Saas – The Benefits of Pre or Post Scripting

by sburger on June 7, 2013 by sburger

When embarking on a cloud migration project, you want it to be seamless and quick, especially if multiple servers are involved. The ability to automate repetitive tasks and changes across multiple servers will certainly save your business time. In this blog post we will discuss the benefits of pre and post scripting when it comes to moving multiple servers or workloads to the cloud.

It is no secret that the benefits of switching to the cloud are endless. By migrating to the cloud, businesses can leverage levels of agility and increase efficiency within the workplace and far beyond. As discussed in previous blog posts, migrating multiple servers or large workloads to the cloud can be a time consuming and less-than-error-proof process. With an appropriate SaaS platform with pre or post scripting, migrating multiple servers and large workloads can be as simple as that of a single server.

Saas platforms like RiverMeadow’s pair their own abilities with other scripting and code programs to create a beneficial and clearly defined end result. The two programs known for their intellectual pre or post scripting injections are Chef Recipes and Puppet Manifests, both of which allow RiverMeadow to perform multi-server or large workload migrations.

What are Chef Recipes? Chef is a cloud infrastructure automation framework that is maintained by Chef Recipes. According to OpsCode.com, “A Chef Recipe is the most fundamental configuration element within the Chef environment.” A recipe uses programming language designed to perform with predictability and has the ability to define everything required to properly perform configurations and migrations.

What are Puppet Manifests? Puppet Manifests come from a model-driven configuration management system that makes configurations more manageable and efficient. According to Puppet Labs, “you can easily automate repetitive tasks, quickly deploy critical applications, and proactively manage change, scaling from 10s of servers to 1000s, on-premise or in the cloud.”

Why are pre and post migration script injections beneficial? This idea is directly influenced by RiverMeadow’s capability to provide pre and post migration script injections via Puppet Manifests or Chef Recipes. This capability allows for repetitive tasks and changes across multiple servers rather than single servers to be automated. These pre or post scripts can be saved for future migration projects, thus saving time and energy in the long run.

RiverMeadow develops industry leading cloud migration SaaS that enables Carriers and Service Providers to deliver the incredible benefits of cloud computing to Enterprise and SMB customers with minimal cost and complexity. The RiverMeadow Cloud Migration SaaS automates the migration of physical, virtual and cloud based servers into and between public, private and hybrid cloud environments. To learn more about RiverMeadow’s SaaS contact us at support@rivermeadow.com.

Photo Credit: PhotoAtelier

Cloud Insurance – Part 2

by sburger on May 31, 2013 by sburger

: What is cloud insurance?

Last week, we discussed cloud insurance and MSP Alliance’s new cloud and managed service insurance. In the second half of our 2-part blog post we will discuss what questions to ask and what to look for when considering cloud insurance.

The growing insurance marketplace has led to a variation in forms and coverage being offered by insurance companies. Here are the top 5 things to consider when investing in cloud insurance.

Is Cloud Computing Covered Specifically? In the past, it was rare to see cloud computing coverage in a cyber insurance policy, but now insurance carriers are starting to use the term cloud computing in their forms or even have specific cloud insurance such as the MSP Alliance. If the insurance policy specifically references the cloud, determine whether any special terms and conditions apply. Consider whether there are specific exclusions or coverage limitations specific to cloud-based risks.

Determine Whether Sub-limits and Deductible or Retentions Apply to Cloud Related Risks. Modern insurance policies typically have limits of coverage that apply, capping the total amount of insurance that is available under the policy. Some policies have sub-limits. Policies that contain sub-limits of coverage may result in lower insurance policy limits being available for certain risks or types of claims. For example, an insurance policy may have a total policy limit of $10 million, but a sub-limit of $5 million for cloud-based claims.

Does the Insurance Provide Coverage for Data Loss Outside the Country? Because of the cloud, employees can access corporate data on the go, no matter whether they are at home, office or stationed outside the country. Similarly, data on the cloud can reside anywhere. Though there are provisions to specify the region in which you want your data to reside, you need to be aware that there are still not as many cloud data centers as there are countries in the world. So, there is a chance that your data might be residing in the same continent but not necessarily in your country. To be safe, you should verify whether or not such incidents are covered. If they are not, ask if there are any provisions to insure data even if it does not fall in the jurisdiction of your country.

Will the Insurance Pay for Data Restoration? Every time a cloud outage strikes, you could end up spending more time and more money restoring that lost data. So find out whether a cloud service provider is liable to pay for restoration activity.

Make Sure to Read the “Terms & Conditions.” Companies should look carefully at their contract with their cloud provider to understand what it will and won’t do for them in case of future issues. Make sure to thoroughly analyze the terms and conditions of a cloud service provider. If you don’t, you may end up feeling sorry when you learn that your provider is not liable for any business loss you incurred due to cloud outage or something similar.

Remember, when dealing with any type of contract it’s best to review everything. It may seem tedious, but reading all the tiny fine print could save you time, money and heartache in the long run.

RiverMeadow enables Carriers, Service Providers, Enterprises and SMBs to deliver and consume the incredible benefits of cloud computing with minimal cost and complexity. To learn more about RiverMeadow’s services contact us at support@rivermeadow.com.

Photo Credit: kevin dooley

Cloud Insurance – Part 2

by sburger on May 31, 2013 by sburger

: What is cloud insurance?

The growing insurance marketplace has led to a variation in forms and coverage being offered by insurance companies. Here are the top 5 things to consider when investing in cloud insurance.

Determine Whether Sub-limits and Deductible or Retentions Apply to Cloud Related Risks – Modern insurance policies typically have limits of coverage that apply, capping the total amount of insurance that is available under the policy. Some policies have sub-limits. Policies that contain sub-limits of coverage may result in lower insurance policy limits being available for certain risks or types of claims. For example, an insurance policy may have a total policy limit of $10 million, but a sub-limit of $5 million for cloud-based claims.

Remember, when dealing with any type of contract it’s best to review everything. It may seem tedious, but reading all the tiny fine print could save you time, money and heartache in the long run.

Cloud Insurance – Part 1

by sburger on May 24, 2013 by sburger

What is cloud insurance?

In a world where everything has gone digital, it’s safe to say an interruption in service is inevitable. No matter how much you prepare or safeguard from hacking, power outages or an old fashion hardware failure, the one universal truth in this digital age is at some point your system will fail. While many in the industry use the ‘build for failure’ mantra, many more still need an extra bit of assurance.

Now there is a solution, cloud insurance. Tech Target says cloud insurance is an approach to risk management in which a promise of financial compensation is made for specific potential failures on the part of a cloud computing service provider. The insurance may be included as part of a service level agreement with the provider or it may be purchased separately through a third-party insurance company who works with the provider.

When considering a move to the cloud, the first thing a company should review is its insurance policies. The importance of time spent with a broker and outside insurance counsel, to discuss and understand the potential scope of coverage under a company’s insurance policies as it relates to cyber and privacy risks, is amplified when thinking about moving to the cloud. Companies should not assume that their insurance companies will agree that coverage for cyber risks related to the cloud are provided by traditional forms of insurance.

That’s why the International Association of Cloud & Managed Services Providers or MSP Alliance announcement in April is important. The new cloud and management services insurance program, brokered by Lockton Affinity, offers comprehensive protection for cloud and managed service providers (MSPs) worldwide. The MSP Alliance Cloud and Managed Services Insurance Program includes limits of liability options, which range from $1,000,000 to $10,000,000 per claim, and include deductibles from $2,500 to $10,000 per claim. It also includes online self service via link from your vendor page. Coverage can be bound within 24-72 hours, certificates of coverage are available on demand, as well as coverage options that include technology E&O, cyber liability, contractual liability, general liability and property.

However, MSP Alliance isn’t the first to offer cloud insurance. Up-start CloudInsure offers what it describes as a “Cloud Insurance platform designed to specifically address emerging liabilities within the cloud environment. Through our innovative underwriting models and proprietary analytics, we bring insurance solutions that move at the pace of cloud technology.”

A 2011 GIGAOM article outlines some of the advantages of cloud centric insurance noting, “Cloud providers also stand to benefit from an insurance system. Not only will the availability of policies allay some cautious potential customers’ concerns about moving to the cloud, but insurance policies for providers will help offset the cost of dealing with an outage. Those service credits cost money, after all, as do steps taken to investigate and resolve outages and implement improvements to prevent future incidents.”

Come back next week when we discuss what companies should look for when considering insurance for cloud-related risks, and what questions should be asked, in the second half of our 2-part blog.

Photo Credit: kevin dooley

Cloud Computing: How it Has Changed IT Departments

by sburger on May 17, 2013 by sburger

What will your IT Department look like?

IT has been adapting for decades and continues with the evolution of cloud computing. When an organization decides to move to the cloud, how does it change the role of IT? Should internal IT be concerned? How does cloud adoption affect the management of backup, security and disaster recovery? In this blog post, we will provide insight and clarity around these questions.

Cloud computing has dramatically changed the data center’s structure, rewriting IT job descriptions. Many IT departments and IT pros are not ready for these drastic changes, but that won’t stop them from happening. Hewlett-Packard has happily proclaimed that an imminent move to cloud computing will inevitably lead to the termination of rafts of technical IT jobs, as the automators become the automated. But, as with most new technologies, cloud computing won’t promote a destruction of IT jobs, rather it will change their nature.

So how is the role of IT changing? Traditionally, companies needed to hire IT ‘techies’ to get systems up and keep them running because hardware, storage and network connections were not reliable. However, because of advances in virtualization and automation, the need for IT has dramatically diminished in recent years. Instead of technical depth, enterprises are looking for IT staff with business skills and the ability to work with various business units within the company. An IT department must be able to understand service-level agreements, track business-unit spending through methods such as chargebacks and much more. It’s no longer just about writing code.

As a result, IT roles have evolved from “systems admins” and “systems architects” to “cloud admins” and “cloud architects.” This does not reduce the importance of IT departments, rather it shifts their efforts and focus to application management. They are forced to become more involved in the process of selecting which applications to host in the cloud, as well as keeping a close eye on how those applications are supported and integrated across the entire organization. In many cases, they end up managing their relationship with the cloud service provider much like they do with Internet service providers.

So how does cloud computing adoption affect IT’s management of backup, security and disaster recovery? For IT and their businesses, it is important to realize that cloud solutions for backup, DR and security are just one piece of the puzzle. While research indicates that cloud storage adoption is slowly being embraced, it does show that enterprises are utilizing the cloud for data backup and disaster recovery at a higher pace. There are a number of benefits that make cloud backup and DR, mostly related to cost savings. The utility storage model is affordable and the need for other resources such as IT infrastructure data center space is reduced. Those savings mean that smaller enterprises can implement backup and DR plans that would have been impossible otherwise. The benefits of data backup or disaster recovery in the cloud also outweigh security compliance concerns because enterprises are trying to stay lean and mean.

The answer is this – cloud computing is only one part of the overall solution and process, and as with anything, putting all of your chips (or data) into one basket (a.k.a. the cloud) is just as dangerous as putting all your data in a single on-premise server. Remember that IT will still be responsible for availability, recovery, security and compliance throughout the working process.

Photo Credit: bandarji

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