VMware, Inc., the global leader in virtualization and cloud infrastructure, today introduced VMware vCloud Integration Manager, a new solution designed to help service providers automate the delivery and operations of VMware vCloud Director-based clouds. VMware also announced that nearly 90 service provider partners now offer services that have met VMware criteria as VMware vCloud Powered, an almost 3x increase since Q3 2011.

Red Hat Virtual Storage Appliance for AWS features both synchronous and asynchronous file replication, assuring data availability across AWS Availability Zones. Synchronous replication provides users with redundancy and protection within a single datacenter or multiple datacenters and availability zones in a region, while asynchronous geo-replication offers data availability across all AWS Regions. Red Hat Virtual Storage Appliance is POSIX compliant meaning that no application modifications are required for data access in the cloud.

When it comes to the cloud, selecting the right cloud provider can be challenging at best and nightmarish at worst. The cloud includes a variety of ways to deliver technology services, from standalone software applications like hosted email or databases to very new and exciting uses that include disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS), storage as a service, or platform as a service (PaaS) applications. While there are obvious advantages to entering into a cloud partnership –including decreased IT costs, increased flexibility and a reduced focus on IT maintenance issues – selecting the right cloud provider is a critical first step in realizing those benefits in a way that creates a synergistic, long-term and fulfilling relationship. That’s why Logicalis, an international solution provider (http://www.us.logicalis.com/), has put together a list of the top questions IT pros should ask when they’re considering a cloud partner for the long haul.

“For a CIO or IT manager, choosing a cloud provider can feel like choosing a spouse,” says Tom Roberts, solution architect for Logicalis. “Joking aside, the relationship between the client organization and the cloud provider they choose is a deep and meaningful one. The client trusts the cloud provider with what oftentimes amounts to mission-critical data and information and relies on that provider to keep that information secure and available in sometimes heavily regulated environments. Therefore, choosing the right provider is a serious decision that has to be made with the utmost care and concern.”

AirVM.com, launched two years ago and developed to demonstrate the disruptive nature of AirSembly, it’s core cloud-engine automation technology, has revolutionized the manner in which enterprise-class, cloud servers are configured, provisioned and billed. Contrary to many cloud services providers, AirVM customers are provided clear and transparent details for the services they purchase, the performance guarantees included and exactly what prices they will be charged, hourly and monthly.

Grazed from Flexiant.  Author: Press Release.

Tony Lucas, Founder of Flexiant will join a panelist of speakers to discuss the importance of selecting the right data center at Cloud Connect 2012 on Wednesday, February 15 from 13:15-14:15pm at the Santa Clara Convention Centre. Flexiant, a leading provider of cloud orchestration software for on-demand, self-servicing provisioning, multi-hypervisor support and automated billing, will also be exhibiting at the event.

Cloud companies must offer a product that provides optimal application performance, content delivery, reliability and security, and a host of other deliverables to satisfy the intense demands of today’s end-user. Selecting the right data center/s for your Cloud deployments is critical to delivering a differentiated Cloud offering. The session, sponsored by CoreSite and Interxion, will showcase the opinions of some of the largest Cloud computing providers as to what elements to look for in a data center provider and best practices for setting up strategic deployment locations.

Virtual Bridges, Inc. today announced the appointment of Iser Cukierman to the company’s executive leadership team. Cukierman will serve as chief financial officer where he will oversee all finance and accounting operations and provide strategic and operational leadership for the company.

Cukierman brings more than two decades of experience running financial operations for multi-million dollar organizations as well as early-stage and emerging growth companies. Most recently he served as general manager and chief financial officer at Fiserv where he was responsible for developing and implementing the company’s strategic plan related to revenues, profitability and growth. Before joining Fiserv, he served as CFO of Strategic Forecasting, a geopolitical analysis and professional services company. Cukierman has also held strategic finance and consulting roles at VirtualCFO, Softbank, Accenture and Ernst & Young.

TEKsystems, a leading provider of IT staffing solutions, human capital management expertise and IT services, today announced findings from its quarterly IT Executive Outlook survey, conducted in partnership with the Inavero Institute.

While nearly half of IT leaders anticipate their temporary (55%) and permanent (57%) IT headcount to stay the same in the first quarter of 2012, more than a third also expect to hire temporary (34%) and permanent (35%) IT workers during the first three months of the year. Approximately 30% of those respondents expecting to increase hiring in the first quarter anticipate 10% increases to temporary and permanent IT headcount.