GMO Cloud

Do You Need Hand-holding When Embracing Cloud Infrastructure?

This is exactly the type of question a small business owner or a start-up is likely to ask. The answer is yes. There are some critical situations when hand-holding is imperative while in some circumstances it may be optional. Here are the inflexion points where a newbie to the cloud infrastructure needs to pay attention.

Setting up the cloud instances

In my opinion this is the most important situation when you need assistance. Now many of you would have heard that setting up cloud instances is a simple affair. This cannot be farther than the truth. I vividly remember the first time I tried migrating to the Amazon EC2 cloud. Believe me when I say that I was totally bewildered and I am a tech guy myself. I had problems with my database which somehow did not respond to my commands. The pricing itself was a tricky issue. Of course things have changed over the years but I suppose that grasping the technicalities of cloud infrastructure takes time. If an entrepreneur with a brilliant business idea decides to do it by himself, the task of setting up cloud instances can be daunting and frustrating. In the case of big cloud vendors like Rackspace and Amazon EC2, you need a consultant who knows the ropes well. Windows Azure can be equally challenging. No doubt independent cloud consultants are having a merry time setting up cloud infrastructure for their clients.

Running, updating and maintaining cloud infrastructure

In a cloud the more things remain the same more they change. The operational environment is highly dynamic. Fluctuating demand, requirement of other services like load balancing can be tough to manage without technical knowhow. This fact is not fully appreciated till you are already knee deep in operations. Grappling with emergency situations should not be left to fate. Remember that your business suffers when your website or web based services are down. Getting someone who knows the technicalities is a good practice.

Managed services

But if you have to maintain in-house technical staff, the very purpose of cloud infrastructure is lost. Ideally I would like to handover all maintenance to the cloud infrastructure provider. Unfortunately big cloud vendors don’t provide you that option. You have to hire an outside consultant to manage the daily and emergency tasks.

Managed services including setting up cloud instances are provided by some cloud vendors. Identifying these providers can save you a good amount of time and money in the long run. The cost of such services should be factored in when calculating your expenditure on infrastructure.

There are three types of Professional Managed Services that GMO Cloud America, Inc. offers. These are for security, monitoring and restoration, and setup services. These services are designed to reduce the burden of server administration, cut costs, and increase your business efficiency.

Conclusion

The truth is that you still need technical knowledge to setup and run cloud instances. It is advisable to choose a cloud vendor who can hold your hand while you take the perilous journey into the cloud. In my view, there is no point ignoring the basic fact that cloud infrastructure is after all based on technology and requires technical knowledge to manage. There are numerous other issues including routine maintenance which you must entrust to a reliable technical person. It would be ideal if your cloud vendor can act as a facilitator in this regard.

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About the Guest Author:

Sankarambadi Srinivasan, ‘Srini’, is a maverick writer, technopreneur, geek and online marketing enthusiast rolled into one. He began his career as a Naval weapon specialist. Later, he sold his maiden venture and became head of an offshore Database administration company in Mumbai. He moved on as Chief Technology Officer of one of the largest online entities, where he led consolidation of 300 online servers and introduced several Web 2.0 initiatives. He holds a Master’s degree in Electronics and Telecommunication.

Social Media: The Business Perspective in the Asian Market

Social networking platforms have had an enormous impact on marketing, offering companies better ways of connecting to their customers and branding their products and services. Companies in Asia have made a particularly effective use of these technologies. After all, social media is part of modern people’s lifestyles and new generations are born into a world where their main way of participating in communities is digital.

Businesses are starting to realize this and investment into online and social media has increased, especially in the Asia Pacific market. New technology and the way it helps humanity to communicate is increasingly becoming a cornerstone of marketing in the region.

Game changing technologies

Cloud computing, mobile and social technology, social networks, and increased access to information and data storage has changed the game for many companies around the world. These technologies not only allow humanity to connect in a better way than before, they have dramatically increased the speed at which information flows, while at the same time helping information and human interaction become more transparent.

As demographics change, the role of social media and other emerging technologies becomes more important, making online marketing a particularly important part of any company’s business strategy. These technologies have effectively turned marketing into a two way street, especially in markets like South Korea, where user generated content and online communities have a very important role in society and in business.

Companies can no longer ignore the benefits

Due to the proliferation of these platforms, companies cannot afford to ignore these services. Even if a company does not participate in social media marketing, customers can use social communication to voice their dislikes about a particular company. Since this the main way in which many consumers in the Asian market receive their news or communicate with others, a lack of presence or monitoring can effectively mean that a company is doomed to fail in some way. It is also important to remember that a successful social media strategy is not simply added on to existing marketing strategies but is a actually a dedicated effort to connect to the public.

The move to Western social media models in Japan

Japan, in particular, has had a curious social media development. While social media was initially centered around mobile networks and gaming, Facebook and Twitter gradually took a hold on the Japanese market. One event that gave these networks a boost was the earthquake of 2011. Social networks played an enormous role in getting news out and allowing the population to stay in touch and provide updates about your whereabouts and as well as your friends and family. Since then there has been a marked increase in the user base of Western social media platforms, toppling long established giants in this market like Mixi. The move to these networks is also related to a younger generation of Japanese users that have embraced the potential for communication that these platforms hold.

The increase in the use of these social media platforms in the Japanese and other Asian markets means that these markets are more open than ever before to social media marketing techniques that may not have been as effective only one or two years before. Social media marketing is all about the user base of a particular platform thus affecting the reach and effectiveness of a company’s message. For businesses interested in penetrating these markets, the user base now exists to ensure that social media marketing techniques in the region are more profitable than ever.

In Japan, this is mainly due to a generational shift that has led to many users shifting to Western models of social networking. In this country and other developed economies such as Singapore and South Korea, increased broadband speeds, improved mobile technology, and better infrastructure have influenced the reach of social media marketing. Countries where these strategies would not have been feasible only a few years ago are also exploding into the scene, with particularly attractive markets in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Malaysia.

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About the Guest Author:

Nida Rasheed is a freelance writer and owner of an outsourcing company, Nida often finds herself wanting to write about the subjects that are closest to her heart. She lives in Islamabad, Pakistan and can be found on Twitter @nidarasheed.

An Overview of Social Media Marketing in the Asia Pacific Market

Social media platforms such as Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest are an essential part of any modern marketing campaign. Because of this, companies all around the world are quickly attempting to maximize their presence on these platforms in order to connect with customers and stay ahead of the competition. The Asia Pacific market is no exception. Businesses in the region are increasingly using social media to improve market penetration and presence, reaching customers with information about services and products in an increasingly personalized way.

Despite the hype, social media marketing is not free

An effective social media marketing campaign can greatly increase a company’s business. Social platforms also have a huge effect on customer service and overall costs, and are favored by consumers due to the increased access to special perks like coupons and special events. However, despite the fact that these platforms are free to use among the general public, setting up an effective social media marketing campaign requires significant investment in personnel and a specialized set of skills.

This is especially true in Asia, where mobile use and social media penetration is significantly higher than in other markets around the world. Larger companies wanting to use this enormous marketing resource will often require a dedicated department to ensure that all major social media channels are properly taken care of. It is a whole new level of customer service. This is a trend that is likely to increase in the future, as social media platforms and understanding of their importance increases in the next decade.

Social media marketing among Asian firms

Both international businesses and companies based in Asia have used social media to their advantage. One reason is because these platforms have the capability to accommodate a large scale of traffic without down time or interruption. While larger companies such as Samsung and LG have had a significant social media presence in the region, one promising shift in recent years is that small and medium businesses are starting to use these platforms to connect with their customers and market their products.

The generation that mainly uses social media on a daily basis is starting to age. Before most companies in Asia viewed social media platforms as something exclusive to the younger generation. But companies are starting to understand the enormous potential for these networks now that they are being used by more people. Rather than simply dipping their toes into the water, many companies are now taking the plunge into what social media marketing and public relations have to offer.

Challenges

There are several challenges to social media marketing in the Asia region. One is cost. Many companies do not understand that an effective social media marketing campaign requires a substantial investment. This may be related to the fact that social media is free to use for individuals and with a general lack of understanding for what a social media marketer can do.

The fact is that the people in charge of monitoring social media use for companies can have an enormous effect on a company’s brand, requiring an investment to ensure the best possible use of these platforms. In fact, there have been numerous cases of social media marketing backfiring, usually because the persons responsible for these channels do not understand their potential. Investing in the personnel necessary to make these marketing techniques work can keep the social media message of a company from being ignored.

Be Part of Our Cloud Conversation

Our articles are written to provide you with tools and information to meet your IT and cloud solution needs. Join us on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Guest Author:

Nida Rasheed is a freelance writer and owner of an outsourcing company, Nida often finds herself wanting to write about the subjects that are closest to her heart. She lives in Islamabad, Pakistan and can be found on Twitter @nidarasheed.

Emerging Asian Economies and the Future of Cloud Computing

There’s currently a boom in the IT sector in Asia’s emerging economies. This is especially true in countries like Philippines, Vietnam, and Indonesia, where it’s expected that cloud computing will play an important role in years to come. The cloud computing market in the region is estimated to increase by about thirty percent on average with revenues doubling by 2017. There are several reasons for cloud computing’s promising future in this part of the world:

1. Vendors, governments, and cloud service providers are all actively promoting SaaS business models in the region, which has led to a higher rate of adoption than previously expected.
2. There is a growing awareness of the cloud’s potential for cutting costs and improving service quality and reach.
3. Internet speeds in the region are gradually getting faster, allowing more individuals and organizations to have access to sophisticated online and cloud-based services.

These factors have resulted in a net increase in organizations shifting from traditional IT infrastructure to cloud computing business models. There is an enormous untapped market for cloud vendors in this region due to the wealth of small and medium businesses that can use cloud computing effectively. It is important to note that cloud computing is relatively new in these countries. For example, the first firm offering cloud computing services locally in the Philippines opened its doors as recently as 2010 and IaaS solutions only started to gain popularity in this country in 2012.

However, the rate at which cloud computing vendors and providers are joining this market is astonishing, with an explosion in the last couple of years, including several high profile data centers being opened in the region.

Companies of all sizes

Small businesses tend to prefer public clouds since it gives these companies access to shared resources. On the other hand, larger companies prefer exclusivity and want to move their assets to private clouds. The types of services that are in demand also change depending on the targeted business’ size. Smaller companies have a higher likelihood of using basic document management services and are more likely to be comfortable with storing files and documents in the cloud. They may also want to invest in cloud-based web security for their business.

Smaller businesses wanting to control expenses may also want to invest in SaaS models that let them pay only for what they use. One thing cloud vendors should keep in mind is that many small businesses can use the cloud to expand, eventually going from basic services and core apps into more sophisticated areas, such as cloud-based platforms for developing their own in-house services.

Larger businesses in emerging Asian economies tend to use cloud services differently. Apps may move to the cloud, including document management, PBX and telephone systems, and email — but businesses will often require a higher level of customization and may also need specifically made applications. Concerns about regulation and sensitive data also mean that larger companies are more likely to manage part of  their IT infrastructure on their own data centers or internal networks rather than going to a cloud service provider. Because of this, providers would do well to offer hybrid cloud services to larger companies and to stress the fact that they are able to provide secure, safe services while also allowing the larger companies to manage their own networks and to move from one to the other with ease.

In these cases, portability is definitely an attractive selling point, since larger companies will want to be able to integrate their own internal networks and existing infrastructure with a cloud service that allows them to cut costs in key areas with lower security concerns.

Be Part of Our Cloud Conversation

Our articles are written to provide you with tools and information to meet your IT and cloud solution needs. Join us on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Guest Author:

Nida Rasheed is a freelance writer and owner of an outsourcing company, Nida often finds herself wanting to write about the subjects that are closest to her heart. She lives in Islamabad, Pakistan and can be found on Twitter @nidarasheed.

Cloud Computing Adoption Barriers in Emerging Asian Economies

Emerging Asian economies are among the most important markets in the world for cloud services providers. Countries like Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines have an enormous role to play in the future of this technology. The market for cloud computing in the area is estimated to increase by a third, doubling revenues by 2017.

A combination of active promotion by governments and vendors, infrastructure improvements, increased broadband speeds, and an active market in other sectors mean that cloud services providers have everything to gain. Small and medium sized businesses in the region, present an especially important opportunity for cloud service providers that know what these companies require. It is also important to remember that cloud computing is relatively new to the region with local providers only starting to show up in the last couple of years.

Adoption barriers

There are several barriers to adoption in the area that need to be solved in order to allow the cloud computing market to really reach its potential. One of the most important hurdles is overcoming certain regulatory issues in the region. Bandwidth is also an important concern. While broadband speeds and infrastructure have increased dramatically in recent years, they still have a long way to go before they can start competing with more developed economies in the Asia Pacific region such as South Korea and Japan.

There are also the usual barriers to adoption that tend to apply to cloud computing in general:

1. Many individuals and IT decision makers do not have accurate information about the potential of cloud computing and of the advances it has made in recent years. Cloud computing is a rapidly advancing field with breakthroughs being made constantly. What is true at one point may already be old information a few weeks later. This means that cloud service providers must do their best to keep IT decision makers updated about the latest cloud computing news. Rather than a lack of information, the problem is often one of outdated information.

2. Many companies and individuals in emerging Asian economies also lack access to reliable broadband, which is of course key to the implementation of any cloud platform. Unfortunately for cloud services providers, overcoming this barrier is often beyond their control. Fortunately for everyone, governments in the region are making a very strong investment in infrastructure and increasing access to high speed internet.

3. Security concerns about cloud computing remain. Fortunately these tend to be concerns about aspects that are easily fixed, often due to a lack of information about the latest technological breakthroughs. Cloud service providers can help alleviate security concerns by working with their clients in order to find ideal cloud platforms that offer the best security.

Despite barriers and concerns, cloud computing is exploding in this market

Multiple high profile cloud computing facilities by companies such as Microsoft and VMWare have been launched in countries like Vietnam and the Philippines, with numerous companies competing to gain market access. Most industries and market sectors in this region are starting to adopt cloud computing in some way. Examples abound, especially among small and medium sized companies, from meat producers like Ramcor to flower delivery companies like Island Rose. Numerous smaller businesses in the area are using cloud computing in order to offer better services to their clients.

Market sectors with high potential include retail and banking, especially for companies providing disaster recovery services and hardware savings. The government is also playing an important part in the development of cloud computing in the region. Cloud-based apps are being used in education in many countries. One particularly striking example is an initiative by the Philippines Department of Education that has allowed teachers in the country to have access to enormous amount of cloud-based storage.

Be Part of Our Cloud Conversation

Our articles are written to provide you with tools and information to meet your IT and cloud solution needs. Join us on Facebook and Twitter.

About the Guest Author:

Nida Rasheed is a freelance writer and owner of an outsourcing company, Nida often finds herself wanting to write about the subjects that are closest to her heart. She lives in Islamabad, Pakistan and can be found on Twitter @nidarasheed.