GMO Cloud

Cloud Best Practices for Small Businesses

An article in Dynamic Business shows that cloud computing is more than just a buzzword for small businesses.

The article shares some actual practices that have worked among small businesses and how cloud computing helped them do more for less. Here are some takeaways from the article:

• Cloud computing is utility computing
• Cloud computing limits the need for trained in-house staff
• SaaS allows flexibility
• The advantage comes with scale
• Competing with global businesses is exactly what cloud users should be doing

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.

Friday Cloud News Roundup

Cloud Technology Sought By Department of Agriculture

In compliance with the “Cloud First” policy, the Department of Agriculture, particularly, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is exploring options for a pilot project that would use a commercial, web-based system of image collection, data hosting, service provisioning and other related services – or otherwise called, geospatial imagery – to replace its current infrastructure.

This IT modernization program started a few years ago when the agency transitioned 120,000 of its employees and contractors to cloud-based email services. With this move, the department hopes to reduce costs and find new IT efficiencies.

Find out more on how this agency intends to leverage on cloud technology to improve operations, visit InformationWeek now.

Facebook Sign-on for Government Services

The current administration has released a new mandate making Facebook a portal for government access.

Effective immediately, some agencies will be using Facebook exclusively for sign-on access to government services. These agencies include:

• Social security administration
• Veteran’s administration
• Department of Treasury

According to White House spokesperson Avrile Powason, this will save agencies an estimated $1.3 Billion annually while creating thousands of jobs in the private sector.

Powason further added, “If you don’t have a Facebook account, you’re not someone who needs online access to government services.”

To find out more details on this mandate, read the full article on Sys-con.

Cloud Analytics Summit 2012

Decision-makers can now look forward to a summit where they can learn how to use cloud solutions to transform Big Data into Business Intelligence with the use of Data Integration.

The event will be happening on April 25, 2012 at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California.

Find out how you can harness “Big Data” and how you can effectively integrate your organization’s systems and applications into a more productive resource, visit TheWHIR for event details or register at www.CloudAnalyticsSummit.com.

Cloud Management Summit 2012

Another cloud technology event will be help on November 5, 2012 at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View California.

In the Cloud Management Summit, some of the following topics will be discussed:

• Application management
• Access control
• Performance management

Find out the full scope of the summit and see how you can maximize the power of the cloud. Visit TheWHIR now for more details or register at www.CloudManagementSummit.com

Cloud Computing Trends

Cloud computing has really been making waves not only within the United States but as well as the rest of the world as experts predict that it will generate 14 million jobs as it becomes a $150Billion market by 2013.

While cloud computing is making these effects on some aspects in technology, some trends are being created:

• Personal cloud will replace personal computer
• Executives demand reliable cloud data security
• Growth of mobile cloud

This was shared in an article in Cloudtweaks, and the main idea behind this is that as more companies are seeing the benefit of cloud computing for their business processes and data management, the world will be seeing much more of cloud adoption in the information infrastructure of companies.

Red Hat to Sponsor Open Cloud Conference

The Open Cloud Conference to be held on April 30 – May 3, 2012 at Sunny Vale California will be hosted by the world’s leading provider of Open Source Solutions, Red Hat. The company, being a sponsor of the event, will be holding a developer workshop focused on:

• Infrastructure as a Service
• Platform as a Service
• Mobile and java development in the cloud

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.

Impact of Cloud Computing in the Insurance Industry

A recent research conducted by Gartner on the insurance industry concluded that cloud computing will be a catalyst for more standardization in insurance.

However, in order for insurance firms to realize the full potential of cloud computing, they need to harmonize their IT systems and business processes.

In the research, some recommendations based on the analysis were cited, some of which were:

• Develop a process domain model and map current IT systems
• Assess technical feasibility and savings potential
• Implement stronger governance principles
• Review degree of virtual integration

Furthermore, one of the impacts predicted was that cloud computing will contribute to the breakup of traditional insurance value chains and foster further specialization in the industry – but this will not occur until insurers standardize, consolidate or virtualize their IT infrastructure.

Find out more about how cloud computing will impact the insurance industry, visit Gartner now.

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.

Convergence Cloud Brings Three Counties to a Single Portal

A recent blog in the Cook County Illinois website announced the launched of the nation’s first “convergence cloud” – http:www.MetroChicagoData.org. This new website brings public data from the City of Chicago, Cook County and State of Illinois into one portal.

By making data more easily available to the public, the site aims to:

• Break down barriers between counties
• Increase government transparency
• Create new opportunities for entrepreneurship

According to Cook County President Toni Preckwinkle, “Transparency enables accountability and strengthens public trust.”

Aside from connecting data across the three counties, new features include:

• Automatic full indexing of content
• Simple, easy-to-use interface
• Easy information access

Ultimately, this venture is expected to help increase service efficiencies, access to vital information and new innovation. Visit the Cook County Blog to read the full release and see the various types of data categories the site is providing.

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.

Four Pillars of Cloud Adoption

Cloud adoption rate has been increasing and inevitably, so is the amount of inhibitions for moving to the cloud.

The attractiveness of cloud services is its rapid maturity and almost any type of service can already be sourced in the cloud. However, risks of data loss or leakage, compromised systems and security and other issues will serve as obstacles for security professionals and their vote for cloud
adoption.

An article in CSO.com discusses a suggested risk-based framework that will guide a business in moving to the cloud:

1. Identify – Costs and utilization level of projects, programs and services
2. Assess – security obligations
3. Establish – processes; SLA’s and rules of engagement
4. Govern – structures, control obligations, compliance

These pillars were based on CloudAdopt25, a 25-point controls plan. Visit CSO.com to view the full article and keep up to date with the latest tips on effective cloud adoption.

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.