NCET Tech Bite | Ron Husey, Moving Your Business to the Cloud | Mar 2016

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(775) 434-2030Your Complete IT Services Provider

Combining The Cloud With Proactive IT Management And Security

Critical Facts You Must Know Before Moving Your Business To The Cloud

Ron Husey, Founder & CEO

• Factors you need to consider before moving to the cloud

• Migration "gotchas" (and how to avoid them)• Cloud options and how they fit with your

business• How managed cloud services can provide

security, enhance reliability and help control costs

• Some advanced concepts to consider

Presentation Agenda

Who Is Xogenous?

• Xogenous is a full-service IT company located in Carson City, Nevada

• Our staff is composed of more than 15 professionals along with consultants for specialized efforts

• We maintain our own data center• We work with many professional offices,

medical, manufacturing, non-profits and government agencies

Who Is Xogenous?

• Originally from Washington, DC – Came to Northern Nevada over 25 years ago

• 40 years of IT knowledge and business strategy experience

• MBA from the University of Maryland– Concentrations in Organizational

Development and Finance

Who Is Ron Husey?

• Founded Xogenous in 2010– Provides large company benefits to small businesses– Cloud hosting and managed IT services specialty– The only IT services company in Northern Nevada to

provide its own secure data center for use in managing secure, private cloud services for its customers

Today’s Computing Devices

Is this your server room?

Maybe this one?

• Business are trying to do IT all themselves• Business owners often consider IT as a

“necessary evil”• Usually have one or more servers on-premise– They upgrade expensive server hardware regularly– Also update software and apply security patches– May not have proper AC, Security, or

environmental controls

What Are Businesses Doing?

• They are generally not meeting basic data and physical security requirements– Poor backup strategies– Unsecured computer rooms– Little to no redundancy

• If they have compliance needs (HIPPA, PCI, etc.), they are almost certainly in violation

• But… what happens if these computers fail?


• What happens if your computer systems fail?• How long could your business survive if your

systems experienced a catastrophic meltdown?• How much would it cost to recover?• How long would it take in the best case

scenario? Or the worst case?• Studies show the answer is not very long

(often less than one year) and many business would not recover and be forced to close


1. Blinking green or yellow lights have a calming effect as you look at them, almost hypnotic

2. You enjoy large air-conditioned rooms lined by metal boxes and racks, lit only by strip lights, devoid of all soft furnishings

3. Using fingerprints, hand biometrics or a retina scans to gain access to rooms still excites you

4. You believe there is no security applied to Cloud data, regardless of what the vendor tells you

5. You're thinking the Cloud is something you need to look at someday, but for now you have other things to deal with

5 Signs You May Be A Server Hugger

Are You A Server Hugger?

• Well, the “cloud”, of course• Your business can use cloud-based services for

all these situations• And, many other benefits including scaling

with your business, paying only for what you need, and shifting your IT budget from capital expense to operational expense

What Is The Solution?

What Is The Cloud?

It’s not this…

What Is The Cloud?

It’s this

Backup Generator

Industrial HVAC Unit

Typical Large-Scale Data Center

Let’s not forget Security

Largest American Data Centers

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

About the Big Cloud Providers

Here’s your Help Desk!

Does this guy have a clue?

Did I Mention It’s Expensive?

• Big Data Centers Available Only To Big Companies

• Costs Extremely Prohibitive• Only Valuable To Companies With In-House IT

Staff• Support Services Offered Are Sharply Limited

Why Xogenous?

• There must be some way to provide the clear advantages of a large data center combined with a high level of technical support needed by customers

• This all became possible with the maturation of software for virtualization, clustering, and virtual desktops.

• Functionality improved with low-cost tablets, laptops, smartphones, and thin-clients.

There Must Be A Better Way

• Servers– Previously special-purpose, single-role computers

with more power and resources than a desktop PC– However, what makes servers so different is that

they are really pools of resources• Resource “pools”– Computer memory (RAM)– Processing power (CPU)– Data storage (disks)

Servers Are Pools of Resources?

Servers Are Pools of Resources?

• Servers are now “virtualized”– Expensive server hardware (can be $10,000 or more)– Advances in software technology allows one

computer to run as many– Many “virtual” computers can run on a single

physical server– Each is referred to as a “virtual server” (or

sometimes, a “virtual machine”)– Physical resources can be allocated to specifically for

each virtual server– A single physical server can house up to 40 virtual

servers

Virtualization Changed The Game?



File Server

EmailServer

Backup Server

DatabaseServer

AccountingServer

WebServer

Document Server

• Virtual servers are more efficient– Use physical resources more completely and efficiently– Leverage investment in hardware

• Virtual servers are more flexible– Resources may be allocated from the various pools as needed– Can make changes “on the fly” without physical hardware

adjustments– Pay only for what you need, yet expand as necessary

• Yet, there are also risks– Used to be that if one server went down then one application

stopped working– Now if a physical server has a failure, ALL the virtual servers

on-board will fail


Clustering?

• The “workstation” people use to perform their work duties is also changing– Previously PCs, both laptops and desktops– And sometimes Macs

Workstations Are Changing Too?

• The “workstation” is evolving– Thin clients– Smartphones– Tablets


• And what about this guy?– He was on the right track… yet ahead of his time


• How we access computers will change again– Google Glass– Apple Watch– And future “wearables”


• And there’s IoT – the “Internet of Things”– Connected cars– Household appliances– And more


• What’s in common among all these devices?– The “cloud” is needed for ALL of this!


Common Types of Clouds




• Hosted Application Servers• Hosted Phone and Fax Systems• Website Hosting• Email Hosting• Backup and Disaster Recovery Services• Co-location

Cloud Services Offered

• Virtually eliminate capital expenditures– Especially on servers and enterprise software– It’s more like leasing a car than buying one

• In addition to laptops, many functions can be moved to tablets– Becoming common in POS systems at coffee shops,

bars and restaurants• Can access services from any smart device– Via browser access and services provided via apps

• Someone else manages the data center– The most expensive part to do correctly

Cloud Advantages?

• One size fits all services– Office 365– Salesforce– Dropbox

• Supported in large 24/7 managed data centers– No idea where your data is (could be in any state,

any country)– Usually data in encrypted– Can pick and choose the services most suited for

your business

The Public Cloud?

• Customized for your business needs– Specialized applications– You choose the level of redundancy and failover– Can minimize disruptions in moving to cloud

• Selecting a local provider has its benefits– Your data can be stored in a “local cloud” if you

select a provider with a local data center– Especially good in the event of disaster or other

failures, as your data recovered more quickly– Cost is less; level of service is higher

The Private Cloud?

• The best of both worlds– Use public cloud services where appropriate– Use private cloud services where needed

• Managing interactions requires planning– Careful review and planning is recommended to

avoid major workflow disruptions– Minor workflow changes are to be expected, and

can improve processes• Allows business to select services based on

their capabilities, costs and overall merit

The Hybrid Cloud?

• Extended cloud is most flexible– Hybrid cloud with private and public services– And, can still integrate on-premise systems

• Rather than an all-or-nothing-approach– Allows strategic enhancements to processes and

applications needed– Can migrate one service at a time, as needed

• Planning is critical to do this right– Xogenous assists many companies in this effort– Benefits are capability, flexibility and cost savings

The Extended Cloud?

• Monthly predictable cloud costs are easier to budget

• Faster, less expensive to setup new employees• You have access to it without having to own it• Greener technology, saving on your power bill,

and leveraging data centers volume costs• Can refresh aging system without capex costs• Easier to add new systems, applications, etc.• Can easily test or develop new applications• Frees up any IT staff to focus on other projects

Additional Cloud Benefits?

• Server Managed Services• Network Managed Services• Workstation Managed Services• Mobile Device Management• Backup and Disaster Recovery• Anti-Virus/Anti-Malware Services• Projects and Planning

Managed Services

• CADD• Mapping• Anything that requires large file transfers• Slow internet connections• Things that require intense graphics• Cheap hosting providers

– OK for your website, but not business critical applications• Certain line-of-business applications may be older and

not able to move to the cloud• All of this can be overcome but not without cost

What Doesn’t Work Well

• Also, server huggers may become depressed– No more loud, power-hungry equipment

So What Are The Challenges??

Don’t Panic!

• Planning– Using the cloud in any major way needs planning– Workflows must be reviewed– Proper IT advice must be sought

• Compliance– Need to be sure that your compliance needs are

met in the cloud provider selected


• Internet dependency– When the internet goes down, so does access to

your cloud services, public or private– Need internet redundancy or “failover” from your

offices• Data security– Although most cloud providers are already more

secure than your own server room– Need to review the provider’s security offerings:

encryption, virtual private networks, etc.


1. Keeping your data on-premise is safer than moving it to the cloud

2. You have to move everything to the cloud, it’s all or nothing

3. Cloud migration is too much for my business to handle

4. Corporate spies, hackers and governments will have access to my data is it’s in the cloud

5. If our data moves to the cloud, your business will no longer have control over its use of technology

Top 5 Myths Dispelled?

• Service levels are critical to experiencing the full benefits of the cloud– Each vendor has its own “service level agreement”

(SLA)• SLA’s define– Uptime commitments, from 99% to 100%– Problem response timeframes, from immediately

to several days– How you can access their support, whether web

tickets only, or also email and phone support

Service Level Agreements

• What if your IT company doesn’t provide these levels of security, management and reliability? Just say…

And What About Your IT Company?

You’re Fired!

• Since you can get a better “fit” for your business…You Save Money

• Since you pay only for the resources you need (processor power, memory and storage)

…You Save Money• Since you no longer need to buy expensive physical

servers…You Save Money

• Since you will no longer need a data center (or server room) with HVAC and physical security

… You Save Money

Cloud Cost Savings

• Covers services and pricing models for IT providers

• 21 revealing questions you can should ask a potential IT provider

• How to make sure you are getting what you need

• Predictable IT costing models• What you can expect to pay for

support services

Special Gift for NCET Attendees

Claim your FREE report today at

http://xogenous.net/ITbuyersguideThis free offer is only available until March 31, 2016

http://xogenous.net/ITbuyersguide

• Moving to the cloud is inevitable• Be sure to plan and put the right strategy in

place• Work with a company qualified to assist you

with cloud and secure system management• Find someone who wants to understand your

business needs• Choose local, as Northern Nevada IT providers

can provide the best overall value and service

Moving To The Cloud Is Inevitable

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(775) 434-2030Your Complete IT Services Provider

- Attributed to

Albert Einstein

Education

NCET Tech Bite | Ron Husey, Moving Your Business to the Cloud | Mar 2016