SaaS

64 posts

Computer screen displaying code with a context menu, illustrating cloud data security

Cloud Computing Data Security

Meeting the requirements for cloud data security entails applying existing security techniques and following sound security practices. To be effective, cloud data security depends on more than simply applying appropriate countermeasures. Taken collectively, countermeasures must comprise a resilient mosaic that protects data at rest as well as data in motion. While the use of encryption is a key component for cloud security, even the most robust encryption is pointless if the keys are exposed or […]

Race track corner, illustrating virtualization outpacing security practices

Gartner: Virtualisation and cloud computing race ahead of security practices

The rush toward virtualisation of internal enterprise computing resources and cloud computing can have many advantages, such as server consolidation, but it’s largely outracing traditional security and identity management practices. That’s leaving huge gaps, a sense of chaos and questions about where security products and services should be applied in the world of multi-vendor virtual-machine (VM) hypervisors. “Virtualisation will radically change how you secure and manage your computing environment,” Gartner analyst Neil MacDonald said this […]

A bunch of keys sitting on top of a wooden table, illustrating enterprise use of the public cloud

The Keys to Enterprise Public Cloud

Today’s Cloud Computing marketplace exhibits a surprising bifurcation. Public Cloud providers like Amazon.com are all the rage among small companies, startups, and individual developers. Enterprises, however, are largely investing in Private Clouds. Public Clouds are too risky, so the story goes, or perhaps enterprise decision makers are only willing to dip their toe in the Public Cloud water. We find this trend surprising, because in many ways the Public Cloud value proposition is stronger than […]

A laptop computer sitting on top of a white desk, illustrating cloud computing for small business basics

Cloud Computing for Small Business 101

Many small businesses are still uncertain about cloud computing and wonder if it can help boost profitability without being extremely risky. To figure it out, it’s best to start by defining cloud computing in small business terms. There are two commonly agreed upon types of cloud computing: 1) software-as-a-service and 2) infrastructure-as-a-service. Software-as-a-service (SaaS) refers to cloud computing where the software you would normally install on your office computers is instead delivered over the Internet. […]

A city skyline at night, illustrating cloud computing market growth to 2020

Cloud Computing Market Predicted To Hit $240 Billion By 2020

The global cloud computing market is expected to grow from $40.7 billion to $240 billion by 2020, a new report has predicted. According to a report released by market research firm Forrester Research, the market for cloud computing is set to grow by leaps and bounds as companies rush to move their networks onto cloud platforms. The Forrester report, titled Sizing the Cloud, takes into consideration three basic forms of cloud computing: Infrastructure as a […]

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 […]

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 […]

A close up of a small green plant in dirt, illustrating how cloud computing helps a business grow

How Cloud Computing Helps a Business Grow

If you came here for the article with the title, “How Cloud Computing Helps a Business Grow”, unfortunately, it has been removed at the request of the publisher of the website from which it was obtained. Asking me to remove it was within their rights, but I believe it was a shortsighted decision based on old media ideas about the copyright “protection” of assets and the imagined potential loss of ad revenue. I am not […]

Lone road going to mountains, illustrating a roadmap to the public cloud

Road Map to The Public Cloud

At this point in the evolution of cloud computing, the public cloud is probably not IT’s first choice when it comes to core enterprise workloads. But there’s still a place for public cloud services, and it’s up to IT to determine what that is. Standing pat or ignoring the cloud isn’t going to cut it, especially when application developers and groups running specific business apps are moving to the cloud, with or without IT knowledge […]

A bunch of locks that are on a wall, illustrating cloud encryption options

The Many Colors of Cloud Encryption

Cloud computing is a priority for enterprises seeking greater agility, operational efficiency and overall cost reduction, but security concerns continue to inhibit its use. Half of all companies not adopting cloud computing cite security as the reason, according to a Forrester Research October 2010 study, “Security and the Cloud.” Whether considering a private cloud or public cloud, IT professionals face new security and compliance challenges. As data moves to the cloud, it can migrate internally […]