Google Antes Up Its Own Cloud Migration Appliance

Google is bringing its own data transfer appliance for cloud migration

When we talk about the cloud migration hen the toughest challenge to overcome is to ensure reliable and consistent migration methodology. Moving databases and data centers are not an easy game even for the proficient administrators. This is faced by almost all the major companies and new start-ups when they are trying to build new application or make use of new data residing in the cloud. Data migration between two points is always seen as tough egg to break due higher costs and huge time consumption this is where cloud vendors come into the play.

Remedy for data to cloud migration problem

The problem faced in the cloud migration is quite incomprehensible even with modern technologies at disposable. If a person has 10 Gbps connection then transferring petabyte of data from any data center will consume as many as 12 days to put it on the cloud. In the old golden days companies used to Sneakernet in the sky wherein a pile of data is loaded on a secure disk and it is shipped off to any of their cloud vendor. Microsoft Azure made use of this system for quite some time before a new system came into being called Snowball and this method is also used by the Amazon AWS. This doesn’t mean that sending secure disks to the cloud vendor has become obsolete.

Google is moving into the enterprise cloud migration business

The tech giant is getting into the enterprise cloud business on a serious note but quite specifically in the migration appliance space. In this end of the business the consumer arc is very similar to online shopping portal. User goes online, orders the device and this particular device is made available for definite set of time after which they have to send it back to the provider.

Cloud migration market is buzzing with immense order in the one petabyte category therefore Google is introducing two models with size of 100 and 480TBytes. On other hand its competitors Amazon tends to work in lower end of the spectrum with 3 models with data size of 50, 80 and 100 TBytes units. Amazon is way ahead in the field of data transfer and it has developed a number of solutions for high end data migration with Amazon Snowmobile wherein it brings a 12 wheeler 45-foot container for transferring 100 PBytes of data.

Pricing will be a key to grab a piece of the cloud migration market

Google is mainly focusing on cornering market for the petabyte cloud migration. Therefore it has brought on par pricing with Snowball for the smaller 100 TByte units and in order to make migration appliance more appealing to the users by keeping it 35% below the rival offerings. When it comes to design Google is going for plug-in based form and function while Amazon brings self-standing units.

However Google has revealed many details of its devices, service offerings, capabilities and benefits but it seems like it is eagerly looking forward to give stiff competition to market leaders namely Amazon and Microsoft Azure.

The Myths Surrounding Cloud Computing

The strange thing about cloud computing is that there are so many misconceptions surrounding this technology. Many businesses seem to be sceptical about it; perhaps because it’s a relatively new option. However, it is speedily growing in popularity over time. Let’s try to debunk some of the pesky, stubborn myths that are still hanging around cloud computing.

Data Isn’t Secure On The Cloud

In every company, security is paramount. Many people seem to assume that data kept on the cloud is vulnerable. In fact, it makes more sense that opting to go without the cloud system is more likely to lead to data breaches. Whether that’s through theft or natural disasters, or broken or stolen hardware with files on can’t be replaced, your data is at risk. If it’s on the cloud, you can still access your information, no matter what happens, and it’s all password protected.

Cloud Computing Costs Jobs

Cloud computing has actually created thousands of jobs! Yes, it will lower the amount of IT personnel you might need for your company, but it creates vacancies in other businesses that provide cloud computing services. It just means that it’s not coming out of your pocket!

Cloud Migration Is Too Much Trouble

The problem with change is that many people are resistant to it and they are easily convinced that it will be more trouble than it’s worth. In fact, moving across to cloud computing is extremely easy, needs very little training, and will be migrated before you know it. You will also have a support team on-hand to walk you through any confusing aspects, but it really will be self-explanatory. It’s certainly worth the effort.

Not For Mission-Critical Use

Although some companies consider cloud computing for simple processes, many decide not to use it for documents that are highly critical. This goes back to the myth before about the cloud not being safe enough to trust. As we’ve already discussed, this isn’t the case at all, and many companies run solely from the cloud.

There Aren’t Many Cloud Options

Many people seem to think that the cloud is somehow still in its infancy, meaning that there are few options for cloud packages and companies. This is not true at all. In fact, it seems like everyone and their mother has cloud software. You will be able to easily find something that will suit your business, so don’t worry! The Dell virtual client is a great package, making it a great place to start.

You Have To Use Just The One Cloud System

You can actually mix and match as much as you like. This may not be a great idea for your business, if you like everything in one place, but the option is always there. Maybe you’d rather use a cheaper system for certain departments, and something a bit more expensive for the more sensitive documents that need extra protection.

What do you find is a common misconception about cloud computing? Let us know in the comments.

How Cloud Computing Can Help Your Small Business

Cloud computing has been capturing the imagination of tech geeks for some time now, immersing themselves in the potential it has to revolutionise people’s lives and businesses.

A lot of small businesses have not greeted the technology with the same enthusiasm however and remain reluctant to succumb to its charms. This is in spite of the fact that industry commentators have for some time been encouraging business to switch to it.

They see it’s many advantages in terms of cost, efficiency and selling opportunities. This is particularly true for the small business as it levels the playing field and allows them to compete more competitively with larger multi-nationals.

A lot of the small businesses who have embraced cloud technology are still using a hybrid set-up and are not yet running private clouds, perhaps put-off by the initial outlay or concerns over the protection of data. However, if you listen to what the experts say about data in the Cloud it is clear that it’s secure and can be easily accessed.

So what benefits do cloud computing systems offer the small business? What tangible benefits can they expect?

Apps for small businesses

There are now cloud-based apps available for almost every conceivable business process; from file storage and sharing apps such as MozyPro and Box to collaboration apps such as Webex and videoconferencing services such as Skype.

There are also a number of business specific apps for things like accounting and payroll as well as apps for collating customer data and sales strategies. Cloud technology allows smaller businesses to enjoy the same level of performance as larger global businesses.

Remote working

While the Internet has opened up the possibilities of working from anywhere that has a Wi-Fi connection, the Cloud takes this capability to a new level. It allows employees to access private company documents and work files that are not available for streaming online.

Remote working helps make the most of an employee’s time, boosting productivity in the process.

Security

If a laptop is lost or stolen it can have some serious monetary implications. However if that data is stored in the Cloud it won’t be lost and can still be accessed regardless of what happens to the machine. This also applies if your computer crashes; no longer will you have to rely on complex disaster recovery plans. Cloud computing providers such as Dell’s cloud computing take care of most issues and ensure that businesses are able to capitalise on all of the benefits which this new form of working offers.

10 Reasons Cloud Computing Is Transforming the World

In 2014 an estimated 37% of small businesses use cloud computing, according to a report named Small Business Success in the Cloud from a consulting firm Emergent Research. By 2020 this percentage is expected to rise to 78%.

It is incredible the way that the cloud has taken over our personal and business lives. It has been a surge of transformation in our daily data storage and interaction activities. There is no doubt that we have become more information hungry. We have become more picture and media hungry. We have therefore adopted this technology in our lives across different devices to enable us to interact with our ‘extended knowledge pool’ and share with our friends, families and colleagues.

In this piece we will take a look at 10 of the main drivers behind this absorption of power can be computing into our daily personal and professional lives.

Increased flexibility

Taking on cloud computing as an integral part of our data storage strategy has increased our flexibility to access and manipulate data. We are able to synch up multiple devices and we are able to pass off information to other people with more ease. This flexibility provides us with more dynamic interactivity with data.

Recovery from loss

Perhaps the most compelling reason to backup data to the cloud is for disaster recovery. Both individuals and businesses state that this is a key driver of their adoption of the technology. In our personal lives we have photos that we don't want to lose. In business we have files that we cannot lose. The cloud provides us with an automated way to keep this information safe and secure, and backed up for when we need it.

Software that updates automatically

When we adopt a cloud software company all of the security aspects of the cloud are managed for us. We are outsourcing the entire process of data storage and security. This saves us both time and money. If we buy a new computer new, or even an older PC model from Gumtree or a regional classifieds site.

Faster, easier and more tailored to our needs

Most cloud computing packages are delivered on a pay as you need basis. As you increase the amount of data you consume you are able to take more space. There is no cost in terms of capital expenditure on equipment and you can deploy as fast as you need in a scalable manner. If you need to increase capacity for projects you can do so and then you can drop back again when you return to normal consumption. This makes operating costs as efficient as possible.

The collaboration with data

Cloud computing makes it possible to interact with other employees, family members or friends much more easily. You can synch up data so that everyone has the most up-to-date information. You can share files without even having to click a button. You can have shared pools of resources. You can ensure that everything is up-to-date and in real time, which makes your experience much better. Increased collaboration can lead to significantly better returns on investment in business and this is another key driver for the uptake in Cloud technology.

Control of documents

When it comes to documents for use in our companies it is crucial that we have access wherever we are, but also that we have access to the right version of information. Document control is not always easy in organisations.

If multiple people are managing the same information Excel spreadsheets could end up being forwarded back and forth for revisions; Word documents likewise. With cloud computing all of that process happens on a central server, where everything is held together by the document control capability inherent in the cloud.

Cloud computing keeps things in one administrative location and people work from there. People can often also work whilst chatting within documents, which makes the collaboration even better. Anything that increases efficiency can increase the profits for a company. Document control is becoming increasingly important in today's marketplace.

Work from home… Work from almost anywhere

With cloud computing you can access documents wherever you have a decent connectivity to the Internet. This increases the ability to balance one's home and work life and also improves work and collaboration when on the go, whether it be on holiday or commuting to meetings and to work. This ability to work from anywhere has transformed the workplace for ever.

Environmentally friendly business

In the world of today we all want to be more conscious of the carbon footprint that we create. Cloud computing on average consumes 30% less energy than does on-site servers. This is a plus, although not necessarily a massive driver for the adoption of cloud technology. Increasingly people are going to become more incentivised in their businesses by this aspect of cloud computing though.

Data security

Every year an estimated 750,000 laptops are lost in airports alone. Apart from the financial loss of the device there is also a serious problem with loss of data. By utilising the cloud data is kept safe and accessible despite this loss. It is also possible to remove access to data on stole devices using remote tools and wiping.

Increased competition

The packages for cloud computing is set up in a way that is accessible to small and medium sized businesses. Essentially businesses get access to enterprise level software for pay-as-you-go prices. This means that they have the ability to do things that in the past were the preserve of larger organisations. The gap between SMEs and corporate giants can therefore be narrowed as technology improves access to information and flow of information through an organisation.

Cloud computing makes things cheaper, more collaborative, more accessible, more secure and more available. It is little surprise that cloud computing has taken off as it has, and thatthe pace at which it is expanding is so impressive.

Top Benefits of Archiving Files in The Cloud

Businesses that are of various sizes, which are operating across all the sectors, can gather large quantities of data on everyday basis. From monetary reports to email exchange, these files are very crucial to retrieve and contain highly sensitive data and information, which cannot be compromised. It is important that the company has a file archiving system at a place. This archiving system allows storage of large data; the data present on it should be accessible and secure. Looking for file archiving system Cloud storage is the solution that the businesses can choose for a cloud based storage solution or a on-site file archiving system.

Drop Box, is ranked fifth among all the cloud storage alternatives present in the world which allows easy access on any device. There are various similar services present in the market. Otherwise you can go for an online virtual storage like the Google drive. In this article we outline the various advantage of the cloud storage.

Cloud Archiving Drives Down Costs

A cloud-based solution is much more cost effective than an on-site storage solution. Why? There because there are a few certain reasons. A cloud-based solution eradicates all the dedicated internal IT resources for archiving of data. But when an on-site solution is considered, the role an IT employee is that he spends most of his time dealing with file archiving issues but this is not the case when cloud based solution is considered. The cloud-based solution has a larger scalability feature. Where we only pay for the processing, bandwidth, memory applications and the needs of an business organization and there is no hidden payments which is incurred by the on-site file archiving system. The major advantage of this system is the Mime cast File archiving solution.

Accessibility of Data

Various organizations have different approaches to file archiving, while some the files is stored on-site and some of them stored on-site which can make access of difficult data with ease. But the use file archiving system is that the data stored is not to be touched- it is crucial that the stored data can be made available to both the administrators and end users. When the data is stored in a single place the access of data can be made easily without any difficulty. On a cloud based system all the data is indexed before it is stored which allows easy searching of data across multiple applications. If an employee has to locate data from his iPad or an Blackberry device he can make use of cloud file archiving system solution which makes this possible.

Disaster Recovery

Another advantage of using cloud-based solution is that it allows on site disaster recovery for file archives. If the entire companies data is stored on site than the data can be easily vulnerable or compromised. In a cloud based solution, the servers are distributed around the world, so if one server fails and due to data distribution to various servers the data is secure in spite of failure of the current server or due to disaster.

Whatever archiving solution you choose for, remember that you should be able to archive large volumes of data which increases year by year; that the data which has been archived should be easily accessible and should be totally secure.

What Trends Will Shape the Cloud Computing Industry in 2014?

Although cloud computing is still a fairly new concept, it has come a long way in a short period of time. When this term first started gaining attention, people were very skeptical of it. From security to accessibility, people had so many concerns that it seemed like there were too many to overcome. However, because cloud computing was much more than just a buzzword, it was able to stand up to all the criticism. And as more people started getting on board with this idea, it was able to spread throughout larger and larger organizations.

While cloud computing isn't perfect for every single application in existence, it's a great fit for the majority. Because this industry is growing so quickly, there's still a lot of ground to be covered in terms of bringing on users to utilize cloud computing in one way or another. Since there is so much growth within this industry, it's worth looking at which trends are most likely to shape the path that this industry follows:

Businesses Pivoting Into Software Companies

The concept of the cloud has made it possible for just about anyone to connect with almost any type of data. Because that simple but powerful reality provides nearly endless opportunities for unique product offerings, the already increasing number of companies who choose to put software at the core of what they offer will only continue to grow.

Stiff Competition for Talented Developers

Not surprisingly, developers who are very good at what they do are already in high demand. And due to the fact that this industry's growth doesn't show any signs of slowing, that demand isn't going away. On the contrary, many companies are exploring a variety of recruiting and training programs to help secure the talent they need to make their cloud offerings a success.

Pressure on Private Clouds

Plenty of IT departments within companies have acknowledged cloud computing, but made it clear that they still believe this approach has too many security risks. A common solution has been the proposal of private clouds within organizations. While that may sound good in theory, the problem has been actually bringing them to fruition. Because plenty of companies have hit obstacles ranging from internal politics to budgeting, this is likely to be the year when many organizations decide if they instead want to make the transition to an existing cloud solution.

AWS Will Remain a Leader

In order for new technologies to gain real momentum and be taken seriously, it often takes the backing of a well-known company. In the case of cloud computing, that was exactly the role that Amazon played. When they launched Amazon Web Services (AWS) in 2006, many people didn't even understand what this offering was all about. And even for those who did understand, plenty thought that Amazon would shutter this project within a matter of years.

However, not only did Amazon continue moving forward with AWS, but they have been successful at establishing it as a leader within the cloud industry. As of 2012, industry analysts estimate that AWS generates over one and a half billion dollars in annual revenue for Amazon.

Battles Between Several Big Tech Companies

Since Amazon has shown that there is definitely a demand for this type of cloud service, it shouldn't come as a surprise that other big tech companies are expected to get serious about their cloud efforts. Specifically, most analysts agree that both Google and Microsoft will get aggressive with incorporating cloud technology into both new and existing offerings. Google has already taken steps in this direction with launches like Compute Engine.

Price will pay a major role in this battle as well. Moore's Law means that technology like system on module will continue to get faster and cheaper. Large companies can take advantage of increased performance and reduced costs by offering better cloud technologies to customers at even more attractive prices.
Only time will tell exactly what happens within the cloud computing industry. But, thanks to the rapid expansion and acceptance of this industry, it's safe to say that it's going to be around for a long time. And during that time, it's going to be very interesting to watch the type of innovation and other developments that take place.

Richard Smith is a technology blogger. What he loves most about having the opportunity to write about technology is being able to explain to people how new pieces of technology are going to make their lives even better.

Cloud Computing for Startups

Cloud Computing for Startups

While many of you may be aware of the ‘Cloud’, not everyone knows of the importance and benefits of cloud computing for startup businesses. The representation of cloud computing for an average computer user is usually in the form of websites such as ‘Google’, ‘Dropbox’, ‘Amazon’, etc. Surely, we have come a long way from floppy disks to storing data on virtual servers that are remotely accessible anywhere in the world.
The three important variations of cloud computing include IaaS, PaaS and SaaS. A brief summary of the three is given below:

IaaS

IaaS is Infrastructure as a Service. It eliminates the need for purchasing expensive equipment as the functions of such equipment are outsourced. These elements could include servers, hard disks, networking equipment, etc. With IaaS, organizations can store their data on servers of other companies, but it is accessible everywhere through dedicated connections that provide rapid speed.

PaaS

Instead of setting up software on each computer or server in an organization, businesses often use Platform as a Service (PaaS). It enables installation of software and other applications on a remote server so they can be accessed throughout an organization with excessive convenience.

SaaS

There are certain software that may not be frequently used in organizations but may be required by a number of personnel every once in a while. Instead of purchasing multiple licenses for a software in exchange for enormous finances, Software as a Service (SaaS) facilities allow businesses to pay per use. Furthermore, it removes the restriction on the number of computers that can use a software at once.

 

Benefits of Cloud Computing for Startup Businesses

There are numerous benefits of cloud computing for startup businesses, in fact cloud computing has become a necessity for startup businesses in order to survive in the modern business world. The advantages of using cloud computing include:

Security

The security provided on cloud servers is simply unmatched by that of organizational infrastructure. With state-of-the-art technology and encryption tools, valuable data of an organization can be stored in the safest locations. The data can even be password locked, eliminating any chances of unauthorized access. Also, the data is backed-up which provides a surety that information would not be lost.

Finances

Even though purchasing infrastructure that is used by cloud computing services would also provide organizations with the same facilities, the cost difference would be gigantic. In fact, the cost of using cloud computing services is practically negligible in comparison to purchasing equipment. For startup businesses, capital is a valuable resource and needs to be allocated effectively.

Time

Since cloud computing services are externally managed, they considerably diminish the need for personnel as well as time. More goals can be achieved in lesser time, which is crucial for startup businesses.

Less Training

While using cloud computing services, there is hardly any hardware involved other than the usual computers. Organizations do not have to spend resources in training their staff about the hardware or software use. Every application is ready to be executed.

In the recent years, it has been seen that cloud based businesses have been taking over the market dramatically. For growth with minimal risks involved, the use of cloud computing services by startup businesses is a win-win situation.

About the Author:
Christopher Cao is a digital marketing strategist at NetCloud. The Texas based cloud services provider offers affordable cloud hosting plans for startups and established businesses alike. Follow him on their Google+ page.
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