Cloud Computing & Storage

Cubbit has announced the appointment of two data storage world veterans to its executive team: Richard Czech as Chief Revenue Officer and Enrico Signoretti as VP, Product & Partnerships.   The expansion of the leadership team reinforces the company’s goals around international growth and the realisation of strategic market opportunities in cloud and edge computing. This news follows the launch of Cubbit’s international advisory board, consisting of initial members, Nicolas Ott, Alec Ross and Mikko Suonenlahti.  Richard Czech, the new CRO, has more than 30 years of experience as an entrepreneur and key executive in the storage industry. For the past six years, he was VP EMEA of Sales at Wasabi Technologies, where he led the European go-to-market strategy from startup to unicorn, growing the partner network from zero to thousands and selling hundreds of PB of storage, when it was valued at over $1bn. Prior to Wasabi, he held key positions such as the European Sales Executive for DataXion, CEO of Lightsand Communications, VP of Technology, EMEA at ADIC, and Founder and President of InterBackup.  In his role as Chief Revenue Officer for Cubbit, Richard’s unique experience will lend itself to driving business growth by taking a holistic approach in overseeing the entire revenue cycle, with the alignment of teams, operations and systems, around the customer experience in the go-to market process.  Enrico Signoretti has over 30 years of experience in the IT industry, having held various roles including IT manager, consultant, head of product strategy, IT analyst, and advisor. He is an internationally renowned visionary author, blogger and speaker on next-generation technologies. Over the past four years, Enrico has kept his finger on the pulse of the evolving storage industry as the Head of Research Product Strategy at GigaOm. He has worked closely and built relationships with top visionaries, CTOs, and IT decision makers worldwide. Enrico has also contributed to leading global online sites, with over 40 million readers for enterprise technology news.  Enrico will be drawing upon his vast experience to contribute towards the technical vision, initiatives and strategy of Cubbit’s DS3 solution and the overall business goals, as well as expanding the company’s network of strategic partners, fostering relationships with leading industry players. 

Forestry & Land Scotland embrace cloud technology

Nutanix has announced that Forestry & Land Scotland (FLS) has upgraded its data centre infrastructure to a hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI), selecting the Nutanix Cloud Platform to support a workload of 300 virtual machines. FLS opted for Nutanix Cloud Clusters (NC2) on Microsoft Azure. With Nutanix NC2, it has been able to migrate the whole data centre to Azure without the time, effort and expense of re-engineering applications for native deployment. Founded in 2018 as part of the Scottish devolution process, FLS manages over 1.5 million acres of national forests and land. To meet the short term IT needs of a newly devolved Scottish government agency, at the same time, supporting its move to the public cloud in line with a cloud-first government policy, it was required to rapidly revamp its legacy on-premises data centre. FLS was already using Microsoft Azure to provide for disaster recovery of its on-premise data centre, so naturally, the organisation first looked at re-engineering for native operation of its applications on that platform. It soon realised that NC2 for Azure would be a better, quicker and more cost-effective approach, enabling it to stretch its existing environment seamlessly into the cloud and migrate workflows at its own pace, without having to transform or re-engineer the code in any way. The migration also offered immediate benefits in terms of both performance and on-demand scalability. It resulted in a significantly smaller data centre footprint, in terms of both physical space and power and cooling requirements. As with the original data centre project, Mahlitz, Nutanix was able to help by arranging a proof of concept trial of Nutanix NC2 on Microsoft Azure involving actual FLS production workloads.

Cloud Industry Forum partners with Disruptive Live

The Cloud Industry Forum (CIF) has announced a new media partnership with Disruptive Live. This collaboration marks a significant step change in the delivery of high quality and dynamic content to cloud industry professionals in the UK and globally. David Terrar, CEO, CIF, comments, “This strategic media partnership is another demonstrable step on our journey towards revolutionising what we deliver to our members and the broader cloud industry. It sets the stage for innovation, collaboration and knowledge sharing, and we are excited about the opportunities it brings. We collectively look forward to setting new standards for media content creation and engagement, harnessing the impressive thought leaders within our membership.” Highlights of the partnership include: Launch of ‘Cloud Industry Forum presents TWF!’: A weekly, live streamed news and interview show. Lasting five minutes, the show will provide up-to-the-minute news on cloud computing, followed by a 10 minute interview featuring prominent industry thought leaders. This show promises to keep viewers informed and inspired by the latest trends and insights. A mixed reality virtual set: Designed to provide an immersive and visually engaging experience for live streamed programmes and individual events, it brings the benefits of virtual participation to a global audience. Members and attendees can expect enhanced coverage of CIF events and gain access to exclusive expert interviews and valuable insights. Creation of new in-studio events and glass board sessions: Viewers can experience interactive discussions and collaborative sessions covering the latest topics and innovations.   Social amplification and extended reach: CIF and its members will also gain access to CompareTheCloud and Disruptive Live's extensive social media channels, amplifying their reach to a wider audience and generating increased visibility. The partnership will kick off with the first ‘Cloud Industry Forum presents TWF!’ airing on 17 July at 10am. The initial three week run will showcase three industry luminaries including Ian Jeffs, General Manager of the Lenovo ISG in the UK and Ireland and Director and Chair of CIF; Céline Schillinger, acclaimed author of ‘Dare To Unlead’; and Mark Osborn, AI and Data Partner Ecosystem Sales Leader, EMEA.

Six Degrees gains Microsoft Cloud Security

Six Degrees has announced that it has successfully renewed its Microsoft Azure Expert MSP status and gained new Microsoft Cloud Security and Threat Protection specialisations.  These credentials demonstrate its commitment to holding deep technical expertise, backed by a demonstrable track record and a strategic relationship with Microsoft. Combined, they allow the company to enable organisations to achieve more through secure, integrated cloud services.   This brings several benefits to customers:  Designations aligned to the Microsoft solution areas recognise its broad technical capabilities and demonstrated success delivering technology solutions.  Benefits aligned to its solutions partner designations include product benefits, go to market services, co-sell eligibility, skilling and sales enablement resources, making it easier for customers to buy Microsoft solutions.  Specialisations further validate deep technical expertise after the company attains a Solutions Partner designation, giving customers reassurance that it is well placed to maximise its Microsoft investments.  Simon Crawley-Trice, CEO, Six Degrees, says, “I am delighted to have renewed our status as an Azure Expert MSP program member and I look forward to enabling many more organisations to succeed through the intelligent application of Microsoft technology. This isn’t a time to rest on our laurels, though. At Six Degrees we never stand still when it comes to our partnerships, and we will work to attain further specialisations which align to our core capabilities across cloud, cyber security and connectivity.”  Eleri Gibbon, Director, Services Partners, Microsoft UK, says, “In today’s challenging operating landscape, organisations will benefit from integrated secure cloud solutions that enable them to achieve competitive differentiation while protecting their people and their customers. By embracing the Microsoft Azure stack throughout their secure cloud offerings, Six Degrees is well placed to deliver these solutions to benefit organisations throughout the UK.” 

VMware unveils research on NHS data storage

VMware has unveiled a research sharing that the majority (87%) of UK consumers believe it is important that their NHS patient data is stored in the UK. The study of more than 2,000 UK citizens has revealed that people still have cyber security concerns when it comes to where their personal and sensitive data is stored. Of those who stated it is important for their data to be stored in the UK, more than a third (39%) think that their data stored within the country’s national borders would ensure it complies with UK data privacy regulations. A fifth (22%) do not trust other countries to safeguard their data as well as the UK, and 21% think it will be less susceptible to foreign cyber threats or access foreign entities. Despite this, the research shares a good level of trust in the NHS when it comes to storing and analysing patient data. For instance, 59% of respondents expressed confidence in the NHS's ability to safeguard their sensitive information. But when asked about where their data is stored, most UK public had doubts on their data residing outside of their national boundaries. Businesses share the same attitude. 42% of business leaders are extremely concerned about their critical data being managed by US cloud providers, and 62% have expressed that their current clouds are not meeting their data sovereignty requirements, according to the latest IDC research. Many NHS and social care providers today use non-national public clouds. This means that patient data is currently hosted in a provider currently deemed adequate by the UK, however, if this is a non-national provider, the data could be subject to external jurisdictional control. “This consumer opinion matters as it echoes business sentiment. These findings demonstrate the increasing importance of data integrity and sovereignty in helping the NHS, among other highly regulated industries, realise and unlock the true value of their sensitive and critical data," says Guy Bartram, Cloud Evangelist EMEA, VMware. “By embracing cloud sovereignty, the NHS can build public trust and assertively maintain governance, fortify data protection and help unlock the true value of critical and sensitive patient data in delivering patient services.” "While there are vast rewards to be harvested through applying AI to healthcare data, we have to remember that each data point relates to a patient, and every patient should trust that their privacy is maintained,” says Darren Adcock, Senior Product Manager, Redcentric. “By harnessing the power of AI and advanced technologies within a secure and sovereign cloud framework, the NHS ensures that groundbreaking advancements in healthcare never compromise patient privacy and trust. Sovereign clouds serve as a pivotal enabler, allowing the NHS to drive progress responsibly, ethically, and with the utmost dedication to patient wellbeing.” Sovereignty extends beyond where data is stored, but also how it is used by platforms such as AI, which analyses the data to feed algorithms. The general public surveyed hold diverse opinions regarding AI in healthcare, with 45% open to its use for improved services and 44% happy with the NHS using the technology to process their patient data, if it helped the NHS to process diagnostic tests faster. However, concerns exist, with 25% saying they are against the NHS using AI to process their patient data. “Ongoing digital transformation and the increased use of emerging technologies such as AI, have spurred both excitement for true innovation to revolutionise our NHS, but also a new urgency for how this boom in data will be securely managed and stored,” says Dr Will Venters, Associate Professor of Information Systems, London School of Economics. “With the increased use of multiple clouds to create, store and distribute apps, which the NHS needs, relies on from frontline clinicians through to optimising operations, it is essential to patient trust that the NHS protects sensitive patient data, and this can be achieved by protecting it with sovereign clouds. AI has created new data opportunities so it is critical the NHS can make better use of its data, to build a resilient and patient-centric healthcare system that the UK needs.”

InterCloud offers Oracle EU Sovereign Cloud availability

InterCloud has announced that it is adding connectivity to Oracle EU Sovereign Cloud in Madrid and Frankfurt, as it responds to the increasing demand for customers with EU operations to gain greater control over where their data and workloads are stored. These two new Points of Presence for the company represent an important step, given customers are battling to establish control against a constantly evolving regulatory landscape. This comes as part of its strategic partnership with Oracle and status as a FastConnect partner since 2018, and follows the official announcement of Oracle EU Sovereign Cloud in June. As InterCloud is Europe’s SDCI provider, customers connecting to Oracle EU Sovereign Cloud will have access to unrivalled cloud connectivity capabilities, flexibility and regulatory expertise, helping them navigate the complexity of modern cloud environments and multi-cloud arrangements, while embracing new technologies. Coupled with its position to be able to configure and manage end-to-end connectivity, the move ensures that the company continues to support enterprises in overcoming specific challenges across a wide range of industries and markets. Oracle EU Sovereign Cloud offers additional advantages to customers compared to the commercial public cloud. The same applications and workloads can run in it as in the public cloud, but additional features ensure meeting EU data privacy requirements, while maintaining both physical and logical isolation from non-EU cloud regions. Mourad Elmalki, CISO at InterCloud, says, “Privacy, security and control over where data is located are some of the most significant concerns for businesses and governments when it comes to adopting cloud technology. These concerns are particularly pressing given the growing prevalence of multi-cloud arrangements. “One of the key features of the InterCloud platform is that it enables organisations to choose where their data will be transiting, and can apply encryption if necessary. This means organisations can ensure data remains within specific geographic frameworks depending on individual needs. Additionally, the InterCloud solution is designed with robust security measures in place to protect data from unauthorised access or breaches. “We’re glad to be providing Oracle EU Sovereign Cloud availability as part of the InterCloud offering, and believe it will be important in helping grow our business further in the future.”

Colt launches multicast data in the cloud for capital markets

Colt Technology Services has announced the global availability of Colt Market Data in the Cloud with Amazon Web Services (AWS). The service solves a complex challenge for exchanges, prime brokers, trading firms, market data vendors and technology providers - by hosting and distributing multicast data in the cloud without the need for conversion software. Now capital markets can experience the benefits of cloud, without being held back by cloud service providers’ inability to support critical applications. The launch follows a successful Proof of Concept announced by Colt and AWS in October 2022, which saw the companies build virtual distribution Points of Presence (PoPs) in the AWS Cloud. Colt provides market data feeds for equities, derivatives, commodities and FX from more than 80 exchanges and liquidity venues worldwide. Securely sending this market data to multiple parties simultaneously is a key requirement for financial exchanges, but getting this data to clients’ cloud environments is complex. Existing solutions typically require conversion software to change data from multicast to unicast, adding cost and complexity as organisations rewrite and retest applications. As more and more capital market firms migrate to the cloud, the problem becomes widespread. Colt Market Data in the Cloud solves this, enabling organisations to securely host and distribute raw multicast data directly to their customers’ cloud environments in its original format, ensuring seamless integration with applications, facilitating faster times to market and improving the client experience. At the same time, organisations benefit from end-to-end market data monitoring: the company monitors data at the source, within the exchange colocation; in transit, as it moves through the network; and within the virtual Point of Presence.   The launch supports the financial market’s transition to on-demand services and automation of real-time raw data and trading applications.

Spirent Communications has announced that Indonesia’s new Telecommunication Equipment Testing Center (BBPPT) has selected it to conduct high-speed Ethernet network equipment and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) testing. Utilising Spirent TestCenter enables labs to facilitate advanced testing features that include high scalability, automation, and real-time reporting for complex network systems. Located in Tapos, Depok, West Java, the BBPPT is being developed by Indonesia’s Communication and Information Ministry. The laboratory will be completed by the end of the year and begin operations early in 2024 to provide telecommunication equipment and device testing. The aim of the centre is to be able to protect and maintain the quality of equipment, and guarantee that tools and devices intended for use in Indonesia meet the exacting technical requirements demanded by next generation communications networks. The company’s partner on the project, Unitronic Jaya, says that Spirent was chosen by the BBPPT because it is recognised as a leader in the field of network testing, and is backed by the strong local knowledge and IP network engineering expertise of its partner. Churn Hoong, Country Manager for Spirent’s Southeast Asia region, says, “We are pleased to be working with the rapidly developing BBPPT project to help ensure high-level IP network testing services that will benefit Indonesia and neighbouring countries. Spirent TestCenter will play an important role by providing the labs with accurate and reliable test results that are essential for ensuring the quality and performance of the ICT equipment.” The Spirent TestCenter is an end-to-end test solution delivering high performance with deterministic answers. Service providers, network equipment manufacturers (NEMs) and enterprises use it to test, measure, and validate its networks and deploy services with confidence – from traditional performance testing to rigorous analysis of virtualisation, cloud computing, mobile backhaul, and high-speed Ethernet. BBPPT is the master laboratory under the MCIT in Indonesia. When completed, it will be one of the sophisticated in Asia, with six laboratories outfitted with cutting-edge equipment to provide a testing ground for next-gen communications equipment.

Pulsant identifies digital disparity across the UK

According to a new research from Pulsant, seven in ten (70%) UK IT decision makers believe there is digital disparity in the UK. The data indicates that 78% of IT decision makers think more investment in local technology infrastructure is needed to meaningfully support regional growth – rising to 89% for those outside of London. Edge computing was highlighted by 89% of IT decision makers as important, suggesting that reduced latency and high-speed connectivity are key priorities. Edge computing would bring compute and data storage capabilities closer to regional use cases, delivering local businesses with high-performance connectivity and storage to areas that have not necessarily benefited from them before. Commenting on the findings, Simon Michie, CTO at Pulsant, says, “With data, connected devices, remote users and latency-sensitive applications all growing exponentially, there’s pressure right across the UK to enable digital access for everyone. The government’s levelling up agenda simply must bear fruit if UK businesses are to meet rising user expectations, and that requires meaningful investment in infrastructure across the board. “With platformEDGE, we bring edge computing to every region of the UK through our unique multi-regional network infrastructure. Whether your business is in Manchester, Newcastle, or Edinburgh, we want every business to be able to take advantage of edge computing to develop new products, reach new markets and reimagine operations.”

Gcore launches new AI cloud cluster in the UK

Gcore has announced the opening of its new AI cloud cluster in Newport, Wales. Built with Graphcore’s innovative IPUs, it provides access to enterprise-scale IT resources, democratising opportunities for AI development across the UK and Europe. The opening of the new cluster marks the third point of presence (PoP) for the company’s AI cloud, which already has sites in the Netherlands and Luxembourg. The location was a strategic decision based on three key factors: the UK government’s commitment to advancing and integrating AI technologies; the high internet penetration rates in the country; and its position as one of the largest digital economies in the world. “The opening of Gcore’s AI cloud cluster in Newport, in partnership with Graphcore, is an important step towards building one of the first European AI infrastructure. This move will enable businesses of all sizes to integrate innovations and easily access cutting-edge AI technology,” comments Seva Vayner, Director of Edge Cloud Stream at Gcore. This also represents an essential milestone for businesses looking to integrate AI innovations quickly and conveniently. The Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS) model provides access to its specialised AI hardware. On a pay-per-minute basis, companies can now tap into hardware resources facilitated by processors offering superior price and performance compared to GPUs for a wide variety of AI applications, to accelerate their AI initiatives and developments.