Cloud Computing

607 posts

A close-up of a wireless router, illustrating network and VoIP security tips

Network & VoIP Security Tips

For anyone who has an internet connection, paying attention to your network security should be one of the most important things you can do. With a well maintained and managed network, you won’t need to worry about viruses or compromising sensitive data and access. Here are some simple steps you can take to make sure that you are protected: 1. Install and use a credible Anti-spyware, Anti-virus software package Spyware can present a major problem, […]

Green computer code text scrolling on a dark screen during a software installation, illustrating computing on encrypted data

DARPA Invests $4.9M Towards Secure Cloud Computing

The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has awarded $4.9M to Galois, Inc., as research integrator for the PROCEED program (Programming Computation on Encrypted Data) whose goal is to make it feasible to execute programs on encrypted data without having to decrypt the data first. “If we are successful with PROCEED, it fundamentally changes the calculus for computations in untrusted environments… on computer systems of unknown provenance. The potential implications for the cybersecurity of cloud […]

A close up of a computer in a dark room, illustrating federal data center consolidation

US Government Eyes 100 Data Centers for Move to Cloud Computing This Year

According to reports issued over the weekend, the US federal government has chosen 100 data centers to close over the course of this year, part of a larger overall government plan to reduce IT spending, in large part through outsourcing operations to hosting service providers. The government’s plan involves moving resources to “cloud computing” environments, which in a lot of old school IT organizations (and as US organization go, the federal government is pretty old-school) […]

Gold and silver round coins, illustrating economic benefits of cloud computing

The Economic Benefits of Cloud Computing

As the cloud paradigm matures it is becoming increasingly well understood that companies and organisations of all sizes – from the smallest SME to the largest enterprise or public agency – can realise highly compelling economic benefits by adopting cloud computing solutions. In fact few could now credibly argue that emergence of the cloud model is not profoundly and fundamentally changing the economics of IT. At a macroeconomic level the Centre for Economics and Business […]

A man standing in front of a white board, illustrating why you don't need a cloud strategy

Why You Don’t Need a Cloud Computing Strategy

As with any new exciting technology, companies commonly look towards creating a “strategy” around the movement in order to ensure their investments achieve the greatest ROI. In the 1990s, it was all about how companies needed a “Linux” strategy; the last decade has been dominated with companies needing a “virtualization” strategy; and the trend I’m seeing today is everyone talking about needing a “cloud computing” strategy. While this new saying is good news for large […]

2 white dices on blue surface, illustrating risk management in cloud computing

Risk Management in Cloud Computing

In a troubled economy, cloud computing seems like a great cost saving alternative and it is. Whether in good times or bad, any pragmatic cost saving measure is a ‘good’ measure. Google, Microsoft, IBM and all other known and unknown cloud providers offer today’s CIO an array of major cost saving alternatives to the traditional data center and IT department. The temptation to put things on/in the cloud and sit back can be extremely compelling. […]

People jogging along a modern building's exterior path, illustrating business playing catch-up on cloud computing

Business Market Plays Cloud Computing Catch-Up

The big spenders on technology are businesses and government agencies. They buy about 75 percent of the computing goods and services sold worldwide. Yet it is increasingly evident they are not driving the new ideas, excitement and powerhouse technology companies in ascent these days. “The cutting edge of innovation is on the consumer side — digital technologies for consumption activity, play, entertainment and social-networked communication — and not in corporations anymore,” observed Timothy F. Bresnahan, […]

An american flag flying high in the sky, illustrating EU and US cooperation on cloud computing

EU Urged to Increase Co-operation With US On Cloud Computing

US ambassador to the EU calls for solidarity. The EU and the US must work together to offer a credible response to the emergence of cloud computing, the US ambassador to the EU told a conference this week. William Kennard, a former head of the Federal Communications Commission, said that there was a “new sense of urgency” to debates about privacy, intellectual property rights (IPR) and data protection, because of the increasingly rapid move towards […]

3D rendered question marks in orange and gray, illustrating questions for moving from SaaS to cloud

SaaS to Cloud Computing: Four Key Questions

Software as a service (SaaS) is the oldest and most mature of all the cloud computing options and its adoption is continuing apace – in some areas of the business at least. According to analyst firm Gartner, the global SaaS sector grew by 14.1 per cent last year to $8.5bn. This higher than average growth rate in an otherwise difficult market meant penetration levels rose to a total of 10 per cent across all enterprise […]

X-ray result, illustrating cloud sharing of radiology images in trauma care

Cloud Computing Expedites Trauma Care

An electronic, cloud-based approach to sharing radiology files with other medical institutions is expediting the care of UC San Diego Health System trauma patients. The method is currently being used to speed the diagnosis and treatment of patients sent to UC San Diego Medical Center-Hillcrest from remote area hospitals. “The efficiency and reliability of cloud computing is excellent,” said Dr. Jeanne Lee, trauma surgeon at UC San Diego Health System. “It is an advance in […]