Cloud Computing: How smart computing is fueling the next wave of IT growth
In 2009, my research team here at Forrester published a report on what we called "smart computing," a new generation of hardware, software, and networks that connects physical infrastructure with analytic computing systems.
Next month we will publish an update to that research, outlining why we continue to think that smart is the next wave of IT industry growth, likely to outstrip cloud and mobile computing in its eventual impact…
Cloud Computing: It’s ASP All Over Again
One of my favorite Mark Twain quotes is, "History doesn’t repeat itself, but it rhymes."
I thought of it again last week when I read about the price war going on in the Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) space. Larry Dignon made the clever observation that he paid more for electricity in January than it cost to get IT infrastructure now that Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) and Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN) have decided to double down on the infrastructure game…
Estimate: Amazon Cloud Backed by 450,000 Servers
How many servers does it take to power Amazon’s huge cloud computing operation? Like many large Internet companies, Amazon doesn’t disclose details of its infrastructure, including how many servers it uses. But a researcher estimates that Amazon Web Services is using at least 454,400 servers in seven data center hubs around the globe.
Huan Liu, a research manager at Accenture Technology Labs, analyzed Amazon’s EC2 compute service using internal and external IP addresses, which he extrapolated to come up with estimates for the number of racks in each data center location. Liu then applied an assumption of 64 blade servers per rack – four 10U chassis, each holding eight blades – to arrive at the estimate…
Cloud Computing: Oracle v Google Android Trial Set for April 16
The District Court for the Northern District of California has officially scheduled the Android trial weighing Oracle’s infringement claims against Google for April 16. It should run eight glorious weeks.
Unless something happens, like the Patent and Trademark validating the claims of other Oracle patents during the trial – which could happen – Android will be in the dock for infringing only two Java patents held by Oracle plus – and now more importantly – Oracle’s API-related copyright claims. Google wanted the trial to wait until fall as originally scheduled. So Oracle got what it wanted…
Intacct Named One of the Top 20 Coolest Cloud Software Vendors
Intacct, a leading provider of cloud financial management and accounting software, today announced it was named one of the "20 Coolest Cloud Software Vendors of 2012" as part of the list of the "100 Coolest Cloud Computing Vendors" by Everything Channel’s CRN. This is the third year in a row Intacct has made this list.
In the listing, CRN editors noted: "Accounting software just got cool again. Intacct’s cloud-based accounting and financial management offerings eliminate the need for businesses to support their own financial management software, hardware, backup and disaster recovery to let a business’ focus return to where it should be: on the business."…
Cloud Computing: Are Small Businesses Embracing The Technology?
Almost two decades ago, the advent of Internet and Information Technology has revolutionized the world and now Cloud Computing has radically transformed the way companies conduct business. Cloud computing is a game changer for the next decade and the day is not far away when on-premise, traditionally licensed apps will become a thing of the past.
According to CDW’s Cloud Computing Tracking Poll, 84% of organizations are using at least one cloud application and 76% of small business cloud users say they have reduced the cost of applications moved to the cloud, saving an average of 24% annually. The company has prepared a mini-deck that summarizes small business findings from the tracking poll survey…
Lockheed Martin Broadening Cloud Computing Solutions to UK Government
Lockheed Martin UK has been selected by the Cabinet Office of the United Kingdom (U.K.) to provide G-Cloud IT services across the full complement of Government departments and organizations.
Under the framework agreement, Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions, the corporation’s business area that provides cloud computing solutions, will offer a wide range of services including cloud strategy and integration services; cloud security services; mission centric services; green IT and energy optimization services; cloud brokering services; virtualization consulting; assessments for Oracle virtualization and virtual desktop as a service assessments…
ScienceLogic CEO to Discuss Cloud Management at Data Center World
As data center managers move more resources to the cloud, maintaining unified management of IT service delivery across data center, cloud computing, and virtualized environments is crucial. During AFCOM’s Data Center World on Tuesday, March 20, ScienceLogic™ Inc. CEO David Link will present how to centrally monitor and manage disparate IT systems.
He will highlight tools, strategies and applications to consider when migrating legacy data center resources to the cloud, while maintaining a comprehensive view of performance and data across the infrastructure…
Meru Brings Virtualized Mobility Solutions to the Enterprise Cloud
Meru Networks, Inc., a pioneer in 802.11n wireless enterprise networking, today announced a set of new Meru WLAN solutions that can be deployed on-premise, within virtualized private cloud environments, or as subscription-based, hosted applications. Meru’s new line of Virtual Mobility Controllers are VMware-based virtual appliances that operate on standard x86 computing platforms in datacenter or private cloud environments. Meru’s E(z)RF services and the Meru Identity Manager guest access products are also now available as virtual, hosted solutions.
The new solutions improve efficiency and datacenter utilization while giving IT unprecedented choice and control with deployment options that meet their individual needs and give them flexibility as they deal with the flood of devices in the enterprise…
Channel Cloud Development, Maturation Lagging
Cloud computing is a rapidly growing opportunity as more businesses look to augment or replace their legacy systems with virtualized private clouds or third-party delivered application and infrastructure services. By some estimates, cloud computing sales will range between $150 billion and $200 billion by 2020.
Despite the rapidly gathering cloud computing opportunities, the channel remains relatively disengaged from the cloud. A new report by the Cloud & Technology Transformation Alliance (CTTA) finds most solution provider cloud practices are immature and underperforming from a revenue perspective…