Shop Talk
Google. A Simple Example of Cloud Computing
You use it. I use it. You can find out almost anything you want to know. Google is the search engine most people are familiar with and use. However, one thing that not everyone knows a lot about is Cloud Computing. To simplify and explain Cloud Computing better, I’d like to use Google as an example.
What happens when you type and search something on Google?Have you ever thought about this? Does your PC goes through all that information, sorts it out for you and display all the relevant results? No, it doesn’t. Otherwise, you would wait much longer for a simple results page to display. A simple PC can’t process all those billions of websites in a fraction of a second, like Google does. Your PC only serves as a messenger to tell Google what you are looking for. Everything else is done by some of Google’s powerful computers located somewhere, Who-Knows-Where in the world.
Now, did you ever care about how or where that comes from? Why would you, right? Exactly. That’s a great example of how cloud computing is used.
Have more questions about Cloud Computing?
Contact Adeptiv Solutions today!
www.adeptivsolutions.com
Cloud Storage–What is it? How Does it Work?
Most of you reading this blog have been using the computer for a fairly long time. You may use it for work or just personal things, but for many it’s hard to delete everything consistently. It seems that everyone with a computer spends a lot of time acquiring data and then trying to find a way to store it.
For some computer owners, finding enough storage space to hold all the data they’ve acquired is a real challenge. Some people invest in larger hard drives. Others prefer external storage devices like thumb drives or CDs. Desperate computer owners might delete entire folders worth of old files in order to make space for new information. But some are choosing to rely on a growing trend: cloud storage.
While cloud storage sounds like it has something to do with weather fronts and storm systems, it really refers to saving data to an off-site storage system maintained by a third party. Instead of storing information to your computer’s hard drive or other local storage device, you save it to a remote database. The Internet provides the connection between your computer and the database.
On the surface, cloud storage has several advantages over traditional data storage. For example, if you store your data on a cloud storage system, you’ll be able to get to that data from any location that has Internet access. You wouldn’t need to carry around a physical storage device or use the same computer to save and retrieve your information. With the right storage system, you could even allow other people to access the data, turning a personal project into a collaborative effort. So cloud storage is convenient and offers more flexibility, but how does it work? How can you use it for your business? At home? For school? Adeptiv Solutions has the answers for you. Call today to speak to us about how using the Cloud can be to your advantage.
(Source: Jonathan Strickland)
Cloud Computing Basics (Part 8)
Making the Most of Your Cloud Investments
With the incredible growth of cloud computing resources, there are very few companies that cannot achieve significant time, cost, and efficiency benefits from entering the cloud. The key is identifying those parts of your business that are right for cloud computing — whether because they are data-intensive, involve partner collaboration or are otherwise well suited — then creating a close partnership with a trusted managed services provider.
The right partner should combine IT expertise and a commitment to security with a general business approach that helps you maximize your return on your technology investments. Cloud managers should understand both the applications you are running and the data you are storing, as well as how these resources can be applied to your core business challenges. This approach not only helps cloud computing deliver a lower total cost of ownership and quicker returns — but, more importantly, positions your business for a competitive advantage by turning technology and information into powerful strategic weapons.
As always, if you have any questions about Cloud Computing, contact Adeptiv Solutions. www.adeptivsolutions.com
Cloud Computing Basics (Part 7)
This is a continuation of an interesting article I read called
“Is Your Critical Data Protected in the Cloud– as Well as Leveraged to Its Full Potential?” by Joseph King from JDA Managed Services.
In his article, King discusses concerns that business owners often have about having their sensitive data in a cloud-based system and who’s minding it.
Even though cloud computing relies heavily on high-quality computing resources and stringent IT protocols, all these technologies and processes are managed on a day-to-day basis by people. It’s essential to ask and answer the question: Who is actually managing my data? What are their credentials and skill sets?
The best cloud providers will have teams of hundreds of experts supporting your cloud computing needs every single day. Not only should these cloud managers be subject to background checks, confidentiality agreements and daily security protocols that control their access to the cloud, but they should also have a broad range of hardware, software and business skills.
They should not only be technology experts, but also business generalists who understand your organization’s strategic needs for various software applications and operating information — and who can help custom-tailor the cloud’s capabilities to best meet your needs. Cloud managers should know not only how to store data but how to apply data to help customers streamline processes, reduce risk and expedite business results from software investments that are already in place.
While your internal IT team might only consist of a small group of people, the right cloud provider can supply a team of highly qualified, credentialed experts to supplement your team. By relying on this external expertise to streamline your daily computing needs and help you leverage your data to the fullest extent, your IT staff can focus on the core strategic priorities that are driving your business.
As always, contact Adeptiv Solutions for all of your Cloud Computing concerns. www.adeptivsolutions.com
Cloud Computing Basics (Part 6)
This is a continuation of an interesting article I read called
“Is Your Critical Data Protected in the Cloud– as Well as Leveraged to Its Full Potential?” by Joseph King from JDA Managed Services.
In his article, King discusses concerns that business owners often have about having their sensitive data in a cloud-based system and how to test the system for security purposes….
Accountability should be established via standard operating system event logs that are carefully maintained and monitored. Ongoing alerts should monitor both the health and performance metrics of each technology system. Networks and systems should be safeguarded with a variety of firewalls, including intrusion prevention systems, data loss prevention systems and Web application firewalls.
Cloud managers should ensure that all systems and processes are compliant with standards such as SSAE-16 (SAS-70) and Sarbanes-Oxley — and should schedule security audits on a regular basis to ensure that protocols are upheld stringently over time.
Viruses and system vulnerabilities should be addressed via a highly disciplined series of ongoing patches and scans. This is one area where cloud providers, with their hundreds of vigilant employees, can provide an enormous advantage. Each patch had to be fully tested and certified before deployment, which would represent a challenging feat for even the largest companies managing their own IT infrastructure.
Of course, clouds should also provide a high degree of redundancy and availability, minimizing the risk of an extended service outage. Full functionality and access should always be restored quickly, and companies with a high volume of mission-critical data should be able to create custom service agreements that guarantee an extremely fast service and data recovery window. Cloud providers should test their own disaster preparedness on an ongoing basis to assess and improve their capabilities.
For more information about using Cloud Computing for your business, contact www.adeptivsolutions.com
Cloud Computing Basics (Part 5)
This is a continuation of an interesting article I read called
“Is Your Critical Data Protected in the Cloud– as Well as Leveraged to Its Full Potential?” by Joseph King from JDA Managed Services.
In his article, King discusses concerns that business owners often have about having their sensitive data in a cloud-based system….
How Protected Is My Data? Establishing the Right Protocols.
Any IT professional can list the “three A’s” of data security: authentication, authorization and accountability. Your own IT and compliance teams have worked diligently to ensure that all the information stored within your own walls is protected, in keeping these three essential themes. In your relationships with external trading partners, your business has also worked to ensure that all third parties are accessing your data in a safe, secure manner.
Nowhere are the concepts embodied by the three A’s more critical than in your choice of the cloud computing partner who will virtually host your hardware, software, and proprietary data. Three A’s must be foundational to their delivery model.
At the off-site facility where your data is stored, personnel should be issued proximity access cards that authenticate their identity when they enter the facility. Security personnel should be on site 24-7 to closely monitor access, backed by stringent security systems. When employees log in, user authorization should be required at both the network and system levels.
For more information about Cloud Computing contact Adeptiv Solutions.
http://www.adeptivsolutions.com/
Cloud Computing Basics (Part 4)
This is a continuation of an interesting article I read called
“Is Your Critical Data Protected in the Cloud– as Well as Leveraged to Its Full Potential?” by Joseph King from JDA Managed Services.
In his article, King discusses concerns that business owners often have about having their sensitive data in a cloud-based system….
Conversely, private clouds are built with a single customer or group of customers, in mind. Segregation, separation, and data protection are key concepts. Because private cloud providers understand the real everyday needs of your business, continuous access is also a high priority — and your team members will be able to remotely access the applications and data they need to do their jobs, 24/7, from any location in the world.
When working in a private cloud, your employees will also benefit from custom-designed, Web-based interfaces that are seamless and easy to use. The best private clouds are invisible to your team members, who only see an extension of your own business when they access solutions and data in the cloud. In addition, private clouds are generally characterized by stringent security measures which ensure the safety, integrity and real-time availability of your most important data.
Questions about Cloud Computing? Contact Adeptiv Solutions today.
Cloud Computing Basics (Part 3)
I recently read an article called “Is Your Critical Data Protected in the Cloud — as Well as Leveraged to Its Full Potential?” by Joseph King, Group Vice President, JDA Managed Services | October 12, 2011
King states in this excerpt, very clearly, how data is stored in the Cloud.
One of the first issues your business needs to understand is the all-important distinction between public and private clouds. Today’s online world is filled with public clouds, which enable customers to subscribe to and buy data storage space. While public clouds may be cost-effective, businesses should be aware that public storage providers are likely not employing the same systematic approach to firewalls, data encryption and other security protocols that exist within their own organizations. And, because public clouds are not designed to store mission-critical data, 24/7 access might be a problem. Outages are common, whether due to site maintenance, upgrades or other issues. While public clouds are perfect for the needs of consumers, they lack most of the serious performance features and security protocols needed to run your business with a high degree of confidence.
Adeptiv Solutions can help your business to safely store your data system on the Cloud. Contact us today.
http://www.adeptivsolutions.com/index.php/cloud-technology/power-cloud-fluff/
Cloud Computing Basics (Part 2)
(Continued from Part 1)
There are unlimited benefits to Cloud Computing. In the event of a natural disaster or other significant business disruption, cloud computing offers peace of mind and reliable business continuity. Cloud computing also delivers extremely rapid time-to-value, with full software and data hosting occurring in as little as 15 days. Your business can immediately start realizing a return on its technology investments, instead of waiting for an internal IT infrastructure to be provisioned and configured.
While cloud computing offers a host of benefits, it’s not always easy to trust another company with the critical data that represents the lifeblood of your business. Maintaining your hardware, software and precious information at an off-site facility certainly makes good business sense — but it requires real trust, based on sound operating practices. High-profile data security breaches at credit card companies, health care providers, universities and government agencies have dominated the headlines recently, reminding us of the dangers of doing business in today’s real-time, technology-connected world.
Before your business makes the leap into cloud computing, or increases its investments in the cloud, it’s essential to address the topic of data security with your provider. Navigating the cloud safely means ensuring that your most critical data is protected with a high degree of rigor that meets or exceeds your organization’s needs. Your data should be safe, secure and ready to apply to your most urgent competitive challenges anytime, anywhere.
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Cloud Computing Basics (Part 1)
Here’s a a part of an article I recently read about Cloud Computing. I’ll condense it a bit, but it’s well written and has great information. It’s from Joseph King of JDA Managed Services. The topic of CLOUD COMPUTING is hot right now. Many people are searching for good advice. Here are a few good points, but if you have further questions, contact Adeptiv Solutions today.
http://www.adeptivsolutions.com/index.php/cloud-technology/power-cloud-fluff/
In the information technology world, perhaps no topic today is receiving more attention than cloud computing. Once viewed as a cost-effective, flexible option for small or mid-sized companies, cloud computing is now generating interest from even the largest businesses, whose executives once believed that their data was critical, too sensitive or too complex to relegate to a managed services model.
Increasingly, companies of all sizes are realizing the benefits of leveraging a cloud approach for application hosting, hardware hosting and data management, which offer clear cost and efficiency advantages — and also allow the organization to focus on key strategic challenges, instead of administrative tasks.
Cloud computing offers dynamic capabilities, such as flexible configurations, as well as ubiquitous user access from every geographic location and time zone. For core business activities such as transportation scheduling, warehouse management and point-of-sale (POS) data collection, cloud computing is ideally suited to manage extremely large data volumes and multiple collaborative relationships across the supply chain, seamlessly and invisibly.