Taking Cloud Computing Public

I had the opportunity to chat earlier this week with Editor in Chief Hailey Lynne McKeefry from Point2Security about future cloud transformation and cloud adoption in the SMB space. A few points we talked about:

Take time to plan before implementation. Think carefully about security, use, and other issues. "We spent two years strategizing our move to the cloud," Paine said. "Many small organizations rely on managed services or a VAR to implement cloud. The channel tends to want to sell a certain technology, so an SMB needs to have a strategy laid out, especially if they don't have their own IT department."

Stabilize the foundation of your technology. Western Precooling invested in new switches and implemented Citrix Acceleration. "Once we got the environment stabilized and had invested in the technology, we could demonstrate value to the organization." The company also used Varonis software for managing and updating data permissions to enhance data security and get ready for a public cloud environment.

Remember that the speed of technology continues to accelerate. "This is the fastest I've seen infrastructure technology take shape," said Paine. "It's moving so quick that you have to be in pre-analysis phase and keep a finger on the pulse, so you can continue to grab the opportunity as it arises."

Keep your eyes on the horizon. "While we alleviate pain points now, we have to look forward two or three years for what will help us drive business processes, be more competitive, and stay flexible. If we see an opportunity for a new application, we want to have done our due diligence and be ready to use it when the time comes."

Ask the hard security questions, and wait for the right answers. Talk to service providers about their commitment to security and about how data is handled. "Some SMBs worry that security is an issue in the cloud, but we have to understand that, even if it is an issue today, it won't be an issue down the road," he said. "We want to be ready to make the jump when it is not just cost effective, but also transparent to the users."

You can read the rest of our interview and conversation here and be sure to check out the rest of the Point2Security website.

VDI or Desktop Virtualization: What’s Right for You?

Over the last month we have seen 2 major acquisitions by Citrix and VMware: Citrix with the purchase of Virtual Computer and VMware with its purchase this week of Wanova. Both companies are drawing their lines in the sand and asking you "You are either with us or against us". Now, both acquisitions I feel are going to accelerate the black sheep of virtualization, known as Desktop Virtualization, but if you are newcomer to desktop virtualization or a SMB still trying to get an idea of what all this means to you and your business, fear not, your not alone. What really is the big difference between VDI and Desktop Virtualization. Are they not the same? Yes and no (you have to love those typical IT answers). From the end user perspective, they both serve a common goal of desktop delivery, security, and backup, but are 2 different approaches based on your business, end user, and IT administrative requirements.

Still confused? That's ok. That's the fun of SMB IT Strategy. Realtime Publications has created a 3 part series titled The Essentials Series: VDI or Desktop Virtualization: What's Right for You? that helps give you a high level look at the big picture to help you better understand the differences. You may want a pure VDI environment, You may want Desktop Virtualization, or like me, you look for a hybrid of both delivery mechanisms to suffice many end user and remote employee needs. The series is a Wanova sponsored series and it is not my intent to push Wanova, but it does touch a lot on the core of both technologies and how you can leverage them in your environment for more a robust centralized administration point.

Here are the links to the 3 papers in the series:

Article 1: Aren't VDI and Desktop Virtualization the Same?

Contrary to what some in the industry would have you believe, VDI is but a subset of desktop virtualization. In fact, VDI could be more accurately described as "an approach to desktop virtualization". This first article goes into detail on the important contrasts between the two. It attempts to level-set the reader towards the use cases where VDI makes sense, and those where it doesn't.

Article 2: A Look at Traditional VDI's Five Big Failures

For too long VDI has been seen as "the next phase in desktop management", which implicitly presumes that it is the panacea for how all desktops will be delivered in the future. Yet today's thinking is slowly shifting from that belief. The proof is in the statistics. Many VDI pilots still today remain in pilot phase. One reason for that stagnation deals with a mismatch between IT's needs and those of its users. Another reason are the big failures with VDI when it is applied to the use cases where it doesn't fit.

Article 3: Hybrid Desktop Virtualization Aligns IT's Needs with End User Requirements

Users demand the ability to customize their workspace. They also, often without realizing it, demand local application processing in a specific set of circumstances. At the same time IT needs centralization in order to succeed with managing a growing environment that only gets more complex over time. Merging these two requirements is a primary goal of desktop virtualization. One way to get there is through desktop synchronization, or what is also called hybrid desktop virtualization. In this architecture, it becomes possible to achieve the goals of IT while still giving users what they want. The description of HDV's architecture is the topic of this third article.

FREE Educational Resources For SMB IT Rookies

One of the growing trends I have witnessed the last year is the quality of documentation and revamping of free education from some the big names in the industry. Microsoft, Rackspace, Citrix, and VMware to name a few, have put their foot on the gas in an effort to ensure that as their technologies are evolving, even the less knowledgeable SMB IT folks are not left out in the cold. For some of us, these resources may be a little to basic, but for a new face to IT or an SMB that does not have a budget to send someone to high level training, these are perfect FREE resources to help you get some 101 learning and to help you with some possibly much needed "Tech Lingo" to better prepare you for those Vendor and Channel Partner meetings. Also it never hurts to make you Executive Management think you a "true" expert.

Microsoft Virtual Acadamy - MVA

Improve your IT skill set and help advance your career with a free, easy to access training portal. Learn at your own pace, focusing on Microsoft technologies, gain points and get recognition.

Rackspace Cloud University - CouldU

CloudU is a vendor-neutral curriculum designed for business owners and technical professionals who want to bolster their knowledge of the fundamentals of Cloud Computing. At CloudU, you’ll find a comprehensive series of original whitepapers, live and on-demand webinars, events, blogs, videos and e-books aimed at increasing Cloud Computing knowledge among businesses. The program is a collaborative effort between Rackspace® Hosting and industry analyst, entrepreneur and commentator Ben Kepes of Diversity Limited. The content of CloudU isn’t vendor-specific. Anyone looking at moving to the Cloud, regardless of vendor or platform, can benefit from CloudU.

VMware Training - Top Free Courses

If you do some digging there is a plethora of free training in the VMware eLearning site. You just have to know where to go find it. Here is the list of their current top 15 Free Courses.

Citrix Education - Free Training

Looking for an overview of key product features and functionality, including the benefits to your existing environment? Considering new Citrix technologies and need to understand the impact to your implementation? In less than an hour and at no cost, get answers to these questions and more with an overview of the latest Citrix products and solutions.