Service Providers Need
Flexible Cloud Services to Compete
Enterprise Customers Demand Flexible Cloud Solutions
When the concept of cloud services first came about, there was a great deal of discussion about “cloud type”—public, private, or hybrid. As use of the cloud and cloud services has increased, however, these definitions have blurred. For today’s enterprise, it is not about choosing a particular type of cloud—in fact, most are using them all. Rather it is about seeking a cloud service provider that can support the nuances of their business wherever their cloud assets might be.
This evolution brings two major changes that will impact cloud service providers in a substantial manner in the coming years. First, enterprise customers will demand even more flexibility in their cloud deployments and in many cases will require
a service provider might be using today. Second, the cloud infrastructure must consider both technology and non-technology requirements for addressing legal, compliance, privacy, governmental and security issues. But it’s not enough to just have things that work together. They need to work together for a purpose. The security solution must be tuned to the cloud environment whether it is on-premise or off. The data protection procedures must abide by the rules of the governing body, whether that is the EU or Australia or somewhere in between. The systems must provide APIs that allow for integration with other tools or services.
Going forward, this demand for integration and a more cohesive infrastructure will cause enterprise cloud services to become “hybrid” by default, offering a combination of on- and off-premise solutions, and a mix
The Standardization of Hybrid Cloud
Most enterprises are no longer cloud neophytes; some have now reached their third, fourth, or fifth cloud project . As they have gained experience, the enterprise IT and business professionals are demanding more from their cloud solutions and better integration of their cloud services. They are seeking more customization and support for specific functionality. They want cloud resources they can use anywhere and in any way they want.
What is sometimes forgotten is why people are using clouds. Very simplistically, it is to run applications.
The cloud evolutionary concepts discussed above are largely being driven by the maturation and expansion of how companies are deploying applications in their cloud resources. Application-specific requirements and performance are driving the need for increased hybrid cloud flexibility. The cloud solution for a specific application or service may change based upon many factors, such as:
• Maturity
• Performance
• Compliance
• Risk
• Location demands
• Security
• Technology changes
• Changing business requirements To support enterprise customers with a solution flexible enough to meet their application requirements, cloud service providers must offer a broad range of cloud capabilities that blur the lines between types of cloud infrastructure.
Integration with on-premise or legacy infrastructure also demands a hybrid approach. Enterprises are no longer willing to accept applications that are in silos within a public cloud or public cloud resources that can’t communicate with their on-premise legacy systems. But enterprises tend to have a substantial level of
“uniqueness” that will impact the way cloud services are integrated with the overall infrastructure. If a service provider is dependent on a single cloud infrastructure that is complex or difficult to integrate with the enterprise’s own solutions, it puts that service provider in a poor position to deliver services efficiently and cost- effectively.
Service Providers Must Deliver the Broad Capabilities of the
“Hybrid” Cloud
Cloud service providers must be able to deliver a hybrid cloud solution
with the advanced functionality and integration capabilities enterprises are demanding, or they will find themselves unable to compete. Even a simple solution, at least in concept, such as single sign-on, demands some level of integration. And integration needs only increase with the panoply of security, management, data protection, and other support that a service or application requires.
Making the necessary human and capital investments needed to support this broader platform may result in huge demands on the cloud service provider organisation. Some of the most important investments include:
Additional security. Not only must the native security within the service provider’s offering be improved, but enterprise organisations will require integration of the cloud service security solution and their own legacy or on-premise security tools. On top of that, the security solutions will be required to meet certification requirements such as the ISO or SOC protocols.
Advanced networking. First, a cloud service provider must have the ability to support global operations, as larger enterprises are nearly always geographically dispersed. Second is the ability to optimize network bandwidth to support SLAs while keeping costs low, even with the
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complexity of dealing with very different bandwidth costs in different locations. Enterprises also need advanced services provided through software-defined networking such as firewalls VPNs, auto provisioning, load balancing or anti-affinity. And, of course, the cloud solution network must be capable of integrating with the existing global network of the enterprise.
Information storage and protection.
Many early cloud solutions came to market with basic storage architecture.
That approach was sufficient then, but it won’t be in the future. There will be pressure to optimize both the cost and performance of storage. Companies will want to define the IOPs profile of different types of applications. Backup and archival solutions that can be integrated with the broader enterprise practices for information protection is also required. This may include the need for multiple sites or locations or even the ability to send data back to the cloud from the customer’s premise.
Support for information governance.
Enterprises are having to deal with information governance requirements to not only meet legal demands, but to support analytics and other advanced solutions that are driving business success. In order for information to be stored in a cloud service it must satisfy the information
Dimension Data Enables Service Providers to Expand Functionality
Dimension Data’s Managed Cloud Platform™ (MCP) provides a fast and affordable route to the new capabilities that enterprise customers demand for hybrid cloud services.
It starts with Dimension Data’s Cloud Surround™ solutions that enhance cloud services with better security, networking, storage, and enterprise control without the need to substantially re-write the application or do a large scale reconfiguration of the service. Cloud Surround™ gives service providers a competitive edge in a market that is more demanding than ever.
The Dimension Data MCP provides a complete infrastructure solution including compute (server and storage), datacentre network fabric, and a security layer. The compute platform is fully virtualized. The network is driven by enterprise- class hardware and software and is optimized to support cloud solutions with global deployments. Security is fully integrated and comprises multiple layers to provide “defense in depth”
that is focused on the special needs of cloud services. MCP combines four cloud options—Public MCP, Private On-Premise MCP, Private Off-Premise MCP, or Provider based MCP—to support the unique or multiple needs of each service provider and enterprise
to work with the service provider to implement the cloud service and assist with integrating the solution into the enterprise’s management tools, security solutions, and data protection schema.
Dimension Data’s OneCloud Partner Programme supports partners in taking advantage of Cloud Surround™ and MCP offerings.
It starts with a 4- to 16-week
enablement programme that provides joint engagement with each critical function area of a partner’s business to ensure they can transact seamlessly.
This engagement goes far beyond the standardized offerings from most vendors and is backed by a partner satisfaction guarantee. There is also a support program for integration of the partner’s services and applications with the customer’s on-premise solutions and tools. Finally, the Dimension Data MCP provides SLAs with 99.999% network uptime and 99.999% server uptime.
Dimension Data is focused on the success of its partners and providing attractive solutions that offer the new functionality that enterprise class organisations are demanding from their cloud service providers.
This includes not only the technology capabilities found in the Cloud Surround™ and MCP offerings, but also sales and client facing teams that help you engage more new clients
white paper | Service Providers Need Flexible Cloud Services to Compete
04 Dimension Data’s OneCloud
Partner Programme
With a broad suite of cloud services, a single global cloud platform, and advanced cloud orchestration and management technologies, Dimension Data enables our partners to bring to market a broad suite of cloud services in a matter of weeks.
After completing an enablement programme, you will have a public or private cloud service customised with your own brand identity.
For more information visit www.dimensiondata.com/
onecloud
About Dimension Data
Founded in 1983, Dimension Data plc is an ICT services and solutions provider that uses its technology expertise, global service delivery capability, and entrepreneurial spirit to accelerate the business ambitions of its clients. Dimension Data is a member of the NTT Group.
Visit us at
www.dimensiondata.com
