Everyone is talking about cloud computing as the panacea for the many challenges that businesses today are facing. Application-based cloud computing, platform-based cloud computing, infrastructure-based cloud computing and several other cloud-based services related to the three are mushrooming everywhere, their numbers as large as the providers and developers offering them.
There are, however, 10 cloud computing players worth keeping a weather eye out for…
1. JOYENT
Clearly not a business that lacks for confidence, Joyent describes itself as an “On-Demand Computing Provider.” This SaaS-based service claims to be “the fastest, most secure way to deploy and scale your website and applications.” That’s some boast, and one about which a few of the big boys (including one not a million miles away) are sure to have something to say.
“Enabling teams to effectively communicate and collaborate with email, calendaring, contacts, file sharing, and other shared applications”, the Joyent application-based cloud computing platform claims already to serve billions of Web pages monthly, and has, for example, helped LinkedIn scale to 1 billion page views per month. www.joyent.com
2. GOOGLE APPS
Actually you know, you might already have heard of this little SaaS cloud computing player. The nickname with which Google Apps has swiftly found itself saddled says it all. The “Elephant in the Cloud” offers reliable, secure online applications “wherever you work”, “cutting IT costs and empowering employees” with, among its growing number of offerings, GoogleMail, Google Docs, and Google Sites. This application-based cloud computing service offers more and we could go on but there’s really no need.www.uk.insight.com/google
3. PANDA CLOUD ANTIVIRUS
A free, application-based cloud computing security offering that combines thin client software with an intelligent scanning process based in the Cloud to protect user machines from viruses, spyware, rootkits and various other online threats. Gathering malware samples from users worldwide and then utilising the information to detect and classify threats as they emerge, the cloud computing firm claims its model delivers “much more detection” as all the processing power stays in the Cloud and doesn’t impact the PC www.pandasoftware.com
4. CORDYS
The Process Factory from Cordys – a “leader in Cloud Orchestration” (it’s amazing how many different ways Cloud providers manage to say exactly the same thing isn’t it? Ed.) – is described as a simple, reliable and secure platform-based cloud computing solution for anyone looking to create MashApp business processes via the Cloud.
A cloud computing platfoem enabling the user to mix, match, slice and dice standard business applications from the likes of Google Apps with commercially available services, it allows MashApps to be created in minutes without the need for coding. A tool tipped by some commentators as having the capability to do for Cloud App development environments what Visual Basic did for Windows – it’s a quick, simple, efficient way to develop and deploy bespoke applications. www.cordys.com
5. SYMETRIQ
Self-styled the “first true Enterprise Public Cloud in Europe to offer a Virtual Private Datacentre”, SymetriQ prides itself on what it calls its “fully ISO9000 & ISO27001 compliant, highly secure, and robust datacentres, as well as “a cool Flash-based GUI, a highly functional API, and powerful administration shell.” SymetriQ is a becoming known as a strong player providing infrastructure-based cloud computing services.
Billed as ideal for running non-critical business applications, temporary projects, and application testing, as well as for external “off-load” resource for peak times, features include Drag-&-drop provisioning, Virtual Private Datacentre (VPDC), built-in KVM access, integrated Backup & Restore, and 64-bit operating systems.
No sign-up costs, pay-as-you-go, and full usage tracking allows chargeback to individual departments.
www.symetriQ.com
6. ROUTE OPTIMISER
A canny cloud computing route-planning app that claims to help cut routes/fuel consumption/carbon emissions, across multiple destinations by up to 30% for around 50p per use.
Working in accordance with the AA, it’s especially useful for co-ordinating multiple deliveries, telling you which vehicle should make which deliveries, in what order, optimising time, fuel, and efficiency. It can even compare a vehicle’s height, weight, and width against local road restrictions – enabling drivers to avoid narrow roads or low bridges. It’s an example of how SaaS can benefit both businesses and the environment. www.routeoptimiser.com
7. PLAN B (DISASTER RECOVERY)
If you think about it DR and the Cloud make natural bedfellows – and it’s clearly a big play for Plan B DR, which offers a fully-managed cloud computing DR service that claims that it can give you back your systems quickly and simply within 30 minutes of an incident. Set up is claimed to be just 20 minutes, the appliance apparently needs no ongoing support from the user, and for peace of mind your rescue image is tested every day. This is the kind of security that infrastructure-based cloud computing can provide. And there’s 30-day free trial if you’re interested. www.planbdr.co.uk
8. ROSSLYN ANALYTICS
A Cloud/SaaS-based Automated Spend Analytics Platform (W-ASP) – this claimed to be the industry’s first – that enables organisations to quickly, securely, and cost-effectively build, deploy, and run, on-demand spend analysis apps.
Aggregating and presenting company-wide spend intelligence to multiple internal stakeholders, features of this application-based cloud computing service include the ability to realign freed-up resources to better support business priorities and deliver finance procurement independent from IT. www.rosslynanalytics.com
9. FORCE.COM
This Cloud Computing framework from the everpopular Salesforce.com reckons that it’s one of today’s fastest SaaS platforms for building and deploying enterprise applications, allowing users to build out core business apps like Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Human Resource Management (HRM) and Supply Chain Management (SCM), on demand.
As they put it: “Say good-bye to hardware and complicated software. Force.com runs in the Cloud. Just log in, build your app, and share it with the world.” It makes big claims and it’s sure to have even bigger rivals but, given Salesforce’s pedigree, don’t be surprised if this application-based cloud computing service a hit. www.force.com
10. SMUGMUG
Something fun to finish, and this one’s actually been around a while. Founded back in 2002, SmugMug calls itself “the ultimate in video and photo-sharing” but it’s certainly not your typical Web 2.0 photo-sharing/HD video resource.
This application-based cloud computing service offers unlimited storage, keeps backup copies of all your pix in multiple datacentres, and there are common or garden features like RSS and a public API. But it isn’t free, there are no ads, the firm is self-funded, and it’s been profitable for over three years.
For the more professionally minded, there are features such as watermarking, photo gallery creation, and tools to help sell downloads and prints. Users can even use their own gallery domain names. SmugMug already has more than 315,000 paying customers and 288 million photos so the cloud computing player is obviously doing something right.www.smugmug.com
