The Theory of Constraints and Cloud Backup

September 29, 2016 Sam Broadbent

Dr. Eliyahu Moshe Goldratt [1] in his Theory of Constraints [2] stated that the strength of any chain, process or system is determined by its weakest link. Successful systems identify the constraints and effects, the changes necessary to remove them. Small and medium enterprises that are IT constrained must, therefore, make an effort to change their operative methodologies and harness the cloud to strengthen their business operations. Interestingly, a number of cloud based IT services are emerging to support IT constrained organisations.

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) options available in the cloud allow SMBs harness expensive infrastructure at nominal costs to exploit available, in-house IT skills. Unlimited instances of servers are made available virtually and cost effectively. SMBs can use this IT infrastructure to build new versions of applications without investing in additional hardware resources. The IT resources can also be used for hosting enterprise websites and reaching out globally to customers leaving the non-core activities of website maintenance, such as traffic monitoring to experts who provide the infrastructure.

IaaS is priced on a pay-as-you-go model and organisations have to pay only for usage of instances of servers and the software environment loaded, in databases or web servers, application development environments or the amount of network traffic in and out of the server during usage.

Software as a Service (SaaS) options in the cloud are attractive to SMBs that do not want to invest money in purchasing software licenses. Software access is provided on demand and deployed over the Internet to the local system. The software runs behind a firewall on a local area network or a personal computer with the SaaS provider holding the license for the software. The pay-as-you-go model is advantageous to the user. The software is accessible from anywhere with an Internet connection. There is no local server installation required and can be rapidly scaled and eminently reliable. System maintenance and security improvements are the responsibility of the SaaS vendor.

Platform as a Service (PaaS) delivers a computing platform and a solution stack to the IT constrained organisation. PaaS is an uncomplicated offering of web-based applications and services. The user does not have to worry about the underlying hardware or the complexities of the software being used to deliver the service.

PaaS includes facilities for application design, application development, testing, deploying and hosting of application services for collaboration, web service integration, marshalling, database integration, security, scalability, storage, persistence, state management, application versioning and facilitation of a host of other services. All these solutions are provisioned and delivered via the web using the Internet.

Backup Technology Limited (BTL), based in Leeds, UK, is a globally trusted cloud backup company, which provides simple, automatic, secure, encrypted cloud backup and storage services. Visit www.backup-technology.com

[1] — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eliyahu_M._Goldratt

[2] — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_constraints

Why BTL’s Cloud Backup Outperforms the Competition?

September 28, 2016 Callum Huddlestone

People in search of great cloud services are always asking the same questions and expecting to find new answers! There are no new questions. There are only new answers. Let us look at some of the common questions that are asked:

How does this new technology advantage me?
How is it different from the current technology I use?
Where will my data reside?
Will my data be secure?
How will I have control over my data?
What kind of tools will I have for managing my data?

Backup Technology Limited (BTL) has not been asked anything significantly different or new. But, it has a lot of new answers to tough questions that are frequently asked. BTL has created a cloud platform that addresses the most recalcitrant problems of customers and resolves them to their satisfaction! This speaks volumes on how BTL has been taking its mission seriously!

The cloud computing infrastructure proposed by BTL Cloud Backup is exciting. BTL is committed to the task it has undertaken. It has partnered with leading technology vendors to provide customer friendly solutions. The integration and interoperability of the product further delivers a combined solution to frequently encountered customer problems and provides a high level of data protection solutions. The methods of deployment, the virtualisation options, simplification of provisioning, application services, increased availability, reduced environmental impact, and business continuity are some, not all, of the compelling reasons for adopting this great technology from BTL.

BTL’s Cloud Backup is an affordable option. It delivers a number of financial advantages to its users. It brings, in its wake, cost advantages and flexibilities that are rarely enjoyed with other IT innovations. Customers signing up for the platform can replace CAPEX with OPEX as the infrastructure is rented not owned. This results in reduced hardware investment and maintenance costs, reduced capacity needs, reduced technology risks, increased productivity, and improved user experience. Furthermore, BTL’s innovative approach to IT supports green computing and accommodates the globalisation aspirations of enterprises.

BTL’s Cloud Backup is easy to deploy. The software almost configures itself and wizard screens guide the user over the humps and bumps of installing and commissioning the software and initiating the backup. Administrators can create, edit, run backup sets, restore and delete files or view user-activity logs from a central management console anywhere, anytime, using a web-browser-based interface that merely requires input parameters for authentication and authorisation. The easy to use dashboard comes with robust features and functionalities, smart defaults for effective and efficient management of your data. The data itself resides in an encrypted format on secure physical or virtual servers that are systematically and dynamically replicated/mirrored for high availability and disaster recovery.

BTL offers multi-level support to users of their cloud platform. Customer satisfaction is very important for BTL and it has shown its eagerness to help its customers by deploying dedicated service personnel.

Customers, who want to know more about how the service works or how they can optimise on the cloud storage platform, can take advantage of the elaborate knowledge base BTL has developed. Trial versions of the software can be downloaded and tested free of charge for a period of 30 days before any buying decisions need to be made!

BTL utilises 256-bit AES security and multiple data centres located on two continents to ensure data protection and availability. BTL offers IT service providers a secure data solution combined with a robust partner program, the efficiencies of full web-based account management, and an industry leading technical support team. Visit www.backup-technology.com

Tips to Follow Before Transferring Data to the Cloud – Part II

September 8, 2016 Kris Price

In Part I of our series, we did list some tips to follow before transferring data to the cloud. Below, in Part II, we will further discuss additional points:

5 – Move First and then Renovate

It is critical to test the migration first and then make a thorough plan. Cloud users are capable of controlling the economies of scale of the cloud, reduce capital spending and save time through selecting cloud just like an application design centre, instead of re-architecting the existing applications and to make it suitable for the cloud. Therefore, it is recommended to refine and improve cloud applications after developing the necessary basic constituents of the cloud.

6 – Crunch the Numbers to Understand Costs

The primary reason to transfer data to the cloud is to save money. It is quite simple to get costs of infrastructure by calculating the used money on vendor support, servers and licenses. However, it is challenging to get an estimate of time spent by the most expensive members of the team. How much time does it take to carry on the legacy systems, solving problems, deleting HR records manually, double entering payroll information, troubleshooting and fixing the application errors on various desktops, and restoring data from backups? If a company has a clear sense of all these types of associated costs, then it is possible to make an assessment of SaaS and hosted solutions; and as a result, the path to the cloud will be very clear.

7 – Security Should be Considered

Security is a huge concern while considering a move to the cloud. In order to stay compliant, you need to look into industry standards. Use third-party sources, such as the Cloud Security Alliance Consensus Assessments Initiative Questionnaire [1] to guide you through the process of understanding potential security pitfalls.

In addition, you need to select cloud storage services that are certified by standards, such as FIPS-140. These solutions offer multiple layers of security and are impossible to hack. Choose a service provider that is well known and respected in the industry, that enforces audit policies on apps and all data stored in its cloud.

8 – Secure your Management Console

The cloud computing console is the life-line of your entire data centre. This means, the management console must always be protected at all times, or else it could be hacked for ransom, as in the case of Code Spaces, which was forced to close after the hackers deleted all of its data when the ransom was not paid.

Tips to Follow Before Transferring Data to the Cloud – Part I

September 7, 2016 Kris Price

Have you been thinking to transfer your digital works to the cloud? Recent study confirms that only one-third of businesses who have planned to migrate to the cloud have devised a strategy for transferring information and applications. This means, two-third of the businesses do not have any strategic plan. To avoid extra cost and complexity while transferring workloads to the selected cloud, check out the following suggestions:

1 – Motive Behind Migration

First of all, it is important to have a motive behind transferring the data to the cloud. There must be key milestones to show improved ability of an organisation to adjust to changes. Businesses need to have good reason for moving workloads or changing the existing cloud. Companies must have a clear point and concrete metrics for what they have and how they will achieve success.

A skilled CIO take calculated risks so that the organisation can move forward. He/she understands that moving to the cloud is not related to data transfer from one server to another. In reality, it is associated with real demonstration of progress.

2 – Assess the Cloud Service Provider

The cloud is a collection of storage, compute and network infrastructure that is supervised through APIs. Before selecting a service, make certain that the cloud provider offers valuable set of APIs to manage the infrastructure for cost efficient and elastic solutions. Companies need centrally managed, integrated and secure environments, along with clearly spelled out SLAs on performance, security, and availability (including during peak hours).

3 – Perform Cloud Impact Analysis

It is natural that each application has some links with other systems and applications. Before transferring to cloud services, therefore, it is better to assess the end result of the cloud migration on connected systems and applications. Make certain that workloads are properly reviewed, which helps in identifying the applications that are required to be updated before and during cloud execution.

4 – Basic Test Requirements

All applications have some workload profiles, security measures, performance, transitions, elasticity, bandwidth, technology compatibility and availability requirements. Moreover, the chances to improve revenue and flourish business by controlling the distinguishing cloud capabilities also differ by applications. It is suggested to develop a cloud pilot, which targets particular workloads that can be migrated into the cloud environment. This pilot includes identity management and security, and additional functions, which will be required later on.

Finding the Balance Between Value and Cost of Data Protection

September 4, 2016 Callum Huddlestone

The need to align value to cost of data protection is not new. What is new is the pressure for data protection in cost effective ways. The emergence of cloud computing is largely responsible for increasing pressures and redefining ways in which data can be protected.

IT administrators in charge of Information governance strategies in the cloud must:

Streamline processes;
Reduce costs and risks;
Leverage information effectively, and;
Evolve effective information delivery protocols.

IT Administrators migrating data to cloud storage servers, begin by assessing the available backup and archiving infrastructures in use and match it with policies and processes to arrive at an understanding of what needs to be done. They prepare a recovery service catalogue that aligns business needs to backup and archive solutions. This leads to the creation of high level architectures for the environment and development of business cases for illustrating current and projected costs, estimated savings and firm recommendations to the management for investing in cloud based backup infrastructures.

Therefore, cloud solution architectures that align value to cost of data protection, are considered to be critical to business processes and decisions that impact organisation growth, risk and profitability. Information optimised cloud backup and storage solutions are built around concepts of appropriate infrastructure, data management and data delivery. Tiered storage and information centric data storage solutions and services that pan across heterogeneous environments are desired for driving down costs and aligning value of data to protection of data. In short, the cloud platform is viewed as a means for storage managers to logically transmit data to secure storage tiers for matching information attributes, establishing enterprise wide business continuity and managing data stores from a central location with user-friendly application interfaces.

Businesses need to take care of their information assets in cost effective ways. Forward-looking organisations take this stewardship seriously and ensure quality, compliance and information protection in the cloud. The cost of data protection is rightly aligned with data protection as they appreciate that data breaches are expensive in terms of reputation, brand image, customer satisfaction and litigation under the different regulations that govern the enterprise. They leverage the best practises of the cloud to meet industry standards and data security objectives. They create value based information governance objectives that clarifies individual roles and responsibilities and provides necessary guidelines for effective management of information in the cloud across the enterprise.

Backup Technology Limited is proud to provide a value-cost balanced cloud backup services to small and large enterprises globally. Why not give our services a try? Contact BTL for more details — www.Backup-Technology.com

How Can You Earn Carbon Credits

September 2, 2016 Rob Mackle

Earning carbon credit is a complex business. It all begins with the Kyoto protocol. Your country needs to be a part of the protocol for your enterprise to even entertain the thought of carbon credits. Second, there should have been an eligible quantifiable reduction in your enterprise carbon footprint before you can even think of applying for the credits. Finally, your tax laws must ascribe value to your carbon credits.

To start with, going green also has a lot to do with your awareness of what it means to go green. Employers and employees must be conscious of the enterprise policy in context. They must be educated about what green really means and how it must be implemented across the organisation. Managers at different levels of the organisation must be encouraged to report on possible infractions of the policy and also come up with ideas on how carbon credits can be earned.

Carbon reduction must be measurable. Cloud computing is considered to be one sure methodology of proving that your enterprise is going green. But, carbon footprints, consequent upon computing in the cloud, are not very clearly quantifiable! Conscious efforts must be made to measure and quantify the carbon credits earned from cloud computing. Clearly defined and acceptable measures must be implemented at every level, and measurements must be tracked constantly to ensure that carbon credits earned are being accounted for, and your enterprise is moving towards the eligible levels for instituting an application for carbon credits.

Carbon saving activities must be definable. Carbon saving activities in cloud computing will gain definition, if you use energy saving devices in setting up your computing environment. Energy saving devices could be less energy consuming clients or air conditioners that use power sensibly. The source of energy itself must be green or a renewable energy source. Enterprises that use coal coke to power their generators cannot claim to be green!

Greening policies must be pervasive and all encompassing for carbon credits to pile up in your favour. The boundaries of your greening policy can extend beyond the enterprise and carbon credits can be earned by riding on greening policies of associates. Enterprises can ensure that they associate only with service providers who have policies in place for carbon footprint reduction. Else, it may defeat the very purpose of your greening policy and your efforts to compute in the cloud.

Backup Technology Limited is a globally trusted company, which provides simple, automatic, secure and encrypted cloud backup services. It is based in the UK, with a branch in the USA. For more information, please visit www.Backup-Technology.com