ScaleArc’s database load balancing software deploys between application and Amazon Aurora database servers to direct traffic into the database on behalf of the application. ScaleArc has now engineered its software to work with Amazon Aurora, a MySQL-compatible relational database engine that combines the speed and availability of high-end commercial databases with the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of open source databases. The ScaleArc software leverages Amazon Aurora’s application programming interfaces (APIs) to apply ScaleArc’s functionality to Amazon Aurora’s environment.

Now Amazon Aurora customers can leverage ScaleArc software to:

In addition to making it easier to get visibility into threats in the cloud, the integration between Gigamon and ProtectWise also enables organizations to retain a long term memory of the enterprise’s network activity in the cloud. With ProtectWise, enterprises can now build overarching security programs that provide analysts with a single interface – stretching from within enterprises networks all the way across private and public cloud infrastructures – for gaining visibility into threats and performing retrospective analysis.

Goldman Sachs recently upgraded Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) to buy from neutral, and raised price target to $68 from $60. Goldman Sachs believes that Microsoft’s gross profit will grow at an accelerating pace and gross profit margin will improve due to Azure’s cloud opportunities.

Since profitability is a matter of managerial accounting and difficult to predict, I’m not sure about profitability. However, I believe Microsoft’s revenue will rise significantly going forward since the company is offering customers the world’s most sophisticated, advanced and diversified container support via its recent launch of Windows Server 2016. Containers also will help Microsoft win the war against Amazon’s (NASDAQ:AMZN) AWS despite the latter’s recent deal with VMware (NYSE:VMW).

The shipping industry requires advanced IT capabilities to enable precise tracking of assets and customer shipments as they move around the world. Matson’s vessels, shipping terminals, container equipment, and truck shipments all require highly reliable technology to ensure that its transportation network operates at world-class levels. In addition, Matson’s customers count on cloud-based applications to provide real-time visibility and analytics in managing their own supply chains. All of these mission-critical applications run on the AWS Cloud today, including Matson’s custom-built order-to-cash booking and billing systems, terminal operations, global equipment management, U.S.-wide logistics applications, and customer-facing website.

This year, the National Retail Federation projects that 137 million consumers will shop between Thanksgiving Day and Cyber Monday. Retailers have stocked their shelves and warehouses and are already weathering the traffic storm that comes with this time of year. 

While the profit potential of the holiday season is the upside for retailers, there are many IT challenges related to successfully managing this increase in traffic – ensuring networks stay up, servers can handle demand and data is protected should something go wrong. In store and online, Black Friday sales are dependent on a sound IT infrastructure. On the flip side, Black Friday and Cyber Monday present many opportunities for retailers to capitalize on the massive amount of data collected at this time. To stay on top in the market, it’s crucial for retailers to understand and leverage data analytics tools this season. 

How is retail IT preparing for this all important weekend? Here are a few idea from some top industry experts:  

"Enterprises are increasingly leveraging cloud platforms like AWS for greater elasticity and scalability," says Varma Kunaparaju, Chief Technology Officer at Vistara. "IT teams want contextual visibility, policy-driven automation and dynamic service management across on-premises, private and public cloud environments. Vistara has been specifically designed to meet this operational and business need. As a leading IT operations management platform, it’s our mission to rapidly support critical AWS services.

According to the "Asia-Pacific Network-based Advanced Malware Analysis (NAMA) Solutions Market" report published in October, Frost & Sullivan forecasts that the NAMA market in Asia Pacific reached $133 million in revenue in 2015 and will grow to $940 million by 2020 as this security technology gains greater adoption. Due to the need for cost effective solutions, the analyst firm expects the cloud-based sector of the market to grow at 60 percent, outpacing by 17 percentage points the growth for on-premises solutions (expected to grow at 43 percent).

The facility is designed to serve customers who seek managed private clouds and hosting environments, with a focus on fully managed VMware environments.

Viptela will demonstrate its SD-WAN platform integration with Amazon Virtual Private Clouds (Amazon VPCs) at the AWS re:Invent 2016 Booth 131 from November 28 to December 2. During the same conference theCUBE will be interviewing Viptela Vice President of Product Management Ramesh Prabagaran and Keith Schafer, Network Architect for US Foods, a Viptela customer.