March 1, 2012 Off

European entrepreneurs share cloud computing strategies with Silicon Valley

By David
Grazed from Peninsula Press.  Author: Liu He.

Two European entrepreneurs shared their vision of startup innovation on the opening day of Entrepreneurship Week at Stanford University, Monday.

Eirkur Hrafnsson, chief executive officer and co-founder of GreenQloud headquartered in Iceland, and Jan Rezab, CEO and co-founder of Socialbakers, based in the Czech Republic, spoke about ‘green’ geo-thermal powered cloud computing strategies and social media analytics.

Hrafnsson started by making the connection between cloud computing and green gas emission – basically, running “clouds” on renewable energy…

February 29, 2012 Off

Considerations for Medical Practices Shopping for Cloud-based EHRs

By David
Grazed from Physician’s Practice.  Author: Marisa Torrieri.

Cloud computing — that lofty-sounding term that conjures visions of pillow-like, white puffs in a baby-blue sky — is a great option for small practices moving to an EHR. Requiring only an Internet connection, a cloud-based EHR allows practices to access, store, and transmit data without worrying about shelling out big bucks for second servers or other heavy hardware parts.

But before practices take the leap into the skies, there are multiple considerations they need to take into account…

February 29, 2012 Off

Cloud Computing: Red Hat Sued for Patent Infringement

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

Twin Peaks Software is suing open source champion Red Hat and its Gluster subsidiary for patent infringement in District Court in California.  It claims they’re treading on its patented Mirror File System involving the management of data on computer networks. The patent, US No 7,418,439, was issued in late August of 2008.

Twin Peaks uses the technology in its replication and clustering products to provide a multi-location, always-available model of computer data management that’s said to improve hardware utilization…

February 29, 2012 Off

Layered Tech Enhances Cloud Offerings with Addition of VMware vCloud Powered Services

By David
Grazed from MarketWatch.  Author: PR Announcement.

Layered Technologies, Inc. (Layered Tech), a leading global provider of compliant hosting, managed dedicated hosting and cloud computing services, is adding VMware vCloud(R) Powered services to its existing cloud portfolio to provide enterprises with the advanced functionality they need to easily operate within complex cloud environments. The next generation of Layered Tech’s Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) offering includes full compliance management, additional scalability and a more dynamic interface that streamlines enterprise interaction with Layered Tech’s compliant, secure and production-ready clouds.

"We are expanding Layered Tech’s cloud capabilities to include vCloud Powered services and a next-generation user portal," said Kevin Van Mondfrans, vice president of product management for Layered Tech…

February 29, 2012 Off

Federal Cybersecurity Guidelines Now Cover Cloud, Mobility

By David
Grazed from InformationWeek.  Author: Elizabeth Montalbano.

New technologies, such as mobile and cloud computing, that are rapidly being adopted by the federal government have informed a major update to federal cybersecurity standards.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released the first public draft of Security and Privacy Controls for Federal Information Systems and Organizations, Special Publication (SP) 800-53.

The document is the federal handbook for cybersecurity standards to support the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) and is used across agencies to protect IT systems from cyber threats…

February 29, 2012 Off

US Enterprises Becoming More Satisfied with Cloud Computing

By David
Grazed from PR Web.  Author: PR Announcement.

A new study from Cloud Industry Forum(CIF), sponsored by Rise, a premier provider of cloud computing and hosted IT services, reveals the extent of US cloud computing adoption and satisfaction, and depicts the changing business rationale for migrating to the cloud. The research will aid enterprises in evaluating current market readiness for cloud services in the US, and provides insight into primary drivers and key issues when considering cloud services as part of a wider IT strategy.

The research is based on a survey of 400 senior IT and business decision-makers in enterprises, small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) and public sector organizations. It examines the extent of adoption in cloud services across the US by different organizational types and sizes; primary drivers; role of IT management and leadership; services being accessed; satisfaction levels; and common issues that impede adoption…

February 29, 2012 Off

Workforce from the digital cloud

By David
Grazed from Science Codex.  Author: Editorial Staff.

By means of cloud computing, enterprises can access scalable computing power and storage capacity. A people cloud, by contrast, supplies a scalable number of workers via the internet. It is used when non-automated tasks are executed, such as allocating images, searching information, or writing texts. The challenge is to maintain the quality of the work results on a constant high level. Now, this is achieved by a quality management system developed by KIT.

Also in times of constantly increasing computing power, people are indispensable for executing certain tasks. Such tasks include activities that cannot or can hardly be automated. Examples are the setting up of texts and product descriptions, translations, web searches, or the indexing and classification of images and videos. If the tasks are very extensive, they can be split up into individual so-called microjobs and transferred to parallel processing by several workers. This is referred to as paid crowd sourcing. On web portals, interested freelancers, the so-called crowd workers, can register. Depending on their qualification and area of interest, they can select tasks and process them in a temporarily and spatially flexible manner. The results of the jobs executed are compiled by the portal supplier and transmitted to the client…

February 29, 2012 Off

Securing Data in the Cloud

By David
Grazed from Baseline Magazine.  Author: Eric Friedberg.

When it comes to data security and cloud computing, many companies indulge in magical thinking: They envision the cloud as a single type of computing platform guarded by service providers that secure the data and think through the tough issues. In fact, while cloud computing may reduce costs, it introduces new layers of complexity that must be managed by your company’s IT, legal and executive personnel.

The reality is that cloud computing presents a spectrum of choices. At one extreme is limited outsourcing, in which the company retains responsibility for most computer security, including configuring server operating systems and the data center firewall—but not the physical security of the cloud data center itself. In this scenario, your IT department must secure all applications and databases, oversee security patch management, and be prepared for all forms of cyberattack and incident responses…

February 29, 2012 Off

How the Cloud Cuts VC Dependencies and Democratizes Entrepreneurship

By David
Grazed from ComputerWorld.  Author: Jeff Vance.

Back in the fall of 2000, the buzz at the Internet World conference centered on two things: the NASDAQ meltdown and a number of acquisitions. One of the big acquisitions announced at the show was HP’s deal to purchase Bluestone Software for $450 million. With VC money left to burn before the acquisition closed, Bluestone threw a huge party, renting out the entire U.S.S. Intrepid museum, hiring several popular bands to play below decks in the massive aircraft carrier, and inviting anyone and everyone at the conference to the blow-out party.

A move like that would be unheard of today. Not just because that kind of reckless spending is now frowned upon, but also because few startups will have raised excess VC money that is burning a hole in their corporate pockets…

February 29, 2012 Off

Ex-HP Cloud VP to Run Codero

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

HP’s VP of cloud services Emil Sayegh, responsible for sales, marketing, product management, customer support and the voice of OpenStack at HP, has been named president and CEO of up-and-coming cloud house Codero.

Sayegh was also head of Rackspace’s Cloud Computing Division before joining HP a year-and-a-half ago. He says he’ll take what he admires most about both his former employers and use those strengths in shaping Codero, which has been in the cloud game since 2006 when private equity house Catalyst Investors took over A Plus Hosting and spun out its hosting and cloud interests to form Codero…