problems occur, skilled resources are available to address them. How does such a scenario compare with similar risks associated with your on-site alternative? What is your experience with downtime with on-site solutions and can you get timely 24/7 support if you have a critical problem? Availability risks can also be mitigated with the use of a hybrid cloud model. Egnyte was referred to previously as an example of a hybrid cloud model for file sharing and storage. With this option, should the internet go down, you can still have a local copy of your data available.

Access to data is raised as a concern in two contexts. One is how can I get my data back if I leave my cloud supplier. Another is what will happen if my cloud supplier goes out of business. An answer to such questions should be readily available from your cloud supplier and should be specified in your end user agreement. It is most important to consider what format your data will be available in if you seek to get it back from your cloud supplier. Consider for example that if you use a cloud based accounting solution, your data might not be provided back to you in the same format in which you entered it.

One last consideration to think about is data backups. In our experience with smaller organizations, it is not uncommon to find no backup routines or problems with them, such as backups not being stored off site or restoration from back-ups not being tested. Reputable cloud solutions reduce this risk and in fact, many cloud providers have multiple back-up locations in case there is a failure at a particular site.

Francis Liska, CGA, CISA, CICA, CMC is the CEO of OTUS Group, a team of business advisors to business and not-for-profit organizations. You can contact Francis at 613-727-1230 ext 213 or fliska@otusgroup.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Francis_Liska

http://EzineArticles.com/?An-Overview-of-Cloud-Computing&id=7306253

Friday, September 7, 2012

Is Cloud Computing An Over Hyped Technology?

Is Cloud Computing An Over Hyped Technology?

Is Cloud Computing An Over Hyped Technology?


"Over hyped" is in the eye of the beholder.

Cloud Computing (specifically SaaS) provides a great option for small businesses to be able to get access to software solutions that they would never otherwise be able to afford due to the prohibitive cost of entry - servers, support, staff, etc.


 Cloud Computing Basics : Is Cloud Computing An Over Hyped Technology?


And getting the word out to a lot of small businesses takes time and a lot of avenues.

So, it may seem over-hyped to those of us who work with this stuff on a regular basis, but for small business owners who spend their days just "keeping the joint running", it's necessary to keep it in front of them - eventually they will look up and see they have options to make things easier/better/faster/cheaper.

But there is no question; it is being over hyped. The marketing people are making promises that cannot be delivered. I would suggest that in many cases, they are using the phrase incorrectly as well.

In many cases, the technology is being sold as a very generic solution to problems that actually require very specific answers, and Cloud Computing may not be appropriate at all.

Having said that, true Cloud Computing (public, private or hybrid) does offer some real benefits and could be used very effectively by a lot of businesses of different sizes. I would argue that it should be considered another weapon in the IT arsenal; not a replacement for the other technologies.

As far as it is actually a real technology - yes definitely over hyped.

But the more I think about it, the less I am convinced about 'cloud' being a real technology. It is more a conceptual change in the way delivery is done.

A private cloud can just as well be a normal off-site data center, just as they have been around for forever. Public clouds have already been around for ages as well (think of the way MSN has been around).

The thing is that the technologies we CAN offer both on- and off-premises have evolved in such a way that people are now starting to refer to it as 'cloud'.

This does not mean that we should not be excited about this evolution in service delivery. I personally have my doubts about the integration of hosted cloud-based services as opposed to the freedom and flexibility of a personally maintained system. This particularly if you would think of a multi-tenant unified communications environment...

I guess it's the usual answer in anything network-related: it all kind of depends...

Michael is the owner of FreedomFire Communications... including Business VoIP Solution. Michael also authors Broadband Nation where you're always welcome to drop in and catch up on the latest BroadBand news, tips, insights, and ramblings for the masses.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Lemm
http://EzineArticles.com/?Is-Cloud-Computing-An-Over-Hyped-Technology?&id=7240108


Monday, July 30, 2012

What is Cloud Computing Technology?

What is Cloud Computing Technology?

Author: Minesh Rai

You have probably heard the term cloud computing being thrown around here and there. But what exactly does it mean. Well cloud is simply an off-site area used to run computer programs or used to store data.

 Cloud Computing Basics : What is Cloud Computing Technology?


 You can store all your digital assets like files, folders, photos, videos, softwares, etc. in the cloud. To meet the criteria you must be able to access that data from anywhere or anyplace that has an internet connection.
The cloud process allows you to log into storage servers remotely and access digital content a user is working on. Previously, all computing software and data was stored in on the hard disk of the computer on which a person worked. Thanks to the web, it becomes possible to work in real time on remote content, stored in servers in large storage sites called cloud servers.

For specialists, the cloud is considered the third computer revolution. The first was the advent of the microcomputer, the second came with the development of the internet and networks. The cloud is a new step, because it can now let users work together on content, it eases the burden of a personal computer terminal, reduces costs, and ensures security by backing up data multiple times.

You Already Use the Cloud
Many personal computer as well as smart phone users are already using and accessing the cloud without knowing it. When someone posts a photo on Facebook or check out a mailbox on services like Gmail or Yahoo, it accesses a server 'in the cloud' computing. Today, more and more companies choose to have an external conservation of their data. It is a source of savings. The company can have servers that are sized to exactly meet its needs. If some companies are reluctant to transfer their files in the cloud, it's for safety reasons: they fear to discard information that are strategic, such as customer lists or trade secrets.

But for the personal user, cloud computing has really become a part of our daily lives. We can use the cloud to sync our mobile devices or to backup our home computers. The wonderful thing is that there are literally over 50 companies that offer a free account with storage space that ranges from 500 MB to 10 GB.
The top global players providing cloud solutions are Google, Microsoft, Amazon, Apple and Dropbox.
U.S. companies have already heavily tilted to the cloud when the revolution is just beginning in Europe and other parts of the world. The different cloud innovations are endless and over the past 5 years we have seen a major technology revolution in this industry.

Source : Mirolta
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gadgets-and-gizmos-articles/what-is-cloud-computing-technology-6072010.html
About the Author
Minesh Rai is the Founder and CEO of Mirolta.com. He writes articles regarding Mobiles, Tech, Gadgets, Games, Web Applications, Social Media and much more.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Revolutionary IPSaaS Technology


EasyCloud™ and the Revolutionary IPSaaS Technology

IPSaaS is finally here. This is the first of its kind solution that ultimately brings the cloud to the masses.

Dallas, Texas (PRWEB) June 26, 2012
Infrastructure + Platform + Software as a Service. IPSaaS is finally here. This is the first of its kind solution that ultimately brings the cloud to the masses. Combining award winning Infrastructure and “Fanatical Support” from Rackspace with the power of Openstack and virtually unlimited amounts of Software choices, EasyCloud makes using the cloud, easy. Where other Service providers focus on a single aspects of cloud computing, EasyCloud is the only “one stop shop” on the block that gets it right. This new technology allows EasyCloud to compete across multiple horizontal markets while reducing complexity for end users and avoiding proprietary lock in.

 Cloud Computing Basics : Revolutionary IPSaaS Technology


EasyCloud IPSaaS technology allows consumers to focus on using the software they choose while eliminating the complex back-end of cloud technology. Since it is interactive with the Openstack Platform it is fully dynamic and scalable with the user’s needs. Including multiple built-in features, like “white label” in-app chat support and hundreds of other API plug-ins. Compared to custom cloud deployments, the $20 starting cost really changes the game.
“Let’s say a regular customer, wanted to launch a Wordpress cloud server. It had to be a dynamic, dedicated cloud server. Where would a customer start the process? First customers need an Infrastructure provider then, he will need a platform to access a hypervisor to get it launched. Okay, now what? Well hopefully he's good in a terminal session, because now he’ll need to update his system, pull down packages, and get his LAMP stack installed and configured. Now he can finally set up Wordpress. Wait, did he forget a domain name, SSL certificates & support? So how many companies did he have to pay to accomplish that? How many different software packages did he have to use?” asks CloutHost.com CEO Jared Rice, an award winning web developer & Pixar artist. “That is what led us to build EasyCloud. The long painful nights trying to get the various servers the team needed deployed and operational in the cloud. This isn’t just a tool for developers. It’s a product for consumers who want to take advantage of the cloud.”
There are currently over 70+ popular open source EasyCloud Servers that are fully configured and can be instantly deployed in a secure cloud environment with just a few mouse clicks; including the most popular web applications available: Wordpress, Joomla, Drupal, ProjectPier, SugarCRM, Magento, Asterisk, VTiger, Ruby and many more added weekly. EasyCloud servers start at $20/month for a 256MB/10GB cloud node and they can be instantly upgraded at any time with zero downtime.
“Ask anyone outside of the IT developer community on how to use the cloud. Where to start the process.” quips, Stanley Ford, VP of Product for CloutHost.com. “Now ask all of the small and medium sized businesses out there why they aren’t using the cloud? Why aren’t regular consumers? The complexity is the killer. Couple that with not having the right IT resources along with the cost of building a custom solution and the cloud becomes prohibitive. The first release of EasyCloud on IPSaaS technology answers a key need in cloud computing that many in the industry have been predicting for some time yet until now has failed to materialize. As the team continues to grow this technology the costs will continue to decline. This is just the first stage, eventually EasyCloud will have cloud based desktop environments that compete with Microsoft Azure head to head for a fraction of the cost. There’s a lot stuff cooking in the kitchen at CloutHost, this is just the glue that binds it all together.”
For more info on EasyCloud please visit GoEasyCloud.com
For more info on the IPSaaS developer community please visit IPSaaS.org
Founded in 2011, CloutHost is the worldwide leader in IPSaaS for personal and business cloud computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place, any device.
For more information, press only:
Jared Rice, 214-754-9984, jrice(at)goeasycloud(dot)com
To order a EasyCloud™ server, using IPSaaS, go here:
http://www.GoEasyCloud.com

Cloud Computing Offerings with Premises-based Private Cloud Solutions

Logicalis Expands Cloud Computing Offerings with Premises-based Private Cloud Solutions

Customizable Approach Offers Complete Control and Manageability Not Typically Found with Public Cloud Providers

Farmington, MI (PRWEB) June 26, 2012
All things IT are moving to the cloud, but not always to the “public cloud” according to Logicalis, an international IT solutions and managed services provider, which today is announcing a new Private Cloud Practice created to support premises-based, fully-customized cloud solutions. While competitive, semi-private cloud solutions offer the appearance of security and control, Logicalis Private Cloud solutions are tailored specifically for each customer’s environment and computing needs and the customer keeps control of all of the IT assets at the data center of their choosing. The company has a well-established history providing managed services, data center services and a variety of cloud solutions. It was recently named a “Top 100 Cloud Service Provider” by industry publication Talkin’ Cloud and a “Top 500 Solution Provider” by UBM Channel. The new practice will help organizations that are seeking the flexibility and expansion capabilities of cloud computing, with the security and access provided by a premises-based data center.

 Cloud Computing Basics : Cloud Computing Offerings with Premises-based Private Cloud Solutions

“For many organizations, cloud computing offers game-changing strategies necessary to increase business agility, add flexibility and mitigate risk. We help clients define and design a private cloud solution that specifically addresses the business problems they are trying to resolve. This allows IT staffs to refocus on the highest value activities and provide targeted services to their organizations,” says Kevin Gruneisen, vice president of data center solutions for Logicalis.
The private cloud solutions from Logicalis are based on the company’s consultative approach. These solutions have been designed to enable organizations to expand on the value of a virtualized infrastructure. By improving processes through automation, cloud technologies provide agility, faster time to market and improved total cost of ownership.
Industry analysts agree with the direction Logicalis has taken.
“Our recent cloud services survey shows that when it comes to cloud, whether private or public, CIOs want to work with providers that can demonstrate expertise in security, compliance and management. Customers also want to work with providers that foster and maintain high levels of trust between them and their enterprise clients,” says John Madden, principal analyst, Ovum, and co-author with Senior Analyst Ian Brown of Ovum’s Cloud Services Business Trends Survey.
Logicalis Private Cloud Strategies
Logicalis is uniquely focused on the needs of its customers. Combined with its vendor-neutral approach, the company can implement the right private cloud solution for each business on the platform of its choice. Logicalis Private Cloud services are designed for: 
  •     IT leaders seeking to maintain relevance within their organizations and become a trusted cloud services broker versus a provider of commodity based infrastructure.
  •     Organizations that require a high level of security, the need to comply with industry guidelines and/or simply the desire to keep IT assets under direct control.
  •     Organizations with an ongoing need to quickly provide and provision IT resources.
  •     Large virtualized x86 infrastructure installations.
  •     Active application development environments, “sandboxes”.
Logicalis will help companies define a cloud strategy that aligns their short-term needs with long-term goals: 
  •     A cloud strategy that builds on capital investments that have already been made
  •     Security considerations for private cloud now and hybrid cloud in the future
  •     Management considerations including orchestration, automation and governance
  •     Application enablement, migration and creation considerations for private cloud     environments
  •     Future cloud environment extensions including public and hybrid options
To learn more about Logicalis’ private cloud offerings, visit the Logicalis private cloud micro site.
Watch a short four-minute video on Logicalis cloud computing strategies.
About Logicalis
Logicalis is an international IT solutions and managed services provider with a breadth of knowledge and expertise in communications and collaboration; data center and cloud services; and managed services.
Logicalis employs almost 3,000 people worldwide, including highly trained service specialists who design, specify, deploy and manage complex ICT infrastructures to meet the needs of over 6,000 corporate and public sector customers. To achieve this, Logicalis maintains strong partnerships with technology leaders such as Cisco, HP, IBM, CA Technologies, NetApp, VMware and ServiceNow.
The Logicalis Group has annualized revenues of over $1.2 billion, from operations in the UK, US, Germany, South America and Asia Pacific, and is fast establishing itself as one of the leading IT and Communications solution integrators, specializing in the areas of advanced technologies and services.
The Logicalis Group is a division of Datatec Limited, listed on the Johannesburg and London AIM Stock Exchanges, with revenues of over $5 billion.
For more information, visit http://www.us.logicalis.com.
Business and technology working as one
To learn more about Logicalis activities, follow us on a variety of social media networks.

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Cloud computing will create nearly 14 million new jobs by 2015

Cloud computing will create nearly 14 million new jobs by 2015, says Netpremacy Global Services

New research by IDC predicts IT innovations by the cloud will generate close to 14 million new jobs worldwide by 2015.

London, UK - (PRWEB UK) 25 May 2012
Research from analyst firm IDC indicates that spending on public and private cloud will create nearly 14 million jobs worldwide, over 200,000 of which within the UK. This research illustrates a global extension of a similar report that the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR) published in 2010. This study predicted the generation of 289,000 jobs within the UK by 2015. IDC’s research further predicts revenues of $1.1 trillion a year as a direct result of cloud innovations.
According to IDC an approximately equal number of jobs will accrue to large and small business, even though small businesses make up the majority of employment. These jobs will be generated in the communications, banking and manufacturing industries, IDC predicted. [An insight into cloud computing for SMEs will follow soon, by AppsCare]. The majority of jobs will be created in emerging markets, in particular China and India, where the size of the workforce and growth potential is greater.
“We tend to think of China and India as emerging markets, but they’re actually early adopters of the cloud,” says John Gantz, SVP at IDC. “They’re not bound to existing systems. They’ve skipped that step, so there’s less holding them back.”
Nearly 1.2 million new cloud-computing related jobs will be generated in the U.S. and Canada, a market which currently accounts for 62 percent of worldwide spending in public IT cloud services, according to the IDC study.
IDC research also predicts smaller companies adopting cloud services at a faster rate than larger companies because budget constraints make the cost effective solution very attractive and SMEs have fewer legacy systems to deal with. “Enterprises that embrace cloud computing reduce the amount of IT time and budget devoted to legacy systems and routine upgrades, which then increases the time and budget they have for more innovative project,” Gantz says.
Google Apps is a cost-effective, efficient public cloud solution for small and large businesses worldwide that, through Google’s commitment to continuous innovation upholds their dominant Global position in driving economies forward. Ultimately, cloud innovations will be an important force in enabling worldwide economic growth. Google Apps delivers this.
AppsCare®, Google Enterprise Premier Partner (powered by Netpremacy Global Services) is a world leader in cloud services provisions, supporting over 2500 customers in 33 countries. AppsCare® comprise 10+ years’ experience deploying technical solutions for organisations of all sizes and geographies utilising our GStall delivery methodology and AppsCare® support programmes. Our fortnightly newsletter provides latest industry news, tips and ‘how to’ features and useful information about Cloud computing, to subscribe to our mailing list click here.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Benefit Your Organization With Cloud Computing Solutions

Benefit Your Organization With Cloud Computing Solutions

Author: Martin Lobo

The easiest way to define cloud computing is that it is a kind of online computing method that allows the users to access applications using a browser. This application is installed and stored within the server. It is an innovative form of computing that has flourished recently making it possible for people round the globe to access what they need.

Cloud computing provides huge storage capacity when compared to that of a personal computing device. The benefit here is that it eradicates the need to improve the computer memory which is said to keep costs low for enterprises as well as individual users.

Eminent service providers today specializes in cloud service delivery solutions resulting in availability, security, virtualization, acceleration and a proper integration of cloud provider's requirements to scale services cost-efficiently, maintain profitability and cater to various user needs for cost, performance, end-user experience as well as data integrity.

The new age enterprise data centers become intricate and at times the maintenance is expensive. In addition to that, there are other challenges that need to be addressed with new applications, rising demand and fast internet trends. Therefore the cloud service providers offering on-demand capacity and services today have become a one-stop solution for most businesses. This caters to the organization's need for reliability, performance control, and security and also maintains business agility. Some of the service offering are listed below:-


  • Helps to set up private networks for cloud providers and their respective users. It also offers a comprehensive out-of-band secure remote access for control that does not affect services
  • Provides the users with agile control over cloud infrastructure to set up differentiated services and to mechanize operations for highest efficiency
  • Helps to significantly minimize the networking expenses for application delivery and secure access by offering high-quality features and performance at 40% of the cost of competing solutions
  • Helps in bringing down the capital expenditures largely by minimizing server infrastructure by over 40% and maximizing the use of virtualized infrastructure
  • Assists in reducing the operational expenditures by lessening the staff required for service delivery and by utilizing of efficient designs that reduces the expenses associated with space and power
  • Assists in accelerating the time-to-revenue for service offerings by leveraging replicable, automated solutions that are both IT and customer friendly


Popular brand names for instance Zoho, Microsoft, Salesforce, Google, Yahoo and Amazon have been using cloud computing solutions and benefiting from them.

Article Source: http://www.sooperarticles.com/technology-articles/networks-articles/benefit-your-organization-cloud-computing-solutions-768723.html


About Author:
Also read on -SSL VPN Appliances, Application Availability

Sunday, May 13, 2012

Internet Use Drives The Chinese Cloud Computing Market

Cost Reduction With Rising Internet Use Drives The Chinese Cloud Computing Market

Author: Sachin Thorat

Subsequently, the report covers major categories of cloud computing, cloud service products available in China and different types of deployment mechanisms of cloud computing in China. Market overview section covers the domestic cloud computing market size and its future growth prospects for the period during 2010-15. This section further identifies major cloud computing hubs of China along with key investments made that spans across various new projects.

Among various pros & cons of cloud computing, the report finds that ERP and CRM attain greater popularity with wider availability among all cloud applications.

Major factors driving the growth of cloud computing market in China include cost reduction, speed, flexibility and responsiveness, widespread adoption of internet, rising smartphone usage, indigenous innovation, and scope in (medium and small-sized enterprises) MSMEs.

The report finds that significant cost reduction motivates Chinese customers towards adopting cloud computing services. Also, nearly half of the survey respondents believe that cloud computing reduces upfront IT costs. In addition, faster computer processing speed and greater internet bandwidth drives the cloud computing in China. As china's internet population estimated to rise by 17% during 2007-2015 propels the growing cloud computing market, mobile cloud computing market is also showing huge potential to grow owing to rising smartphone use and development of 3G/4G networks in China. Chinese indigenous companies have contributed to the growth of innovation in cloud computing. Many Chinese colleges and institutions have made indigenous technological innovation in cloud computing. China's cloud computing market stands to capitalize upon the untapped potential in 47 mn domestic MSMEs.

Players operating in the market also face challenges which are impeding their development and growth. Major challenges identified include lack of knowledge & experience, lesser use of virtualization and data security concerns.

The report finds that the lack of expertise and knowledge among IT executives restricts the growth of cloud computing in China. Barely 14% of Chinese companies have adopted virtualization as compared to that of 74% in the U.S. Over 80% of Chinese executives consider data security threat as one of the major concerns in cloud computing.

The report also delves into the role of government and key initiatives taken in the wake of supporting the cloud computing market in China. Furthermore, the report highlights key pilot project bases for Cloud Computing in China.

Emerging trends in the cloud computing market include China's promising national policy and emerging cloud computing industrial chain.

The competition section outlays the competitive landscape of the cloud computing market in China briefing about the domestic and foreign players existing in the market. This section provides a three dimensional analysis of key players' revenues, profits and market capitalization. The report also features brief profiles of major domestic and foreign players in the market and a snapshot of their corporation, financial performance, business highlights and their product portfolio, providing an insight into the existing competitive scenario.
Some of the key statistics or factors impacting the cloud computing market in China covered in the report include domestic market size, availability & popularity of solutions, initial opportunities for using clouds, response on benefits of cloud computing, broadband user base, average internet access speed - top 5 province, internet population, top 5 countries - internet users (2010), rising smartphone sales, top 5 countries - mobile phone users (2010), virtualization adoption, response by Chinese on data security concern, etc. Key takeaway section summarizes the entire market in terms of initiatives taken by government as well as the players, trends and challenges persisting in the cloud computing market in China.

Netscribes is a market research firm that supports Market Insights, Research & Analytics, Media & Publishing and Content Management. Netscribes services include Sales Insights, Market Intelligence, Social Media Insights, and Brand Surveillance for global clients.

For more details on the content of the report and our services you can contact us at sales@netscribes.com
Article Source: http://www.sooperarticles.com/technology-articles/software-articles/cost-reduction-rising-internet-use-drives-chinese-cloud-computing-market-919945.html

About Author:
Netscribes (India) Pvt. Ltd. launches Cloud Computing Market in China 2012 report covering a market with strong growth potential. The report is part of Netscribes' Information Technology Industry Series reports.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Ninefold join forces to provide an enterprise cloud storage solution


Ninefold Gives Oxygen to Organisations Drowning in Data


Oxygen Cloud and Australian cloud provider Ninefold join forces to provide an enterprise cloud storage solution.

Gold Coast, Queensland (PRWEB) February 27, 2012
Ninefold®, the Australian public cloud compute and cloud storage company has today launched Business Cloud Drive, a new cloud storage service that allows organizations of 100+ users to store, access and share ever-increasing amounts of data while keeping it secure, local and easily accessible.
An Australian first, Ninefold’s new Business Cloud Drive - powered by the Oxygen Cloud platform - frees customers from the limitations of local storage and offers the following benefits: 
  •     Keeps data in Australia: all Ninefold infrastructure sits within Australia for highest speeds and fewer data residency issues;
  •     Controls access: supports users, groups and access permissions to control & secure access to shared folders, including remote wipes of stolen or devices no longer authorised;
  •     Protects data: safe and secure from loss, theft, viruses and natural disasters;
  •     Accessible anywhere, from any web device: sync, backup and access files across all computers and mobile devices (Windows, Mac, Linux, Android, iPhone, iPad);
  •     Version control: share files of any size with anyone with a single click. The Oxygen platform can handle multiple versions and perform conflict resolution if more than one person edits a document;
  •     Easy-to-use: minimal to no training required. Once installed, it works like a local hard drive. Users will find the Business Cloud Drive fits straight into their normal daily processes.
Business Cloud Drive is built on Ninefold’s cloud storage infrastructure, the only Australian alternative to Amazon’s AWS S3. Ninefold’s service provides object-based storage to manage the headache of soaring storage requirements, scalable infrastructure demands, BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) flexibility, collaboration and geographically dispersed workforces, while retaining full IT control.
Business Cloud Drive is designed to replace consumer-focused cloud storage services, such as Dropbox, which have crept into organizations but offer little content security or permissions control.
Ninefold’s cloud storage service only charges customers for the actual storage and bandwidth consumed at globally competitive prices. Business Cloud Drive uses the same simple and scalable pricing model plus a license fee for the Oxygen platform.
Oxygen, ranked by Gartner as a Top 5 Cool Vendor in Cloud Services Brokerage, identified the need for a secure and business-appropriate document storage platform hosted on Australian soil. It chose Ninefold as the exclusive technology partner for its Business Cloud Drive. For Ninefold, the Oxygen partnership provides a unique extension of its existing storage infrastructure.
“Zetabytes, big data, data security, analytics, online collaboration, data jurisdiction, disaster recovery, performance, BYOD devices, information management, mobile workforces, compliance, OPEX, CAPEX... it’s a mind-boggling, data-rich world we operate in,” said Peter James, Managing Director at Ninefold. “Ninefold’s Business Cloud Drive is an Australian service that helps simplify all of this. Today marks an exciting point in our evolution as it propels us into a globally competitive market and demonstrates our growing maturity to support the market.”
“Oxygen enables businesses today to secure, control and protect their information across the company, across the world and on any device,” said Alexander Teu, VP Business Development at Oxygen Cloud. “We're fortunate to partner with Ninefold, which has a keen understanding of business requirements around data security. Our joint solution enables Australian citizens to safely store their information in Ninefold’s cloud infrastructure to provide secure mobile access to storage.”
About Ninefold
Ninefold is Australian public cloud computing and storage with locally stored data, free local support, self service flexibility and low latency. This allows you to provision virtual servers and cloud storage quickly - scaling up and down when needed – and only paying for the resources you use.
Sign up in seconds. Start using in minutes. Benefit for years.
Ninefold.com        
@ninefold
Ninefold is a registered trademark.
For more information, please contact:
Jo Balfour
Progressiva Public Relations
Tel: +61 405 542 018
jobalfour(at)progressiva(dot)com(dot)au
@jobonekenobi
About Oxygen Cloud
California-based Oxygen is secure cloud storage for teams. The service lets teams create shared storage spaces in the cloud that is synchronized across all user devices. Oxygen delivers anywhere access to the latest files with complete access control, data encryption, and storage management. Oxygen supports Windows, Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Oxygen also supports public, hybrid, or private cloud storage deployment models.
For more information and sign up, please visit http://www.oxygencloud.com

Sunday, February 19, 2012

Cloud Computing : 10 Benefits for Your Business

Cloud Computing, 10 Benefits for Your Business 

by Jason Dick

Cloud computing represents a new model for delivery and consumption of IT services based on the Internet, usually utilizing scalable and often virtualized resources as services over the Internet.

Ten benefits of cloud computing for your business:

1. Focus on your core business activity. Cloud computing provides more automation and managing of your business technology, allowing you to focus more on your core business activities.

2. Reduces Cost. With cloud computing, your business pays incrementally, only for the services they use, reducing overall business costs by not forcing you to pay energy costs associated with idle time.

3. Employee Mobility. Your employers can access important applications, data, and files to conduct business from wherever they are, rather than having to remain at their desks.

4. Easy Implementation. Since there is not a need for hardware purchasing, software licenses, or implementation services, your company can get cloud computing services started quickly and easily.

5. More Secure Data Sharing. Cloud services allow your company to share internal data over the cloud, rather than making your internal data center itself available to outside parties.

6. Increased Storage Capacity. By utilizing the Internet with virtual cloud services, your company can store much more data, than it would be able to on private computer systems.

7. Flexibility. By using a shared resource, agile and automated distribution of computing resources among the users in the cloud allows for more flexibility.

8. Environmental Benefits. Cloud computing reduces hardware consumption, energy costs, and carbon dioxide emissions.

9. Easily Customized. Cloud computing gives your business the opportunity to build custom applications on a user-friendly interface. In a competitive world, your business needs to stand out from the rest. Customization will help you do this.

10. Enhances collaboration. Multiple users can collaborate easily on shared web documents. Since all the documents are hosted on the cloud, anyone in your company with an internet connection can log into the web and start collaborating.

Verizon Communications and Cloud Computing:

According to Fari Ebrahimi, senior vice president and chief information officer for Verizon Services Operations, by implementing an internal cloud computing process, Verizon improved IT performance by 400 percent and reduced their IT costs to one-third of what they were. In lieu of this information, Verizon decided not to build any new data centers, but to actually decrease them.

Cloud computing is an excellent solution for business looking for better utilization of resources, flexibility, security, lower costs and environmental sustainability.

R. Jason Dick is a native of the Seattle, Washington area. Mr. Dick graduated from Washington State University with a double major in English and Communications. He enjoys writing about technology. He's been writing for the Internet since 2003 on topics including food & recipes, new camera technology, and anti-virus security. He is currently working as a marketing specialist for Northwest Computer Support, a one-stop IT services provider serving the Greater Seattle area. He enjoys camping, hiking, travel, writing poetry, and learning.

Source: Cloud Computing, 10 Benefits for Your Business

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

Cloud Computing Run Web Sites

The Way Cloud Computing Run Web Sites The Way Cloud Computing Run Web Sites 


Cloud servers represent one of the most important advances in the use of computers and the internet. The concept goes as far back as the 1960's when a John McCarthy proposed that some time in the future, computer services would be provided just like other public utilities like water or electricity. At that time the idea did not seem realistic in any way because access to computers was very limited. We have however seen the realization of this prediction with many examples such as cloud hosting.

Cloud servers are in no way related to the real clouds, the use of this term has been adopted from the use of cloud symbols when representing the internet in drawings and charts. Cloud computing involves delivering infrastructure, software, and platforms via the internet to various users. The services provided here are applications, storage, hosting and much more. Cloud servers hosting out do conventional hosts by offering flexible, modern and cost effective options. Having resources online means that location is no longer a barrier for the cloud server host or client. Those who need to travel frequently find great advantage in this because it means that regardless of where they are they can continue to access the resources the normally do while in the office.

Along with cloud hosting you can access other cloud computing services that are provided on demand and are paid for per hour or per minute depending on what you use. These services are also completely managed by the different cloud server service providers. For these and other reasons, it is clear that cloud server hosting comes with significant economic advantage. Paying for the exact amount of resources you need and have used ensures that there is no waste. Being able to adjust resources according to demand on the business at a particular time does away with the need to have ideal resources that are intended for contingency. Having the cloud server host manage services from their end cuts down on your operation costs and manpower required in your operations.

Cloud server hosts will be offered as either public or private services. Private cloud server hosting is meant to serve a specific group or network of customers. On the other hand, public cloud server hosting is accessible to anyone. There are also situations where a private cloud server will engage the services offered by a public cloud server giving rise to what is known as a virtual private cloud server. Public and private cloud servers are very similar except in the area of who can access the services they have to offer.

The accessibility and affordability of IT resources has be made possible to a very large extent by the introduction of cloud servers and cloud computing. There have been significant advances in the standards of the services that people from all parts of the world enjoy as a result of the use of cloud servers.

For cloud servers contact Server Love. Server Love are an expert cloud servers hosting provider.

Article Source: Article Directory Articlecell

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Oracle Cloud Computing Solutions

Oracle Developers Offer Incredible Oracle Cloud Computing Solutions Oracle Developers Offer Incredible Oracle Cloud Computing Solutions


Oracle developers have developed the cloud computing. This is meant for organizations which are looking for public as well as for private cloud environment. Getting together a lot of cloud products from the oracle the cloud services are provided by the oracle. However there are providing the services with their partners. Depending on the cloud services framework the cloud environment is installed. To speed up the Cloud computing the framework has 4 stages. The oracle consultant will first sit with you and explain the entire roadmap so that you will have an idea about Oracle cloud computing. This will enable you to consolidate, standardize, optimize and automate the IT environment.

Now let us discuss in detail the advantages of the various stages of oracle cloud computing. Each and every stage has its own unique and concrete adavantage. Because of these phases there is improvement in the efficiency, much quicker and a great deal of reduction in the cost.

Once you have an idea of the roadmap you can make your own strategy for the cloud computing for the present and also for the future. The roadmap is available in the cloud platform itself.

Standardizing

When usual architecture is standardized there is an increase in the overall quickness and also there is reduction in the risk. When the number of dissimilar vendors reduces the common architecture us can be maximized. This in turn will reduce the complexity of the scenario and the entire business will become very easy to handle. Installing and executing new applications will also become simple and easy.

Consolidating

By combining different platforms together the infrastructure is shares which in turn mean the cost and risk is also shared. This ultimately reduces the cost and also minimizes the risk. The resources that are available will be used in better manner because of this consolidating. This means Oracle developers can do more with the existing business.

Automating

Oracle developers have added the stage automating. With this the speed is improved to a great extent. With improved speed there is reduction in the cost. Adapting to the environment is faster. Also to scale up is very easy and simple with the Oracle cloud computing.

Optimizing

It is because of this stage we get the entire benefit of the oracle cloud computing. The stages mentioned above like Consolidating, Automating and Standardizing will facilitate IT process and policies to be efficient. But only during this stage one can furthermore take up metering or can also charge back the potential.

Oracle developers can ensure the complete IT environment becomes more efficient and quicker after all these stages are completed. After the completion of all the four stages, it becomes so efficient that applications can be installed and implemented quickly and is able to adapt itself very well and faster to the ever-changing business environment.

This framework that is used is very flexible. It allows one to create their customized roadmap. That roadmap can be created based on the past experience. One can maximize the efficiency of their IT environment and get maximum return on their investment.

For More Information:- Oracle Developers | Oracle Cloud Computing

Article Source: Article Directory Articlecell

Cloud Computing : Common Terminologies

Common Terminologies used in Cloud Computing

Common Terminologies used in Cloud Computing By Santanu Das

With so much buzz around Cloud Computing and SaaS you must be wondering about the common terms revolving around this new paradigm shift of technology. There are multiple definitions and explanations provided over the internet at your disposal. Here are some of the most common terminologies with a simple explanation of each of them for your easy understanding.

API - Application Programming Interface allows software applications to interact with other software. Requested data from another application is returned back in a predefined format and according to specific rules.

ASP - Application Service Provider; typically associated with a hosted single tenant software solution wherein a business provides computer based services to customers over a network.

Cloud Computing - Cloud computing is Internet-based computing, whereby shared resources, software and information are provided to computers and other devices on-demand, like the electricity grid. It describes a new consumption and delivery model for IT services based on the Internet, and it typically involves the provision of dynamically scalable and often virtualized resources as a service over the Internet. Customers do not own and maintain the physical infrastructure, instead avoid capital expenditure by renting usage from a third-party provider. They consume resources as a service and pay only for resources that they use.

Cloud operating system - A computer operating system that is specially designed to run in a provider’s datacenter and can be delivered to the user over the Internet or another network. Windows Azure is an example of a cloud operating system or “cloud layer” that runs on Windows Server 2008. The term is also sometimes used to refer to cloud-based client operating systems such as Google’s Chrome OS.

Freemium – A business model, in which a SaaS provider offers basic features of its software to users free of cost and charges a premium for supplemental or advanced features.

Hosted application - An Internet-based or Web-based application software program, that runs on a remote server and can be accessed via an Internet-connected PC or thin client.

Hybrid cloud - A networking environment that includes multiple integrated internal and/or external Cloud providers.

IaaS - Infrastructure-as-a-Service refers to a combination of hosting, hardware, provisioning and basic services needed to run a SaaS or Cloud Application that is delivered on a pay-as-you-go basis. It is a virtualized environment delivered as a service over the Internet by the provider. The infrastructure can include servers, network equipment and software.

Mashup - Mashup is a web application that combines data or functionality from two or more external sources to create a new service.

Multi-tenancy - Multi-tenancy refers to software architecture where a single instance of software runs on a server, serving multiple client organizations (tenants).

PaaS - Platform-as-a-Service solutions are development platforms for which the development tool itself is hosted in the Cloud and is accessed through a browser. With PaaS, developers can build web applications without installing any tools and then they can deploy their application and services without any systems administration skills.

Pay as you go - A cost model for Cloud services that includes both subscription-based and consumption-based models, in contrast to traditional IT cost model that requires up-front capital expenditure for hardware and software.

Private Cloud - A private cloud is a proprietary network or a data center that supplies hosted services to a limited number of people.

Public Cloud - A public cloud sells services to anyone on the Internet. It is a cloud computing environment that is open for use to the general public. Currently, Amazon Web Services is the largest public cloud provider.

SaaS - Software-as-a-Service refers to multi-tenant software delivered over the internet and customers consume the product as a subscriptions service that is delivered on a pay-as-you-go basis. Applications don’t have to be purchased, installed or run on the customer’s computers.

Subscription-based pricing - A pricing model that lets customers pay a fee to use the service for a particular time period.

Vendor lock-in - Dependency on the particular cloud vendor and difficulty moving from one cloud vendor to another due to lack of standardized protocols, APIs, data structures (schema), and service models.

Virtualization - Virtualization means to create a virtual version of a device or resource, such as a server, storage device, network or even an operating system where the framework divides the resource into one or more execution environments.

Vertical Cloud - A cloud computing environment optimized for use in a particular vertical i.e., industry or application use case.

Service Orientated Architecture (SOA) - A service-oriented architecture is essentially a collection of services. These services communicate with each other. The communication can involve either simple data passing or it could involve two or more services coordinating an activity.

The next time you talk to your cloud service provider, you will be able to understand the jargon they use and decide the best solution for yourself.

About the Author:
I am a Marketing Evangelist with WOLF Frameworks, a leading Online Database Application Platform. I am a dedicated blogger for WOLF and love sharing my experience and knowledge about new technology such as Cloud Computing with my fellow readers. Want to know more about me? Check out my LinkedIn Profile.

Articles Source: Common Terminologies used in Cloud Computing