Dr. Shane C. Archiquette, Author at Gigaom

GigaOm Key Criteria for Evaluating Hybrid Cloud Data Protection Solutions

Dr. Shane C. Archiquette — Tue, 25 Jun 2024 20:08:45 +0000

Hybrid cloud data protection refers to the security measures and technologies designed to safeguard data, applications, and infrastructures in hybrid cloud environments. These environments blend on-premises computing resources with private and public cloud services, necessitating a comprehensive approach to security that spans multiple platforms. The importance of hybrid cloud data protection stems from its role in ensuring data integrity, confidentiality, and availability across diverse digital infrastructure. As businesses increasingly adopt cloud technologies, the complexity of managing and securing data across different cloud models grows. Hybrid cloud data protection solutions address these challenges by implementing robust security measures such as backup, disaster recovery, and encryption mechanisms. This enhances data security and also ensures business continuity and compliance with various regulatory requirements. This technology is crucial for IT leaders, security professionals, and business executives who are responsible for maintaining the privacy, integrity, and availability of corporate data. Organizations in various sectors, especially those handling sensitive or critical data–such as healthcare, finance, and government–find hybrid cloud data protection indispensable for safeguarding their operations against data breaches and losses.

Business Imperative
From a CxO perspective, hybrid cloud data protection is not merely a technical necessity but a strategic imperative. Ensuring robust data protection in hybrid environments is critical for mitigating risks, reducing potential financial liabilities, and maintaining brand trust and customer loyalty. Effective data protection strategies enable organizations to leverage the scalability and efficiency of cloud services while minimizing the vulnerabilities associated with cloud computing. For CxOs, the focus is on achieving a balance between operational agility and comprehensive security.

Sector Adoption Score
To help executives and decision-makers assess the potential impact and value of a hybrid cloud data protection solution deployment to the business, this GigaOm Key Criteria report provides a structured assessment of the sector across five factors: benefit, maturity, urgency, impact, and effort. By scoring each factor based on how strongly it compels or deters adoption of a hybrid cloud data protection solution, we provide an overall Sector Adoption Score (Figure 1) of 4.2 out of 5, with 5 indicating the strongest possible recommendation to adopt. This indicates that a hybrid cloud data protection solution is a credible candidate for deployment and worthy of thoughtful consideration.

The factors contributing to the Sector Adoption Score for hybrid cloud data protection are explained in more detail in the Sector Brief section that follows.

Key Criteria for Evaluating Hybrid Cloud Data Protection Solutions

Sector Adoption Score

Deters
Adoption

Discourages
Adoption

Merits
Consideration

Encourages
Adoption

Compels
Adoption

Figure 1. Sector Adoption Score for Hybrid Cloud Data Protection

This GigaOm Key Criteria report highlights the capabilities (table stakes, key features, and emerging features) and nonfunctional requirements (business criteria) for selecting an effective hybrid cloud data protection solution. The companion GigaOm Radar report identifies vendors and products that excel in those decision criteria. Together, these reports provide an overview of the market, identify leading hybrid cloud data protection offerings, and help decision-makers evaluate these solutions so they can make a more informed investment decision.

GIGAOM KEY CRITERIA AND RADAR REPORTS

The GigaOm Key Criteria report provides a detailed decision framework for IT and executive leadership assessing enterprise technologies. Each report defines relevant functional and nonfunctional aspects of solutions in a sector. The Key Criteria report informs the GigaOm Radar report, which provides a forward-looking assessment of vendor solutions in the sector.

The post GigaOm Key Criteria for Evaluating Hybrid Cloud Data Protection Solutions appeared first on Gigaom.

GigaOm Key Criteria for Evaluating Edge Orchestration Platforms

Dr. Shane C. Archiquette — Tue, 04 Jun 2024 21:25:31 +0000

Edge orchestration platforms represent a pivotal technology in the landscape of modern computing, orchestrating computing resources at the very brink of networks. This technology facilitates the streamlined deployment, coordination, and automation of tasks across a myriad of edge devices, significantly enhancing performance, reducing latency, and enabling real-time communication between software services and devices. It’s crucial for organizations that rely on distributed and decentralized computing environments to maintain efficiency and agility in their operations.

The importance of edge orchestration platforms to decentralized, distributed, and mobile networks cannot be overstated. In an era when data generation and consumption are increasingly occurring closer to the source of data, these platforms ensure that computing resources are utilized efficiently, making it possible to process and analyze data in near real time. This capability is vital for applications requiring immediate insights and responsive actions, such as autonomous vehicles, smart cities, industrial IoT, and healthcare monitoring systems.

This technology matters to a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including CTOs, CIOs, network architects, and IT managers across various sectors. These professionals seek to leverage edge computing to drive digital transformation, enhance customer experiences, and create competitive advantages.

Business Imperative
From the perspective of CxOs, edge orchestration platforms are not just a technological investment but a strategic business imperative. These platforms are key to enabling organizations to navigate the complexities of digital ecosystems, where latency, data sovereignty, and operational efficiency are critical concerns. By adopting edge orchestration, organizations can ensure their operations are resilient, agile, and capable of supporting innovative services and applications that meet evolving customer expectations.

Sector Adoption Score
To help executives and decision-makers assess the potential impact and value of an edge orchestration platform deployment to the business, this GigaOm Key Criteria report provides a structured assessment of the sector across five factors: benefit, maturity, urgency, impact, and effort. By scoring each factor based on how strongly it compels or deters adoption of an edge orchestration platform, we provide an overall Sector Adoption Score (Figure 1) of 3.4 out of 5, with 5 indicating the strongest possible recommendation to adopt. This indicates that an edge orchestration platform is a credible candidate for deployment and worthy of thoughtful consideration.

The factors contributing to the Sector Adoption Score for edge orchestration platforms are explained in more detail in the Sector Brief section that follows.

Key Criteria for Evaluating Edge Orchestration Platforms

Sector Adoption Score

Deters
Adoption

Discourages
Adoption

Merits
Consideration

Encourages
Adoption

Compels
Adoption

Figure 1. Sector Adoption Score for Edge Orchestration Platforms

As the digital landscape evolves, edge orchestration platforms are poised to enable organizations to harness the power of edge computing. They offer a pathway to transforming how data is processed and used, ensuring businesses can thrive in a distributed computing environment. For leaders looking to future-proof their operations and capitalize on the opportunities presented by digital transformation, investing in edge orchestration is a practical necessity.

This is the first year that GigaOm has reported on the edge orchestration platforms space in the context of our Key Criteria and Radar reports. This GigaOm Key Criteria report highlights the capabilities (table stakes, key features, and emerging features) and nonfunctional requirements (business criteria) for selecting an effective edge orchestration platform. The companion GigaOm Radar report identifies vendors and products that excel in those decision criteria. Together, these reports provide an overview of the market, identify leading edge orchestration platforms, and help decision-makers evaluate these solutions so they can make a more informed investment decision.

GIGAOM KEY CRITERIA AND RADAR REPORTS

The post GigaOm Key Criteria for Evaluating Edge Orchestration Platforms appeared first on Gigaom.

Weathering the Storm: Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity as a Service (DR/BCaaS) in 2024

Dr. Shane C. Archiquette — Wed, 27 Mar 2024 13:46:06 +0000

Disruption is the new normal. Cyberattacks, natural disasters, and unforeseen technical glitches can cripple even the most prepared businesses. In today’s interconnected world, downtime translates to lost revenue, reputational damage, and potentially, the demise of your company.

This is where disaster recovery (DR) and business continuity (BC) come in, ensuring your operations keep humming along even amid chaos. And with the growing popularity of as-a-service solutions, you can now access these critical services without the hefty upfront investment or extensive expertise needed for traditional in-house implementations.

But 2024 brings a twist: artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly weaving itself into the fabric of DR and BC planning. Let’s explore how this dynamic duo is changing the game.

AI: The Secret Weapon in Your DR/BC Arsenal

Imagine a system that anticipates disruptions before they happen, automatically executes pre-defined recovery processes, and learns from each incident to optimize future responses. That’s the power of AI in DR and BC. Here are some key ways it’s making a difference:

Predictive analytics: AI algorithms can analyze vast datasets to identify potential vulnerabilities and predict failures with uncanny accuracy. This allows proactive steps like resource scaling or data backups, minimizing downtime and impact.
Automated recovery: Forget complex manuals and frantic troubleshooting. AI can automate key recovery tasks, like restoring systems or rerouting traffic, ensuring a swift and efficient response.
Continuous learning: Every incident becomes a learning opportunity. AI constantly analyzes past events to refine its understanding of threats and optimize recovery strategies for future situations.

Finding the Right Partner: DR/BCaaS Vendors

The DR/BCaaS landscape is brimming with solutions. Here are some of the leading players with innovative AI-powered offerings:

Cloud service providers (CSPs): Major players like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, and IBM offer comprehensive DR/BC solutions, leveraging their vast infrastructure and AI capabilities. Their solutions are scalable, secure, and often seamlessly integrate with existing cloud services.
Managed service providers (MSPs): Offering a more personalized touch, MSPs like Datto, Veeam, and Sungard AS provide tailored DR/BC solutions coupled with expert support and guidance. Their AI-powered tools automate tasks and provide valuable insights.
Niche specialists: Companies like Acronis focus on specific areas like cybersecurity, offering AI-driven threat detection and incident response solutions that seamlessly integrate with DR and BC plans.

Choosing the right vendor depends on your specific needs, budget, and technical expertise. Look for providers with robust AI capabilities, proven track records, and transparent pricing models.

Embracing the Future: DR/BCaaS in 2024 and Beyond

The future of DR/BCaaS is collaborative, automated, and predictive. AI will play a central role, constantly evolving and learning to safeguard your business against ever-evolving threats. Remember, investing in a DR/BC solution isn’t a frivolous expense, it’s an insurance policy against unforeseen risks. With the right as-a-service solution, you can weather any storm with confidence, ensuring your BC and resilience in the face of the unknown.

Additional Tips:

Regularly test your DR/BC plans to ensure they are effective.
Communicate your plans clearly to all stakeholders.
Stay updated on the latest threats and trends in DR and BC.

By embracing DR/BCaaS and harnessing the power of AI, you can confidently navigate the uncertainty of the future and ensure your business thrives, no matter what comes your way.

Next Steps

To learn more, take a look at GigaOm’s DR/BCaaS Key Criteria and Radar reports. These reports provide a comprehensive overview of the market, outline the criteria you’ll want to consider in a purchase decision, and evaluate how a number of vendors perform against those decision criteria.

If you’re not yet a GigaOm subscriber, you can access the research using a free trial.

The post Weathering the Storm: Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity as a Service (DR/BCaaS) in 2024 appeared first on Gigaom.

GigaOm Radar for Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity as a Service (DR/BCaaS)

Dr. Shane C. Archiquette — Wed, 20 Mar 2024 15:00:13 +0000

In a world where disaster recovery (DR) and business continuity (BC) are often viewed as necessary yet undifferentiated aspects of IT infrastructure, the landscape of disaster recovery and business continuity as a service (DR/BCaaS) is evolving with both promise and pitfalls. While organizations increasingly turn to outsourced solutions for DR/BC needs, the challenge lies in discerning value amidst a sea of providers with varied backgrounds and offerings.

DR/BCaaS represents a pivotal technology paradigm shift, offering organizations the promise of seamless data recovery and operational continuity in the face of disruptive events. It matters to organizations of all sizes and industries, promising to mitigate risks associated with data loss and downtime, thereby safeguarding revenue streams and customer trust. From startups to enterprises, the allure of DR/BCaaS lies in its ability to provide a cost-effective, scalable, and efficient solution for maintaining operational resilience.

From the perspective of C-suite executives, the imperative for adopting DR/BCaaS solutions stems from the critical need to ensure business continuity and mitigate financial and reputational risks associated with disruptions. While traditional DR approaches may have sufficed in the past, the dynamic nature of today’s business environment demands a more proactive and agile response to unforeseen events. DR/BCaaS offers the promise of offloading the burden of maintaining recovery infrastructure while providing enhanced features such as automated failover, granular testing, and diverse disaster recovery location options.

Building upon the foundations laid by previous iterations of DR/BCaaS, the technology is evolving to address emerging challenges and opportunities. Vendors are grappling with the transformation of customer-managed DR applications into consumable services, striving to balance mature orchestration and automation with user-centric design and simplicity. Moreover, the emergence of cloud-native applications necessitates a reevaluation of DR requirements, pushing providers to innovate in areas such as cloud-to-cloud DR and compatibility with diverse application architectures.

As organizations navigate the complexities of DR/BCaaS adoption, key considerations include defining the value proposition of the solution, aligning recovery objectives with business priorities, and evaluating the scalability and resilience of chosen providers. Furthermore, understanding the nuances of disaster scenarios and architectural requirements is paramount in selecting the most suitable DR/BCaaS solution for organizational needs.

In conclusion, the evolution of DR/BCaaS signifies a transformative shift in how organizations approach disaster recovery and business continuity. As technology continues to evolve and disrupt traditional paradigms, the imperative for organizations is to remain vigilant, adaptive, and informed in their pursuit of operational resilience. As organizations continue to grapple with the complexities of disaster recovery and business continuity, the evolution of DR/BCaaS represents both a challenge and an opportunity. By embracing the promise of outsourced solutions, organizations can navigate the turbulent waters of today’s business landscape with greater confidence and resilience.

This is our third year evaluating the DR/BCaaS space in the context of our Key Criteria and Radar reports. This report builds on our previous analysis and considers how the market has evolved over the last year.

This GigaOm Radar report examines 13 of the top DR/BCaaS solutions and compares offerings against the capabilities (table stakes, key features, and emerging features) and nonfunctional requirements (business criteria) outlined in the companion Key Criteria report. Together, these reports provide an overview of the market, identify leading DR/BCaaS offerings, and help decision-makers evaluate these solutions so they can make a more informed investment decision.

GIGAOM KEY CRITERIA AND RADAR REPORTS

The post GigaOm Radar for Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity as a Service (DR/BCaaS) appeared first on Gigaom.

GigaOm Key Criteria for Evaluating Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity as a Service (DR/BCaaS) Solutions

Dr. Shane C. Archiquette — Mon, 04 Mar 2024 16:15:56 +0000

In an era defined by technological innovation and global uncertainty, the imperative of maintaining robust disaster recovery (DR) and business continuity (BC) strategies cannot be overstated. Enter disaster recovery and business continuity as a service (DRaaS/BCaaS or DR/BCaaS), a transformative solution heralding a proactive and cost-effective approach to mitigating risks and ensuring seamless business operations.

DR/BCaaS epitomizes a holistic approach, amalgamating technology and business processes to fortify organizational resilience in the face of unforeseen events. Leveraging cloud-based services, it offers backup, recovery, and continuity solutions, enabling organizations to swiftly restore critical business operations. Vital for businesses of all sizes and industries, DR/BCaaS safeguards against disruptions and data loss, serving IT managers, CIOs, business continuity managers, and risk management professionals alike.

Business Imperative
From the vantage point of C-suite executives, the need for DR/BCaaS is clear: to ensure business continuity, mitigate financial and reputational risks, and navigate the treacherous waters of modern business with confidence. In the face of escalating cyberthreats, natural disasters, and labyrinthine IT environments, DR/BCaaS is an authoritative solution. Offering improved recovery time objectives (RTOs) and recovery point objectives (RPOs), enhanced data security, and reduced capital expenditure, it streamlines disaster recovery processes and safeguards revenue streams.

The evolution of DR/BCaaS underscores the development of a maturing market, buoyed by a growing array of vendors offering robust and scalable solutions. Fueled by the specter of cyberthreats and natural calamities, the drive toward DR/BCaaS has heightened, with customer requirements shifting to more advanced features like real-time replication and automated testing. Vendors have responded in kind, enriching their offerings to meet the evolving needs of their clientele.

Sector Adoption Score
To help executives and decision-makers assess the potential impact and value of a DR/BCaaS solution deployment to the business, this GigaOm Key Criteria report provides a structured assessment of the sector across five factors: benefit, maturity, urgency, impact, and effort. By scoring each factor based on how strongly it compels or deters adoption of a DR/BCaaS solution, we provide an overall Sector Adoption Score (Figure 1) of 3 out of 5, with 5 indicating the strongest possible recommendation to adopt. This indicates that a DR/BCaaS solution is a credible candidate for deployment and worthy of thoughtful consideration.

The factors contributing to the Sector Adoption Score for DR/BCaaS are explained in more detail in the Sector Brief section that follows.

Key Criteria for Evaluating DR/BCaaS Solutions

Sector Adoption Score

Deters
Adoption

Discourages
Adoption

Merits
Consideration

Encourages
Adoption

Compels
Adoption

Figure 1. Sector Adoption Score for DR/BCaaS

This is the third year that GigaOm has reported on the DR/BCaaS space in the context of our Key Criteria and Radar reports. This report builds on our previous analysis and considers how the market has evolved over the last year.

This GigaOm Key Criteria report highlights the capabilities (table stakes, key features, and emerging features) and nonfunctional requirements (business criteria) for selecting an effective DR/BCaaS solution. The companion GigaOm Radar report identifies vendors and products that excel in those decision criteria. Together, these reports provide an overview of the market, identify leading DR/BCaaS offerings, and help decision-makers evaluate these solutions so they can make a more informed investment decision.

GIGAOM KEY CRITERIA AND RADAR REPORTS

The post GigaOm Key Criteria for Evaluating Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity as a Service (DR/BCaaS) Solutions appeared first on Gigaom.

Dr. Shane C. Archiquette, Author at Gigaom

GigaOm Key Criteria for Evaluating Hybrid Cloud Data Protection Solutions

Key Criteria for Evaluating Hybrid Cloud Data Protection Solutions

Sector Adoption Score

DetersAdoption

DiscouragesAdoption

MeritsConsideration

EncouragesAdoption

CompelsAdoption

GIGAOM KEY CRITERIA AND RADAR REPORTS

GigaOm Key Criteria for Evaluating Edge Orchestration Platforms

Key Criteria for Evaluating Edge Orchestration Platforms

Sector Adoption Score

DetersAdoption

DiscouragesAdoption

MeritsConsideration

EncouragesAdoption

CompelsAdoption

GIGAOM KEY CRITERIA AND RADAR REPORTS

Weathering the Storm: Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity as a Service (DR/BCaaS) in 2024

AI: The Secret Weapon in Your DR/BC Arsenal

Finding the Right Partner: DR/BCaaS Vendors

Embracing the Future: DR/BCaaS in 2024 and Beyond

Next Steps

GigaOm Radar for Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity as a Service (DR/BCaaS)

GIGAOM KEY CRITERIA AND RADAR REPORTS

GigaOm Key Criteria for Evaluating Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity as a Service (DR/BCaaS) Solutions

Key Criteria for Evaluating DR/BCaaS Solutions

Sector Adoption Score

DetersAdoption

DiscouragesAdoption

MeritsConsideration

EncouragesAdoption

CompelsAdoption

GIGAOM KEY CRITERIA AND RADAR REPORTS

Deters
Adoption

Discourages
Adoption

Merits
Consideration

Encourages
Adoption

Compels
Adoption

Deters
Adoption

Discourages
Adoption

Merits
Consideration

Encourages
Adoption

Compels
Adoption

Deters
Adoption

Discourages
Adoption

Merits
Consideration

Encourages
Adoption

Compels
Adoption