Update News On Data Cloud Storage : Where Does Your Cloud Data Reside?

An overview of data location regulations and which providers support user designation of data storage sites.

 2015 is going to be a major year for cloud computing. As the growth in cloud usage continues, governments are taking more and more interest in security of personal data.

Herein lies a problem. It has become almost impossible to stop data from crossing over the lines on maps that separate one political entity from another. However, politicians want to be seen as exerting their will over important issues, and data sovereignty has become one such issue.

The EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is due to roll out across member countries during 2015. The GDPR defines what is deemed to be personal data and sets fines for such data being compromised by any company with operations in the EU. The fines could reach up to 100 million Euros or 5% of worldwide revenues for the offending company. All data breaches will need to be fully documented and disclosed to the EU regulator, and a breach may include the transfer of such data outside of the EU.

In the US, data breach disclosure requirements are already in place. However, via the Patriot Act, FISA (and FISAAA) and the use of disclosure warrants, the US is attempting to extend its reach beyond its shores into other territories. Such actions would obviously break the EU's GDPR.

Although Asia operates essentially as a collection of separate countries, 2014 showed a marked move towards a more European style of data security. As the growing economies of China, South Korea, Malaysia and others drive existing economies of Singapore, Japan, and Australia to change how they operate, each country is adopting data protection laws that they believe will enable them to compete effectively on the global stage.

So, where does this leave data sovereignty? It still looks like the overriding concern should be to partner with a cloud provider that has demonstrable capabilities around data security. Once that decision has been made, the need to maintain data in a specific geographic location can follow on. It's important to find a provider that understands technologies like data caching and content delivery networks (CDNs), which may violate data sovereignty rules.

Overall, data protection laws are still some way behind the actuality of data processing needs. Expect more change, and choose a provider that is prepared to deal with such change.

Posted by Unknown Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Nokia Lumia 900 Windows Phone 7.8 Update Listed On Nokia’s Servers

After the Lumia 800 and Lumia 510 were detailed on NaviFirm, this indicates that the Lumia 900 is also all set to get the Ms windows phone 7.8 upgrade as it too has been clicked on NaviFirm.

A review by WPCentral declares, “One of our eagle-eyed visitors captured the Lumia 900 getting in on the action. The OS upgrade is for RM-823, which is the worldwide, non-AT&T edition and has an OS edition variety of 8858 with the 12480 firmware. Ms windows phone 7.8 is completed at 8858 making this a true formal upgrade.”

The website goes on to state that one of its visitors had handled to obtain and show his Lumia 900 with the new OS and declares, “No Nokia functions, just stay flooring, Google image, new shades, new start show, new image.”

These functions are required as part of the Ms windows phone 7.8 program and the review contributes that Nokia will most probably include the camera applications via the Nokia Selection when it formally comes out the upgrade to customers.

Microsoft exposed some of the new functions that come with the upgrade, but the emphasize comes in the last passage of the post on the Ms windows phone Blog. Terry Myerson, Business Vice Chief executive, Ms windows phone, described, “We know you are desperate to get the Ms windows phone 7.8 upgrade, and we want you to know that we’re working carefully with our components and service provider associates to get it examined, accepted, and combined out to as many gadgets as possible in early 2013. As we work to quickly get this in the hands of our devoted customers, we’re also determined to provide a high-quality launch and ensure a sleek conversion for our commonly extended services.” 

Myerson described that Ms windows phone 7.8 not only functions the new Start show, which is used on Ms windows phone 8, but also delivers in a new variety of functions. He said that when he used the WP 7.8 upgrade on his Nokia Lumia 900, it sensed like using a completely new phone. Myerson described, “Resizable Live Tiles totally change the way I do things, offering quicker access to more of my preferred individuals, images, and applications.”

Windows phone 7.8 comes with more styles as well as an improved variety of feature shades, which is now 20 in all. The new os also functions new secure show functions such as the option to instantly show the Google Picture of the Day and the ‘A1B2C3’ PIN/ security password task to avoid random device baby wipes on mobile phones linked with Exchange records.

He had also described that there are a variety of new applications that are coming to Ms windows phone 7.5 and Ms windows seven.8 customers. Apps such as Words with Friends and Sketch Something are already available, while Upset Wildlife Space and Upset Wildlife Celebrity Conflicts are on the way.

Myerson described, “New designs running Ms windows phone 7.8 are beginning to launch in many nations around the world, building up the environment by offering more Ms windows Phones to more individuals. These gadgets will generally be marketed at a variety of lower prices, significance there will now be Ms windows Phones for everybody's budget and need. This is vital for expanding the reach of Ms windows phone across the planet and guaranteeing we have the right product for every market.”
The examining of the rollout of Ms windows phone 7.8 is already ongoing and Ms has handled to increase its international service protection by over 30 percent, increasing it to 95 countries—a variety that should continue to increase.

Posted by Unknown Saturday, December 15, 2012

Review : Lenovo ThinkCentre M92p Tiny

Summary: Unless internal expansion is required, we can find little wrong with the ThinkCentre M92p Tiny as a business-class ultra-small-form-factor PC.

The days of the traditional tower-format PC as a business workhorse may be numbered, but that doesn't mean it's appropriate for every organisation to embrace BYOD, filling their offices with assorted notebooks, ultrabooks and tablets. There remains a need for affordable and manageable desktop PCs that are space- and energy-efficient, and that IT departments can deploy with minimal hassle.

Lenovo's ThinkCentre M92p Tiny takes the small-form-factor PC very seriously, squeezing a perfectly reasonable (albeit minimally expandable) specification into a very small 'one-litre' volume of desk space. The price of our review system (system unit plus keyboard and mouse) was UK£531.05 (ex. VAT); nearest-equivalent prices elsewhere are US$774 and AU$651.89 (both these configurations are for a Core i5 rather than a Core i3 processor, as reviewed here).

The ThinkCentre M92p can be specified with an optional VESA monitor mounting bracket that also accommodates a USB 2.0 optical drive.

Design :
The overall impression of the ThinkCentre M92p's design is functional and unobtrusive. We measured the base unit at 18.2cm by 17.8cm by 3.3cm, which works out at 1.07 litres, so we'll give Lenovo its 'one-litre' claim (that's 7.2in. by 7in. by 1.3in. and 2.27 pints). Our review unit was fitted into a VESA monitor mounting bracket that also accommodates an external USB optical drive, bringing the full dimensions of our review sample to 18.2cm by 18.2cm by 6cm (7.2in. by 7.2in. by 2.36in.). The weight is 1.32kg (2.91lb) for the system unit and 2.07kg (4.56lb) with the VESA bracket and optical drive.

The ThinkCentre M92p (minus the optical drive) mounted on the back of a monitor using the VESA bracket.

When used independently of the VESA mount, the M92p can be lain horizontally or propped up vertically in a custom stand. There's no user access to the internals, so you'll need to make sure you get your initial specification right. 

Features :

Our review M92p unit runs a 2.6GHz Intel Core i3-2120T processor with 4GB of DDR3-1600 RAM. Graphics are handled by the integrated Intel HD Graphics 2000 GPU and the OS is Windows 7 Professional (Windows 8 Pro is now available too). The second-generation Core i3 processor used here doesn't support Intel's vPro remote/out-of-band management technology, but a third-generation Core i5-3470T chip is available that does.

For storage, our review unit had a 320GB SATA II (3Gbps) Western Digital hard drive spinning at a moderate 5,400rpm. Options include alternative hard drive capacities (500GB, 750GB) and a faster 128GB solid-state drive. We also had an optional USB 2.0 optical drive attached to the monitor mount.

The M92p has four USB 3.0 ports — two at the front and two at the back — plus another USB 2.0 port at the back for attaching the optical drive (which adds two more free USB 2.0 ports). For networking there's a Gigabit Ethernet (RJ-45) port, with the option (not present on our review unit) for Wi-Fi (single- or dual-band 802.11n) as well. Video connectivity is good, with two DisplayPort connectors and a legacy VGA port on offer. If you buy a couple of the optional splitter cables, you can configure a single large screen using four monitors in what Lenovo calls Mosaic mode (we didn't get to test this, as the cables weren't supplied):

The ThinkCentre M92p driving four monitors in Mosaic mode, courtesy of a pair of DisplayPort splitter cables.

The power supply is a reasonably compact external 65W unit.

Performance & power consumption :

The Windows Experience Index (WEI) for the ThinkCentre M92p is a moderate 4.6 (out of 7.9), the WEI corresponding to the lowest component score. As usual, this is for the integrated graphics — specifically Graphics (Desktop performance for Windows Aero). Memory (RAM) (Memory operations per second) and Primary hard disk (Disk data transfer rate) both scored 5.9, Gaming graphics (3D business and gaming graphics) registered 5.8 and Processor (Calculations per second) led the field with 6.9:

This isn't stellar performance, particularly on the graphics front. However, there are options available for boosting speed if necessary: upgrading the RAM to 8GB or even 16GB; specifying a faster third-generation Core i5 CPU; or fitting an SSD rather than a 5,400rpm hard drive. All of these upgrades will boost the cost, of course.

Running the demanding Cinebench 11.5 CPU and GPU benchmarks shows that the Core i3/HD Graphics 2000/4GB ThinkCentre M92p performs similarly to the Core i3/HD Graphics 2000/4GB ThinkCentre M92z AIO system we reviewed recently:

However, when it comes to disk performance, the ThinkCentre M92p's 320GB SATA II 5,400rpm hard drive lags behind the M92z's 500GB SATA III 7,200rpm drive in the ATTO Disk Benchmark (61.1MB/s write and 67.1MB/s read versus 129MB/s write and 130.3MB/s read respectively):

One of the reasons for specifying a small form factor PC is to minimise power consumption, so it's pleasing to see that the ThinkCentre M92p is frugal in this regard, drawing between 13.6W and 37.6W under various workloads:

ThinkCentre M92p power consumption under different levels of load (PT8 = Passmark Performance Test 8; CB = Cinebench 11.5).

Conclusion :
Unless internal expansion is required, we can find little wrong with Lenovo's ThinkCentre M92p as a business-class small-form-factor PC (and there are bigger models in the range if expansion is required). Our review unit was only a moderate performer, but alternative configurations are available to give it more muscle if required. 

 Power :

Pros :

• Compact 'one-litre' form factor
• Four USB 3.0 ports
• Business-grade manageability
• Monitor-mountable
• Multi-monitor support

Cons :

• No internal expansion
• Lacks Wi-Fi as standard
• Entry-level CPU lacks vPro support

Posted by Unknown Thursday, November 08, 2012

Microsoft's BizTalk 2013 Enterprise-Integration Server Hits Beta

Summary: The next version of BizTalk Server is due in the second half of calendar 2013. A public beta is available now.

Just about a year ago, after a lengthy silence, the Microsoft BizTalk team shared a brief update on its next release. This week, Microsoft made a beta of the next on-premises version of Microsoft's enterprise-integration server.

The next launch of BizTalk is not going to be known as BizTalk Hosting server 2010 R2. Instead, it's going to be BizTalk Hosting server 2013. It still is on monitor to back up Ms windows Hosting server 2012 and SQL Hosting server 2012 and to include with Graphic Facilities 2012.

Last we observed, the new BizTalk was due out six several weeks after Ms windows 8 -- which could have intended Feb 2013 if Ms is keeping a record of from the release-to-manufacturing time frame, or Apr 2013 if the Softies were calculating from common accessibility. Ms windows formal term, via a representative, is there will be a Release Applicant for BizTalk Hosting server 2013 in "early 2013" and the RTM will be avilable in the second 50 percent of schedule 2013.

Based on signs decreased by the Redmondians a year-plus ago, BizTalk Hosting server 2013 could be the last on-premises edition of BizTalk. Going ahead, Ms is implementing a cloud-first design for BizTalk, company authorities have said. BizTalk can run in the chronic exclusive device on Ms windows Pink. "It will also have new plugs to the Ms windows Pink Assistance Bus Lines and Subjects for developing multiple reasoning programs," the representative said.

What particularly is part of the BizTalk 2013 try out beyond those out-of-the-box reasoning solutions adapters? Here's Ms windows short list:

• RESTful solutions – BizTalk Hosting server 2013 Beta provides plugs to produce REST endpoints as well as present BizTalk Hosting server relics as a RESTful service.

• Improved SharePoint adaptor, enabling SharePoint-BizTalk incorporation wtih a computer file discuss. "We have eliminated the need for reliance on SharePoint farming, while still offering in reverse interface," Ms windows site says.

• Business Assistance Bus (ESB) Tool set incorporation.

As of 2011, according to Ms, there were more than 10,000 BizTalk Hosting server clients using the product to include Ms windows business procedures with those from other providers such as IBM, Oracle, Siebel, SAP, JD Edwards, etc.

The beta of BizTalk Server 2013 is available for public download from Microsoft's Download Center.

Posted by Unknown Thursday, November 08, 2012

Microsoft's Q1: Windows 8 Expectations Mixed

Summary: The Windows 8 launch appears to be devoid of optimism---except from Microsoft executives. File this launch and the financial impact of it in the wait and see category.

Ms will review its economical first one fourth income on Friday and all eyes will be on the Ms windows 8 release next week. However, objectives for the Ms windows 8 release appear to be combined at best.

The PC industry just isn't sure what to make of Ms windows 8. Apple CEO John Otellini mentioned there are many form factors and it's uncertain which one will win. Otellini said what components eventually victories with Ms windows 8 may not be known for a season.

Couple Ms windows 8---an OS that will have a new user interface and learning curve---with reducing PC income and Windows big release has a sequence of unknowns. Those concerns will be shown in Windows one fourth as well as the comments that follows the results.

Microsoft is predicted to review first one fourth income of 43 pennies a discuss on income of $12.68 billion dollars before Ms windows 8 release, according to Wall Road reports. The economical second one fourth, finishing Dec. 31, is predicted to bring income of 67 pennies a discuss on income of $17.77 billion dollars.

Given that leap from the Sept to Dec one fourth, experts are modelling some income pop. But experts stay careful.

Evercore specialist Kirk Materne said:

    We believe the beginning reviews on Win8 is likely to be a bit combined and need moderate until new touch-enabled components is delivered later this year/early 2013 – tempering any post-launch move.

Barclays specialist Raimo Lenschow said that poor PC income are troublesome for the Ms windows 8 launch:

    Although part of the justified reason for the PC poor point is generally linked to controlled buying before Ms windows 8, a major snapback in deliveries from such a large decrease is difficult to think about.

Oppenheimer specialist Shaul Eyal noted:

    We expect Win8 to be a strong item. Near term, we believe there is less pent-up need than when Win7 was launched with less contact products available at release date. Additionally, the point that Win8 overhauls the user-interface could expand the item pattern popularity by a few sectors before capturing on.

Others are more high energy. Morgan Stanley specialist Adam Holt is predicting that 3 thousand Area models will sell in the Dec one fourth. The proven reality that Area has a edition of Workplace on it works to Windows advantage, said Holt.

    Morgan Stanley’s May 2012 Azure Document on pills recommended that 61% of potential item customers saw the ability to use Workplace as among the most important features to consider when buying a item, and should work to Microsoft’s benefit.

In the bottom line, the Ms windows 8 release seems to be without optimism---except from Ms professionals. Computer file this release and the financial effect of it in the delay and see classification.
 

Posted by Unknown Thursday, October 18, 2012