IAM Key Components

IAM involves several key components, including authentication, authorization, and user provisioning and de-provisioning. Authentication is the process of verifying the identity of a user or device that is requesting access to a cloud resource. This can be achieved through various methods, such as passwords, security tokens, and biometric factors like fingerprints or facial recognition. By verifying the user’s identity, organizations can ensure that only authorized users have access to their cloud resources.

Authorization is the process of granting or denying access to a specific cloud resource based on the user’s identity and access privileges. Access privileges are typically assigned based on the user’s role or job function within the organization. For example, a user with administrative privileges would have access to more sensitive data and systems than a user with a basic user role.

Added Layer of Security

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is becoming increasingly popular as an added layer of security for the authentication process. MFA requires users to provide more than one form of authentication, such as a password and a security token, to verify their identity. This helps to prevent unauthorized access by ensuring that a potential attacker would need to possess more than just one factor of authentication to gain access to cloud resources.

Role-based access control (RBAC) is a model for managing access to cloud resources based on the user’s role or job function within the organization. RBAC allows organizations to manage access to resources more efficiently and securely by limiting access to only those users who require it to perform their job duties. This reduces the risk of data breaches and other security incidents that may occur due to unauthorized access.

User provisioning and de-provisioning are crucial components of IAM that ensure that users are provided with the necessary access privileges when they join an organization, and those privileges are removed when they leave the organization. This helps to prevent former employees from retaining access to sensitive data and systems after they have left the organization.

Conclusion

Ultimately, IAM is a critical aspect of cloud security that allows organizations to manage the digital identities of their users and control their access to cloud resources. By implementing IAM frameworks, organizations can reduce the risk of data breaches and other security incidents that may occur due to unauthorized access to cloud resources. IAM provides organizations with greater control over their cloud resources, ensuring that only authorized users have access to sensitive data and systems. As more and more organizations move their operations to the cloud, IAM will become increasingly important in ensuring the security of cloud-based data and systems.

Let’s start the conversation today! Click here to discuss how Wowrack can enhance your organizations security.

The post A Brief Overview of Identity & Access Management (IAM) appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

Simply put, vulnerability is a weakness that actors can use to infiltrate or access computer systems. Today, we are reminded of this vulnerability with the rise of the Log4j vulnerability.

This article will provide you with information regarding the log4j vulnerability. In addition, we also provide information in reducing or avoiding this vulnerability’s danger as a private or corporate entity.

What is the Log4j Vulnerability

Cybersecurity is a critical field to understand, especially in the digital age. While there are many glaring cybersecurity threats, such as viruses, ransomware, or phishing attacks, we often forget about the danger that arises from our own devices.

The National Institute of Standards and Technology defines vulnerability as a weakness or flaw within the security procedure, design, implementation, or internal controls that could accidentally trigger or exploit, resulting in a security breach.

The log4j is a Java-based logging utility used by billions of electronic devices to provide background information. It means, both private and business sectors who use Java-based programing language are running a risk of vulnerability in their systems. Several examples of these are websites, work applications, and even games.

CIO Dive reported that the log4j vulnerability works in a way that allows bad actors to gain access to IT systems without the use of authentication. The danger of this vulnerability doubles with how easily bad actors can exploit this vulnerability. Just a simple line of code is sufficient to access your system. Currently, Bitdefender has found out that bad actors are attempting to steal data or planting “Khonsari,” ransomware installed through backdoors and remote shells. It shows the possibility of a more dangerous attack from this vulnerability.

Mitigation of the Log4j Vulnerability

Vulnerable does not mean unfixable. With the world’s best IT practitioner and cybersecurity professional currently putting its attention to the log4j vulnerability, there is a big chance that a fix is on the way.

However, while we are waiting for fixes to be available, cyberattack threats will continue to linger around our IT systems. Therefore, while we are waiting for the patch that fixes this vulnerability, private and corporate can take preventative action to mitigate the vulnerability.

1. Use the Most Up-to-Date Version of Application

Firstly, the log4j vulnerability almost exists for all software based on the Java programming language. However, you can rest assured that most companies that develop software are already aware of the situation and the severity of the vulnerability.

It is crucial for both private and business to immediately patch up their software to the most up-to-date version. A temporary patch or hotfix can help mitigate the possibility of damage caused by the vulnerability.

2. Ensure Firewall is Active

Secondly, an attempt to access your IT systems through the log4j exploit will primarily use the internet connection as the medium. You will find malicious traffics attempting to break into your system. It may employ “spray and pray” or constant targeting techniques from the bad actors.

Ensuring your firewall protocol is active is one way to deter and reduce such attempts at your systems. Furthermore, if you already use additional firewall protection such as web application firewall (WAF), check if there is any new information, policy, or patch update regarding the exploit.

3. Constantly Backup Your Data

Then, as the vulnerability affects software applications and servers, ensuring your data backup is ready to use is essential. It ensures continuity if the data within your primary database is inaccessible. The biggest reason it might happen is primarily due to patch updates of the server.

4. Identifying Vulnerable Systems

The last step private and enterprises can take are identifying which systems are vulnerable to the exploit. Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency has already compiled all of the currently known software liable to the log4j exploit. In other word, it contains recommended actions that an entity can take if such software is used in the system.

Preventing Future Vulnerabilities

It is now generally accepted that the cost and effort required in creating preventative measures are significantly less than the cost of dealing with the fallout of a cybersecurity breach. In fact, business benefit $4 for every $1 it spend on cybersecurity effort.

While the current vulnerability is so massive in scope and may affect most IT users, properly investing in cybersecurity effort is worth doing. Especially for the protection and reduction in cost post-attack in the future.

In Wowrack, we can provide enterprises with a dedicated cybersecurity team available 24/7. We develop our in-house system to detect and respond to threats before they appear and disturb business workflow. We understand that a particular enterprise may have compliances that need to be followed. In this, we are confident that we can adjust our security service to follow the standards and compliances of your business.

Discover how Wowrack can be your best partner in protecting and safekeeping your data from today’s cybersecurity threats. Reach out to us now!

The post The Log4j Vulnerability: What You Should Know appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

Ransomware has become the root cause of many business infrastructure failures with staggering financial losses. The average cost to remediate a ransomware attack is about US$730,000, if the ransom isn’t paid. Surprisingly, the number escalates to $1.4million if the ransom is paid. Another worrying fact about ransomware attacks is that the number increased by 150% in 2020 as people started to embrace remote working or WFH. It is a threat that any business can’t afford to ignore.

Frankly speaking, no strategies could completely protect you from ransomware. For that reason, the best plan of action is to ensure the company is prepared to recover after the attack happens. Securing your data backup is critical to that process.

4 Steps to Ensure Your Backup Works against Ransomware

Do The Backup

The first thing is, obviously, do your backup. Conduct it correctly and regularly. What we suggest is to perform a 3-2-1 backup strategy. To do it properly, you need to have, at least, three total copies of your data. Two on-site/local backups on different mediums or devices and at least one off-site.

Having multiple copies of your data ensures you a higher probability of a successful recovery. Logically, you can always recover your data even if one of your backups cannot be accessed due to ransomware attacks or any other reasons.

Test the Backup and Recovery

The second step is to routinely test your backups to ensure that they truly work. During the tests, it is common to uncover things like missing software install disks and license keys that don’t refresh after recovery. For that reason, it is necessary to also store such data as install disks and license keys outside of your backup copies.

Wowrack recommends scheduling a regular test. How often you schedule the tests depends on your risks and data importance. One backup schedule does not fit all needs since different companies have different levels of tolerance. If you are not sure how often you should test your backup, you can always consult to an expert in the field.

Create and Document a Plan

Thirdly, it is necessary to create and document your plan. In the heat of the moment, it is easy to lose your way or spend critical time figuring out what to do. To put it simply, creating and documenting your plan ahead of time relieves possible stress and minimizes mistakes.

Some things to keep in mind while creating your plan are your Recovery Point Objective (RPO) and Recovery Time Objective (RTO). RPO determines how much data the business can afford to lose between backups. Meanwhile, RTO specifies the time required for system recovery.

Another tip: data worth paying extra attention to while creating the plan is Payroll and Accounts Payable/Receivable. Typically, recovering and rebuilding these data sets must be your top priority.

Separate Backups from Production

Finally, we suggest backing up off your domain to help keep your data secured. We also recommend using a unique and hard-to-guess username and password that is different from the administrator accounts. If possible, do not make a username that mimics your email address template.

Some service providers also strengthen your security by separating your backups from production. Wowrack, for instance, creates a backup network using separate NIC cards and specific ports to give you extra protection. Doing this inhibits bad actors from gaining access to your backup environment. Another extra but effective technique is having a data vault to store your backup that prevents deletion by any means other than expiration of a specific timestamp.

Bonus Recovery Tips

Even after recovery, however, similar ransomware attacks can still take place. This does not mean that your plans fail as ransomware can possibly reload during system restoration. Most of the time, the date when the ransomware attack began cannot be determined accurately. There is always a possibility that you recover a backup with ransomware in it.

To prevent it from happening, we encourage you to only recover data. Do fresh application installs instead of recovering the whole applications. By only recovering data, you can decrease the chances of reloading ransomware during system restoration.

The post 4 Steps to Protect Backup from Ransomware appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

SOC 2 engagements are based on the AICPA’s Trust Services Criteria. SOC 2 service auditor reports focus on a service organization’s non-financial reporting controls as they relate to security, availability, processing integrity, confidentiality, and privacy of a system. KirkpatrickPrice’s service auditor report verifies the suitability of the design and operating effectiveness of Wowrack’s controls to meet the standards for these criteria.

“The SOC2 Type II certification is a crucial achievement for Wowrack as it demonstrates our commitment to Uptime, Security and protecting our customer’s data and Privacy,” said Erward Osckar, Managing Partner at Wowrack. “We treat data very seriously at Wowrack. The SOC2 Type II shows that Wowrack is competent and serious about securing its customers’ data.”

“The SOC 2 audit is based on the Trust Services Criteria. Wowrack has selected the security, availability, and confidentiality categories for the basis of their audit,” said Joseph Kirkpatrick, President of KirkpatrickPrice. “Wowrack delivers trust-based services to their clients, and by communicating the results of this audit, their clients can be assured of their reliance on Wowrack’s controls.”

About Wowrack
Wow Technologies, Inc. (Wowrack) was founded in 2001 as a customer-centric cloud service provider offering various IT services, including Hosting services, Colocation, Cloud Backup, Managed Services, Disaster Recovery Solutions, and more. Our competency includes infrastructure design, provision, implementation, management, as well as compliance and high traffic web application monitoring that require scalability, fast performing, and secure infrastructure.

Also follow Wowrack on Social Media :
Facebook page, Instagram (@wowrack),  LinkedIn, and Twitter 

About KirkpatrickPrice
KirkpatrickPrice is a licensed CPA firm, PCI QSA, and a HITRUST CSF Assessor, registered with the PCAOB, providing assurance services to 1,000 clients in more than 48 states, Canada, Asia, and Europe. The firm has more than a decade of experience in information security and compliance assurance by performing assessments, audits, and tests that strengthen information security and internal controls. KirkpatrickPrice most commonly provides advice on SOC 1, SOC 2, PCI DSS, HIPAA, HITRUST CSF, GDPR, ISO 27001, FISMA, and CFPB frameworks. For more information, visit www.kirkpatrickprice.com, follow KirkpatrickPrice on Twitter (@KPAudit), or connect with KirkpatrickPrice on LinkedIn.

The post Wowrack Completes SOC 2 Type II / SSAE 18 Audit appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

NTFS is the primary file system for recent versions of Windows and Windows Server, that provides a full set of features including security descriptors, encryption, disk quotas, and rich metadata, and can be used with Cluster Shared Volumes (CSV) to provide continuously available volumes that can be accessed simultaneously from multiple nodes of a failover cluster.

So, what is ReFS?

Resilient File System (ReFS) is Microsoft’s newest file system, that designed to maximize data availability, scale efficiently to large data sets across diverse workloads, and provide data integrity by means of resiliency to corruption. The ReFS used to detect all types of disk corruption, data striping and also copy-on-write features. ReFS is a newest system of Windows based on NTFS, and in other words, this is an update system to complete the Windows NTFS system.

Basically, the ReFS system is better than the NTFS system. Because the NTFS system has several limitations that have been improved by the system. ReFS supports features that already exist in NTFS such as BitLocker encryption, access control lists for security, USN journaling, change notifications, symbolic links, junction points, mount points, reparse points, volume snapshots, file IDs, and OpLocks.

How does it work?

ReFS uses checksums for metadata and optionally for data files and has the ability to detect damage reliably. Additionally it can automatically repair detected damage using alternative data copies provided by Storage Spaces. ReFS can delete corrupt data when the volume is damaged and a copy of the data is damaged and it can handle most irreparable damage. ReFS introduces a data integrity scanner, known as a scrubber, which can periodically scans volumes, identifies damage and proactively triggers corrupt data repair. However, this system cannot be used for booting PCs or used in external media such as USB flash disks or memory cards.

Some of the advantages of ReFS compared to NTFS include the field of hyper-V and backup applications.

On Hyper-V, ReFS has some advantages:

1. The “Block Cloning” feature can accelerate copy operations, enabling quick, low-impact VM checkpoint merge operations, which in turn reduces the disk I/O load
2. The “Sparse VDL” feature can zero files rapidly, reducing the time needed to create fixed VHDs from 10s of minutes to mere seconds.

However, it’s not suitable for SAN-based cluster shared storage, at least for now, because the Hyper-V cluster will always put the ReFS CSV on “File System Redirected” mode, which caused the owner node to be the only one accessing the SAN, while the other nodes are accessing the storage over the cluster network (I’ve seen no SAN traffic flowing on the other nodes, only on the owner node). See below for more details:

This is on a ReFS CSV:

BlockRedirectedIOReason: NotBlockRedirected

FileSystemRedirectedIOReason: FileSystemReFs

Name: HVC-Prod-Disk3

Node: WOWHVC3

StateInfo: FileSystemRedirected

VolumeFriendlyName: HVC-Prod-Disk3

VolumeName: \\?\Volume{ee02dcb9-8066-458f-8fb4-cc974f8be89a}\

And this is on a NTFS CSV:

BlockRedirectedIOReason: NotBlockRedirected

FileSystemRedirectedIOReason : NotFileSystemRedirected

Name: HVC-Prod-Disk1

Node: WOWHVC3

StateInfo: Direct

VolumeFriendlyName: HVC-Prod-Disk1

VolumeName: \\?\Volume{7973af21-ee14-4d9e-aada-314e8b8d8850}\

With NTFS, all nodes are accessing the SAN storage using DirectIO, which should give us better performance.

But ReFS is okay for Storage Spaces Direct (S2D) configuration, since there is no shared storage anyway (every nodes have direct-attached disks) so all access is essentially redirected.

For Backup Applications, the advantages are as follows:

System Center DPM 2016 is actually using the resilient file system by default for the backup storage, as it utilizes the “block-cloning” technology on ReFS to accelerate the backup process. It’s a part of the “Modern Backup Storage” technology that SCDPM 2016 offers.

DPM 2016 uses block cloning to store backups on ReFS volumes. Instead of using copy-on-write to store backups (which was used by VolSnap in DPM 2012 R2), DPM 2016’s block cloning uses allocate-on-write. This change improves IOPS efficiency, making backups nearly 70% faster.

Veeam also recommends ReFS for the backup storage, as it also utilizes the same “block cloning” technology on ReFS (Veeam calls it “fast cloning capability”) to speed up the backup process.

Version 9.5 leverages the fast cloning capability in ReFS API to create synthetic backups without moving the data blocks between files, and instead, references backup file blocks already present on the volume. This means all manipulations associated with synthetic full backups are limited to metadata updates and require no actual I/O operations on backed up data.

Another advantage of using ReFS for backup storage is: it enables us to scale-up the backup storage capacity up to 35 PB (compared to a maximum of 256TB on NTFS)

So, to conclude this story:

1. On Hyper-V Cluster, use NTFS on SAN-based storage, and use ReFS on Storage Spaces Direct (S2D) storage
2. On a Standalone Hyper-V server, use ReFS so that we can take advantage of the “Block Cloning” and “Sparse VDL” feature, which can accelerate VM checkpoint merge operations and fixed VHD creation. However, please be advised that a ReFS partition can be expanded, but cannot be shrunk, so if you know that you will need to shrink the partition in the future, please use NTFS.
3. On Backup servers using SCDPM 2016 or Veeam B&R 9.5, use ReFS on the Backup Disk/Storage to accelerate the backup process

Curious what Wowrack can do for you? Contact us today to learn more!

The post Microsoft’s ReFS vs NTFS system Which is Better? appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

Without further ado, here are the biggest cloud trends we intend on seeing this year.

Larger Cloud-Storing Capacity

With more companies moving more of their data onto the cloud, there needs to be the physical space to handle it all. With a higher demand of cloud-storing capacity, there must be more data centers with the necessary equipment. Consumers will be looking for managed service providers that have the kind of space they need available, even if they don’t quite have the need for it yet. Along with this, consumers will be looking for providers that offer more scalable options, in order to make sure their needs can be met in the future.

More Applications Created Solely for Cloud Environments

While we’re still in this period where legacy companies are finally making the transition to the cloud, there are also companies who aren’t wasting time. They are placing their entire network on the cloud from the get-go. So, in order to accommodate this trend, cloud hosting providers will need to have access to the software and tools necessary to make the cloud accessible to absolutely everyone — especially smaller, newer businesses who have no prior systems to move over. This means the acquisition of more applications that are created solely for the cloud, as well as apps that can be used across multi-cloud environments. This will make workloads more user-friendly and portable, allowing consumers to take care of their business needs whenever, wherever.

The Rise of Open-Source Cloud Connectivity

Speaking of multi-cloud environments, another trend you can expect to see this year is the rise of open-source cloud connectivity. With so many data storage and management needs to be met, consumers will likely be reaching out to multiple vendors for their services, unless they can find a provider that can truly manage it all. That being said, the need for open-source technology will change the attitudes that consumers have towards owing their loyalty to just one vendor. It’s no secret then that MSPs who embrace this trend by offering solutions that are accessible over multiple cloud systems, are going to be more desirable.

Wowrack is up to date on the latest trends so that we can meet all your cloud hosting needs. Contact us today to learn more.

Less Patience for Consumers on Internet Speed and Quality

This year, we will be honing in on 5G. Yes, 5G. It will no longer be a matter of “my Internet is too slow” but, instead, “it’s just not fast enough.” Internet speed and quality is absolutely necessary for businesses in 2018, and anything less than amazing simply won’t be tolerated. MSPs need to keep this in mind and be sure all their services can keep up with the Internet speeds that their customers expect.

More Emphasis on SaaS

Last, but certainly not least, 2018 will be the year of Software as a Service, which will be the #1 deployed solution worldwide. With so many great software options out there that businesses rely on, they need a place where it can all be properly hosted. Although IaaS and PaaS will still be used, SaaS will be the simplest and most desirable option this year, and it’s pretty clear why. Companies need flexibility to do things their way, and a provider that will support them throughout their journey.

With so many people relying on a stable and flexible cloud environment, finding the right vendor who acknowledges these trends is critical. 

The post Check Out 2018’s Biggest Cloud Trends appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

Here at Wowrack, not only do we take you on a tour of a data center, but we also host open houses every so often to welcome large groups of those who just want to come by and check it out.

The next data center tour is January 10th. After all, what better way to start the New Year and gift your company’s network a new home?

Why Going on a Data Center Tour is Important

Since the data center is the selected location of where your server will be stored, it’s super important to know what this is going to look like. And, in general (but not always) seeing one data center will give you a good sense of what the other MSP’s data centers look like, too.

Seeing a data center for yourself can, for one, show you the obvious things. For instance, you can see if the data center is physically secured, if there is a cooling system in place, and overall, how the machinery looks. If it seems dusty, cluttered, and there are loose wires sticking out every which way, you may want to take a look at some other data centers, too. It also gives you a chance to learn more about how it all works, as well ask any questions that come to mind or haven’t already been answered.

Which, brings us to our next point…

What Questions You Should Ask

When it comes to as something as big as this, you want to make sure you’re absolutely certain before making the time and monetary investment. This is another way to get a good read on your prospective MSP. If they seem hesitant to answer your questions or are making you feel uncomfortable by asking them in the first place, then you might get a good sense of how your experience will be in the long term.

And, if you can’t think of any questions, here are some examples to get the juices flowing:

• Security – Who has access to the building? Have there have been break-ins?
• Electrical Infrastructure – How is this place getting power? How many distribution, backup systems, and generators are there?
• Troubleshooting – What happens if there is a problem with my equipment?

If you’d like to attend our Data Center Tour, Contact us today to make an appointment.

Registration for Wowrack’s Data Center Tour

Here at Wowrack, we believe there shouldn’t be any mystery. We pride ourselves on being transparent, so what you see is what you get.

In just a few weeks our Data Center Tour will take place on January 10th, 2018 from 9 AM to 3:30 PM, in Tukwila, Washington. Come and see for yourself the quality of the servers we maintain.

What to Do if you Can’t Make it This Time

If you can’t make it to this Data Center Tour, no worries! Wowrack always has our doors open (of course, not the doors to our secured data center) so you can make an appointment for a time that works best for you.

The post Are You Ready for Wowrack’s Data Center Tour? appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

That being said, while the ease of running a healthcare company digitally certainly has its benefits, companies have to take more steps in order to ensure their security. That’s because any company that collects the private healthcare information of their clients, needs to be 100% sure that their company – their network – is HIPAA compliant.

Why You Should Outsource Your Compliance into the Hands of Professionals

When it comes to healthcare businesses figuring out how to possibly manage on their systems, it can be a real headache. With tons of patients, clients, doctors, employees, and other users accessing this network, it can be confusing to know where to start.

For instance, patient files need to be accessed in case of an emergency. Imagine you have a patient come in and you need to know right away if they’re allergic to something, or they have a relevant medical history. If your network slows down or is inaccessible for any reason, it puts both the patient and the office at risk. Not only that, but how do you make sure that this patient’s information, as well as the information of all your other patients, doesn’t fall into the wrong hands?

That’s a hard pill to swallow.

This is where HIPAA compliance comes in, and this is also where things can get difficult.

You have enough things to worry about. Outsourcing your compliance in addition to your network management to professional company, will take the load off and let you focus on your job – helping people and even saving lives!

Why is HIPAA Compliance so Important, Anyway?

There are a lot of reasons any company in the healthcare industry needs to be compliant. For one, patients expect their information to be safe and secure – imagine if any person could just call your doctor ask what pills you’re taking?

That being said, one of the main reasons HIPAA compliance is so important for these companies is simply because the cost of not being compliant is a huge problem to face. HIPAA laws, nowadays – and especially since everything is computerized – are being taken more and more serious. If a breach happens or auditors come for a visit, you’d better be prepared.

Wowrack’s HIPAA Compliant Healthcare Cloud has all the tools and partnerships necessary Contact us to learn how we can help you get your network on one ASAP!

The “Healthcare” Cloud System

Every company who chooses to host their network on a managed cloud system will likely have a different infrastructure than a company in another industry. When it comes to healthcare companies, the cloud setup is going to be very unique. You need a cloud system that is secure and stays up to date on the latest software. Most importantly, it has to be designed to fit your business’ needs, while making HIPAA compliance a top priority.

Managed cloud hosting providers who have partnerships with Healthcare risk management companies and data security companies are going to be the kind of providers that you want to take care of your HIPAA compliance. It’s also important to make sure that your network’s data is going to be properly managed and secured at a reliable facility, so that breaches aren’t even a concern in the first place.

Remember – you’re putting your trust in this provider, and you need to be guaranteed that they are following the proper protocol to make sure your HIPAA compliant.

The post Don’t Let HIPAA Compliance Become a Headache appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

One feature that some managed cloud hosting providers offer is the option to store your network’s data in a data center location abroad. This can be really great for a business is who is running operations internationally, or has customers utilizing your service from another country.

If your company is currently conducting business abroad or you think it’s a possibility in the future, then it’s important to have all your questions answered before investing any time or money in a solution.

Start with these:

What Inspired this MSP to Seek Out Data Centers Abroad in the First Place?

Not all managed cloud hosting providers have taken the step to go overseas with their data centers. Some are perfectly satisfied with the clientele they have and the needs of that clientele, and don’t require anything more than what they currently have setup domestically.

But, when a hosting provider starts to gain clients who are dealing with markets abroad and require more space, then these providers need to consider expanding further. It could be that their clients’ needs came first, or that they wanted to make their services give more appealing than the next guy. But, either way, it doesn’t hurt to ask what caused your MSP to make this move — or how long they’ve had these data centers abroad.

Where Are They Located and How Did They Choose Those Locations?

Now, if you think you’re going to be one of those clients who needs access to a server abroad, there are some additional things you’re going to want to ask your MSP. At the top of your list of questions should be how they came about choosing the locations abroad that they did.

A good answer would be that that specific location is more “politically and environmentally stable.” Or, that, the country is a hub for data servers. Or, that the location is a huge IT powerhouse and there’s no reason not to build it there! For example, some of these countries in Asia hold some of the world’s largest data facilities. Whatever their reason may be, it would be beneficial to know a bit more of the background story, first.

Wowrack has data center locations in Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands. Contact us to learn how you can utilize these data centers so you can do business where it matters most.

Are They Secure?

Once you have a good feeling that these worldwide data centers are a good place to run your business on the cloud, you need to find out one more thing: How secure are these data centers, and are these centers — or, these countries — held up to the same compliance standards as the United States? Can you be sure that whatever protocol your company follows stateside to be compliant and secure is also being followed there?

Many companies are growing quickly and doing a lot of business with markets worldwide. This means they need to be able to put their network on a server that’s located physically close to all the action, but that’s also completely reputable and managed by a responsible team of professionals.

Where will your server take you?

The post Does Your Perspective Cloud Hosting Provider Have Data Centers Worldwide? appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

Here are the basics when it comes to understanding your hybrid cloud ecosystem.

A Hybrid Cloud Ecosystem

A cloud ecosystem consists of a web of interdependent components that help drive various kinds of cloud computing services. It uses a combination of software and infrastructure along with human supervision to service its third party users. The term “hybrid,” in this case, just means a public or private cloud solution, or a mixture of both. Ultimately, the cloud is a network of servers each dedicated to a different job. And, depending on what kind of business you have, the type of cloud ecosystem you’ll rely on will be unique.

A Multiple Layer Infrastructure

Think of your cloud’s ecosystem as an onion — or anything else that has layers. A cake, a winter wardrobe, a comfy hotel bed…anything like that. A hybrid cloud infrastructure has multiple layers that are customizable. This allows users to create a system that is best for their business. With a hybrid cloud, users can build their own system based on what they need, what they want and what’s familiar.

Wowrack gives users the option to put together their own Hybrid Cloud Ecosystem, with the help of a professional who will guide you to what’s best for your company. Contact us today to learn more.

Understanding the Different Layers

So, we know that there are layers in a hybrid cloud ecosystem, but what do those layers mean? And, how do they all work together?

Beginning from your computer and ending at the cloud, here is what it generally looks like:

1. Operating System (Ex. Windows or Mac)
2. Cloud Provisioning OS (Ex. Cloudstack)
3. IT Automation Software (Ex. Puppet)
4. Hypervisor/Virtual Machine Monitor (Ex. XEN)
5. Infrastructure Monitoring Tools (Ex. Cacti)
6. Backup and Disaster Recovery Planning (Ex. Veeam)

(If you’re not familiar with these examples, don’t worry; they’re just to help explain how the hybrid cloud ecosystem works.)

These different layers of the hybrid cloud come together to formulate an entire ecosystem that connects all the various parts, and thus makes it easy for you to run your company’s network on the cloud. If one part of the ecosystem is missing, it would be very difficult for the rest of the servers to do their job

Even though your managed cloud hosting provider will create your perfect cloud ecosystem, again, remember that it’s necessary for your company’s leaders to understand how it works so you can only pay for the specific systems you want to deploy.

The post How a Hybrid Cloud Ecosystem Works appeared first on Wowrack Blog.