Now is a good time to bring your cloud computing skills to the forefront.
Demand for cloud-ready IT workers will grow by 26 percent each year through 2015, according to a new Microsoft-sponsored IDC white paper. If that estimate proves true, there could be as many as 7 million cloud-related jobs in the world.
IT hiring managers, however, report that the biggest reason they failed to fill an existing 1.7 million open cloud-related positions in 2012 was that job seekers lacked the training and certification needed to work in a cloud-enabled world, according to an article on SciTechToday.com
The IT sector is seeing only modest growth of IT jobs. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average growth in IT employment sits between 1.1 percent and 2.7 percent per year through 2020. But within the larger IT sector, cloud jobs are gaining major momentum, and the IDC study suggests an urgent need to retrain existing IT professionals and encourage students to pursue cloud-related IT trainings and certifications.
«Unlike IT skill shortages in the past, solving this skills gap is extremely challenging, given that cloud brings a new set of skills which haven’t been needed in the past,» said Cushing Anderson, program vice-president at IDC. «There is no one-size-fits-all set of criteria for jobs in cloud computing. Therefore, training and certification is essential for preparing prospective job candidates to work in cloud-related jobs.»
5 cloud server security tips for 2013
If you’re like most, cloud is going to be a big part of your life in 2013. So to help you start the year off right, we’ve prepared the following tips for securing your cloud servers.
Here are your 5 cloud security tips for 2013 (in no particular order):
Tip #1: Lock down the server firewall
Big surprise – a firewall management service provider telling you to lockdown the firewall, but putting aside the brand of our soap box, the firewall is the front-line defence for all security.
In fact, 73% of IT professionals agree, according to the Ponemon Research study on cloud security. But while there’s a general consensus to use the firewall, few know how to do it properly.
So here’s one little tip from the experts: Make sure you only open admin and other service ports when, for whom/what, and for as long …
Cloud Conversation, Thanks Gartner for Saying What Has Been Said
Thank you Gartner for your statements concurring and endorsing the notion of clouds can be viable, however do your homework, welcome to the club.
Why am I thanking Gartner?
Simple, I appreciate Gartner now saying what has been said for a couple of years hoping it will help to amplify the theme to the Gartner followers and faithful.
Sounds like Gartner has come to the same conclusion on what has been said for several years now in posts, articles, keynotes, presentations, webinars and other venues which is when it comes to IT clouds, do not be scared. However do your homework, be prepared, do your due diligence, proof of concepts.
Windows Azure Mobile Services Update
It has been less than four months since we introduced the first public preview for Windows Azure Mobile Services and in this short time we have seen continual improvements to the service offering including:
SDKs for Windows Store, Windows Phone 8 and iOS app
Auth using Microsoft Account, Facebook, Google and Twitter
Push Notification support via WNS, MPNS and APNS
Structured storage
Deployments in East and West US datacenters
SYS-CON Media Launches Big Data Journal and SDN Journal
SYS-CON Media has launched Big Data Journal and SDN Journal Each journal features hundreds of original articles, news stories, features, and blog entries.
Big Data solutions are playing an increasing role in the Enterprise IT mainstream. Big Data Journal focuses on how to use your own enterprise data – processed in the Cloud – most effectively to drive value for your business.
Big Data Journal premier issue authors include Brian McCallion, Greg Ness, Greg Schulz, Kevin Nikkhoo, John Cowan, Adrian Bridgwater, Richard Minney, Patrick Burke, Jim Kaskade, Jnan Dash, Bob Gourley, Kevin Remde, Lori MacVittie, Jason Bloomberg, and Ajay Budhraja.
Software-defined networking (SDN) is an approach to networking in which control is decoupled from hardware and given to a software application called a controller. In a software-defined network, a network administrator can shape traffic from a centralized control console without having to touch individual switches.
Driving lessons
Connected cars represent an exciting evolution for consumers, car manufacturers and mobile operators alike. There are already over one billion cars on the world’s roads today, according to research firm Ward’s Auto, and that number is expected to continue growing as more consumers in emerging markets get onto the roads. Automotive manufacturers have already put plans into action to ensure, that in the coming years, the majority of new cars will be equipped with broadband connectivity.
Keeping Cloud moving
It’s been a year for serious cloud investments and networking specialist Cisco has closed out 2012 with a $1.2bn outlay on privately held cloud management company Meraki.
Having missed the 3G boat, Cisco is attempting to make an impression in the telco space by using its IP expertise to cash in on the migration to endto- end IP architecture brought in with LTE. At the same time, however, specialist telecom equipment providers are developing their own ‘Cisco killer’ switching infrastructure.
2013 ERP predictions: The customer takes control
From the obvious to the outrageous, enterprise software predictions often span a wide spectrum at the beginning of every year.
In enterprise software in general and ERP specifically, there are many safe harbours to dock predictions in, from broad industry consolidation to Oracle buying more companies. Or the inexorable advances of cloud computing and SaaS platforms in ERP today, which is often cited in enterprise software predictions.
Too often predictions gravitate too much towards theoretical economics, overly-simplified industry dynamics and technologies, leaving out the most critical element: customers as people, not just transactions.
So instead of repeating what many other industry analysts, observers and pundits have said, I am predicting only the customer side of ERP advances in the next twelve months.
The following are my predictions for ERP systems and enterprise computing in 2013:
1) The accelerating, chaotic pace of change driven by customers will force the majority of …
Cloud Computing: EMC Buys iWave
Storage titan EMC has quietly acquired Texas-based iWave Software, whose Automator suite streamlines the provisioning and management of storage systems, data centers and private clouds. No price was mentioned.
It will be another Storage-as-a-Service ornament for EMC’s Advanced Storage Division.
EMC uses iWave widgetry in its VMAX Service Provider Platform. Users can provision, remove and extend block storage for Linux, VMware ESX servers and VMware clusters.
The news got out through a posting by iWave Brent Rhymes, who’s of course “thrilled” with the acquisition.
2013: A Take-Off Year for Enterprise Transformations
As 2013 gets off the ground and we look at the year ahead, there can no longer be any doubts that cloud computing has caused a paradigm shift in computing. Cloud computing has fundamentally changed the Internet world – and is having an impact on every form of business. Not only is it helping organizations to fast-track revenue generation, but it’s also creating new business and growth opportunities as well.
Cloud adoption is gaining ground and ready to take a center stage. However, many organizations are still bogged down with worry as to how they can create or maintain differentiating business value for various stakeholders. This has a profound impact on the future of their businesses – from their ability to compete and even their very existence.