CloudCloudhostinghosting · Rainforest charity to benefit from iomart campaign being promoted at Cloud Expo 15 Big data, big decisions.....29 Omer Wilson, director at Digital Realty,

Colocation:Understanding the advantage

Navigation game:Managing IT suppliers

Legal discovery:The long arm of the law

The equaliser:Can cloud level the playing fieldfor UK businesses?

Cloud Expo Europe 2015:Including 12 pages of ‘ones to watch’ at the show

Decision time:Big data is changing the data centre landscape

CloudhostingCloudhostingFeb/March 2015 l www.cloudhostingmagazine.co.uk l £8.50 Where Sold

INDUSTRY NEWS - USER STORIES - OPINIONS - INTERVIEWS - ANALYSIS

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Contents

CONTENTS

Cloudhosting4

Cloud backup? It's child's play.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10Play equipment manufacturer Playdale has improved the way it works with a low bandwidthBackup-as-a-Service approach

It's an IT jungle out there.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22Rainforest charity to benefit from iomart campaign being promoted at Cloud Expo 15

Big data, big decisions.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29Omer Wilson, director at Digital Realty, discusses what data centre providers must offertheir clients in this age of big data if they are to be successful in future

Make mine a double.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34Iconic wine merchant Oddbins is using Rackspace Managed Cloud services to power itswebsite as it aims to double online sales by improving the shopping experience of its e-Commerce customers

Editor’s comment.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3News.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

New cloud apps from KyoceraSecurity fears scaring firms away from cloud services

Strategy: Managing IT suppliers...............................8IT leaders are facing new levels of complexity as they seek to addressbusiness needs, says Neil Thomas, Product Director at Claranet

Better, by design..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12Jeremy Powell, Director of Product Marketing at NemetschekVectorworks, Inc., updates Cloud Hosting on the benefits of cloudservices and mobile apps for users of the company's innovativeCAD and BIM technologies

The long arm of the law..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14Nick Rich at Epiq Systems examines the ongoing legal issues aroundwhat has become known as the 'Microsoft Dublin warrant case'

Event Preview: Cloud Expo Europe 2015..... . . . . . .16The organisers describe Cloud Expo Europe as 'two days ofintensive networking and knowledge gathering' - and Cloud Hostingmagazine will be there of course!

Levelling the playing field.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19Steven Harrison, Lead Technologist at Exponential-e looks at the roleof the Cloud as an equaliser for UK businesses

A software-defined future...........................................20Tim Bury, MD EMEA at Masergy, discusses the real-worldapplications and benefits of Software-Defined Networking

Storing up trouble..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24Everett Dolgner at Silver Peak explains what you need to knowabout using the cloud for backup and recovery initiatives

Hybrid: the 'best-fit' strategy.... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26According to Sean McAvan, MD of NaviSite Europe, a hybrid cloudapproach offers the best of both worlds for business: embracing thenew, while getting the most out of existing IT investments

End of the road..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28The announcement that support and security updates for MicrosoftWindows Server 2003 are to end this year provides the impetus forchange, argues Dave Leyland of Dimension Data

Open, for business..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce manages its memberswith the flexibility of CRM in the cloud

Understanding the colocation advantage..... . . . . . .32With recent industry experts declaring the demise of colocationRowland Kinch, CEO of Custodian Data Centres, explains why hebelieves that colocation is still the best solution for manyorganisations

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The publication of this issue of Cloud Hosting is due to coincide with the industry'sbiggest event of the year, Cloud Expo at London's ExCel venue. The CH team willbe there in person, of course, and in the form of hundreds of extra copies of the

magazine itself, available on the stands of many of the exhibitors featured in our specialpreview pages. As well as an overview of the show itself, we also feature a plethora ofnews, opinions and bylined articles from some of the biggest names in the sector - anda few that may be new to you. Make sure you check out our special feature, and ofcourse be sure to visit these companies while you're at the show - and if you see uswandering around, do say hello: it's always great to speak to our readers!

A recurring theme for many of the firms at the show - and therefore by extension aconcern for users and buyers - is the increasing complexity of the market, and thedifficulties of trying to establish and maintain a coherent IT strategy in a sector wherethe goalposts seem to move almost weekly. As Claranet's Neil Thomas comments inhis piece in this issue: "As the cloud industry matures, it's becoming clear that there isa vast amount of choice, and that there is no one cloud solution for all requirements,creating the more complicated world of Hybrid IT. While choice is a good thing, it alsorisks becoming a headache as applications and data are spread over multiplesystems, creating an overhead that many IT managers don't have the resource to dealwith or manage."

Mid-tier organisations are faced with increasingly complex IT estates, and mustbalance legacy considerations, different software solutions, and multiple suppliers,which demands new skill-sets. Many will have spent a long time trying to consolidatetheir systems, but as the choices continually increase, the optimum approach thesedays might well involve using multiple different infrastructure providers - shifting the ITdepartment's focus away from the technology to supplier management.

It seems somewhat counter-intuitive to be talking about a shift away from atechnology focus to a supply chain management one, at this level of a business'operations - but increasingly this seems to be the way the entire IT industry is moving.Is this the logical extension of the 'everything-as-a-service' trend? And if so what does itmean for internal IT management?

David [email protected]

From the Editor

3Cloudhosting

COMMENT

EDITOR: David Tyler([email protected])

NEWS EDITOR: Mark Lyward([email protected])

PRODUCTION MANAGER: Abby Penn([email protected])

DESIGN: Ian Collis([email protected])

COMMERCIAL DIRECTOR: Josh Boulton([email protected])

MANAGING DIRECTOR: John Jageurs([email protected])

DISTRIBUTION/SUBSCRIPTIONS:Christina Willis([email protected])

PUBLISHED BY: JBJ Media Ltd (JBJ)35 Station Square, Petts WoodKent BR5 1LZ, UKTel: +44 (0)1689 616 000Fax: +44 (0)1689 82 66 22

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No part of this magazine may be reproduced without prior consent, in writing, from the publisher. ©Copyright 2015JBJ Media Ltd (JBJ)

Articles published reflect the opinions of theauthors and are not necessarily those of thepublisher or of JBJ employees. While everyreasonable effort is made to ensure that thecontents of articles, editorial and advertisingare accurate no responsibility can be accept-ed by the publisher or JBJ for errors, misrep-resentations or any resulting effects.

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Cloud Hosting Magazine Advert.indd 1 03/03/2015 09:13

NEWS

Cloudhosting6

New research from the Federation ofSmall Businesses (FSB) has found that

despite three fifths (60%) of small firmsquestioned using cloud computing servic-es, the remaining two fifths (38%) remainsceptical about the benefits of the technolo-gy in the face of perceived risks.

When asked what risks they most asso-ciated with cloud computing, the FSBmembers questioned listed the followingtop five concerns: data theft or loss(61%), reliable access to online services(55%), concerns over who would haveaccess to the data (53%), liability issues(41%) and over dependence on cloudcomputing services (33%).

Commenting on the findings John Allan,FSB National Chairman, said: “Many smallbusinesses are recognising the advantagesof cloud computing services, but thereremains a great deal of concern that sensi-tive data may not be secure or the servicenot reliable. Businesses don’t want to tran-sition to cloud based systems withoutknowing who will be liable if somethinggoes wrong. As our previous research hasshown, there are significant gains to bemade from using this technology so it isimperative more is done to address firm’sunderstandable reservations and removebarriers to take-up.”

Out of all the businesses questioned, justunder half (45%) said they were alreadygreatly or fairly reliant on cloud computingservices. The most common services cur-rently used by the small businesses whouse cloud computing included: storing filesonline (74%), web based email and calen-dars (67%), file sharing services (64%), webbased office software (38%) and account-ing and invoicing services (37%).

When asked what changes would helppersuade small firms to use cloud comput-ing services, half of all respondents wantedplain English terms and conditions (48%)and nearly as many wanted simpler andmore transparent pricing (46%). www.fsb.org.uk

CLOUD SECURITY FEARS

Claranet has completed a major invest-ment in its storage capabilities, fur-

nishing its storage services with SolidState arrays from HP. The company hasinvested over £1 million into a new sharedstorage platform across three of its datacentres, introducing a three-tiered modelof storage. Each tier will have a guaran-teed Quality of Service in terms ofInput/Output Operations Per Second(IOPS). Both the standard and the premi-um tiers will be delivered from 100 percent Solid State Drives from HP 3PARarrays, providing a cutting edge platformavailable on a pay-as-you-grow perGB/Month model.

Neil Thomas, Claranet's Product Director,said: "This latest investment in our datacentres will put our storage capabilities atthe forefront of the industry, and grant ourcustomers greater flexibility as to how theystore and access their data, helping themto achieve low levels of latency for real-time applications. Claranet managespetabytes of customer data in its datacentres, with a lot of this managed onshared storage platforms. These sharedplatforms give customers the ability topay-as-you-go and buy storage as theyneed it, on an OpEx basis, as a fully man-aged service." www.claranet.co.uk

CLARANET BOOSTS STORAGE WITH HP SSD ARRAYS

KYOCERA has launched two newHyPAS apps, KYOCERA Cloud Print

and Cloud Direct. Cloud Print provides adirect connection to Google Cloud Print,Google Docs and Google Apps, andenables integration with user authentica-tion solutions such as PaperCut,Equitrac and SafeCom. The app makesit easy to print files from smartphones,tablets or PCs.

KYOCERA Cloud Direct provides astraight connection to Google Drive andDropbox, as well as access to internet fax-ing from KYOCERA HyPAS enableddevices. To accommodate a wide range oforganisations there are two versions of

Cloud Direct - one for Google Drive andone for Dropbox. Both of the new appsgive organisations the ability to introduceuser authentication and provide singlesign-on to the device.

Sarah White, Product Marketing Managersaid: "With many organisations selectingCloud storage as their primary storagemethod, employers are looking for theeasiest way for their employees to accessthe Cloud and their stored documents.We're offering a 30 day free trial so thatSMEs can see what a difference this appcan make to their organisation." Visit thewebsite below for details.www.hypas.co.uk

TWO NEW CLOUD APPS FROM KYOCERA

Feb/March 2015 www.cloudhostingmagazine.co.uk@CHMagAndAwards

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7Cloudhosting

NEWS

Rackspace has announced the availabili-ty of Dedicated VMware vCloud, a sin-

gle-tenant, hosted environment that offersadvanced automation, self-service, hostedcatalogues and access to the vCloud APIand vCloud web portal. The environment isbacked by Rackspace's 100% networkuptime guarantee and one-hour hardwarereplacement guarantee.

By exposing the vCloud API directly toeach customer, Rackspace allows the cus-tomer to integrate a third-party orchestrationtool and introduce policy-based gover-nance. Hosted catalogues and self-serviceare available via the vCloud stack. www.rackspace.com

DEDICATED TO VMWARE

iomart has been awarded a place on G-Cloud 6, the UK Government's Digital

Marketplace. iomart has been accredited tosupply Infrastructure as a Service; Platformas a Service; Software as a Service; andSpecialist Cloud Services. Among the serv-ices it offers are: vCloud and vCloud IaaS -self-managed and hosted virtual infrastruc-ture services based on a VMware vCloudenvironment; Desktop as a Service; HostedExchange and Storage; Business Mail plusMail and Web Filtering; File Sync andShare; and Advanced DDoS Protectionusing Arbor Network's Peakflow solution.

iomart's backup specialist BackupTechnology (BTL) has also been accredited,having been on G Cloud since it was firstcreated by the UK Government to make

buying cloud services easier for the publicsector and to open up competition for con-tracts to SMEs.

In total iomart and BTL now protect morethan 100TBs of data for public sectororganisations including the Agriculture andHorticulture Development Board, two coun-cils in Northern Ireland, and Essex CountyFire & Rescue Service (ECFRS), one of thelargest county fire services in the UK.

Jan Swanwick, Head of ICT for EssexCounty Fire & Rescue Service, explains,"Traditionally procurement has been a long,protracted process. With G-Cloud it is verystraightforward because all the supplier andproduct information has already been collat-ed and validated." www.iomart.com

IOMART ACCREDITED FOR UK GOVERNMENT G-CLOUD 6

NetApp has introduced new softwareand solutions for hybrid IT deployments

that improve data backup and recoverytimes and give customers more control overtheir data throughout its lifecycle. NetAppcan leverage the flexibility of Amazon WebServices (AWS) to address backup, recov-ery and archive challenges. The companyhas also introduced three new models ofSteelStore cloud-native backup solution asan Amazon Machine Image (AMI), whichprovides an efficient and secure approachto back up cloud-based workloads.

Customers can also choose on-premisesSteelStore physical appliances for seam-less, secure data protection to the cloud.

Additionally, NetApp is adding support forAmazon Simple Storage Service (AmazonS3) as a storage tier to StorageGRIDWebscale, a scalable, highly durable objectstorage solution for long-term archives. Thecompany also released updates to itsOnCommand Cloud Manager,OnCommand Insight software and CloudONTAP software subscription. www.netapp.com

NEW NETAPP SOLUTIONS SECURE A SAFE PATH FOR DATA

Easynet has enlisted the help of hybridcloud software provider Abiquo to form

the foundation of its global cloud strategy:'hybrid by design'. The global managedservices provider has selected Abiquo'scloud management platform in order to cre-ate a unified cloud platform and deliver acomprehensive hybrid cloud solution to itscustomers. With fully integrated cloud solu-tions across private, private-shared andpublic cloud environments, Easynet neededa cloud management platform that couldsimplify control and management of all vir-tual environments. Easynet chose Abiquodue to its level of support for multiple hyper-visors, extensive range of support for publiccloud providers, its simple and clear userinterface, and extensive integration options.

The deployment spans seven nodesacross five key regions; UK, France, Italy,the Netherlands and Spain. APAC and theAmericas will be added in the first half of2015. By providing a unified cloud manage-ment platform across multiple regions,Easynet has been able to further standard-ise its cloud portfolio and deliver non-bespoke, repeatable, high quality solutionsto its customers.www.abiquo.com

HYBRID BY DESIGN

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The cloud industry has perpetuated anotion that cloud is simple and cheap,when, in fact, the opposite is often true.

While the cloud has enabled all sorts offlexibility and agility, the explosion of availablechoice has actually driven complexity for mostIT teams. As this accelerates, IT leaders willneed greater support from their providers tonavigate the increasingly complex ITlandscape.

SUPPLY AND DEMANDThe principles behind cloud computingservices make IT a simpler, and sometimescheaper, proposition for organisations to adoptthan traditional forms of procuring and usingtechnology. However, while cloud has helpedto drive simplicity for end users, it has alsoincreased the capacity for businesses to be

more demanding of their IT departments, whileexpanding the number of potential suppliersand systems that an IT department has tomanage and secure. It is widely accepted thatthere will not be a single cloud computingplatform for all requirements, and that thereforeHybrid cloud solutions will be the way of thefuture. However, as the IT environment spansover a greater number of different ecosystems,the management overhead grows.

Cloud computing has been marketed as asimpler, easier and cheaper alternative to on-premises IT, but in many respects, thesituation is now considerably more complex.Behind the veneer of cloud's simplicity sits anincreasingly complex and difficult-to-manageecosystem, creating new challenges for theIT department.

As the cloud industry matures, it's becomingclear that there is a vast amount of choice,and that there is no one cloud solution for allrequirements, creating the more complicatedworld of Hybrid IT. While choice is a goodthing it also risks becoming a headache, asapplications and data are spread over multiplesystems, creating an overhead that many ITmanagers don't have the resource to deal withor manage. Although start-ups might just findit easier to put everything into public cloud, thepicture for most businesses is more complex.

Mid-tier organisations are faced withincreasingly complex IT estates, and mustbalance legacy considerations, differentsoftware solutions, and multiple suppliers,which demands new skill-sets. Many will havespent a long time trying to consolidate theirsystems, but it's starting to explode out interms of choice, and the optimum solutiontoday might involve using multiple differentinfrastructure providers - shifting the ITdepartment's focus away from the technologyto supplier management.

A supplier who can work over differentinfrastructures will therefore be essentialgoing forward, simplifying the managementprocess and freeing up the IT department tofocus on core business activities. Thesuccessful IT departments will use theirsupply chain correctly and partner withtrusted suppliers that can offer the supportthey need. This in turn can help them todeliver the business agility that the industrysaid that cloud would deliver.More info: www.claranet.co.uk

How to navigate an increasinglycomplex IT landscapeIT leaders are facing new levels of complexity as they seek to addressbusiness needs, says Neil Thomas, Product Director at Claranet

STRATEGY: MANAGING IT SUPPLIERS

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Associations we work with include the following:[email protected] 8358 6668

www.vectorworks.net/service-select/cloud-services

What if you could store, synchronise and share your Vectorworks fi les in the cloud to make decisions from any location?

Now you can.

Playdale Playgrounds manufactures,supplies and installs outdoor playequipment across the UK, as well

as exporting to over 14 countries globally.Playdale's owners, the Croasdale family,started out in the logging industry in1735. In 1978, the ninth generation ofCroasdales refocused their trade to thedesign, manufacture and installation ofplayground equipment for schools, localauthorities, leisure operators and more.Since then, they have grown to

approximately 140 staff, 90 of whom areIT users, split between 20 mobile workersand 70 desk-based roles in their centraloffice in Cumbria.

PICTURE THISPlaydale employs a remote sales team,dispersed around the country formaximum customer reach. However, theirhead office is based at a remote locationin the Lake District, so much of theircorrespondence with the team (andcustomers) takes place over email. Assuch, the availability of fast and reliableInternet connectivity has been one of thecompany's most significant IT challengesover the years.

This is compounded by the fact thatPlaydale wins the majority of newbusiness on the strength of its customerpresentations. Historically, presentationmaterials (such as product designs andsite plans) were hand-drawn byillustrators, negating any significantinvestment in technology. However, asthe industry moved towards computer-aided design (CAD), IT manager PhilRhoney knew the company had to startleveraging more technology in its designprocesses: "When I joined Playdale Iinherited an aging desktop estate ofabout forty 386 and 486 desktopsrunning Windows 98. This suited theillustrators fine at the time, but I knew 3Ddesign and video was going to becomeessential to win new business, and Ineeded to enable that with ourtechnology strategy. Today, thepresentations contain rich 2D and 3D

Cloud backup? It's child's playPlay equipment manufacturer Playdale has improved the way it workswith a low bandwidth Backup-as-a-Service approach

CASE STUDY: PLAYDALE PLAYGROUNDS


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playground designs, and photo realisticwalkthrough videos with high-endshadow and lighting effects. In short, thatmeans they're larger files. Moreover, ourdesigns are unique to every individualproject - we very rarely recycle assets, sowe experience a lot of data churn.Managing the data lifecycle - fromcreation to archiving - is essential."

In parallel with the challenge of richer(and therefore larger) media assets,Playdale has had to contend with thelimited availability of high-speed Internetat the company's rural head office, asRhoney explains: "Before we gotbroadband in 2004 we were using a 256kISDN dial-up connection. Even when wegot our first leased line, our upload speedwas throttled to 256k, so our overnightbackups were taking hours. We needed abackup solution that would protect ourexchange data as economically aspossible - both in terms of network trafficand backup windows."

WHY BACKUP-AAS-AA-SSERVICE?Playdale's legacy backup solution was anonsite appliance that struggled toproperly backup Exchange data, regularlyeither backing up the data store in onebig block or gathering Outlook's local.PST files into one place and writing themto tape.After securing a fast and reliable (ifcostly) Internet connection, Phil requiredan alternative backup solution that didn'tdepend on high levels of connectivity toprovide an effective service. That's whenDatabarracks got in touch.

"Databarracks Backup as a service isthe only cloud service we have adoptedso far," continues Phil Rhoney. "We're nowon a 20MB leased line, which gives us theperformance we need, but it's quite pricybecause of our location. As such, wehave to prioritise the bandwidth availableto us. This means we have a dualapproach to backups, using onlinebackup for our most critical data and aweekly tape backup for our high-volumedata. The data lifecycle is quite fast atPlaydale, so incremental backups are theideal solution for us, particularly given ourconnectivity. We've secured a steadyupload speed which means that backingup 30-40GB overnight is now a questionof minutes, instead of hours. Comparedto our weekly tape backup, which takesabout 7-8 hours for 1.6TB, it's incrediblyefficient."

REACHING FURTHERA more reliable and cost-effective backupsolution has enabled Playdale todistribute their presentation content to abroader range of customers - both viatheir mobile sales team and throughemail. In fact, Playdale's reach hasincreased so significantly they are nowlooking to export domesticallymanufactured playground equipment tointernational clients.

"I haven't had to think about ourExchange backups since we startedusing Databarracks, so I've been able todevote my attention to other projects,"says Rhoney. "The solution is very reliable,but what I'm really paying for is the time to

focus on activities that develop thebusiness. The support team take care ofpretty much everything - I'll often receivean automated email, followed up by aphone call, informing me that a backupfault has been resolved before I'm evenaware of it at our end."

Peripherally, Backup-as-a-Service(BaaS) has enabled Playdale tomodernise processes that were ahangover from older systems, as Rhoneyenthused: "We used to send outpresentation content on A1 and A2printed paper, which was very costly.Having a backup solution that consumesbandwidth economically leaves us roomto email large quantities of media morefreely between our head office, remoteworkers and customer sites, therebysaving on considerable postage costs."

Perhaps most crucially, Backup-as-a-Service from Databarracks has enabledPlaydale to overcome the connectivitylimitations faced by its remote sales teamwithout compromising the level of servicethey receive.

"The continuous improvement of ourpresentation materials is what's going todifferentiate us when pitching tocustomers," concludes Rhoney. "We haveto sell the experience of the playground toboth the adult decision makers and,sometimes, the children who will use it.Backup as a service makes it easier andcheaper to store, manage and protect theassets which drive our business forward."More info: www.databarracks.com

11www.cloudhostingmagazine.co.uk Feb/March 2015 Cloudhosting

CASE STUDY: PLAYDALE PLAYGROUNDS

@CHMagAndAwards

"I haven't had to think about our Exchange backups since we started using

Databarracks, so I've been able to devote my attention to other projects.

The solution is very reliable, but what I'm really paying for is the time to

focus on activities that develop the business."

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About this time a year ago, I wrotean article for Cloud Hostingmagazine that discussed the

chaotic state of some design offices andthe common, driving need to find ways toincrease efficiency. Over the past year,this need has continued to plaguedesigners, and we hear about it time andtime again from our users. It would seemthe only thing that has substantiallychanged in the past 12 months is theabundant number of cloud and mobileofferings that are available.

There are apps meant to aid designcreativity or help boost efficiency by

measuring existing conditions, and muchmore. However, while there are mixedreviews and mixed results from thesetypes of apps, many people whopassionately care about this industrybelieve that the day will surely come whensuch apps are very accurate and tie wellinto downstream design processes likeCAD and BIM authoring tools.

While this sense of optimism is veryexciting, this does not mean today's app-scene is bleak. In fact, some currentmobile apps and cloud-based servicesreally excel at streamlining design-basedworkflows by freeing up desktopcomputing time, as well as connectingwith your go-to design software toimprove your productivity and simplifyyour ability to present ideas.

PRODUCTIVITY BOOSTNemetschek Vectorworks, whichdevelops a line of CAD and BIM solutionsfor the AEC, landscape, andentertainment industries under theVectorworks brand, launched VectorworksCloud Services 3.0 this past Septemberto deliver productivity gains byconnecting to users' preferred designsoftware. This release included updatingthe cloud servers to run Vectorworks2015, which is now fully 64 bit, as well asupdating the signature mobile app,Vectorworks Nomad 3.0.

In addition, we launched a brand newmobile app for all Vectorworks users

Better, by designJeremy Powell, Director of Product Marketing at NemetschekVectorworks, Inc., updates Cloud Hosting on the benefits of cloud servic-es and mobile apps for users of the company's innovative CAD and BIMtechnologies

MARKET FOCUS: DESIGN IN THE CLOUD


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called Vectorworks Remote as the latestaddition to Nemetschek Vectorworks'mobile app offerings. Our primary goalwith this launch was to provide greaterpresentation capability for our users andto find new and meaningful ways for theeveryday designer using Vectorworkssoftware to be more productive.

To boost that productivity, we firstupdated the servers to run Vectorworks2015. Because the latest version is fully 64bit, this evolution had a major impact onthe processing capabilities of VectorworksCloud Services. Now, users with even themost complicated geometric files or fileswith very high resolutions for renderingcan compute substantially faster and morereliably. This is something that all usersinstantly notice.

MODELLING GOES MOBILEOur signature mobile app, VectorworksNomad, now supports 3D viewing ofdesigners' Vectorworks files. This is amajor addition that turns Nomad intomore than just a viewer for ConstructionDrawings. It now has a fluid andinteractive way to view, fly over, walkthrough, and zoom in and out of yourtextured and shaded 3D models. As youcan imagine, this is a great conveniencefor designers who want to show theirclients various views of the models theyare proposing.

The Vectorworks Remote App connectsyour mobile device to your Vectorworksdesktop using a remote connection plug-in. When using the app, you caninteractively use the device like a remoteto view, navigate, and present yourdesigns without having to be at yourdesktop. This is great for group reviewsand presentations. In addition, you canuse it as a productivity tool even whilesitting in front of your desktop as theRemote can be used to control thevisibilities and views of the file on whichyou are working. It also helps to save

valuable screen real estate when used inthis way.

As one of our users, scenic and lightingdesigner Kevin Lee Allen, says: "I cannotlive without the new Vectorworks RemoteApp that connects mobile devices toVectorworks software. The app lets youview, navigate, and present your designswithout having to be at your desktop. It isalso terrific for navigating whiledesigning."

These are just a couple of examples ofrecent additions to our apps that are easyto use and tie directly into the workflowsof today's savvy designers. There aremany more possibilities for using cloudand mobile technologies in an integratedmanner with your preferred softwaresolution. This is just the beginning on ourpart, and we're excited to continue toexplore the possibilities that mobiletechnology can bring to your workflowand what you, in turn, can do with it totransform the world with your creativevisions. More info: www.vectorworks.net


MARKET FOCUS: DESIGN IN THE CLOUD

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"Our signature mobile app, Vectorworks Nomad,

now supports 3D viewing of designers' Vectorworks

files. This is a major addition that turns Nomad into

more than just a viewer for Construction Drawings. It

now has a fluid and interactive way to view, fly over,

walk through, and zoom in and out of your textured

and shaded 3D models. As you can imagine, this is

a great convenience for designers who want to

show their clients various views of the models they

are proposing."

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In December 2013 a Magistrate Judge inthe State District of New York signed asearch warrant for the seizure of emails and

other records in a particular MSN emailaccount - which was stored on serverslocated in a data centre in Dublin, Ireland. Thedata centre was owned and operated by alocal Microsoft subsidiary, which Microsoft'sgeneral counsel argued put it out of reach of aU.S. search warrant.

On July 31st 2014, Chief U.S. District JudgeLoretta Preska ruled against Microsoft'sappeal, finding that the location of the emaildata was not relevant as Microsoft "controlledit" from the U.S. In her view, emails stored byMicrosoft customers or users on Microsoftservers constitute Microsoft businessrecords. Microsoft has said it will not complywith the order and will continue its appeal tothe 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Thecase is therefore ongoing as this magazinewent to press.

IS YOUR DATA ON THE MICROSOFTCLOUD?What are the implications for companiesstoring their data on the Microsoft Cloud? Ifthis ruling stands up to the appeals procedure,the U.S. government will have successfullyasserted its right to obtain, by subpoena orwarrant, information created and storedoutside the United States, where suchinformation is stored on servers belonging toU.S. corporations. It follows that Europeancorporations, whose data is stored onMicrosoft's cloud within European datacentres, could see that data become subjectto investigation by U.S. authorities withoutrecourse to existing agreements between the

U.S. government and European sovereigngovernments.

This potential breach of dataprivacy/protection in the EU has hugeimplications: European companies with data on servers

operated or owned by Microsoft could becompelled to instigate potentially costlydata migrations

Data left on such Microsoft servers basedin Europe could be transferred to the U.S.and used in U.S.-based investigations ,which could impose substantial legalcosts on corporations as they are requiredto respond - and they could also incurfines for breach of EU laws

Fines arising from such investigationscould cause significant financial andreputational damage to corporations.

WHAT ABOUT OTHER CLOUDPROVIDERS?Of course the implications of this case extendbeyond Microsoft to other cloud providers. Ifyour company holds data on servers operatedor owned by U.S. based entities there arepressing issues to consider: understand yourdata and know where and how it is stored.Your data should arguably already be

incorporated into a litigation/investigationreadiness programme. To the extent that itisn't, consider the following questions:

Is there a full report (data map) of whatdata is stored in Europe on serversbelonging to US-based cloud providers?

Is there a process defined andimplemented to keep the data map upto date?

Do the contracts in place with U.S.-basedcloud providers stipulate that the datamust not move to the U.S. in the ordinarycourse of events? Have you been advisedthat this is enough to avoid U.S. judicialenforcement?

Is this data subject to the retention anddisposition policies that have beenagreed to within your organisation? Isthere a process in place for deletingredundant data?

Is there a plan in place for migrating thedata rapidly should this becomenecessary?

If, at a minimum, these questions cannot allbe answered affirmatively, a corporation couldbe at risk of seeing its data seized by U.S.authorities in the context of an investigation.

While Microsoft's appeals process may takemonths, its conclusion may have far-reachingconsequences for European entities with datastored by U.S. cloud providers. Regardless ofthe case outcome, savvy legal practitionersshould consider creating an action plan tomeet these requirements, as the benefits ofsuch a plan far outweigh the risks of nothaving one. More info: www.epiqsystems.co.uk

The long arm of the lawNick Rich, Lead Solutions Advisor at Epiq Systems, examines the ongoing legal issues around what has become known as the 'MicrosoftDublin warrant case'

MANAGEMENT: LEGAL DISCOVERY


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THE CLOUD. WHAT’S NEW.WHAT’S NEXT.

CO-LOCATED WITH DATA CENTRE WORLD

11 − 12 March 2015 ExCeL London

www.cloudexpoeurope.com

The largest dedicated cloud event in the world. POWERED BY THE STACK

Just as you thought you had ticked all your organisation’s cloud boxes... Cloud Expo Europe is jam packed with world-class expertise to help you choose and implement the right business and technology solutions for your organisation, wherever it is in it’s cloud journey.

A journey, not a destination, benefit from:

- A record 300 cutting-edge suppliers showcasing the latest business and technology solutions and services

- Over 300 top experts speaking in a compelling conference and seminar programme

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As Cloud Expo Europe rolls aroundonce again, the potential attendeefinds his eyes drawn not by the

(admittedly enormous) exhibition, but to theeven more enormous speaker programme- there is almost certainly no single eventanywhere globally that offers the chance to

get so much information from top qualityindustry specialists, as there is at CloudExpo. The main conference programmealone includes over 300 speakers acrosstwo days, so the problem is not in findingpresentations that will be of value, it is inwhittling down the very long list into a fewthat an attendee can actually manage toget through in the time available!

BELIEVE THE HYPE?George Reese of Dell is one of the keyspeakers at the event on the 11th, with apresentation covering a wealth of topics inone session: future cloud trends including'containerised applications', building amature cloud strategy to include bothpublic and private components,governance in the cloud, and theimportance of API security to the Internet ofThings. Reese comments: "Cloud itself hasbeen a tremendously hyped term and somany interests have attempted to co-optthe term to support their agenda.Businesses have gone to the cloud toachieve the agility that "on-demand, self-service" makes possible. Unfortunately, ITand operations have historically beenfocused on things like cost whilebusinesses want to achieve agility. The costbenefits of cloud have been overhyped aswell. Whether cloud is cheaper or morecost effective than other modes ofconsuming technology depends on somany context-specific variables. But the

Where is Enterprise IT going? ToCloud Expo Europe, of course!The organisers describe Cloud Expo Europe as 'two days of intensive net-working and knowledge gathering' - Cloud Hosting magazine will be there ofcourse, and we summarise below some of the expected highlights

EVENT PREVIEW: CLOUD EXPO 15


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cloud is undoubtedly a more agile deliverymechanism and has provided real benefitsto the business."

Elsewhere, Bernard Golden of ActiveStatewill be speaking on the 12th about theincredible pressures that enterprise IT isunder to get things done faster. Althoughhe points out that it is crucial for ITorganisations to adopt new technologies,he warns that companies should not berushed or tempted to 'build the new legacy'by creating their own toolsets andinfrastructures. "Don't build a one-offsystem if you're going to be the only onesusing it. The challenge then is that you havea long-term need to maintain and improvean infrastructure toolset rather than focuson business value applications - that's notwhere enterprise IT should be."

Looking forward into the coming year,Golden feels the big task for 2015 will beencouraging organisations to recognisethat they need to "rely on broaderecosystems and products which they canleverage," rather than deciding to run andbuild their own infrastructures.

THINGS AIN'T WHAT THEY USED TO BEIn 1982 the first 'internet enabled device'was created, a Coke machine that couldreport its own inventory. This begs the

question that if the concept of connecteddevices has been around for so long whythe massive fuss now about the Internetof Things?

By 2020 Gartner has predicted there willbe 26 billion devices connected to theInternet of Things (IoT). You can controlyour heating from your iPhone, buy a fridgethat automatically orders a delivery whenrunning low on eggs, and even a car thatcontacts the garage to book itself in for aservice. This has now far surpassedconcept. It's now a consumer need and abusiness reality. All of this means more dataand faster connectivity.

No one working in cloud computing will beunaware of the possibilities this presents,and the huge impact this will have on thebusiness they work for. As such theorganisers of Cloud Expo Europe havegathered some of the leading minds withinthe IoT community to present case studiesand provide insight into how you can stayahead of the curve. Speakers on the topicinclude Davide Cervellin of eBay talkingabout driving business intelligence, AndyCaddy of Virgin Active discussingwearables and fitness technology, andDragan Pendic of Diageo on the crucialmatter of 'the security of things'. This is asmall selection of the speaker list just onthis topic alone, see the website below forfull details of the conference programme.

EBay's Cervellin will be talking on March11th about the importance of placing dataat the heart of business strategy and thecrucial steps to take in achieving this goal:"Data has always been at the centre of thedecision making process at eBay. In theretail space, being an online business hasprovided eBay with a significant advantageover companies who are struggling to dealwith the bridge between online and offlinetouchpoints. Analytics has to beempowered in an organisation - eBay hasfully achieved this by placing the functionunder finance, which has ensuredinvolvement, credibility and neutrality."

ON THE WAY TO THE FORUMThe Cloud Industry Forum (CIF) is set toprovide valuable educational resource forbusiness at the show, as CIF Theatrespeakers offer practical advice, guidanceand education for end users looking tomigrate to the Cloud.

The CIF theatre line-up has been devisedas a comprehensive and independenteducation programme, covering a broadrange of topics, including the role of thechannel in the Cloud supply chain, the legalaspects of Cloud, choosing a Cloudsupplier, and the role of Cloud certification.Leading industry representatives will debatekey issues impacting the development ofthe industry and share best practicestrategies for Cloud deployments including


EVENT PREVIEW: CLOUD EXPO 15

@CHMagAndAwards

"Whether cloud is cheaper or more cost effective

than other modes of consuming technology

depends on so many context-specific variables.

But the cloud is undoubtedly a more agile

delivery mechanism and has provided real

benefits to the business."


Event Preview: Cloud Expo 15

Feb/March 2015 www.cloudhostingmagazine.co.ukCloudhosting18 @CHMagAndAwards

Hybrid IT, Cloud licensing and 'dark data'.

New Cloud technologies are changingthe way organisations do and run theirbusiness. A successful IT strategy mustensure Cloud-based resources, servicesand applications are living up to theirpromises. CIF's expert speakers willdiscuss the business benefits of Cloudand the IT strategies that can help tomanage the change process. Amongothers, speakers from HP, Box andNaviSite will examine business challengesand opportunities around Cloud, while theIngram Micro Cloud session will look athow Cloud is facilitating new ways ofworking.

Alex Hilton, CIF's CEO, said: "Thespeakers we have lined up in the CIFTheatre are industry experts who cancommunicate practical and real-worldadvice on the Cloud migration process forpotential Cloud users. Our seminarprogramme will offer attendees a practicalapproach to Cloud services evaluation,from managing a Hybrid IT environmentand contracting for Cloud services,ensuring that any queries or concerns overcloud migration are covered in theworkshops."

In addition CIF will be announcing thewinners of the UK Cloud Awards 2015,being held on the first night of the show.

MAKING A STANDOf course while the conferenceprogramme goes on, the 'enormodome'halls of ExCel will also be housing thebiggest exhibition floor space in the sector,with a record number of exhibitors (around300 at the time of publication) showcasingthe latest technology solutions andservices on their stands - includingSoftLayer, VMware, NetApp, iomart,Interoute, Equinix, Vodafone, Sungard,Digital Realty, NaviSite, Dimension Data,Cisco, Schneider Electric, Adapt, Equinixand NTT Communications, to name a few.

BACK TO THE CENTREDon't forget 'the cloud lives in the datacentre': admission to Cloud Expo Europealso offers access to Data Centre Worldright next door, the largest and mostinfluential gathering of data centreexpertise, free of charge. Together the twoevents form the UK's biggest businesstechnology exhibition and conference andthe world's largest cloud and data centreevents. They are the ultimate showcase ofthe latest cloud technologies for IT and

technology professionals from across theUK and beyond.

No matter where visitors are on theircloud journey - whether they are looking tomigrate into new markets or drive theirbusiness' digital transformation - CloudExpo Europe aims to help themunderstand the technology and arms themwith an informed awareness of how tobring the best value to their organisation.More info: www.cloudexpoeurope.com

Internet of Things conference stream: IoT is the third wave of Internet Development.It is clear that IoT is not a fad, and for businesses using the IoT whilst harnessingthe power of Big Data alongside, it will be revolutionary. Visitors can learn howthese game changing fields of technology will shape the future of business,hearing from speakers including Virgin Active, eBay and the University ofCambridge.

The Future of Enterprise Hackathon challenge: IncuBus, a startup incubator on abus, hosts a two-day hackathon at Cloud Expo Europe. Visitors can join in with thechallenge and help develop the next disruptive cloud technologies.

Security in the cloud: With cloud security high on every business agenda, theCloud Security Alliance will be co-hosting an enhanced security and compliancetrack aimed at helping both small and larger organisations better safeguard theirbusiness systems and data against cyber-attacks.

Open Cloud & Developer Park: An increasing number of organisations are relyingon open source platforms and infrastructures to run their day-to-day businessprocesses. This new feature of the show aims to help visitors learn how to get themost out of Open Source in order to boost efficiency and aid agility andinteroperability in in the fast-moving world of tech.

Cloud Industry Forum: The Cloud Industry Forum (CIF) will be leading topicaldiscussions on key issues impacting the development of the industry, as well assharing best practice strategies for both service providers and businesses.

Software Defined Networks: Key technology trends are driving the need for newnetwork architectures to better cope with today's dynamic computing needs. Thisnew element in the Cloud Expo Europe 2015 line-up will shine a light on SoftwareDefined Networking and its potential to optimise efficiency and resilience.

Club Service Provider: A new VIP global delegate programme for senior businessleaders working for service providers, telcos, system integrators, VARs, resellers,ISVs, hosting businesses and the cloud ecosystem.

CLOUD EXPO EUROPE: WHAT'S NEW FOR 2015


SEE US ON STAND 330 AT CLOUD EXPO 15

According to a new report from the digitalskills committee of the House of Lords,digital technology is changing our lives,

work, society and politics - but the UK risksbeing left behind in this era unless its digitalskills are improved.

However, as digital enables us to transitiontowards a new platform for innovation andgrowth - built on the pillars of mobile, Cloudservices, big data, analytics and socialnetworking - British businesses need to beequipped with the technical resources tocompete. In order to survive in a digitaleconomy, organisations need to be able tosupport the software and computing tools theyneed in a cost efficient and easy to manageenvironment.

CLOUD AS AN EQUALISER If we accept that information andcommunication technology is a utility asindispensable as gas and electricity, it'simportant for businesses of all size to spendtheir limited time and energy focusing on howbest to use the resources available to them. Inparticular, for those organisations that aresmaller and more stretched, there is anopportunity to shift some of the low-valueengine room bits of their IT workload over to

external providers.

By adopting this approach, businesses canconcentrate on building value within theirorganisation using computing resources. Forexample, time is better spent on configuringlead management and automated workflowtools than on managing the underlying emailserver that the business is dependent on. Inother industries, such as visual effects orCAD/CAM engineering, the computing poweris an all-important ingredient in the finalproduct. However, for these businesses togrow and increase market share, it is morebeneficial for them to invest time in deliveringthe finished product and not optimising ITresources so that they can scale to meetdemand.

Larger businesses have the slack in theirbudgets and enough resources to ensure thata well skilled IT team can be staffed andmaintained. However, smaller enterprises oftendon't have this capacity available to them. As aresult, many are finding that going outside to aCloud service provider is the answer togaining access to the computing power thatwill allow them to level the playing field againstlarger competitors. By combining dedicatedhardware with the burstable capacity and

enhanced functionality of the Cloud thenbusinesses can scale resources on-demandto meet business requirements and achievegreater flexibility.

NO ONE-SSIZE-TTHAT-FFITS ALL However, the complexity and variety of ITneeds between organisations means that theutility model of computing is a challenge.Whereas gas and electricity are used in almostidentical forms by all, organisations need toconsider carefully the what, the when, thewhere and how of Cloud. Let's not forget thewho - that is, who do you trust with that criticalcustomer database or essential bit ofoperating software?

Businesses moving to the Cloud need torealise that each IT solution has pros andcons, and most businesses are best servedby a combination of answers. The Cloud is noreason to abandon perfectly working onpremise hardware, and internet connectedClouds come with their own concerns andchallenges in both security and availability.

Fortunately when businesses approach theCloud with eyes wide open, a sufficientlyclear approach to the journey is taken.Businesses will find that there is an answerthat will give them the perfect balance ofcost, agility and scalability. Cloud is a journey,not a single great leap and organisationsmust prioritise those elements that will deliverthe greatest business benefit. The finalsolution may end up being unique to them ina never before seen arrangement. Then is itpossible to play with the big companieswhen you're up in the Clouds. More info: www.exponential-ee.com

Levelling the playing fieldSteven Harrison, Lead Technologist at Exponential-e looks at the role of theCloud as an equaliser for UK businesses


CLOUD EXPO 15: ONES TO WATCH - EXPONENTIAL-E

@CHMagAndAwards

([SRQHQWLDO�T[G��3DJH��

As global enterprises migrate to morefinancially sustainable IT initiatives,Software-Defined Networking (SDN)

has quickly become a critical tool in the CIO'sportfolio. The prospective benefits of cloud-based solutions are particularly compelling fororganisations in the process of simplifying theircorporate infrastructure. This includes a hostof cost and efficiency benefits: real-timebandwidth allocation, a seamless globalexperience, automation of network controlsand virtualisation of common networkfunctions such as routing.

Our recent Cloud Router releasedemonstrates the appetite for software-defined solutions, as well as the advantagespossible when intelligent connectivity powersan organisation. Cloud Router reduces thecapital expenses of proprietary routinghardware and the admin costs associatedwith managing physical routers in corporateand branch offices. This ensures enterprisescan migrate their current routing directly to the

cloud to reclaim the space and costs involvedwith maintaining traditional equipment, whichin turn allows faster network deployments anddelivers more cost-effective IT strategies.

COMMUNICATING BENEFITSAnother area of IT undergoing rapid change isenterprise communications. Cloud-basedUnified Communications (UC) is one of thefastest growing sectors in the market. Again,cost and flexibility are the main drivers: asorganisations retire expensive PBX systemsthey are turning to the cloud for more costconscious alternatives.

Unlike on-premise technology, the cloudnever expires or becomes obsolete; itevolves. Maintenance and upgrades canoccur with minimal disruption to users, whileongoing cost management becomes aclearer, more strategic process. Other benefitsinclude detailed analytics and controls,disaster recovery improvements, and accessto managed support to further increase ITefficiency. Software integrations andcommunications-based business processesare possible via APIs to meet the demands ofa changing workplace, as well as ongoingregulatory compliance, hybrid deploymentpossibilities, increased application availability,and 24/7 monitoring for a more securenetwork.

An enterprise can thus strengthen itscustomer relationships, increase staffproductivity, and support its mobile, distributedworkforce effectively.

ALLEVIATING THE PRESSUREIn practice, SDN begins with the decoupling of

network functions from dedicated hardwareand embedded software. The continuinggrowth in general purpose CPU power meansmany networking tasks that once requireddedicated hardware can now be run oncommodity hardware. Coupled with virtualmachine technology, this allows a singlevendor-agnostic server to perform multiplevirtualised network functions that used torequire separate dedicated devices.

Despite what some may think, the abovedoes not require a forklift approach: managedservice providers are there to alleviate thepressure. Once the current networkinfrastructure has been assessed andbusiness processes that need integrating areidentified, enterprises should opt for a phasedapproach that maintains a hybrid ITenvironment while simultaneously measuringhow the network solution is initially performing.

Oneoption is to bring several corporate sitesonline first to see how the business responds.If that stage is successful, remaining offices,departments and employees can beintegrated over time with a comprehensivedeployment strategy. Following that, end-usertraining and on-boarding can occur.

The above highlights the flexibility andscalability possible from software-definednetworking. Enterprises can connect locationsseamlessly with superior performance and aresupported by a customisable platform thatgrows alongside the business. In the long-term, this should ensure that any initialinvestment is quickly outstripped by the futurebusiness benefits.More info: www.masergy.com

A software-defined future Tim Bury, Managing Director EMEA at Masergy, discusses the real-worldapplications and benefits of Software-Defined Networking

CLOUD EXPO 15: ONES TO WATCH - MASERGY



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Cloud company iomart was recentlychosen by Microsoft to be part of itsCloud Service Provider Program in

Europe, as the IT giant looks to work with anumber of selected CSPs globally to promoteits Office 365 software to small and mediumbusinesses. The company's first step in thisnew initiative will be the launch of an excitingcelebrity-led campaign at this year's CloudExpo. It's called 'Savethecloud 365' and willtake place on iomart's Stand 220.

'Savethecloud 365' will be launched on thefirst day of Cloud Expo with a special guestappearance by 'I'm A Celebrity ….Get MeOut Of Here' contestant and ex-professionalfootballer, Jimmy Bullard. Jimmy will bepresent on iomart's stand to help promotehow Office 365 can support remote andflexible working and simplify IT businessmanagement.

Phil Worms, Chief Marketing Officer foriomart, says, "Jimmy survived the jungle inAustralia by being resourceful and learningto operate remotely from his friends andfamily. To survive the modern IT jungle, that'swhat a business has to do: by usingresources that will help it to operate smarterand enable its workforce to be flexible."

As part of the campaign iomart ispartnering with the environmental charityRainforest Concern, which is helping to savepart of the threatened Cloud Forest inEcuador. For every Office 365 licence soldby iomart, a donation will be made to thecharity to help it buy a portion of land in theChoco Andean Corridor in the north west ofEcuador which will protect the land for theindigenous population and the local wildlife.

Peter Bennett, Executive Director andFounder of Rainforest Concern, says,"We're delighted that iomart is supportingus through its 'Savethecloud 365'campaign. Ecuador is one of the mostdiverse regions for flora and fauna and hasthe highest density of mammals per metreanywhere in the world, and yet theEcuadorian forest is disappearing at a rate

It's an IT Jungle Out There!Rainforest charity to benefit from iomart campaign being promoted atCloud Expo '15

CLOUD EXPO 15: ONES TO WATCH - IOMART


SEE US ON STAND 220AT CLOUD EXPO 15

Photo by Murray Cooper for Rainforest Concern

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SEE US ON STAND 220AT CLOUD EXPO 15

of over 200,000 hectares a year. We areworking to stop this and maintain thelandscape so the birds, animals and localpeople can all continue to survive."

At the moment rangers working for thecharity in the Cloud Forest often have totravel hundreds of miles to get to an internet-enabled or Wi-Fi facility to download theimages and data they compile out in thefield. Even then data transfers can bedifficult. iomart's 'Savethecloud365'campaign will arm them with tablets loadedwith Office 365 to enable them to work betterand smarter.

Phil Worms explains, "What Office 365allows you to do is take your office on theroad. You can better communicate withcolleagues, customers and get access totop level productivity tools. The applicationsmean you can create, edit, share and storecontent from your tablet, laptop and phonewith anyone in real time and because it's viathe cloud you can decide who has access toit whether they're inside or out of yourorganisation. We want to ensure theRainforest Concern rangers enjoy thesesame benefits as they work on theirimportant projects."

As iomart evolves as a cloud company it isbuilding stronger relationships with theworld's leading technology companies.Microsoft's vision is to empower peoplethrough technology and a cloud-first worldand iomart has been chosen to help itachieve that. iomart will provide the technicalsupport management and expertise to

support businesses who want to move toOffice 365.

Bill Strain, Chief Technology Officer foriomart, says, "It's hardly surprising thatpeople compare the IT marketplace to ajungle. It can be a wild and untamed placeto be and difficult to navigate without aknowledgeable guide. It is this hypotheticalwilderness that is leading more and morebusinesses to select a trusted advisor and'cloud agnostic' single cloud serviceproviders like iomart to assist them on theircloud journey. Choosing an expert CloudService Provider who you can build a lastingrelationship with and who has the expertiseto deliver a variety of requirements ensuresyou can architect services to meet yourexact needs."

As an agnostic CSP iomart is expected byits customers to offer and support servicesfrom the world's leading vendors such asMicrosoft, AWS, EMC, VMware, Dell andAsigra - ranging from public to private andhybrid cloud services and products whichcan give clear benefits in terms of cost, userengagement and productivity. With theaddition to iomart's extensive portfolio ofMicrosoft's Office 365 - a truly collaborativeservice that enables people to take workfrom anywhere as easily as if they were satat a desk in the office - iomart can help smalland medium businesses in particular.

Back in 2013, the world renowned naturalistand broadcaster Sir David Attenboroughfamously told the Radio Times that hethought man had essentially stopped

evolving as a species. He cited computingas a key catalyst for man's developmentturning from a process of natural selection toone of technological evolution. Technology isbecoming woven into the very fabric of ourlives and how we decide to use thattechnology is part of this new evolution.

The cloud is now part of that enablingtechnology as we walk into the world of theInternet of Things where our everyday lives,our fitness and our health can be determinedby the devices we choose to use. The datathat we create by using these devices isgoing to create a new information age. Weare working smarter than ever before andiomart and Microsoft are working together tosupport that.

To find out how Office365 can enable yourbusiness and find out more about iomart's'Savethecloud365' campaign please visitStand 220 at Cloud Expo. You might evenget yourself a selfie with our own 'King of theJungle', Jimmy Bullard.More info: www.iomart.com


CLOUD EXPO 15: ONES TO WATCH - IOMART

@CHMagAndAwards

"It's hardly surprising that people compare the IT marketplace to a jungle. It

can be a wild and untamed place to be and difficult to navigate without a

knowledgeable guide. It is this hypothetical wilderness that is leading more

and more businesses to select a trusted advisor and 'cloud agnostic' single

cloud service provider like iomart to assist them on their cloud journey."

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The impact of virtualisation, cloudcomputing, and the need for dataflexibility across cloud environments, all

mean that storage has had to change withthe times. Organisations are now turning tothe cloud for backup and storage options.Cloud storage essentially enables you tostore data remotely and is a classic exampleof the consumerisation of technology, whereconsumer markets come to drive ITinnovation and propel it to the forefront.

However, while cloud-based storage offersbusinesses a number of benefits,organisations can often be faced with anunstable environment.

THE GOOD, THE BAD, THE UGLY The amount of media hype around cloud is atan all time high. Some may argue that usinga cloud service is cheaper than traditionalcomputing; another common cloud valueproposition is that it enables a more rapidtransition to mobile computing. However,there's one use case for cloud that often fallsunder the radar - it enables better disasterrecovery, which is something that manyorganisations, large and small, struggle with.

The ability to store data in the cloud hasmade life a lot easier for users - not only is iteasy to sign up for and fast to implement,cloud-based storage is designed to be user-friendly, providing seemingly limitlessavailability of new capacity and access toenterprise class facilities. Traditional dataapps are not mobile apps, however, once adata app is 'cloudified' it can offer many of thesame advantages, such as access fromanywhere that you can get signal, and on anyconnected device. However, when relying onthe cloud for backup organisations can oftenbe faced with an unstable environment.Cloud computing essentially involves thedelivery of hosted services via a shared widearea network (WAN), such as the internet.

Regardless of the type of cloud initiative,they all have one thing in common - data iscentralised, while users are distributed. Thisenvironment can be prone to instability, which

Storing up trouble?Everett Dolgner, director of replication product management at SilverPeak, explains what you need to know about using the cloud for backupand recovery initiatives

CLOUD EXPO 15: ONES TO WATCH - SILVER PEAK



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can jeopardise entire storage investments.

Failing to address this and ensure a stablenetwork, can lead to higher disaster recoverycosts and missed Recovery Point Objectives(RPOs) and Recovery Time Objectives(RTOs). This can result in increasedexpenditures as organisations try to make upfor limited replication throughput and poorconnectivity by buying more WAN capacity.

It is therefore critical that organisations areaware that the only way to ensure optimaldata delivery is to establish a fully equippednetwork that will be able to cope with theincreased flow of traffic storage initiativesbring. To do this, organisations need tooptimise the WAN, which can reduce over 90percent of the traffic across the network andprovide the scalability needed to support allcurrent and emerging applications.

CONSIDERING THE OPTIONS The prospect of storing data in the cloud canbe daunting for some organisations, so thereare a number of alternatives to cloud backup.These include traditional tape-based, disk-based or hybrid storage. A good option is off-site disk backup, which is an ideal businesscontinuity upgrade for organisations that needthe shortest possible recovery time whendisaster strikes, but cannot afford to replicatetheir entire systems to a duplicate data centre.

When comparing these alternatives, diskbackup is almost always faster than tape,because there are none of the data-seek ormedia mount delays typical of tape. Withtape, you have to wait for the media and the

drive to become ready before you canaccess the data.

The key thing for business continuity anddisaster recovery is that the disk backup isoff-site, either at a secondary site, or at a co-location centre. The challenge for manyorganisations will therefore be the WAN trafficinvolved in doing that disk-based offsitebackup - and, of course, recovery.

DON'T GET STRANDED IN THE CLOUDTechnical requirements need to be carefullyconsidered as data that is stranded in thecloud is useless. If business critical data isgoing to be protected in the cloud, thereneeds to be a way to restore the data into aVirtual Machine (VM), or onto a physicalserver, for rapid recovery. If the data must bedownloaded first, the solution should not beused for anything critical.

Bandwidth at the provider also needs to beconsidered, as any limitation can reduce thespeed to backup or recover, jeopardisingRPOs and RTOs. Furthermore, retention atthe cloud provider also needs to be taken intoaccount. Any corruption or virus that spreadsover time will require a restore to a specificpoint in time, which could go back severaldays, weeks, or even months. If the provideronly stores a limited amount of data forrestore, the business could be at risk in theevent of data loss.

Finally, the cloud provider's business healthneeds to be addressed very carefully. Thereare many providers that have started quicklywith limited funding, and having all of your

corporate data stored with one of theseproviders can put the business at risk. Evenproviders with well-known funding sourceshave failed recently, leaving business exposedto data loss. So, when planning for disasterrecovery it is important to make sure that dataand applications are protected properly.

There are several different methods toperform backups, but choosing the correctmethod is determined by the value of thedata, and the organisations' tolerance for loss.Business critical data should be replicated toa remote disaster recovery site, allowing forshort RTO. This same data should also havesnapshots taken for local recovery, androllback in the event of a corruption.

Continuous Data Protection (CDP) is anotheroption for fast local recovery, and most ofthese tools even include replication of sometype. This data can also be backed up todisk, tape, or the cloud, for an additional levelof protection. These create many copies ofthe same data, and the real guide to whichshould be implemented will come from thebusiness requirements.

Ultimately, it's up to the organisation todecide whether cloud storage is the right pathfor them. Many will reap the benefits thatstoring data in the cloud has to offer, but onlyif they have a fully equipped network and theright tools in place. Failing to do this will resultin the cloud investment eitherunderperforming or failing entirely - a risk thattoday's businesses cannot afford if they wishto stay competitive. More info: www.silver-ppeak.com


CLOUD EXPO 15: ONES TO WATCH - SILVER PEAK

@CHMagAndAwards

"Cloud computing essentially involves the delivery of hosted services via a

shared WAN such as the internet. Regardless of the type of cloud comput-

ing initiative, they all have one thing in common - data is centralised, while

users are distributed. This environment can be prone to instability, which

can jeopardise entire storage investments."

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Cloud computing is here to stay.Businesses around the world areenhancing scalability and agility by

adopting mobile and social technologies,which are mostly powered by the cloud.They are leveraging the cloud to re-strategise and design alternate, cost-effective business models and offerexciting new services to customers. Andthe cloud is also fuelling a digitaltransformation that is driving enhancedefficiency, productivity and cost savings.

As enterprises increasingly recognisethe significant value and opportunity thatcloud computing presents, they continueto invest in and grow their cloud strategy.According to Gartner, the use of cloudcomputing is growing, and by 2016 thisgrowth will increase to become the bulk ofnew IT spend.

In spite of this, Gartner estimates that,by 2020, on-premise cloud will stillaccount for 70 per cent of the total marketand VMware CEO Pat Gelsinger statedthat, currently, over 92 per cent of clouddeployments are still on-premise orprivate. Indeed, in NaviSite's own recentsurvey of over 250 UK and US ITprofessionals, over 89 per cent of UK

respondents stated that deploying somesort of private cloud and hybridinfrastructure is a priority within the next12 months.

There are many good reasons to still optfor applications on hardware owned andmanaged in-house. Most organisationsstill have large investments in technology,people, and processes that cannot simplybe written-off; certain workloads still donot suit virtualised or multi-tenantedplatforms; renting resources is not alwayscheaper or better than owning them; andthere are valid security and compliancereasons for keeping certain data on-premise.

OPENING THE DOOR FOR HYBRIDIn spite of these concerns, however, thepublic cloud continues to grow at aferocious rate, validating the benefits thatthis infrastructure delivery model offers.That certain data and workloads arebetter suited for a private cloudinfrastructure therefore seems to be thecaveat that opens the door to hybridsolutions. Although many UK businesseshave migrated certain applications, overthree quarters of respondents inNaviSite's recent survey had migrated

under fifty per cent of their infrastructureto the cloud.

A hybrid solution gives organisations theoption of scaling resources for specificworkloads and running applications onthe most appropriate platform for aparticular given task. A highly dynamicapplication with varying spikes may bebest supported in the public cloud, whilsta performance-intensive application maybe better suited running from the privatecloud. Furthermore, a hybrid solutionallows an organisation to place their datawhere regulatory or security requirementsdictate. This is significant as 59 per centof UK IT professionals surveyed byNaviSite still cite security as their mainconcern with cloud migration.

Hybrid continues to grow as it is thesolution that offers organisations the bestof both worlds. For IT leaders, a hybridstrategy that pragmatically embraces thenew, whilst making best use of current-state is essential. By going hybrid, today'sIT leaders can pick the best-fit strategy forthe current demands of their business,within a flexible framework that will enablethem to manage future change.More info: www.navisite.co.uk

Hybrid: the 'best-fit' strategy According to Sean McAvan, Managing Directorof NaviSite Europe, a hybrid cloud approachoffers the best of both worlds for business:embracing the new, while getting the most outof existing IT investments

CLOUD EXPO 15: ONES TO WATCH - NAVISITE



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Life is full of crossroads which requirebig decisions to be made and, on the14th July 2015, those reliant on

Windows Server 2003 will be faced withsuch an event. The end of the OS has longbeen rumoured, but Microsoft hasannounced that the end is indeed nigh andthat it will no longer be issuing securityupdates.

Gartner reports that there are still eightmillion user instances of the server inoperation and that 1.6 million will continue tobe in use even after the end-of-supportdate. For companies that are included inthat eight million, they need to decide howthey will continue to run their applications.

CARRY ON REGARDLESS?Firstly, they could continue running their

applications on OS 2003. Somecompanies will have applications that arereliant on the software and aren'tcompatible with more modern versions. Ofcourse, the biggest drawback to this isthat, without Microsoft's security updates,they will be completely by themselves incombating cyber attacks. The internet isn'ta safe place and the cyber war fight iscertainly not one you want be fighting alone.

Secondly, they could update their serversto run a newer OS and install newapplications to replace ones that aren'tcompatible. This can be an incrediblyexpensive option, but depending on theinvestment, can future proof the companyfor a number of years. Indeed, runningindividual servers still remains a popularoption as companies feel that they canmaintain better control of their networks.

Alternatively, they could start runningtheir applications in the cloud. Known forits cost effectiveness and efficiency, cloudcomputing is now in common use bycompanies of all sizes. Furthermore, theupkeep of the servers is the responsibilityof the cloud service provider, meaningsoftware and security updates will beincluded as part of the ongoing fee - nolonger an expensive but necessary one-off cost.

Software end of life and OS migrations

are of course just one driver forconsidering change. The need to right-sizeserver and data centre investment is one ofthe most pressing challenges facingbusinesses today. The merits of buildingadditional data centre facilities to cope withadditional capacity requirements - actual oranticipated - need to be carefullyconsidered, given the hefty CapExinvolved. Then there's timing to consider:building a new data centre is a 20-yearinvestment, yet the industry is in a state offlux and evolving at an unprecedented rate.How can you accurately predict how muchdata centre space you'll need in twodecades' time? Traditional planningapproaches that don't include the notion ofcloud will likely leave you with excesscapacity and idle resources. Contrary topopular belief, a large percentage ofbusinesses have over-planned theirinvestments considerably and will belooking to shrink - rather than grow - theirenvironments over the next few years.

Ultimately, whilst the end of life of OS2003 may be a nuisance to users, it'sactually a bit of a blessing. Too manyorganisations don't advance theirtechnology quickly enough and often findthemselves falling behind. An end of lifeannouncement provides the impetusneeded to embrace new technology and,when looking at the bigger picture, that canonly be a positive. More info: www.dimensiondata.com

End of the road?The announcement that support and security updates for MicrosoftWindows Server 2003 are to end this year provides the impetus for change,argues Dave Leyland, head of Architecture Data Centre and Cloud atDimension Data

CLOUD EXPO 2015: ONES TO WATCH - DIMENSION DATA



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The systematic analysis of corporate datato find and gain a competitive edge isnot exactly a new phenomenon.

Business intelligence derived from past,current and incoming data to seek insightsand support more informed strategicdecisions has been taking place for well overtwenty years.

The volume, sources and complexities ofdealing with this data, however, have changeddramatically and those changes continuetoday. Businesses are increasingly aware ofthe potential value to be gained from thisknowledge and then distributing it acrossdifferent business lines and job titles.

Cloud-enabled connectivity of data withinand across businesses - and their partners,supply chain and customers - along with thevast changes that both business andconsumer technology have enabled (smartmeters, smart buildings and smart phones toconnected manufacturing lines) - has alsoserved to uncover and create new problemswith traditional tools and approaches.

THE SAME, BUT MORE Working with very large data sets is not a newchallenge to many industry sectors thesedays. What's more, through working with thesedata sets, the financial services, retail and e-

commerce, healthcare and pharmaceuticalsindustries have found that it is the quality ofand access to the data that really matters.

Add to that the expanding nature andbreadth of the day-to-day operations ofbusinesses and we start to get an idea of theimpact of these changes on both thetechnology and business sides of the table.Not only must information be discovered,verified and distributed, it must be quickly,easily and economically stored and accessed.

THE SAME, BUT DIFFERENT Enterprise-scale businesses have for a longtime collected and processed data aboutcustomers, competitors, transactions andtrends in order to drive market success. Thesheer scale of this data and the wide range oftopics it now impacts mean that todaybusinesses of all sizes are accessing andbenefitting from this kind of data. Also at issueare a myriad of new concerns ranging fromthe timely and targeted distribution ofknowledge through to issues around thegovernance, control and retention of the vastamounts of data across an uneveninternational regulatory playing field.

BIG DATA: A USE CASE FORPARTNERSHIPSWhen choosing their data centre provider,

every business wants more consistent, cost-effective, and real-time access to Data. Butthis needs to be done with an accuratedelivery of dispersed data environments andthe infrastructure required.

So, with the data environment as a keydriver, data centre providers must deliverconfigurable, scalable infrastructures, ready toadapt to the steadily increasing data loadsand needs of their clients. The best providerswill include a sophisticated stack to ensureavailability and fitness for purpose.

Done well, this will enable data centreproviders to deliver on twin fronts. Firstly, it willallow for greater performance and reducedenergy consumption. Consequently, this willextend and improve the ability to deliverpredictive functionality, covering everythingfrom storage requirements and IT loads tocooling metrics. In this way the secondbenefit becomes clear, as data centreproviders can ensure even more accurateforecasts to help clients optimiseperformance and resource utilisation acrossall flavours of computing models.

Exploiting Big Data is a modern necessity forsuccess. Data centre providers have a duty toensure that clients can store, access anddeliver this valuable asset across theirorganisation in the most optimal manner. Ifthis duty is carried out, it will allow clients toconvert their IT and computing spend intomeasurable ROI and ensuring they maintaintheir focus and time on core businessoperations.More info: www.digitalrealty.co.uk

Big Data, big decisions Omer Wilson, director at Digital Realty, discusses what data centreproviders must offer their clients in this age of big data if they are to besuccessful in future


CLOUD EXPO 15: ONES TO WATCH - DIGITAL REALTY

@CHMagAndAwards

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Greater Manchester Chamber ofCommerce (GMCC) is anindependent, not-for-profit private

organisation and the largest Chamber ofCommerce in the UK, with approximately4,500 members. GMCC provides first-classbusiness support to companies of all shapesand sizes across Greater Manchester, througha range of sector-based membership services.The Chamber supports and influences keygovernment decision-makers and is regularlyconsulted for feedback from the businesscommunity when government policy is beingdeveloped, both locally and nationally.

GMCC is the leading business-led employerengagement body in Greater Manchester andis delivering the most successful EmployerOwnership of Skills (EOS) scheme in the UK tosupport Greater Manchester employers toinvest in their current and future workforce

through skills and development training. Withthe EOS scheme, employers in sectorsincluding construction, technology,engineering, finance and healthcare, are ableto develop proposals to raise new skills, createjobs and drive enterprise growth.

MEETING THE NEEDS OF MEMBERSAs an organisation that works closely with allsectors as well as senior officials from both thegovernment and business community, it is vitalfor GMCC to have a thorough understandingof its membership base in order to coordinateits service to members effectively, includingarranging appointments and storing memberdetails.

When it was asked to deliver thegovernment's EOS pilot scheme, theperformance of the CRM solution GMCC hadin place was evaluated to see if it was fit for

purpose and could meet the demands of thegrowth in membership processes. GMCC hadbeen using an in-house CRM solution formany years and it was determined that for thisnew project it could no longer provide thespeed and flexibility needed. GMCCconsequently decided it was time toreconsider its in-house IT.

Christian Spence, Head of Research &Business Intelligence: "There is quite a lot ofinformation which we build up and store oneach of our members, including informationabout the different contacts and services withineach organisation. Scalability and speed tomarket are two crucial aspects of the day-to-day running of our organisation. With greaterbusiness activity and member engagementthan ever before, and consequently morestrain on in-house CRM resources due to theintroduction of EOS, we required a faster, moresophisticated solution which the previousplatform simply could not deliver. Integratingour skills team with the rest of the companywas a key priority to optimise processes, andwe needed a solution that could provide that."

INFRASTRUCTURE ANALYSIS ANDCONSULTATIONAfter a competitive tender process GMCCapproached Outsourcery looking for a reliablecloud-based CRM system that could beimplemented efficiently, with the scalability andfunctionality required to cope with the increasein operations and a growing membershipstructure. GMCC decided that Outsourcery'soffering was the most suitable for the migrationto a cloud-based solution, due to its reputationas a cloud expert, the fact that it is a highlyrespected Manchester-based company andOutsourcery's capability for providing a more

Open, for businessGreater Manchester Chamber of Commerce manages its members withthe flexibility of CRM in the cloud

CASE STUDY: GREATER MANCHESTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE


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productive CRM solution.

Spence explained: "With clear expertise inproviding cloud- based solutions, Outsourcerywas the obvious choice to partner with on thisproject, with its ability to migrate our system toa scalable solution as quickly as possible,effectively enhancing and improving ourbusiness operations ready to deal with theintegration of the EOS scheme into theChamber's core business. Outsourcerydemonstrated that it could deliver an effectiveand viable solution within a small time frame,which aided us immensely considering ourtight deadlines to get the new system up andrunning."

EASE OF IMPLEMENTATIONOutsourcery implemented a CRM system builton Dynamics CRM, a Microsoft solution,hosted on Outsourcery's O-Cloud platformand delivered on best-of-breed HP technology.The cloud-based solution enables fasterdelivery of information between employeesand customers working across multiplelocations. It also offers an assessment ofcustomer behaviour through a 360-degreeview of all business interactions, providingusers with all the information needed toimprove future service and performance.

In addition to Dynamics CRM, Outsourceryoffers a broad range of other hosted solutionsbuilt on the Microsoft cloud platform, includingUnified Lync, Cloud Mail and Office 365. As aMicrosoft Gold CRM Partner and a member ofMicrosoft's Cloud OS network, Outsourcery isable to bring resilient, secure and flexible cloudservices to end-users, with the combinedexpert knowledge of both cloud and widely

used-applications in the market.

MIGRATION AND SUPPORTSpence explained: "Since the initialimplementation, we have received ongoingsupport from Outsourcery, in particularassistance with migration and integrationchallenges in the lead up to the productlaunch, as well as getting GMCC employeesfamiliarised with the system - something thewhole team found very beneficial. Outsourceryhas given us an assigned, dedicated accountmanager for this purpose and we have built upa great relationship with our counterparts overat Outsourcery. The nature of our organisationand the fact that we are always looking toimprove on our membership scheme, meansthat a certain degree of flexibility and ongoingassistance will always be needed andOutsourcery understands this, offering us thesupport we need, when we need it."

Spence continues: "We've found the newCRM system incredibly intuitive and easy touse and whenever we have had an issue,there has been somebody there supporting usall the way through it, from the developmentand training stage through to everyday use. AsGMCC is continually improving its EOSscheme, with skills and development services,we have a close relationship with Outsourceryto help whenever changes take place, in orderto strengthen this part of our business."

FLEXIBILITY OF ARCHITECTURE Spence adds: "Through the implementation ofOutsourcery's cloud-based Dynamics CRM weare now able to arrange appointments andprocess member information more efficientlythan we could with our previous in-house CRM

tool. The key advantage of CRM fromOutsourcery is in its scalable architecture,which gives us the flexibility we need to adjustto a constantly changing membershipdatabase. CRM has played an integral role inthe management of the EOS scheme and theadded increase in member operations,enabling GMCC to propel business processesmore efficiently.

"Having been introduced to the widercapabilities of the cloud, GMCC is now keen tomaximise its potential and expand on it acrossthe business in the future. Alongside our EOSscheme, we have a core focus to begincreating a bespoke service for members andas a result of this, GMCC will continue to relyon Outsourcery's guidance with enhancing theCRM solution to adjust to changes goingforward.

"We've already seen some immediate costbenefits in terms of being able to deploy cloud-based CRM quickly and economically. TheDynamics CRM system provides flexible, topquality service levels, enabling us to increaseefficiency of processes better than we couldhave ever imagined", Spence concludes.

Since the delivery of the original project inApril 2013, GMCC has recently contractedOutsourcery to deliver an upgrade to its cloud-based CRM system, combining the additionalbenefits of Microsoft's latest CRM 2015solution alongside Outsourcery's owndedicated cloud server infrastructure and looksforward to the successful delivery of this latestdevelopment in the Outsourcery and Chamberpartnership in spring 2015.More info: www.outsourcery.co.uk


CASE STUDY: GREATER MANCHESTER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

@CHMagAndAwards

"We've already seen some immediate cost benefits in terms of being able to

deploy cloud-based CRM quickly and economically. The Dynamics CRM

system provides flexible, top quality service levels, enabling us to increase

efficiency of processes better than we could have ever imagined."

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As more and more companies areshifting from individual servers tonetworked systems as well as relying

on being online, businesses are realisingthat the original benefit of running your ownserver room - so your servers are close toyour own office location - is beingoutweighed by the advantages of a

colocation solution. Many companies do notrealise that you could save money and havegreater resilience in a data centre.

Reductions in operational expenditure andthe ability to focus your IT team on your corebusiness, means that data centres offerorganisations the ability to maximise thepotential within their businesses. Dobusinesses have a team where people areavailable 24/7/365 to reboot the server or airconditioning when it fails at 3am? Colocationcompanies specialise in data centre andnetwork services, so they don't have to.

For financial directors and IT directors,colocation provides the perfect win-winscenario, providing cost savings anddelivering state-of-the-art infrastructure.When you compare the capabilities of astandard comms or server room versus acolocation solution an assessment of thepower alone demonstrates the gap betweenan in-house solution versus utilising theexpertise of a specialist.

POWER STRUGGLEWhilst many in-house server rooms haveaccess to power and may well have airconditioning and battery backups, thissystem does not fully protect anorganisation's infrastructure. Organisationsneed to consider whether their powersolution, as well as the raw cost, alsoinclude diverse power feeds and distributionpaths, with dual generator systems that can

Understanding the colocation advantageWith recent industry experts declaring the demise of colocation RowlandKinch, CEO of Custodian Data Centres, explains why he believes thatcolocation is still the best solution for many organisations

STRATEGY: COLOCATION


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be refuelled whilst in operation - as well asonsite fuel reserves? Do they have diversecooling systems, with UPS support in place?Who is monitoring their power and batterylevels 24/7? Do they have a 100% uptimesolution?

For an IT director, moving from an in-housesolution to a data centre is like providing ago-kart driver with an F1 vehicle. When itcomes to connectivity, colocation means abusiness is connected globally, quickly andsecurely. We find that many companies withonsite server rooms often do not have onsiteaccess to a fast uncontended resilientinternet connection with dedicated personnelmonitoring traffic flow to ensure that youalways remain on.

In fact colocation enables organisations tobenefit from faster networking and resilientconnectivity at a fairly low price - asdelivering 100 mbps of bandwidth might behard at an office location and trying tocreate a redundant solution is oftenfinancially unviable. Data centres areconnected to multiple transit providers andalso have large bandwidth pipes meaningthat businesses often benefit from a betterservice for less cost.

With these considerations in mind, someorganisations start to look to cloud solutionsrather than colocation in the first instance.Cloud does not provide organisations with afully auditable system and the ability to have

full control over their own infrastructure.Colocation often enables businesses toavoid spending money on storage bills in thecloud as it is often cheaper to storeinformation on their own servers.

HIDDEN COSTSFrom the periodic necessary replacement ofUPS batteries, to the maintenance andtesting of UPS systems, cooling and chillersolutions, generator and fire suppressionsystems, to pest control, the hidden costs ofsustaining your infrastructure to optimallevels can be surprising. Indeed as part of astandard colocation solution, organisationsinstantly benefit from high level security withISO 27001 accredited processes, onsitesecurity teams and infrastructure.

Additionally, data centres have the time,resource and impetus to continually investand research in green technologies,meaning that not only can businessesreduce their own carbon footprints at theirown office locations, they are also benefittingfrom continual efficiency saving research.Companies who move their servers from in-house server rooms typically save 90% ontheir own carbon emissions.

GET OUT OF TOWNChoosing a colocation provider away from acity or data centre hub with optimalconnectivity options, both to the capital,Europe and further afield means there arethe advantages of all central data centres,

with the added benefits of having attractivepower capabilities and the security of beingaway from being affected from centrallytargeted terrorist activity - something thatmany audits now require. Out-of-towncolocation providers mean that businessescan take full advantage of the capital'sinfrastructure without the premium costsassociated with it.

A colocation solution provides companieswith a variety of opportunities, withexceptional SLAs and having data securedoff-site, providing organisations with addedlevels of risk management and the chance toinvest in better equipment and state-of-the-art servers. This can enable IT teams thepossibility to explore options such asvirtualisation and condense the amount ofracks and servers required.

Most IT directors understand that theirequipment is mission critical to theirorganisation - colocation providers are ableto meet business requirements at a lowercost than if the service was kept in-house.Data centres and colocation providers havethe ability to have businesses up andrunning within hours, as well as provide theflexibility to grow alongside yourorganisation. Colocation space, power,bandwidth and connection speeds can allbe increased where required to ensure thatall sizes of colocation clients can be catered for.More info: www.custodiandc.com


STRATEGY: COLOCATION

@CHMagAndAwards

"Cloud does not provide organisations with a fully

auditable system and the ability to have full control over

their own infrastructure. Colocation often enables busi-

nesses to avoid spending money on storage bills in the

cloud as it is often cheaper to store information on their

own servers."- Rowland Kinch, CEO, Custodian Data Centres

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Oddbins, the well-known high-streetwine merchant, has upgraded its e-Commerce infrastructure to a

Rackspace dedicated solution which is,according to Oddbins, five times faster thanthe one its previous vendor provided. Thenew solution offers a managed webapplication stack, enhanced security and theunmatched performance of a bare metalserver to support the firm's ambitious growthplans for 2015, by the end of which it aims tohave doubled website sales.

Oddbins decided to change its e-Commerce strategy, looking for a newhosting provider after facing a number ofchallenges when working with the previoussystem. One of these problems occurredwhen a bottle of wine from the Oddbinsrange was featured on television: as severalhundred viewers visited the Oddbins websiteto buy the product, they were unable to addit to the online shopping cart due to aproblem with the infrastructure and manysales were lost as a result.

Tony Duffy, e-Commerce Manager ofOddbins says: "We had lost confidence in

the website's performance reaching thestandards we expect, especially whendealing with spikes of traffic around busyperiods such as holidays. This created twosignificant problems. One is that we lostrevenue due to customers being unable tomake purchases and the other isreputational damage caused by thesenegative experiences."

THREE WAY SOLUTIONThe top three requirements that Oddbinslooked for from a new hosting provider were;strong support, the capability to roll out asolution quickly and enhanced security. Thesupport and fast provisioning were importantso that the e-Commerce team could startpreparing for upcoming traffic spikes straightaway knowing that implementation issuescould be fixed without taking up muchresource. Using a robust, secure solutionwas the other top priority because whenworking with the previous hosting provider,an attack on the website had caused it to godown. Each of these requirements is closelyidentified with a Rackspace bare metalsolution, so it represented an ideal solutionfor Oddbins.

Rackspace Dedicated Server Solutionsoffers a dedicated server, firewall and accessto a high level of expertise. This includesmanaged backup and monitoring runningalongside an industry-leading Managed SLA,which has a 100% network uptimeguarantee.

Duffy continues: "Almost immediately, theenthusiasm and efficiency shown by theRackspace team restored my confidence inthe website being something we could beproud of while supporting our plans forgrowth. In the past, it was down to us to thinkof ideas on how to improve the site, but nowwe regularly receive useful insight fromRackspace, which is incredibly valuable tous. Above all, using the Rackspace solutionmeans that we don't have to worry aboutwebsite infrastructure maintenance anymoreand can instead concentrate on what we dobestselling our products."

Jeff Cotten, MD Rackspace Internationalcomments: "Our Managed Cloud Servicesare making retailers feel more at ease duringbusy sales periods, by offering access to ateam of experts who can field enquiries andmonitor the website to maintain ongoing highperformance. Specialist shops have hugecompetition from the big supermarketchains, which only increases the need for areliable infrastructure so they can focus onnew revenue opportunities. Looking forward,we are in discussions about progressing to aHybrid Cloud next year which will continue toimprove the shopping experience for thegrowing number of website visitors."More info: www.rackspace.co.uk

Make mine a doubleIconic wine merchant Oddbins is using Rackspace Managed Cloud services to power its website as it aims to double online sales by improving the shopping experience of its e-Commerce customers

CASE STUDY: ODDBINS


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CloudCloudhostinghosting · Rainforest charity to benefit from iomart campaign being promoted at Cloud Expo 15 Big data, big decisions.....29 Omer Wilson, director at Digital Realty,