Category Archives: government cloud

When Federal Cloud Computing Makes Sense

  By VAZATA Information | March 6, 2013 - 12:40 pm | ,
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http://www.dreamstime.com/-image23029150The federal government is fundamentally changing the way it operates.  It is confronted with system-wide challenges ranging from the economy, the environment, to healthcare; in addition public infrastructure is not performing adequately and there are operational and public safety risks. Such challenges have forced the government to take a front and center role in working across the public, private, and academic sectors. This will solve massively complex and cross-disciplinary, interdependent problems. Federal cloud computing is a major part of this.

From an operational perspective, all systems operate today via human interactions with technology and with IT infrastructure as the foundational grid from which those interactions and transactions are enabled. Increasingly, more demands will be made of Federal government, for handling, managing, and overseeing transactions (e.g. Recovery.gov, Ethics.gov, Data.gov, etc.). As a steward and provider of services to citizens, we provide the government with provisions that require 21st century infrastructure, know-how, and innovation.

Here is a list of benefits that an agency might use when implementing federal cloud computing services, IaaS being one of these valuable services.

Provide agile high capacity computingUse cloud-based virtual machines to quickly provision and ramp up capacity for compute-intensive tasks Provision and scale up multiple instances for a scientific computing task IaaS, PaaS
Provide secure and precertified computing infrastructure environmentsUse certified secure cloud-based images to provide the most commonly used Agency computing environments Provide agencies with instantly available secure and certified Windows or Linux server instances IaaS
Provide government website hosting servicesUse certified secure cloud-based images to migrate government web sites for improved scalability and reduced operating costs and environmental impact Migrate specific .gov websites to a cloud platform IaaS, PaaS
Provision on-demand IT infrastructure for new projectsUse certified secure cloud-based images to immediately provision infrastructure ranging from a single server to a virtual data center Provide instant archival infrastructure for NARA IaaS
Rationalize existing IT infrastructureMore fully use existing infrastructure capability through virtualization and private cloud implementation Make use of extra capacity at an existing data center to support census peak load IaaS

VAZATA is one of the premier providers of Compliant Solutions for federal cloud computing.  As a certified and accredited solution provider under FISMA’s recommended security controls for federal information systems, VAZATA is able to quickly deploy solutions without imposing an otherwise time consuming procurement process. For more information on Federal Solutions please visit us today.

10 Signs That Government / Federal Cloud is Growing

  By VAZATA Information | July 25, 2012 - 11:48 am | , ,
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Federal_BG

10 Signs That Government / Federal Cloud is Growing

VAZATA Federal CloudWhen the U. S. Office of Management and Budget took action about 18 months ago with initiatives to move forward with cloud technology, hundreds of federal data centers were closed under the Federal Data Center Consolidation Initiative.

Here are 10 recent developments that hold long-term implications for the federal cloud:

1. FedRAMP, a federal program to certify cloud security, opened for business. Agencies can now piggyback on the work done by other agencies to ensure that cloud services comply with more than two dozen laws.

2. Agencies have begun pursuing single-source, no-bid cloud contacts.

3. Agencies are using the cloud to provide better security. Security, of course, is the No. 1 concern about cloud computing, so it’s remarkable that agencies are defying conventional wisdom in this way.

4. Enterprise-wide “foundation” cloud services are emerging. The Department of Interior this month issued an RFP that goes well beyond the email-as-a-service RFPs that have been the cloud entry point for many agencies.

5. Intelligence agencies plan to begin tapping into the public cloud. Intelligence agencies have reached a level of trust in the public cloud, and IT architecture is enabling yet another way to tap into the cloud.

6. The cloud is promising leap-ahead IT capabilities to agencies that are far behind the pack. The Department of Labor’s email system, used by 22,000 employees will be coming into the modern age with cloud technology.

7. The community cloud, once a concept, is becoming a reality. A year ago, Los Alamos National Lab began offering infrastructure-as-a-service from its data center.

8. The cloud is saving energy. In theory, cloud services are more efficient than do-it-yourself data centers, and a new report shows GSA’s per-user energy consumption dropped 89%, from 175kWh/user to 20kWh/user.

9. Two former NASA technologists launched competing cloud startups, hoping that NASA will find another way to capitalize on its own innovation.

10. The National Institute of Standards and Technology has released an 81-page guide, written to be easily read and used, which provides an overview of clouds models (private, public, hybrid, community) and discusses the benefits of and concerns about software-as-a-service, infrastructure-as-a-service, and platform-as-a-service.

For information on VAZATA Federal Cloud Solutions, click here!

One Cloud Vertical: The Federal Cloud Computing Strategy

  By VAZATA Admin | May 21, 2012 - 10:03 pm |
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Contributed by Michael Ray, Solutions Architect at VAZATA.

IT services for government

Federal Government Cloud Computing Initiative

The U. S. government’s “Cloud First” policy has been operational for about a year and a new “Future First’ policy has been initiated to build on lessons learned and evolving technologies. The government is looking at a range of cloud options, with the primary focus being to cut costs, engage consumers, improve overall operations and provide transparency.

With security and privacy at the center of concerns, the public sector continues to be a focal point of selecting the right Cloud strategies. Governments appear to feel compelled to go forward with a range of cloud initiatives, largely due to tight budgets.

VAZATA continues to have success working with government agencies to deliver cloud services and products while providing Federally Compliant Solutions. As a certified and accredited solution provider under FISMA’s recommended security controls for federal information systems, VAZATA is able to quickly deploy solutions without imposing an otherwise time consuming procurement process.

 When Cloud Security and Compliance are Critical

VAZATA stands firmly behind the security of its vStructure™ with a track record to back it up. The company has achieved SSAE 16 Type II (formerly SAS 70 Type II) for all three of its data centers, and the process of securing an ATO from the government entailed the assessment and accreditation of over 750 control points across three “lots:”

  • Cloud Storage
  • Virtual Machines
  • Cloud Web Hosting

By providing the backbone and enterprise-level tools for robust cloud infrastructure solutions, VAZATA continues to give government agencies the ability to fulfill their mission to access the best in virtualized hosting, flexible storage solutions and mission critical disaster recovery.

The Future of The Cloud

  By VAZATA Admin | March 27, 2012 - 5:30 pm | , ,
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FUTURE CLOUD

What’s Ahead?

 

Michael Ray, Solutions Architect for VAZATA.

Hybrid Cloud

As we discussed in a previous blog, hybrid clouds will give users the best of both worlds as customers choose to have the security of some resources staying on-premise while adjusting to the flexibility of the public cloud infrastructure.

Open source

While open source itself is nothing new — and doesn’t need elaborate explanation — open source in the cloud is taking a fresh approach to the cloud model, and it’s a space that has potential to shape the future of the cloud. As more and more proprietary players emerge, the cloud will see more open-source alternatives.

Multi-Cloud Management

Cloud models continue to blend, with SaaS, PaaS and IaaS joining forces and public, private and hybrid models coming to front.  It’s not a question whether companies will move to the cloud, but rather how they will select the components to work with and put them all together. Thus a need for multi-cloud management is emerging.

Cloud Storage

As the amount of data continues to grow and the cost of traditional storage solutions increasing, cloud storage is rapidly becoming big business. Massive data growth combined with the high cost and reliability issues that encumber traditional offsite storage will add impetus to this industry.

Cloud Acquisition

When the big players like HP, Verizon, and Dell started buying up cloud companies in 2011, it became a stand-out year for cloud acquisitions, with no signs of slowing down. Experts predict that we will see three different types of acquisitions in the days ahead: Takeouts – big players scooping up promising young companies; Mop-ups – buying dead companies for the people and talent; an Likely Technologies that live on the periphery, such as metering and monitoring.

Next-Gen PaaS

Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) will be a new cloud battleground as the market generates a need for the second generation of PaaS.

Cloud Security

As with any new technology, cloud security continues to be an area of industry buzz, since cloud technology has potential for misuse. However, Vazata is on the bleeding edge of security issues touting secure, stable, scalable IT infrastructure for many businesses, including the U. S. Federal Government.

Cloud Jobs

As we discussed in a previous blog, the demand for cloud computing skills and cloud-focused personnel continues to escalate. “There are not enough skilled resources out there,” said Corinne Sklar, Bluewolf vice president of marketing. “There’s just not enough in the market.”

Cloud and Mobile

Mobile cloud services continue to rise, driven by access to apps from anywhere via smartphones, tablets, notebooks and such. There’s even a growing “bring your own device (BYOD)” trend, so the connection between mobility and the cloud is destined for continue growth.

Social Cloud

Companies will continue to rely heavily on social elements in their cloud ecosystems, whether internal social networks, the ability to add social capabilities to cloud applications or any number of advancements that can come from bringing a Facebook-style into business walls.

Source: 

CRN.com

January 2012


Federal Government and Benefits of the Cloud

  By VAZATA Admin | March 12, 2012 - 7:30 am | ,
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Federal Infrastructure As a Service Solutions

Contributed by Michael Ray, solutions architect for VAZATA. 

Federal Infrastructure As a Service Solutions

Federal Government Moving to the Cloud

With the widespread move by governments to implement cloud solutions, it begs the question of what the key motivator is for such unprecedented interest in a new technology. Studies report that 70 percent of government entities have either already implemented a cloud solution or are working on a strategy to do so.

The most obvious reason is a relative no-brainer – cost savings in a big way. Much lower capital investments are involved with cloud computing, so cloud solutions are extremely attractive in light of current economic conditions and the need to cut costs so drastically.

VAZATA’s vStructure™ infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) platform continues to help federal agencies fulfill their mission to migrate to an efficient and economical government cloud security platform. Our expertise in providing the backbone and enterprise-level tools for robust cloud infrastructure solutions gives government agencies the ability to fulfill their mission to access the best in managed hosting, flexible storage solutions and mission critical disaster recovery.

Cloud computing and cloud managed hosting is also responsible for another important economical aspect – new job creation. In a recent study performed by IDC, it’s predicted that cloud computing will generate nearly 14 million jobs globally by 2015. In addition, IT innovation empowered by the cloud could help drive business revenue by $1.1 trillion by the same year. This would inevitably lead to a rise in jobs across multiple fields.*

The bottom line is this: the cloud is here to stay, so it’s simply a matter of determining which components are best suited for your organization’s needs. The migration path from a traditional colocation model to a sophisticated, secure and scalable cloud solution is easier than you might think.

Cloudy Definitions: Private, Public and Hybrid Cloud Solutions

  By vazata | January 24, 2012 - 12:06 pm | , , , , , ,
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By: Pete Benoit, VP of Technical Solutions, VAZATA

Cloud 101

Because the Cloud concept is relatively new, it seems timely to touch on the high points of what it’s all about. To many of you, the general concept is clear, but for those not so far along on the learning curve, this might be helpful.

Cloud computing encompasses the broader concept of infrastructure convergence and shared services. This type of data environment makes it possible for businesses to get their applications up and running faster, with easier manageability and less maintenance. Cloud computing provides computation, software, data access, and storage services that don’t require end-user knowledge of the physical location and configuration of the system that delivers the services. Think of it like the electricity grid. We all use power without the need to understand all of the details of infrastructure used to provide the service.

The positive impact of cloud computing on business has prompted the federal US government to look to the cloud as a means of reorganizing their IT infrastructure and decrease spending budgets.

  • But isn’t the US government sensitive to compliance and security requirements?
  •  Is the cloud safe?
  • What’s the difference between a private cloud, a public cloud and a hybrid cloud solution?

Back to the Basics: Managed Hosting v/s Cloud

Managed Hosting has been around a while and is a hosting option for small businesses who want the features of a large IT department without the costs. It allows you to place your physical servers in someone else’s facility and share their bandwidth as your own. It generally costs more than standard Web hosting, but less than what you would pay for the same operation in-house.

Many of our customers come from traditional colocation or managed hosting models but have a growing interest in leveraging the benefits of virtualization.  Inevitable business requirements like disaster recovery planning, hardware refresh investments, data security assurances and the need to scale IT operations in order to keep pace with business growth lead organizations down the path of evaluating in-house solutions versus outsourced solutions.  With virtualization – or migration to a cloud solution – you can quickly access enterprise-class infrastructure with built-in security, stability and scalability under an entirely different cost model than if you were to acquire and build everything in-house.

So What’s the Difference Between a Public Cloud and a Private Cloud?

Many cloud vendors provide public cloud solutions where you share resources  - such as applications and storage – with the rest of their customer base over the internet.  They present cost savings and easy access, but if you’re interested in securing a mission critical application, then a public cloud solution poses risk.  Like the banking system, if every customer were to make a withdrawl at the same time, funds may be limited.  Capacity shortages and outages are unfortunate drawbacks to public cloud solutions and if you have security or compliance requirements, this is often not an option for you.  On the other hand, a private could is defined at the other end of the spectrum.  A private cloud is a proprietary platform that utilizes virtualization capability.  It’s often owned and supported by the organization it serves and it is not shared across entities.

At VAZATA, we often speak to hybrid cloud solutions that utilize a combination of multi-tenant cloud solutions through our vStructure™ (infrastructure-as-a-Service) IaaS platform with private cloud applications.

What Counts Most:  Scalability, Stability, and Security

VAZATA has the capability of doing a split or hybrid solution using Colo, Managed Hosting and Cloud. This approach alleviates any concerns a customer may have, and provides a hands-on understanding of how Cloud works and assurance of easy access and control.

VAZATA helps customers through an educational buying cycle so they are not just selecting vendors, but fundamental IT operations models: insource versus outsource; physical Colo with complete control versus virtualization where operations and mission critical apps are handed off to a vendor. VAZATA has achieved federal compliance (FISMA and NIST 800) offering maximum credibility and security.

VAZATA offers the unique option of short term engagements or pilots that give customers maximum flexibility as they determine the appropriate deployment model for their immediate and future needs. The pilot option positions VAZATA as a true partner rather than just a vendor.

Scenario:

The ABC Company has internal hosting solutions with lots of equipment. They are going to update out of necessity, but to do so the equipment cost may exceed $100,000. By moving to the Cloud, they could easily save money with potential lower costs and have a solution that’s scalable to fit their growth needs.

The Cloud is an ideal solution for clients who build infrastructures for customers and often need solutions that grow quickly with the business. They don’t pay for resources until they need them.

From traditional Colo deployment to moving Colo infrastructure to Cloud deployment, VAZATA offers a migration path and a transition plan for customers to ensure a comfort level of sound operations. VAZATA is positioned to help businesses grow at a pace that’s in line with their infrastructure needs and budgetary constraints.