Thursday, November 28, 2013

Top 5 Cloud Testing and Performance Monitoring Tools

Top 5 Cloud Testing and Performance Monitoring Tools


By Kevin Darwin


Cloud computing is still an evolving paradigm. Its definitions, use cases, underlying Technologies, issues, risks, and benefits will be refined in a spirited debate by the public and private sectors. These attributes,and characteristics will evolve and change over time.

Various cloud based technologies and tools are available in the market facilitating the different facets of IT development. The rapid pace of advancement has also made way for tools catering to varied aspects of testing involving both performance and load management. The benefits of integrating the cloud testing based tools are many like flexibility of use and cost reduction (usage charges, licensing infrastructure). It also helps you choose the right kind of tool required for the job and start working immediately.

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Here is a top 5 companies and the cloud based testing tools and solutions released by them, which help in cloud performance monitoring and testing:

1. SOASTA: The CloudTest from SOASTA leverages the cloud resources for facilitating performance monitoring and load testing. Additionally, it also replicates traffic that hits an application or a website from inside or outside the firewall.

2. Keynote: is the global leader in cloud testing & monitoring cloud application, cloud testing service provider, Test Perspective of Keynote provides comprehensive solutions geared towards the enhancement of online experience. It helps companies analyze the performance of their websites, applications, and content on a diverse set of browsers, mobile devices, and networks. The exclusive business model of Keynote allows you to improve productivity while, controlling costs with the reliable and striking performance of its on-demand measurement and test services and products.

3. BrowserMob: The monitoring service of this particular provider makes use of real web browsers to replicate the interaction of a user with your website. Irrespective of being equally priced to the monitoring service style of simplistic ping that only goes through individual URLs, this takes a step ahead in the service approach. The usage of real browsers enables you to have a check on the response of the individual objects alongside verifying the functionality of your website in its entirety. This particular approach also involves ensuring that third-party components like gadgets, content delivery networks, advertisement, and analytics does not affect your website negatively.

4. GFI: The MAX RemoteManagement of GFI enables easy monitoring of different aspects of your clients like remote offices, bandwidth usage, servers, ISP connection, raid arrays, and the website. In simple words, this particular service allows monitoring the principle parts of the infrastructure of your network and takes care of the clients proactively maintaining a minimum cost of the hardware avoiding costly downtime.

5. CloudHarmony: This particular testing solution is still in beta. However, you may make use of the continuously updated extensive list of benchmarks for viewing and comparing the performance metrics from different cloud services and providers.

The above-mentioned cloud monitoring solutions and cloud testing services allow a better analysis of the IT infrastructure maintaining a smooth and swift approach.

Kevin is the Senior Editor, whose expertise spans in Cloud, Mobile and Web privacy.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kevin_Darwin

http://EzineArticles.com/?Top-5-Cloud-Testing-and-Performance-Monitoring-Tools&id=8115609

Bridging The Gap Between Supplier And Retailer With Cloud ERP

Bridging The Gap Between Supplier And Retailer With Cloud ERP


By Sadie Hawkins


Traditionally wholesale and food distribution has slowed compared to different market sectors, with too much sturdy attention on competitive pricing causing stagnation within the industry. Treating retailers as customers, instead of merely distributors, can make a big change in how food wholesale works.

We all know the feeling of a positive customer experience, so why is it so overlooked everywhere but retail in the food industry? In fact, good business is all about quality and value, but not forgetting its about building working good partnerships and repeating trade.

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Meeting distinctive requirements of wholesalers using technology

Food wholesalers would ideally have a flexible mobile system to track everything, from order placement, delivery and warehouse distribution. Still, some suppliers are still in the dark that this can easily be achieved through a Cloud-based ERP solution!

Cloud-based ERP provides a paperless, mobile surroundings which helps to increase productivity and reduce administrative costs, while also allowing easy action on order changes or recalls.

Drivers on delivery with mobile devices can log order status, giving detailed information about each product in real-time. Real-time access data aids staff to deal with queries from the retailer on the spot, reducing the risk of missing deliveries - sound business all round.

Our conclusion? We've highlighted a shift in ERP functionality, as businesses are moving away from internal staff or hardware in favour of Cloud technology. ERP is something they use like any other programme, without going through the lengthy and old-fashioned processes to arrange an order.

Managing correct stock levels and inventory supply arrangements can be a particularly technical (and more often costly) process that can be made more efficient (and cost effective) by implementing solutions that are Cloud-based. Some 2 or 3 tier set ups, where numerous products from multiple distributors and manufacturers are being tracked, can point to a complicated supply chain schedule, but streamlined ERP software enables accurate forecasting of both supply and demand.

Thanks to Cloud technology integrated into ERP software, forecasts of your data can be instantaneously shared across both sides of the supply chain, helping to forge even closer working relationships with your retailers and generating greater transparency in business for equal measures.

Automating through a Cloud-based ERP solution means more time is freed up for staff to provide more support personalised to customers, in turn meaning you are improving relationships and giving business a boosst. Whilst the software provides all of your business processes to be fully taken care of.

Lakeview are a effective ERP and accounting solutions company that are here to help you support your production network with our vast array of bespoke software solutions and services.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sadie_Hawkins

http://EzineArticles.com/?Bridging-The-Gap-Between-Supplier-And-Retailer-With-Cloud-ERP&id=8130197

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

IT Authorities Ranked Among Top 100 Cloud Services Providers in the World

IT Authorities Ranked Among Top 100 Cloud Services Providers in the World


IT Authorities earned a spot among the top 100 cloud providers in the world for the second year in a row.


Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL (1888PressRelease) November 13, 2013 -

IT Authorities ranks among the world's Top 100 Cloud Service Providers (CSPs), according to Nine Lives Media's third-annual Talkin' Cloud 100 report. The Top 100 CSPs generated more than $15.7 billion in combined cloud services revenues in 2012, up nearly 37 percent, according to the report, which is available now by visiting http://www.talkincloud.com/tc100.

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  • In addition to honoring IT Authorities, this year's Talkin' Cloud 100 report profiles:- Cloud Services Providers: CSPs offer SaaS (software as a service), infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and/or PaaS (platform as a service) to partners/customers.- Cloud Services Brokerages: CSBs, or cloud brokers, recommend and resell multiple cloud services to customers, and often integrate those services.-Cloud Services Aggregators: CSAs, or cloud aggregators, typically offer a portal that allows VARs and MSPs to source multiple third-party cloud services for customers.

    -MSPs (Managed Service Providers) with cloud services expertise: MSPs proactively monitor and manage customers' on-premises and cloud-based systems.

    - VARs (value-added resellers) with cloud services expertise: VARs offer a range of IT consulting, deployment, integration and management services to customers.

    "Ranking in the Top Cloud Providers in the World is the equivalent of making it to the Olympics. It is a massive honor and testament of our support team's ability to consistently provide world class service to our customers," said Jason Caras, Co-CEO, IT Authorities. "Our customers enjoy the old school customer service as much as the advanced technology of our superior cloud platform."

    The Talkin' Cloud 100 report is based on data from Talkin' Cloud's online survey, conducted January through May 2013. The Talkin' Cloud 100 report recognizes top cloud service providers based on such metrics as annual cloud services revenue growth (both in actual dollars and in percentage growth rates).

    "Nine Lives Media and Talkin' Cloud congratulate IT Authorities," said Amy Katz, president of Nine Lives Media, a division of Penton. "The Talkin' Cloud 100 honor arrives amid a land grab in the cloud computing market. And the Talkin' Cloud 100 companies are leading that land grab."

    Talkin' Cloud, produced by Nine Lives Media, is the go-to resource for CSPs, VARs and MSPs profiting from cloud computing. Talkin' Cloud features a daily blog, research, Channel Expert Hour Webcasts and FastChat videos. It is the first online media destination for channel partners working in the cloud.

    About IT Authorities

    IT Authorities is a Cloud and IT Managed Services Provider headquartered in Tampa, Florida. We offer Cloud services and IT Management services to small and medium sized businesses throughout the United States and assist some of the largest companies in world to design, monitor and manage their network operations centers. We help companies keep their computer systems in the most optimum, reliable and secure state while supporting their internal IT staff and/or end users and providing expert IT guidance. Accolades include: - Ranked in the Top 100 Cloud providers in the World by TalkinCloud - Ranked in the Top 100 Managed Services Providers in the World - Ranked Inc. Magazine 5000 Fastest Growing Companies in America - Ranked in the Tampa Bay's Fastest Growing Companies - Voted the #1 Company to Work for in Florida by Florida Trend Magazine - Voted Best Places to Work by the Tampa Bay Business Journal

    About Nine Lives Media

    Nine Lives Media, a division of Penton (www.penton.com), defines emerging IT markets and disrupts established IT markets. The company's IT channel-centric online communities include MSPmentor (www.MSPmentor.net), The VAR Guy (www.TheVARguy.com) and Talkin' Cloud (www.TalkinCloud.com).

    Contacts:

    IT Authorities:

    Jason Caras, Co-CEO

    813-246-5100 or jcaras ( @ ) itauthorities dot com

    Nine Lives Media:

    Joe Panettieri, Editorial Director

    212-204-4206 or joe.panettieri ( @ ) penton dot com


News Release Source : http://www.1888pressrelease.com/it-authorities-ranked-among-top-100-cloud-services-providers-pr-499550.html

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

International Collegiate Contest Spotlights Cloud Computing

International Collegiate Contest Spotlights Cloud Computing


Tens of thousands of students from universities across the globe are vying for a coveted invitation to the World Finals of the 38th annual ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC), sponsored by IBM

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WACO, Texas, Nov. 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Tens of thousands of students from universities across the globe are vying for a coveted invitation to the World Finals of the 38th annual ACM International Collegiate Programming Contest (ICPC), sponsored by IBM (NYSE: IBM).


Known as the Battle of the Brains, the IBM-Sponsored ACM-ICPC challenges university students to solve complex real-world problems using advanced computing methods under a grueling five-hour deadline. In five hours, these students will complete an entire semester's worth of computer programming. This year, the contest also exposes students to key emerging industry trends and capabilities, such as cloud computing, a major economic growth engine and development opportunity for students.


Today, cloud computing has become an invisible thread impacting countless industries by bringing all key information together. For example, thousands of doctors and hospitals are connecting to revolutionize patient care across healthcare organizations; retailers are accessing intelligent networks to build a mobile marketplace and capture business wherever customers roam; and universities are creating new virtual learning environments to inspire a generation to pursue ideas without limitations. The power of cloud is unprecedented, enabling businesses and organizations to take speed, agility and innovation to previously unimaginable levels.


"Cloud computing presents an immense career opportunity for the world's sharpest computing minds competing at the ICPC," said David Barnes, Program Director of Emerging Internet Technologies at IBM. "As a global leader in cloud computing and sponsor of the ICPC, each year IBM recruits top computing talent from the contest. We hope that the opportunity to join the world's finest cloud computing team, or our company in another capacity, will pique the interest of these innovative minds and result in long, prosperous careers with IBM."


Regional qualifying contests are already underway in the United States and will continue through December. Following the regional rounds, only 18 to 20 United States universities will be a part of the 120 elite three-person teams from around the world to advance to the World Finals. The final contest will take place June 22-26, 2014, and will be hosted by Ural Federal University in Ekaterinburg, Russia.


"Preparation for the ICPC is relentless, but its impact on productivity and opportunity lasts a lifetime," said Dr. Bill Poucher, ICPC Executive Director and Baylor University Professor of Computer Science. "These students are dauntless problem solvers. We aim for them to inspire each other to raise the bar for global technological innovation as they move into their careers with top industry players like IBM."


Considered the largest and most prestigious computer programming competition in the world, the Battle of the Brains reaches tens of thousands of students from more than 2,300 universities in 91 countries on six continents. Since IBM began sponsoring the contest in 1997, participation has grown more than 1,100 percent. During the 2012-2013 contest, nearly 30,000 students participated in the regionals portion alone.


The 2013 World Finals were held in St. Petersburg, Russia.  Students from St. Petersburg National Research University ITMO, the host university, captured their record-setting fifth world championship.


More than 400 schools from the United States are participating in regional qualifying contests. A complete list of schools can be found at http://icpc.baylor.edu/regionals/finder/north-america-2013.


For more information about the contest, follow ICPCNews on TwitterYouTube and Facebook, using #ICPC2014.


For IBM's take on the latest industry trends and the ICPC, follow Battle of the Brains on Twitter and YouTube, and listen to podcasts with IBM and ICPC executives on Podbean.


For more information about IBM, visit http://www.ibm.com/software and http://www.ibm.com/university.


About the ACM-ICPC
Headquartered at Baylor University, the ACM-ICPC is a global competition among the world's university students, nurturing new generations of talent in the science and art of information technology.


About ACM
ACM is the world's largest educational and scientific computing society, uniting computing educators, researchers and professionals to inspire dialogue, share resources and address the field's challenges. ACM strengthens the computing profession's collective voice through strong leadership, promotion of the highest standards, and recognition of technical excellence. ACM supports the professional growth of its members by providing opportunities for life-long learning, career development, and professional networking.


About IBM
IBM is the world's largest information technology and service provider. IBM has 35,000 software engineers in more than 90 research and development laboratories around the globe, who focus on solving real-world business issues for clients in more than 170 countries. IBM invests in high business values and strategic markets such as Big Data, Social Business, Mobile Computing and Cloud Computing. IBM provides industry solutions in areas such as smarter cities, smarter commerce, health care, energy, finance, communications, public service, transportation, manufacturing and many others.  For more information, visit http://www.ibm.com/software.


Media Contact:
Chas Kurtz
Tierney Communications
(215) 790-4386
ckurtz@tierneyagency.com


SOURCE IBM

Cloud Security 2013: Companies and Solutions

Cloud Security 2013: Companies and Solutions


NEW YORK, Nov. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Reportlinker.com announces that a new market research report is available in its catalogue:


Cloud Security 2013: Companies and Solutions


http://www.reportlinker.com/p01870952/Cloud-Security-2013-Companies-and-Solutions.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=IT_Hosting


Overview:


Cloud security is the set of security protocols and technologies that protect the cloud resources and the integrity of data stored in a cloud computing environment. Cloud security differs from traditional computer security in that it is not focused on preventing access to specific machines.

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This report provides information about cloud computing environment including types of cloud computing models, challenges facing cloud computing, best practices for cloud security, and analysis of key players in cloud security industry. The report provides an overview of key security components of popular cloud security solutions including architecture and capabilities. The report also provides a market outlook and view into the future of cloud security.


Report Benefits: 


Understand the basics of cloud computing
Evaluation of cloud security companies and their solutions
Identify key practices of cloud security vendors and customers
Understand cloud computing environment, benefits and challenges
Identify the evolution of cloud to content, applications, content, and communications
Understand cloud security solutions including components, architecture and capabilities

Target Audience:


Telecom service providers
Security solutions providers
Content and application providers
Datacenter and hosting companies
Cloud services (SaaS, IaaS, PaaS) companies
Companies involved with SDN and virtualization

Companies in Report: 


BARRACUDA
CARPATHIA
CISCO
CITRIX
EXPEDIENT
HYTRUST
MCAFEE
OPSOURCE
SAFENET
TRAPEZOID
VIRTUSTREAM
OVERVIEW 6
CLOUD COMPUTING 6
CLOUD COMPUTING MODELS 6
Storage-as-a-service 6
Database-as-a-service 7
Information-as-a-service 7
Business-Process-as-a-Service 7
Application-as-a-service 7
Platform-as-a-service 7
Integration-as-a-service 7
Security-as-a-service 7
Management-as-a-service 8
Testing-as-a-service 8
Infrastructure-as-a-service 8
CLOUD COMPUTING BENEFITS 8
Expand scalability 8
Lower infrastructure costs 8
Increase utilization 8
Improve end-user productivity 9
Improve reliability 9
Increase security 9
Saving Effort for IT Tasks 9
Gain access to more sophisticated applications 9
Save energy 9
CHALLENGES OF CLOUD COMPUTING 10
SENSITIVE DATA LEAKAGE OVER INSECURE CHANNELS 10
A LACK OF INTEROPERABILITY 10
APPLICATION COMPATIBILITY 10
DIFFICULTY IN MEETING COMPLIANCE REGULATIONS 10
INADEQUATE SECURITY 10
CLOUD SECURITY BEST PRACTICES 11
CLOUD PROVIDER 11
Isolation of networks 11
Isolation of management networks 11
Isolation of customer data networks 11
Secure customer access to cloud-based resources 12
Secure, consistent backups and restoration of cloud-based resources 12
Strong authentication, authorization and auditing mechanisms 12
A library of secure and up-to-date templates of base OS and applications 12
CUSTOMER SECURITY BEST PRACTICES 12
Follow standard best practices for securing operating systems 12
Encrypt critical data 13
CLOUD SECURITY PROVIDERS 14
BARRACUDA 14
Barracuda Web Security 14
CARPATHIA 15
Cloud Security Solution - InstantOn 16
CISCO 17
Cisco Cloud Security Solution 17
CITRIX 19
Citrix Cloud infrastructure solutions 19
EXPEDIENT 20
Expedient cloud computing solutions 20
HYTRUST 21
HyTrust Appliance 21
MCAFEE 23
Mcafee Cloud Security Platform 24
OPSOURCE 24
OpSource Cloud Hosting 25
SAFENET 26
TRAPEZOID 27
VIRTUSTREAM 29
CLOUD SECURITY FUTURE OUTLOOK 32
PROACTIVE APPLICATION MONITORING 32
ENHANCED DATA CENTER PHYSICAL SECURITY 32
ENHANCED DATA TRANSFER PROTECTION 32
DISASTER RECOVER AND THE CLOUD 32
APPENDIX: UNDERSTANDING THE CLOUD AND SECURITY 33
Cloud Computing 33
Beyond Computing: Content, Apps, Commerce, and Communications 33
Content 34
Applications 34
Commerce 35
Communications 37
Cloud Solution types 38
Private Clouds 38
Community Clouds 39
Public Cloud 39
Hybrid Cloud 39
General Security Concerns in the Cloud 40
Dos Attack 40
Bounce Attack 41
Personalization 41
Media specific Attack 41
Malicious Code Injection 41
Case Examples: Security Applications and Content as a Service 42
App Store Security 42
Security Management: 42
Identification management 43
Authentication and Authorization 43
Individual Privacy: 43
Data storage 43

To order this report: Cloud Security 2013: Companies and Solutions
http://www.reportlinker.com/p01870952/Cloud-Security-2013-Companies-and-Solutions.html#utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pr&utm_campaign=IT_Hosting


__________________________
Contact Clare: clare@reportlinker.com
US: (339)-368-6001
Intl: +1 339-368-6001


 

SOURCE Reportlinker

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Friday, November 1, 2013

IEEE Cloud Computing Conference stresses on innovations

IEEE Cloud Computing Conference stresses on innovations


IEEE Cloud Computing Conference addressed the need for innovations in the Emerging Indian Cloud Computing Market.

(1888PressRelease) October 19, 2013 - Bangalore - IEEE Cloud Computing, a key initiative of the world's largest technical professional association, hosted its second international conference in Bangalore, India. The three-day dynamic IEEE Cloud Computing for Emerging Markets [CCEM] Conference held in Bangalore from 16th to 18th October, 2013 provided a platform for all the key stakeholders involved in the Indian Cloud eco-system to discuss on the innovations, challenges and opportunities for the emerging Indian Cloud computing markets. Kris Gopalakrishnan, Executive Vice-Chairman, Infosys unveiled a White Paper on "Roadmap for Cloud computing innovation in India" and inaugurated the conference. IEEE Cloud Computing is uniquely qualified and positioned to play a leading role in the development of cloud computing globally and to help, guide and shape its future.

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Speaking at the inauguration, Kris Gopalakrishnan, Executive Vice-Chairman, Infosys said, "The government must support by use of cloud in e-governance, making regulations to promote cloud and taking leadership in cloud related standards and policies. Also, academics should include cloud in the curriculum, as Cloud computing is the way computing will be in the future."

Emphasizing on the opportunities perspective, he illustrated, "The advantages of a central Electronic Health Records System (EHR) on Cloud are, it can be accessed by the hospitals, doctors, R&D organizations and insurance companies, with the permission of the patient. Government can also use the data to build statistics on particular ailments."

"CCEM is a vital platform for all the stakeholders in the Indian Cloud eco-system to discuss on the challenges and opportunities in the emerging Indian Cloud computing markets," said Kathy L Grise, Future Directions Senior Program Director, IEEE Cloud Computing Initiative. "With the rapid adoption of Cloud in India, we are happy to host the second edition of CCEM in Bangalore with the pro-active participation from government, academia and industry, following the grand success of CCEM 2012."

"The CCEM summit has clarified ambiguities on the subject and addressed blue-sea opportunities for telcos and enterprises to monetize on Cloud services. While telcos emerge out of walled garden approach to focus on user-centric cloud platforms and unified billing, it will create a pull-effect on Content and OTT players for collaboration, leading to new multi-sided revenue models. We expect this trend to lead the recovery of the Indian telecom industry and lay a strong foundation for growth of mobile internet services. Huawei advocates a platform-based approach for multi-media services, fostering an open and cooperative ecosystem." added Sethumadhavan Srinivasan, Director - Strategy & Corporate Marketing, Huawei Telecommunications (India) Co. Pvt. Ltd., one of the sponsors.

Well-known speakers at the conference included Dr. Anurag Srivastava, Senior VP & CTO, Wipro; Manish Israni, Infrastructure Head, Vodafone India; Gautham Mago, Principal, Sequoia Capital India; Dr. Fausto Bernardini, VP & distinguished engineer, Cloud Managed Services, IBM USA; Dr. Anand Deshpande, Founder Chairman and MD, Persistent Systems among others.

The Startup showcase & Demo sessions had enthusiastic participation from NanoBI Analytics, Impel CRM, Cloud Munch, i7 Networks, IDOS, Researching Souls, Cloud Byte Inc., Cloud Munch, Wolken Software Private Limited, Knowlarity, TAL Software Solutions Pvt Ltd, {Fix}nix, Manjrasoft.

The IEEE CCEM conference had a mix of invited expert talks, high-level panel discussions, poster session, Startup showcase & demo sessions and peer reviewed papers with a truly distinguished array of personalities from industry, academia and government from across the world. All these aligned with the theme that focused on cloud based innovations in the emerging market, opportunities in the rapidly growing Indian cloud market, issues and challenges, security and compliance issues, market oriented cloud computing and the role of standards.

The IEEE Cloud Computing Initiative leads the way by collaborating across the interested IEEE societies and groups for a well-coordinated and cohesive plan in the areas of big data, conferences, education, publications, standards, intercloud testbed, and dedicated web portal. The event made its mark on with around 150 distinguished members from across the world.

About IEEE:
IEEE, a large, global technical professional organization is dedicated to advancing technology for the benefit of humanity. Through its highly cited publications, conferences, technology standards, and professional and educational activities, IEEE is the trusted voice on a wide variety of areas ranging from aerospace systems, computers and telecommunications to biomedical engineering, electric power and consumer electronics. Learn more at http://www.ieee.org.