Blog Entry

Customers want to benefit from all that cloud computing offers—but they don’t want to sacrifice, security, compliance or service levels. It’s possible to capitalize on cloud computing, without forging the path via a painful early-adopter lessons.

You can learn from companies who have done their homework and have already begun enjoying the benefits of cloud computing. For example, Novell partner Vodacom Business delivers Infrastructure-as-a-Service and Software-as-a-Service solutions across the African continent via the cloud. The company’s efforts succeed in large part due to its use of Novell’s WorkloadIQ technologies, including SUSE® Linux Enterprise Server, Platespin virtualization and workload management, and identity and security solutions.

Last November, Vodacom demonstrated the ease of configuring a virtual server to nearly 1,000 delegates at the NOW-ology seminar at Vodaworld, Midrand. In less than 10 minutes, the Vodacom Business team was able to add a virtual server; configure required operating systems, databases and applications; and set access and security levels as well as compliance rules.

That’s right, LESS THAN 10 MINUTES! All of this was on a live system running in Vodacom’s datacenter.

As a result of this intelligent workload management, businesses across Africa are today able to securely provision, manage and monitor multi-tenant applications deployed from Vodacom’s cloud infrastructure—and meet their unique business, security and regulatory compliance needs. In fact, one of Vodacom’s customers, BasisOne, now delivers hosted SAP ERP solutions as a service to its own customers. And again, Novell Identity and Security solutions are key enabling technologies.

With automated cloud service provisioning from the desktop, a fully configured server can be added in minutes. No waiting for hardware. No installation or licensing issues. It’s just a drag-and-drop process. All approvals are built into the system, with compliance and governance included.

Intelligent workload management offers countless channel opportunities—from providing cloud-based services, hosting business-critical applications and helping customers create and package workloads for cloud deployment. All of these opportunities require one key enabler for success: A strong identity-based foundation that can secure workloads, ensure compliance, automate manageability and deliver meaningful service-level measurement—regardless of where workloads reside. Make sure your customers understand this important concept as you move forward.

I cover intelligent workload management topics every week on my WorkloadIQ blog. Check it out if you have a spare minute.

–Richard Whitehead, AKA WorkloadIQ Man.