Its amazing how things come to me.  Today I’m contemplating yet another blog post about cloud computing…as if we/I haven’t diluted it enough with 10 zillion post about why the cloud is the place to be.

This morning one of our cloud architects said to me, “The cloud really reminds me of flying”.  I immediately thought of a corny analogy between cloud computing and flying in the clouds…I know, please continue, thats not what this is.

He continued, “a lot of people have a fear of flying because when there’s an accident involving an airplane a lot more people are involved, and the news of the accident reverberates everywhere”.  This is what feeds my illusion that air travel is unsafe, even though the numbers support that air travel is much safer than ground travel.

Air travel is one of the most regulated and safety conscious industries with millions of flights each day, yet I focus on the failures.  There will always be people who choose to travel by bus or train, unfortunately for them, they will arrive to the party a little late.  I’m still going to fly.

enter, cloud computing.

As airlines have to ensure the safety of their travelers, we implement safeguard’s against outages too.  We have superior fault tolerance built throughout our data center.  Like air travel, we have audits that set standards in the data center market place.  We have far more protection built into the infrastructure than what a typical business has.

Just as travelers have learned to manage the fear of flying, I’ve learned to understand the reality of an outage. Could it have been prevented if protection and redundancy were built in the application layer as well as the hardware layer?

Applications fail for 3 major reasons, protecting at all three layers, in most cases, is a requirement.   The cloud offers you the ability to create redundancy on a hardware and application layer quite easily, the benefits of cloud computing far out way the illusion that servers need to be across the hall.

So flying does remind me of cloud computing.  As it continues to grow as the preferred method to deliver infrastructure, rest assured,  if there is a chance for the news to post a story about an outage they will, just ask  Sony and Amazon.

Thankfully, I understand what an outage or a failure really means, but more importantly, I know air travel is the best, most reliable means to get me from Cincinnati to Denver.

Nathan Fultz

www.appica.com/nathan

In its simplest form, the cloud, public & private, is a combination of telecommunications, servers and data.  It makes finding what you need easier, it makes us visible, findable and searchable too.  The cloud connects the physical with the virtual, it allows us to connect anywhere anytime.

For two years we’ve been hearing the cloud is going to make business easier, save money, only pay for what you use, easily scaled, better fault tolerance, etc etc etc.  Just look at Microsoft’s latest campaign…” I can own way less and do way more…” great things…completely accurate, and…well…the cloud does makes it possible.

But THE solution?

Truth be told, the cloud is no more of a solution than a laptop computer connected to my corporate network.  I need it to get my work done, the laptop’s sole purpose is to deliver the information to me as quickly and accurately as possible, but the laptop doesn’t solve anything.

Don’t make the mistake some early adopters made;  moving an application and infrastructure to the cloud doesn’t solve complex business issues.

So, what does the cloud do?  It creates opportunities for solutions;

• Disaster Recovery
• Web Applications
• Business Continuity
• Faster order fulfillment
• Back up and recovery strategies
• Greater Uptime
• Better test environments
• Unparalleled infrastructure
• High Availability
• Inventory Management

The Internet and Email changed the way business and customers communicate, the cloud will change how we deliver compute power.  Remember those that were left behind in the Internet age, they didn’t invest in a website or they thought email was a distraction.  Don’t be one of those guys.

The cloud is ready to deliver…find a partner you can trust, and see what solutions they provide!

Nathan Fultz

www.appica.com/nathan

nathan@appica.com

In the two years I’ve been reading, selling and writing about cloud virtualization, one of the concerns I always hear is that virtualization will devore the need for server administrators.

At Profitability.Net we see completely the opposite!  Over the last 18 months, we have seen an incredible increase in the need for talented server administrators.

Now don’t get me wrong, the days of only understanding the server operating system are gone.  A talented server administrator must be proficient in all the hypervisors on the market as well as Windows and Linux operating systems.  An IT Professional that has a solid understanding of mission critical applications like, management and monitoring software, ERP, CRM and BI will set themselves apart from the competition too.

So rest easy my server hugging friends, the need for quality server administrators is going to explode!  

Here are 3 great reasons server administrators will be in high demand in the coming years;

1. Virtual servers are steadily increasing.  In fact, 57% of companies are currently using some form of virtualization.  So instead of managing 15-20 physical servers, it is feasible to manage serveral 100.
2. Having a virtualized environment gives great flexibility.The ability to monitor and put safeguards in place such as HA , allows IT professionals to focus on projects and moving their company forward.
3. Specialization.  In today’s world the application is king, gone are the days of the need for just file & print, mail and web servers. Now we see virtual private, public cloud, grid, cluster, blade, database, media, private cloud and energy efficient servers in our data center.  Specialize in an area and develop much needed expertise.

In contrast to the past when IT was viewed as a “cost” of doing business, most IT leaders find themselves managing departments that are strategically planning the future of the company.  When CIO’s are building teams, it’s more likely they look at a diverse experience instead of certifications.  It’s important to keep  up with the ever changing landscape of computing, however, unlike in he past, its not a matter of taking a test to be qualified.

There is never time to rest in the world of information technology and cloud computing may not get you any additional sleep, but the sleep you do get might be much better.

Nathan Fultz

Email: nathan@profitability.net

Twitter: http://twitter.com/AppicaCloud

Web: http://www.appica.com/nathan

The business case for “why to go cloud” seems to have taken a foothold on modern business thinking.  There is no longer any doubt of the value that cloud computing adds to any business model.

In today’s social media minded business world, “going cloud” has become synonymous with “going green”; great ideas, great technology, but the path to get there is somewhat foggy.  The question I hear alot is,  ”How do I take my current server and storage platforms and move them into the cloud?”

Short answer, you don’t.

Migrating to the cloud is not a turnkey solution, its a process that requires input from trusted cloud professionals.

Before you make a move to cloud computing, consider these 5 tips:

1. Make a list of every application and rate them based on business need, accessibility, and data security.
2. Understand exactly how the data is stored, backed-up and recovered.
3. Inventory the current physical server infrastructure.  How old are the servers and storage devices?
4. Determine how applications are accessed. VPN, Corporate Network, or public Wi-Fi?
5. More than 68% of new projects involving IT, FAIL!  So establish a new corporate policy, no hardware purchases for NEW projects…period.

This information can be valuable in helping make better decisions for moving corporate infrastructure into the cloud.

Nathan Fultz

Email: nathan@profitability.net

Twitter: http://twitter.com/AppicaCloud

Web: http://www.appica.com/nathan

1. Lost computers and storage devices, Georgetown University established the following guidelines for students and faculty for lost or stolen laptops, or a removeable disk drives.  Not a bad starting point if you have yet to develop your own policy.
2. Human error from employees or partners, and
3. Illegal or malicious activities by criminals.

To determine if data is safer in the cloud, its a matter of comparing what you have, to what the cloud provides. How does a cloud provider’s data center compare to that of a small or medium size company?

Consider most cloud providers have a substantial investment in their infrastructure.  We work really hard trying to protect our customers from outages and the impact an outage can have on data.

Being in a position where a power outage shuts down servers that house data is NOT a position any IT professional wants to be in, but, just in case, there is good documentation “How to Recover a master data base file”, from Tech Republic.  Just plan on having your best people unavailable for several hours as they work the process of recovery.

Another factor, how is data accessed now?  How many remote users are connecting to the corporate network from various internet connections around the World. A server in the cloud will not compromise a data breech any more than that of a sales rep accessing the order entry system from a remote hotel wifi hot spot.

Lastly, when we look at data specifically, most cloud providers have a resilient SAN environment in place. Some will have a configuration that separates the data from the OS layer, which means if a server fails, your data is still safe because it resides on a separate platform.

The bottom line is make sure you have a good loss prevention policy, train your employees well and begin the process of migrating to the cloud.  By moving to the cloud most businesses will see a substantial leap ahead in security and data protection.  Why?  A cloud providers reputation depends on it!

Souce: Trused ID, www.trustedid.com

Nathan Fultz

Email: nathan@profitability.net

Twitter: http://twitter.com/AppicaCloud

Web: http://www.appica.com/nathan

It seems my last post falls into the category of over saturation, it was the one billiointh post about “Why” to use cloud computing.  I promise to stop diluting the cloud frenzy, its now time to focus on the “How”.

Now that we have experience moving companies to our Appica Cloud, we have a clear process which helps prospects and clients develop a strategy and ultimately find a stable home in the cloud.  The most important lesson’s we’ve learned is to understand it is a process, and its starts with the application, check out what Sam Somashekar wrote in this weeks edition of the Cloud Computing Journal…

I Want Cloud Apps, Not Just Cloud Servers!
— Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) is a quantum leap for provisioning servers, but it does not by itself allow you to deploy applications in the cloud. A new methodology is required for you to capture the deployment topology of your application, which you can then use to automate its deployment.

It is amazing how I continue to hear people talk about how they are still not familiar with “cloud”, what it is and how it will help their specific business. Just the other day I spoke to a customer prospect who believed they had a private cloud – as it turns out they had a virtual server farm which still could not be accessed through a self-service portal. But I am not surprised – after years of “cloud-washing” incumbent IT management solutions that cost a lot of money, time, and resources to implement, vendors have dictated how YOU should use the cloud. But, you need to figure out how the cloud actually applies to your specific business.  Click here to continue…

The bottom line is, one of the major factors we consider when developing a cloud strategy is control, how much control of each application do we need?  This is key in determining what type of cloud service fits each application.

Cloud computing has definitely opened the door for small and midsize companies to compete with the Enterprise.  To learn more about Migrating to the cloud, drop me a note nathan@appica.com.

Nathan Fultz

Email: nathan@profitability.net

Twitter: http://twitter.com/AppicaCloud

Web: http://www.appica.com/nathan

So I submit:  10 compelling reasons to give cloud computing serious consideration:  

1. When forecasting utilization becomes a guessing game. Gone are the days of a Network Administrator guesstimating the amount of compute power they will need for a server running a new application. Instant Scale-ability in the cloud gives Server Administrators peace of mind knowing they can easily meet business demands.
2. When the same mistakes are repeated. Today servers are ordered only to find out 6 months later that the $15,000 piece of hardware is out dated or insufficient…or even worse, the project never gets off the ground!  Check out this study that ZDNet compiled, more than 68% of IT projects FAIL!
3. When validity of a project is necessary. Proof of concept is a step in the process that sometimes gets overlooked.  We use cloud infrastructure as a way of proving the validity of our projects, we spin up a server and destroy it when we’re finished.  Simple.  Done.
4. When you want flexibility. Built on API platforms, customers can pay only when they are using the service.  A manufacturing firm may only need servers running from 7am-5pm Mon-Fri, which equates to a 40% savings in monthly recurring cost.
5. When 99.999% up time is needed. Most cloud providers have substantial investments in their data centers with redundant power, network infrastructure, generators and onsite fuel.  According to Data Center Knowledge its $3,000 per square foot to build a data center!  Combine that with a cloud providers business survival rest with delivering up time, makes it difficult for a company to even consider doing it themselves.
6. When adding storage is an ongoing project. Cloud providers with SAN based storage give great flexibility in adding volumes, taking snapshots and developing online back-up strategies.
7. When you need serious compute power. Where else can you get 24 CPU’s at your disposal for around $5 per hour.  Note:  When someone spins up this kind of server…we ask A LOT of questions.
8. When marketing needs refreshed. Imagine what your partners, customers and competitors will think when they hear you’ve gone cloud.  Regardless of their overall opinion of cloud computing, they will take notice.
9. When you need to know your spend.  Its a budgetary item than may fluctuate from time to time, but most providers have standard pricing that gives you the ability to forecast.  (capex versus opex)
10. It’s Cheaper! My CEO is going to want my head on a platter for this one, but yes I said cheaper.  Its not cheaper in the old fashioned sense that we used cheaper materials (Plastic Versus Metal) or sacrificed Quality Control (We went through a rigorous 10 month testing and beta period), but cloud computing is cheaper because it’s eliminating having underutilized hardware in data center’s.   Spending $20,000 on a server and only see 13% utilization is a thing of the past, that’s $17,000 for something not being used!
    This will not compute with today’s modern CIO!

To get started int the cloud find a trusted partner that has experience as a service provider.  The greatest technology isn’t great unless it has the right people behind it.

Nathan Fultz

Email: nathan@profitability.net

Twitter: http://twitter.com/AppicaCloud

Web: http://www.appica.com/nathan

The cost of some day

While preparing to move to a new home my wife and I recently found an abundance of “some day” items that we accumulated. Having lived at our previous home for 10 years and being blessed with two kids in the process, we were shocked at the pile of clothes, books, furniture, knick-knacks and building materials from the new home that my wife and I laboriously moved, sorted, and donated to Goodwill and Building Value.

Contingency Planners focus on
some day

Clutter and digital noise seem to exist everywhere as well and further complicate some day. Your inbox is full 363 days of the year. You now receive LinkedIn invitations from strangers who want something or another from you. Digital photos are easier to take than delete. There is a some day cost to all of this digital clutter.

Some day your server or business application will fail. There is a cost to bear when components wear out, patches are missed, or your system doesn’t scale with your business. Virtualization for many companies created its own set of some day problems as virtual sprawl spread through enterprises. After all, virtual servers are easier to spin up than delete. Isn’t all of this technology supposed to make life easier?

We can’t afford tomorrow without a plan. My inbox is full, the garage is packed, and it’s just about time to clean up my desk this year. Today is some day for most of us. I hope to change my ways some day.

Aaron Larkins

513.361.0800
Data center brochure

Hacking by the hour

A server on Amazon’s EC2 service was used as part of the second-largest online data breach is U.S. history according to a recent Bloomberg article. This scenario was not a matter of if, but when. It’s been a tough month for negative cloud news, but don’t judge the marketplace as a whole for actions taken via a cloud server from any individual provider.

Fact: Public cloud services that allow automated online sign-up simplify the lives of hackers. No longer do hackers need to build large farms of botnets when the cloud is available by the hour. With stolen credit cards and a few clicks of a mouse a hacker can begin to wreak havoc using large computing resources and networks. Don’t be fooled though, hackers will find a way whether they are paying by the hour or they just hijacked your mail server sitting in your office or remote data center.

cloud data protection

Fact: Security risks exist everywhere whether your gear is in the cloud or not. Amazon can’t be blamed for the fact that a hacker used its servers for nefarious purposes, albeit an automated sign-up process won’t stop motivated hackers. This level of attack should be a wake-up call to any company who is storing data online. All too often we fail to ask simple questions such as “Why do we need this much data?” A guiding principle should be the least amount of information to serve the purpose. It’s great that marketing wants to know everything about a consumer, but there are costs, risks, and responsibilities you assume in conjunction with storing that data.

We have met the enemy and he is us: Recognize that security attacks are likely happening right now. Don’t assume that the cloud is any more or any less secure than your current environment. A significant amount of cloud server security has to happen at the OS and application layer. Ask security related questions of your cloud partner about how they manage risks. Finally, build out application security profiles and identify what data you need and why. Chances are you might find out you’ve been storing more information than needed to serve your customers.

Aaron Larkins

513.361.0800
Data center brochure

As I am standing in line enjoying the light Jazz, the aroma of fresh coffee, checking out the smartly displayed items and listening to constant chatter happening across the counter;  At Starbucks each customer is addressed by name (And if they don’t know you, they’ll ask you your name).

“Good morning Anne, would like your regular Grande Bold?”

Starbucks get’s it, they understand how people need to be treated in order to come back and feel like regular customers.

For the last two years I have sat next to a true customer service professional.  At profitability.net we have thousands of people that rely on us each day, most of whom Ben knows by name and they certainly know Ben.

Ben has been an account manager in the technology service space since the mid 1990’s.  He moved to Profitability.net in 2003, where his responsibilities are customer service & sales.

Cincinnati is not a small town, but I am always amazed at how many customers knew Ben from his previous role as a front line customer service rep assisting customers getting connected to the Internet.  Trust me, in 1997 supporting dial-up connections with a gazillion different PC configurations, with a gazillion different types of modems, you had to be good in order to survive in this space.

Ben is terrific at his job.

He understands the value of listening to each caller, understanding whatever it is they might be struggling with and takes immediate action.  Nothing makes a customer feel appreciated more than talking with someone who knows their name, understands the situation and then fixes it!  There is rarely a time when Ben has to escalate, with his depth of knowledge and expertise with email, hosting and colocation he can take immediate action and resolve most any issue.

In the morning when you’re craving a treat, you can always count on Starbucks to deliver.  If you’re in the market for technology services like cloud computing or colocation, give us a call.  Something is still great about partnering with a company that takes the time to understand your business, works to grow your business and most of all…knows your name.

Nathan Fultz

Email: nathan@profitability.net

Twitter: http://twitter.com/AppicaCloud

Web: http://www.appica.com/nathan