virtualization

How SD-WAN Makes the IoT Possible

January 4, 2016 by wccadmin

From refrigerators and trash receptacles to assembly line components like robots, anything and everything is now communicating through the Internet. The Internet of Things (IoT) creates a high volume of demand on web connectivity, and software-defined WAN (SD-WAN) is the key to supporting it all.

The Shift

Since the early ages of the Internet, users have been the common end point. As business models have evolved and so many unusual objects have become Smart, devices are now the new common end point. As device connections approach the billions and trillions, cities and companies must look at their Internet infrastructure from sensors and gateways to the cloud. A hybrid of Internet services consisting of both public and private connections will need to be used to support IoT devices. SD-WAN will aid in managing the complexity of this hybridized network in an automated way.

Reliability

The IoT must leverage both the LAN and WAN of an enterprise, and both sides must be strong and dependable. From wired and wireless local network connections to the larger world of WAN devices, each must be able to flawlessly communicate. Private networks become unrealistic when considering the vastness of the IoT device population, giving SD-WAN the perfect opportunity to save the day.

Complicated redundancies, efficient routing of traffic, and overcoming faulty connections are much more manageable through software automation. This means more reliable connectivity as the strengths of software and hardware are united. Using multiple WAN links helps the system find an alternate route if the original suffers a blip at any point. Everything from hardware to access management can be controlled from the cloud.

Simplicity

It’s easy to imagine the technical nightmare that would exist if each IoT device had to be managed separately. Thankfully, software-defined technologies like SD-WAN have come along. Hardware is now expected to function through the cloud and be managed via centrally operated software tools. Only through such simplification of hardware could the IoT have become such a phenomenon.

Simplicity should be the mindset when configuring Internet services for mass numbers of devices. SD-WAN applies simplicity at a network level to provide reliable and cost-effective connectivity, even for enormous networks. The use of virtualization hooks IoT sensors with entry routes and gateways to eliminate the need to constantly reconfigure the system each time a device or service is added.

The IoT is a technological marvel, but it requires a powerful support solution from device sensor to gateway and beyond. SD-WAN is that solution.

How to Create an Effective Cloud Strategy

July 24, 2015 by wccadmin

Many companies are actively implementing cloud technology in order to take advantage of the opportunities it presents. The US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has made it clear that cloud technology allows for more convenient, on-demand and ubiquitous networking. The cloud allows for the connection of various technological aspects of a business’s entire computing system, including applications, services, servers, storage and networks. Businesses no longer face the conflict in choosing to move to the cloud as much as they need to figure out what specific parts of their business need to implement the technology. Creating an effective cloud strategy can help make migration much simpler.

Creating a Cloud Strategy for Business

Businesses will want to know how they can easily move to the cloud, which vendors they can invest in without worrying about scams, which pieces of their computing systems can move to the cloud and more. In order to make a smooth transition to cloud technology, it’s important to keep these requirements in mind:

Businesses should allow for virtualization, giving their companies the opportunity to run in a virtual environment that prevents the need for unrecorded operating system calls and other issues that can normally arise.
Computing layers should remain unaffected by the transition to cloud technology, such as applications that anticipate messages through IP/TCP interfaces and display information on screens.
The function requires a modular design that doesn’t rely on other modules. Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) is more ideal for cloud transition, but legacy systems that rely on other applications or business logic can present issues.

Factors Involved in Cloud Strategies

Businesses should take several elements into consideration when coming up with an effective cloud strategy, such as scalability, cost, portability and overall agility. Businesses will want to save money on cloud services, but the other factors are just as important to look at. The highest level of cloud service is optimal, of course, allowing companies to thrive using this technology. Software as a service (SaaS) is considered the top level of service, with platform as a service (PaaS) and infrastructure as a service (IaaS) following it.

When transitioning to the cloud, companies should also seek outside providers rather than considering in-house cloud technology. External providers cost less and require less resources than in-house operation. With external providers, companies can choose cloud services that are scalable, flexible and agile.

Many cloud providers offer a hybrid approach to cloud services that allow you to run applications with cloud technology using their own technology. One of the ways to avoid complications when moving to the cloud is to segment the company’s levels of technology, allowing for cost effectiveness and efficiency of operation. Cloud service providers are ideal for cloud services, with the expertise needed to provide quality services without incurring expenses seen with in-house operation. Once companies have a good idea about which parts of their systems can function effectively on the cloud, it’s much easier to consult with providers and discuss specific system requirements when making the transition to cloud technology.

The Importance of Business Continuity in the Face of Extreme Weather

May 15, 2015 by wccadmin

Given the recent spate of extreme weather throughout the country, now is as good a time as any for IT professionals to reflect on data protection. Unpredictability is Mother Nature’s status quo, but it’s up to the IT personnel to anticipate and address severe weather events and how they’ll affect business continuity.

The Keys to Swift Recovery

Even in areas that rarely suffer from severe weather patterns, it’s important to maintain a means for protecting and recovering critical data under extreme weather circumstances. By having a comprehensive business continuity plan in place, IT teams can confidently face bouts of extreme weather that would otherwise disrupt business operations and leave the unprepared scrambling.

Comprehensive disaster planning and testing are two important factors for maintaining business continuity. The following describes the basic steps necessary for assuring a successful and swift recovery from weather-related data losses:

Identify potential storms that could impact operations (winter snowstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, etc.)
Estimate the time required for a full data restoration
Prioritize critical recovery tasks
Choose between file restoration, local virtualization, or off-site virtualization for disaster recovery (DR)

When choosing between file restoration, local virtualization, or off-site virtualization, IT professionals should consider the pros and cons of each DR option. It’s also important to know whether reinstating certain priority files or applications would take precedence over other restoration tasks.

Redundancy is also a key part of the recovery process. Ideally, businesses should invest in DR plans that offer multiple layers of redundancy. The purpose-built DR environments offered by managed service providers (MSPs) feature robust redundancy measures, reducing the level of risk and uncertainty that often comes with the data recovery process.

Small- and medium-sized businesses that rely on third-party cloud apps for collaborative efforts may want to rethink the security and continuity of their data. Organizations that rely heavily on these apps must also accept the risk of accidental deletion or data corruption. In addition, some apps may be lacking in protective redundancy.

Post-Recovery Tasks

For IT teams, the post-recovery period should be a time for checking and double-checking the user experience prior to bringing everything back online. IT personnel should check in with users to verify that they can properly access resources and applications from the virtual environment. Certain data protection technologies also utilize screenshot verification to ensure everything interacts in a safe and secure manner.

Businesses should also consider what conditions may be like on the following day and even several days afterwards. For example, severe snowstorms can leave both major and minor roads impassable, making it nearly impossible for off-site staff to facilitate recovery efforts. As part of a comprehensive business continuity plan, businesses may arrange for key staff to remain on location overnight, arrange for remote staff access, and/or verify 24-hour vendor support availability.

Having a business continuity plan in place could mean the difference between a minor inconvenience and a major event that could cost thousands of dollars in downtime costs. IT teams should also run drills to keep everyone up to speed on their roles in the DR process.

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