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This Week in Cloud, April 12, 2012: HP Converged Cloud, Citrix parts with OpenStack, 3 q’s AWS should answer, What SaaS vendors can learn from Siri. And more…
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Cloud News
- HP announced its HP Converged Cloud based on a ‘hardened’ version of OpenStack software, targeting hybrid enterprise deployments and pushing for a common architecture across private and public clouds as well as traditional data centers. To learn more about the components of the offering, which include public cloud services, a service virtualization offering and Cloud Maps, which will provide templates of pre-configured cloud services, read this InformationWeek article. The offerings will be available in public beta on May 10. Here, InformationWeek editor Chris Murphy summarizes HP’s cloud strategy and this ZDnet blog explores whether HP can effectively move into delivering public cloud services, while supporting its existing services.
- Citrix is officially parting ways with OpenStack, according to this Wired Enterprise article. Citrix, which acquired Cloud.com last year, is going to open source the CloudStack code it acquired from the acquisition through the Apache Foundation.
- In the wake of Amazon’s announcement that Eucalyptus received a full blessing from Amazon Web Services (AWS) for a product offering that uses its cloud APIs, this Forbes blog identifies three key questions that AWS should answer about its cloud strategy, namely: Are there limits to the use of AWS’ APIs? How will the community experience inform the evolution of AWS’ APIs? What is the process that will govern the evolution of the AWS’ APIs?
- Providing some insight into IBM’s future cloud plans, this Information Week article identifies 7 ways IBM will make $7 billion in cloud.
- According to a recent IDG study, on average companies are spending more than a third of their IT budgets on cloud solutions. Two-thirds of companies surveyed expect to increase cloud spending in the next 12 months. Read more in this Forbes article. Interestingly, Gartner this week announced lower estimates for 2012 IT spending. New estimates are $3.7 trillion for the year, which represents a 2.5% increase over last year, as compared to the earlier estimate, which predicted a 3.7% growth rate. Read more in this Computerworld UK article.
Featured Content on Cloud Commons
Gartner Report: Top Five Trends for Private Cloud
Through year-end 2012, a significant number of pilot and production deployments of private cloud services will emerge, and hybrid cloud capability will become a major requirement. The market for cloud management platforms will expand greatly, but a number of vendors will be acquired or will exit the market. Outsourcing will become a mainstream alternative to internally deployed private clouds. This report by Gartner (compliments of Cloud Commons), examines the top five trends for private cloud and offers recommendations for your business based on those trends.
Feature article
Pragmatic Cloud: Why some clouds fail to deliver
By George Watt, CA Technologies
Recently in ZDNet, Keith Allen of CA Technologies gave his perspective of how cloud computing can have a positive impact on customer satisfaction, and perhaps even reduce the likelihood of rogue IT. Drawing on his personal experience as a sysadmin, Keith addresses some of the key changes required in order to improve service levels, business capabilities, and customer satisfaction.
Though if that is the complete picture, why do we hear stories of organizations that have done those things – that have brought in automation, virtualization, and cloud technologies – and remain unable to improve service to their customers; or at least not improve it enough. Well, as legendary broadcaster Paul Harvey might say, stay tuned for… “the rest of the story.” Read the full article.
Cloud Views
- Cloud apps, big data and the wisdom of swarms: This ZDNet article describes what SaaS vendors who are debating how to mine their stores of big data can learn from Siri’s approach to deciphering voice recognition.
- Comparing participation in open source cloud communities: this Computerworld article identifies that Eucalyptus has the largest standing community, but OpenStack and CloudStack are gaining momentum in the developer community.
- ZDnet blogger Joe McKendrick believes that cloud presents a golden opportunity for IT to get out in front and lead, and that IT organizations are quickly becoming ‘Innovation Teams.’ Read more in this article.
MSP Corner
- The Ingram Micro Cloud is now promoting CA ARCserve (with MSP licensing) and a CA disaster recovery service hosted in Microsoft’s Windows Azure cloud. This Talkin’ Cloud article describes why the Ingram and CA Technologies relationship is worth tracking.
- Strategies for MSP differentiation in the cloud: This CRN article recommends differentiation by focusing on security and compliance, while this MSP News article recommends vertical market specialization.
Upcoming Cloud Events
- Cloud Fair 2012: April 17-19, Seattle, WA
- Closer 2012: 2nd International Conference on Cloud: April 18 – 21, Porto, Portugal
- TMForum Management World: May 21 – 24, Dublin, Ireland
- The Business of Cloud Computing: May 21 – 22, Dallas, Texas
- Microsoft TechEd: June 11 – 14, Orlando, FL
- Cloud Computing World Forum, June 12 – 13, London, UK
