Tag: cloud

Cloud Adoption Trends: Migrating and Modernizing Workloads

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Cloud Adoption
Cloud Adoption Trends

Cloud computing has grown rapidly in recent years, with more and more organizations recognizing the benefits of migrating their workloads to the cloud. The driving factors that businesses have noticed, fall under three emerging trends in cloud computing. Specifically, the drive to save on costs, provide better security and compliance, and the flexibility a multi-cloud environment can provide.

Trend 1: Increased Focus on Cost Savings

One of the primary motivators for organizations when considering migrating to the cloud is its cost efficiency. The cloud can offer a more flexible and scalable model for computing resources. This allows businesses the freedom to only pay for what they use. This can result in significant cost savings compared to traditional on-premise infrastructure.

In addition, the cloud also offers the ability to reduce operational costs by automating many manual processes. This can free up your IT resources and their time to focus on other tasks, increasing their efficiency.

Trend 2: Improved Security and Compliance

Another important trend in cloud adoption is the focus on improving security and compliance. The initial concern of many businesses is about the security of their data and applications in the cloud. However, the reality is that the cloud can often offer a more secure environment than traditional on-premise infrastructure.

Cloud providers such as Microsoft Azure have invested heavily in security and compliance. They usually offer a wide range of tools and services to help organizations meet their security and compliance requirements. These investments into security and compliance would usually be out of reach for most businesses. In addition, the cloud offers the ability to implement security and compliance policies at scale, which can be a challenge with on-premise infrastructure.

Trend 3: Embracing Hybrid and Multicloud Strategies

The third trend in cloud adoption is the growth in adoption of hybrid and multi-cloud strategies. Many businesses are recognizing the benefits of using multiple cloud providers. This is because businesses have their own unique requirement that a multi-cloud environment can solve while avoiding being locked-in a single vendor.

For example, an organization may use one cloud provider for their development and testing environments and another for their production environment. This allows the organization to take advantage of the strengths of each provider, while still maintaining a level of control and flexibility.

Summary

The cloud computing industry is rapidly evolving. Businesses are seeing the benefits of the cloud due to the 3 trends above. By taking advantage of the cost savings, improved security and compliance, and the ability to embrace hybrid and multi-cloud strategies, organizations can gain a competitive advantage and position themselves for long-term success.

To learn more about the cloud and how it can benefit your business, you can contact us at marketing@www.ctlink.com.ph to schedule a consultation today!

Building Zero-Trust in Multicloud Environments

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Zero-Trust Multicloud Environments
Zero Trust in Multicloud Environments

The ever-increasing complexity of the modern digital landscape has led to the rapid expansion of cloud computing. Multicloud environments, where organizations use multiple cloud service providers, have become the norm. However, with this increased flexibility comes added security risks.

Identity governance is a crucial aspect of building a zero-trust architecture in multicloud environments. By implementing a comprehensive identity governance framework, organizations can secure access to sensitive data and resources, no matter where they reside.

The Importance of Identity Governance in Multicloud

Identity governance is the process of managing and monitoring user access to systems and resources. It helps organizations ensure that only authorized users have access to sensitive information and resources, and that they are using them in compliance with the organization’s security policies.

In a multicloud environment, identity governance is even more critical. With resources spread across multiple cloud service providers, it becomes increasingly difficult to monitor and control access.

The Benefits of Zero-Trust in Multicloud

Zero-trust is a security model that assumes that all users, devices, and systems are potential threats. In this model, access to resources is granted only after the identity of the user and the device they are using has been verified and authenticated.

By implementing zero-trust in a multicloud environment, organizations can:

Improve security

By verifying the identity of all users and devices, organizations can reduce the risk of unauthorized access to sensitive data and resources.

Streamline compliance

Zero-trust enables organizations to enforce their security policies across all cloud service providers, ensuring that they are in compliance with regulations and industry standards.

Enhance productivity

By granting access only to authorized users, organizations can minimize downtime and ensure that employees have access to the resources they need to be productive.

Implementing Zero-Trust in Multicloud

Multicloud Environments

Implementing zero-trust in a multicloud environment requires a comprehensive identity governance framework that includes the following components:

Identity and access management

This includes the processes and technologies used to manage and control user access to resources.

Authentication and authorization

This encompasses all the methods and systems involved to verify the identity of users and devices and grant access to resources based on predefined security policies.

Monitoring and reporting

This takes into account the processes to monitor user activity and generate reports to help organizations identify and respond to security incidents.

Conclusion

In today’s rapidly expanding digital landscape, it is increasingly important for organizations to implement a zero-trust architecture in their multicloud environments. By implementing a comprehensive identity governance framework, organizations can secure access to sensitive data and resources, minimize downtime, and ensure compliance with regulations and industry standards.

To learn more about Zero-trust and cloud environments, you can contact us at marketing@www.ctlink.com.ph to learn more!

Exploring the Cloud: IaaS and PaaS

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Exploring the Cloud: IaaS and PaaS
IaaS and PaaS header

The Cloud as a tool for businesses has gone through many different evolutions to better fit the changing technology standards. This was even more apparent during the past few years where remote work became the only way to conduct business. This was not done through the traditional way of how the Cloud was marketed in the beginning. What businesses adapted were now Cloud Services that allowed them to get the benefits of a Cloud Infrastructure by using existing infrastructure of cloud services.

Cloud services have adopted an abbreviation of “as a Service” or “aaS”, the most popular of services are the Platform as a service (or PaaS) or Infrastructure as a Service (or IaaS). Although they are cloud services, what they deliver to businesses are very different from one another.

Platform as a Service

IaaS and PaaS PaaS definition

PaaS is a cloud service which integrates cloud components into certain software and is usually used for business applications. PaaS provides a platform where developers can concentrate on software creation without having to worry about the OS, software updates, storage, or infrastructure. Below are a few characteristics of a PaaS that can help you identify it from other cloud services:

  • It builds on virtualization technology to increase flexibility in the business when you need to scale up or down resources when the business needs change.
  • Provides your business with different services designed to assist the development, testing, and deployment of apps
  • Accessible to numerous users via the same development application
  • Integrates web services and databases

If you are more interested in knowing what the advantages of PaaS can provide your company, you can refer to the bullets below:

  • Simple, cost-effective development and deployment of apps
  • Scalable
  • Highly available
  • Developers can customize apps without the headache of maintaining the software
  • Significant reduction in the amount of coding needed
  • Automation of business policy
  • Easy migration to the hybrid model

Infrastructure as a Service

IaaS and PaaS IaaS definition

IaaS is a Cloud Service that is made of highly scalable and automated compute resources which are fully self-service to allow accessing and monitoring computers, networking, storage, and other services. Through it, businesses can purchase resources on-demand or as-needed rather than purchasing hardware which can take long or cost more. Below are a few characteristics of IaaS that can help you identify it from other cloud services:

  • Resources are available as a service
  • Cost varies depending on consumption
  • Services are highly scalable
  • Multiple users on a single piece of hardware
  • Organization retain complete control of the infrastructure
  • Dynamic and flexible

There are many advantages to using an IaaS service, below are a few in which may help you decide if it is right for your business:

  • The most flexible cloud computing model
  • Easy to automate deployment of storage, networking, servers, and processing power
  • Hardware purchases can be based on consumption
  • Clients retain complete control of their infrastructure
  • Resources can be purchased as-needed
  • Highly scalable

IaaS vs PaaS

IaaS and PaaS VS

Both IaaS and PaaS are cloud services that help provide your business with its operations using the cloud. The main difference in how they do that is PaaS offers better flexibility and ease of operation whereas IaaS offers administrators more direct control over operating systems.

IaaS and PaaS comparison

Take for example, if your company is looking into building your own website. IaaS can help your company host it and all your business applications. Example services of this would be Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services. PaaS on the other hand, would be used to further enhance your website by designing and installing applications into the site. Example services of this would be Google App Engine and Microsoft Azure.

If you are interested to learn more about Cloud Services, contact us at marketing@www.ctlink.com.ph and we can further go into detail!

Cloud One: A Trend Micro Solution for Cloud Builders

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Cloud One: A Trend Micro Solution for Cloud Builders

With cloud technology advancements, more businesses are now connecting to the cloud to solve their IT needs.  This is why the cloud infrastructure services market is now filled with different vendors, this has also caused many stakeholders to become involved in these infrastructure decisions.  This has made cloud security even tougher.  To be able to maximize the benefits of the cloud, you need to be able to balance both your business objectives and cloud security to ensure the least amount of complexity.

Cloud One, a security services platform for cloud builders, delivers the broadest and deepest cloud security offering in one solution, enabling you to secure your cloud infrastructure with clarity and simplicity.

Cloud One will be able to help provide you by providing a powerful security which leaves you leverage to take the benefits and efficiencies that the cloud has to offer to your business.  Being designed with multiple services to make sure that specific cloud security needs are addressed, Cloud one gives you the leg room you need to solve your present challenges while still being able to help you with future cloud needs.

With support for all major cloud platforms, and solutions that integrate directly into your DevOps processes and toolchain, Cloud One is designed to provide the flexibility you need without slowing down your business or application delivery.

Benefits of Cloud One

Automated

Security as code lets your DevOps teams bake security into their build pipeline to release continuously and frequently. With built-in automation, including automated discovery and deployment, quick-start templates, and our Automation Center, secure your environment and meet compliance requirements quickly.

Flexible

Builder’s choice. Security for your hybrid cloud, multi-cloud, and multi-service environments, as well as protection for any vintage of application delivery—with broad platform support.

All-in-One Solution

One platform that has the breadth, depth, and innovation required to meet and manage your cloud security needs today, and in the future.

To learn more about Cloud One and other Trend Micro Solutions, you can contact us at 8893 9515 and we would be happy to answer your inquiries!

Cloud Backup vs. BCDR: The Difference Between the Two

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Cloud Backup vs. BCDR: The Difference Between the Two

When discussing whether business’ have a business continuity and disaster recovery (BCDR) in place, many would say that they have some in place but really only have Cloud Backup in place.  So, what is the difference between the two?  Cloud backup, simply put, is backing up your data to a remote cloud-based server which is accessible to many different and connected resources.

While BCDR is focused more on ensuring that your business will be able to continue after a disaster, whether it be natural or due to human error.  Business continuity focuses more on the continued activity or how fast your business can go back into operation after a disaster, while disaster recovery refers to the set of policies which are put in place to protect your business’ technology infrastructure.

You can separate backup, disaster recovery, and business continuity by the time it takes to restore and/or recover your data and get back to work.  BCDR plans can help you speed up recovery time from days and weeks to simply just minutes or hours.   Below are three main reasons why businesses should have a proper BCDR plan in place:

To prevent downtime and loss of revenue

Businesses usually can’t afford downtime as it can significantly affect profits, with a BCDR plan, you can minimize the downtime and loss of revenue you would incur.

To prevent data loss

A BCDR plan in place can help you prevent the loss of data to ensure that your business can still operate, a study once found the 87% of businesses that lost access to their data for more than a week would eventually close down a year later.

To protect the business reputation

With how consumers expect most business to accommodate them 24/7, it can damage the business reputation once long periods of downtime is experienced by consumers.  With a BCDR plan in place, you can help prevent these types of reputation losses from happening.

To learn more about BCDR solutions, you can refer to our product page here, or you can contact us directly at 893-9515 and we will be happy to help you!

Arup: Engineering Firm Transfers Files Worldwide with Citrix ShareFile

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Arup: Engineering Firm Transfers Files Worldwide with Citrix ShareFile

Arup Group Ltd. is a multinational professional services firm headquartered in London, U.K., which provides engineering, design, planning, project management and consulting services for all aspects of the built environment. The firm has over 13,000 staff based in 92 offices across 42 countries and has participated in projects in over 160 countries.

The Challenge

Transferring their work to their clients all across the globe.  Sending Digital Models, Documents and CAB files from their custom built transfer system (which was capable of handling files of up to 2GB) proved to be inadequate as the years went as the size and amount of files needed increased.  Longer upload speed and download speed frustrated both employees and their clients.  This caused 60% of their employees to start using personal file transfer services, however these 3rd party services lacked effective security and control.

The Solution

Arup looked at many file based sharing solutions, but they ultimately chose to go with Citrix ShareFile Enterprise.  The simplicity of sending files of any size and the ShareFile Microsoft Outlook Plug-in which allows for file sending within the email client for optimal use and convenience were big factors in their decision.  Not only did this solution give them a better way for file sharing, but it also helped increase their employee agility by securing the access of files from their mobile devices.  Also by setting up multiple storage zones in each region to serve as local storage, it helped increase the speed of sharing to the point that their employees now use it for any file over 5 MB.

The Key Benefits

Below are the key benefits that Arup experienced when they adopted Citrix ShareFile

  • Increased Productivity by accelerating workflows
  • Improved client service through more effective file sharing
  • Secured and controlled shared files

Arup is still expanding its ShareFile Implementation and plans on introducing mobile functionality soon while already viewing Citrix as one of its key technology partners.

Cisco Meraki Hits 1 Million network Milestone!

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Cisco Meraki Hits 1 Million network Milestone!

On May 23, 2017, about 10 years since the first shipped Meraki product, the Meraki network community reached a milestone of 1 million networks!

This comes as no surprise as more and more industries demand that their IT is able do more with less which may include tasks such as:

  • Supporting corporate devices and any preferred user devices
  • Transitioning to wireless offices and the ability to support remote working
  • Enabling massive device expansion and constant digital collaboration
  • Ensuring zero downtime and constant change
  • And most importantly, Mission Focused Technology, technology which drives the main function of industries such as education in schools and patient care in healthcare.

With so many tasks to deliver, IT teams will need to have simple infrastructures which will allow them to be nimble while being able to adapt with the business.  It was at this time Cisco started shipping simpler IT, managed via the cloud, through the Meraki Mini which was well received within the IT community.  IT teams were grossly overloaded and spread thin worldwide under the load of legacy systems with clunky interfaces so the then emerging cloud option given was a helpful option to help solve these issues.  A far cry from today, cloud services have become an integral part of our daily and corporate lives, even more so as the confidence is growing in the dependability and security of the cloud.

Meraki Mini (2006)                                               Meraki MV (2017)

We are happy to say that we partnered with one of the pioneers of cloud-native IT and will continue to support them the best way we can so that our customers will be able to enjoy all the benefits!  To learn more about their products, please see our Cisco product page here.

Microsoft Azure a top contender in the “Cloud Wars”

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Microsoft Azure a top contender in the “Cloud Wars”

With the worldwide public cloud services market projected to grow by 18% this 2017, to a total of $246.8 billion according to Gartner, it’s no wonder that many vendors are upping their services to get a larger portion of the market.  Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) and Software as a Service (SaaS) are both projected to grow by about 36.8% and 20.1% respectively this 2017.   While Amazon Web Services is still the predominant market leader for this segment, this may not be true in the following years as Azure has been working on toppling them with success in Europe as the predominant IaaS provider with 43.7% market share against AWS’ 32%.

Forbes came out recently with an article as well on their take on the “Cloud Wars” and to the surprise of many, put Azure in first while AWS was placed as second.  Their basis was the fact that Microsoft has more to offer to their corporate customers in terms of cloud innovation to the different aspects of their business.  Below are a few of the main points in which Forbes’ analyst Bob Evans brought up in which Azure was ahead of AWS:

Revenue – First quarter of 2017, AWS reported $14 billion against Azure’s $15.2 billion

Completeness of cloud offerings – While AWS is strong on the IaaS segment, it is still lacking compared to Azure in the Platform as a Service (PaaS) and SaaS market.

Future Vision – Microsoft has placed major importance to going end-to-end on the cloud across its enormous range of products and services.

Scalability for world’s largest computing workloads – Microsoft’s used Maersk as its example of this in which they have slowly moved towards the cloud and now use Azure to help gain business insights using Dynamics 365.

Adopting advanced technologies to help customers drive digital transformation – while others still have no general strategy nor product and technologies for IoT, Microsoft has been making strides in this aspect.

Appeal to and ability to perform across a wide range of industries – Microsoft has been pushing its vast and fully integrated cloud capabilities to run the workloads of many of the biggest corporations in the world.