Compromises to cloud environments have generated some heated but healthy debates as of late. Many cloud providers may contend that cloud can be “as secure as you want it to be,” meaning that the level of security can correlate with the level of commitment and funding enterprises are willing to dedicate. But others believe no amount of commitment or capital investment can be enough to guarantee security. In fact, many believe clouds are more opaque than transparent when it comes to the level of risk the enterprise is taking on. (more…)
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Archive for the ‘Cloud Computing’ Category
Examining the network impact of Google Music Beta
Google may not be the first out of the gate with a cloud music service, but given the exposure Google has in the smartphone, it’s probably best positioned to have the biggest impact on mobile data network. According to some initial reviews, Google Music Beta lacks a lot of the features and glitz of Amazon’s cloud music platform—an actual music store, for instance—but all of the key components for a mobile-network taxing service are there (PCMag: Hands on with Google Music Beta). Google can load a user’s entire music library up into the ether, where you can stream it to any number of devices, including Android smartphones. (more…)
Cloud security: Does size matter?
Managing cloud computing security risks is a favorite topic these days among many of the top technology publications, portals and blogs. Information Week’s Global CIO today highlighted Oracle’s differing philosophy from that of Salesforce.com, and there was the recent CIO article, “Cloud Computing: Boon or Bane,” that touched on the pros and cons of cloud — the pros being reduction in IT capital and operational expenditures; the cons being security risks. (Although I think just as important is the lack of focus on management of supporting processes for building truly business-aware intelligence and auto-provisioning, as discussed here).
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More sunny outlooks for the cloud — time for a reality check
The hits keep on coming for the cloud market. Today, Yankee Group detailed a new survey that found that although infrastructure-as-a-service cloud offerings are not yet mainstream, they are starting to “find a home in early adopter enterprises.” Meanwhile, PricewaterhouseCoopers (courtesy of Computerworld) is pushing the idea that cloud infrastructure not only cuts costs, but can be an engine for IT innovation, as well, when compared with traditional, rigid IT systems. Is there anything the cloud can’t do?
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Server, cloud technology sales soar — what’s it mean for CSPs?
The economy (and especially the stock market) may be on a trampoline lately, but The Wall Street Journal today reports a variety of trend points that highlight a strong surge in core computer hardware sales — especially big servers and platforms likely to go into new cloud computing–style data centers.
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Google makes bid to dominate location by sending it into the cloud
It’s not as if Google hasn’t been lining up its mobile/location-based ducks in a row for some time now. From the Android OS to Google Maps to the integration of local results into its core search engine results, Google has been making the shift from having mobile rather than desktop access sit at the very center of its business for some time now. At the Google I/O developer conference this week, the search giant released a series of APIs that could serve as the engine that shifts its location ambitions into overdrive. At the center of its efforts is a new API for its Latitude service that lets users share and developers access information about a user’s location.
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Morning Rounds: Apple tablet (of course) and Oracle/Sun merger talk
Good morning. Are you pinching pennies yet to pick up an iPad? Me neither, though I’ll be more than jealous the first time I see one in the wild. Lots of iPad backlash today, which makes sense given all the hype leading up to the launch — though the device does come up short on specs, if it did score bit on pure glamor. Also this a.m.: a round-up of Oracle/Sun merger updates from yesterday (not surprisingly a bit short on telco-specific news, though of course any carrier data center or CO has tons of Sun hardware and Oracle databases). Read on… (more…)