Grazed from WallStreeTech. Author: Greg MacSweeney.

While cloud computing has been around for a few years, many financial services organizations have been reluctant to move to the cloud because of security and compliance concerns.

On the regulatory front, financial services regulators are very concerned about where customer data resides. If a firm can’t identify where the data is being stored and used, regulators could take action. For instance, if data is being stored in a large cloud provider’s service, it may be difficult to identify where the data is or how it got there (did the data travel through another country on its way to the data center?)…

Grazed from Midsize Insider. Author: Sharon Hurley Hall.

Cloud computing is often seen as bringing massive cost savings to midsized businesses and others, but what’s not talked about so much is the strain this may be putting on IT networks. Companies need robust networks to deliver the increasing array of cloud services in an era where instant, always-on service provision is becoming the norm, but that’s not always that they get. An article on AllThingsD cites research by Juniper Networks who polled 150 top IT executives to get their views on the effect of the cloud and big data on existing IT networks.

Research Findings

While it’s true that midsized businesses may save money by using software as a service (SaaS) thereby reducing their dependency on hardware and software, the research found that 58 percent of IT execs had to expand and upgrade their networking hardware to meet the needs of the cloud services they were using. In addition, the rise of the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) trend seen by 47 percent of businesses polled also imposes demands on the network. Ironically, the very trends that should simplify life for midsized businesses have made it more complex. Networks seem to be crumbling under the weight of the data and services they have to manage. Some 86 percent of IT execs have seen this effect service provision, while 74 percent see their IT networks as complex, and 35 percent are having trouble managing the networks as they are too rigid…

Grazed from NPR.org. Author: Jordan G. Teicher.

Behind the ephemeral "cloud" of cloud computing, the network we use for everything from checking our email to streamlining our health care system, there lies a very tangible and very big computer infrastructure. But besides a glimpse at some of the hardware in 2009, there has been little information about Google’s data centers, the warehoused collections of servers that have given the company the foundation for its vast Internet operations.

Today, the company is throwing open the gates to the world — digitally, of course. It has released a site featuring photos of facilities from Belgium to Finland to Iowa and launched a guided Street View tour of one in Lenoir, N.C…

Grazed from PRNewsWire. Author: PR Announcement.

AirWatch, the global leader and innovator in mobile security, Mobile Device Management (MDM), Mobile Application Management (MAM), Mobile Content Management (MCM), Mobile Email Management (MEM) and BYOD management announced that TMC, a global, integrated media company, named AirWatch as a 2012 Cloud Computing Excellence Award winner presented by Cloud Computing Magazine.

The Cloud Computing Excellence Awards recognize companies that have most effectively leveraged cloud computing in their efforts to bring new, differentiated offerings to the market. AirWatch’s cloud deployment delivers the scale to support one device to more than 100,000 devices. With quick deployment and minimal effort, there is no significant investment in technology or installation services required by organizations. Maintenance and upgrades are handled by AirWatch with the ability to easily transfer to on-premise deployment at any time…

Grazed from PR NewsWire. Author: PR Announcement.

Leading cloud computing company iomart Group plc has today announced a multi-million pound investment in a new optical fibre network that will provide its customers with the fastest connectivity and transit of data between its data centres and the main UK internet exchanges.

iomart Group plc (AIM:IOM) has entered into a 10 year agreement with Geo Networks Ltd (Geo) to deliver high capacity fibre connectivity into its six UK data centre locations. The new fibre network means that iomart will no longer rely on routing customers’ connectivity via multiple providers, giving it total control over its own network…

Grazed from GigaOM. Author: Derrick Harris.

Although older generations might still view cloud computing as an emerging trend, their children take it for granted, largely forgoing physical devices for cloud services. We might as well come get on board and maybe change the world in the process.

“The best way I can respond to that question [about whether cloud computing is for real] is, ‘Do my children no any different?’” said Salesforce.com Chief Scientist JP Rangaswami during a morning session at our Structure: Europe conference on Wednesday. The answer, by the way, is that they don’t: “My children appear to have no interest in hugging physical things in order to make them feel good.”…

Grazed from BusinessWire. Author: PR Announcement.

Dell Extends Cloud Client Computing Portfolio with New Solutions Validated by Citrix

• Introduces vStart for VDI Citrix XenDesktop® reference architectures to help organizations achieve benefits of desktop virtualization in rapid, highly secure manner
• Enhances DVS Simplified Appliance to address cost and complexity challenges of virtual desktop adoption
• Adds Dell Managed Services to DVS Enterprise enabling IT to outsource the management of virtual desktops and focus on strategic projects
• Brings 3D graphics and multimedia users multiple thin- and zero-clients with Citrix HDX 3D support

Dell today is announcing new additions and enhancements to its end-to-end cloud client computing portfolio. The solutions, which are specific to Citrix-based IT environments and now available in the US and Europe, are easy to select, deploy, and support, and deliver a cost effective and highly secure user experience to any device anywhere…

Grazed from CloudTweaks. Author: John Omwamba.

Going by recent surveys in all the five continents, it is telling that bigger things are yet to come in cloud computing. While Europeans are taking an exacting, albeit generic approach to changes visiting upon the scene, the Americans are considering the capital side of the equation. While Asians are gnawing at the meat pie of reducing infrastructural expenditure, Africans are embracing startups and the state machineries are going into the sector with aplomb. The Australasia region, on the other hand, has posted one of the biggest stories in recent cloud times: the preference for supplier-driven working models with servers operating from the home country.

The following is a bipartisan approach to each of the above summaries for every continent. It will highlight the generic and specific cloud computing trends that are already or may one day give way to new business divides…

Grazed from GDP Watch. Author: Roy Barnes.

Larry Ellison, the chief executive of Oracle recently mocked on cloud computing, calling it as “complete gibberish and a fad.” It was in 2008 that his outburst was due to repetitive queries from the analysts. At that time, seasoned industry spectators attributed his annoyance to the hype about cloud computing.

But cloud computing is hot nowadays, and nobody is denying it. And, now Larry has also taken the cloud computing business seriously. Since three decades, the founder is leading the company and now he is intending to make his 120,000-people, $37.1 billion enterprise software a one-stop market for cloud products, offering databases, operating systems, computer programs and computing infrastructure…

Grazed from GigaOM. Author: Barb Darrow.

Cisco and CA are working with Citrix to support its CloudPlatform implementation of CloudStack. The news, out of Citrix Synergy in Barcelona, comes as a raft of OpenStack news hits the wire.

In case you’ve forgotten in the face of so much OpenStack news this week, there’s more than one open-source cloud in town. And, Citrix-backed CloudStack gained some key vendor support with Cisco and CA signing onto the effort this week. The news comes out of Citrix Synergy in Barcelona, halfway around the world from the OpenStack Summit in San Diego…