Category Archives: Cloud Servers
FaceBook’s Frank Frankovsky @ Open Compute – Video
05-05-2012 20:27 Open Compute Founder Frank Frankovsky shares two key takeaways from the Open Compute Summit: 1) Like open source software, Open Compute is changing the way people are thinking about how to develop data centers, servers and storage to increase the pace of innovation. 2) The Open Commute community is not just consumers, but also suppliers - some of the largest suppliers in the world are engaging and contributing to the project. http
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FaceBook's Frank Frankovsky @ Open Compute - Video
Great Office Shootout: Cloud vs. Hybrid — Fight!
Photo illustration by Aurich Lawson
Andrew Cunningham over at Ars Technica took a deep dive into cloud office alternatives and came up with the goods in the real world.
As cloud computing gains steam in the enterprise, many IT shops are looking for ways to move stuff out of their own server rooms and into someone elses. This has given rise to services like Google Apps and Office 365, which offer e-mail, calendaring, and other Web-based services that completely replace not just software running on your companys servers, but also software running on your companys desktops.
One of those software products is the venerable Microsoft Office, which is ubiquitous in most offices. In this, the first in a series of articles comparing different cloud office solutions, well be looking at productivity apps from Google, Microsoft, Zoho, and ThinkFree to compare not just their features and interfaces, but also their ability to integrate with existing systems and work with Microsoft Office documents.
Productivity software has some important considerations not necessarily found with other applications. Switching to a new cloud-based e-mail or CRM system, for example, may cause some short-term complications, but these systems are essentially isolated (or at least, they communicate with the outside world using relatively simple, well-known protocols).
Productivity software is different, thanks to Microsoft Office. Most businesses will have to be able to read Office documents, and likely produce them too. Without these interoperability constraints, most of the products here could stand on their own as productivity apps. But Office compatibility is too important to ignore.
To that end, I spent some time testing out each products Microsoft Office document converters. Its not going to be possible to track down every oddity or inaccuracy, but I wanted to get a feel for the kinds of things that each product would catch, miss, or mangle. I created and uploaded a mix of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents, some that I put together myself and some that were created using templates included with Office.
Have a look at who comes out on top. And weigh in: Whats the best solution full cloud or hybrid when it comes to office suites?
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Great Office Shootout: Cloud vs. Hybrid -- Fight!
StillSecure Introduces First Comprehensive Managed Security Services Suite Within Cloud Infrastructure
SUPERIOR, CO--(Marketwire -05/02/12)- StillSecure, a managed network security solutions and certified compliance company, today announced that its suite of comprehensive managed security services can now be embedded within a public cloud infrastructure. StillSecure's network security appliance, Cloud Network Security Appliance (NSA), can protect customer cloud servers at most public cloud providers.
Until now, organizations leveraging the public cloud were forced to either build their own security infrastructure, use "outboard" security appliances, or had no security at all. Unfortunately, infrastructure as a service (IaaS) users were not able to easily outsource security for their applications and data hosted in the cloud. These cloud applications were either left unchecked or required significant resources to secure.
Now, with StillSecure Cloud NSA, organizations can quickly and easily spin up a managed security cloud server within their public cloud infrastructure. Built on top of CentOS, a free operating system distribution based upon the Linux kernel, Cloud NSA can serve as the security gateway device providing inline services such as managed firewall, IDPS, or WAF. Additionally, Cloud NSA can also provide out-of-band services such as IDS, log management, file integrity monitoring, or vulnerability scanning. Cloud NSA can also deliver StillSecure's comprehensive PCI compliance service, PCI Complete.
"Security in a cloud environment can be both a black box and a minefield of risk at the same time. Most people aren't prepared to cope with the kind of exposure and weaknesses that used to be hidden behind a firewall. Fear of the unknown and having to rely on the 'just trust us' model are a bad combination. That's why security remains one of the key factors preventing cloud adoption," said Carl Brooks, an infrastructure and cloud computing analyst at The 451 Group. "Providing a managed services approach so that users feel more in control when operating in a cloud environment is a viable way to improve security. It does not require a deep understanding of the security space, but it does let end users leverage additional services and expertise to achieve practical security results. StillSecure's introduction of Cloud NSA does just that -- it gives providers an important new managed service without forcing them to understand the security space like an expert, and yet still gives organizations a chance to leverage an outsourced service to handle security and compliance."
"Establishing a tight security perimeter around your cloud instances is critical to reducing your attack surface and making security manageable," said James Brown, CTO of StillSecure. "With the introduction of Cloud NSA, StillSecure is leading the effort to embed comprehensive managed security services into public cloud environments."
About StillSecureFor IT executives facing escalating security threats and evolving compliance requirements, and data centers looking to cement long-term customer relationships, StillSecure designs and delivers managed network security and certified compliance solutions so you can focus on growing your core business.
StillSecure's full suite of managed security services provides military-grade network security in dedicated, cloud and hybrid environments. Its flagship product, Safe Access, is a secure network access control (NAC) solution that ensures a company's protection against compromised and dangerous endpoints.
As opposed to vendors with uncertified partial fixes, or worse, self-audited solutions, StillSecure unites its security experts with certified processes and innovative technologies to provide a holistic approach and solutions to eliminate the need for dedicated resources, as well as juggling multiple vendors, products and requirements.
For more information please call (303) 381-3830, visit http://www.stillsecure.com, or check out more on the StillSecure blog at http://www.thesecuritysamurai.com. Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/securitysamurai and http://twitter.com/stillsecure.
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StillSecure Introduces First Comprehensive Managed Security Services Suite Within Cloud Infrastructure
theCloud and ScaleXtreme Announce VMware vCloud®-based Cloud Service Provider Partnership
SAN MATEO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
ScaleXtreme, the leading provider of server automation products for the distributed data center, today announced a partnership with the leading New Zealand-based hosting company theCloud through the ScaleXtreme Cloud Service Provider (CSP) Program. The CSP Program enables theCloud customers to rapidly deploy and manage cloud servers on their VMware vCloud Powered Service, as well as provision new servers, manage existing servers, configure, monitor and run server automation jobs directly through their ScaleXtreme account.
Since announcing our CSP Program we have been overwhelmed by the interest and excitement around this program, said Nand Mulchandani, co-founder and CEO of ScaleXtreme. Having an established, innovative company like theCloud as a customer solidifies our commitment to providing cloud service providers with the fastest and highest quality self-service server management products.
ScaleXtreme has a turnkey solution which is world class and has enabled us to rapidly meet the expectations of our customers, said Bruce Trevarthen, CEO of theCloud Limited. ScaleXtreme have proven themselves to be thought leaders in the Cloud industry and that insight and experience is helpful in our quest to roll out cutting edge solutions to New Zealand customers.
theCloud customers building virtual servers on their VMware vCloud Powered Service can use any of ScaleXtremes three product offerings Xpress, Xpert or Xtreme to provision and manage their servers through unique management resources and individualized training modules. ScaleXtremes Dynamic Server Assembly technology allows for customers to use pre-built server templates and launch a variety of applications without additional coding.
Cloud computing is a hugely transformative change for IT and business in general. However, in order to gain the benefits that Cloud can bring, organizations need to be able to harness the scale and flexibility in automated ways. By including ScaleXtreme with its core offering, theCloud is helping to make real the benefits of the cloud for Kiwi businesses, said Ben Kepes, cloud computing analyst and commentator.
We are pleased theCloud and ScaleXtreme are supporting each other to complement theClouds VMware vCloud Powered Service, said Joe Andrews, Director, Cloud Product Marketing, VMware. Server management is an essential part of cloud computing and cloud service providers can integrate ScaleXtremes products with their VMware vCloud Service through the VMware vCloud API to deliver additional value for their customers.
The Cloud Service Provider Program consists of a reseller/affiliate agreement, an integrated API for user and account management, as well as management resources and training modules designed to enhance the customer experience. CSPs interested in becoming part of the program can learn more at http://www.scalextreme.com/solutions/csp or apply at info@scalextreme.com.
ScaleXtreme Resources
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theCloud and ScaleXtreme Announce VMware vCloud®-based Cloud Service Provider Partnership
Cloud services and search warrants: When are users notified?
Most cloud-service privacy policies address how they deal with your personal information and data about your usage, but less clear is whether they would tell you when and if law enforcement sought access to your files residing on their servers.
As the virtual reality online storage wars gear up, many consumers and privacy advocates have expressed concern about the policies that will be applied to the content that they would be moving into remote servers.
All of the services include a clause expressing that they will act in accordance with legal requests for data.
"Like all law-abiding companies, we comply with valid legal process," replied a Google spokesman. "Whenever we receive a request we make sure it meets both the letter and spirit of the law before complying. If we believe a request is overly broad, we will seek to narrow it."
Similarly, business-focused cloud service Box replied to our query saying, "Our policy is to have any subpoena or court order reviewed by our outside privacy experts."
Of course, that's to be expected of a business worth its salt. The more pressing issue for some time online is whether they are obligated in any way to tell the user that someone with a badge or authority wants to get a look at his content.
The only instance we could find of this being addressed was in Dropbox's terms of service. Itreads: "To be clear, aside from the rare exceptions we identify in our Privacy Policy, no matter how the Services change, we won't share your content with others, including law enforcement, for any purpose unless you direct us to."
When we asked Dropbox for a bit more clarity, the company issued this response: Our policy is to provide notice to users about law-enforcement demands for data, except in the event where the law or highly compelling circumstances prohibit us from doing so.
Other cloud service providers also responded.
"In a situation where it is absolutely necessary to provide access, we would provide notice to the affected customer prior to disclosure (subject to our obligations under the subpoena or court order)," according to a Box spokesperson.
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Cloud services and search warrants: When are users notified?
Privacy protections vary for your data in the cloud
With the advent of Google Drive, we talk about cloud computing as if the bits and bytes of our lives are stored somewhere up in the air, but, really, the "clouds" are very terrestrial. What's more up in the air are the laws that govern who can access your stuff and how.
Originally a way for geeks to explain to the rest of us the notion of remote servers storing and serving up content, cloud computing can be defined several different ways, depending on whom you ask. In some ways, even email is a form of cloud computing. (It really lives on a server somewhere out there and is served up wherever we desire.)
"The problem that cloud computing has, more generally, is that [the real world] assumes that rights are based geographically," Mark Radcliffe, senior partner at law firm DLA Piper, said in an interview with The Times. "That assumption is not realistic in the cloud."
Why? Who knows where the servers really sit? They may be in the United States, governed by American laws. Or they may be across the pond in Europe, where there are rather stringent privacy rules. Regardless of where the company is based, the location of the servers determine in some large part who can legally gain access to the content on them and how.
"The U.S. is more like the Wild West," Radcliffe said. "It's very heterogeneous," with laws at the federal, state and sometimes the municipal level.
One concern some have expressed online and out loud is how law enforcement could gain access to your digital life stored in a cloud.
With a computer in your home, you'd have to be served a warrant for legal access to your hard drive. But with remote storage, you may not know whether a subpoena or warrant has been served on the cloud service provider.
"Law enforcement can subpoena the service, but it depends on their contractual obligation," Radcliffe said. In other words, what they spell out in their terms of service. Always remember, that's a contract that you agree to by using the service.
Most terms of service include a clause stating the provider would give up your information if required by law, with no mention of whether it would inform you. Interestingly enough, Dropbox's TOS says something a little different.
It reads: "To be clear, aside from the rare exceptions we identify in our Privacy Policy, no matter how the Services change, we won't share your content with others, including law enforcement, for any purpose unless you direct us to."
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Privacy protections vary for your data in the cloud
Cloud Antivirus 1.1.01 — FREE DOWNLOAD – Video
24-04-2012 00:53 For Free Download Click Here - "Panda Cloud Antivirus protects you while you browse, play or work and you won't even notice it. It is extremely light as all the work is done in the cloud. Panda Cloud Antivirus provides you with the fastest protection against the newest viruses thanks to its cloud-scanning from PandaLabs' servers."
World's Most Innovative Companies Run Business On NetSuite Cloud
SAN MATEO, Calif., April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- NetSuite Inc. (N), the industry's leading provider of cloud-based financials / ERP software suites, today announced that six of the World's 50 Most Innovative Companies and more than 10 of the Top 10 By Industries ranked by Fast Company Magazine run their mission-critical business processes, from financials to CRM to Ecommerce and professional services automation (PSA), on NetSuite. This reflects how NetSuite's cloud-based business management solutions help power innovation by liberating companies from the onerous chores of on-premise systems installation, upgrades and maintenance to focus on delivering compelling products and services. Cloud-based solutions enable companies to avoid large upfront costs for software, servers and personnel, freeing capital for investment into innovation.
NetSuite customers honored by Fast Company include:
Airbnb (www.airbnb.com): Top 50 Most Innovative, Top 10 Web/Internet
Jawbone (www.jawbone.com): Top 50 Most Innovative, Top 10 Consumer Electronics
Kiva Systems (www.kivasystems.com): Top 50 Most Innovative, Top 10 Retail
Liquid Robotics (www.liquidr.com): Top 50 Most Innovative
Siemens (www.siemens.com): Top 50 Most Innovative
Square (www.squareup.com): Top 50 Most Innovative, Top 10 Consumer Electronics, Top 10 Mobile, Top 10 Finance
2tor (www.2tor.com): Top 10 Education
3M (www.3m.com): Top 10 Healthcare
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World's Most Innovative Companies Run Business On NetSuite Cloud
R1Soft Unveils CloudCopy — Online Backup Software for Service Providers
HOUSTON, TX--(Marketwire -04/24/12)- R1Soft, a division of Idera and the developer of Continuous Data Protection (CDP) backup and recovery software for servers in the cloud, today announced CloudCopy, secure online backup software for Internet service providers (ISPs), enabling them to offer cloud backup services to homes and small businesses. CloudCopy enables providers to offer online backup services competitive with existing services from companies like Carbonite, Inc. and Mozy by Decho Corporation, a subsidiary of EMC Corporation.
The CloudCopy workstation client performs automated backups of desktop computers running Microsoft Windows, Mac OS, or Linux operating systems. CloudCopy server client software for Microsoft Windows Servers provides small office servers with automated cloud backup including support for Microsoft SQL Server and Exchange.
"Why shouldn't a consumer have just as many choices for online cloud backup as they do for web hosting or domain name registration?" said David Wartell, Vice President of R1Soft Products at Idera. "Everyone in the business knows the barrier to entry in online backup is the software, and the existing providers like Carbonite, Mozy, Backblaze, and CrashPlan, all develop their own. CloudCopy will bring thousands of new service providers into the growing multi-billion dollar online backup market."
ISPs use their existing data centers and infrastructure and simply install the CloudCopy repository and management software on commodity Windows servers in their data centers. A fully-configured, white-labeled online backup service offering takes less than a day to set up. The CloudCopy management server software integrates with popular ISP billing software including: Parallels Business Automation Standard, Citrix EMS Cortex, Extend ASP, Ensim Unify, WHCMS, and Kaseya.
R1Soft will immediately make CloudCopy software available to its existing customer base of over 1,000 cloud, hosting, and ISPs that already use the R1Soft CDP software to back up the Windows and Linux servers in their data centers.
About R1Soft
R1Soft is a division of Idera and the developer of Continuous Data Protection (CDP), scalable and high-performance backup software for Windows and Linux servers in the cloud. Recognized as the leading commercial backup software in hosted services, R1Soft CDP is currently used by over 1,000 Cloud infrastructure providers and protects more than 200,000 servers worldwide.
Idera, R1Soft, CloudCopy and Continuous Data Protection are registered trademarks of Idera, Inc. in the United States and trademarks in other jurisdictions. All other company and product names may be trademarks of their respective companies.
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R1Soft Unveils CloudCopy -- Online Backup Software for Service Providers
IPad Onslaught Sends Taiwanese Laptop Makers to the Cloud: Tech
By Tim Culpan - Tue Apr 24 06:56:19 GMT 2012
David Paul Morris/Bloomberg
An employee fills an order for the new iPad at an Apple store in San Francisco.
An employee fills an order for the new iPad at an Apple store in San Francisco. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg
April 23 (Bloomberg) -- Kevin Dede, technology analyst at Auriga USA, talks about Apple Inc.'s shares and the outlook for tomorrow's fiscal second-quarter earnings report. He speaks with Emily Chang on Bloomberg Television's "Bloomberg West." (Source: Bloomberg)
David Paul Morris/Bloomberg
Sales of the iPad, cheaper and lighter than most laptops, have forced a slowdown in the $233 billion PC market.
Sales of the iPad, cheaper and lighter than most laptops, have forced a slowdown in the $233 billion PC market. Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg
The worlds two biggest laptop assemblers are seeking shelter in the cloud as Apple Inc. (AAPL)s iPad threatens the future of personal computers.
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IPad Onslaught Sends Taiwanese Laptop Makers to the Cloud: Tech