In a recent LinkedIn posting on the IaaS Infrastructure as a Service forum, a conversation developed around the issue of cloud providers using the ability to over commit resources to drive down their prices. Essentially, this means that while a provider may have the resources (CPU, RAM, storage, etc.) to support a specific volume of a computing resource, they know …
The Future of Cloud Computing
Last month, our CTO, Robert Jenkin, spoke at Cordis’ Research in Future Cloud Computing event in Brussels, Belgium. During the event, Robert presented to a diverse audience. He focused on three key areas of research that have the potential to have a major impact on the future of the cloud. Those are-operating systems, ecosystems, and scalable storage. Be sure to …
Startups flourishing through our new offer
Technology startup companies just starting out have a lot of options in terms of IT environments. Do they invest in a proprietary, physical environment, which may very likely become outdated within a matter of one year? Do they look to implement a hybrid approach with some virtual servers hosted on top of their otherwise physical infrastructure? Or, do they move …
SSDs gaining traction in the cloud
GigaOM published an interesting article on Azure embracing SSD storage. It is great to see some movement and product development happening in the IaaS space as ever particularly when it comes to addressing one of the key pain points for many customers in the cloud, namely cloud storage. We have long advocated the need for innovation in cloud storage which …
Let the cloud add real value
Many people, when moving to the cloud, look at it primarily as a means of saving money. Although I concede this impression is growing less prevalent, it still persists. Furthermore, most people taking this cost approach look at the savings purely from physical infrastructure rather than through labour, which represents the majority of real infrastructure costs through management, procurement, monitoring …
Live from Interop: The Next Best Thing in Cloud Storage
This week, we’re at Interop Las Vegas, and the show floor is buzzing with new announcements from exhibiting companies – CloudSigma included! Today, we announced the launch of SigSTORE; the industry’s first SLA-backed distributed SSD storage solution, for our public cloud IaaS. The performance, cost and reliability of cloud storage solutions have traditionally been major barriers to companies’ cloud adoption. …
Propelling the Next Blockbuster Hit
The scene here at the 2012 NAB Show in Las Vegas is stirring up a lot of excitement. All around the exhibition hall, one can catch glimpses of how rapidly new technologies are reshaping the media and entertainment industries. Hundreds of innovative vendors are showcasing and unveiling innovative new and disruptive offerings that are helping to usher in the next …
One Size Never Fits All
The overused cliché “one size fits all” hardly applies to anything these days, including cloud platforms. Some utilize the cloud to sustain the high storage requirements needed to process huge amounts of research data efficiently and accurately. Others need the flexibility and high-performance computing the cloud allows for work with some of the largest high-res, long-form content files in the …
The Science Cloud Cometh
Mankind is currently engaged in some of the most important scientific research of our age: the search for the elusive Higgs particle to validate our modern understanding of physics; genomic sequencing to enrich our understanding of life on Earth; and the global monitoring and hopefully prediction of natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis and volcanoes to better defend us from …
The IaaS of Choice for Media Industry Professionals
A lot goes into making a Blockbuster hit that tops box office charts. Movies like Titanic, Star Wars, Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings don’t just come together over night. Steep requirements are imposed on everything from production, staff and equipment, to location, music and editing; but, one of the most hefty requirements often goes overlooked – IT. Technology …
To Own or Not to Own; the Pros and Cons of IaaS In-House Data Center Ownership
Recently, I was featured on GigaOM, discussing the pros and cons of in-house data center ownership for public cloud infrastructure-as-a-service providers. With the widespread media attention dedicated to recent outages, including Amazon’s latest downtime, it’s evident that maintaining consistent data center uptime can be a real challenge. So, are IaaS providers able to deliver resilient data center facilities in addition …
Forbes for Thought
Recently, I was featured on Forbes, discussing a topic that is top of mind for companies operating in the cloud and across geographical boundaries – namely, conflicting laws and regulations with regards to data access, sharing and location. Here is the issue, in brief: European law imposes strict sanctions against data breaches and requires notifications to be sent if any …