Aplos Software has released Aplos Accounting 3.0, the latest version of their Cloud-based fund accounting software for nonprofits and churches. Here’s a short video intro:
VMware sees software defined data centre as the future for IT as a service
Roy Illsley, Principal Analyst, Ovum IT
The recent VMware Forum 2013 in London provided a platform for VMware EMEA chief technologist, Joe Baguley, to reveal how VMware is addressing the challenges of transforming IT to an as-a-service paradigm. This transformation is based on three key pillars.
First, it is about making the entire data center more agile, and the software-defined data center (SDDC) is the vehicle that VMware sees as being a major disruptive technology to enable the delivery of IT in this way. Second, it is about open standards to support the hybrid cloud. Finally, it is about the way in which customers access these services is changing.
For VMware this signals a shift from a virtual desktop policy to a multi-device strategy that supports the concept of enablement, not control. Ovum believes that this shift does not represent a radical rebirth for VMware, but instead is the result …
Cloud Expo New York | Breaking Out: An Introduction to OpenStack Cells
OpenStack Cells is one of the most anticipated features in Grizzly, the seventh release of the open source software that offers more block storage options and scalability. It has been running in production at Rackspace for more than a year.
In his session at the 12th International Cloud Expo, Wayne Walls, OpenStack Developer Advocate at Rackspace Hosting, will discuss nova cells and how it is changing the way you design your cloud applications and infrastructure. He will explain how OpenStack Cells gives added flexibility in application and infrastructure design. He will also enlighten attendees on how it is similar to “zones” at AWS, and how OpenStack Cells helps enable the hybrid cloud and allow specialized workload distribution.
Survey Infographic: Customer Relying on Virtualization Vendors For Security
BeyondTrust has released a survey, Virtual Insecurity, that reveals organizations are relying heavily on virtualization vendors for security if for any security at all. Key survey takeaways from the 346 respondents that participated include:
- 42 percent do not use security tools regularly as part of their virtual systems administration
- 34 percent lean heavily on antivirus protection as a primary security tool
- 57 percent often use existing image templates for new virtual images
- Nearly 3 out of every 4 respondents say that up to a quarter of virtual guests are offline at any given time
- 64 percent have no security controls in place that require a security sign off prior to releasing a new virtual image or template
Here’s an infographic based on these results:
Zetta.net Introduces New MSP Lead Generation Program
Zetta.net, provider of 3-in-1 hybrid cloud backup, archiving and disaster recovery as a service (DRaaS), has unveiled its new Managed Service Provider (MSP) Marketing Enablement and Lead Generation Program. Designed to accelerate partner success, the program offers multi-tiered support for MSPs based on Zetta.net’s proven methodologies for increasing inbound leads, conversion rates and customer acquisition.
“Marketing practices are experiencing disruptive change,” said Gary Sevounts, vice president of marketing, Zetta.net. “Older techniques such as cold calling, spamming and trade show exhibits yield increasingly less results, require large budgets and waste valuable resources. A majority of IT decision makers are increasingly using search engines, IT communities, peer and media reviews. Zetta.net has embraced the new inbound marketing model, which leads potential customers to our web site through the availability of relevant, educational content – and then they contact us when ready. This approach has generated strong results and we look forward to sharing many of the inbound marketing techniques and best practices responsible for these results, with our partners. We’re confident the program will help them generate interest and strong repeatable leads when marketing and selling Zetta.net’s 3-in-1 Cloud Server Backup and Disaster Recovery service.”
Cloud Expo New York: The Who, What and How of Selling Cloud to SMBs
Cloud enables SMBs to access new, scalable resources – previously only available to enterprises – in flexible and cost-effective ways. McKinsey’s SMB Cloud Report projects the public cloud market to reach $40-$50 billion by 2015, with SMBs comprising 65% of public cloud spending in 2015. But selling cloud to SMBs raises the questions of who, what and how.
In her session at the 12th International Cloud Expo, Manjula Talreja, VP of Cisco’s Global Cloud Business Development Team, will discuss the importance of knowing who SMBs are through market segmentation; understanding what cloud services they will consume; and understanding how best to sell to SMBs and from which channels.
Streamlining Online Payments
New cloud-based service leverages applications and insights within Ariba Network to streamline and enhance settlement and reconciliation of business commerce.
Ariba, an SAP Company, and Discover Financial Services has unveiled Ariba Pay. The new service, to be offered by Ariba, is expected to transform B2B payments by eliminating paper transactions, providing better visibility into cash flow, and producing rich remittance information that improves reconciliation processes for buyers and sellers.
AribaPay will provide a way for buyers to create purchase orders, receive invoices, and send payments, while sellers receive more-detailed remittance information in a fast, secure, electronic environment.
MadeiraCloud Gets Backing from Sequoia
MadeiraCloud, a San Francisco cloud management and visualization start-up, has raised a $1.5 million Series A round from Sequoia Capital’s China Fund that will help get its WYSIWYG SaaS widgetry to launch, a milestone it hopes to hit by the end of the year.
Madeira, which is focused on Amazon Web Services, has a drag-and-drop tool that lets users design, provision, manage and monitor cloud infrastructure resources quickly and easily.
This Visual Cloud Management Platform has been in public beta since last June and CEO Daniel O’Prey says it’s collected thousands of users in ventures from start-ups to teams in large companies across 85 countries.
Cloud Expo New York: Ten Myths of Cloud Computing
Cloud computing is transforming the way businesses think about and leverage technology. As a result, the general understanding of cloud computing has come a long way in a short time. However, there are still many misconceptions about what cloud computing is and what it can do for businesses that adopt this game-changing computing model.
In his General Session at the 12th International Cloud Expo, Gene Eun, Senior Director, Oracle Cloud at Oracle, will discuss and dispel some of the common myths about cloud computing that still exist today. Attendees will learn about the flexibility and choice that cloud can offer so that they can make more informed decisions when choosing cloud for their businesses.
The (Other) Most Important Reasons Cloud Is Made for Healthcare
HIMSS 2013 was a big moment for cloud in healthcare. As a topic of discussion, it was certainly on the lips of many at the show, but increasingly the realities of cost and functionality are pushing direct-to-patient organizations to consider the cloud not only as part of how they run IT, but as the way IT will work moving forward.
Cost savings is only part of the conversation, as is scalability, and mobility. Healthcare organizations are certainly taking advantage of these benefits, though cloud computing has become, in a way, a more fundamental proposition to help solve some of the major issues these companies face.