Hybrid cloud: An idea whose time has come?

The hybrid cloud — a catalog of cloud services created and provisioned both inside and outside the enterprise — is a model growing in popularity among large companies. But how solid is the business case? And can companies effectively integrate data from multiple cloud sources?

Until recently, companies either provisioned their cloud services internally or subscribed them from third-party providers. Increasingly, this either/or approach is being replaced by a hybrid cloud model that features services from both internal and external sources, allowing IT to offer a broad catalog of cloud-based business services. The business case is compelling: The hybrid model can increase agility and deliver value. Yet, some companies remain wary due to the potential security risk of moving some cloud services out of the enterprise trust zone and the potential complexity of managing a hybrid services catalog. They want to wait until this relatively new cloud model evolves and matures before adopting it.

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The hybrid cloud model is still new. I’d like to wait until it matures a bit.
This model will only improve with time. When we commit, we want demonstrated, predictable ROI.You can increase value now with cloud. Why wait?
You are already offering (or want to offer!) the types of services appropriate to the cloud model. Why not offer them more effectively and efficiently?We don’t have the right skill sets to pull this off.
Who has the budget (or the time) to hire new IT team members with specialized skills?You need new skill sets anyway.
It’s time to provide a catalog of meaningful IT and business services. The cloud can reduce the number of new skill sets you will need to make this happen.I’m concerned about security.
Taking some of these services out of our in-house “trust zone” is just too risky.It’s a business decision. There are effective ways to intelligently manage risk.
The fundamental types of risk you will face won’t change. You’ll just tweak your mitigation techniques to handle multi-source.I don’t see the business case for the hybrid model.
The hybrid cloud model might work for some IT services, but does it really make sense for my line of business?Your competitors saw it months ago.
The business case for the hybrid model is generally favorable in terms of agility and economics. (At least your competitors think so.)

Mark White, Principal, CTO, Deloitte Consulting LLP

The forces of consumerization and democratization are bearing down on IT shops in virtually all sectors. When employees come to work, they expect to have technologies that are at least as good as the tools they have at home. If you don’t meet this expectation, employees no longer have to turn to IT for the solutions they need to do their jobs — they can source many of them externally. When this happens, you lose visibility into how and where enterprise information assets are being transacted, analyzed and stored. This, in turn, decreases your ability to determine what IT and business services are needed throughout the enterprise.

The time may be right for IT to create and provision a catalog of services. The hybrid cloud can offer an efficient and economical way to accomplish this goal. Yes, there are companies for whom only private cloud may be appropriate and others for whom only public cloud services may make sense. However, for many, the hybrid model can provide the agility and value needed to achieve their specific service goals. As the use of hybrid clouds gains wider acceptance, the solution approach evolves from single-cloud provisioning to multi-cloud integration. The hybrid cloud becomes a hyper-hybrid cloud. “Hyper” implies multiple individual cloud environments collaborating with each other and then performing as an integrated solution back to the organization. Along with advances in integration engines in the public cloud, we are seeing momentum for workflow and business rules engines available as cloud services shared between a subscriber and multiple providers.

In the future, “hyper-hybrid clouds” are likely to continue to compose and converge. This bodes well to enable organizations to serve their customers even more efficiently and meet the business’ requirements in an even more agile way. Stepping up to take advantage of hybrid clouds can be an important first step on this path. 

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ERP reconsidered: Is public cloud the only option?

Everyone knows that only public clouds can deliver the system flexibility and scalability a business needs, at a price point it can afford. Right? Not so fast. Recent technological improvements have revved up computing power and driven down operating costs. Is it time to take a second look at in-house ERP?

The drumbeat for cloud-adoption has become deafening in recent years. Internal sourcing is inefficient, unaffordable and, well, unnecessary — or so the conventional wisdom goes. Increasingly, however, the cloud-only drumbeat is not the only sound CIOs hear. Hardware vendors have dialed up computing power by turbocharging CPU, memory technologies and solid state storage. In doing so, they have made it possible for many IT organizations to run their current workloads, internally, with a lot less gear. Such improvements have breathed new life into the idea of running internal ERP systems — and led some to question if public clouds and external sourcing are, in fact, the only game in town.

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Generating compute power and storage is not my core competency.

I need economies of scale and flexibility. Why do I need to run the engine when I can subscribe the power?

By running new ERP engine technology internally, you can get more for less.

Running the systems engine in-house may now be affordable. Plus, it can offer capabilities you can’t source yet in cloud-based solutions. In fact, you may achieve more flexibility and agility than had before.

I need scalability.

Our company is growing, as is our IT service portfolio. Public clouds offer the kind of scalability we need at a price we can afford.

A private cloud can be economical and powerful.

Running critical applications from an internally managed private cloud can provide the scalability you need. It can also offer a higher degree of security and control.

Soon, everything will be offered in the cloud.

Even the big legacy system vendors are offering cloud-based products now.

Cloud offerings may not support a complex environment.

Emerging cloud-based ERP packages typically have limited capabilities. If you need mature, highly configurable business automation, you will likely not find a sufficient native cloud solution right now.

I’m waiting to upgrade my on-premise investment.

Why should I invest in internal systems if soon everything will be available in the cloud, at a lower price point?

Technology enhancements may have lowered the price tag for improving systems.

The new engine technology could lower the cost of refreshing infrastructure. How?  With upgrades, your current gear may be able to do three times as much work.

Candice Philbrick
Principal, Deloitte Consulting LLP

A point often overlooked in the hype surrounding the cloud is that currently many cloud-based offerings do not offer sufficient capabilities to meet the IT demands of most complex business environments. Younger companies or those with relatively simple business models may well be able to subscribe everything they need from a SaaS provider. Not so for larger, more complicated organizations. Many cloud-based offerings are in their infancy and do not yet possess the functional maturity these companies require. Moreover, it may be several years before they do.  As much as established companies may wish to turn over the mundane responsibilities of maintaining infrastructure, servers and storage to cloud-service providers so they focus more intently on app functionality and configuration, they can’t completely ? at least not yet.

This leaves some CIOs wondering if they should bother investing in on-premise legacy systems that may soon be replaced. Recently, hardware vendors have answered that question in a way that defies conventional wisdom about the inevitability of migrating to the cloud. These vendors have overhauled some traditional IT components ? high-performance CPU, advanced memory technologies, enhanced storage, among others ? to create more powerful system engines that use less power and cost less money. This has given ERP and other large enterprise systems ? those high-cost, complex tools that many companies would ideally like to source externally ? a new lease on life. The ability to pay less for a more powerful systems engine makes it possible to implement and support additional capabilities that deliver new levels of agility and innovation. If you thought you would have to settle for an evolving, cloud-based ERP package with limited functionality, think again. Fully mature, on-premise ERP is still a viable option.

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As used in this document, “Deloitte” means Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Please see www.deloitte.com/us/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte LLP and its subsidiaries. Certain services may not be available to attest clients under the rules and regulations of public accounting.

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Verizon Cloud iPhone backup software launches on Apple's App Store

Verizon Cloud iPhone backup software launches on Apple's App StoreGet the lowest prices anywhere on Macs and iPads with exclusive coupons: Apple Price Guide updated May 25th. (Get the lowest prices anywhere) HomeReviewsBackpagePrice GuidesNew MacsMacs with AppleCarePrevious MacsiPadsApple Wireless DevicesBid on New & Used Apple ProductsFollow UsTwitterFacebookGoogle+RSS Feeds & QriusiPhone AppTip UsSend us a tiptip us anonymouslyContact us by e-mailForumsAAPL: 445.15 ( +3.01 )Never miss an update Follow AppleInsiderFollow @AppleInsider –A+
Friday, May 24, 2013, 11:39 am

Verizon Cloud iPhone backup software launches on Apple's App StoreBy AppleInsider Staff

Verizon this week launched a new iPhone application for its subscribers that gives access to the carrier's cloud-based syncing and backup service.


The official Verizon Cloud application is now available as a free download on the App Store. It requires iOS 5.0 or later, and is optimized for the 4-inch display on the iPhone 5.

Customers can sign up for the Verizon Cloud service, which debuted last month, by visiting the carrier's website. The entry-level 500-megabyte plan is free, while 25 gigabytes are available for $2.99 per month, 75 gigabytes for $5.99 per month, or 125 gigabytes for $9.99 per month.

Features of the newly released iOS application, according to Verizon, include:
Keep your phone's content safe and secure in your own private cloud storage
Access your content when you need it, even on the go, on any compatible device, your computer or the web
Sync photos and videos from Verizon Cloud to your device, and then share that synched content with your friends and family
Stream music and access documents stored in Verizon Cloud on your phone
Backup content from your computer's hard drive to your Verizon Cloud using the downloadable computer app. You can then access that content on your mobile devices.Tags:VerizonApp StoreJump to comments (16)Categories:iOS(function(d, s, id) { var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) return; js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.src = "//connect.facebook.net/en_US/all.js#xfbml=1"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs);}(document, 'script', 'facebook-jssdk'));Tweet!function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs"); On Topic: VerizonVerizon Cloud iPhone backup software launches on Apple's App StoreVerizon confirms $100 iPhone 5 for featurephone customers [u]ESPN interested in subsidizing mobile data plans to ensure users can stream videoSupply shortages delay Samsung Galaxy S4 launch at Sprint, T-MobileSlowing iPhone growth may be function of smartphone industry, not restricted to AppleToday's' HeadlinesNo news headlines yet todayRelated ArticlesMicrosoft releases Kinectimals game, SkyDrive storage for iOSAmazon launches Cloud Player app on iOS App StoreLegal issues prompt Apple to remove Amazon Cloud music player from App StoreGoogle Drive launches with 5GB of free cloud storageAmazon takes on Apple's Photo Stream with Cloud Drive Photos iOS appPrevious Comments View Alljack mac2013/05/24 12:03pm

You really going to trust Verizon?

dasanman692013/05/24 12:14pm

Quote:Originally Posted by Jack Mac?

You really going to trust Verizon?
This seems pretty straightforward.
Quote:Keep your phone's content safe and secure in your own private cloud storage

tallest skil2013/05/24 12:18pm

Originally Posted by dasanman69?
This seems pretty straightforward.

?

How in the world do you think that's an answer?

rcoleman12013/05/24 12:26pm

No thanks. Lol

bdkennedy12013/05/24 12:38pm

No thank you.

jblongz2013/05/24 12:44pm

No thanks. I'll stick with the new dropbox killer http://goo.gl/KRJdT

dasanman692013/05/24 12:58pm

Quote:Originally Posted by Tallest Skil?

How in the world do you think that's an answer?
I'd question it if it were free, and they've had Backup Assistant for a few years now so I think that they have some good experience with cloud backups.

macologist2013/05/24 01:11pm

How is this different from these: iCloud, Drop Box, and various other Online Backups?

Privacy and Competence are Major Concerns too!

I don't see how Verizon's, or any Cell Carrier's Support for Apple's Products is better than AppleCare!

Walking into US Cell Carrier's Stores is the best Advertising for AppleCare! In most cases in those stores they try harder to sell Android Phones. Why? Cause Apple's Products Just Work, and thus puts the Carrier's Employees Out Of Work, cause their "Support" is not needed. That is what I have observed, so I assume that it's like that in most places!

All Carriers should focus on is Reliable Fast Connection at Lowest Price!

Apple lets these Apps in its stores, and Consumers vote with their Money!

I understand that iCloud Backup is not as Complete as Local USB Backup! So is Verizon saying that they have solved that problem, so that Local USB and iCloud iOS Backups are Identical? If yes, I'd love Apple to offer the same capability!

We'll see what News WWDC 2013 has to offer with the New iOS 7 and Mac OS 9 etc.

I'd love to see Apple offer Renewals of AppleCare after the Initial 3 Years! That way one goes to the Source! Obviously, with the Toll Free Phone Support!

dlux2013/05/24 01:12pm

Sure thing, Verizon, I'll back up my files on your network.

And then discover that I can't retrieve them when needed because it will exceed your bandwidth caps...

freshmaker2013/05/24 01:32pm

Quote:Originally Posted by dasanman69?


I'd question it if it were free, and they've had Backup Assistant for a few years now so I think that they have some good experience with cloud backups.

This is a good point - VZ already has experience in the area.? I don't see any reason why they'd be less trustworthy than Apple.? While iCloud has been very good overall, it's not like it hasn't had hiccups.? That said, the 15GB iCloud subscription I already pay for is enough for me.

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McAfee Launches LiveSafe Cloud Security For PCs, Macs & Mobile Devices

McAfee today launched LiveSafe, a new cloud-enabled, crossplatform security service for PCs, Macs, and mobile devices, with extra identification and anti-theft features for Ultrabook notebook PC users. McAfee LiveSafe will start shipping on Ultrabooks from Dell on June 9, before hitting retail stores as a packaged product in July.

With the new LiveSafe, McAfee is stepping further beyond traditional "thick client" security software into the cloud-based scenario already embarked upon with McAfee All Access, said Gary Baker, McAfee's VP of global consumer marketing, in a briefing and demo for NotebookReview in New York City.

For an annual subscription fee, users will receive security services for unlimited numbers of Windows PCs (XP through Windows 8), Macs, and mobile devices. Although features vary according to device, McAfee is supporting Android, iOS, BlackBerry, and Kindle Fire platforms.

Some 60 percent of consumers world own three or more Internet-enabled devices, according to McAfee's 2013 Digital Assets Survey, also released today. Davis also pointed to projections from Gartner of 203 million tablet shipments this year and 9.6% growth in the mobile phone market.

Specific services of McAfee LiveSafe include McAfee Personal Locker, McAfee SafeKey, and McAfee Anti-Theft, he said.

Some of the features available for PCs and Macs have become standard in McAfee software. These include antivirus, antispyware, and antiphishing protection; a two-way firewall; parental controls, and Web site ratings.

For smartphones and tablets, features of LiveSafe include antivirus safeguards, "locate, lock and wipe," data backup and restore, Web and app protection (Android only), and call and SMS filtering (Android and BlackBerry).

New Personal Locker Service

Through the new McAfee Personal Locker services, users can obtain encrypted storage for up to 1GB of highly sensitive documents, accessing the docs through a combination of face recognition, voice recognition, and PIN.

In a demo, Davis showed how you can access a doc from an iPhone. After you successfully enter a PIN, LiveSafe uses both face and voice recognition, amounting to three-factor authentication. LiveSafe asks you to read aloud randomly selected text passages to authenticate your voice. If your face or your voice is not a match for the biometic data enrolled in the system, you won't get in.

McAfee SafeKey, a feature first introduced in McAfee All Access, is designed to securely manage passwords and user names while also storing sensitive information like bank and credit card account numbers. In LiveSafe, it supports PCs, Macs, iOS, Android, and the Kindle Fire.

McAfee Anti-Theft offers capabilities for remotely locking and disabling devices, locating devices, and automatically encrypting and recovering data.

McAfee LiveSafe also takes advantage of antitheft and identity protection technologies built into 4th generation Intel core processors found in current Ultrabook models. "McAfee Anti-Theft works with all the Intel devices which support this technology. It is possible that a non-Ultrabook may support this technology [and] therefore McAfee Anti-Theft will work. McAfee Anti-Theft uses hardware features supported by Ultrabook," explained Yogesh Jain, group product manager at McAfee.

For multi-factor authentication, McAfee has combined Intel's IPT (Identification Protection Technology), a tamper-resistant hardware authentication mechanism, with face and voice recognition.

Users can also enroll their biometric credentials from an iOS or Android device, or from a non-Ultrabook device, "but in this case they need to provide PIN details," said Jain.

LiveSafe On the Way to All Ultrabooks, And As Packaged Product

Although Ultrabooks from Dell will be the first to ship with LifeSafe aboard, McAfee plans to gradually roll out the technology to Ultrabooks from all major manufacturers -- including Acer, Lenovo, Asus, Toshiba, and Fujitsu, for example -- by the end of this year, Davis told NotebookReview. "This will be an OEM by OEM decision," he elaborated.

McAfee, an Intel-owned software company, will co-merchandise LiveSafe with Intel through an "awareness program" in retail stores.

LiveSafe will also be available as a packaged product for $19.99 for a 12-month subscription when purchased with a new PC or tablet and $79.99 for a 12-month subscription for an existing PC or tablet.

The package sold at retail, though, will include an activation key only, without a CD, Davis said.

McAfee does not plan to sell LiveSafe direct over the Web, as it does with McAfee All Access, he told NotebookReview.

At some point, though, McAfee will probably "converge" the two products, he said.

All LiveSafe users will receive free technical support. Ultrabook users, though, will also be entitled to Premium Support. "McAfee LiveSafe customers receive free support for the life of their subscription. Support is delivered via phone, chat, email and online FAQs," said Jain. Premium support, on the other hand, "includes McAfee Security Advisor service, which offers Ultrabook users the added benefit of immediate answers to all of their security questions."

Davis told NotebookReview that McAfee has no plans at this time to integrate technology from Stonesoft into its long-time two-way firewall.

McAfee acquired firewall technology specialist Stonesoft last week. However, the acquisition was "more of a B2B play" aimed at buttressing McAfee's enterprise security products, Davis said.

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'Norton Zone' Secure Cloud File Sharing Hits Availability

Symantec today entered the crowded space of cloud-based crossplatform file sharing by announcing public availability of Norton Zone, a service designed to differ from contenders through a number of built-in security features. The service supports Windows, Windows RT, Mac, iOS, and Android devices.

Norton Zone, which entered beta last November, will compete against established online offerings that include Dropbox, Box, Google Drive, Microsoft SkyDrive, Apple's iCloud, and many more.

Yet according to Steve Chazin, VP at Symantec, Norton Zone provides a combination of safety and ease of use unavailable elsewhere.

"Almost all facets of our daily lives are 'going digital,' and content is being created and shared in unprecedented amounts and places. Consumers and corporations alike are learning every day (and sometimes painfully) that not all cloud file-sharing services are created equal," Chazin said in a blog post.

Like other contenders, Norton Zone supports crossplatform storage and synchronization of photos, videos, and other documents.

In conjunction with public availability, Symantec also announced today that users can now buy additional storage beyond the 5GB that comes with the service free of charge.

Pricing for 20GB of additional storage is $4.99 per month or $49.99 per year, said a company representative, in an e-mail to NotebookReview. You can also buy 50GB of extra storage for $7.99 monthly or $79.99 annually, or 100GB of extra storage for $11.99 monthly or $119.99 annually.

Security Features: Anti-Theft, Anti-Malware, and More

According to Chazin, unlike other file sharing services, Norton Zone includes built-in device management, including mobile passcodes, in case a device gets lost or stolen, enabling users to block access and remotely wipe their data.

Norton Zone also uses Norton's anti-malware scanning technology to check files for viruses and other malware before any files are shared.

In addition, the service lets users create share links for easy sharing of large files. The share links also allow users to "keep full control of that file with restrictions on how long or how many times links can be accessed, even when posting to social networking sites," he said. "Once shared users can retract that permission at any time."

Symantec encrypts every file uploaded to Norton Zone. Also, users keep ownership of their own data, Chazin said.

Symantec plans to update Norton Zone later this year with new feature modules and enhancements and additional updates.

Also today, McAfee, Symantec's archrival in security software, unveiled LiveSafe, a new cloud-based crossplatform security service. Features include, among many others, anti-malware protection; McAfee Anti-Theft; McAfee SafeKey, for secure storage of passwords, user names, and account numbers; and McAfee Personal Locker, for encrypted storage of up to 1GB of highly sensitive documents, with authentication security that incorporates face recognition and voice recognition along with PINs.

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