Grazed from VirtualizationReview. Author: Keith Ward.

At Microsoft, our 2015 predications for virtualization and cloud fall into a few categories, moving up the stack from the fundamental philosophy on the software deployed to build and manage your infrastructure, to the most efficient means for deployment to connecting with cloud services.

Acceleration of the Software-Defined Datacenter. Most of today’s enterprise organizations have garnered a lot of efficiency and economic value over the last decade through the virtualization of their servers. These customers are now evaluating the best way to extend these efficiencies to other parts of their infrastructures; namely, storage and networking…

Grazed from OReilly. Author: Jenn Webb.

The trifecta of cheap sensors, fast networks, and distributing computing are changing how we work with data. But making sense of all that data takes help, which is arriving in the form of machine learning. Here’s one view of how that might play out.

Clouds, edges, fog, and the pendulum of distributed computing

The history of computing has been a constant pendulum, swinging between centralization and distribution. The first computers filled rooms, and operators were physically within them, switching toggles and turning wheels. Then came mainframes, which were centralized, with dumb terminals…

Grazed from CMSWire. Author: Frank Palermo.

The cloud space continues to evolve at an astounding pace. As recently as 12 months ago, we were still educating many clients about what they could achieve with cloud computing. We tirelessly explained the differences and benefits of options such as Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS), Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) and Software-as-a-Service (SaaS).

We also debated the suitability of various architectural alternatives, like private, public or hybrid cloud. While there continues to be some mystique around the use of the cloud, it’s safe to say that many enterprises have successfully adopted it…

Grazed from TechWeekEurope. Authjor: Ben Sullivan.

Red Hat’s Enterprise Linux for SAP Hana is now open for customers to use across the open hybrid cloud, including via public cloud providers certified by the company. The additions of new cloud provider partners through the Red Hat Certified Cloud Provider program, as well as new SAP-certified hardware available from provider Hitachi Data Systems, provides customers of Red Hat Enterprise Linux for SAP HANA with a choice of deployment options for big data applications, from new hardware configurations to the ability to leverage public, private and hybrid cloud services.

HybridStable, secure, and reliable

Jim Totton, VP of the platforms business unit at Red Hat, said: “By extending Red Hat Enterprise Linux for SAP HANA to the public cloud, we are providing a stable, secure and reliable platform for deployments of SAP HANA across the breadth of the open hybrid cloud…

Grazed from the VarGuy. Author: Michael Cusanelli.

VMware announced the release of several new cloud management offerings and an update to vRealize Suite 6, including vRealize Code Stream 1.0, a new solution designed to accelerate application releases. Code Stream 1.0 promises to streamline development and DevOps processes by automating the software release process, according to the announcement.

The solution also allows developers to track artifacts and reinforce policy across release stages, while the bundled JFrog Artifactory software allows users to easily manage development environments. In addition to Code Stream, VMware’s updated cloud management solutions include:..

Read more from the source @ http://thevarguy.com/hybrid-cloud-infocenter/vmware-releases-vrealize-code-stream-cloud-management-updates

Grazed from CIO. Author: Patrick Renzi.

Cloud Computing is all the rage today, and rightfully so. Businesses are readily adopting this innovative way to compute over the Internet. But before you get ahead of yourself, there are hundreds of questions you should ask before journeying into the Cloud. For starters, what is driving this initiative? How are you preparing? How are you going to control it? And most important, what is it?

There is considerably more excitement about the Cloud than understanding. Tangible, like its namesake, the Cloud can actually be whatever you need it to be. It’s simply another way to access your system, and really no different than traditional hosting. Picture your desktop. There is a typically a tower, monitor, mouse, and keyboard…

Grazed from SeekingAlpha. Author: Maria Zahid.

Cloud computing technologies have continued to take the world of IT and digital media by storm as more and more companies are switching over to the innovative new technology, in an effort to ride the wave of momentum that it has gained since its inception. Network infrastructure provider Juniper Networks has decided to expand its already existing agreement with leading cloud infrastructure provider VMware.

Juniper had previously agreed to collaborate with VMware over the provision and development of integrated technologies. The companies have now agreed to develop platforms and enabling environments for the adoption of private cloud computing. The deal would allow both companies to grow and gain a foothold in the emerging cloud market…

Grazed from TalkinCloud. Author: Todd Thibodeaux.

The New Year is still a few weeks away, but 2015 is already shaping up to be rough for chief security officers (CSOs). After waves of high-profile attacks against major corporations and governments in 2014, many firms are rightly concerned about their vulnerability. Unfortunately for CSOs, the usual constraints around funding, available talent and user awareness will stand in the way of the best security intentions. To meet the rising security challenge in 2015, CSOs must evolve within their organization and adapt to the new realities of cybersecurity.

When, not if

It’s an oft-repeated saying that a determined hacker will find a way to bypass any system, given enough time. While deterrence is important, it’s just as critical for firms to conduct regular analyses of their cyberattack preparedness. As many recent attacks have shown, few of the targeted organizations were primed for the possibility that their systems could be breached. In one instance, retailer Jewel-Osco suffered two data breaches within a six week span…

Read more from the source @ http://talkincloud.com/cloud-computing/12162014/changing-cso-role-what-expect-2015

Grazed from CloudComputingIntelligence. Author: Andy Singleton.

As businesses move closer to a virtualised reality the network has shifted from secondary IT concern to critical business imperative. The cloud can offer vast efficiency and cost benefits but only if an effective network is in place. In the past this created a significant dilemma for businesses – infrastructure affordability, performance considerations and security measures were balanced against each other and compromises were common.

In recent years this has changed as cloud networking, and unified-communications-as-a-service(UCaaS) delivery methods and managed services provision have altered the relationship between core infrastructure and the cloud. They have become entwined, which from an Enterprise point of view helps these businesses meet challenges like globalisation, cost containment, general application experience and staff mobility…

Grazed from Fujitsu. Author: PR Announcement.

Fujitsu today announces the availability in Australia of Fujitsu Cloud for SAP® Solutions, an enterprise-grade managed cloud offering for running all production workloads in SAP software. The new cloud service leverages Fujitsu’s proven IP for the optimal management of systems running SAP software, and is offered via Fujitsu Australia’s Private Hosted Cloud Platform hosted on its secure, highly available local data centres.

Fujitsu Cloud for SAP Solutions offers support for the leading databases for SAP including Oracle, DB2, SAP MaxDB®, SAP Adaptive Server® Enterprise, SAP IQ and SAP HANA®. The customer is able to scale cloud capacity to address spikes in business demand, and will receive monthly subscription fees on a pay-for-use basis…