After years of talking to people inside and outside of my company about the benefits of cloud computing, I’m truly convinced that the most important benefit is not cost reduction or the ability to have new servers up and running in a few minutes. Of course those are great capabilities that a real cloud computing environment can offer. But the most important benefit of cloud technology is the ability to move your business to where it has never been before – and do amazing things you couldn’t even consider doing a few years ago.
One use case I’m happy to see the market (including large enterprises) explore more often is the enhanced customer engagement and experience achieved through a combination of social networks and the cloud. Although almost everybody understands how powerful this combo can be, very few are succeeding in unleashing the power of this synergy. Most companies are just scratching the surface in this area. In this article, I want to explore some ideas and useful guidance for those who want to dive into these waters.
Cloud-As-It-Is Versus Cloud-As-We’d-Like-It-To-Be | Part 1
It is hard to believe that there was a time when “the cloud” didn’t exist. Then, maybe 50 years ago, a lot of cloud-like things started to happen, such as remote computing, networked computing, resource sharing, virtual networks, and then, eventually, the Internet. But it still wasn’t the cloud. Large-scale virtualization of computing and increasingly powerful ways of managing and sharing that computing power resulted in the term “the cloud.” Everything was up in the air for a while as various vendors tried to align their own ideas of what the cloud might be with other ideas, and to align their ideas with what was actually happening out there.
Now in 2013, the evolution of the cloud has really only just started. We don’t know in precise detail how it will evolve. The community is debating and working to address concerns of security and regulation, while trying to remain compliant with all the administrations in the world, and experimenting to develop business models that make sense both for the potential users and those who provide the cloud services. It is now obvious that the cloud, however it all turns out, is going to offer plentiful opportunities for new services and new ways of doing business.
Cloud Computing the Most Valuable IT Job Skill: Survey
Having cloud skills will help pay the bills, according to a recent study.
Research from recruitment specialists Robert Half Technology revealed cloud computing is the most lucrative skill to have in the IT job market today.
Cloud topped the bill in the survey of 100 IT directors and CIOs across the UK, with 39 percent of respondents citing it as the most important. Security (37 percent) and project management skills (33 percent) were the next popular, with virtualization (29 percent) and network administration (27 percent) rounding out the top five, according to an article on Cloudcomputingnews.net.
Coding and development skills were mentioned. Although not as popular; knowledge of C# was cited by 15 percent of those polled, compared to 13 percent who said Java.
Enterprise IT Trends for 2014
I enjoyed reading this article in InfoWorld by Eric Knorr and thought its worth repeating here. He listed nine trends in enterprise IT for 2014 and beyond, as follows:
Cloud is the new hardware, software-defined data center (sddc)
– Entire infrastructure virtualized and software-defined
Systems of Engagement lead the way, not systems of record of the
– Customer-facing web and mobile applications
Mark White: SAP Targets Govt Market for Cloud Services
SAP AG has been providing cloud computing tools to enterprise customers through partner companies and subsidiaries around the world.
The company’s SAP National Security Services subsidiary, known as SAP NS2, offers software, service and support for private and public sector clients in the U.S., SAP said Monday.
In Australia, the Victorian state government chose SAP’s Ariba business platform for the state’s e-services register, a cloud-based service designed to simplify bidding for IT-related tenders.
Mark White, general manager for global public services and healthcare industries at SAP, the company strives to help agencies to deliver services to citizens through SAP Cloud.
“Innovations in public service delivery come when government, its employees and citizens are able to quickly tackle issues,” White said.
“Cloud solutions are driving transformation across the private sector, and innovative government agencies that embrace them can fuel meaningful change in the way government business is done,” he added.
Mark White: SAP Targets Govt Market for Cloud Services
SAP AG has been providing cloud computing tools to enterprise customers through partner companies and subsidiaries around the world.
The company’s SAP National Security Services subsidiary, known as SAP NS2, offers software, service and support for private and public sector clients in the U.S., SAP said Monday.
In Australia, the Victorian state government chose SAP’s Ariba business platform for the state’s e-services register, a cloud-based service designed to simplify bidding for IT-related tenders.
Mark White, general manager for global public services and healthcare industries at SAP, the company strives to help agencies to deliver services to citizens through SAP Cloud.
“Innovations in public service delivery come when government, its employees and citizens are able to quickly tackle issues,” White said.
“Cloud solutions are driving transformation across the private sector, and innovative government agencies that embrace them can fuel meaningful change in the way government business is done,” he added.
AWS launches Amazon WorkSpaces, aims to shake up VDI market
Amazon Web Services (AWS) has today launched Amazon WorkSpaces, a virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solution with data all stored in the cloud, at its AWS re:Invent show in Las Vegas.
In the morning keynote Andy Jassy, AWS senior vice president, announced the launch alongside giving a few soundbites about how far ahead of the pack Amazon is – as well as an obligatory pot shot at cloud competitor IBM.
Amazon WorkSpaces, as Jassy explained, aims to go where previous VDI technology has failed, because the sector hasn’t taken off in the way it should have done.
“You get to live that dream of centrally managing your desktops, but with no hardware, no software, no infrastructure, and no long term commitments,” Jassy said.
WorkSpaces has a flexible structure, with customers able to consume licences from Amazon, or use licences bought already. Importantly, as all the data resides in the cloud …
AppZero Adds Three Premier Partners and Sees Significant Growth
AppZero has announced three premier partners as the company sees significant revenue growth. In addition to IBM and HP Cloud Services, AppZero has added Amazon Web Services, CA Technologies, and Rackspace to its premier partner program this year.
Through the program, AppZero collaborates with system integrators, service providers and resellers. These partners combine cutting edge products and services that open up the business potential of the cloud. For more information or to participate in the partner program contact partners@appzero.com.
“Success in the cloud requires a collaborative effort, and AppZero offers our customers a distinct advantage in deploying services on the CA AppLogic platform” said Jay Williams, vice president for CA AppLogic. “We look forward to continuing to work with AppZero so that our mutual customers can reap the full efficiency and cost benefits of cloud deployment.”
The partnerships announcement is accompanied by early reports from the company of exceptional growth and success this year.
AppZero Adds Three Premier Partners and Sees Significant Growth
AppZero has announced three premier partners as the company sees significant revenue growth. In addition to IBM and HP Cloud Services, AppZero has added Amazon Web Services, CA Technologies, and Rackspace to its premier partner program this year.
Through the program, AppZero collaborates with system integrators, service providers and resellers. These partners combine cutting edge products and services that open up the business potential of the cloud. For more information or to participate in the partner program contact partners@appzero.com.
“Success in the cloud requires a collaborative effort, and AppZero offers our customers a distinct advantage in deploying services on the CA AppLogic platform” said Jay Williams, vice president for CA AppLogic. “We look forward to continuing to work with AppZero so that our mutual customers can reap the full efficiency and cost benefits of cloud deployment.”
The partnerships announcement is accompanied by early reports from the company of exceptional growth and success this year.
Türk Telekom and Akamai Partner to Build CDN and Accelerate Media
Türk Telekom and Akamai Technologies have signed a strategic partnership to jointly build and manage a high-capacity Operator Content Delivery Network (OCDN) in Turkey for high-quality delivery of online content and video. The partnership, which will optimize the network efficiency of Turkey’s Internet infrastructure, was announced at a press conference in London attended by Türk Telekom CEO Tahsin Yılmaz and Akamai CEO Tom Leighton.
The partnership will ensure a significant increase in speed and performance for broadband and mobile users in Turkey, particularly when accessing social media and popular online video sites. It will also allow Turkish media companies to provide high quality content to their audiences outside of Turkey. With this business partnership, Türk Telekom joins a select group of leading telecommunications companies who have entered a strategic partnership with Akamai to serve global and local customers on a joint technology and network platform.