Friday, May 31, 2013

Why the Cloud is important to digital signage

Why the Cloud is important to digital signage

Author: V.Thakur

The 'old', pre-cloud model of digital-signage technology is made up of dozens of variations which do not work with other suppliers' software or media players. Cloud-based digital signage, by contrast, is a game-changer – or at least it can be if it's done right.

Why the Cloud is important to digital signage

Why the Cloud is important to digital signage

The idea of combining cloud computing with digital signage is something that's fairly new and is becoming a popular option for companies seeking ways to reduce costs and streamline business processes.
A number of digital-signage companies are already 'moving to the cloud' or already 'in the cloud. What exactly is cloud-based digital signage?

In its simplest form, cloud-based digital signage is based on software that runs on a service provider's computers, outside of your premises or network – 'in the cloud'. Because of this, cloud-based digital-signage software can be upgraded and patched without service interruption. The provider can discover a problem, fix it and deploy the fix to a single system, and it potentially serves millions of users. It can also be readily adapted to support new sources or types of content.

One of the main benefits of this system is that it can be controlled from any internet enabled device. This can also be taken further and displayed on interactive devices, giving the user an element of interaction, where they can play with the advert.

Cloud-based digital signage has the potential to utilize a wider array of media players, and non-proprietary media players in particular and can be adapted to support emerging media-player technology and interface protocols as they develop.

Benefits of Cloud-Based Computing for Digital Signage Networks

Decreased costs
Cloud computing is often less expensive and labor intensive for a business. Companies no longer need to purchase and install expensive software. Software is already installed online remotely, running on the cloud provider's servers. Users can subscribe to virtually unlimited storage just by increasing the monthly fee.

Improvements in flexibility
Cloud computing allows businesses to grow or shrink usage as needed. The inherent structure of a cloud network enables flexibility and allows for precise resource allocation during peak demand or downturns. Associates can access information from home, on the road, from clients' offices or a smartphone. Staff can collaborate on files and documents remotely since documents can be viewed and edited from multiple locations simultaneously.

Increased asset allocation
Due to the quick scalability found from computing in the cloud, organizations can reset provisions and software applications without influencing the rest of the business.

Downsides

Security and compliance:
A typical barrier for cloud computing adoption is security concerns followed by compliance issues. Another important concern is the ability to achieve compliance with security-related standards. The level of security available for the cloud exceeds most in-house, on premise solutions according to Tim Butler, director at Akeman Solutions Limited, a Hereford, England-based management consultancy and software business that works with advertising, design, marketing, PR, and market research agencies. 'All data can be encrypted both ways, and as with the odd rogue break-in to unsecure digital signage sites, the most the person on site could achieve is the change of one server rather than many.'

Not all cloud systems are the same and the potential customer needs to ask searching questions about flexibility, maturity, openness to the Internet (and dependence on it), and of course security. A good cloud-based digital-signage company should easily be able to provide answers to these. In the cloud-computing environment a true data center offers redundant Internet access, back-up power supply, a secure, virtualized server environment, and robust server hardware.

It's here to stay
Cloud-based digital signage gives a whole new angle to the digital signage market. No doubt the addition of video streaming and internet connectivity will soon be joined by location services and other tricks, making advertising to the masses ever more personalized.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/printing-articles/why-the-cloud-is-important-to-digital-signage-6617577.html

About the Author
MEX Exhibitions Pvt. Ltd. holds Media Expo that is an international exhibition on Indoor & Outdoor Advertising & Signage Solutions.

Cloud Computing From SMBs' Perspective: Present and Future

Cloud Computing From SMBs' Perspective: Present and Future


While more and more large enterprises are jumping on the 'cloudwagon', there is still apprehension amongst the small and medium sized businesses (SMB's), over whether cloud is here to stay or just a passing fad. SMB's still rely on big companies for "trial and error" of such new disruptive technology. The argument is that big businesses have big bucks to spend - and only when a technology or system is proven functional in large companies, do SMB's feel confident in adopting it.

Cloud Computing From SMBs' Perspective: Present and Future
Cloud Computing From SMBs' Perspective: Present and Future
However, these doubts are fast getting dispelled as more and more success stories of cloud adoption by SMB's are coming to light. Groupon is a great example of a company that grew rapidly with a minimal asset base by leveraging cloud solutions from providers like Salesforce.com and Amazon -- it manages a global user base of over 35 million in less than 5 years since inception.

In fact one school of thought is that factors core to cloud-based platforms -easy scalability, lower operational costs, faster implementation and quicker ROI, are more valuable to SMB's since face stiffer competition to survive, vis--vis their large counterparts.

Here are some major drivers for cloud adoption by SMB's:

1. Real time data access and ease of scalability
SMB's cannot afford expensive centralized data storage systems, which means their data is scattered across multiple computers and generally may not be remotely accessible. This can pose a significant challenge to SMB's as their business demands flexibility both in terms of use of staff and operations. Cloud based applications allow keeping all the data in a single repository from where it can be accessed easily and remotely 24x7. Additionally since the cloud-service provider owns upgrades and other changes to the application, the SMB can manage their IT operations with lean physical infrastructure and a skeletal support team.

Secondly easy ramp-up or ramp-down feature offered by most cloud providers enables SMB's to scale their resources to mirror their growth path.

2. Availability of end-to-end cloud solutions
Business processes such as storing and distributing data, creating and allotting tasks, communicating and collaborating with colleagues, are valuable for the success of any organization.. The surge in the number of business solutions on cloud platforms that are either end-to-end solutions or can be easily integrated with other complementary cloud solutions in the market, gives SMB's the benefit to leverage the cloud to the fullest extent for their business needs, at a fraction of the cost of traditional on premise solutions.

3. Greater security of data
It is believed Cloud based applications allow keeping data more secure than the small scale hardware storage facilities deployed by SMB's as data confidentiality and security is usually central to a cloud provider's value proposition.

4. Cost Benefits
It is important for SMB's to operate with minimal costs due to the competitive environment they are in. The Pay-per-use models offered by cloud applications means they have negligible upfront costs and can avail of the latest technology solutions with reasonable operating costs. This empowers SMB's to afford enterprise class solutions for their business needs.

All in all, cloud applications are here to stay and although it is still early days, it is clear that SMB's will need to adopt cloud technology in future if they want to stay ahead of challenges and competition.

Rishabh has a strong track record in developing cloud solutions for SMB's. To learn more talk to our experts at 1-877-4224-747 (1-877-RISHABH) or fill in the contact form.

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

http://EzineArticles.com/?Cloud-Computing-From-SMBs-Perspective:-Present-and-Future&id=7748142

Thursday, May 30, 2013

Cloud computing applications can increase your business revenue

Cloud computing applications can increase your business revenue


Are you getting up to date with latest technologies? Do you know about the new applications that can enhance your business revenue? Yes, if you know about these technologies, you must implement cloud computing application in your organization. These days, IT industry is gaining more popularity with new profit margins and with increasing business requirements. Many IT professionals are combating to develop new innovative technologies to increase the organizational growth and efficiency. Cloud computing offers various computing services and deployment models through online. It is the effective technology to increase the industrial competency with its advanced features and provides many services to enhance the storage capacity.

Cloud computing applications can increase your business revenue

Cloud computing applications can increase your business revenue



In today's business life, most of the organizations are facing issues to store their valuable data. But, they have the limited no of capacity infrastructure and hence, they are unable to store it securely. Cloud computing can provide infrastructure as a service through online to increase the data storage and protection. It also offers software as service to provide many applications and programs. With these applications, you can make many business requirements as these are efficient to develop various programs. Platform as a service is also provided by the cloud technology to offer various platforms which helps you in creating several applications.

These are cloud computing application services to augment the growth and performance of the organization. Infrastructure service is used to maintain the data as it provides infrastructures like servers, networking connections, online storage space and many more. These are cost effective services, hence small organizations can also maintain their valuable information through online storage space. These cloud technologies are managed by the service providers, who offer these services to the organizations. These are provided based on the pay per usage option. These service providers can also manage the large amount of information on their online storage servers with a password protection feature.

Most of the people deem that online storage is not safe for their organizational data, but it is just a misconception. You can choose private cloud computing to store the access the data in this cloud computing service. These private services are provided to the registered customers. However, most of the IT firms choose private computing to maintain their confidential information. They also use various services and protect them using the registered user credentials. In short, these application services are available for less expensive costs to save the organizational operational costs.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/information-technology-articles/cloud-computing-applications-can-increase-your-business-revenue-6614157.html

About the Author
Kirti Saxena is a web enthusiast and a writer. Kirti has afforded her articles and write-ups autonomously and through various online forums.

For more information on Cloud computing applications & Public cloud infrastructure

Cloud computing architecture can increase the organizational potency

Cloud computing architecture can increase the organizational potency


IT is a well-known trade among commercial business services with new technologies. Within the industrial business world, most of the organizations are becoming galvanized by this trade to boost the business. These days, at the side of the business, data is growing in great amount. To store and maintain this information, most of the organizations are in need of implementing servers as their basic storage devices. But, these servers might not store immense amount of information because of minimum storage capacity. Hence, several technologies and services are enforced in IT industry to meet the commercial necessities.

Cloud computing architecture can increase the organizational potency

Cloud computing is one of these technologies to overcome all the industrial challenges like data storage, rapid delivery service and many more to increase the industrial potency and scalability. Cloud computing architecture maintains the sub components and components that are related to the cloud computing. The main components of this architecture consist of a back end platform and front end platform. These two components connect using network connections through online. The front end platform is the side of the client and computer user and the back end platform is the side of cloud computing service, storage server and many more. These are cost effective services, hence small organizations can also maintain their valuable information through online storage space.

This architecture also includes various services such as software as a service (SaaS), development as a service (DaaS), platform as a service (PaaS) and infrastructure as a service (IaaS). These are cloud based delivery services to enhance the growth and performance of the industry. SaaS is the service model that manages the maintenance and installation of the software in the cloud server. This service can run by the users through internet. DaaS contains web based development tools to maintain the applications.  PaaS can also provide the computing platform to develop the application and databases. IaaS is the virtual hardware service provided by this technology. It allows users to store and maintain the organizational data.
Cloud networking is also a part of computing architecture. It has many network layers that offer high bandwidth network, agile network and security. High bandwidth can allow users to access the applications and information uninterruptedly. Agile network is the on demand access to the users. It is capable of moving the resources effectively among servers and even clouds.  Security is always essential for any organization especially, when you are sharing public computing. Hence, network security is important for any organizations to maintain the confidentiality.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/information-technology-articles/cloud-computing-architecture-can-increase-the-organizational-potency-6614171.html

About the Author
Kirti Saxena is a web enthusiast and a writer. Kirti has afforded her articles and write-ups autonomously and through various online forums.

For more information on Cloud computing architecture & Public cloud platform

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

The 10 Essentials of Cloud Integration

The 10 Essentials of Cloud Integration


If we sum up all the different systems and technology solutions used in an organization, we get an astounding number. Moreover, the world seems to be dominated by the cloud these days. This makes it very important to integrate cloud with the systems and IT solutions used by an organization. Now the problem is how to integrate the multitude of technology solutions with the cloud without affecting the efficiency of the solution.

The 10 Essentials of Cloud Integration

The 10 Essentials of Cloud Integration



1. Cloud Consulting
The first step towards cloud integration is consulting IT technicians and understanding how important integration is for your organization and what is the best way to achieve it. Many cloud consulting companies offer cloud integration as a service and ensure timely and effective integration processes.

2. Cloud Vendors
Cloud service vendors offer varied range of solutions, all designed to give you a cloud infrastructure. When selecting a cloud vendor, you must take note of its flexibility, updates, allocation of resources and security to ensure you are safe against the dynamic and chaotic cloud technology.

3. Cloud Strategy
After consultation, comes strategizing. You need to devise a roadmap for cloud integration that includes data integration, Software as a service (SaaS) integration and various other software integrations. This strategy can go through many defining and refining processes before you reach your end goal.

4. Data Integration
Most enterprises begin with the use of cloud integration for processing their large volumes of data. Data integration is the most important process whether in the cloud or on premises as it is the life and blood of any organization. You can prioritize your integrations and then begin the cloud integration process. While integrating data in the cloud, you must remember you provide an efficient architecture for it to keep it running smoothly.

5. Cloud Data Storage
Data integration into cloud means ample space requirement for data storage. You need to ensure the available storage interface is suitable for you. Also be doubly sure about the pricing model and storage types.

6. Security and Compliance
The most important aspect during cloud integration is to check the security and regulatory compliance. The cloud platform you will be using must be secure and conform to federation and government rules.

7. Inter-relationships of Systems
Most systems are inter-related to each other. For instance, your accounting software is related with your purchase and sales software and in turn they are related to your Content Management System (CMS). You need to define your data semantics and their relationship with each other in order to reach the best integration solution possible.

8. 360-degree Cloud Computing Migration
Whether you want to integrate SaaS, Infrastructure as a service (IaaS) or Platform as a service (PaaS) to cloud-based systems, you need to define a sound approach towards cloud-based technology that encompasses all your systems and gives you a one-stop solution.

9. Multi-tenant User Separation
Once you have moved all your systems and products into the cloud, you need to ensure that they provide multi-tenant operations. This allows users to have spate accounts and ensure all systems are separately configured and managed.

10. Up-to-date Solutions
When it comes to cloud integration, the technology changes faster than you can say 'cloud computing.' Therefore it is very important for you to understand that you are using up-to-date solutions. This doesn't mean that you need to update every year or so but using the latest solutions offers you higher ROI, as much as $10 for every $1.

Cloud integration can provide you with various benefits mentioned in my last blog post (10 Reasons to go on the Cloud). To know about the services provided by Rishabh Software under cloud integration, call us at 1-877-RISHABH (1-877-747-4224).

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

http://EzineArticles.com/?The-10-Essentials-of-Cloud-Integration&id=7557743

Sunday, May 26, 2013

5 Ways You May Already Be Using the Cloud

5 Ways You May Already Be Using the Cloud


The cloud has been something of a hot topic for the past year or so in the technology world, with many articles and news pieces heralding how everyone and everything will soon 'make the move' into the cloud. Despite this almost constant tech-news coverage many people are still confused about what 'the cloud' actually means and can feel unsure about how it can be of benefit. Research has even shown that some people think that cloud computing is something to do with the weather! This confusion and reticence about the cloud in many people's personal lives can carry over into the business world and can, in some cases, create barriers to implementing and benefiting from the cloud in a business setting. If you are a regular internet user it is very likely that you are already using the cloud in one way or another. Understanding how you may already be using the cloud can be help to show how 'the cloud' can be translated to the business sector.

5 Ways You May Already Be Using the Cloud
5 Ways You May Already Be Using the Cloud


1. Collaboration

The internet has revolutionised how we are able to work together and share things with each other. With the click of a button we can share presentations, documents and files with friends, family and colleagues whether they are sitting at a computer next to you or on the other side of the world. If you have used a document sharing service, like Google Docs, or a file hosting service, like SkyDrive to share files and documents with people you know then you have been using the cloud. Services like Google Docs and SkyDrive store your files and documents in the cloud so that they can be accessed from anywhere and so that you can allow other users to view them and make changes.

The cloud can also be particularly useful for accessing your own files when you are on the move or on a different computer. You can also make use of the cloud to access your bookmarks and preferences. Bookmarking websites like Delicious or Google Bookmarks will store your favourite websites in the cloud and let you login to view and edit them from anywhere. Equally some browsers have the functionality to keep your bookmarks, history and even current tabs in the cloud so that they are at your fingertips if you use a different computer.

2. Storage

One of the key uses of the cloud is for storage. There are a large variety of storage options to choose from with new options appearing each month. Sites like Dropbox, Google Drive and MediaFire allow you to store your files and access them from anywhere through the cloud. Many of these options will allow you to store a number of gigabytes of data for free. Utilising cloud storage can be a great way to store your files and to free up space on your own computer. Files, especially music and video, can take up a large amount of space on your hard drive and can be difficult to fit on a USB stick. Storing files in the cloud means you can view and use them whenever you like. Many people also use the cloud and storage services as a backup for their data - keeping a copy of your data in the cloud in case anything goes wrong with your computer.

3. Entertainment

You may not have realised how many forms of entertainment now use the cloud to reach new audiences. A large proportion of internet users will spend time catching up with their favourite TV shows online or watching films on demand. Services that offer TV programmes and films to watch over the internet, like Netflix, iPlayer or 4oD make use of the cloud to bring these services to a wide audience. Music streaming websites like Spotify or internet radio stations like Pandora are also cloud-based services. The cloud means that large amounts of data and files can be stored and can be accessed by a huge user-base - a perfect solution for media-streaming websites and services.

The gaming industry is also making a concerted move towards the cloud. Many online games are already hosted in the cloud and are played through the internet but console and computer games are following closely behind. A number of cloud gaming services have been set up in the past few years and may be closely involved in changing the gaming industry. With cloud gaming you can benefit from more powerful processing speeds and better graphic rendering without needing your computer to have top end specifications. More information about cloud gaming can be found here.

4. Communication

One of the simplest ways of using the cloud that you may not have realised is email. Most web based email programs, such as Hotmail (now Outlook), Gmail and Yahoo Mail, are effectively a form of cloud computing. Your emails and contacts are not stored on your local machine, instead they are stored in the cloud, which enables you to check your email from anywhere. The cloud is a key part of many forms of internet communication. Skype, the popular video-chat and instant messaging service, makes use of the cloud so that its millions of users can all inter-connect with each other. Other unified communications platforms are also utilising the cloud to deliver their services, for example Hosted Lync is Microsoft's unified communication platform hosted in the cloud.

5. Social Networking

Many social networking sites are reaching millions of users and making use of the cloud is a sensible way for them to keep their services available and reliable. So every time you like a post on Facebook or write a tweet, you are using the cloud. In a similar vein photo sharing websites like Instagram and Flickr are also cloud-based services. It is down to the cloud that you are able to share your Instagram snaps with your friends from your mobile and as a result of cloud storage that you can back up and display your pictures through Flickr. If you pin something to a board in Pinterest, the image is part of a website that is hosted in the cloud. You may not think that you are using the cloud in your day to day life but it is highly probable that you are even if you don't realise it.

© Izzy Evans 2013

There are many different ways to use the cloud, these can include using a SaaS solution, a public cloud or a private cloud.

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

http://EzineArticles.com/?5-Ways-You-May-Already-Be-Using-the-Cloud&id=7645844

Saturday, May 25, 2013

The future of retail Industry - Cloud Computing

The future of retail Industry - Cloud Computing

Author: Sonu Raj

Cloud computing is amazingly flexible and versatile computing model that can be customized in various ways to deploy its functionality. Cloud computing has now started to make its presence felt in almost all business sectors, especially in retail business. Cloud computing and cloud software solutions are becoming integral parts of the functioning of various retail stores. This can be regarded as one of the most vital paradigm shift in the field of Information technology since the introduction of client - server based technologies in early 1980s. The major reasons behind the growing popularity of cloud software solutions are the agility & scalability that cloud based solutions give to the business while reducing the related costs.

The future of retail Industry - Cloud Computing

The future of retail Industry - Cloud Computing

Also, if we analyze the current market scenario, it becomes quite lucidly evident that retail industry is one of the largest sectors in current economy. Retail industry has achieved significant growth & development and is still progressing by leaps & bounds. Retail industry is embracing cloud software solutions. There are numerous IT companies that are offering retail solutions on cloud as it allows these retail giants to manage the costs effectively and efficiently. For example, a retail business corporation instead of purchasing the rights for a particular software for all the systems where it is needed to be used can opt for an alternative cloud software solution SAAS (Software as a Service) which allows purchasing and using the software on requirement basis. This implies, they need to pay for the amount of time they used the particular software no matter on how many computer systems it was used.

Also, the retail solutions on cloud allow a retail business house to share software units, infrastructure and data through internet. This capability of cloud computing with which it shares software and infrastructure is known as PAAS (Platform as a service). This feature can help the retail businesses to save considerable amount of money. Moreover, it helps in channelizing various aspects of business. There are many other aspects in which cloud computing can prove very effective in the field of retail business. Cloud computing certainly has a long term future as far as the retail industry is concerned. There are plethora of ways in which cloud computing can prove itself not only useful but quite efficient in reducing significant amount of expenditures, thus in increasing the profitability. You can certainly leverage any sort of investment that you make in this imminent technology.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/software-articles/the-future-of-retail-industry-cloud-computing-6608200.html

About the Author
A R Software (p) Ltd have used this technology to develop our world class application Vesture that helps you to automate all of your business operations (Pos, Crm, finace, payroll, sourcing, warehousing, replenishment, Loyalty, production, T&A and much more).

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Cloud computing gaining popularity in San Diego and California

Cloud computing gaining popularity in San Diego and California

Author: jonstewart

But it involves huge costs under the head called infrastructure and the businesses look for an alternative that not only reduces the infrastructural costs but also performs the tasks efficiently.One such alternative is in the form of cloud computing which is nothing but a set up that involves outsourcing of the basic infrastructure of the computer which is its hardware and the software. Cloud computing San Diego is a popular business practice and the businesses utilise this service in order to increase their profit returns.

Cloud computing gaining popularity

Cloud computing gaining popularity



The cloud computing California or cloud computing San Diego is a modern technique that calls for sharing of services between various businesses. A business need not invest separately in erecting an infrastructure to carry out its IT operations and can opt to use the common platform to avail the services. The payment scheme is easy and one needs to pay per use which out to be much less than the infrastructural costs at the end of the day. The cloud computing set up has three components viz. application software, platform and the infrastructure.

The cloud computing service providers manage the platform and the infrastructure so as to facilitate the convenient usage of the software by the common users. The individual users of this facility use it through the internet (web browsers), personal computers or mobile phone application software (apps). The cloud computing San Diego and the cloud computing California are increasingly accepted as a measure to reduce the business costs without compromising on the work efficiency as well as the work quality. The cloud computing providers are the service providers who run the business of maintaining and managing the IT set up for the businesses to run smoothly and without facing any undue ups and downs caused due to fluctuating situations in the businesses.

It is very efficient to work on a cloud computer but at the risk of data leakage to the unknown persons or even the rival businesses as the data of the businesses lie on a single server under the head database. If this problem is taken care of the cloud computing can be entrusted with the task of outsourcing the basic functions related to the computer or IT category. The computers that are far away in a remote location can also use this service to kick start their business without investing a huge sum of money in the same. So,how about reducing the business costs in a technologically equipped way and relieving one' self from the tension of maintaining the large IT infrastructure independently?

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/cell-phones-articles/cloud-computing-gaining-popularity-in-san-diego-and-california-6605170.html

About the Author
Jonstewart is author of this website and writes articles since long time. For further details about cloud computing san diego and cloud computing california please visit the website.