Essential Guide
Virtualization to cloud: Planning, executing a private cloud migration
This essential guide will help enterprise IT on the path from virtualization to building a private cloud, from the planning stages to selecting the best tools to help along the way.
Introduction
Moving from a virtualized IT environment to a private cloud model means getting all enterprise teams onboard in the planning stages. What tools are needed to deploy an effective private cloud? What are the biggest risks -- and rewards -- that come with a private cloud migration?
Without careful planning, private cloud migrations can easily go off track -- starting with enterprises failing to ensure their current IT infrastructure is even compatible with a private cloud.
Having a virtualized IT environment already makes the transition to private cloud simpler, but what should you consider when choosing a cloud vendor, cloud stack and virtual machine (VM) that are right for you?
A lot goes into a private cloud migration. But fear not: This essential guide can made your path easier.
1Private cloud classroom-
Private cloud 101
Though the private cloud model is making inroads in enterprise IT, confusion still exists about what exactly constitutes a private cloud. Separating fact from myth is one of the first steps in your decision to choose private cloud for your company -- and looking at use cases and data on private cloud's status in the IT market can be a good start.
What's the difference between a private cloud and a standard data center?
Understanding the difference between a private cloud and data center is the first step toward making a choice for your enterprise IT environment. Continue Reading
The private cloud model, demystified
Where is the private cloud? How does it work? Why build one? Experts clarify what the private cloud model can do for enterprises. Continue Reading
Unveiling the myths about moving to a private cloud
There's a lot of chatter surrounding private cloud computing, and that's causing confusion over what's true and what is just a marketing myth. Continue Reading
Private cloud benefits still shrouded in confusion
The key to understanding the private cloud is to understand what it isn't. Companies share their private cloud misconceptions in an effort to get past them and move forward. Continue Reading
Private clouds prevail despite public cloud market growth
As the cloud industry grows, enterprises are seeing the benefits of Platform as a Service, or PaaS, but issues like security and control are keeping private clouds at the forefront. Continue Reading
As market matures, interest in private cloud grows
Growing interest in private clouds reflects an improved understanding of cloud services among IT pros. Continue Reading
Private cloud computing projects are the next frontier in IT
Moving to the private cloud can be challenging, but hearing from companies that have already made the move can be an important learning experience. Continue Reading
Changing IT's attitude on the private cloud model
Moving to the private cloud model forces IT pros to rethink how they handle legacy apps, understand licensing nuances and step outside their silos. Continue Reading
2Private cloud planning-
Considerations for a private cloud migration
The private cloud model offers the benefits of security and control, but without careful planning and a long-term strategy, a private cloud migration can also have drawbacks. Often, an existing investment in virtualization can ease the transition, but enterprises must consider compatibility with their current IT infrastructure. Additionally, planning for management and financing is a crucial step toward making the move to private cloud; if a private cloud doesn't align with enterprise goals, it could be a step in the wrong direction. Recognizing some of these downsides, some companies are looking to virtual private clouds or private cloud in a box.
Does your enterprise need a private cloud?
Private clouds aren't suited to every company. The first step in any cloud migration plan is to assess the benefits and drawback to determine if a private cloud is the best fit. Continue Reading
Know your requirements for building a private cloud
When they star to plan for a private cloud build, enterprises must know what's expected of them when it comes to automation, security and standards. Continue Reading
Shifting from virtualization to private cloud
When considering cloud, an enterprise must travel through four stages of virtualization maturity in order to reach the private cloud model. Continue Reading
Making the business case for private cloud
Despite private cloud's many benefits, enterprises can't look to it as a quick fix for their IT problems. Ensure that a private cloud meets your business goals and workload expectations. Continue Reading
What's stalling your company's private cloud build?
There's a wealth of information available about private clouds, but be careful not to overestimate your cloud knowledge, because it could cause your private cloud's launch to fail. Continue Reading
Evaluating the wisdom of a cloud migration project
A cloud migration project affects existing IT systems and your staff, so before tackling a cloud project, it's vital to ask, "Is it wise to move to cloud?" Continue Reading
Networking, security barriers to private cloud
While cloud computing is becoming more mainstream, network connectivity and security are still blocking enterprise IT from building a private cloud. Continue Reading
Don't believe the hype: Four unexpected network latency issues with private cloud
Virtualization vendors' hype may have companies believing that every VM is right for the cloud, but cloud-enabling the wrong VM could have some serious consequences for your cloud efficiency. Continue Reading
To cloud or not to cloud: Figuring out your cloud migration strategy
Before investing in a cloud migration, IT needs to look at its current investments to determine if a move to the cloud will be beneficial to the organization. Continue Reading
Acknowledging cloud's effect on existing IT infrastructure
Before investing in a cloud migration, IT needs to look at its current investments to determine if a move to the cloud will be beneficial to the organization. Continue Reading
Columbia Sportswear's existing virtualization paved the way to private cloud
Columbia Sportswear parlayed its existing virtualization into a private cloud – and it found that it needed some retooling of its management procedures. Continue Reading
Private Cloud as a Service reduces development hurdles
Two enterprises turn to Private Cloud as a Service to improve app development times and meet cloud governance requirements. Could this SaaS-based cloud-in-a-box option work for you? Continue Reading
Virtual private clouds offer an SLA alternative
Despite the benefits of public cloud computing, some vendors have taken criticism for their service-level agreements -- so some enterprises are looking to virtual private clouds instead. Continue Reading
3Private cloud construction-
Blueprints for moving from virtualization to the private cloud model
Once a company decides to build a private cloud, the hard part starts -- but beginning with an existing virtualized IT environment puts you one step ahead. Selecting a cloud vendor, cloud stack, VM and the right tools will set up enterprises for a smooth transition to private cloud. Along the way, IT pros, CEOs and others involved in the migration should keep in mind their goals for the move and understand how it'll affect the company long-term.
First five steps to constructing a private cloud environment
When building a private cloud, IT teams must start at the beginning and define what private cloud will mean to the organization before they move forward. Continue Reading
Planning a private cloud build from concept through deployment
The journey of private cloud computing planning involves many steps, including tracking IT resource use through chargeback, ensuring cloud security and monitoring. Continue Reading
Shopping for a cloud stack that fits your private cloud
Choosing the best cloud stack up front -- whether OpenStack, Eucalyptus or CloudStack -- will save a costly do-over during your private cloud build. Continue Reading
Kickstart a private cloud project with VMware tools
There are a load of tools on the market, but to jumpstart a private cloud project, these five tools from virtualization vendor VMware could fit the bill. Continue Reading
Smooth the road to private cloud with existing IT investments
Investments in either virtualization or service-oriented architecture can lower costs and increase comfort during the transition to a cloud computing model. Continue Reading
Vendor compatibility drives private cloud efficiency
The key to an agile private cloud is to choose an Infrastructure-as-a-Service vendor whose service is compatible with existing IT environments and future cloud software use. Continue Reading
Look at enterprise mission, not price, when choosing a cloud vendor
The lowest price tag may be appealing when you're looking for a cloud provider, but it won't always be the best choice. Instead, ask yourself questions about your business goals and missions before you choose a vendor. Continue Reading
Pushing past the networking and security hurdles of private cloud adoption
Objections to private cloud persist in enterprise IT, which blocks adoption. Clear these hurdles with new approaches to networking and cloud security. Continue Reading
Private cloud performance starts with VM choice
Putting the wrong VMs into a private cloud can zap cloud performance. Ask yourself these questions to determine your best enterprise cloud candidates. Continue Reading
Tools to ease the transition from virtualization to cloud
Virtualization and management tools offer the capabilities you need to make a smooth transition to private cloud, but how do you know which tool to choose? Continue Reading
4Private cloud tools-
Management, financial tools in your private cloud arsenal
Once your private cloud is up and running, the right tools will help maintain it and maximize its benefits. Automation and other management tools can ensure your private cloud is running smoothly, and chargeback and return-on-investment (ROI) tools can help make the business case for cloud. However, not all of enterprise IT is happy with the state of the private cloud management tools on the market.
Enhance private cloud benefits with automation
Security-wary companies often turn to the private cloud model, but added overhead costs could outweigh a private cloud's benefits without automation tools and processes. Continue Reading
Unlock private cloud's potential with automation, monitoring tools
The private cloud model has innate benefits, certain tools are needed to unleash its full power. Continue Reading
Introducing IT chargeback to meter private cloud use
IT chargeback is a vital cog in your private cloud wheel. These four models can help an enterprise properly bill users for IT resources. Continue Reading
Why IT chargeback is essential to the private cloud model
IT chargeback is a useful tool in controlling excessive resource consumption within the private cloud, but it can be difficult to set up. Continue Reading
Self-service, security are essential management tools for your private cloud
Properly managing a private cloud requires the use of third-party tools, including ones that create self-service portals, maintain security and control storage. Continue Reading
Maintaining a private cloud means load balancing
Without proper load balancing, vital cloud processes break down, destroying end users' computing experiences, and with them, their users' trust in your company. Continue Reading
Enterprise IT let down by cloud management tools
Private cloud management tools have emerged in the market, though many lack the capabilities of traditional management stacks that enterprise IT has come to rely on. Continue Reading
Determine if your private cloud is cost-effective with ROI tools
Cost savings is a primary benefit of cloud, but is the amount you save really that notable? Understand your cost-benefit ratio with private-cloud ROI tools. Continue Reading
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