The IT infrastructure space is complex, and new cloud migrations have only added to the problem. The work involved in managing hosting and servers can be a tall order for IT departments or companies that manage their own hosting and can decrease their overall productivity.

According to a survey by INAP, the top IT challenges companies faced in 2020 were cybersecurity, cloud management, and skilled IT talent acquisition. With IT teams overloaded with development tasks, businesses need more help from infrastructure providers to support their hardware management.

Wowrack works as a partner to help ease the burden of infrastructure management. The company prides itself on collaborating with customers to meet their needs and delivering solutions to their complicated IT issues.

“​​With managed services and infrastructure, we can host them in our private cloud services, provide web hosting or public cloud management, like AWS and Google Kubernetes. So we’re more of a hands-on service provider,” said Erward (Ed) Osckar, Founding Partner of Wowrack.

Since launching in 2001, Wowrack has delivered enterprise-grade hosting and infrastructure solutions to mid-market businesses. Its wide range of services allows companies to find all their hosting needs under one roof. Today, Wowrack is once again featured in the most prestigious blog in the web hosting industry, discussing the current and future plans of the company.

Managed Cloud Hosting Solutions with Increased Security

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Wowrack ran into several uncertainties, and so did its client base. But at the start of 2021, the company began to bounce back from the obstacles that COVID had brought. The company returned to a growth pattern, and its customers also found their footing.

“Our customers are getting projects moving, getting things updated and upgraded. Although we’re still in this pandemic, businesswise, we have seen recovery, and it’s speeding to get better,” said Ed.

Wowrack helps customers save time and money by providing a complete package of managed hosting solutions. Its services range from infrastructure installation to system administration and maintenance. Wowrack also offers several hosting and colocation options, including hybrid cloud, dedicated hosting, and full cabinet colocation, among others.

In 2021, Wowrack also set out to enhance its cybersecurity offerings. As threats increase online and on the cloud, companies will need to increase their protection. But most of them don’t know where to begin or overlook the urgency of cybersecurity.

“A lot of organizations don’t understand what the threats are out there, how to mitigate it, and how to deal with it if they aren’t affected by it. So, we not only consult with our customers, but we have helped them get out of ransomware or attacks,” said Ed.

Wowrack not only offers managed cloud hosting services but also managed security. Its expert cybersecurity team monitors and patches threats, keeps up with the latest trends, including DDoS attacks, and is available at all times for an affordable price.

Businesses can also use its reliable backup services to ensure their data is never lost. Wowrack facilitates the entire process from initial installation to scheduling and recovery.

Fostering Customer Relationships Built on Trust

Wowrack hails from humble beginnings. Ed and his Founding Partner Jimmy Pandra started in an apartment studio running only six servers. Wowrack now has 5,000-plus clients globally and sustains more than 10,000 servers and 15 global datacenters around the clock.

The Wowrack team understands what it takes to achieve success, and it also recognizes the role its customers have played in that success. Gaining and maintaining customer trust has been a priority for the company since its inception. Wowrack values its relationships and sets out to solve its customers’ IT problems above all else.

Mid-market businesses are Wowrack’s core customer demographic, but it also works with a few large banks and tech companies.

Wowrack accompanies its clients along the cloud infrastructure adoption process. Ed said the team focuses on helping and advising wherever it can to improve a client’s IT operations.

“We would be a natural extension of their teams, such as their sysadmin, their network admin, or their security admin. And we are also their trusted adviser, as to, providing insights on technologies and how they can transform and drive their business,” said Ed.

The Wowrack team caters to client needs by providing a personalized approach to customer service. Wowrack gets to know its clients and figures out what strategy will work best for them. Ed said the goal is to help internal IT teams optimize their productivity and focus on the more critical areas of their jobs while Wowrack manages the operational side.

“We don’t take it lightly. I think how we gain the trust of our customers is we don’t sell. We give them solutions. And that trust factor is important in how we can keep and grow our business,” said Ed.

Extending its Reach into New Markets and Countries

As the hosting space grows increasingly crowded, Wowrack has evolved to meet the market’s demands and remain competitive.

“It’s a tough market and more competition with how people consume hosting and cloud. But we were fortunate in 2020, and we had a record year in revenue and profit. We had a good year in 2021 also. So we’re hoping to use that to grow the company in 2022,” said Ed.

The company also seeks to branch out domestically. Wowrack plans to enter other markets, expand its product features, and deploy in more US cities. Ed said the company will work more with server stadium brands and dedicated servers.

Wowrack will also add more automation to its services to simplify the hosting process. Customers will only need to place an order for a server, and that order builds automatically. And if the customer cancels, the commission will shut down right away as well.

Wowrack’s plans for expansion don’t stop there. Ed said the company has its sights on increasing its operation overseas.

“Going to different markets, especially in Asia, is exciting for us because there’s a lot of exponential growth that’s going on in Asia. So we’re hopeful that we can participate there and maybe partner with some local companies or conglomerates to offer our services,” said Ed.

The post Wowrack Offers Cloud Hosting for Mid-Market Companies appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

Private Cloud

To see the difference between cloud solutions, we must have a basis at first. So, let’s take a look at the private cloud.

Private cloud only allows one user or tenant to use the cloud environment. A special connection is often necessary in accessing the private cloud. This allows the “private” element of the setup by not sharing anything with other customers or users of the vendor.

This setup allows the user of the private cloud to easily customize and scale the setup according to the user’s need.

While the idea of “private” might highly interest you, not all kinds of businesses need to use this setup. The following are the kind of workloads that are ideal in using a private cloud:

• Sensitive data
• A business that requires strong security for its IT workload and infrastructure
• Enterprise that demand high performance and customizable IT infrastructures
• Company that requires a complex and customizable data center
• Highly regulated industries and government agencies

Before using this solution, it is better to know the pros and cons of using the private cloud.

Pros:

• Flexibility: As the space of the cloud is only meant for one tenant or user, it is easy to transform the cloud based on the ever-changing need of your business.
• Higher Security: Users who require strict regulation regarding the safety and security of their data can easily apply protocols, measures, or configurations within the cloud as necessitated.
• Scalability Without Tradeoff: Users can easily scale the private cloud without sacrificing the security of the system and reduction in performance.
• Efficient in Performance: Private cloud is always known for high reliability and performance.

Cons:

• Higher Price: The privilege of being “private” does not always come cheap, as private clouds always tend to cost more than public clouds.
• Difficulty for Mobile User: Private cloud sometimes require special arrangement such as VPN to be able to connect into the cloud. Thus, mobile devices may have none to limited access within the cloud.
• Planned Scalability: While the private cloud can be scaled like any other cloud solution, the private cloud cannot be scaled at the spur of the moment and require planning.

Public Cloud

A public cloud is a cloud computing model in which the space within the cloud is shared between the customers.

This form of cloud computing is the most popular one out of the three that we will be discussing today. The public cloud could offer a wide arrange of choices for the growing need for IT solutions and computing resources.

The use of the public cloud could range from a small service such as email, apps, or storage. An enterprise-grade infrastructure environment can also be supported by public cloud..

You can look at the pros and cons that need to be considered before using this cloud service.

Pros:

• Affordability: Flexible pricing options are available based on the specification that you use makes it easily affordable to use.
• Business Focus: As the third-party vendor taking care of the necessary infrastructure and maintenance, user can put their focus straight into their business.
• Easy to Scale: Public cloud is very easy to scale and can be done at a moment’s notice, allowing it to be adaptable against a spike in the network.

Cons:

• Lack of Security: Unlike the private cloud, the public cloud is used by multiple tenants within the same cloud. This reduces the amount of security and protocol that can be used in the environment.
• Lack of Cost Control: Generally, the TCO or total cost ownership can skyrocket when using the public cloud for large-scale usage.
• Low Technical Control: The public cloud is a poor choice if certain compliances are required to be met. This is due to little to no control and visibility of the infrastructure.

Hybrid Cloud

Lastly, we have hybrid cloud as the last form of cloud computing model. This form of cloud computing is a unique one. In a sense that it combines elements of the private and public cloud into one.

You can find some of the common set up used by hybrid cloud:

• Businesses use private cloud environments for their day-to-day operation and IT needs while employing public cloud in case of a spike in network traffic, or
• Enterprise use public cloud as the common workspace and private cloud as a place to store sensitive data or information.

Other than combining two cloud solutions, the user of hybrid cloud could also choose to be homogeneous or heterogeneous.

Homogeneous refers to the use of cloud solutions from the same cloud provider. Meanwhile, heterogenous refers to the use of cloud solutions from two different cloud providers.

Combining two cloud solutions caused a whole new pros and cons that you need to consider. Thus, you might find the difference between cloud solutions in the hybrid cloud as a mix of private and public cloud.

Pros:

• Scale with Security: Hybrid cloud combination between two clouds allows this system to be able to scale without sacrificing security as the private cloud could.
• Cost Control: With the division of tasks that is possible with a hybrid cloud, businesses can choose which cloud to be scaled based on the workload.
• Reliability: The distribution of workload across two different cloud – or even services – allow businesses to have maximum reliability and data retention.

Cons:

• Complexity: Combining both public and private cloud adds another layer of complexity. This is true both in the operation and management of the cloud environment.
• Higher Price: Using both public and private clouds can be overwhelming and hard to track. Thus without proper management, the cost of the service could balloon.

Wowrack Cloud Infrastructure

Understanding the difference between cloud solutions is the first step in using a cloud environment. Wowrack offers all forms of cloud solutions from public, private, to a hybrid cloud. All of which, you can choose depending on your workload needs.

With data centers located all around the world and reliably certified by such as ISO 27001 and SOC 2 Type II/SSAE 18, Wowrack to assure your data availability and security to the highest standard.

So, are you ready to drive your workload to the cloud? Let’s start with us today!

The post The Difference Between Cloud Solutions appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

Computer, or IT in general, is always something unique since its birth. Moore’s law truly describes it perfectly. In layman’s words, it says that computer performance will always double every two years.

It means that every two years the IT industries will always have innovations. Meanwhile, in-house IT infrastructure will always be lagging. This could spell disaster for business, especially in the current digital environment.

One of the ways you can do to keep with the current digital environment is to integrate managed service into your business. Here, you can find what a managed service is and why you should use it.

What is Manage Service

First, let’s answer the question of “what is managed service?”

Manage service is a term that describes the outsourcing use of a third party in maintaining, managing, and administrating anything related to IT. It can be your infrastructure, security, or storage among other things.

In 2025, Statista projected that this type of IT service will reach a market cap of around $356 billion. It shows how businesses shift from in-house IT service to outsourcing others that specialized in it.

Small to medium business is the one that is most profited from this trend. It allows them to keep up and even compete with middle to enterprise-level within the digital market.

Why Use Managed Services?

Now that we have cleared the basics of what managed service is, we can immediately go to a more in-depth explanation of why you should use this service.

Generally, there are 6 benefits that you can receive from outsourcing your IT management.

1. Handled by Expert

Handling by the expert for your IT infrastructure will be the first benefit of using a managed service.

As previously mentioned, development and innovation within the IT world always come at a quick pace. This would result in some businesses being unable to keep up with the pace.

Meanwhile, MSP or Managed Service Provider has the sole focus on keeping up with the current IT development and innovation. Thus, they will have all the experts needed in operating an up-to-date IT infrastructure.

2. Low Cost

Businesses that use managed services can also reduce the spending needed to keep IT running. This could range from the infrastructure and especially the labor cost.

An agreement between business and MSP can also make sure that there will be no unnecessary service costs. This allows business to shift their expense model into that operating expense model.

3. Easy to Scale

There are times when demand in the business is high and there are times when it is low. Meanwhile, most of the in-house IT infrastructure will stay the way they are. It means that businesses risk overloading or even underloading their IT.

One of the benefits of using MSP is it allows businesses to adjust the IT capacity according to real-time needs. As such you can easily scale your service accordingly.

4. 24/7 Support

MSP will often provide 24/7 support for your business depending on the plan you choose. Thus, you can easily contact or request help at the moment’s notice. MSP with around the globe coverage will be much better in this regard.

5. Minimized Downtime

The experience of most in-house IT users is to fix something that has already broken. This could cost precious time and money to be wasted from the resulting downtime.

By using managed service, you can minimize such downtime with the help of an expert within the MSP. They will proactively maintain and secure your IT infrastructure.

6. Focus on Your Business

The biggest reason for using a managed service is so you can focus more on your business. Today, a growing business means growing IT requirements. This often results in a distraction from your core business.

A good MSP can offer you a flexible service model, be it as an addition to your current team or handle all of your IT needs. In this way, you can back to put your focus on developing and growing the business.

How Wowrack can Help You

With over 20 years of experience in the IT world, Wowrack stands ready to provide white-glove treatment for all of your IT needs. Certified experts, flexible service plans, and advanced tools will allow you to focus entirely on your business.

So, are you ready to advance your business? Let’s get started!

The post 6 Reasons for Using Managed Services in Your Business appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

This migration will allow the business to provide broader access for their customer or their own employee to a certain degree. 

Here, we have compiled a discussion on the general look of “what is a cloud”, the planning and strategies that you could use, and the common challenge that you might face when performing cloud migration. 

General Look of “What is Cloud” 

To understand why you might need to perform cloud migration in the current business environment, you first need to know about the cloud. 

Cloud computing – often being shortened into “cloud” – refers to the pool of computer services that you can access through the connection of the internet. 

The advantage of this pool of computers is its ability to be accessed instantly without the need for the user to set it up themselves. Cloud also allows businesses to move away from on-premise storage. 

Instead, the cloud provider will have dedicated massive data centers around the world to fill all of their clients’ needs. These data centers allow the cloud provider to better maintain and secure the infrastructure. 

Why Move to Cloud? 

You then might ask, why should you perform cloud migration or why even use the cloud at all? So, let us make it clear the two biggest advantages of using the cloud today. 

1. No More On-Premise Server – This means no more dedicated IT specialists. You can focus more on what is your business need, rather than performing maintenance of your IT infrastructure. 

2. Virtually Limitless Computer Resources – You can have as many computer resources as you need. High workloads, add more resources. Not much going on, reduce the resources. That simple. 

If you are still unsure about the feasibility of using the cloud for your business, here are some reports and surveys regarding what the future is like. 

According to Flexera, by the end of 2020, 60% of small and medium businesses moved their workload to clouds and will continue to use the cloud for the foreseeable future. 

Another survey conducted by Venture Beat conclude that 50% of the Fortune 500 companies have undergone a digital transformation in the Q3 of 2021. 

These two surveys should have shown that modern business is putting great attention to the use of the cloud and slowly moving away from an on-premise server to cloud setups. 

Planning What You are Moving 

So, let’s say that you are willing to move your business model from on-premise to cloud, what should you do first in this case. The first thing you need to do is to plan what you are moving into the cloud. 

The fundamental planning when you want to perform cloud migration are the following: 

3. Why you are moving it, 

4. What you are moving, and 

5. How you are going to do it. 

First, evaluate “why” you want to move into the cloud. The business environment often became the biggest reason perform the migration. 

Try to set aggressive goals to drive the migration forward. This includes creating a baseline of your IT performance and cloud migration key performance indicators (KPI). 

Second, find out what you want to move into the cloud. Preferably, workloads or applications that can be moved as they are will be the first ones to be migrated. Meanwhile, with the one that needs a lot of reworking as the last one to be migrated. 

Third, choose how you are going to do perform the migration. The use of tools to simplify migrations and choosing the correct cloud deployment model will be your focus on the last step of planning. We will discuss this more in-depth in the strategies section down below. 

Strategies You Can Use to Perform Cloud Migration 

There are three most common strategies that you can use when performing cloud migration from on-premise storage. Below are the strategies in the order of the quickest and easiest set up to the most difficult one. 

1.    Rehosting (Lift and Shift) 

Rehosting is the quickest and easiest choice you can choose when performing a cloud migration. This strategy is recommended to be used for simple and low-impact workloads. 

As the name implies, this strategy is only moving your data to the cloud. Thus, you might not receive the full benefit when compared to fully going cloud-native. 

2.    Replatforming (Move and Improve) 

The replatforming strategy is used if you are looking to have some of the benefits of what a cloud environment can provide to you. Usually, it involves modernization or updates to the workload or application that will be moved to the cloud. 

This strategy is often preferred when compared to rehosting due to the benefit that businesses could receive from the cloud infrastructure. 

3.    Refactoring (Rip and Replace) 

Refactoring or re-architecting strategy is only preferable for those who wish to fully embrace the cloud. This strategy will force businesses to perform total redesign of workloads or applications to receive the full potential of the cloud infrastructure. 

Common Challenges When Performing Cloud Migration 

There is nothing in the world that can work smoothly without a problem and the same can be said with performing cloud migration. 

Here are some common challenges that you might want to know before performing a cloud migration. 

• Complexity – Different types of cloud require different types of maintenance and can fulfill different types of needs. Understanding your need for the cloud will be the utmost important thing. 
• Dependencies – Workload and application dependencies might bring cloud migration to a grinding halt. 
• Legacy Application – There are times when workload or applications are too complicated and costly to be migrated into the cloud. This is why proper planning is necessary. 
• Databases – While not that big of a challenge, a large amount of data requires time to complete the migration into the cloud. 
• Managing Cost – Proper management of cloud resources can deliver cost-saving. Thus, business needs to consider all of the required cost before and after moving to the cloud. 

Wowrack is Here to Help

Moving to a new environment can be a daunting task for business, especially when we are talking about IT needs. This is why proper survey and analysis are better conducted before making any decision. 

If you are not sure what is the best compute environment for your application, you can always consult us by clicking the link down bellow. We will help you find the best-fit solutions for your needs.

The post What is Cloud Migration and the Benefit to Your Business? appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

Back in 2001, when Wowrack began its journey for the first time in global hosting markets, we put in mind that we were doing more than delivering a service. We were also delivering a quality, a need that our customers require.

Almost two decades after, precisely in 2020, Wowrack ranked 7th and 8th as the best private and hybrid cloud providers respectively according to HostReview. The 15th Annual Web Hosting Awards put Wowrack as one of world’s top ten cloud providers alongside big players in the market.

The assessment, accordingly, covers the overall quality of services a hosting company delivers to the clients. In other words, this includes technology, security, support teams, and so forth. Also, the reviewer evaluates how a company perceives emerging trends and solves complex challenges businesses face worldwide.

But what does this have to do with Wowrack—and, especially, with you?

Wowrack Delivers a Service Quality to Global Customers

Upon delivering services, our team follows strict protocols and such standards as SOC2 Type II/SSAE 18. This is to ensure that everything will go according to plan and nothing goes wrong in the process. Long story short, it is part of our commitment to always deliver the best quality our customers can get.

We completely understand that our customers’ businesses are critical. They, indifferent from us, have customers that they have to accommodate 24/7. There are needs that they have to cater and that is why failure is not an option.

That being said, how can they smoothly facilitate their customers without having a reliable infrastructure that runs without a problem?

This becomes a critical mission that Wowrack has: to provide the best IT infrastructure solutions for our customers. The infrastructure that we provide varies. Depending of what customers need, Wowrack has private, public, and hybrid cloud, as well as colocation.

However, to know what you actually need better, we suggest you to consult to the expert. After all, we can agree that self-diagnosis can oftentimes lead to a more problematic outcome.

However, after getting into one of the prestigious awards in the world, here comes the following question. What’s next?

Wowrack will always commit to deliver the best services that our customers actually need. In so doing, we will continuously improve our services better, whether in terms of technology or support.

The post Wowrack Belongs to Top 10 Global Private and Hybrid Cloud Providers 2020 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.

This article is to serve as a basic guide to the benefits of cloud server hosting. Traditional servers have always run a higher risk of data loss and DDOS attacks (Distributed Denial of Service) from hackers and malicious software due to the fact that data is stored in one place. They are also subject to other undesirable problems that could have an adverse effect on your business including unscheduled server downtime slow performance due to high traffic and the dreaded data loss. Nobody should have to lose data these days.

Cloud servers are made up of multiple servers allowing for safer data storage and better performance. Businesses can be confident in knowing that their data is secure by being stored and backed up over multiple datacenters. These datacenters mitigate your chances of downtime and data loss.

PERFECT FUTURE

In 2019 the hybrid cloud market accounted for around $200 Billion and has no intention of regressing. The concept of locally stored data is obsolete and so are the risks involved with it. No business should have to worry about losing data or not having access to it on demand from any device anywhere in the world. Also managing all the public hosting options on offer can become cumbersome and counterproductive. Some of the key benefits of cloud computing include:

· Accessibility

· Speed

· Savings on hardware

· Data Security

· Flexibility

· Efficiency

· Scalability

CLOUD UNIFICATION

Wowrack’s world-class hybrid cloud solutions promote a more streamlined digital work space saving you time and money. Gone are the days of having your data, services and applications spread over numerous cloud servers supplied by different companies. By incorporating your services from public clouds into the private cloud you can have complete control over multiple services from one convenient place. This means that you will not have to leave behind the services you are familiar with.

PIECE OF MIND

These hybrid cloud systems are run in state-of-the-art colocation data centers allowing you the flexibility to add your own dedicated hardware into our existing infrastructure. With this in place you can be assured that your data and IT management is in safe hands. You will be prepared for any potential disasters that may come your way.

SECURE REMOTE ACCESS

Implement cloud server hosting into your business today and reap the benefits of high performance remote access to your data and software from any device anywhere on the globe making collaboration simple. The modern business in this technological age needs the confidence that their systems are secure and data is safe. Wowrack is also HIPAA compliant which ensures data privacy especially required within the healthcare sector.

Save money, streamline and protect your business with tailor made cloud computing solutions now and get the competitive edge over your competition. Cloud server hosting is a way to help your business thrive in this digital era

The post Benefits of Cloud Server Hosting appeared first on Wowrack Blog.

What is Cloud Hosting?

In the simplest terms, cloud hosting means that your data is stored in a fashion that is scalable, has built-in redundancies and is capital-expenditure free. On the infrastructure side, there are three primary types of cloud – Private Cloud (single-tenant), Public Cloud (multi-tenant), and Hybrid Cloud (a mixture of both Private and Public Clouds).

Private Cloud

A private cloud is a single-tenant environment. You can tailor this environment specifically to your business. Because it is client-specific, it can be customized to any which way you’d like, from the type of hardware used, QoS standards to the types of technologies used (VMware vs. Hyper-V, or maybe Windows vs. Linux [or maybe you want both!]). A private cloud can often meet your business needs more directly than a public cloud. You can manage your own storage, compute and security of the environment in ways that might not be possible in public cloud environments. A private cloud gives you a large amount of control.  For high traffic, high performance compute, or just about any case where lots of traffic is in play, a private cloud will likely always come out to be the least expensive option as compared to a public cloud.

Public Cloud

Of course, some still opt to use a public cloud environment for a few different reasons. A public cloud is a multi-tenant environment, where your virtual environment shares the same physical resources as other individuals or companies.  This type of environment is not ideal for those organizations that have to adhere to compliancies. It’s a pay-per-use computing platform, which might be more cost-effective depending on your hosting needs. It provides scalability, which means that it can grow with your needs as you expand your business.

Hybrid Cloud

You may find that you need a little bit of both solutions, and that’s where a hybrid cloud setup can help. If you need the flexibility and control of a private cloud but still have data that you prefer to be on a public cloud, you don’t have to choose one or the other. If you already use public cloud services, Wowrack can help you combine those services with a new private cloud setup and can even setup a direct connect between the infrastructure you have with Wowrack with your public cloud using our SD-WAN service. Wowrack can also help you use your existing company-owned equipment to access both hosting technologies. You can find a great visual representation of a typical hybrid cloud setup here.

Wowrack

Now that you have a better idea of the differences between cloud hosting types, do you know which type may be right for you? Each kind of cloud hosting comes with its own set of benefits, and people choose different types for different reasons. If you need more information before making a choice, Wowrack will work with you to figure out which kind of cloud hosting will provide you with the most benefits. Whether you’ve already made a decision or you just want to ask some questions, feel free to get in touch or schedule a consultation through our website. We look forward to hearing from you.

The post The Three Types of Cloud Hosting Explained 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.

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.