-
Five Quick Links: Navigating SLAs in the cloud
Evaluating service-level agreements is a critical piece of the cloud computing equation. Does your SLA support your cloud’s performance requirements? Guide
-
Cloud computing in 2011: What's on tap?
Where will the cloud go in 2011? For starters, expect growth in cloud-based media and telecom services. Our expert offers up all his cloud expectations for the new year. Opinion
-
Eli Lilly-Amazon scuffle: Top 10 cloud stories of 2010
The exclusive breaking news that Eli Lilly was ending negotations to expand its Amazon Web Services usage was one of the 10 biggest cloud computing stories of 2010. Slideshow
-
Evaluating cloud computing services: Criteria to consider
Not all clouds are created equal. When considering possible cloud computing providers, be sure to factor in differing criteria like performance levels, cost and reliability. Expert Advice
-
Cloud computing performance FAQ: What makes the cloud go?
Cloud computing offers many benefits, but performance issues can complicate matters. Find out how to combat service-level agreement concerns, deal with varying performance levels and solve other frequently asked cloud performance questions. FAQ
-
Wanted: New skills for cloud computing success
As IT departments adapt to the cloud, managers may need new skill sets to make cloud computing architectures work. Expert Advice
-
Cloud computing licensing: Buyer beware
One of the major issues with moving applications to the cloud is the effect it has on licensing. It's a complex problem that the vendors have not yet answered. This article digs into the details on what IT pros should be aware of when considering clo... Expert Advice
-
Cloud SLAs the next bugbear for enterprise IT
Service-level agreements are a royal pain to most IT pros, but at least they give you a leg to stand on with providers. Not so with cloud computing; sometimes "buyer beware" isn't enough. News | 01 Jun 2011
-
Microsoft formalizes cloud computing enterprise licensing
Microsoft licensing will try and catch up to cloud computing; buy Software Assurance and get "license mobility" for your volume licenses. News | 25 May 2011
-
Meaty new cloud benchmarks tell global story
How are the big boys in cloud computing holding up? New benchmarks from Bitcurrent analyze the global performance of Amazon Web Services, Google App Engine and Microsoft Azure. Column | 01 Apr 2011
-
Microsoft, Google sweeten online service SLAs
As Microsoft readies Office 365, the company tweaked its Online Services lifecycle policy. Google also improved its service-level agreements to cut planned downtime. News | 03 Feb 2011
-
Amazon beefs up customer support services, finally
After years of ho-hum service, Amazon Web Services has finally enhanced its customer support plans. Column | 07 Jan 2011
-
How to spot cloud service provider lock-in and stay nimble
Cloud service providers are making it easier to get data onto the cloud, but moving between environments continues to be gnarly. There are ways, however, to avoid cloud lock-in. Article | 28 Oct 2010
-
Amazon offers new customers free cloud for a year
Amazon Web Services will offer new customers 12 months of a free Micro instance. How low can the cloud computing leader go? Column | 21 Oct 2010
-
Rackspace eliminates hourly billing for Red Hat cloud instances
Citing changes in its licensing deal with Red Hat, Rackspace will now charge a monthly fee for open source cloud instances. Article | 16 Sep 2010
-
Amazon Web Services offers new Micro instances
In yet another cost-cutting, customer-pleasing exercise, Amazon Web Services has released Micro instances designed for less compute-intensive uses. Article | 09 Sep 2010
-
Software and licensing requirements for vCloud Director
Prospective VMware vCloud Director users should know that the service features an Oracle-only back-end database and works best with vSphere 4.0 and the Enterprise Plus SKU. Column | 31 Aug 2010
- See More: News on Negotiating service-level agreements and billing with cloud providers
-
Performing due diligence before signing a cloud SLA
Cloud computing isn’t without risks. But companies can cover their assets by performing some due diligence before signing a service-level agreement. Tip
-
Enterprise cloud licensing basics
Managing software licenses is challenging, and cloud only increases that complexity. Start early; keep licensing models in mind when building clouds. Tip
-
Is there any hope for cloud SLAs?
Cloud SLAs are far from perfect and yours may not protect your enterprise from anything. Here's how you can get the best SLA possible. Tip
-
Shopping around for cloud computing services
Take one wrong step into the cloud and you might end up paying way more than expected. Our expert explains how to accurately price out cloud services and find the best deal. Tip
-
Choosing from the major Platform as a Service providers
Many organizations prefer Platform as a Service offerings for their cloud needs. Our expert compares options from Google, Microsoft and Amazon. Tip
-
How much are free cloud computing services worth?
Free trials from cloud computing providers like Microsoft and Google are one way to lead new users toward cloud adoption. Our expert breaks down the value of each offering. Tip
-
Making sense of cloud-based SLAs
Service-level agreements have become the master link in the chain that connects IT departments to cloud service providers, making it essential for IT managers to understand how SLAs can make or break a services relationship. Tip
-
Meeting performance standards and SLAs in the cloud
There are six critical elements of cloud behavior that should be considered to meet performance levels in a cloud computing environment. Tip
-
cloud storage SLA
A cloud storage SLA is a service-level agreement between a cloud storage service provider and a customer that specifies details of the service, usually in quantifiable terms. Definition
-
cloud insurance
Cloud insurance is an approach to risk management in which a promise of financial compensation is made for specific potential failures on the part of a cloud computing service provider. Definition
-
hybrid cloud
A hybrid cloud is a cloud computing environment in which an organization provides and manages some resources in-house and has others provided externally. For example, an organization might use a public cloud service, such as Amazon Simple Storage Ser... Word
-
public cloud
A public cloud is one based on the standard cloud computing model, in which a service provider makes resources, such as applications and storage, available to the general public over the Internet. Public cloud services may be free or offered on a pay... Word
-
cloud computing
A cloud service has three distinct characteristics that differentiate it from traditional hosting. It is sold on demand, typically by the minute or the hour; it is elastic -- a user can have as much or as little of a service as they want at any given... Word
-
Top five reasons IT pros should care about cloud computing
Why cloud computing? It's been an oft-asked question, but that's slowly changing. Find out five top reasons to care about the cloud, plus a few more for good measure. Podcasts
-
Cloud computing complicates customer-vendor relationships
Find out how both customers and vendors can adapt to the contractual demands of a cloud computing environment in this podcast with Jeff Kaplan of THINKstrategies. Podcast
-
Cloud licensing explained
Find out the rules and guidelines to follow when considering cloud licensing, including the importance of accurate management tools for your cloud environments. Podcast
-
Performing due diligence before signing a cloud SLA
Cloud computing isn’t without risks. But companies can cover their assets by performing some due diligence before signing a service-level agreement. Tip
-
Enterprise cloud licensing basics
Managing software licenses is challenging, and cloud only increases that complexity. Start early; keep licensing models in mind when building clouds. Tip
-
Is there any hope for cloud SLAs?
Cloud SLAs are far from perfect and yours may not protect your enterprise from anything. Here's how you can get the best SLA possible. Tip
-
Five Quick Links: Navigating SLAs in the cloud
Evaluating service-level agreements is a critical piece of the cloud computing equation. Does your SLA support your cloud’s performance requirements? Guide
-
Cloud SLAs the next bugbear for enterprise IT
Service-level agreements are a royal pain to most IT pros, but at least they give you a leg to stand on with providers. Not so with cloud computing; sometimes "buyer beware" isn't enough. News
-
cloud storage SLA
A cloud storage SLA is a service-level agreement between a cloud storage service provider and a customer that specifies details of the service, usually in quantifiable terms. Definition
-
Microsoft formalizes cloud computing enterprise licensing
Microsoft licensing will try and catch up to cloud computing; buy Software Assurance and get "license mobility" for your volume licenses. News
-
cloud insurance
Cloud insurance is an approach to risk management in which a promise of financial compensation is made for specific potential failures on the part of a cloud computing service provider. Definition
-
Shopping around for cloud computing services
Take one wrong step into the cloud and you might end up paying way more than expected. Our expert explains how to accurately price out cloud services and find the best deal. Tip
-
Meaty new cloud benchmarks tell global story
How are the big boys in cloud computing holding up? New benchmarks from Bitcurrent analyze the global performance of Amazon Web Services, Google App Engine and Microsoft Azure. Column
- See More: All on Negotiating service-level agreements and billing with cloud providers
About Negotiating service-level agreements and billing with cloud providers
Negotiating a good service-level agreement is central to managing cloud-based service costs and ensuring service availability. Learn how to negotiate service-level agreements and billing with cloud providers and receive the benefits of an on-demand, pay-as-you go cloud-based model without falling prey to overcharging and poor performance and service levels. This topic covers cloud computing billing and pay-as-you-go services, writing service-level agreements for the cloud, Force.com, Salesforce.com, multi-tenant infrastructure, ensuring performance and availability in the cloud, Google Apps, SLA management, managed hosting providers and Hyperic.