July 23, 2012 Off

Cloud Computing: MicroStrategy Bets On Visualization, BI For Facebook

By David

Grazed from InformationWeek. Author: Cindi Howson.

MicroStrategy announced a slew of improvements to its already-solid business intelligence and analytics earlier this month, and it’s also innovating in the area of cloud computing and analysis of Facebook data. Probing social networks is certainly compelling to many, but as I’ll explain, I have my doubts about the reliability of the data.

MicroStrategy’s 9.3 release, which was detailed at the company’s European conference in Amsterdam earlier this month, brings significant improvements to the company’s Visual Insight visual data discovery module, which was introduced last summer year. Visual data discovery is a hot segment, with products available from fast-growing vendors Tableau Software and QlikView as well as new options from BI platform vendors (IBM Cognos Insight, Microsoft Power View, SAS Visual Analytics Explorer, SAP Visual Intelligence)…

July 23, 2012 Off

Hybrid Cloud Solutions Offer Enhanced Cloud Protection & Data Security

By David

Grazed from Sys Con Media. Author: David Canellos.

Despite widespread concerns about cloud data security and control, there’s been a lot of recent news on the healthcare industry’s steady, but cautious foray into cloud computing. In early July, research firm MarketsandMarkets issued a report stating that the healthcare cloud computing market will grow from $1.7 billion in 2011 to $5.4 billion by 2017, an encouraging 20.5% compounded annual growth rate. However, the report points to some key restraints, such as patient data security and cloud compliance that could slow down the market unless mitigated.

In a unique twist, a recent article identifies cloud data security as a primary driver, not an obstacle in the cloud adoption trend. In "Money in a mattress: Why patient records should move to a private cloud", the author expounds on the security weaknesses of traditional hospital client-server systems in which protected data can be easily compromised, and he points to private or hybrid clouds as better solutions…

July 23, 2012 Off

Imogo’s Cloud Soars Above the Rest

By David

Grazed from PR NewsWire. Author: PR Announcement.

Imogo was the first to say that virtual mobile offices, or what’s known as the "cloud", is the next frontier. We at Imogo, applaud Microsoft for finally recognizing what we have known for seven years, that the cloud is the future of computing. Microsoft’s recently launched Office 365 on the Cloud validates everything we at Imogo have been doing and saying for years. We at Imogo are the clear leaders in this new exciting and extremely powerful way of computing.

Imogo was the first company to integrate Email like Gmail, digital telephone like Skype, cloud data storage like Dropbox, and MS Office applications all in one package that can be accessed from any tablet or computer at anytime with above military standard encryption. It is the most convenient way to work from your tablet yet still have the utmost in security for your files…

July 23, 2012 Off

Telcos told: Get on the Cloud

By David

Grazed from ARN. Author: Spandas Lui.

 For some time, telcos have been warned to branch out from simply offering traditional telecommunications services and many of them have invested more into building out their business ICT services. But with global IT budgets expected to shrink, telcos will have to work extra hard to compete with specialist IT providers that have been in the game for a long time.

With the global financial climate unpredictable at best (and tipped to get worse courtesy of the fiscal fiascos in Europe), companies are tightening their belts on IT spending.

Research firm, Ovum, expects new IT spending to be hard to come by in the public and private sectors…

July 23, 2012 Off

Safe and Effective Office 365 Pilot Programs

By David
Contributed Article.  Author: Chad Lindley, Quest Software
CloudCow Contributed Article
 

Safe and Effective Office 365 Pilot Programs

Is your organization considering Office 365 as an alternative or compliment to the existing messaging and collaboration infrastructure? If so, you likely are wondering how to effectively evaluate Office 365 without impacting your organization. “Try-before-you-buy” considerations seem to be a common concern as organizations evaluate Office 365 functionality and determine the most appropriate implementation approach for their needs. 

Developing an effective pilot program can be complicated, with numerous variables and factors to consider. As a result, the first step for each organization must be documenting their definition of “pilot”:

 
July 22, 2012 Off

Oracle set to hype advances in Exalogic ‘cloud in a box’

By David
Grazed from ComputerWorld.  Author: Chris Kanaracus.

Oracle is planning to discuss how its Exalogic application server machine is "the logical choice" for running applications, during a special webcast event on Wednesday.

Exalogic was introduced by Oracle CEO Larry Ellison as "one big, honkin’ cloud" during 2010’s OpenWorld conference. It’s also been referred to as a "cloud in a box."

The system combines Oracle’s Sun servers with networking equipment and storage along with a stack of software, including WebLogic Server and Elastic Cloud Software 2.0, a recently released update…

July 22, 2012 Off

Cyber thieves to target mobile apps in future

By David
Grazed from Times of India.  Author: Parth Shastri.

In a recent case reported in Ahmedabad, a company that developed applications was struck by data thieves – who were, in fact, the company’s former employees. A group of four employees had suddenly quit one day, citing different reasons. A month later, the owner of the company discovered the theft when he noticed that an application developed by his firm was on sale with a different name and logo. Investigations revealed that the employees had stolen the data while leaving the company and had manipulated it.

According to experts, the theft exemplifies the future of cyber crime, in which mobile phone applications and new additions to technology – such as cloud computing – will be targeted by hackers. However, impersonation, data theft, espionage and phishing will remain prevalent in ever-changing forms. These were some of the insights presented by experts who gathered at a workshop organised by DSCI and GFSU in Gandhinagar on Friday….

July 21, 2012 Off

Virtualization: A first step to the cloud

By David
Grazed from Federal Computer Week.  Author: John Moore.

For most agencies, server virtualization is a first step toward cloud computing. If you do virtualization right, a move to the cloud is that much easier. However, if you make a mess of it, your journey to the cloud could be tougher.

Some executives rightly view virtualization as a way to cut hardware and power costs by reducing the number of servers they need, but that means thinking about it only in tactical terms. Virtualization can also be an opportunity to modernize and expand the IT department’s role as a service provider to the rest of the organization.

July 21, 2012 Off

Cloud databases 101: Who builds ‘em and what they do

By David
Grazed from GigaOM.  Author:  Derrick Harris.

Remember when there were just two or three cloud computing platforms to choose from, and just about as many cloud databases? Well, as clouds have proliferated, so have the database services built on top of them. In fact, it’s getting hard to keep up with what’s actually available.

Here’s a primer highlighting the available services (note, we’re talking managed database services, not database instances that users still need to manage and administer) and where they’re running. It’s intended to be thorough, but that can be easier said than done, so please note any omissions in the comments…

July 21, 2012 Off

Cloud Computing: Dell to Fund Storage Start-Ups

By David
Grazed from Sys Con Media.  Author: Maureen O’Gara.

Dell has set up a $60 million Fluid Data Storage Fund to back early-stage storage start-ups, a combination of build and buy. Jim Lussier, managing director of Dell’s venture capital business, says it is looking for mid-level widgetry hoping to find the "next big thing." Apparently that means cloud storage, memory-based storage and next-generation-storage architectures.

It figures to put a modest $3 million-$5 million per round in five to 10 promising start-ups in exchange for equity and access to the IP.

Of course they’d have to play to Dell architecture…