Virtualization to cloud: Planning, executing a private cloud migration

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  Article

  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.  Read Now

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  Article

  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. Read Now

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  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. Read Now

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  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.  Read Now

Editor's note

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.

1Considerations 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.

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  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.  Read Now

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  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. Read Now

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  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.  Read Now

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  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. Read Now

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  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. Read Now

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  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?"  Read Now

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  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. Read Now

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  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. Read Now

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  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. Read Now

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  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. Read Now

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  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? Read Now

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  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. Read Now

2Blueprints 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.

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  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. Read Now

• Article

  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. Read Now

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  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. Read Now

• Article

  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. Read Now

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  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. Read Now

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  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. Read Now

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  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. Read Now

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  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. Read Now

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  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. Read Now

• Article

  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?  Read Now

3Management, 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.

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  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. Read Now

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  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.  Read Now

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  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. Read Now

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  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. Read Now

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  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. Read Now

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  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. Read Now

• Article

  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. Read Now

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  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.  Read Now