Selecting a cloud provider that prioritizes security is essential to safeguarding sensitive data, maintaining compliance, and ensuring the resilience of cloud-native applications. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll navigate the intricate landscape of choosing a secure cloud provider, shedding light on crucial criteria, encryption features, compliance certifications, and the role of cloud-native application security services, among other things.

Key Criteria for Evaluating Cloud Providers

Security Practices and Compliance: Look for cloud providers with a strong security posture. Evaluate whether they adhere to industry-standard security frameworks and compliance regulations such as ISO 27001, SOC 2, HIPAA, and GDPR. A provider that demonstrates compliance is more likely to prioritize security measures.

Data Encryption: Robust data encryption is non-negotiable. Ensure the cloud provider offers end-to-end encryption for data at-rest and in-transit. This protects sensitive information from unauthorized access or interception.

Access Control and Identity Management: A reputable cloud provider should offer robust access control and identity management features. This includes multi-factor authentication (MFA), role-based access control (RBAC), and fine-grained permission settings to ensure only authorized users can access resources.

Network Security and Isolation: Look for cloud providers implementing network security measures such as virtual private clouds (VPCs), firewalls, and intrusion detection systems (IDS). Network isolation helps prevent unauthorized access and data breaches.

Incident Response and Forensics: Investigate the cloud provider’s incident response capabilities. A provider with a well-defined incident response plan and tools for forensic analysis can help mitigate the impact of security breaches.

Also Read: Cloud Security: Shared Responsibility Between Provider And User

Encryption Features and Best Practices

Encryption is a key component of a quality cloud provider. You’ll want the service you choose to offer in-transit and at-rest encryption. Data should be encrypted during transmission over networks and also when stored within the provider’s infrastructure.

You also need to evaluate the provider’s key management practices. Ideally, you should have control over encryption keys to enhance data security. Some providers offer Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) for secure key storage. Furthermore, cloud-native applications often rely on databases. Ensure the provider offers database encryption options to protect sensitive data stored within databases.

Leveraging Cloud-Native Application Security Services

When choosing a cloud provider, think about leveraging security services, too. For example, many cloud providers offer managed security services that include features like threat detection, vulnerability scanning, and security incident response. These services are tailored to cloud-native environments and provide an additional layer of protection. Alternatively, you could invest in separate, comprehensive cloud-native application security that you outsource to a specialist.

Identity and Access Management (IAM) services provided by cloud providers help manage user identities and permissions. These services ensure that only authorized users can access resources, mitigating the risk of unauthorized access. Plus, pay attention to container security. If your cloud-native applications rely on containers, consider providers that offer proper container security services. These services can scan container images for vulnerabilities and ensure containers are running securely.

For serverless cloud-native applications, you’ll want to choose a provider that offers serverless security features to help protect serverless functions and APIs from potential threats.

Choosing a Cloud Provider with Compliance Certifications

Don’t forget to look into compliance certifications when analyzing cloud providers. Different industries have specific compliance requirements, so choose a cloud provider that offers compliance certifications relevant to your industry, whether it’s healthcare, finance, education, or any other sector. Also, if your organization operates across different regions, ensure the cloud provider complies with relevant global regulations. This includes data residency and protection laws.

Performance and Reliability

Performance and reliability are two other areas you must examine. Start by evaluating the cloud provider’s uptime guarantees and historical performance. A reliable provider ensures that your applications remain accessible and operational. Also, assess the provider’s disaster recovery and redundancy capabilities. Look for features such as data redundancy, failover mechanisms, and backup options.

Selecting a cloud provider for secure cloud-native applications is a decision that reverberates throughout an organization’s digital transformation journey. A well-chosen cloud provider not only ensures data protection and regulatory compliance but also provides the foundation for innovation and growth in a secure and resilient ecosystem.

By focusing on the abovementioned areas, businesses can fortify their cloud environments against potential threats. As cloud-native applications continue to shape the future of business operations, the role of a trusted and security-focused cloud provider becomes paramount—a partner that empowers organizations to embrace the potential of cloud-native while safeguarding their digital assets.

Also Read: Cloud Services: Why The Costs Are Too High In Many Companies

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Clients of major cloud storage services, including OneDrive (tightly integrated into Windows 10: see OneDrive, access documents from anywhere, on any device ), tend to favor document and file syncing tasks.

When an element is modified on the cloud or any other connected device, the same object is automatically updated (synchronized) on all the other devices. This approach is certainly very useful but can be complex to manage, especially if it is necessary to manage large files. You can use several workarounds to quickly upload files to the cloud without enabling constant sync activity.

Among the best, we mention the possibility of using RaiDrive, a client that in the free version supports reading/writing OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox, allowing you to create up to a maximum of 8 virtual drives connected to the various cloud services (see this page ). Units created with RaiDrive will appear in Windows as physical disks to support storing files. Items saved to virtual drives will automatically be copied to the user’s OneDrive, Google Drive, and Dropbox accounts.

Once you have downloaded and installed RaiDrive, you must click on the Add icon at the top and configure the cloud storage service you intend to use. To upload files to the cloud storage unit, you can use the copy functions integrated with Windows or a tool such as Robocopy, which, from the command line, will allow you to manage the copy operation of files and folders from or to OneDrive, Google Drives, and Dropboxes.

The syntax is very simple: type robocop “D:\SOURCE” “Z:\CLOUD\JOBS” /MIR as indicated in the article Robocopy: how to quickly copy files and folders on the local network. Obviously, in place of both paths, it will be necessary to carry out the appropriate replacements: D:\SOURCE is the folder containing the files to be copied, while Z: is the drive letter assigned to the virtual cloud unit, CLOUD\WORKS the current directory on OneDrive, Google Drive or Dropbox where you want the data to be copied.

The /MIR switch performs a complete mirroring of the source folder in the destination folder. Ensure that the destination folder is empty; otherwise, you will lose the content (which will be entirely replaced with that of the directory specified as the source). This option can be removed not to activate mirroring (see backup locally, to network folders, or the cloud using Windows tools only ).

There are many benefits deriving from the use of Robocopy: the integrated utility in Windows allows you to start and manage multiple threads for file copy operations: instead of copying files one at a time as happens with File Explorer or with the standard dell commands interface, Robocopy can’t copy multiple files at the same time. By default, eight threads are used but using the /MT:16 switch; it is possible to copy 16 simultaneously.

However, if you want to use a graphical interface for copying files to the cloud, the suggestion is to use the TeraCopy utility: Here’s how to do it: fast and smooth file copying.

Even with TeraCopy, it is possible to make multiple uploads of data: by doing so, obviously, uploading files to the cloud will be much faster.

TeraCopy becomes the default manager of file copy activities in Windows: this means that this utility will now take over the CTRL+C and CTRL+V operations when selecting, copying, and pasting files and folders (after restarting the operating system).

However, this behavior can be changed by accessing the TeraCopy settings and then unchecking the Use TeraCopy as the default copy handler box. To start the copy operation, select the virtual drive associated with the OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox account from the Destination tab of TeraCopy. By clicking on List files, it is possible to check which files are queued for copying to the virtual cloud units.

Also Read: Create A Cloud Server And Manage It Remotely With Express Cloud

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Millions of customers, including startups, large enterprises, and government agencies, have chosen and continue to choose AWS to reduce costs, operate more agile and accelerate their innovation. We at Flowing had no doubts when we faced the possibility of becoming an AWS Partner first and then an Advanced Consulting Partner. The services it makes available to us, the safety and efficiency of the entire AWS panorama guarantee us to satisfy the various needs of customers within an environment with absolutely agile characteristics, in full Flowing style. This article is intended to help you fully discover the potential of Amazon Web Services. In particular, we will talk about:

The Benefits Of AWS Cloud Computing

Embracing the AWS platform, with all its range of services, is convenient from many points of view. Some of them relate to its strict cloud nature. For instance, since these are on-request benefits, you can utilize them as indicated by your particular necessities, with costs given utilization. This implies fundamentally lessening costs among equipment and programming, supplanting customary capital record ventures with variable expenses, which rely upon genuine use.

At this point, there could be no need to design the assets you want since nothing remains to be purchased forthright: AWS permits you to measure your framework to the base essential and develop it quickly when required, physically or utilizing autoscaling rationale and instruments.

Adopting cloud computing allows everything related to the infrastructure to be delegated to the platform. In this way, developers can focus solely and exclusively on their work. But what distinguishes AWS cloud computing from other similar platforms?

Also Read: Elasticity In The AWS Cloud: What Is It?

Let’s see it together. With more noteworthy usefulness than all the cloud suppliers available, AWS is the one that offers the biggest measure of administrations for a utilization case, for example, AI, artificial consciousness, information lakes, examination, and IoT. For anything that is your current application, it will be incredibly simple to relocate to the AWS cloud since all you want is there.

A Large Community

AWS has thousands of partners and active customers worldwide across all industries and sizes.

The AWS Partner Community (APN) includes many System Integrators specializing in AWS services and even more Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) adapting their technologies to work on AWS.

Security

AWS is the most secure and flexible cloud computing environment on the market. Infrastructure security boundaries are intended to meet the most severe prerequisites for top-notch military or monetary associations. AWS upholds 90 security guidelines and consistency authentications, including 230 security-related administrations and elements.

Always New Technologies

AWS continuously develops new technologies, ready to experiment and implement in your business, to always be at the forefront. A case in point is AWS Lambda, the main serverless processing space to permit designers to run code without expecting to think often about the framework. One more model is Amazon SageMaker, a far-reaching administration for designers and researchers to use machine learning.

Operational Experience

For over 16 years, AWS has provided cloud services to millions of customers worldwide, covering many use cases. This is the biggest functional experience of some other suppliers of comparable and bigger scope administrations—this outcome in unrivaled dependability, security, administration development, and priceless experience for your strategic applications.

The AWS Region Network

AWS’ global cloud infrastructure is the largest in the world. It is available in the biggest geographic districts, 26, each crossing numerous Accessibility Zones, 84. In the short term, eight new AWS Districts will be added for 24 Accessibility Zones. This huge sending gives clients low idleness, high throughput, and high organizational repetitiveness.

Also Read: How Do Businesses Use AWS?

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Applications Will Determine Victory Or Defeat

The race to get esteem from information is characterized by the speed, security and productivity with which associations can sell new applications to the public or change existing ones to add they’re essential objectives. When these applications dwelled only in server farms, they moved to the cloud, and new mists have advanced to offer new capacities.

Multi-Cloud As A Critical Enabler

Private clouds are facilitated on-premises, public mists are facilitated remotely by cloud suppliers, and cross-breed mists consolidate the two benefits. A couple of years prior, we saw the improvement of neighborhood mists, which live at the edge of dispersed locales. As of late, sovereign mists have spread, driven by the prerequisites of new information security guidelines. Multi-cloud is currently the default in reality as we know it. An association’s most significant resources – its applications, information, labor force and framework – need to be more generally unified in actual structures, however, appropriated all over.

Also Read: Multi-Cloud: It’s Not Just The Architecture That Has To Be Right

A Clear Path To Increase Revenue And Growth

The value of multi-cloud is all around demonstrated. Practically all associations (95%) concur that multi-cloud models are currently essential to business achievement; 48% accept that the people who don’t embrace a multi-cloud approach are in danger of disappointment. 54% trust the utilization of multi-cloud emphatically affects income development, and 53% accept it affects benefits. Just 1% expect that multi-cloud is optional to business achievement.

Increased Complexity And Chaos

To realize this value, associations should address the test of intricacy and confusion that can, without a doubt, expand because of various veils of mist. Senior forerunners in the examination say the longing and objective to extricate additional worth from information is being kept down by security issues, abilities, combining different cloud conditions, and admittance to slide information. Associations additionally need to develop further command over working costs and the cloud, an issue that emerges assuming the report is to drive genuine business esteem.

Common Obstacles And Challenges

Each cloud has a different model. A more critical number of models likewise implies more amazing intricacy and more significant dangers and expenses like this. Moving applications to and from one cloud to another is troublesome, tedious and costly, as is preparing and retraining application supervisory crews after a movement, particularly with the ongoing abilities deficiency in the IT market. This exorbitant intricacy is shouting on a mission to be streamlined.

Simplify, Protect, Scale

Innovative cloud organizations utilize a solitary multi-cloud stage. After that, they can construct, run, oversee and get all applications reliably and at scale across all mists. Take, for instance, the McLaren Dashing group, which depends on a few essential applications to develop vehicle streamlined features further, upgrade vehicle parts and make endless information-driven on-circuit choices. McLaren is expanding multi-cloud worth to improve its track execution by utilizing a cross-breed trackside foundation, server farms, and public cloud conditions to run fundamental applications.

Utilizing an astute multi-cloud stage permits organizations like McLaren to pick the best climate for explicit applications, with all the permeability, proficiency and control they need, with less gambling and quicker time to esteem. It additionally allows you to pick the suitable climate for the correct information, including delicate idleness data that requirements to remain nearby guarantee execution, an inexorably significant perspective given the DORA (Advanced Functional Flexibility Act) guideline, supported last November 2022 by the EU Parliament, which will guarantee mechanical functional strength for the monetary area.

Also, with associations utilizing similar stages, apparatuses, and executives across conditions, there’s a compelling reason to re-device and retrain like clockwork. With notable spending slices in light of the current year’s typical slump, it is not challenging to eclipse interests for a moderate demeanor… Yet history tells us that the people who keep putting resources into shrewd and creative regions are bound to recuperate and find success. Shrewd multi-cloud empowers associations of all enterprises and sizes to drive positive results for the association and its partners. It’s not an opportunity to stall out in confusion, yet rather be imaginative and come out on top in the race.

Also Read: Multi-Cloud Management: The Top 5 Database Capabilities

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Targeted Digitization For SMEs

The strengthening of the collaboration between the two companies is aimed at public and private organizations of all sizes in our country, focusing on small and medium-sized companies that need targeted services and solutions to promote their digitalization.

Integrated Solutions Based On 5G, Edge And IoT

“The automated economy could be the variable for recovery. Just with digitization, might we at any point make that jump in efficiency equipped for making our organizations cutthroat – said With Vodafone Business, we are close to organizations in this change cycle. The organization with Microsoft further reinforces our capacity to empower new working and plans of action through incorporated arrangements that exploit the most recent age innovations, 5G, Edge processing and IoT, because of the formation of cross-over abilities to help digitization”.

Joint Objective: Effective Vertical Solutions

As part of this new partnership, the joint goal of Vodafone Business and Microsoft is to develop and make available effective, secure and flexible vertical digital solutions based on the Microsoft Azure Cloud and the Vodafone network, leveraging technologies such as 5G, Edge Computing and IoT for various sectors, from manufacturing to retail, from the fashion sector to the hospitality sector. In Vodafone Business, a group of digitization and Microsoft arrangements specialists will go with clients on their computerized change excursion and relocation to the Cloud.

Companies of all sizes will be able to benefit from the integration of platforms and applications in the Cloud with Vodafone Business fixed and mobile connectivity solutions, being able to count on direct access to the services provided by the next Microsoft Region Data Center in addition to the existing ones now abroad, and on maximum network performance in terms of speed, security and overt repetitiveness, as well as practical and committed help. Vodafone is a leading player in supporting organizations to leverage the services offered by the upcoming first Microsoft Cloud Region, which will be created in Milan as part of the global Azure data center network, which includes over 60 regions, 200 data centers, 4 million servers and 190 Edge Zones.

Collective Advancement Of Voice Offers In Groups And Network Safety

In the context of the collaboration between the two companies, equally relevant will be the joint development of voice offers in Teams and Cybersecurity. Specifically, in this field, Vodafone Business and Microsoft need to empower the making of a computerized culture in light of information security and insurance, zeroing in on offering successful network safety administrations to shield little and medium-sized organizations from progressively complex and designated assaults.

The recharged association originates from an all-around productive connection between the two organizations. It already includes solutions that support businesses in the new hybrid working environment to foster business productivity and, at the same time, improve employee engagement and well-being in more flexible working models. The practical and secure solutions provide for the integration of Microsoft products (e.g. Microsoft 365, Teams) with Vodafone services (from connectivity to the most innovative services such as IoT) to help companies create a new workspace in which, in total safety, the chance of associating remote work with up close and personal work is ensured, trading and getting to data and information progressively.

Also Read: Cloud ERP: Greater Efficiency And Savings For Your Business

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In short, it is an evolution of the local Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system that operates in the cloud.

When integrated only on local platforms, the management and planning system for administrative and operational functions requires acquiring hardware or hiring commercial data centers that can provide the necessary support for its operation.

This result is unnecessary expenses and a company that goes against what it needs most: efficiency with the economy.

After All, What Is Cloud ERP, And How Does It Work?

Known as an integrated management system, ERP – Enterprise Resource Planning is software developed for organizing and optimizing processes.

Due to its ability to cover the most diverse areas, it can integrate different activities to centralize information and transform it into precious resources for decision-making.

Operating in a local environment requires robust hardening to run the application correctly. The greater the volume of data, the greater the necessary infrastructure in terms of hardware and tools.

In addition, the local ERP requires adequate physical space for the machines and personnel for continuous monitoring and maintenance expenses, for example.

In other words, the local system consumes a good chunk of the organizational budget.

On the other hand, cloud solutions, such as ADT Cloud ERP, can be considered an evolution of its predecessor, using the internet to offer secure remote access with high availability at any time and place.

But these are not the only benefits it offers – see the next topic.

Advantages Of Migrating Your Standard System To Cloud ERP

As we mentioned earlier, Cloud ERP offers numerous facilities to your business.

Follow the main advantages below.

Cloud ERP Ensures Mobility

Hosted on remote servers, Cloud ERP can be accessed from any device connected to the internet via an app or web browser.

This offers a dynamic and positive experience for users, as the system allows storing, sharing and transferring data to all who have the authorization to access them.

Agile And Real-Time Monitoring

As a SaaS (Software as a Service), Cloud ERP allows activities to be automated and monitored in real-time; the same is valid for updating information.

In addition, the sectors begin to operate in an integrated way, and the company gains greater agility and efficiency in its routine operations through leaner processes and greater availability since the local infrastructure is no longer overloaded due to the high storage and processing requirements of routines—local ERP.

Ease Of Updates And Use

With Cloud ERP, periodic program updates are much simpler and faster. They are automated without the need for interruptions in the company’s routines.

Another benefit is how easy it is to get started. Just hire, configure and start using it.

Cloud ERP Reduces Costs

One of the most seductive advantages of Cloud ERP is the savings it provides to companies. The reasons for this are several, including:

• The solution offers flexibility and scalability while promoting organizational growth;
• The investment in hiring is smaller as it does not involve the purchase of user licenses. Only the amount related to the services used is charged, which is much more economical and fair than the local alternatives;
• Cloud ERP eliminates energy maintenance costs and physical space, which is borne by the provider, which is necessary when the storage uses its servers;
• It is not necessary to keep a technology professional to monitor the local system since the Cloud ERP service provider makes available a team with skill and experience in various segments of the cloud;
• Eliminates the printing of physical documents and reports, which become virtual and can be accessed by everyone who needs access to this information.

Greater Digital Security

The Cloud ERP system provider is responsible for the security of the cloud platform, and, it is worth remembering, these companies are also specialized in backups and digital security.

Thus, they use all their expertise to prevent the occurrence of cyberattacks or other events that may jeopardize the protection of organizational information.

In addition, without having to worry about the ERP functioning, your IT team can focus on more strategic functions, generating greater satisfaction and productivity in the team and better results for the company.

Also Read: Hybrid Cloud: What Is It, How Does It Work, And What Are Its Advantages?

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Express Cloud carries the IaaS label. Acronym of Infrastructure as a service, the term IaaS allows you to define what makes up the cloud: instead of having a dedicated server available, those who activate a service of this type can count on virtual servers which, “in the eyes” of the operating system and system administrator, appear as real machines, equipped with processors, RAM, video card, network card, and so on.

The customer of the IaaS service can activate one or more virtual machines and then think about their management without worrying about the hardware or the continuity of the service in case of hardware failure. Indeed, it is up to the cloud service provider to take care of these aspects.

The cloud approach is simple and flexible because it allows you to set up a virtual machine in a few minutes, even managing rather complex configurations in complete simplicity. The service is designed to adapt to customer needs: if the virtual machine resources are insufficient to support the workload, it is possible to add virtual CPUs, RAM or disk space at any time.

Similarly, when the virtual machine is oversized compared to the actual needs, it will be possible to “take a step back”. In the case of CloudItalia’s Express Cloud service, which we had the opportunity to try today, it is possible to configure a virtual machine with 1 CPU, 2 GB of RAM and 40 GB of the hard disk.

Starting from this basic configuration, it is possible to go up by virtualizing – depending on your needs and based on the operating system that you will install on the machine – up to 32 CPUs, 128 GB of RAM and 2 Terabytes of the hard disk. Not all operating systems support the same number of processors or the exact amounts of RAM.

You can refer to this page to get an idea of ​​the virtual machines that can be created with Express Cloud. You can examine the proposed configurations by choosing between the various versions and editions of Windows, 32 and 64 bit and among the different supported Linux distributions.

Thanks to the VMWare virtualization system, the Express Cloud customer will not have to install the operating system or worry about aspects related to any user license (in the case of Windows Server systems). Once the virtual machine has been created, they can immediately start using it, adapting it to their specific needs. Regarding network bandwidth, Express Cloud sets no limits: it is possible to send and receive data without restrictions (maximum upload and download speed: up to 200 Mbps, equal to about 25 MBytes/sec).

Cloud: Cheap And Versatile

Activating a virtual machine on the cloud, in addition to being simple and flexible, is also very cheap. Express Cloud allows the user to choose between two rate profiles. The first, on consumption or ” pay per use “, will enable you to activate a tariff based on the actual use of the virtual machine. Since it costs the vendor to keep the virtual machine on, Express Cloud gives you a 60% discount for every hour the engine is off.

Alternatively, the Express Cloud service can activate the machine by paying an advance fee for 30 days. In the first case, the hourly cost to keep the virtual machine running is approximately 0.029 euros + VAT (discounted if the machine remains switched off); in the other, it can reach 0.022 euros + VAT (CloudItalia still applies further discounts, already on the first purchase).

After activating a subscription by choosing the hardware resources operating system and submitting the request, Express Cloud will start configuring the virtual machine automatically.

Turning On And Configuring The Virtual Machine

Within a few minutes of activating the virtual machine, Express Cloud sends the password for remote desktop access to the Windows or Linux virtual machine to the user’s email address.

This password can be used with the administrator or root username to connect to the virtual machine and administer it remotely.

The username administrator will need to be entered in Remote Desktop to connect to Windows virtual machines; the root, on the other hand, will have to be used to connect via SSH to Linux virtual machines. In both cases, it will be necessary to specify the personal password received by email (which can subsequently be changed from within Windows or Linux).

Before proceeding, however, it is necessary to wait for the virtual machine’s name to appear in the Express Cloud Dashboard (the message Processing the request must disappear; we suggest reloading the page several times every few minutes). In this area, within a few minutes, the public IP address of the virtual machine and the local IP should appear.

You can immediately start the virtual machine by clicking on Turn on (the first green button on the left). After a few minutes of waiting, by typing ping followed by the public IP at the command prompt on your system, you should already get a response from the newly activated and turned virtual machine.

By entering the public IP address in the remote administration software (in the case of Windows, the Remote Desktop client is OK), you can connect to the virtual machine and start configuring it. In our case, as you can see from the image, we have deliberately activated a virtual machine with a modest configuration (one CPU, 2 GB of RAM and 40 GB of hard disk) requesting the use of the 32-bit Windows Server 2008 R2 template.

Despite everything, the machine appeared very responsive and ready to be configured to perform one of the many roles allowed by Windows Server. The Windows Server machine template loaded from Express Cloud also looked up to date. With a simple Windows update check, it was possible to verify that only some Microsoft patches from November and December were missing (which, however, caused some problems on some systems).

The virtual machine is not placed “behind” a firewall. The suggestion is to activate the Windows firewall and set the network interface to Public. Furthermore, it would be good to ensure that the Windows Server firewall only accepts incoming Remote Desktop connections from the virtual machine administrator’s IPs.

To understand which ports are open and reachable remotely, we suggest using the Steve Gibson Shields UP service mentioned in the article Open ports on the router and close them when no longer needed.

NAT, Firewall And Load Balancer With The Virtual Switch

The CloudItalia Express Cloud service provides the optional Virtual Switch for those who want more. Through the latter, Express Cloud customers have the NAT, Firewall and Load Balancer functions available: each of the three components can be freely customized by the user. As regards the NAT functionality, the customer finds – already set by default – the DNAT and SNAT rules to allow use from the “outside world”; however, all settings are freely adjustable.

Additional Custom Templates

CloudItalia Express Cloud service also allows you to create customized templates. Indeed, after configuring a virtual machine, the user can create a personalized template, a sort of “image” of the virtual machine’s content which he can restore as needed (the service involves paying an additional fee every month).

Express Cloud also provides the additional Snapshot service, which monitors and “records” all application changes or system updates in real time. In this way, the user can restore the virtual machine to a previous state at any time. Finally, through the helpful scheduling function, the user can plan the switching on or off of the machine at pre-established times or request the creation of a snapshot.

Also Read: Hybrid Cloud: What Is It, How Does It Work, And What Are Its Advantages?

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These calls then no longer go through a traditional switched telephone network. This technology transforms the voice into electrical signals, which are returned in the form of data instantly and with high quality. Discover all the trends in cloud telephony in this article.

A SaaS Telephone Solution

In the case of a SaaS telephony solution, the telephony software is hosted and made available on the Internet. Concretely, for a company, there is no longer any need to install specific infrastructures. However, this makes it possible to avoid a substantial investment, especially since PBX infrastructures require maintenance costs.

Instead of addressing multiple interlocutors, only one is its SaaS provider. The dedicated software is quickly installed and configured and operates intuitively without prior technical knowledge. Cloud telephony for businesses saves money and simplifies switchboard use.

Savings are also made on the cost of calls.

Analog telephony often includes additional fees, especially for international calls. As the rings are made over the Internet, these additional costs are non-existent, whether you are calling a local or international number. This transparency makes it possible to know precisely the price of its telecommunications without unpleasant surprises.

Cloud Telephony At The Service Of Business Flexibility

Using dematerialized telephony means freeing yourself from the physical network and, therefore, from managing this service internally. All incoming and outgoing calls pass through VoIP. Only your quality internet connection is enough to benefit from it. In this case, the company gains flexibility.

There is no longer any need for the employee to be in a fixed position on the company’s premises. Cloud telephony is ideally suited to telecommuting or business travel. The software is available on all connected media, such as smartphones or tablets. The dedicated app allows you to work from anywhere. This is a solution for the future that supports employee mobility.

Integrating IP Telephony Into A CRM

A considerable advantage of cloud telephony is the integration with a CRM. Thanks to computer-telephony integration ( CTI ), connecting the telephony system to all its professional tools is simple. This allows all tasks to be synchronized in one place, saving time. All calls are recorded directly on the CRM. New contacts are automatically added to the software. This enriches customer information and makes teams more efficient.

Note-taking is possible directly in the interface and thus improves customer follow-up. Each user has all the information in view during the call. This avoids making interlocutors wait and improves their satisfaction. Thanks to VoIP telephony, 60 business tools can be integrated on a turnkey basis. However, using APIs to integrate business telephony with CRM is no problem.

VoIP Telephony And Productivity

Cloud telephony appears to be a solution that promotes productivity. Indeed, the integration with the CRM gathers all the information within the same interface. This undeniably makes the difference with an analog telephone switchboard. But other features also save time. A cascading PLC can also launch these calls. Associated with a tag, these are contextualized and classified in the tool’s dashboard as in the CRM.

A salesperson’s work, like that of customer service, is facilitated by these functions: handling more calls is possible in less time. There are also fewer dropped calls. Dialing a number in one click may only make a difference of a few seconds, but their addition over a working day is not negligible. Cloud telephony in 2023 marks a digital revolution in corporate telecommunications.

With the ease of implementation and use, VoIP offers an innovative solution adapted to the requirements of today’s businesses. Without investing too much, each company can find features to improve its customer or commercial service.

From the user’s point of view, the single interface, integrated with CRMs and productivity applications, makes for greater efficiency. From the point of view of the interlocutor, the experience is more satisfying, thanks to the data shared between the teams. Regarding the cost of a virtual switchboard, it is accessible to all companies thanks to internet hosting, which does not include any additional cost.

Also Read: How Can CRM Improve Customer Service Experience?

The post What Is Cloud Telephony In 2023? appeared first on Tech Cults.

The digital transformation has now also reached the HR departments. Because remote work has not only changed the way people work but also the needs of employees. So the question remains: are remote working and digital solutions in the cloud making it easier for employees to work? Numerous companies have now recognized that employees can also do their work correctly in the home office. At the same time, however, their needs are being realigned. They are looking for something that they enjoy and provides personal added value. For companies today, retaining talent in their own company in the long term is a question.

COVID-19 As A Promoter Of Remote Work

The corona pandemic brought about a turning point in the work culture towards more remote work: numerous companies suddenly had to send their employees to work from home. And that, although remote work was often wholly new territory for many. Alight’s latest GPCI report confirms that the number of companies offering remote work has increased from 36 percent in 2019 to 59 percent in 2021.

In a highly competitive job market with an increasing shortage of skilled workers, remote work significantly expands the talent pool. In addition, remote work provides a better work-life balance for many employees. The consequences: A company’s physical location is no longer relevant when looking for new employees. At the same time, the competition for applicants is intensifying since employers can generally look for talent regardless of location. Those who do not want to adapt to the new circumstances quickly lose out in the battle for skilled workers. Because according to current projections, the population of working age (20 to 65 years) will fall from 3.9 million to just under 46 million in 2030. By 2060 there will be around 10 million fewer people of working age. As early as 2021, two-thirds of large German companies confirmed to the Bertelsmann Foundation that they had specific bottlenecks when filling skilled workers.

Automation Is Changing The Way People Work And The Skills They Need

As a result of this change, the labor market is subject to severe changes. This affects the increasing shortage of skilled workers and the computer-aided, digital qualifications that applicants are now required to have. By 2025, 40 percent of today’s professions alone will have a changed task and capability profile or will even be completely outdated. At least a third of all activities at 60 percent of the jobs are to be automated in the future. This will primarily affect traditional routine tasks – also in the HR department. This makes it all the more important to prepare employees for the newly required digital skills, and this also applies to young talent. According to the study “HR2025: How will we work?’ one in four European respondents believes that the current education system is poorly preparing potential young workers for the digital era.

People Analytics, HCM, And CPM

It is also becoming increasingly important to expand digital skills when it comes to the strategic tasks of human resources. With the help of data analyses, missing and, above all, upcoming staff gaps can be identified early, and the recruiting or further training of employees can be promoted in a targeted manner. Cloud-based HCM systems ( human capital management) are used for this. In the direction of human resources and beyond, you have the advantage that personnel managers can plan and accelerate the administration of qualifications and professional development opportunities individually and with foresight. HCM platforms can independently propose further training measures if specific skills are required for new positions. This ensures that the talents of the employees are used in a targeted manner.

Continuous Performance Management (CPM) will also play an increasingly important role in the future, as these tools, which are often offered as part of a cloud-based HCM platform, make it very easy to implement remote employee management. For employees and managers, for example, it is easier to get an overview of the performance targets, and they can also be optimized more easily. This is of immense value for all employers whose employees work from home. In addition, companies can use the information from their CPM systems to promptly identify training needs.

With an additional analysis of the employees ( people analytics ), it is also possible to find out how the workforce ticks: What motivates them? And what does she value? The personal data from recruiting, talent management, and payroll results in an overall picture of each employee. People analytics enable companies to find out which perks, offers, and benefits each employee values. From this, it can be deduced whether the company canteen still meets current requirements or whether a meal value voucher is more valuable, which can also be redeemed in the home office.

With the help of this data-based HR approach, HR managers can also identify employees willing to leave and convince them of the opposite early. The right insights help with the forecast: For example, it can be seen in advance if a long-standing employee has not received a salary increase or other benefits for a long time – despite good performance. Such situations often cause resentment among employees and make them think about changing employers for the foreseeable future if HR managers do not take countermeasures in good time. These causal relationships can be identified quickly and easily through data analysis.

The Digital Future Of HR

It is certain that by 2030 the traditional, hierarchical relationship between employer and employee will give way to greater individual autonomy. COVID-19 may subsequently prove to be a catalyst for these changes. And employees who have experience in remote working and can manage their work digitally have great opportunities to climb the career ladder in the future.

The digital transformation of HR systems is playing an increasingly important role. This makes supporting teams and managers in managing a hybrid workforce easier. At the same time, however, it is essential to analyze the individual employees’ development and their needs. In this way, companies can offer targeted added value for the professional development of their staff as well as a benefits program – suitable for the family situation, the desired work-life balance, and the private and professional ideas of the employees. Anyone who threatens to miss out on this development will soon have to deal with renewing their own IT systems and software tools and adopting new technologies.

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However, not everyone knows that there are different types of clouds, such as public, private and hybrid. The hybrid cloud is the combination of public and private cloud computing services. Due to the possibility of more significant movement of data and applications between the two environments, it has been gaining ground.

What Is The Hybrid Cloud?

To understand what a hybrid cloud is, it is first necessary to be clear about the other types of services it combines. That is, it is essential to know what a private cloud and a public cloud are.

A private cloud uses a private server for information storage, data, and software processing. This means you must have your company’s server, which is not shared with any other institution.

The public cloud is where the server is shared with other organizations and people. The company that provides the public cloud is the one that owns the server, and it is used to process all customer information.

It is worth remembering that this does not mean that, in the public cloud, your data is available to everyone. They are protected, and security systems allow only you to access the information entered in your cloud. However, the server is shared, which means that the same equipment is processing and storing the information of several people.

The hybrid cloud is, therefore, the mixture of these two types of cloud. This allows you to use your private server for specific activities and information and a public server for others.

How Does The Hybrid Cloud Work?

The adoption of a hybrid cloud arises from the need to process company data. Thus, sensitive and sensitive information — such as financial transactions, personal data, and critical and strategic services — can be handled privately and securely.

On the other hand, public and non-confidential services can be dealt with publicly and openly. This means that all data that requires more robust protection is safe from potential threats.

On the other hand, the company can take advantage of the benefits of public cloud computing services, such as cost savings and almost unlimited scalability.

What Is A Hybrid Cloud For?

The hybrid cloud aims to improve existing resources, favoring agility and economy in companies. This technology is critical to data confidentiality in the private cloud while adding faster processing, bandwidth, and storage in public solutions.

The use of local, comprehensive, or private area networks (LAN, WAN, and VPN, respectively) connect different computers. In this way, private and public clouds can function as part of a hybrid cloud.

With management software, it is possible to allocate the necessary resources in an environment where these applications will be executed and then provisioned with the help of an authentication system.

Therefore, it is easier to define cloud computing in a hybrid cloud based on its capabilities, such as:

• Connecting different machines on a network
• Consolidation of IT resources
• Horizontal scaling
• Migration of workloads between environments

What Are The Advantages Of A Hybrid Cloud?

Relying on the hybrid cloud is critical for companies to better cope with a growing computing and processing demand beyond on-premises resources and datacenters. Due to its characteristics, the hybrid cloud brings excellent results in terms of the time needed to install and manage servers — in addition to having a much lower cost.

Its high flexibility is critical for companies that experience peaks in demand. It is possible to run the workload through private clouds and use the public cloud only when there is peak usage. A hybrid cloud is a cost-effective alternative for organizations to access sensitive data and keep confidential information in a completely secure environment.

How To Implement A Hybrid Cloud In The Enterprise?

Now that you know what a hybrid cloud is and its advantages, it’s time to understand how to implement this solution in your company. See some tips!

Understand Your Needs

The first step in implementing a hybrid cloud is to be clear about your primary cloud computing needs. Therefore, analyze your company to identify what data types will be stored, software, and necessary adaptations. From this, it is possible to understand the best hybrid cloud solution.

Prepare The Team And Software

To carry out the migration with peace of mind, preparing the team to deal with the new way of working is essential. In addition, it is also vital to prepare applications and software for use in the hybrid cloud.

Therefore, train the team, teaching employees to use the technology implemented. Also, understand what changes are needed in the software to run on the hybrid cloud without significant problems.

Think About Security

Finally, it is worth remembering that security must be one of the priorities when it comes to data and information. Therefore, even before you migrate, you must plan all necessary security settings to prevent data from getting lost in the process or falling into the hands of malicious people.

The company hired to implement the hybrid cloud can be your greatest ally at this time. Talk to consultants and try to understand what security settings are necessary for your company’s reality and implement them from the moment of data migration.

Also Read: How Does Cloud Computing Work And Why Is It So Important?

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