Category Archives: Tools

Application programming interface, File Sharing, File transfer, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, HIPAA, Medical, My Docs Online, PHI, Protected health information, Tools, Web Applications

Secure File Delivery API Aimed at Medical Records Sharing

My Docs Online yesterday released its “Secure File Delivery API” which allows web and mobile apps to easily incorporate HIPAA-compliant file delivery. Although My Docs Online supports a wide variety of professionals and small businesses needing secure file sharing, a significant part of their customer base uses the product for files containing “Protected Health Information” (PHI). This core competency should make My Docs Online an attractive partner for adding ad hoc file delivery to a variety of EMR, EHR and other medical applications.

My Docs Online Secure File Delivery includes the following features and options:

  • Branded web page listing the files being delivered
  • Optional PIN or password
  • HIPAA compliant
  • SSL standard for all connections
  • Files encrypted at rest using AES256
  • Default file delivery expiration in days with override
  • Control panel enabling checking of delivery results, link reuse, and delivery cancellation
  • Delivery results query via API
  • Delivery cancellation via API

Details and documentation.

(disclosures)

Application programming interface, Cloud Elements, Messaging, Partnerships, SendGrid, Tools, Twilio

Cloud Elements Releases Unified Twilio, SendGrid Messaging Hub

Cloud Elements, today announced the availability of a new developer tool to connect Twilio and SendGrid, the two leading cloud API platforms for SMS messaging, voice and email respectively via a single uniform application programming interface (API). The Cloud Elements Messaging Hub provides a single console to provision, integrate, monitor and maintain these services, providing an integrated messaging platform that delivers seamless interaction between the leading SMS, voice and email service providers. With Cloud Elements’ Messaging Hub, software developers now have the quickest and most cost-effective way to bring Twilio and SendGrid services into their SaaS applications.

Available without charge for the remainder of 2013, the Cloud Elements Messaging Hub allows developers to easily provision and integrate services within their specific environments with a simple click of a mouse. The Element’s singular dashboard offers automated monitoring, innovative tagging for granular account tracking, and seamless, interoperability between services (e.g., send an email, receive a text confirmation).

“Twilio is the top innovator in SMS and voice messaging services and SendGrid leads the email services market,” said Mark Geene, CEO of Cloud Elements. “Cloud Elements’ mission is to make it easier for developers to integrate, monitor and maintain the cloud services their applications depend on. Cloud Elements brings these two messaging leaders together with a uniform API and consolidated monitoring, logging and analytics. Developers can use both of their services in a fraction of the time with a fraction of the code.”

”We’re excited by what Cloud Elements is doing with their new Messaging Hub,” said Lynda Smith, CMO of Twilio. “Developers often work with multiple APIs in the process of building out their solutions. The Cloud Elements approach allows them to manage them from a single dashboard, freeing up more time to create cool things. We can’t wait to see what Cloud Elements’ customers build with this new tool.”

“Our mission at SendGrid is to make email simple, easy and fast for developers,” said Jim Franklin, CEO of SendGrid. “Cloud Elements is bringing our existing partnership with Twilio to the Cloud Elements customer ecosystem, and is making it even easier for developers to integrate both email and messaging by offering a singular, uniform API and dashboard. The resulting streamlined integration, maintenance and management benefits are big wins for any developer looking to save time and money.”

Cloud & IT Management, Drupal, Multidev, Pantheon, Tools

Pantheon Forks the Data Center

Pantheon, the all-in-one Drupal platform, today announced the launch of Multidev, which cuts website management costs by letting teams instantly provision unlimited development environments in the cloud. Multidev does for a company’s website what software-defined data centers do for its infrastructure. Each member of a team can fork the entire stack of services that power a site on demand, developing in tandem on a single platform. As a result, large websites launch faster and cost less to manage over time.  

Based on Pantheon’s multi-tenant containerized architecture, Multidev spins up in seconds, with no need for additional infrastructure or virtual servers. For managers, that means freedom from bugs introduced by outdated databases or platform fragmentation, and from hearing, “It worked on my machine” from their team.

For developers, the process is easy. A team member hits ‘fork’ to provision a complete cloud development environment in seconds. What used to require a separate rack of hardware, now happens in seconds via software. Whether developing, testing or handing off a stable copy of the site for review, there’s no risk of overwriting or losing data. Multidev supports feature-branching, per-developer sandboxes, dedicated quality assurance environments and more.

“With Multidev we’ve eliminated the big reasons behind website launch delays,” said Zack Rosen, CEO and co-founder of Pantheon. “Multidev delivers on the promise of a software-defined data center for website development. It gives users the ability to spin up an entire new web stack including database, caching and version control for every developer on demand. Now even extensive and complex sites can hit their launch targets.”

Hewlett-Packard, HP Cloud Services, Information technology management, OpenStack, Partnerships, PZFlex, Saas, Tools, Weidlinger Associates

Weidlinger Launches PZFlexCloud 3D Virtual-Prototyping SaaS Using CliQr Technologies CloudCenter, HP Cloud

Weidlinger Associates, Inc., the developer of PZFlex, a 3D virtual-prototyping and wave-propagation analysis software, and CliQr Technologies announced the launch of PZFlexCloud on CliQr’s CloudCenter platform. PZFlexCloud extends the market reach and performance of PZFlex’s engineering software by exploiting the power, elasticity, and ubiquity of the cloud. Running on HP Cloud Services, HP’s public cloud, PZFlexCloud is offered as a professional service as well as an additional feature of the full PZFlex solution suite.

“Cloud computing’s almost infinite on-demand resources, with its utility billing model, combined with our PZFlex finite element analysis [FEA] software as a service, is a game changer for the scientific and engineering communities,” said Dr. Robert Banks, PZFlex director and senior associate at the Mountain View, California, office of global engineering firm Weidlinger Associates. “PZFlexCloud represents a step change in the way high-fidelity FEA solutions can be accessed by a broad set of users, from large enterprises to innovative departments and individuals.”

By taking advantage of the power and elasticity of cloud computing, PZFlexCloud will permit experienced users to realize unprecedented performance and flexibility of use. An accurate multi-run 3D simulation for piezoelectric and wave propagation analysis that traditionally took 32 days was recently completed with the CliQr platform and PZFlexCloud in just 14 hours, allowing for more test iterations and shorter analysis times. PZFlexCloud also makes advanced FEA available to a broader market. With CliQr and PZFlexCloud, new users who have had to compromise on functionality can now use the PZFlex suite on a pay-as-you-go basis without the costs and complexities of building and maintaining capital-intensive physical computing resources.

Dr. Banks added, “PZFlexCloud eliminates the longstanding trade-offs between advanced speed, functionality, and approachable economics. Customers can get simplified access and high-performance use of the PZFlex solution without having to design, build, or maintain their own information-technology infrastructure.”

Contributing to PZFlexCloud’s success, the CliQr Technologies CloudCenter platform simplifies the migration and runtime management of the PZFlex software suite without requiring any modification of the leading FEA software. With CliQr’s CloudCenter, PZFlex was able to benchmark the price and performance of their application across all possible cloud environments and determine where their offering could deliver the best value for their customers. Running on HP Cloud Services, PZFlexCloud makes it easy, powerful, and secure to perform complex FEA on the cloud.

“CliQr shares Weidlinger’s value and vision to make the most sophisticated cloud solutions approachable and manageable by the broadest user base,” said Gaurav Manglik, CEO and co-founder of CliQr Technologies. “CliQr understands that software vendors want to take advantage of the cloud while protecting the time and investments they have already made in their core offerings. CliQr provides a complete platform for businesses like Weidlinger and their PZFlex offering, looking for an integrated approach to commercially use the cloud and maintain the ability to flexibly adapt to future changes in the cloud-computing landscape.”

“Scientific and engineering communities are looking for ways to access 3D virtual-prototyping solutions without having to build and maintain their own physical infrastructure,” said Dan Baigent, senior director, Business Development, Cloud Services, HP. “Running on HP Cloud Services, PZFlexCloud provides users with the ability to access PZFlex in the cloud in one click, which leads to much shorter analysis time at much lower cost.”

Amazon AWS, Chef, Configuration management, Free, Nginx, Tools

AWS Unveils OpsWorks Cloud DevOps Solution

Amazon AWS just announced DevOps (beta) a no-charge solution for managing applications in the AWS cloud using Chef recipes, built on technology developed by Peritor, the creators of Scalarium, which was acquired by AWS in 2012:

AWS OpsWorks is a DevOps solution for managing applications of any scale or complexity on the AWS cloud. AWS OpsWorks features an integrated experience for managing the complete application lifecycle, including resource provisioning, configuration management, application deployment, software updates, monitoring, and access control. 

AWS OpsWorks lets you model and visualize your application with layers that define how to configure a set of resources that are managed together. You can also define the software configuration for each layer, including installation scripts and initialization tasks. When an instance is added to a layer, all the configuration steps are applied for you. AWS OpsWorks promotes conventions but is flexible enough to let you customize any aspect of your environment. Since AWS OpsWorks uses Chef recipes, you can leverage hundreds of community-built configurations such as PostgreSQL, Nginx, and Solr.

Read details.

 

Android, Application programming interface, Cloud Storage, Document Management, DropBox, iOS, Storage, Tools

Dropbox API Allows Developers to Get Sync With Less Effort

Dropbox today announced a new application programming interface for in-app synch. The new API is intended to lure developers to Dropbox by making programmers’ life  easier by letting their native iOS/Android apps treat users’ cloud-based files as if they were stored locally.

“Give your app its own private Dropbox client and leave the syncing to us.”

Learn more at Dropbox.

Microsoft, Office 365 Administration, Tools

365 Command Streamlines Office 365 Administration

MessageOps today launched 365 Command, a web-based portal that makes it simple and efficient for anyone to perform common Office 365 administrative tasks without complicated scripting.

A hosted service, 365 Command replaces the command line interface of Windows® PowerShell with a rich, HTML5 graphical user interface that is easy to navigate and makes quick, point-and-click work of changing mailbox settings, monitoring usage and reporting. 365 Command scales elegantly to support a virtually unlimited number of seats for easy administration of any size Office 365 environment.

“Office 365 administration typically requires specialized skills and the use of time-consuming and complicated scripting,” said Chris Pyle with MessageOps. “365 Command offers point-and-click ease that makes Office 365 administration as simple as navigating any common website to perform routine tasks quickly and eliminate programming errors. Help desk staff can say goodbye to PowerShell scripts and now generating graphic-rich reports takes just a few clicks.”

Available on a per-seat subscription basis, 365 Command automatically populates the admin dashboard interface with Office 365 account data upon setup in minutes, with nothing to install, no special equipment and no user effort required. Once data integration is complete, 365 Command enables complete management of the Office 365 environment, including:

  • Graphical overview of user data, device access, total mailbox count and size;
  • Maps that show the specific datacenter location of mailboxes in the cloud, the number at each location, their total size, last log in and size over time;
  • Mailbox editing to easily set forwarding addresses, create shared mailboxes, change access permissions, create and set passwords, require password changes and set passwords to never expire; and
  • Report generation that illustrates hard-to-access data, such as devices by mailbox, in both graphic views and for download as Microsoft Excel or CSV data.

Censum, Garbage Collection, Java, Java Virtual Machine, Partnerships, Tools, Waratek

jClarity’s Censum, Waratek’s Virtualization Combined for Java Analytics

jClarity’s Java analysis tool Censum will be integrated with Waratek’s virtualization technology, providing its customers with operational insight into Waratek’s Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and cost savings.

Founded by leading Java experts, jClarity’s debut product jClarity Censum offers Java analytics and insight for developers as opposed to solely supplying raw data. Censum locates Garbage Collection (GC) performance problems and advises how to fix them in an easily comprehensible manner. Launched in December 2012, jClarity Censum has already been hailed as ‘technology you can’t and won’t miss in 2013′ by Nerdability.

The Waratek CloudVM for Java allows enterprises, data centres and providers to run Java in the Cloud with genuine multitenancy, addressing serious incompatibilities that have previously undermined Java’s place in this new computing space.

“Waratek’s technology represents a significant step towards reducing data centre footprint & increasing application density, both of which are hugely important in today’s market conditions” says jClarity’s CEO Ben Evans. “By adopting the combination of Waratek & jClarity, IT departments can feel confident that they can realise cost savings whilst still fully understanding their production plant.”

“Inefficient Garbage collection can affect application performance, using Censum to monitor live application behavior can bring enhanced performance and cost savings to the Cloud” says Waratek’s CTO and Founder John Matthew Holt. “The use of Censum with the Waratek CloudVM for Java, provides a seamless and cost effective way to host elastic multitenant Java applications with fine-grained performance metering and control.”

COBOL, Mainframe, Partnerships, Tools

COBOL in the Cloud

Heirloom Computing Inc. today announced a new partnership with Java Platform as a Service (PaaS) provider CloudBees to speed the transition of mainframe workloads to the CloudBees PaaS. With the partnership, Heirloom will help IT managers lower costs and modernize their COBOL-based mainframe workloads by deploying them to the cloud, utilizing Heirloom Elastic COBOL and the CloudBees Platform.

For more information about Heirloom Computing and how Heirloom can help you transition mainframe workloads to the cloud, please visitwww.heirloomcomputing.com. For more information about CloudBees, please visit www.cloudbees.com.

Amazon AWS, Amazon Elastic Transcoder, Amazon S3, Amazon Web Services, AWS Management Console, Tools, Transcoding, Video

AWS Elastic Transcoder Converts Videos Easily for Pennies a Minute

Amazon has announced a new service designed to make transcoding video for use on multiple devices a snap, without having to deal with an EC2 instance or transcoding software. Controlled via the Management Console and using S3 buckets, or via APIs for developer use, Elaastic Transcoder uses presets to eliminate trial-and-error and guesswork.

“Amazon Elastic Transcoder manages all aspects of the transcoding process for you transparently and automatically. There’s no need to administer software, scale hardware, tune performance, or otherwise manage transcoding infrastructure. You simply create a transcoding “job” specifying the location of your source video and how you want it transcoded. Amazon Elastic Transcoder also provides transcoding presets for popular output formats, which means that you don’t need to guess about which settings work best on particular devices. All these features are available via service APIs and the AWS Management Console.”

Amazon Elastic Transcoder supports transcoding into H.264 video and AAC audio in an MP4 container, and supports most common media formats for input including H.264, AAC, MP4, MPEG-2, FLV, 3GP and AVI.

Full details available at the AWS Blog.