The latest study by an independent research company Forrester show that less that 20% of the companies in Europe and North America have incorporated data virtualisation and even fewer are realising its great potential.

Virtualisation is the creation of virtual, rather than actual version of something, it can be operating system, server, storage device or networks resources. Forrester defines virtualisation as a technology that abstracts, transforms, federates and delivers data taken from a variety of heterogeneous information sources. It allows users to access data from various sources through a request to a single access point.

The report by Forrester outlines two major factors limiting the adoption of data virtualisation:
1. The early products have failed customers expectations
2. Many of the bigger suppliers are still underplaying the benefits of virtualisation and IT is targeted at individual projects rather than enterprise wide architecture.

Forrester expects the market attitude to change within next 18 to 36 months as technology advancement, third-party integration and new usage patterns increase the awareness of virtualisation’s potential and benefits.

Google Chromebook is the thin client, cloud-based computing device that runs Google Chrome OS. Chromebook relies on Internet connectivity to access applications and store data. Will Google’s latest brainchild Chromebook  revolutionate desktop IT and set up a new computing standard?

The concept
The main assumption is that these days online service is available everywhere. Chromebook operates on Google’s free software (Gmail, Chrome, Google Talk, Picassa, Google Docs) that can basically do everything that the regular software can do. A laptop doesn’t need hard drive nor programs on it. Chromebook doesn’t require operating system and doesn’t need desktop, files nor folders. Everything a user needs is located online and all the laptop needs is a web browser. So even if you attach a hard drive of flash drive, its contents appears in the browser window. You can’t quit or minimize the browser as there is no desktop behind it.

Another step in cloud adoption
Google believes businesses will be keen on buying Chromebooks as they offer significantly lower total cost of ownership figures. Google laptops reduce the need for administration software, maintenance and helpdesk cost. “On average, enterprises spend $3,000 per year on their PC environment for a well-managed PC desktop. We believe Chrome OS will be significantly cheaper,” explained Google.
It is believed that Chromebooks will accelerate cloud adoption. “We are all starting to use the cloud more in our day-to-day lives, whether it is a web e-mail service, music streaming site or a cloud-based CRM application. The launch of the Chromebook by Google should help to further drive cloud adoption among businesses that had previously been unsure about switching to a virtual platform,” said Andrew McGrath, executive director of Virgin Media Business.
Experts warn that before embracing the cloud-based solution, businesses need to make sure that they have the connectivity in place as all the mission-critical applications will be accessed from the cloud. Adoption of the Chromebook will also require a change in IT management and monitoring systems. Any cloud-based services used by the organisation need to be carefully monitored  and controlled in order to ensure they are getting the service they require.

Threats and obstacles
While not online, Chromebook can’t really perform any operations. Users won’t be able to access their emails and documents, listen to music, watch film nor read books. Google’s software does the basic job but what happens if client wants to run some other software like Skype, iTunes or Photoshop?
“Without the web, Google’s business model fails. Every time we search, Google gets a chance to make money based on advertising. That’s why the company wants us to ditch our powerful laptops and trade them in for web-centric workstations that won’t work unless they are linked to Google’s servers,” criticised George Colony, CEO of the analyst firm.

Chromebook’s web-based structure is a strength for some and a weakness for others. However, it marks a shift towards the cloud solutions and moves IT from traditional desktop-based solutions.

Small and medium-seized businesses in Britain are adopting internet-based software and storage services more slowly than Europe’s firms. The study by VMware revealed that the average of 60 percent of SMEs have already adopted cloud-based IT services compared to 48 percent in the UK. Why British businesses are lagging behind the rest of Europe and what can be done to encourage SMEs to embrace the cloud?

The information appeared as Microsoft and Tata Consultancy Services have launched internet-based business software platforms for SMEs and IBM has revealed the range of products promoting the adoption of cloud services. According to the research, the most common service used by small and medium-seized enterprises was storing data remotely rather than on the server or on the hard drives. The most common software accessed from the cloud rather than installed directly were email and office software such as spreadsheets or word processing.

Some of the British businesses have adopted cloud solutions quite quickly, moving every service to a cloud provider. Others believe that cloud services are the next thing to sell and that the IT service providers are pushing customers to switch to cloud-based solutions, even if the solutions are not entirely suitable. There is also a security issue involved as some companies don’t believe that cloud is a safe way to go. They want to know where their data is stored, where is it backed to and what happens when they loose connectivity.

Phil Lydford, Director at Managed Networks believes that local cloud solutions providers can help SMEs overcome their concerns: “SMEs in the UK exhibit a preference for smaller private clouds that enable them to understand where their data is held and how secure it is in the event of difficulties. They also like to know that they can speak with someone who understands their situation rather that having to go through some remote help function. Integration with locally deployed businesses applications remains a challenge for large clouds in the SME environment.”

The Second Worldwide Cybersecurity Summit, taking place today and tomorrow in London raises a very important issue of the security of the world’s digital infrastructure. Facing the increased number of cybercrimes, governments and businesses realise the importance of online security and look to develop the effective strategy to protect the cyberspace.

The Second Worldwide Security Summit is organised by EastWest Institute and brings together leaders of governments, businesses and civil society from around the world. The event is taking place in London on 1-2 June 2011 and is a continuation of the first summit in Dallas in May 2010. There is a growing urge to establish diplomacy for cybersecurity as the leading corporations put a great pressure on governments to secure the cyberspace in order to protect the interests of the private sector. The EastWest Institute believes that moving government and private sector together, nationally and internationally could be a first step in building a safer cyberspace. The Summit’s three main goals are:

1. To mobilize new commitments by leading businesses and governments of Cyber 40 countries to address cross-border cybersecurity challenges.

2. To set in place new models for private sector leadership in addressing high priority vulnerabilities and threats associated with global internet connectivity and Information and Communication Technologies development.

3. To make advances on the most pressing issues in global management of critical information infrastructure with collaborative international breakthroughs.

In the past year we have witnessed a number of occurrences like Sony data breach, publication of confidential documents by Wikileaks or the discovery of Stuxnet that exposed the lack of consistent legal jurisdictions against cybercrimes.

Greg Austin, vice-president of the EastWest Institute’s Worldwide Security Initiative believes that: “Through the summit process, the EWI has been able to demonstrate that cybersecurity issues are more urgent than people think and that there are relatively easy solutions out there, but to get to those solutions we have to start talking to each other in more meaningful ways, more frequently and across more borders.”