MySQL is probably the most popular open source database. While there is a wealth of discussion online for MySQL database encryption,doing it right in a cloud computing environment is tricky. The discussion here is quite long, and contains a lot of interesting details. So if you want a spoiler: it is possible to achieve true […]
Cloud Expo New York: Leverage Cloud Technology to Power Your Office
Want to save your business money? Of course you do. What if we could show you a way to use the cloud in and around your office, get your workforce mobile, make communication faster and easier, and reduce OPEX? We can.
In his session at the 10th International Cloud Expo, Jason Silverglate, CEO of Fortress ITX and its subsidiaries, will present a “how to” analysis of what cloud technology can do for the modern office, of any size. He will show how incorporating hosted PBX, hosted email, and even hosted desktop (virtual desktop infrastructure) methodologies can help optimize office efficiency and save your enterprise money.
CollabNet Launches Industry’s First Development PaaS
CollabNet went into public beta Monday with a strategic new enterprise-
grade development-Platform-as-a-Service (dPaaS) called CloudForge so
distributed teams can manage and scale cloud-based development using a
broad set of tools, application frameworks and deployment clouds.
It’s supposed to integrate with cloud services and function as a one-click
front-end for deploying on a private data center or public PaaS including
Amazon, Joyent, Google App Engine and Salesforce.com’s Force.com.
Enterprise Cloud Governance – Plug & Play for Cloud Services Is Not Enough
Policies and procedures for Cloud solutions and services should be established as part of Enterprise Cloud Giovernance. Plug and Play for Cloud Services is not enough!
Enterprise Cloud Governance is the specification of policies and procedures for Cloud solutions and services for the organization. Many organizations struggle with having silos of Clouds without a coherent approach for Governance. It is very tempting for departments or groups to go and buy new services and try to plug them and then play to see how they works. If specific services have their own individual policies and procedures, this can lead to problems due to lack of centralized management. Without proper alignment with Enterprise Architecture and Security, this can lead to a spaghetti-like conglomeration of Cloud services without proper attention to interoperability and service management. With Enterprise level solutions that leverage hybrid services, the situation can quickly spin out of control. It is extremely important to have a strategy and vision in place to address important elements such as policy management, service management, interactions between applications and data, availability, performance and control related to services.
Alert Logic Completes SSAE 16 Audit and Certifies Compliance
Alert Logic, a provider of Security-as-a-Service for the cloud, on Monday announced that it has taken two additional steps in its commitment to maintain the strictest control standards as it relates to both financial reporting and the protection of sensitive data such as Personally Identifiable Information (PII). With the completion of the Statement on Standards for Attestation Engagements (SSAE) No. 16 Type II assessment and certification of compliance with the U.S.-EU Safe Harbor program, Alert Logic delivers an even higher standard of excellence with regards to data security in the U.S. and internationally.
An independent public accounting firm has issued two Service Organization Control (SOC) reports in relation to Alert Logic’s Security-as-a-Service solutions for the period of April 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011. The attestation represents that Alert Logic has successfully completed an in-depth Service Organization Control (SOC) 1, Type II audit of its internal control over financial activities and a SOC 2 audit of controls as they relate to the Trust Principles of Security and Availability. The SOC 2 evaluation covered controls over Alert Logic’s Security-as-a-Service solutions and related processes, including the infrastructure residing at its primary data centers that supports those services.
Identity and Access Management in the Cloud
In today’s business world, data is the lifeblood of most organizations. As such, it has become a prime target for both external and internal threats. Data breaches made plenty of headlines in 2011 and don’t show any signs of slowing down. In fact, a recent report from Privacy Rights Clearinghouse found that there were 535 data breaches reported last year alone. Whether it is for a Fortune 500 business, a university or a midmarket company, the protection of sensitive information is not only important for daily business functions, but is now a security measure required by law. As organizations of all sizes – not just large enterprises – struggle to keep up with evolving security and compliance requirements, many are turning to identity and access management (IAM) solutions to meet their needs.
Unlike traditional IT security technologies, which focus on perimeter and end-point threats, IAM solutions focus on identity lifecycles and access controls, as well as provisioning, authentication, certification and other identity-based processes. Previously seen as a luxury only available to the largest of organizations, cloud computing has increased the accessibility of IAM solutions for businesses of all sizes at a time when they are needed most. In addition, cloud computing provides the opportunity for security vendors to bring mature IAM technology to smaller businesses via a new deployment model – without starting from scratch and losing years of successful development.
Cloud Computing: Piston to Integrate Cloud Foundry & OpenStack
Piston Cloud Computing, the start-up peddling an OpenStack distribution for enterprise private clouds, is co-operating with VMware of all people to develop a Cloud Provider Interface (CPI) that integrates OpenStack cloud infrastructure with Cloud Foundry, VMware’s open source Platform-as-a-Service.
Piston means to distribute and support this new integrated capability in a future release of its Piston Enterprise OS (pentOS), explaining that it takes advantage of Cloud Foundry BOSH, the recently announced open source tool chain for release engineering, deployment and lifecycle management of very large-scale instances of Cloud Foundry. BOSH currently works with VMware’s own vSphere and Amazon Web Services.
SoftLayer Gives Next Generation of Entrepreneurs a Foundation for Success
SoftLayer Technologies is giving budding entrepreneurs a strong foundation for success as one of the leading national sponsors of TechStars, an elite mentorship-driven start-up accelerator that was recently recognized as the number one accelerator program in the world. Through its own technology mentorship initiative – the SoftLayer Catalyst Program – SoftLayer is providing financial support while being a Platinum sponsor of TechStars. In addition, SoftLayer will give qualifying TechStars participants $1,500 a month toward dedicated, cloud and hybrid infrastructure resources and engage its executives as mentors.
“In today’s competitive environment, entrepreneurs deserve the best resources they can receive. Those entrepreneurs are finding the support of an accelerator program like TechStars helps them get their companies off the ground and running well because of the vast resources available to them,” said David Cohen founder and CEO of TechStars. “It is critical we work with sponsors, such as SoftLayer, that can help new entrepreneurs offset their costs, minimize risks and provide the wise advice from the perspective of someone who was once in their shoes.”
New Mobile Cloud Technology and Analytics Revitalize Next-Generation ERP Implementations
VAI, an ERP software provider, unveiled two new white papers — authored by renowned IT consultant Michael Dortch — that provide top-line guidance on how to maximize the value of existing ERP implementations with new innovations in mobile cloud technology, analytics and business intelligence. The papers, exclusively available from VAI at www.vai.net, outline specific steps that both business and IT professionals should take to add new functionality and value to ERP deployments while leveraging existing investments with minimal user disruption.
Dortch, long recognized as an ERP implementation expert for the past 25 years from his post at DortchOnIT.com, offers his advice to business leaders in the IT + “ERP3” = More Business Value paper and to IT staff in the “ERP 3” = From Enterprise Resource Planning to Enabling Rock Solid Processes. Both papers can be downloaded here at the VAI news page.
Among the key highlights of both papers is a look at how key industries will be transformed by adding new mobile cloud technology to their ERP implementations. Below is a quick snapshot of how five industries will benefit:
- Distribution: workers at any point in the value chain will
access real-time inventory information, uncover slow-moving or
out-of-stock items, and improve order fill rates, inventory turns and
responses to customer demands - Food Service: workers will hasten production and lower
operational costs by replacing manual, error-prone paperwork with
integrated solutions for tablet sand smartphones - Manufacturing: mobile networked devices and on-demand software
will enable seamless integration, tracking and optimization of tasks
from inventory, shop floor and warehouse management to capacity and
materials planning and product quality control - Retail: automation of tasks and processes will improve
inventory, purchasing, warehouse management and customer relationship
management at point of sale, both in-store and online - Service: improved integration of customer interaction and
product-related information will ease and hasten superior service and
repair, increasing customer satisfaction dramatically
“Mobile cloud technology will improve cost and operational efficiencies while expanding collaboration with customers, vendors and partners,” said Dortch. “That, coupled with new innovations from IBM’s Websphere portal and Cognos Business Intelligence, can ignite existing ERP implementations with graphically rich personalized dashboards and easy-to-use yet highly functional e-commerce applications.”
In both papers, Dortch offers specific guidance on how to get started with adding new functionality to ERP implementations such as:
- Embrace Customization as a way to reinvigorate existing ERP
investments - Conduct an Audit to examine your organization’s readiness to
add mobile cloud functionality - Develop Specific Criteria for upgrading ERP systems based on
detailed feedback from both IT and business stakeholders - Create an ERP Playbook that outlines ERP goals, processes and
supporting IT resources that will be embraced by both IT and business
teams.
Why Big Data Applications Adoption is Accelerating
Big Data applications have gained new momentum in the marketplace, as the benefits of working with larger and larger data sets enables analysts to spot key business-related trends. International Data Corporation (IDC) released a worldwide forecast of Big Data opportunities, noting that the market is expected to grow from $3.2 billion in 2010 to $16.9 billion in 2015.