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Hybrid cloud market grows as CIOs embrace the platform

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With cloud computing becoming an increasingly important part of enterprise IT infrastructure, service providers are beginning to offer a growing number of custom or semi-custom options for businesses interested in creating a unique environment to store their sensitive data. Hybrid cloud solutions, which mix both private and public platforms to give organizations the benefits associated with both environments, are realizing increased popularity as more enterprises want to create solutions unique to their operations.

According to a recent report from market research firm MarketsandMarkets, hybrid cloud platforms offer businesses high-end solutions like integration, networking, consulting, cloud management and security. Because of these benefits, nearly half of enterprises surveyed said they were planning to adopt a hybrid cloud solution in the near future. Hybrid cloud services are becoming so popular, in fact, that the report estimates the market will be worth nearly $85 billion in 2019, increasing at a compound annual growth rate of 27 percent for the next four years. The biggest regional market for such services is expected to be North America, with all other regions except Europe expected to increase their share rapidly with high annual growth rates.

Researchers working on the report noted that adoption rates would likely be even higher than they currently are if not for data security concerns from consumers and worry about technological constraints causing problems with performance for networks and applications. While all forms of cloud computing have their downsides, innovations in the industry and improvements to security, functionality and operability are constantly being introduced.

Hybrid makes the transition to cloud easier
Making the move to a hybrid environment allows IT administrators to gain a better understanding of what elements they like and dislike from each type of platform and decide how to meet the company's needs. As Cloud Tech contributor James Butler noted, adopting a hybrid cloud strategy in which workloads are moved over slowly from one platform to another, companies are able to take control of their IT infrastructure and encourage real change.

"Taking an incremental approach to hybrid cloud gives CIOs a platform to lead real business change from the center, and avoid being bypassed or replaced," said Butler. "By driving the strategy and promoting the positive benefits of cloud, CIOs will reduce risks and maximize investments; rather than simply ignoring cloud and falling behind."

Using a hybrid strategy offers enterprises the ability to test new ideas in a secure environment before moving them out into a public arena, dramatically reducing development time and costs and improving troubleshooting efforts. At the same time, moving workloads to a public cloud environment in incremental stages helps companies avoid the challenges presented by traditional IT infrastructures and experience agile and cost-effective service. Benefits can also be realized in a much shorter time frame – in as little as 12 to 18 months with a hybrid platform as opposed to five to 10 years with traditional approaches.

Yes, your company's data is safe in the cloud

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Despite its growing presence in the business world, there are still IT administrators that are hesitant to deploy cloud initiatives because of concerns about data security and privacy.

It is smart to be concerned about the security of enterprise information, especially when it is being hosted on a relatively new infrastructure. However, an increasing amount of research has shown that not only is the cloud safe, it may even be more secure than on-premises platforms. Any data that can be accessed externally – whether cloud-based or on-premises – is at risk from hackers.

A report by Alert Logic on the state of cloud security revealed that businesses utilizing on-premises storage environments experienced more security incidents than those without cloud solutions, more than twice the amount, in fact. The lower rate of cyberattacks targeting cloud-based solutions is likely due to the fact that service providers are able to focus more on security and governance than organizations that build their own data environments.

Consider all aspects of security
A main component many IT decision-makers forget when discussing information security is confidentiality. As long as the proper access controls are in place and data can only be seen by those who require it, it remains safe. The cloud seems to fly in the face of this idea, as it involves handing over control of information to a service provider. But in reality, using cloud storage services causes businesses to take a harder look at who has access to what data, improving the overall security of enterprise information.

Private cloud environments allow users to keep their data away from that of other companies, and some providers even go so far as to keep encryption keys on client devices so only the data’s owner has access. Many data breaches IT decision-makers believe are caused by the cloud are actually the result of insufficient data security policies and a lack of oversight by in-house IT staff.

Implementing a private cloud storage solution allows sensitive enterprise information to be kept in an environment with integrated security measures, increasing data defense. Only one company’s information is stored within a private environment, which eliminates the chance of outside eyes prying on sensitive data. Working with a knowledgeable service provider is a great way to craft a solution that is tailored to your organization and ensure business-critical information is protected.

What do schools need to prepare for new testing standards?

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The summer months are fast approaching, and with the end of school year in sight, it means students all over the country are preparing to take standardized tests before they can enjoy a three-month break. The new Common Core standards have brought big changes to the classroom, but one of the most noticeable is the online assessments that will soon be given to test how students are comprehending material. School district administrators have just about one year to go until their teachers have to start giving the online tests, so now is the time for IT decision-makers to inventory the technology and connectivity available in order to make the necessary changes before assessment day arrives.

"The Common Core digital assessment can bring challenges for schools when it comes to IT infrastructure."

The Common Core digital assessments can bring real challenges for the average school district when it comes to having the necessary connectivity and technological capacity. Even districts that have started to invest heavily in new computers and other hardware are finding that they underestimated the need for devices during the exam and will have to stagger test schedules in order to make sure all students are able to take the assessment during the required window without disrupting other class time.

New online testing requires schools to inventory their IT infrastructure.New online testing requires schools to inventory their IT infrastructure.

Schools look to enhance tech infrastructure before test season
To help school districts get ready for the Common Core tests, the two main organizations responsible for designing the test – the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium and the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers – have run pilot tests to identify any bugs in the system and are planning to stage more elaborate and comprehensive field tests of the exam closer to the launch date.

Smarter Balanced and PARCC have also each published their own minimum and recommended guidelines for the hardware, software and bandwidth required to deliver the assessments properly. Both organizations offered similar recommendations, suggesting that districts employing devices running on Microsoft operating systems use Windows 7 or higher and those running on Macs utilize version 10.7 or higher. In an attempt to guard against interruptions caused by schools' lack of connectivity, PARCC is making it possible for schools and districts to take advantage of caching, in which administrators download encrypted tests to local servers prior to the exam in order to reduce strain on local bandwidth. Smarter Balanced is not recommending schools use caching for their tests – instead the organization is relying on a process that transmits student responses to a central server bank immediately after an answer is given and protects those answers internally.

Clearly there is still a lot of work to be done within most school districts in order for them to be ready to administer the new Common Core assessments. The most reliable way for schools to ensure they will be capable of providing the connectivity and technological infrastructure necessary is to partner with a trusted service providers. The experts at ISG Technology have decades of industry experience to offer and are able to create a customized program that will meet individual school's needs. ISG enables districts to access the support and network capacity necessary for a successful deployment.

Enterprise adoption of cloud dramatically increases as users see tangible benefits

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Even though the cloud has been around for many years now, it seems like every year is the year when the technology is supposed to finally make it into the mainstream. Enterprises have increased adoption of the cloud in recent years, however, and now it seems that the technology is finally being implemented because of its real-world user benefits instead of purely based on hype. While companies once simply deployed cloud solutions because they knew they needed to invest in the technology to stay ahead of the curve, now organizations are looking for cloud platforms that can solve tangible business problems.

"94% of IT departments are expected to increase cloud use over the next 12 months."

The realization of its real-world benefits is causing cloud services to see dramatically increased adoption, with rates growing between 30 and 40 percent annually for the next five years, according to a recent report from Rise. According to the study, 94 percent of IT departments are expected to increase their use of cloud computing over the next year.

Research from other analyst firms have also found that enterprise interest in the cloud is growing. A recent report by IDC found that spending on cloud services will have created nearly 14 million jobs worldwide between 2011 and the end of this year. The top three industries expected to benefit the most from jobs created by cloud computing are communications and media, banking and manufacturing.

"For most organizations, cloud computing should be a no-brainer, given its ability to increase IT innovation and flexibility, lower capital costs, and help generate revenues that are multiples of spending," said IDC chief research officer and senior vice president John Gantz. "Enterprises that embrace cloud computing reduce the amount of IT time and budget devoted to legacy systems and routine upgrades, which then increases the time and budget they have for more innovative projects. When IT innovation happens, business innovation is reached, which then supports job creation."

Enterprise cloud investments are yielding real world benefits.Enterprise cloud investments are yielding real world benefits.

Clearly research has shown that businesses are realizing enough benefits from the cloud that they are dramatically increasing their investments in the technology. But what exactly are the advantages they are experiencing?

Modernization
The current tech landscape is changing so rapidly that even companies that try and stay ahead of the curve can suddenly find themselves using out-of-date systems and hardware in seemingly no time at all. Using the cloud allows companies to stay nimble and adapt to a changing enterprise environment without the need for large upfront investments or complete system overhauls. The cloud also makes it easy to test new programs and applications without causing too much internal disruption.  

Improved mobile access
One of the original reasons cloud computing became such a popular concept in the enterprise is because of its ability to connect people together from multiple locations at once as if they were in the same room. Employing the cloud for business allows organizations to hire the best candidate for the job no matter where they may be located, as well as quickly and easily enter foreign markets without dramatically increasing costs.

Reduction of internal IT resources
For many businesses in which IT isn't a core competency, it can be difficult to support the appropriate internal IT resources to run the company. By implementing a cloud solution, organizations can rely on a third-party provider to do much of the heavy lifting – maintaining servers, updating systems, keeping an eye on security issues, etc. For smaller companies without the budgets to hire the necessary IT staff or even larger companies that don't want to handle such tasks themselves, the cloud is a reliable option that offers enormous benefits with little hassle.

4 green benefits of cloud computing

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The U.S. celebrated Earth Day on April 22, and in honor of the eco-friendly holiday, we thought we’d look at some ways in which businesses can reduce their carbon footprint by implementing cloud computing.

1) Reduces paper waste
Paper has been a staple in offices around the world for decades, but the cloud has dramatically reduced the need to create physical documents. While external communication may still require the use of paper, internal memos and messages can all be sent electronically now. Documents and files can also be stored and shared in the cloud, improving energy efficiency as well as security, as duplicates can be created easily in a backup server.

2) Reduces energy consumption
By locating computing infrastructure off-site, organizations do not have to run the dozens or hundreds of servers necessary to keep their business running, nor any of the equipment required to cool those servers. Cloud service providers host thousands of servers within their facilities, allowing them to utilize efficient processes available to them because of their bulk.

The cloud offers a variety of eco-friendly benefits to businesses.The cloud offers a variety of eco-friendly benefits to businesses.

3) Allows employees to telecommute
Companies using internal, on-premises solutions have a hard time offering their staff remote working options because of the security risks that can arise when trying to connect to the enterprise network from an outside location.

“If 40% of employees worked from home half of the time, American companies could save $200 billion.”

The cloud offers businesses the ability to secure their networks while still increasing accessibility and improving collaboration and productivity. And the benefits do not stop there. According to Kate Lister, an analyst with the Telework Research Network, if 40 percent of employees worked from home half of the time, American companies would realize $200 billion in productivity gains and $190 billion in savings from reduced real estate expenses, electricity bills, absenteeism and employee turnover. By cutting commuting by that amount, companies will also be able to save 100 hours per person, reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 50 million tons and save 276 million barrels of oil every year.

4) Take advantage of government incentives
If you are noticing a trend of money saving benefits, it is because it really pays to go green. The cloud helps to save organizations money on its own, but the residual effects of cloud adoption also lead to cost savings. Both local governments and federal agencies offer incentives for corporate energy efficiency, ranging from tax incentives to rebates. While many states’ cloud-related tax incentives pertain solely to service providers, there are a variety of grants and tax credits available for companies taking advantage of renewable energy systems and energy efficient initiatives.

Businesses that pay attention to their carbon footprints and take steps to be more energy efficient are becoming much more popular with clients, and implementing the cloud offers enterprises a way to not only benefit the planet, but the company itself. From energy savings to lowered costs, cloud computing is a win-win solution.

C-Suites increasing concerned about cybersecurity

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For retailers, the cybersecurity horror stories are almost too numerous to count: Target, Neiman Marcus, Home Depot, etc. But for executives in other sectors, the cautionary tale is that of health insurer Anthem.

For directors of companies in industries like finance and health care that are centered around client trust, suffering a major breach like the one that hit Anthem at the beginning of 2015 is just as devastating. More than 80 million account holders were affected during the breach, making it the largest hack of its kind. In an interview with CIO, Peter Gleason, president of the National Association of Corporate Directors, explained that decision-makers in these industries are especially on edge right now because cyberattacks are in the news every day and are kept front of mind.

“It’s the foremost issue on directors’ minds right now because it’s tied into the risk structure of the organization,” said Gleason.

“Last year nearly 43 million security incidents were detected.”

While the risks associated with hackers and cyberattacks are the hottest topic in board meetings, corporate oversight of cybersecurity follows behind in a close second. Last year nearly 43 million security incidents were detected, an increase of 48 percent from 2013, according to research by professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers. The average cost of those incidents was around $2.7 million, and the amount of businesses that reported losing more than $20 million due to a security incident increased 92 percent between 2013 and 2014. Perhaps the most worrying statistic is that as many as 71 percent of cyberattack victims did not detect the hack themselves, but instead were informed by a third party about the issue.

Recent data breach increases are causing executives to step up cybersecurity conversations.Recent data breach increases are causing executives to step up cybersecurity conversations.

Data breaches come with silver lining
While this may all seem like bad news, it does come with a silver lining. According to a recent study by business risk consulting firm Protiviti, there is a positive correlation between how much the board is engaged with cybersecurity and the strength of IT security solutions. The prevalence of data breaches has forced decision-makers to be more concerned with their organizations’ cybersecurity posture and fostered increased communication between CIOs and board members.

“By providing corporate directors with meaningful intelligence on a regular basis, savvy CIOs and CISOs not only educate their boards about the issues they should focus on as they oversee security-related initiatives; they also garner high-level support for building robust security systems and adopting processes and policies necessary to protect corporate data,” CIO contributor Stephanie Overby noted.

Cybercriminals continue to grow more sophisticated and invent new attack methods to target organizations storing large amounts of data. One of the most reliable ways to protect client data is to utilize cloud storage services. Information stored in the cloud is easily encrypted and can be kept in a separate place from other enterprise information. Employing a cloud solution also improves business continuity procedures by keeping sensitive data in the cloud as duplicate data can be stored off-site and kept safe in case a system is compromised or a disruptive event were to occur.

New survey finds clients willing to pay for stronger Wi-Fi

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For most people, it would be hard to go even a few hours without an Internet connection to power a laptop or mobile device. According to a new report, consumers worldwide are more eager than ever to have access to stronger, faster and easier-to-use Wi-Fi services. So eager, in fact, that they are willing to pay a premium to get them.

A recent survey conducted by IE Market Research found that Wi-Fi is more in demand than ever, and subscribers are even willing to relinquish some of their privacy to get a better client experience and personalized offers. The study, which included responses from more than 4,000 Wi-Fi clients in 11 countries, revealed some interesting, though perhaps not surprising, facts about consumer Wi-Fi use.

“Canadian and U.S. clients are willing to pay almost 10% more on average for broadband Internet with certain amenities.”

According to the report, the biggest pain points when it comes to Wi-FI service is coverage outside the house and poor connection speed. Consumers are ready to pay extra to receive carrier-grade services, with clients in Canada and the U.S. willing to pay almost 10 percent more on average for their broadband Internet if it includes service outside of the home and provides a high-connection speed, seamless connections across various endpoints and has automatic handoff to cellular networks.

Consumers are looking for an improved Wi-Fi experience.Consumers are looking for an improved Wi-Fi experience.

Stronger, more personalized Wi-Fi top priorities
So interested in stronger Wi-Fi connections are consumers that nearly 66 percent of those surveyed said they would consider replacing their cellphone plans with a Wi-Fi first offering. Kristin Dolan, chief operating officer of Cablevision, explained this growing trend by saying that cellular networks were built to carry voice, while Wi-Fi connections were meant to handle data. As consumers spend more time using the Internet on their phones and doing things other than make calls like watch video, Wi-Fi becomes the channel of choice for many users.

“Connectivity, particularly wireless, is going to become more and more important to our consumers,” said Cablevision CEO James Dolan. “Connectivity has surpassed video as the primary product for a company like ours. And we need to continue to strategize our product offerings to reflect that with different packaging, etc., which is something I think we will do in 2015.”

Another interesting fact the survey uncovered is that 80 percent of participants said they would feel comfortable allowing their service provider to collect personal data if it would make the marketing and client service experience more personalized and satisfactory. Another 7 percent of respondents said they would even be willing to pay more for their service each month if it meant they would get customized offers and personalized service.

“Clients are looking for customized care,” said Nizar Assanie, vice president of IE Market Research. “This question wasn’t asking whether they’d pay more as a line item for customized care. But they did see the value in it. There is a demand for personalized client support and better quality of service and consumers are willing to pay to get it.”

5 steps to preventing data loss in the cloud

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Anyone operating in the enterprise today has come in contact with the cloud in some form. But, despite the ubiquitous nature of the technology, not all users are as well versed in cloud best practices as they need to be in order to prevent data loss. Security continues to lead the pack with it comes to CIOs’ concerns about cloud computing despite the fact that the technology has been around for nearly a decade already. The online threat landscape has grown more dangerous and many companies are at a loss as to how to improve security. For any enterprise looking for a way to use the cloud safely and prevent data loss, here are five basic tips:

1: Perform a cloud risk assessment
The main goal of this process is for companies to take an inventory of all the cloud applications in use and find where their data is actually being stored within the network. With that information in hand, IT decision-makers can develop an ‘as is’ cloud assessment and accurately understand what’s really going on. After inventory has been completed, the enterprise network should be surveyed to identify the company’s current cloud footprint and a data flow map should be created. Once applications are cataloged and all data is accounted for, each program should be given a risk score that takes into account the level of trust the organization has for the service and process.

2: Find any gaps between perceived security and actual security
This step helps businesses find any discrepancies between regulatory compliance needs – like PCI or HIPAA – and what is actually going on in the network. Discovering what areas have the biggest gaps can help decision-makers find the best way to address the issue and improve enterprise compliance.

There are a few simple steps every company can take to make their cloud safer.There are a few simple steps every company can take to make their cloud deployment safer.

3: Build a plan to combat shadow IT
One of the biggest cloud security issues facing companies today is shadow IT, or employees using unapproved programs for work purposes. To address this problem, organizations should take the data gathered during the first two steps and use it to create an action plan. Consulting with legal, security and procurement specialists can be beneficial during this process as well.

4: Choose a cloud framework to deploy
Once a comprehensive analysis of the enterprise’s needs has been done, it’s time to find a cloud platform that will successfully meet those demands. First, IT executives have to decide between a public, private or hybrid environment and then look for a service provider that offers the reliability, features and client service necessary to keep operations up and running smoothly.

” Look for a service provider that offers the necessary reliability, features and client service.”

5: Determine and implement cloud best practices
There are specific policies that each company will need to create on its own in order to accommodate and protect business functions, but there are other, more general recommendations that apply to anyone using the cloud. In order to get started when creating enterprise best practices, the Cloud Security Alliance offers a list of common policies  and the Cloud Best Practices Network provides case studies to help build better long term strategies.

White House making strides to increase public access to broadband Internet

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The federal government has been very concerned with the Internet recently. From cybersecurity taking center stage during this year's State of the Union address to the Federal Communications Commission making historic rules protecting net neutrality, Washington has cyberspace on its mind – and for good reason. The Internet is everywhere and is used by billions of people everyday. It has changed the way people work, play, learn and communicate, but for some reason there are still areas of even the most developed countries that don't have access to reliable Internet service. However, with so much attention being paid to online activities recently, a variety of organizations are working together to change that, at least in the U.S.

" Only 29% of Americans are able to choose from more than one service provider at 25 Mbps."

According to the most recent data from the Department of Commerce, 98 percent of Americans are now able to access 4G wireless broadband service, achieving a goal set by the Obama administration two years earlier than anticipated. However, information from the FCC paints a slightly different picture. A report from the agency indicated that over 50 million Americans are not able to purchase a wired broadband connection capable of download speeds of 25 Mbps, which has been defined by the FCC as the minimum for adequate broadband service. On top of that, only 29 percent of Americans are able to choose from more than one service provider at the minimum broadband speed.

Increased Internet access offers paths to success
The widespread availability of high-speed Internet has been an important cause for the president since he took office in 2009, and he often makes the case that abundant Internet access, as well as education in the STEM fields, is critical to the economic future of the country. Last week Obama praised the progress that has been made by the country's broadband providers to increase the presence of high-speed wireless service across the nation, but acknowledged there was work yet to be done. In response, the president announced the creation of a new inter-agency panel that will be tasked with eliminating regulatory barriers to further deployment even more.

The newly formed Broadband Opportunity Council will be made up of representatives from more than two dozen government departments and agencies. The council is being billed as a coordinated effort among government entities to work alongside the private sector in order to develop a policy environment that enables investment in high-speed networks. The group will be co-chaired by the U.S. Departments of Commerce and Agriculture and is expected to report back to the president within 150 days with steps each agency can take to advance the council's goals. 

"Access to high-speed broadband is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity for American families, businesses, and consumers," Obama said. "The federal government has an important role to play in developing coordinated policies to promote broadband deployment and adoption, including promoting best practices, breaking down regulatory barriers, and encouraging further investment."

The government is taking major steps to improve access to high-speed Internet across the country.The government is taking major steps to improve access to high-speed Internet across the country.

Breaking down barriers to access
Along with creating the BOC, Obama is also urging the FCC to strike down state laws which prevent communities from building or expanding their own 1-gigabit-per-second networks. These types of networks offer download speeds nearly 100 times faster than conventional connections and can be a major resource to rural communities.

"Over the last several years, dozens of cities have accelerated the deployment of world-leading broadband networks by reforming local policies that add unnecessary costs to construction," said Blair Levin, the man behind the FCC's efforts to write the 2010 National Broadband Plan. "It's great, as called for in the National Broadband Plan, that federal agencies are joining the movement to reform policies to help American communities have the best broadband in the world."

Businesses look toward converged infrastructures to boost data center performance

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As collecting and storing data becomes an increasingly critical part of the enterprise, businesses are starting to pay more attention to the infrastructure needed to handle such key workloads. In order to ensure reliable operations with such an influx of information, data center operators are turning to a variety of innovative methods to improve data handling while lowering costs. One of the most popular of these methods is convergence.

Practically every major cloud platform provider now offers some type of converged infrastructure, and some are even going so far as to realign their business models to work more effectively with the concept. HP is one such company that is making major strides toward accepting convergence architecture. The tech giant is looking to combine blade servers and its CI division to increase the speed of development and provide channel partners with more integrated solutions that help deployment and integration processes happen more quickly.

Convergence is the way of the future for <a data-cke-saved-href=Convergence is the way of the future for data center operations.

Changes to networking essential for improved data management
When talking about a converged infrastructure, the key element is networking. Server and storage components function basically the same in a converged solution as they would traditionally, but they work in closer proximity to one another. However, as convergence gains more popularity among service providers, networking will evolve to become more of a fabric architecture, according to Information Age contributor Ben Rossi. This change will bring about a variety of challenges.

"As convergence gains more popularity, networking will have to evolve."

Providers will have to take a different approach to virtual networking. Provisioning and setup may be possible with only a simple overlay, but such a solution may inhibit performance as scale increases. A high degree of application awareness will also be necessary to optimize performance in key workloads, meaning simple automation won't be enough to deliver an optimal user experience. In order to address this issue, converged platforms will have to be provisioned to address specific workloads and support an overarching, integrated architecture that allows for simplified migration and data connectivity.

One of the biggest mistakes enterprises make when changing their internal IT infrastructure is trying to do all of the work themselves despite a lack of training and expertise. In order to avoid this common problem, enterprise decision-makers should work alongside a trusted service provider to ensure a successful implementation. By working together with a reliable industry partner, companies can create a customized infrastructure that works for them.