Category: News

Grazed from The Var Guy.  Author: Editorial Staff.

In the cloud computing market, channel partners most frequently embrace Citrix Systems (NASDAQ: CTXS), Google Apps (NASDAQ: GOOG), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Office 365 and VMware (NYSE: VMW), according to the second-annual Talkin’ Cloud 50 survey, which ends April 27. The survey, which identifies the world’s leading channel partners focused on cloud computing, contains several other surprises.

Among the highlights so far…

Grazed from ITWeb Security.  Author: Louise Taute.

Cloud computing is here, of that there is no doubt, and while concerns still exist around the security of transacting in the cloud, Westcon Security is now helping customers securely map their path to conducting business in a virtual world.

According to the company, cloud computing doesn’t just require internal security, but also security on the edge and security throughout the cloud. It is with this that Westcon Security has partnered with global vendors to ensure it is able to provide solutions that assist with encryption, authentication, endpoint and mobile security, as well as testing and auditing within the context of your private or public cloud…

Contributed Article.  Author: Michael Tweddle, Director of Product Management at Quest Software and Author of Office 365 Migration for Dummies

 

If you are seriously considering migrating to Office 365, it is important to weigh all of the pros and cons and understand exactly what you are getting into. One key thing to remember is that the cloud isn’t a product, it’s a service. This means there should be a shift in the way you look at your email and collaborations solutions. Not only will moving to a cloud-based solution such as Office 365 change how your users will use the service, but it will also have a big effect on what you need to do to prepare for your migration and how you manage the new environment after your migration project is over.

 

In the recently released Office 365 Migration for Dummies book, I state “Regardless of the deployment model, migrating to Office 365 is a multi-faceted decision making process requiring careful planning and preparation.” I can’t stress that enough – the  key to a successful migration is preparation and using the right tool to migrate your users and data to the new platform. So, if you are serious about making the move to Office 365, please consider learning as much as possible about the new platform through analysis and reporting to create a pre-migration plan to ensure its success. In order to prepare properly I have a few tips that should help get you on your way.

 

Grazed from Midsize Insider.  Author: Rick Robinson.

One major issue that raises midsize firms’ worries about cloud computing is how to secure and verify identities and access in a cloud environment. Okta, founded by former executives from Salesforce.com, is one of the firms stepping in to offer assistance in cloud identity management.

The real challenge in managing and securing identities in the cloud is that there isn’t just one cloud. What is emerging is a complex pattern of public, private, and hybrid clouds. And user access must be coordinated among them. Before IT departments at midsize firms can confidently launch into the cloud(s), managers will need a comfort level that they can provide secure and controlled access to cloud-based data…

Grazed from Network World.  Author: Sophie Curtis.

Amazon Web Services is attempting coax businesses into the cloud by touting the security credentials of its Virtual Private Cloud (VPC).

Despite the potential cost savings associated with cloud computing, many organisations are still put off by security concerns. In a survey of 300 end user organisations by the Cloud Industry Forum in 2011, 62 percent cited data security as one of their most significant concerns about cloud adoption.

While the public cloud is widely considered to be unsuitable for business-critical applications, some organisations are starting to make greater use of private clouds, which are often on-premise data centres that use cloud-style technology…

Grazed from Midsize Insider.  Author: Doug Bonderud.

Outsourcing is hardly a new idea in the technology industry, and the burgeoning tech market in India has seen the rise of everything from call centers to IT administration and now, cloud computing. Predictions show the emerging cloud market in India reaching significant financial milestones over the next decade, and while many North American companies think they will be at the forefront of this evolution, there’s some data to indicate cloud computing’s real gains may come in the East.

A Look at the Numbers 

A recent InformationWeek article talks about the numbers surrounding this growing cloud market, particularly when it comes to spending and employment. Nasscom and Deloitte predict that the cloud in India will be worth $16 billion by 2020, and Zinnov Management Consulting estimates that by 2015, it will have already reached $4.5 billion. Microsoft, in conjunction with IDC, sees over 2 million jobs created in India in that same three-year period…

Grazed from MSP News.  Author: Kerry Doyle.

Cloud computing is continuing its penetration into the global business realm. Companies recognize that it is far more than a better IT solution; rather, they see it as a better business solution. That said cloud sourcing, or choosing a services provider, is a complex undertaking fraught with risks and challenges. How do you get it right? What about sensitive data in the cloud? These kinds of questions have been addressed by CipherCloud which provides a unified cloud encryption gateway that encrypts sensitive data in real time before it’s sent to the cloud.

The recent announcement of a new partnership between Cloud Sherpas and CipherCloud will introduce CipherCloud’s encryption gateway technology to Cloud Sherpas’ customer base while expanding geographical and vertical markets for both companies. Founded in 2008, Cloud Sherpas, a leader in the Cloud Service Provider market (CSP (News – Alert)), was recently named the Google Enterprise 2011 Partner of the Year. This was based in part on their deep-rooted commitment to Google technologies and customer success, as evidenced by the number of Google (News – Alert) Apps Certified Deployment Specialists engaged throughout its organization…

Grazed from Bottom Line.  Author: Samuel Greengard.

Amid all the noise and chaos about cloud computing and how it is transforming the enterprise, it’s important to ponder how significantly the cloud is altering the way people work and interact on a personal level.

Over the last few years, iCloud, SkyDrive, Dropbox, Box and Sugarsync have created much easier ways to manage and sync data across different devices, including smartphones and tablets. Now Google has entered the fray with Google Drive…

Grazed from CIO.  Author: Bernard Golden.

A year ago, when discussing an organization’s cloud strategy, I heard a consistent theme that "our focus is on creating a private cloud." Sometimes stated, sometimes unstated or sometimes said under an executive’s breath was the objective of curtailing developer use of public cloud computing. The target of that objective most commonly was Amazon Web Services.

I always felt that the characterization that attributed the "public cloud problem" to rogue developers was misplaced. It is true that many developers embraced Amazon Web Services for its easy resource availability and low cost — a.k.a. its "agility." However, to presume that the issue is caused by individuals offered (or coerced into using) a private cloud is to fundamentally misunderstand the phenomenon of "shadow IT," as it is sometimes pejoratively called…

Grazed from CNN.  Author: Juliet Mann.

Europe’s struggling economies could find themselves thrown a lifeline from the "cloud," according to Microsoft International’s president Jean-Philippe Courtois.

Cloud computing — where businesses access computing services from a centralized provider, rather than owning their own infrastructure — could be the key to kick-starting Europe’s struggling economies, Courtois told CNN.

The shift in technology is the biggest in the past decade, and can transform the way businesses can operate, he added…