Demystifying Private Cloud Computing

Published January 26, 2012 cloud computing Leave a Comment
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Last week I was on a consulting assignment for a client that is interested in cloud computing but concerned about the security of the cloud. A private cloud is something that could clearly benefit this organisation but then the question arose about how they would provision and deploy a solution and what would the skill requirements be for their staff. Further discussions then lead to considerations such as how big should the private cloud be so that it could cater for peaks in demand as well as future growth. What was clear was that this organisation was considering hosting the private cloud themselves and had not even considered using a third party supplier to provide the private cloud.

Our discussion widened to Amazon AWS and their Virtual Private Cloud (VPC). This is an incredibly powerful private cloud solution that enables the provision of an isolated section of the Amazon AWS cloud. The real power of the Amazon VPC is that it enables the configuration of a network topology that resembles a traditional on premise network with sub networks exposed to Internet access and others totally isolated from Internet access with multiple layers of security including security groups and access control lists. In addition a hardware Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection can be made from the on premise data centres to the VPC resources enabling the Amazon VPC to provide an extension to the corporate data centre that scales on demand.

What is clear is that the power of private cloud computing is not being exploited by many organisations, often due to the misconception that they must be on-premise. To help demystify private cloud computing, Learning Tree have developed a 4 day hands-on course Implementing a Private Cloud Solution that covers in great detail the possibilities that private cloud computing offers together with hands-on exposure to the products from the major vendors. If you are interested in private cloud computing, why not consider attending. If you would like to know more about Amazon AWS and the Amazon VPC why not consider Learning Tree’s 4 day Amazon AWS course.

Chris Czarnecki

Is Cloud Computing Too Costly for Small Business ?

Published January 24, 2012 cloud computing Leave a Comment
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An article posted today on forbes.com headlined that the price of cloud computing is out of reach for small business. The author Gene Marks reported that he had been asked about cloud computing by more than thirty small business clients over the past six months but on analysis non had adopted cloud services based on costs.

As examples in his article. Gene considered Software as a Service (SaaS) rather than any infrastructure or platforms. As a start Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software solutions were considered from companies such as Salesforce.com, MicrosoftDynamics and ZohoCRM. Monthly prices were suggested and then compared with an on premise solution. It is at this point that I felt that the reporting was not satisfactory and the prices quoted inaccurate. Take for example Salesforce.com quoted as being between $60-$125 per user per month. This all depends on functionality and actually Salesforce.com is available from $5 per user per month. Similarly ZohoCRM, quoted by Gene Marks as being $25 per user per month. Again, this is available in professional edition for $12 per user per month. What is important is to consider what features are required from the software and then consider the price for something that delivers those features and extra features that are not required.

Gene Marks article motivated me to write this post because I was disappointed by the inaccuracy and potentially misleading view he provides on the cost of cloud computing. For sure I agree that cloud computing is not always the solution for everybody, but often cloud computing is by far the best solution for small and medium sized businesses. The monthly fee being not only cost effective, but providing access to software normally only available to large corporations. Other benefits such as increased agility, more collaborative working, access from any where are other advantages that cloud computing can provide over on premise software and should therefore be considered.

In summary, when considered cloud computing, any organisation needs a clear understanding of what cloud computing is. The advantages and disadvantages need to be evaluated in the context of the specific business requirement(s) cloud computing can meet. The full implications of cloud computing – not only purchase price, but support costs, capital hardware costs, data centre costs (hardware, operating system licenses etc), staff skills, customisation, speed of upgrades, vendor lock-in to mention a few, need to be considered. For those considering cloud computing, Learning Tree’s Introduction to Cloud Computing course equips attendees with the knowledge and insight to be able to make informed balanced assessments on wether cloud computing is an appropriate solution based on their business a technical needs.

Chris Czarnecki

Bank Chooses to Use Google Cloud Services

Published January 20, 2012 cloud computing 1 Comment
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This week Google has announced what could be considered as a breakthrough agreement for its cloud computing services. Spanish bank BBVA has signed an agreement to use Google cloud services internally for its 110,000 staff. This is the biggest single company deal Google has signed. The deal can be considered as a breakthrough because of the high security and regulatory requirements.

it is interesting to consider the details of this deal. The headlines of a bank making use of cloud computing are attention grabbing for sure, but closer examination of the details are required. What services are being signed up for and what information will be stored in the cloud – customer details, account details ? Anyone with a working knowledge of Googles cloud services will be aware that their core cloud offering is productivity applications delivered as Software as a Service (SaaS). This is not something that user accounts or details could/would be migrated too. BBVA has said the SaaS of Google will be used internally for staff communication. All customer details will be kept in BBVA’s data centres. The main motivation for adopting Googles services is to have the company working better together internally through increased collaboration through tools such as chat, shared calendars, video conferencing etc.The aim is that this will increase productivity and innovation. Another driver to this cloud adoption has been the increasing mobility of the banks staff and the access from any where offered by SaaS supports this.

This deal is an excellent for both organisations I believe. BBVA have adopted cloud computing in an area that can significantly improve their business without compromising the requirements of the regulatory bodies they have to comply with. Google have a showcase client which will demonstrate the significant benefits of their productivity applications. Anybody considering adopting cloud computing and wanting to know the benefits as well as the potential risks should consider attending Learning Tree’s Introduction to Cloud Computing course where we analyse the tools and products of the major cloud computing vendors and consider their applicability in a number of real world scenarios.

Chris Czarnecki

Amazon DynamoDB Ups the Ante for NoSQL Database Service

Published January 20, 2012 Amazon , cloud computing Leave a Comment
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This past week I watched with great interest as Amazon CTO Werner Vogels announced the launch of Amazon’s DynamoDB service. I feel that rather than trying to say something pithy I will just recommend that you check it out for yourselves.

DynamoDB is a NoSQL database service that is, in my opinion, head and shoulders above what Amazon previously offered with SimpleDB.

DynamoDB removes almost all of the administrative burden associated with provisioning a database for an application. Developers can simply create a database and assume it will be available to store and retrieve any amount of data and serve any level of traffic that may materialize. DynamoDB handles all the load balancing for you transparently behind the scenes.

Unlike some NoSQL databases, DynamoDB gives the developer the choice between strong consistency or eventual consistency on every database transaction. This allows for great control over what happens when data is read or written. Also, DynamoDB has built-in fault tolerance to automatically and synchronously replicate data across multiple Availability Zones.

DynamoDB also integrates with Amazon Elastic Map Reduce. For example it is pretty straightforward to use EMR to analyze data stored in DynamoDB and to archive results in Amazon S3.

DynamoDB is an example of another storage option offered in the cloud. Developers should consider this option for any future development projects they may have.

Kevin Kell

Get a New File Server in 15 Minutes

Published January 18, 2012 cloud computing Leave a Comment
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Last week, a customer sent me an email that included the following. “The file server is full and slowing everyone down, and I’m tired of having to clean files off of it. Maybe we should get a new one.”

So, I went to Dell’s Web site and found the cheapest file server they had. It cost $1395, which doesn’t include the charge for installing it.

I quoted her the price, and then showed her my file server in the cloud. I demonstrated how to create drives and folders. I explained how we could map cloud drives as drives in Windows Explorer. I showed her what software had to be installed on everyone’s computers. I also showed her how to access files from a Web browser.

The cost for this server is $4 per account, which includes 10 GB of storage. Additional storage is charged at the rate of 15 cents per GB per month. We figured it will be about $20 per month given the number of accounts we need and the amount of storage required. Plus, the first 2 weeks are a free trial. If for some reason they don’t like it, they just have to cancel the account. So, the risk is $0.

Do the math. $2000 for a server that they have to backup and administer, or $20 a month and someone else even pays the electric bill.

Where do you get this file server you may be wondering? Go to www.jungledisk.com. Sign up for a business account and choose either the Workgroup or Server edition. We used the Workgroup edition.

Once you have the account, you can create drives. Drives can be created using Amazon S3 storage or using RackSpace. The cost is the same either way.

Finally, install the Jungle Disk client software. This is not strictly required, as the files can be accessed through the browser. However, the software provides three useful features. First, cloud drives can be mapped as a drives in Explorer. Second, local folders can be synchronized with cloud storage. Third, scheduled backups to the cloud can be set up. The client software runs on Mac and Windows. There is even an iPhone app.

The whole process takes about fifteen minutes.

This is an example of the cloud not only making computing cheaper, but also easier and better. If you would like to learn how to use the cloud to benefit your users, take one of the courses in Learning Tree’s Cloud Computing curriculum.

Doug Rehnstrom

Cloud Confusion Reigns !

Published January 13, 2012 cloud computing Leave a Comment
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I have just opened this months version of a computing magazine I subscribe to and was faced with a two page advert that had the headline “Flocking to the Cloud ?”. The advert, by a respected UK hosting provider was offering a free report whose title I have used for this post. The advert started me thinking about how difficult it can be to make an informed decision when tasked with purchasing computing services. For example, over the two page advert the following buzzwords were highlighted:

  • Private Cloud
  • Hybrid Cloud
  • Public Cloud
  • Dedicated Hosting
  • Virtualisation
  • Managed hosting

Unless somebody is aware of the details of cloud computing some of these terms will be a mystery. Some are not cloud computing. The text of the advert then proceeded to describe how businesses are now flocking to the cloud ‘in their droves’ because of the benefits that ‘speak for themselves’.

I think this advert highlights two major factors that are to blame for the confusion that can surround cloud computing.
1. Firstly, cloud computing is many things and so is difficult to explain in a clear concise way. It spans all aspects of IT delivery.
2. Secondly, many cloud computing vendors, such as the one whose advert triggered me to write this post, have evolved from traditional hosting providers. These organisations are now selling cloud computing services together with their traditional hosting services, but often their marketing materials include both areas of products/services which have large areas of functionality overlap. They want to sell the new cloud services but also their traditional services too for those who will not move to cloud computing.

The net result of the wide and rapidly evolving cloud computing products and services, together with a lack of clarity in vendors marketing make it extremely difficult to make good sense of what cloud computing is and how it may benefit an organisation. In addition how does it compare to more traditional IT services in aspects such as cost, performance, security, availability etc. As author of Learning Tree’s Introduction to Cloud Computing course, this was one of the main factors I wanted to deliver – a clear, focused and detailed 3 days explaining exactly what cloud computing is, what it is not, and how it can be used by organisations to deliver business and technical benefits. If you are not sure about cloud computing, why not consider attending. Details can be found here.

Chris Czarnecki

Compare Cloud Security to Your Security

Published January 11, 2012 Amazon , azure , cloud computing Leave a Comment
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There’s an assumption people make that if they put their data in the cloud it is less secure. There are three aspects to security: confidentiality, integrity, and availability. They are known as the CIA security model.

Confidentiality

Private data is kept confidential using encryption. This might require encrypting the data in the database. When transporting data across the internet, it requires using the HTTPS protocol. Whether using the cloud or local servers this does not change. It is our responsibility to secure our data no matter where it is physically stored.

Integrity

Integrity is maintained in distributed systems by verifying messages sent between computers have not tampered with. This is also achieved by using the HTTPS protocol. Again, this does not change when using the cloud.

Availability

Data should only be made available to those who are allowed to see it. This is done through some sort of authentication process, along with rules that govern access to the data. Authentication can be done using passwords, digital certificates, biometrics, passcodes, keys etc.

Securing the Infrastructure

Without a secure infrastructure, you can’t achieve the CIA’s of security. Servers must be patched, firewalls need to be configured, access to physical hardware needs to be limited, intrusion-detection systems need to be put in place, etc. Securing the infrastructure is very expensive and requires a great deal of administration.

This is where we can take advantage of a cloud provider’s economies of scale and expertise, to make our systems more secure! The fact is, very few people can afford to do what Microsoft and Amazon do to secure their data centers. And even if you can afford it, do you have the people who know how to do it?

To better understand why this is so, read the links below which describe what Microsoft and Amazon do to secure their data centers. Then, compare what they do, to what your organization does. You will likely realize that your data would be considerably MORE secure in the cloud than it is in your computer room.

Links

Windows Azure Security Overview – Microsoft

AWS Security and Compliance Center – Amazon Web Services

If you want to learn more about cloud computing and how it can benefit your organization, come to one of the courses in Learning Tree’s Cloud Computing curriculum. 

Doug Rehnstrom

 

Consumer Clouds: Acer Announce AcerCloud

Published January 10, 2012 cloud computing Leave a Comment
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Cloud Computing has been making headlines in the business computing world for some time now. As the technology matures it is interesting to see it now being built into consumer products and used in their associated marketing campaigns too. Last year Apple announced iCloud and Microsoft announced the cloud integration with Windows 8 as two examples. This week Acer have announced AcerCloud. This cloud service will enable users to access all their digital content on any of their computing devices, from phones, to tablets and computers. The AcerCloud uses a combination of local and cloud storage to ensure the content is always available.

AcerCloud has three parts to the service:

  1. PicStream for photographs
  2. AcerCloud Docs for document management
  3. Clear.fi Media for multimedia

AcerCloud is an example of how Cloud Computing technology is being built into consumer devices to make their operation simple yet effective. In most cases the usage of Cloud Computing is transparent to the end user. Photos, for instance, are stored securely yet are shared across all devices without having to manually copy them from device to device. A film purchased on a laptop can be viewed on a tablet or mobile phone whilst travelling. All communication between devices is performed over secure communication channels.

In summary, whilst Cloud Computing has been used by business to improve not only cost but also change and improve the way IT is delivered, momentum is now being gained in the consumer market too. This really highlights the maturity and confidence that is being established in the reliability and security of Cloud Computing. If you are not sure what benefits Cloud Computing can bring to your organisation, or have any concerns, why not consider attending Learning Tree’s Hands-On Cloud Computing course. Here you will learn about the different aspects of Cloud Computing and how it can benefit your organisation, all delivered over three intensive days by a Cloud Computing expert.

Chris Czarnecki

Using Amazon EC2 in Learning Tree’s Office 365 Course

Published January 7, 2012 amazon ec2 , cloud computing Leave a Comment
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Our upcoming Office 365 course will feature an exercise where attendees will gain real hands-on experience migrating on-premises Exchange mailboxes to the cloud. In order to do this we will require one on-premises Exchange server per student team. Further, each Exchange server has to exist on a unique domain which has been registered with a DNS provider, is available over the Internet and has been added to each student’s Office 365 subscription.

In order to accomodate a large class this could result in a potentially big investment in hardware and classroom setup time. Or, we could look to the cloud as a potential solution. As it turns out this is a perfect problem to solve using EC2.

Why? Well, we can create instances of Exchange Servers on uniquely named Active Directory domains and have them available for use when we need them in class. These, effectively, become our “on-premises” mail servers for our exercise, even though they are actually themselves in the cloud!

In this way we will only incur charges for running instances for the few hours of each class where we actually need them. When they are not needed we can leave them in a stopped state. Sure there will be some charges for storing the volume but those will be relatively small. Also, while the course is under development, we can work with these Exchange servers from anywhere and testing can be done by our geographically dispersed development team.

Are we storing any sensitive data in the cloud? No. Is the application mission critical? Well, I guess if we can’t connect to the Internet for some reason that could cause a problem in the classroom but if that were to occur we would have a problem anyway because the whole class is about the cloud!

So, in summary, the cloud is not a solution to every problem. There are some problems, however, like this case in point where the cloud is a good fit and solves real world technical problems in a cost effective manner.

Kevin Kell

Cloud Computing: Predictions For 2012

Published December 31, 2011 cloud computing 6 Comments
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As 2011 draws to an end, it is time to reflect on the past year and to predict what Cloud Cloud Computing will bring in 2012. This year has seen a number of changes in cloud computing, from the range of services available to the adoption of cloud computing. Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Salesforce.com, Rackspace – all the major vendors have continued to improve both the scope, price and reliability of their services. The number of companies using cloud computing has also grown significantly. What has not really changed is the confusion that still surrounds cloud computing and also the concerns. The confusion is partly responsible for the concerns I firmly believe.

So why does there continue to be so much confusion around cloud computing ? I believe the reasons are two fold. Firstly, vendors use the term as a marketing tool even when not appropriate, and secondly, cloud computing is actually so many things that it is hard to clearly define. So how can this be resolved. Well my first prediction for 2012 provides what I think is the way forward to simplifying what cloud computing is. What any purchaser of computing/IT wants is a solution – they are not ultimately concerned wether it is Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS) or Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), self hosted, on-premise, off-premise etc. The most important factor is does the solution satisfy the requirements, including cost, performance, security, governance etc. If the solution happens to be cloud computing then that is the delivery method that will be/should be chosen. If cloud computing is presented as a solution, rather than “as a Service”, it will be much easier to consider and evaluate. In many cases it will also be the best solution for users and organisations without the confusion. So my first prediction is that cloud computing will be sold as a solution rather than as services in 2012.

My second prediction for 2012 is that Big Data will become mainstream. As organisations gather more and more data, a lot of it non relational, the value that can be gained from filtering and processing this data will be realised. The processing will make use of solutions such as Hadoop and I predict 2012 will be the year Big Data moves towards mainstream.

This just leaves me to say best wishes for a healthy and prosperous 2012.

Chris Czarnecki

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