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Archive for December, 2009
An Introduction to Cloud Computing
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009The boom in cloud computing over the past few years has led to a situation that is common to many innovations and new technologies: many have heard of it, but far fewer actually understand what it is and, more importantly, how it can benefit them.
In an attempt to gain a competitive edge, businesses are increasingly looking for new and innovative ways to cut costs while maximising value – especially now, during a global economic downturn. They recognise that they need to grow, but are simultaneously under pressure to save money. This has forced the realisation that new ideas and methods may produce better results than the tried and tested formulas of yesteryear. It is the growing acceptance of innovative technologies that has seen cloud computing become the biggest buzzword in IT.
However, before an organisation decides to make the jump to the cloud, it is important to understand what, why, how and from whom. Not all cloud computing providers are the same. The range and quality of services on offer varies tremendously, so we recommend that you investigate the market thoroughly, with a clearly defined set of requirements in mind.
What is Cloud Computing?
Many people are confused as to exactly what cloud computing is, especially as the term can be used to mean almost anything. Roughly, it describes highly scalable computing resources provided as an external service via the internet on a pay-as-you-go basis. The cloud is simply a metaphor for the internet, based on the symbol used to represent the worldwide network in computer network diagrams.
Economically, the main appeal of cloud computing is that customers only use what they need, and only pay for what they actually use. Resources are available to be accessed from the cloud at any time, and from any location via the internet. There’s no need to worry about how things are being maintained behind the scenes – you simply purchase the IT service you require as you would any other utility. Because of this, cloud computing has also been called utility computing, or ‘IT on demand’.
This new, web-based generation of computing utilises remote servers housed in highly secure data centres for data storage and management, so organisations no longer need to purchase and look after their IT solutions in-house.
What does it Comprise of?
Cloud Application
This is the apex of the cloud pyramid, where applications are run and interacted with via a web browser, hosted desktop or remote client. A hallmark of commercial cloud computing applications is that users never need to purchase expensive software licenses themselves. Instead, the cost is incorporated into the subscription fee. A cloud application eliminates the need to install and run the application on the customer’s own computer, thus removing the burden of software maintenance, ongoing operation and support.
This is the apex of the cloud pyramid, where applications are run and interacted with via a web browser, hosted desktop or remote client. A hallmark of commercial cloud computing applications is that users never need to purchase expensive software licenses themselves. Instead, the cost is incorporated into the subscription fee. A cloud application eliminates the need to install and run the application on the customer’s own computer, thus removing the burden of software maintenance, ongoing operation and support.
Cloud Platform
The middle layer of the cloud pyramid, which provides a computing platform or framework as a service. A cloud computing platform dynamically provisions, configures, reconfigures and de-provisions servers as needed to cope with increases or decreases in demand. This in reality is a distributed computing model, where many services pull together to deliver an application or infrastructure request.
Cloud Infrastructure
The foundation of the cloud pyramid is the delivery of IT infrastructure through virtualisation. Virtualisation allows the splitting of a single physical piece of hardware into independent, self governed environments, which can be scaled in terms of CPU, RAM, Disk and other elements. The infrastructure includes servers, networks and other hardware appliances delivered as either Infrastructure “Web Services”, “farms” or “cloud centres”. These are then interlinked with others for resilience and additional capacity
Why Switch to the Cloud?
There are many reasons why organisations of all sizes and types are adopting this model of IT. It provides a way to increase capacity or add capabilities on the fly without investing in new infrastructure, training new personnel, or licensing new software. Ultimately, it can save companies a considerable amount of money…
Removal / reduction of capital expenditure
Customers can avoid spending large amounts of capital on purchasing and installing their IT infrastructure or applications by moving to the cloud model. Capital expenditure on IT reduces available working capital for other critical operations and business investments. Cloud computing offers a simple operational expense that is easier to budget for month-by-month, and prevents money being wasted on depreciating assets. Additionally, customers do not need to pay for excess resource capacity in-house to meet fluctuating demand.
Reduced administration costs
IT solutions can be deployed extremely quickly and managed, maintained, patched and upgraded remotely by your service provider. Technical support is provided round the clock by reputable providers like YOUR IT for no extra charge, reducing the burden on IT staff. This means that they are free to focus on business-critical tasks, and businesses can avoid incurring additional manpower and training costs. IT giant IBM has pointed out that cloud computing allows organisations to streamline procurement processes, and eliminates the need to duplicate certain computer administrative skills related to setup, configuration, and support.
Improved resource utilisation
Combining resources into large clouds reduces costs and maximises utilisation by delivering resources only when they are needed. Businesses needn’t worry about over-provisioning for a service whose use does not meet their predictions, or under-provisioning for one that becomes unexpectedly popular. Moving more and more applications, infrastructure, and even support into the cloud can free up precious time, effort and budgets to concentrate on the real job of exploiting technology to improve the mission of the company. It really comes down to making better use of your time – focusing on your business and allowing cloud providers to manage the resources to get you to where you need to go. Sharing computing power among multiple tenants can improve utilisation rates, as servers are not left idle, which can reduce costs significantly while increasing the speed of application development. A side effect of this approach is that computer capacity rises dramatically, as customers do not have to engineer for peak loads.
Economies of scale
Cloud computing customers can benefit from the economies of scale enjoyed by providers, who typically use very large-scale data centres operating at much higher efficiency levels, and multi-tenant architecture to share resources between many different customers. This model of IT provision allows them to pass on savings to their customers.
Scalability on demand
Scalability and flexibility are highly valuable advantages offered by cloud computing, allowing customers to react quickly to changing IT needs, adding or subtracting capacity and users as and when required and responding to real rather than projected requirements. Even better, because cloud-computing follows a utility model in which service costs are based on actual consumption, you only pay for what you use. Customers benefit from greater elasticity of resources, without paying a premium for large scale.
Quick and easy implementation
Without the need to purchase hardware, software licences or implementation services, a company can get its cloud computing arrangement off the ground in minutes.
Helps smaller businesses compete
Historically, there has been a huge disparity between the IT resources available to small businesses and to enterprises. Cloud computing has made it possible for smaller companies to compete on an even playing field with much bigger competitors. ‘Renting’ IT services instead of investing in hardware and software makes them much more affordable, and means that capital can instead be used for other vital projects. Providers like ThinkGrid take enterprise technology and offer SMBs services that would otherwise cost hundreds of thousands of pounds for a low monthly fee.
Quality of service
Your selected vendor should offer 24/7 customer support and an immediate response to emergency situations.
Guaranteed uptime, SLAs.
Always ask a prospective provider about reliability and guaranteed service levels – ensure your applications and/or services are always online and accessible.
Anywhere Access
Cloud-based IT services let you access your applications and data securely from any location via an internet connection. It’s easier to collaborate too; with both the application and the data stored in the cloud, multiple users can work together on the same project, share calendars and contacts etc. It has been pointed out that if your internet connection fails, you will not be able to access your data. However, due to the ‘anywhere access’ nature of the cloud, users can simply connect from a different location – so if your office connection fails and you have no redundancy, you can access your data from home or the nearest Wi-Fi enabled point. Because of this, flexible / remote working is easily enabled, allowing you to cut overheads, meet new working regulations and keep your staff happy!
Technical Support
A good cloud computing provider will offer round the clock technical support. ThinkGrid customers, for instance, are assigned one of our support pods, and all subsequent contact is then handled by the same small group of skilled engineers, who are available 24/7. This type of support model allows a provider to build a better understanding of your business requirements, effectively becoming an extension of your team.
Disaster recovery / backup
Recent research has indicated that around 90% of businesses do not have adequate disaster recovery or business continuity plans, leaving them vulnerable to any disruptions that might occur. Providers like YOUR IT can provide an array of disaster recovery services, from cloud backup (allowing you to store important files from your desktop or office network within their data centres) to having ready-to-go desktops and services in case your business is hit by problems. Hosted Desktops (or Hosted VDI) from YOUR IT, for example, mean you don’t have to worry about worry about data backup or disaster recovery, as this is taken care of as part of the service. Files are stored twice at different remote locations to ensure that there’s always a copy available 24 hours a day, 7 days per week.
Contact us on 01158 220 200 for a free cloud computing consultation
How to maintain your computers
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009If you’ve noticed that your computers are less efficient than they used to be, how can you extend their lifespan? Most small businesses usually don’t have the budget to invest in new hardware or software, so how d you keep them up-to-date and protected without it costing much?
There are a number of possible reasons why your company computers might be slowing down, such as the amount of software installed, the lack of in-house IT know-how, and the fact that one’s focus is usually more on growing the business than worrying about IT.
Many other factors can adversely affect your computers’ performance. But even if you don’t install programs or tinker with computers in other ways, their performance is likely to get reduced over time. Files start to build up clutter so they take longer to load, and various system software and hardware components may need to be updated. So what can you do?
Perform simple maintenance tasks
Slow computers don’t necessarily need to be replaced: a bit of regular maintenance and protection will keep them running just fine. You can do any of the following:
• Deleting unnecessary files by running Disk Cleanup regularly
• Running ScanDisk once a week to check the integrity of your hard drive and file system
• Defragmenting your hard drive every month or so to speed up your hard disk by consolidating files and placing frequently used system files together on the disk
Routine maintenance tasks like this take just a few minutes, but they’ll help keep your machines up to speed.
Get free protection from viruses
With Windows Defender, you can protect your computers from pop-ups, slow performance and security threats by detecting and removing ‘spyware’ and ‘malware’. Defender continually monitors your computer and finds unwelcome programs that slow it down, and recommends actions to minimize interruptions and help you stay productive. Windows Defender comes free with all versions of Windows Vista. It’s also available to download for genuine copies of Windows XP Service Pack 2 or later.
Try patching
Another way to keep your computers secure is by installing software updates as they become available. Software “patches” are small programs that fix potential system problems and security issues which become known after the product has been released. Patching can repair software ‘bugs’ and remove or prevent viruses that get onto your computers via the internet, helping improve the overall performance of your computers.
Get firewalled
Your computers also need a reliable firewall in place. We recommend a hardware firewall for perimeter network security, but you can also use a software firewall to protect your computer. For instance, Windows Vista and Windows 7 both come with a built-in firewall – just make sure it’s switched on, and it will stop 90% of viruses, spyware, spam and other threats reaching any of your computers.
Consult the experts
No matter how busy you are handling customers and taking care of business, it’s very important to maintain and protect your computers. There are many solutions out there to help without spending much, and of course there are those which are totally free! Those listed above is a good start.
It’s also worth making your employees aware of the need for regular maintenance and security. If you don’t have the right experience yourself, then consult an IT specialist for small businesses, such as Your IT Department Ltd to give them some training. By using and maintaining computers sensibly, your employees will not only be more productive, but you also avoid exposing your company to unnecessary risks. Contact us on 01158 220 200
Overview of Server Virtualisation
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009Virtual Server environments are different from physical server environments. In a physical server environment, your business would need multiple servers to run the different applications and perform critical business services that your company needs. In a virtual environment, a single physical host server can hold many virtual servers, which would run the applications and and critical business services that would normally be installed on multiple physical servers.
The Benefits
Server virtualization offers significant features for most businesses. Top reasons to consider upgrading your physical server environment to a virtual server environment include the following:
- Decrease your company’s electricity bill and carbon footprint.
- Curtail server sprawl and use your square footage to operate your business.
- Save money by purchasing less hardware.
- Increase your IT environment security by managing server updates and patches from one central location.
- Improve overall server performance through dynamic allocation of RAM and processor power.
The most popular programs
Many companies make virtualization software that will run on a host server. All will perform the same primary functions of administering multiple virtual servers but each one has some unique features that might make one program more suited for your businesses particular needs.
Microsoft Hyper-V is designed to integrate with the Microsoft Windows platform, making it easy to administer and manage virtualized Windows Servers and Microsoft applications.
VMWare can run almost any operating system as a virtual server, making it optimal for any company that has blended technology platforms such as Linux, Macintosh, and Windows. It is also a great program if your company depends on older legacy systems that are installed on hardware that is nearing the end of its lifespan.
Citrix Zen Server is a low-cost alternative to the other solutions, with many add-ons and features that are free. Zen server is optimal for Linux and Windows environments and is often used as the foundation for many application virtualization solutions.
Things to consider
While server virtualization is a great choice for many businesses, it is not suitable for all business IT environments. Server virtualization might not be the best solution for businesses whose servers have the following needs:
- High processor power requirements (SQL or specialized servers)
- encrypted drives or partitions to support legal or regulatory requirements
- proxy server or web-gateway applications
To learn more
Server virtualization has many benefits that can help your business in many ways. To learn more about how server virtualization can help your business’s IT environment, talk to the virtualization experts at Your IT Department Ltd
Quiz : By how much did small businesses increase their search engine advertising spending in 2009?
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009By how much did small businesses increase their search engine advertising spending in 2009?
Backup to protect your data
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009Circling the Wagons: Backup to Protect Data
While economists contend the recession is over, many small businesses still feel vulnerable.
A recent CDW survey of small business owners found that fewer than half of the respondents were optimistic about their growth potential over the next five years. That mood is reflected in small business hiring plans, or the lack thereof. Earlier this month, George S. May International, a management consulting firm, reported that 74 percent of the small businesses it polled had no immediate plan to boost headcount. Of that group, 62 percent of the survey respondents said they had “no confidence in the economy sustaining the need for more employees.”
Smaller companies continue to feel economic pain. But a surprising number of them fail to protect themselves from situations that could inflict further damage. Backup provides a particularly glaring example. The same CDW small business report discovered that 73 percent of the firms with computing networks possess neither onsite nor offsite data backup.
Companies that fail to backup data are riding their luck. A severe data loss can wipeout a company in the best of times. Backup should take its place alongside IT security as a key component of any company’s data protection plan.
Getting Started
And as with IT security, a good place to start a data backup strategy is assessing what you have and where it’s located. Where does a company’s customer, transaction and financial data reside? Is it all on a server or does critical data also reside on PCs and mobile computing devices?
Company leaders must also weigh the importance of different types of data. The value of data will help shape the backup schedule and approach. A nightly backup may adequate for many organizations, but some firms may not want to potentially risk losing a day’s worth of data — in those cases more frequent backups are in order. In storage-speak, the backup period an organization finds acceptable is termed the recovery point objective.
The recovery time objective, meanwhile, deals with how quickly a company seeks to have data restored. The desired timeframe will drive the backup media selection. The need to recover rapidly, for example, will probably dictate a disk-based solution, which offers faster recovery time than tape storage. However, tape storage, still cheaper than disk, may prove the better choice for infrequently accessed data.
Backup Layers
Onsite backup can be fairly straightforward. Backup software for PCs abounds. Such products let users select what they want to backup, where the backups will occur — on an external hard drive or CD, for example — and how frequently they will take place. Small businesses with servers to backup might consider investing in a a network-attached storage (NAS) device.
The backup job doesn’t end with the on-premise gear, however. A fire or other disaster can foil the best conceived on-site plan, so companies need to consider an off-site approach. Off-site tape is one way to go. Such a scenario might involve backing up a NAS device to a tape library and sending the tape cartridges to an outside facility for safekeeping.
With storage moving into the cloud, online backup provides another take on off-site storage. Venyu’s AmeriVault online backup service and Mozy.com are among the options a small business can tap.
For further reading on backup, SNIA, a storage industry association, has a selection of storage publications including one on choosing a backup solution: http://www.snia.org/forums/dmf/news/articles/0710IS_FORE.PDF
What’s this I hear about Google Wave?
Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009What’s this I hear about Google Wave?
Google Wave, Google’s newfangled collaboration and communication application, has fans that insist it’s a game-changer and detractors that insist it will fizzle out faster than New Coke.
What exactly is Google Wave? On the screen, it looks a fairly standard email inbox, but it fuses email, instant messaging and wiki-esque collaboration. Communication between collaborators happens in real time and with total transparency. For example, if you’re using Google Wave to jointly edit a document with others, you can see their changes as they type.
Online tech talking head Steve Rubel says, “It’s slick to be sure. However, what I keep asking myself is this: what problem does it solve?” Answering this question, a columnist from TechCrunch offers the following:
Brainstorming, early concept creation and discussion is what I see Google Wave being used for extensively in the near future. It can also serve as a multi-user note-taking platform for meetings and sessions in your company or university.
So is Google Wave the wave of the future? Will this multifaceted application kill wikis, email and instant messaging applications? Probably not anytime soon. And Google is being somewhat stingy with invitations to the trial version, which may dampen participation and hurt its chances for fast proliferation. Google Wave may turn out to be a tsunami, but for now it’s still just a ripple.