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Recent Contributions

Hey, You, Get Off Of My Cloud: Security in the Virtual Data Center

Keywords:virtualization, security, compliance
Authors: Michael Berman, Catbird.
Michael Berman is the CTO of Catbird, with over 20 years experience in system engineering, architecture, design and implementation of secure computing. Michael’s experience includes implementation of C2 UNIX; Fortune 100 enterprise security; and expert support in the prosecution of computer crimes. He is a member of the Electronic Crimes Task Force and High-Tech Crime Investigation Association and a Certified Information Security Systems Professional (CISSP). Michael is currently coauthoring a book on virtualization security.
Abstract:
You are on cloud 9. You are ready to go lights-on in your new virtual data center. But wait: virtualization changes everything when it comes to security. Some gaps are obvious, such as the elimination of separation of duties, or the lack of visibility into the virtual network. Some issues are more subtle, such as temporal attacks against crypto. This talk will describe what gaps are introduced in the move from physical to virtual specifically where security is concerned, and prescribe specific steps to ensure security and compliance for production deployments.

Specific topics to be covered include:
- Recommend strategies for updating in-house security and compliance best-practices guides to incorporate and protect virtual infrastructure.
- An analysis of the new virtualization threat surface and what new policies should be introduced to prevent, detect and control risks and violations.
- Configuration of the virtual network for security and visibility, even over Vmotion and over VMware port groups.
-Enforcement of separation of duties, least privilege and change management in the virtual data center (currently not part of most virtualization platforms).
- Examination of the risks of VM Sprawl and establishment of programs and policies for managing this risk.
- How you can guarantee your cloud implementation is even more secure than your pre-cloud analogue.

Science Clouds and Campus Clouds

Keywords:Clouds, MPI, Hadoop, eScience, Campus
Authors: Geoffrey Fox, Community Grids Lab, Indiana University
Abstract:
Cloud computing offers several interesting features for academic users for both large research applications and the myriad of modest jobs typical of large campus systems. Some of the attractions of clouds are shared with those for commercial clouds; namely cost effectiveness and ease of dynamic scaling. Further as well as cloud infrastructure, cloud-related technologies like Hadoop could be important in supporting the growing importance of data intensive science in particle physics, biology, earth/environmental science among other disciplines. Currently clouds seem particularly attractive in supporting “workflows of pleasing parallel jobs” that are common in these areas. However current clouds are not well suited to applications that need many tightly coupled threads/processes as in large MPI-based simulations or data analysis applications. Further clouds are clearly friendlier than current Grids and so provide an onramp or perhaps replacement for large scale Grid infrastructure such as the NSF TeraGrid. Clouds support smaller universities trying to enhance their Cyberinfrastructure related research and are natural places for educational laboratories. We suggest that the national academic infrastructure will evolve to a mix of clouds – possibly run by large campuses – linked to large MPI engines that may not change much from current supercomputer centers in the TeraGrid. Workflows will evolve to support the data intensive model of Hadoop and Dryad and access both classic clouds and MPI engines. We back this discussion with preliminary performance measurements from Eucalyptus and Nimbus.

Early results can be seen at http://grids.ucs.indiana.edu/ptliupages/publications/CetraroWriteupJan09... and http://grids.ucs.indiana.edu/ptliupages/presentations/eScience_gcf_Decem...

SaaS in the UK: Liquid Accounts' experience

Keywords: SaaS, UK, online accounting software, advantages and disadvantages of SaaS, SaaS business model
Authors: Matthew Holmes, Liquid Accounts.
Abstract:
Liquid Accounts is one of the pioneers of online accounting software in the UK and was voted Best Web-Hosted Accounting Software at the Software Satisfaction Awards at the end of 2008. Liquid is seen as the second-generation of SaaS in this field and as such is currently the market leader in terms of the product it offers – it is the only online accounting software provider to offer a product that can be used by both a sole trader or start-up company and a multi-million pound multinational (and any size of company in between). The team behind Liquid has been specialising in online applications since 2001, and has extensive experience in both the private and Governmental fields. Liquid Accounts is about to enter its 5th year of trading.

Managing Director, Matt Holmes discusses his experiences of setting up and running a successful SaaS company in the UK paying particular attention to:
1. The differences between and SaaS business model and a traditional business model and the advantages and disadvantages
2. The ongoing SaaS debate in the UK and the myths and truths surrounding it
3. The problems he has encountered (resistance from a traditional industry, being in at the beginning of a new technology wave, not fitting the right model for insurance, banking, merchant accounts, raising finance, getting across the message that SaaS doesn’t necessarily mean simple) and how he’s addressed or overcome these issues.
4. The benefits he’s found (low costs, flexibility, excitement and buzz, beating the current credit crunch/recession, trading internationally)
5. Incorporating the web into every aspect of your business, and thinking differently about business to accommodate this.
6. The differences between SaaS in the UK and US

He will give an overview of SaaS in the UK and explore how it’s changing the world of business software, particularly in the accounting and finance world, and he will look at what’s next for the industry as a whole and for Liquid.

Matt is an entertaining and accomplished speaker as well as being a 'cloud geek', and always manages to see things from a unique viewpoint. He has been at the forefront of cloud computing and web-based applications for around 8 or 9 years. He is a business systems specialist and was previously the first developer in the UK to have his online company formation software approved by Companies House and has spoken on this subject at several international conferences around the world (including in the US). He is also currently in demand to write and talk about 'How To Survive The Credit Crunch'.

Emerging enterprise best practices for cloud consumption

Keywords: best practices for cloud consumption, What’s your cloud strategy
Authors: James Staten and Rebecca Lavery, Forrester Research, Inc.
Abstract:
Cloud isn’t just for startups. Enterprises are consuming cloud services, adopting cloud practices and building their own clouds. What’s your cloud strategy? Come hear what the leading enterprises are doing about cloud, and how they are gaining competitive advantage.

Come learn:
- How to build an effective cloud use policy
- How to flex your internal cloud to leverage the economic benefits of public clouds
- How to determine what services in your portfolio are ready for cloud

Cloud Computing: How the Weak Economy is the Tipping Point for SaaS and Open Source

Keywords: Open Source, SaaS, Financial Performance Management, Planning, Budgeting
Authors: William Soward and Aimee Caton, Adaptive Planning.
Abstract:
Two of the most powerful forces shaping enterprise software today are open source software (OSS) and software as a service (SaaS) delivered through cloud computing. While the two have historically been seen as separate, parallel trends, they are now converging into a single, powerful “OSS + SaaS” model that is poised to become the leading business model for enterprise software companies.

With the economy spiraling downward and uncertainty facing all organizations, the cloud computing model for OSS + SaaS is proving to be at a tipping point. As organizations face financial cutbacks and fewer resources they are rapidly embracing OSS and SaaS applications as an affordable and efficient solution to improve their performance and impact the bottom line.

Conference Track: Business Models

Target Audience: CEO’s, CFO’s, CIO’s, Controllers, and other financial managers

Process Technology Delivers on Vision for Enterprise Cloud Orchestration Services

Keywords: Cloud Computing, Process or Business Process Management, Application Development, Orchestration, Mash Ups
Authors: Jon Pyke and Leslie Kesselring, Cordys.
Abstract:
Cloud Computing enables extensive computing power while saving money – but NOT innovation. The cloud needs a process technology to orchestrate the interaction and integration of services in an easy, cost-effective and flexible way. Further, process technology will bring business users and developers together to create “Situational Applications” – ad-hoc applications for small groups of users with specific needs that are made from scratch or mash up services but that are also compliant, auditable, recorded and strategically governed. This vision for orchestration services in the cloud will radically liberate the SMB community, and disrupt the enterprise software market.

Cloud Computing in a down economy- Why SaaS is changing the game.

Keywords: SaaS, Cloud Computing
Authors: Frank McMahon Mr., CoreMatrix Systems.
The speaker Frank McMahon is one of the co-founders of CoreMatrix Systems, a SaaS consulting company and leading provider of consulting services related to the planning, design, implementation, adoption and support of On-Demand Software Solutions for mid-sized to Fortune 500 companies. With industry specific solutions and experience gained from over 650 projects, CoreMatrix is dedicated to helping customers extract more value from their applications enabling them to quickly improve productivity and see a faster return on their investment.
Abstract:
This presentation touches on the economics of Cloud computing and why it is important for companies to refocus their energies on their core business as opposed to maintaining the infrastructure(hardware/software). It also talks about strategies to avoid common pitfalls when implementing a SaaS solution and the 5 factors critical to success. The discussion will also touch on Platform as a Service (PaaS) and how this can be used to extend existing solutions and create entirely new custom applications with an accelerated time to value.

Bridging the Gap Between Enterprise IT and the Cloud

Keywords: Cloud, challenge, architecture, security, management
Authors: Simon Crosby, Citrix Systems.
Abstract:
Cloud based IT services or app platforms sound like a fine idea, but they aren’t very useful for the majority of existing applications in use in the enterprise. This talk will address the role of virtualization and other technologies in enabling the adoption of clouds and cloud architectures by IT, for the delivery of automated, self service IT services internally within the enterprise, and the delivery of applications and desktops as a service. A core theme is the transformation of the enterprise data center to an enterprise “delivery center” that allows dynamic service-based IT functions to develop. Second, I will cover the key issues of bridging the gap between enterprise clouds and 3rd party service provider clouds - a gap that has cultural, legal, technical, and physical dimensions.
- Cultural in that the procedures and processes of IT today don't easily mesh with the interfaces offered by clouds
- Legal because the security and compliance requirements of modern enterprises don't match with cloud architectures and implementations
- technical because issues of multi-tenancy, security, privacy and manageability of apps in the cloud is in its infancy, and
- physical because clouds are geographically/network distant from enterprises and large amounts of data need to cross the gap.

Determining the right pricing models for a cloud-based service

Keywords: pricing, pricing model, business model
Authors: Frank Gillett, Forrester Research.
Abstract:
Vendor strategists and marketers are embracing a wide variety of cloud computing technologies and business models. There are several buyer motivations for embracing cloud concepts, including: 1) faster deployment times; 2) converting CapEx to OpEx, 3) matching payments to value creation, and 4) variable capacity and expenses. Given the variety of motivations and buyers, it is unlikely that there is one ideal pricing model for cloud services. Choosing the wrong pricing model for a cloud service can turn off desirable prospects and draw unattractive customers. Matching the pricing model to the target customers is a key element to creating a successful cloud service.

Monetizing Software as a Service Solutions

Keywords: SaaS, integration, cloud
Authors: Ranjit Nayak and Divakar Jandhyala, eVapt Inc.
Abstract:
This paper is geared towards informing business leaders and technologists about the two phases involved in monetizing a SaaS offering, and introducing important components of a SaaS monetization platform. The paper identifies the major issues company executives, market managers and technology leaders need to bear in mind as they make new SaaS solutions available to customers.

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DVD at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002H07SEC

CD Audio Tracks in MP3 format at http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002GFA8YA
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