FD Insights Issue 5 | Page 41

Hosted Solutions ‘Cloud’ is a computing model, not a technology. In this model of computing, all the servers, networks, applications and other elements related to data centres are made available to IT and end-users via the internet in a way that allows IT to buy only the type and amount of computing services that they need. Many software vendors have now adjusted their licensing programmes to cater for cloud providers, allowing them to pay for their software in the same way that they offer the services; monthly, based on usage. First Distribution’s ‘Cloud Solutions’ focus on these licensing programmes as well as other solutions that better enable cloud providers. Microsoft SPLA: Hosters, independent software vendors (ISVs) with hosted offerings, and rental agents can license Microsoft software on a monthly basis to provide services and hosted applications to their end customers. VMware’s VSPP is a framework that allows service and hosting providers to consume VMware virtualisation solutions in a monthly rental model, aligning with their business model. CommVault MSP: CommVault has formalised a software subscription programme for partners offering or planning to offer managed data protection services to small & mid-sized businesses (SMB). CommVault software’s truly unified, or ‘singular’ architecture performs all data management functions quickly, easily, & reliably from a single console. Veeam’s PSP provides cloud users with data protection and virtual infrastructure management from Veeam around VMware vCloud and Microsoft Hyper-V via monthly rental of product(s) with no volume or time commitment. McAfee delivers proactive and proven solutions & services that help secure systems, networks, & mobile devices around the world. IBM Cloud Devices: SmartCloud is the IBM vision for cloud computing. Accelerate business transformation with capabilities from IBM cloud offerings, including Architecture for Private & Hybrid Cloud, Cloud Computing as a Service for IT and SaaS Business Solutions. Citrix is the cloud company that enables mobile workstyles— empowering people to work and collaborate from anywhere, securely accessing apps and data on any of the latest devices, as easily as they would in their own office. Citrix solutions help IT and service providers build clouds, leveraging virtualisation and networking technologies to deliver high-performance, elastic and cost-effective cloud services. With market-leading solutions for mobility, desktop virtualisation, cloud networking, cloud platforms, collaboration and data sharing, Citrix helps organisations of all sizes achieve the speed and agility necessary to succeed in a mobile and dynamic world. Riverbed Technology is an awardwinning technology company that specialises in improving the performance of networks and networked applications. Riverbed products are designed to solve network bandwidth and performance problems in the following areas of technology: application acceleration, bandwidth optimisation, data centre, branch office & server consolidation, data protection and disaster recovery, visibility and network performance management, and cloud server and storage acceleration. 39 | www.firstdistribution.co.za