Friday, October 30, 2015

Hybrid Cloud Vendors





In the world of information technology, it seems that every few years a new concept comes along that emerges as being the next great leap in technology. One of the current concepts that fits that description in the IT world is called cloud computing. However, before a company decides that it will embrace cloud computing, it needs to make sure that it understands all the implications of this new offering. As with most technologies, there are many benefits that can be gained, but along with understanding the benefits, the business risks must also be evaluated. When making this evaluation, it is important to keep in mind not only the short term needs, but the long term objectives and goals of the organization. In recent years, the Obama administration has pushed for all federal agencies to investigate cloud computing to see if it will benefit each agency. "The Federal CIO Council under the guidance of the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the Federal Chief Information Officer (CIO), Vivek Kundra, established the Cloud Computing Initiative to fulfill the President's objectives for cloud computing."5 With the recent push from the current administration, cloud computing is expected to grow by leaps and bounds over the next few years. In some studies, there are predictions that "cloud services will reach $44.2 billion in 2013, up from $17.4 billion of today, according to research firm IDC."4 This paper will lay out the considerations that an organization should consider at before making a decision to use or dismiss cloud computing at the present time.
Overview of Cloud Computing:
"Cloud Computing is a model for enabling convenient, on-demand network-based access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interactions."2 This definition is one of many that have been introduced within the IT industry, but what does this actually mean? The concept of a cloud can be looked at as a "leasing-versus-owning concept - an operational expense versus a capital one."4
To understand the cloud computing concept more clearly, let us compare it to a more common concept: paying for electric utility. Each month, a household or business utilizes a certain amount of electricity which is monitored by a company and the consumer is billed based on their usage. If each household had their own power source, that would be congruent with non-cloud computing; there is no central power source that households take advantage of. If, as is the standard case, households buy their power from a consolidated power source (e.g. a power plant), that would be like taking advantage of a cloud; many users sharing a resource to fulfill their independent needs. Using this simple example, the cloud would be similar to the power plant, providing either infrastructure or software to customers on pay-per-use basis.
Some experts may disagree, but in many regards, cloud computing is similar to the way that computers were used when they first entered the market. At the advent of computers, computers (and associated facilities) were extraordinarily expensive and only owned by a few select organizations such as universities or the government. Few had the expertise to support a separate computing facility in house. Therefore, companies would lease time on computing resources provided by a small number of providers, only purchasing what they needed for what they were working on. In a similar model, cloud computing introduces the concept of buying resources as needed, and similar to the past, the resources can be accessed from a remote location. Key differences include quality of service, and variety of services offered by cloud computing vendors.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) serves as a guide towards helping government agencies achieve cloud. NIST's cloud model "promotes availability and is composed of five essential characteristics, three service models, and four deployment models."2 As this paper continues, each of these components will be addressed.
Development Models:
Prior to being able to evaluate if cloud computing is a good fit for a given organization, the general concepts of cloud computing must be understood. There are a number of different deployment models as well as applications of clouds that make up a cloud environment. The cloud deployment models include: public cloud, community cloud, private cloud and hybrid cloud. There are strengths and weaknesses to each deployment model as it relates to the specific case that a cloud is being considered for use with. The following provides a summary understanding of each deployment model so that one can be chosen to move forward with consideration of cloud implementation.
Public Cloud
"Made available to the general public or a large industry group and is owned by an organization selling cloud services"2
A public cloud is owned by a third party vendor that sells, or offers free of service, a cloud that can be used by the general public. A public cloud is the quickest to setup within an organization, but it also has a limited amount of transparency and limits the amount of customization.
Community Cloud
"Shared by several organization and supports specific community that has shared concerns" 2
A community cloud is an architecture that is established when a group of organizations come together to share resources. A community cloud is a mini public cloud, but only a select group of organizations will be authorized to use the cloud. In contrast to the public cloud, it will generally be more expensive since it will only be used within a smaller group of organizations and all of the infrastructure must be established. A community cloud is a great choice for a group of organizations, such as a group of federal agencies that desire to share resources but want to have more control over security and insight into the cloud itself.
Private Cloud
"Operated solely for an organization" 2
A private cloud is one that is established to support a small singular organization. There is much debate if a private cloud should be considered a cloud at all, as the infrastructure and management of the cloud remains within the organization.
Hybrid Cloud
"Composition of two or more clouds (private, community or public) that remain unique entities but are bound together by standardized or proprietary technology that enable technology that enables data and application portability."2
A hybrid cloud allows for some of the resources to be managed by a public cloud environment, while others are managed internally by a private cloud. This will normally be used by an organization that wants to allow itself to have the scalability features that a public cloud offers, but will want to keep mission critical or private data internal to the organization.
Service Models:
In addition to the platform on which a cloud will be deployed, there are a variety of different applications of cloud. There are three major types of cloud services, Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). Described below are the concepts between the varying types of cloud models.
Software as a Service (SaaS):
"Delivers software over internet without need to install and run applications on the customers own computers" 2
SaaS allows applications to be used by customers over the internet to complete business processes. SaaS is not a new concept; for example, "Salesforce.com has been providing on-demand software for customers since 1999."6 The advantage of SaaS is the software is run from one centralized location, which means that that the software can be accessed from any location over the internet. The other benefit of having the software managed in one location is that the patches and updates only need to be done once, eliminating the time consuming need to conduct software updates on every machine. Lastly, SaaS is generally "on-demand" which means that an organization does not have to commit to enterprise licenses.
Platform as a Service (PaaS):
"Delivers a computing platform and/or solution stack as a service, often consuming cloud infrastructure and sustaining cloud applications" 2
The PaaS is a platform that helps to deliver an environment where a user can use the clouds to develop new applications without the need to have the software or infrastructure purchased in-house. The consumer will have control of the applications that are running on the cloud, but will not have control of the infrastructure that it is running on. In essence, PaaS provides "anything needed to support how a company builds and delivers Web applications and services in the cloud."3
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS):
"Delivers computer infrastructure, typically platform virtualization environment as a service. It's an evolution of virtual private server offerings." 2
IaaS is using the cloud to supply the infrastructure that would normally have to be procured by a singular organization to run an organizations IT infrastructure. Included in the infrastructure are such things as servers, memory and storage that allow a customer to scale up or down as necessary. The infrastructure can than be used by customers to run their own software with only the amount of resources that are needed at a given moment in time. In the past, companies would often have to purchase a huge infrastructure to support a periodic spike in the need for resources, leaving the servers and networks idle for much of the remaining time. With IaaS, resources will not be wasted, because only what is needed at a given moment is utilized. The customers to the cloud service have control over the operating systems and applications, but don't manage the cloud infrastructure.
Pros and Cons of Cloud Computing:
Now that the basic concepts of cloud computing are understood, an organization needs to consider all of the impacts that cloud will influence. As one might expect, there are a number of considerations that need to be weighed to decide if an implementation of cloud computing is the best approach for a given organization.
Advantages:
There are many advantages that can be gained from the use of cloud computing. Cloud computing is built upon the idea of economies of scale. The great thing about the concept of cloud is the potential cost-savings benefits that can be gained for a small startup, large company, or even an entire federal agency.
Cloud computing eliminates the usual high up-front cost that companies often cannot afford, allows for "infinite" resources on-demand, and provides the ability to pay for resources as they are needed. It also removes the need for special facilities and highly trained personnel dedicated to IT and the need to continually upgrade hardware and software as technology moves on and company requirements change.
In general, the use of cloud computing should reduce costs by companies paying for only the resources that are needed. Many companies do not know what the demand will be for their IT infrastructure, which previously meant that companies either over-bought servers or were overwhelmed by demand that could not be handled; leading to a loss of customers or degradation of service to their customers. In either scenario, there is a detrimental impact because money was inefficiently expensed on unnecessary hardware and/or potential sales were lost.
Maintenance of software can be just as big an expense for organizations as the initial purchase. With the use of cloud computing, software updates and backups are made without the organization having to spend time and money on these activities. This helps to alleviate many of the technical burdens that are often put on companies and allows them to concentrate on their core competencies while still gaining the advantage of having the most up-to-date version software.
Cloud computing allows a company to operate in an elastic fashion. Resources can be scaled up or down as needed by a project, consumer demand or operating need. The elasticity that is gained by cloud computing allows projects to proceed in a manner that is appropriate, without the time consuming and costly delays that the purchase of hardware and software has through the procurement process. Resources can be quickly provisioned/de-provisioned, which should result in a lower investment cost.
The use of cloud is looked at as an environmentally friendly approach. Currently, there are a huge number of server farms that operate to serve individual organizational needs. With cloud computing, a single server farm can support a large number of different entities, potentially reducing power requirements, emissions, and disposal of old electronics.
Disadvantages:
A company may think that cloud computing is unquestionably the way to go, but there are a number of concerns that need to be taken into consideration before a company elects to implement cloud computing. The main concerns inherent in cloud computing include security, privacy, reliability and cost.
Security is by far the most common reason that an organization states for not moving forward with cloud. Many organizations ask: "who would trust their essential data out there somewhere?" The amount of security control that an organization will have depends on the type of cloud structure that is adopted; private, public or community. The amount of security control is highest in a private cloud and lowest in a public one. While a cloud environment might be just as secure as a non-cloud, there is limited transparency into the cloud which escalates the worry of security. Along the same lines, there is also a concern by many organizations about the amount of privacy that a cloud environment could potentially lack. The third party vendor that is supplying the cloud could potentially access a company's sensitive information, which increases the risk of a privacy breach.
Reliability is a huge concern for many organizations; having a service down for even a few minutes a year could be very costly or even cause a safety concern. Cloud takes the control of reliability out of the hands of the organization and puts it into the hands of the cloud vendor. It is important that service level agreements are established with the cloud vendor to make sure the reliability requirements are agreed upon by both parties upfront.
In some organizations, especially within the government, there are reporting laws that make it so a cloud option might "not be an acceptable solution due to government regulations such as Sarbanes-Oxley and Health and Human Services Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA)".1 In addition, there are many regulations that prevent sensitive data from being transmitted beyond the borders of a nation. Cloud computing farms are general built in locations that offer the lowest possible cost, many times outside the borders of the customer's nation. Currently, clouds are being established that alleviate this concern, but as a result, the cost of using the cloud vendor increases.
While the "advantage" section mentioned how cloud computing was a way to lower costs, this is not always the case. The initial cost of utilizing a cloud will be lower, but the lifetime costs could be much higher due to the continual expense of paying for service. Lastly, there is always the concern the business that is selling the cloud services goes out of business. Cloud applications from one provider will generally not be compatible with other providers' clouds; thus limiting an organization's options if they needed to change providers for some reason.
Cloud Implementation:
The first step that needs to be taken before deciding to implement a cloud within an organization is deciding if cloud is the right fit. The proper analysis needs to be conducted to include: cost, time, risk, benefits and interoperability. The cloud environment could be a great revolution for a given organization, but it is not a one-size-fits-all solution. If flexibility and scalability are an organization's paramount needs, cloud is likely an optimal solution. In organizations that have high concerns for security and privacy, cloud might be a viable IT solution, but an in-depth analysis of the tradeoffs needs to be conducted. The length of time that an application or infrastructure will be commissioned should be a factor in deciding if cloud is an appropriate model. For a short duration project, cloud is likely an excellent candidate due to the fact that the infrastructure does not need to be procured. In the case of a long term implementation, cloud might still be a very viable option due to the fact that demand often fluctuates. This being the case, if demand is steady, a procurement of the hardware might a better option, considering cloud normally has a higher cost per transaction.
After it has been decided that a cloud environment is the correct fit, the layer of cloud that will be implemented needs to be selected: SaaS, PaaS or IaaS. Each of the differing layers brings with it entirely different questions. Following the selection of the layer, the type of platform that the cloud will be deployed on needs to be chosen: public, community, private or hybrid.
It is important to take into consideration the entire life cycle cost of implementing cloud. Without much question, the initial cost of implementing a cloud will be lower, but since costs are paid for on a per-use basis, the cost over the entire lifetime of could potentially be higher with cloud. When developing the cost estimate to establish an IT infrastructure without cloud, it is essential that cost beyond the initial purchase of the hardware and software are taken into account. With cloud, especially in the public cloud, there is a large reduction in the costs for updates/patches, maintenance and reductions in staff, all factors that need to be taken into consideration when doing a fair comparison. Simply put, opportunity cost must be determined for moving to a cloud and a decision should be made based on the needs of the organization.
Summary:
In summary, cloud computing has the potential to change the way organizations view and deal with IT needs. As the private and government sectors continually look for ways to reduce costs, cloud is an approach that needs to be evaluated. In general, the cost of this type of infrastructure will be lower, but to some degree at the expense of customization and control over security in the organization's IT structure. By fully investigating all of the considerations and options presented in this paper, an organization will be well positioned to make a smart decision on cloud computing for their current and future needs.
Article Source: http://www.cloudcomputingroundtable.com
Works Cited:
[1]Armbrust, Michael, et al. "A View of Cloud Computing." Communications of the ACM 53.4 (2010): 50-58. Business Source Premier. EBSCO. Web. 25 Oct. 2010.
[2]Grance, Mell, and Peter Mell. "The NIST Definition of Cloud Computing Version 15." 7 Oct. 2009.
[3]Lahey, David, and Taylor MacDonald. "Three flavors of cloud." Accounting Today 24.10 (2010): 22. Business Source Premier. EBSCO. Web. 25 Oct. 2010.
[4]McCafferty, Dennis. "Cloudy Skies: Public Versus Private Option Still Up in the." Baseline 103 (2010): 28-33. Business Source Premier. EBSCO. Web. 25 Oct. 2010.
[5]US General Services Administration. "Cloud FAQs." Apps.gov. Web. 25 Oct. 2010.
[6]Yan, Han. "On the Clouds: A New Way of Computing." Information Technology & Libraries 29.2 (2010): 87-92. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 25 Oct. 2010.
-Eric Carlson
[http://www.cloudcomputingroundtable.com]
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Eric_M_Carlson/1002796

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6138301

hybrid cloud solution

 

Hybrid cloud solution

Due to the changing demands in business operations, the achievement of better performance, integrity and a far better accessibility of data for any organization's proprietary information is very vital. Cloud computing is very appealing considering its economic viability. In the execution of applications in the cloud, security becomes a priority concern, especially for tasks which affect the achievement of an entire organization's goals.Cloud security, with specific focus on key management, is sure to be one of the main questions asked by any enterprise as it considers moving applications and storing data in the cloud. The concept of cloud computing is full of complex considerations as organizations first begin their journey.
How will their all-important keys be managed and will the data be encrypted to a high standard?
Key management is assumed by cloud providers in a very critical view. There are multiple solutions that store credentials inside and outside the cloud within a secure infrastructure depending upon the purchasing organizations cloud security needs. Plenty of providers are very much concerned with security of information both from the legal and data intrusion perspective. Is the data encrypted to a level sufficient to avoid access by potential hackers?
Is it possible for an independent attorney to provide a legal instrument such as a subpoena to gain access to data through the cloud system? Organizational system separation is maintained by some cloud security providers. This would be protecting a system from being accessed by a third party through an integrated system that would be key to preventing data from being compromised. Some key management and cloud security items to consider:
1. Advanced Encryption Standards should be used for keys to protect from acts of malicious intent. All customer encryption and authentication credentials in should be stored in an AES256-encrypted database with no encryption keys stored in the credentials management zone.
2. Every customer should have a unique access keys to prevent encroachment on others' data.
3. Keys should be stored outside the cloud infrastructure provider and only used when necessary. The public cloud infrastructure should be viewed as hostile territory.
4. Not one cloud provider or provider for management solution should have any access to sensitive information or keys.
5. When it comes to sensitive information, there is a high level of necessity to consider backup encryption and file system.
Sustainability is very important, as it pertains to the day-to-day operations of a cloud security company. A meaningful and logically solution is required when it comes to key management.
Appropriate questions must be asked of a cloud service provider and the selection of appropriate partner should only be made on the basis of a clear understanding of the integrity of the entire solution. The process of hosting, administering, and allowing access to the relevant keys should be clear-cut and watertight.
The benefits of public cloud infrastructures have been well documented; scale, flexibility, and reduced capital expenses & operational costs. Cloud security will continue to evolve and improve and be high priority to an enterprise that has tight IT policies and procedures. A wider acceptance and mainstreaming of the concept of cloud security is expected, along with its increased benefits.
Cloud Consulting Services from enStratus assists you in your migration into the cloud. enStratus can help you design a deployment to meet your target SLA's and address issues such as scaling parameters, cloud security and cloud compliance. Learn more about how enStratus delivers reliability for applications in the cloud at http://www.enstratus.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/George_Hadjiyanis/577663

Cloud security as a service

Cloud security as a service


Although the use of cloud computing is growing day by day, a lot of people are concerned about the issue of security. A large number of people don't like the idea of their sensitive information being stored online.

There have been some major security issues in the past because hackers have been able to get into various systems and take some sensitive information such as bank details, health records and more. While it is realistic to have such concerns, you should be aware that most cloud service providers are ethical companies that want to provide a secure environment to all of their customers.

A cloud service provider will work hard to make sure the infrastructure is secure and there's no chance of any information leaking out. You will find that there are some very complex systems these companies employ so that nothing is leaked to or stolen by anyone who should not have it.

It's also up to the customers to ensure they use a reputable company who takes security seriously. It's often fairly easy to tell the difference between those who are serious about your private bits of information and those who aren't.

Types Of Controls

There are 4 different types of controls that are used by cloud service providers, they are:

    Corrective controls - these are controls that start to work as soon as an attack is taking place. They will help to deter the attack and build a wall around the sensitive information so it cannot be reached.
    Preventative controls - these controls take a look at the vulnerabilities in the system and they work on them so any damaged is kept to a minimum.
    Deterrent controls - these are the controls that work to keep hackers and viruses out of the system. Although they only act as a warning, they can and do help to make a difference to the amount of attacks that take place.
    Detective controls - these controls are constantly on the lookout for any attack and if they come across any they will tell the corrective and preventative controls to leap into action.

Gone are the days when someone could easily hack into your computer and add a virus to one of your programs. These days it's a very complicated subject that requires a lot of effort to get into programs that are being used. If you add cloud computing to the equation you will make things a lot harder for the hackers to access the files and programs you need.

Cloud computing continues to be one of the safest methods of computing around. Each and every day, cloud service providers work hard to ensure that safety compromises are kept to a minimum. Although you may occasionally have to pay to use cloud computing services, they are very secure and reliable. Plus the information that you need to work with day to day can be accessed within a very short space of time. There are no huge cloud security issues, so you might want to think about switching to the cloud today.

There are many cloud service providers out there. The right provider depends largely on what type of service you require. If you need online storage you may look at something like Dropbox, SugarSync, Google Drive or Skydrive. If you're looking for business oriented service you may look into a service provider that delivers multiple cloud services like www.nirix.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Jason_Laurens/1447578

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7442763

Public or Private Clouds wich one is the best?

 Public or Private Clouds wich one is the best?

As an alternative to the three tiered classification of cloud based services - Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS) - cloud computing can also be classified based upon how the underlying networks are implemented and accessed by the client. The following article provides and overview of the two principle models Public and Private Clouds.
These models do not describe strict architectures and so a variety of configurations can be employed to achieve each model of cloud computing. Furthermore, each model can be used to offer each tier of cloud service as mentioned above.
Public Cloud
When most people think of cloud computing they think of a typical public cloud model where the services on offer are available to public customers through a public network, usually the internet. The accessibility of this model allows for cloud services to be supplied to a mass market and for the provider to centralise/pool (and share) the physical computing resource they require to offer the services; utilising virtualisation where they need to establish operating environments. As a result, consumers and providers of public cloud services can benefit from considerable economies of scale to reduce their costs as well as sheer scalability to respond to fluctuations in demand.
Public cloud services can often be free to the consumer, funded for example by advertising, however where a charge is applied they usually follow a pay as you go (PAYG) type model - that is the consumer is supplied with the computing resource they need as and when they need it and are only charged for what they use. Many of the cloud services that are most familiar to the general consumer, particularly Software as a Service (SaaS) applications such as Google Docs (cloud based 'office' applications), Gmail (web based email) or Dropbox (cloud storage), fall under the public cloud model.
For some consumers, the mechanisms of the public cloud which bring such cost savings and widespread availability can also bring undesired security vulnerabilities. Although the security of these services is always improving, the fact that data is transferred across public networks and stored on shared physical and/or virtual servers may provide obstacles to some clients using the public cloud for processing sensitive data. Instead they might look towards to private cloud services.
Private Cloud
Cloud clients who are handling, processing or storing sensitive data that they need ensure remains private and secure and who want to take advantage of some of the cost, availability and scalability benefits that cloud computing usually offers, can utilise private cloud services as an alternative to the public cloud.
The concept of a private cloud is harder to define than that of public cloud and no strict definition really exists. It is best to categorise private clouds by some of the features that they provide and the issues that they address in comparison to public services, such as data security and ownership control (of servers etc), rather than the mechanisms they use. They will of course also display the tell-tale features of cloud computing in general - virtualisation, instantaneous scalability, PAYG charging and automated allocation of resources on demand.
The entirety of a private cloud will only be accessible by a single organisation (in contrast to multiple clients using services within the public cloud) and some examples therefore also allow the end user organisation to have control over the management of the cloud network and its set-up so that they can tailor it to their own needs. The flip side of this control however is that some of the cost savings generated by the centralised management of public cloud services will be lost in private clouds. Instead the service becomes closer in structure to a traditional local network based service, but with the benefits of virtualisation mentioned above.
The network of servers itself can be hosted internally by the organisation (as required by some regulatory bodies for sensitive data) or externally by a cloud provider (e.g., a Virtual Data Centre, VDC ) but access will be restricted to connections made behind the organisation's firewall. To provide the security and control private clouds can employ certain characteristics techniques including closed networks of servers (not shared between clients), hosting of servers on site and leased lines to access these networks where they are hosted off site.
© Stuart Mitchell 2012
To find out more about how the various cloud computing models can be utilised by your business you can visit VDC.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Stuart_P_Mitchell/923725

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7237074

private cloud management

 

Private cloud management

Cloud services offers an alternative to traditional hosted services, providing services through the medium of the internet and a single connection to the online world.
It is based around the idea of outsourcing the computing resources that consumers require. Companies will rent out the use of their hardware or software to consumers who wish to use their services. Through a secure web browser, you very simply connect to whichever services you need to use at any given time, whilst the provider deals with all the technicalities that come with hosting. It removes the day-to-day hassle of IT management and allows, particularly new companies, the flexibility that can be essential whilst looking to grow a business.
A cloud service provides three beneficial aspects compared with traditional hosting services that businesses have been heavily reliant on.
The services you purchase are offered per your request. You purchase depending upon your usage, by the minute or by the hour. It is a great service as you can use as little or as much as you want. This elastic service allows freedom that is not found with traditional hosting packages. The third benefit is the ease with which anyone can use such services. All you need is internet access from your personal computer an away you go.
Cloud services have become more and more popular over the last few years due to the downturn in the world economy (due to the costs and resources associated with running internal networks), coupled with the increasing capacity and speed with which personal computers now run. They offer greater flexibility with the way in which you use hosting services, providing both public and private cloud services.
There are a number of types of cloud services available:
Infrastructure: Clouds (utility computing) provide virtual servers and storage, providing a central location online to access data.
Platforms: Clouds provide tools and applications for use through a secure server.
SaaS (Software as a Service): Provide application and data usage through the medium of web-based email control or database processing.
All types of cloud services have become important staples on the computing and IT maintenance landscape due to its simple usage and control and flexibility, particularly for new businesses and those looking to scale back on certain costs in an increasingly expensive business world.
Bespoke cloud services available remove the requirements and demands on businesses that were once heavily reliant on their single internal infrastructure. Maintaining connectivity and data through a cloud provides a level of freedom for businesses never seen before.
Next Connex specialise in bespoke data centre solutions, desktop virtualisation & cloud services for businesses throughout the UK, leading the way in the next generation of data storing and connectivity. For more information on the range of services available from Next Connex visit http://www.nextconnex.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/David_D_Smalls/1064470

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6282645

Private Cloud Management

Private Cloud Service

Private Cloud Service 

Is cloud storage really the next big money maker in the technology field? If you take a look at the myriad of storage services cropping up these days, it would certainly seem so. Which is why launching a private cloud service business may be your best bet for achieving success in the IT field.

But if so many big name companies are jumping on the cloud storage bandwagon, how can the little guy possibly hope to compete? Well, cloud storage is a complex idea with a lot of different layers; from simple, individual users to the much larger and more complex storage needs of companies. And just as there are so many different potential customers, there is a need for a range of services to provide for them.
What can really make you stand out is your ability to understand the complexities of cloud storage and provide a customer, whether an individual or company, with exactly the service they need. This can cover everything from transmitting data smoothly to ensuring that the right programs are in place to secure it and allowing for 24/7 access so that customers are never completely cut off from their data.
When you consider the fact that public use of cloud storage has reached nearly 90%, you can begin to understand why the idea of a private cloud service business could be so attractive. Add in the fact that many individuals and businesses lack the expertise to adequately handle cloud storage on their own and that attraction only increases.
While they may not understand how to go about it, most businesses understand the very real need for cloud storage. In fact, more than 60% of companies maintain that they are concerned about cloud security and they are taking whatever steps are necessary to ensure that their data remains safe. This has opened the door for trained IT professionals to step in and offer the kind of data storage and security that these customers are looking for.
By starting up your own online business aimed at providing secure cloud storage, you can help to fill what has become an urgent need in today's technology-reliant society. This can include not only providing a physical location for the storage of their data, but using extra measures like encryption and threat detection software to offer the utmost in security.
For companies or individuals who are worried about the safety of their data but are unable to understand the intricacies of cloud computing, having someone they can rely on to do it for them represents a major advantage. While there may be big names participating in the cloud storage field, they can often come with big prices and you can give yourself the leg up on the competition by offering a more cost-efficient option.
The bottom line is that if you want to put your IT skills to good use with your own online business, you might want to consider the idea of a private cloud service business. This is an idea that is only getting bigger with time and it just may be your ticket to a successful IT career.
There are many ways to supplement your income but all of them require that you pick up a few tips on how to market and promote yourself in the information technology business. Along those lines, here are two guides that will add to your knowledge of IT and help you succeed in starting and maintaining your own online business. One is Computerized Solutions and the other is GPS Business Apps
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Tom_Gruich/285689

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9184169

Define hybrid cloud

Define hybrid cloud

Let's now unpack some ideas and put some real technology and project management flesh on them. This is needed, as to quote the old marketing slogan, we face a lot of FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt) when it comes to Cloud or perhaps, 'fog' instead of FUD.
In practical terms, Cloud means using a lot more remote services delivered securely over IP (Internet Protocol) than the traditional model of an organisation utilising the services of an in-house IT department. Cloud-like functions have been around since the start of commercial data processing - what else was the classic payroll bureau service than remote provision of a computing resource, after all? A key difference, economically, to earlier versions of 'Cloud', even classic outsourcing or managed hosting, or even the first generation of ASP (application service provision):customers should only pay for what they specifically use.
An analogy often employed in the literature is that of rent versus buy; the former implies a low-cost short-term, flexible arrangement between vendor and customer, the latter connotes a larger investment where responsibility devolves immediately on to the purchaser.
So far so good, but then the IT industry being the IT industry, we are soon enveloped in a mist of terms ending 'as a service,' as in 'x' (Platform, Infrastructure, Software), but made more opaque with nomenclature like 'PaaS,' 'IaaS' and 'SaaS'. Let's not distort appropriate complexity needlessly, but the real point is that when choosing a Cloud version of an IT function you as the customer should be able to expect to use it without having to worry any more about its internal density, a black box approach, if you will.
'Public,' 'private' and 'hybrid' Cloud
Public
At the same time, you definitely need to know the general shape of the proffered Cloud as they differ, which has obvious consequences in terms of their security and cost to you as a subscriber. The most important concepts are 'public,' 'private' and 'hybrid,' so let's briefly define those. A public Cloud is what you get when you as a consumer use Google Apps or back up your movies and digital content in something like Apple's iCloud. Data is protected by password access and held in the data storage facilities of companies like Amazon or Microsoft (with its Windows Azure) who offer this resource to all comers.
The emphasis is on getting rid of the need for local storage (as in your desktop or LAN) and move it to a remote 'back end'. Note that public Cloud solutions are not just for the consumer, indeed far from it; many organisations use solutions like Amazon Web Services for the same ends, for example. This approach is fine for most consumer uses but also applications that are lower down on the mission-critical rating.
Private
A private Cloud uses the same model technologically but now you as a client contract with a company (e.g. a Cloud service provider) who offers dedicated infrastructure and facilities that are specific to your needs alone. Patently, that means a higher level of service to you, especially when it comes to security, access and protection of your information and IT services.
So, again, you move away from local data storage and data processing to a more remote model, but instead of sharing the resources with others, you have effectively put your name down on a solid chunk of Cloud functionality for your use alone. This model is proving attractive to mid-sized and larger organisations who like the flexibility of the Cloud but who dislike the idea of it being as 'shared' as the former approach.
Hybrid
A hybrid approach is not just a 'mix' of the two. It is in fact a bespoke environment designed to meet the differing needs of business. One approach is for a Cloud provider to offer a customer a mix of dedicated remote services via its own private Cloud with others distributed via a public Cloud.
An alternative approach may be where the customer maintains a structure with the majority of services fully in-house, some on a managed service basis, and some in a private Cloud whilst provisioning services such as online data backup, email security, archiving, and disaster recovery and so on in a fully public Cloud.
The best way to understand all this: think of Cloud as a matrix with one axis marked 'closeness of data to me' and the other 'closeness of relationship I need with the third-party looking after my data'.
About Paul Cook
Paul is the Marketing Director of Oncore IT being appointed to the role after serving as a non -executive with the firm since 2008. He comes with over 20 years sales as marketing experience but now describes himself as a digital immigrant that looked up at the Meteor just in time evolve.
He is Alumni of University College London, Member of the Institute of Business Consultants with Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing, he has held a number of Non-executive positions in industry specifically Recruitment. He is a Foundation Governor for the Dioceses of East Anglia and enjoys family life at his home in Cambridgeshire.
Follow at @cookiescomment or @oncoreIT
About OncoreIT Oncore IT is a cloud Managed Service Provider (cMSP) focused on delivering and managing critical IT infrastructure for clients in order to help them achieve their desired business outcomes and maximize their IT investment. Operating from highly secure datacentres in the UK and Europe we We excel in designing, implementing, and managing scalable, high performance, low latency infrastructure.
http://oncoreit.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Paul_A_Cook/1372903

How to Improve Internet Marketing .