6 QUESTIONS TO KEEP YOU GROUNDED IN THE CLOUD

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1 6 QUESTIONS TO KEEP YOU GROUNDED IN THE CLOUD WHY CLOUD HOSTING IS MUCH MORE THAN A COMMODITY You re probably feeling the squeeze already. More people employees, clients, and consumers at large are using your applications, and they expect more from the experience. They re running high-end graphics and consuming more compute resources. They are flooding you with more data. Demanding that you do everything faster than before. Now, more than ever, the performance and speed of your Cloud-hosted application is critical to your success! Naturally, you ve begun to explore Cloud hosting to deal with these mounting demands. Cloud hosting can offer a lot of advantages. It can eliminate the need to build, retrofit, or upgrade your onsite IT infrastructure of corporate data center. It also saves you the time and costs that come with maintaining those systems which, for some organizations, can add up to millions of dollars each year freeing your capital for other growth opportunities. Perhaps best of all, the Cloud can scale right along with you as your business needs change. It s just a matter of buying additional resources, as your business needs them! But what s behind a computing block? Most buyers start by running some numbers on capacity. But that s not the whole story. Many popular public Cloud providers sell virtual CPUs (vcpus) and RAM, while other providers sell dedicated CPU cores with dedicated resources like ScaleMatrix TruCore. Factor in additional security concerns and the age-related performance of the equipment running your service, and the Cloud-as-a-commodity perspective gets a little foggy. Here are six questions you should ask when comparing Cloud service providers: 1. Does the provider offer virtual cores (vcpu) or true dedicated cores (like TruCore)? 2. What security safeguards are included? 3. How current is the hardware supporting the Cloud platform and what is the refresh rate? 4. Is the Cloud solution both flexible and scalable? 5. Can your provider guarantee where your data and storage resources will reside and that they will end up in the same facility as the compute resources themselves? 6. Does the Cloud solution include 24/7/365 live support? Don t let the air get thin as you explore the Cloud. Read on. The Cloud can scale with you... It s just a matter of buying more computing blocks. But what s behind a computing block? Most buyers start with capacity, but that s not the whole story.

2 1 DOES THE PROVIDER OFFER VIRTUAL CORES OR TRUE CORES? A gigahertz is a gigahertz, no matter where it comes from... or is it? This is a common misconception buyers make when comparing Cloud hosting services. Most of the time, buyers start with a capacity question. They re looking at CPUs, measured in either cores or gigahertz, said Dan Zeiler, VP of technology for ScaleMatrix. But capacity isn t just another commodity, especially when there s a difference between virtual and true cores (like TruCore). And that difference can add up to major issues with performance and predictability down the road. It s not quantity. It s quality. In the Cloud, a computing unit boils down to three major components: a block of compute, a chunk of RAM, and a heaping portion of disk storage. But it also matters how these parts are set up and how they work together. Case in point: Traditional public Cloud providers, like Amazon and Rackspace, use virtual cores that s virtual RAM and CPUs. These building blocks of your system may be split across multiple physical cores. If the provider is oversubscribed, you could be at the mercy of whoever else is sharing the computing block you re running on. So what does that mean? You could see a hit to your performance. When you split virtual cores across two or more physical cores, you can run into caching slowdowns, said Zeiler. Although the performance may only slow by nanoseconds, when you have billions of operations per second, it actually matters quite a bit. The advantage of true cores When you choose physical RAM and CPUs, or true cores (like TruCore), your provider is telling you exactly how much capacity you have available at all times. In addition, the best providers, like ScaleMatrix, also segment storage area network (SAN) and IP management traffic onto physically separated and discrete networks to ensure each client gets maximum performance. The difference? You enjoy more predictable performance and reliability than with nonsegmented virtual core solutions. And this predictability means you won t run the risk of buying more capacity than you need to make up for slow performance. In short, when you choose real cores, everything runs at the listed speed, your workload becomes stable, and you can stop chasing the problem of performance lags. When you split virtual cores across two or more physical cores, you run into caching slowdowns. Although the performance may only slow by nanoseconds, when you have billions of operations per second, it actually matters quite a bit. Dan Zeiler, VP of Technology, ScaleMatrix Translation: It could take your users longer to access files and run applications. For online shoppers, it could mean their transactions take more than a few seconds to complete, leaving them frustrated and ready to take their business elsewhere. 2

3 2 WHAT SECURITY SAFEGUARDS ARE INCLUDED? There are few things more important than your data and your reputation. A great Cloud hosting provider should take care of both. Moving data to the Cloud calls for special considerations, especially when it comes to client information, like credit card numbers, or if your business operates in the health or financial industry. On another front, you also need to make sure a malicious attack can t render your data or applications useless. That s why it s important to know what your provider is doing to protect you against hackers and other digital miscreants. Keep data safe at every level How many steps does it take to get to the center of your data? Some Cloud providers leave gaping holes in security at their data centers, like open racks that leave your information at risk for theft. Make sure your provider s hardware is biometrically coded, from the time someone walks into the data center all the way down to the rack level. At ScaleMatrix, racks are fully enclosed and biometrically locked and monitored at all times. This way, you can always see who s had physical access to the equipment you use. Will a DDoS attack bring you down? Take a disgruntled client, mix in a little technical know-how, and you could have a major problem on your hands. A distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack can take your data and applications offline until you re able to fend off the attackers. Even worse, when you re sharing equipment in a multitenant environment, you could be at risk if another of your provider s clients is attacked. Ask your potential Cloud providers how they would respond if you faced a DDoS attack. Will the provider alert you to the problem? Will they help fight it? At ScaleMatrix, clients networks are guarded with 40GB of DDoS protection in the unlikely event an attack takes place. Most of the time, the attack is extinguished before the client even knows it happened. Make sure your Cloud provider does the same. What s in your Cloud? Cloud computing units have three major building blocks: Choose security that s designed for the Cloud Your provider should offer anti-virus, anti-malware, and firewall protection as part of its package. Even better if its servers run on technology that s specifically designed to keep data safe in the cloud. For example, a provider certified with Intel Cloud Technology can offer features like Intel Platform Protection Technology (with OS Guard and Trusted Execution Technology), 1 which helps protect your system from privileged attacks and ensures you re running within trusted compute pools. CPUs Physical or virtual RAM Physical or virtual GBs Disk space Storage in GBs Finally, no matter what Cloud service provider you use, make sure you have the option to encrypt data. ScaleMatrix offers FIPS data encryption for an airtight degree of security. 3

4 3 HOW CURRENT IS THE HARDWARE AND WHAT IS THE REFRESH RATE? Let s come back to an important question: Are Cloud hosting services really a commodity? At first glance, they may appear to be. But dig deeper into the data center. How good is the hardware hosting your data and applications? But you can also rest assured knowing that tomorrow s performance will be even better. ScaleMatrix makes hardware upgrades every months, so you can always take advantage of the latest technology. You need more performance than ever Over the next few years, you ll probably need to deal with a greater influx of data and more demanding applications than ever before. Webpower apps, the Internet of Things, and high-end graphics are all trends that are turning organizations like yours to the Cloud for help. 2 But when you purchase Cloud hosting, do you know for sure that you re getting the most bang for your buck? In technology, newer is better We ve all seen it: the latest-generation hardware simply delivers better performance. For example, the Intel Xeon processor E5 v2 family can boost your general computing performance by up to 3.5x or your technical computing by up to 5.8x, compared with a typical 4-year-old server. 3,4,5 It s as true in the data center as it is in your own office. Newer hardware gives you a better input/output rate, as well as better throughput. Simply put, it does the job faster than old equipment, so your users can get what they need in less time. WHY YOU LL NEED A CLOUD WITH MORE KICK Here are some of the latest findings that are sending IT teams to the Cloud, according to Forbes Magazine. 2 As everyday devices become increasingly smart, you ll be dealing with a rush of new data. The Web will grow as a major platform for applications. Companies that adopt Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies will need to manage both devices and data. More IT teams will be interested in running graphics-intense applications through a Web browser. So ask any potential Cloud providers how often they re upgrading hardware. The answer may surprise you. Today at ScaleMatrix, Cloud services are delivered on high-performance servers that feature Intel Xeon processors E v2, based on Intel s latest Ivy Bridge architecture. This cutting-edge technology helps deliver top-notch hosting to your organization. ScaleMatrix also includes Intel Cloud Technology to give you an industry-leading user experience, even during bursts of increased demand. Adaptive performance adjusts to spikes in your workload, 6 while fast encryption protects your data without slowing you down. 7 4

5 4 IS THE CLOUD SOLUTION BOTH FLEXIBLE AND SCALABLE? Will you be able to customize your Cloud solution... or will you get what you get? Different Cloud hosting providers take different approaches. For example, what if you want to build a solution with the right class of storage for your unique needs? Maybe you want a higher grade of storage for your Microsoft Exchange* block than for your file server block. Ask your potential provider how fluid it would be to move from one resource group to another. Some providers just make it easier than others. ScaleMatrix lets you choose from preconfigured models, or you can customize your own. Clients can even choose between 1Gbps and 10Gbps network uplinks, so they always get just what they want. CLOUD MUST-HAVES CHECKLIST Make sure your Cloud hosting service includes: Intel Cloud Technology with the latest Intel Xeon processor E5 v2 family Guaranteed performance based on real cores (like ScaleMatrix TruCore) 24/7/365 live support Anti-virus and anti-malware Firewall protection Response to security threats Up-to-date hardware Choice of storage class 1Gbps and 10Gbps options 5 WILL YOUR DATA, STORAGE, AND COMPUTING BE IN THE SAME PLACE? Even if you don t know much about geography, know this it matters where your storage lives. If it s in the same geographic location as your servers, you re in good shape. If not, you might have a problem. The length of the cable that connects your storage area network (SAN) to your servers actually plays a big role in the performance you ll see. That s because you ll end up performing thousands of input/output operations each second. All of that data is pushed back and forth along the cable which means that any distance can add up very quickly. Make sure you know whether your provider s storage and servers are in the same data center. At ScaleMatrix data centers, our cables are never longer than 200 meters. That helps give you performance that s faster and more responsive. 6 WILL YOU GET 24/7/365 LIVE SUPPORT? What level of service does your monthly Cloud hosting cost cover? Make sure you ask any potential Cloud providers in advance how much help you ll get if you need support. For comparison, ScaleMatrix TruCore customers get live support, any time, any day. 5

6 READY FOR A BETTER CLOUD? Now that you know what to look for in a Cloud hosting provider, you be the judge. Are Cloud services just another commodity? With ScaleMatrix TruCore Cloud Hosting, clients purchase individual compute blocks of one dedicated core and 8GB of dedicated RAM an ideal ratio for virtualized environments. ScaleMatrix also offers enhanced security features, customization, and some of the best data center technology on the market. You can learn more about ScaleMatrix hosting services at You are also invited to request a demo at

7 1. No computer system can provide absolute security. Requires an enabled Intel processor, enabled chipset, firmware, or software; may require a subscription with a capable service provider (may not be available in all countries). Intel assumes no liability for lost or stolen data and/or systems or any other damages resulting thereof. Consult your Service Provider for availability and functionality. For more information, visit Consult your system manufacturer and/or software vendor for more information. 2. Sreedhar, Suhas, Seven Cloud Computing Trends In Forbes, Dec. 10, forbes.com/sites/sungardas/2013/12/10/seven-cloud-computing-trends-in-2014/. 3. Software and workloads used in performance tests may have been optimized for performance only on Intel microprocessors. Performance tests, such as SYSmark* and MobileMark*, are measured using specific computer systems, components, software, operations, and functions. Any change to any of those factors may cause the results to vary. You should consult other information and performance tests to assist you in fully evaluating your contemplated purchases, including the performance of that product when combined with other products. 4. Typical 4-year-old baseline configuration and SPECint*rate_base2006 benchmark score: Intel Xeon processor X5570, 48 GB memory, 1 x 73 GB SAS, RPM, SLES*11 SP1. Compiler version: Intel compiler Source as of Feb Score: 264. New Generation new configuration and SPECint rate_ base2006 benchmark score: Huawei Tecal* E9000 CH121 with two Intel Xeon processors E v2, 128 GB memory, RHEL* 6.3. Intel compiler Source as of Sept Score: Typical 4-year-old baseline configuration and Linpack* benchmark score: Supermicro pre-production system with two Intel Xeon processors X5570 (2.93 GHz, 4-core, 8 MB L3 cache, 6.4 GT/s, 95W), BIOS rev 02/23/2009, C3 Disabled, C6 Enabled, Turbo Enabled, HT Disabled, NUMA Enabled, 24 GB (6x4 GB DDR DR registered ECC), 1x150 GB 10K RPM SATA HDD, Red Hat EL5-U3 kernel el5 for x86_64). Source: Intel TR#1011A as of 17 September Score: 91 GFlops. New Generation new configuration and Linpack benchmark score: Intel Server Board S2600CP platform with two Intel Xeon processors E v2 (2.7 GHz, 12-core, 30MB L3 cache, 8.0 GT/s, 130W, C0-stepping), EIST Enabled, Turbo Boost enabled, Hyper-Threading Disabled, C-state Enabled, 64 GB memory (8x8 GB DDR3-1866), Red Hat Enterprise Linux* server 6.3. Source Intel TR#1307 as of June Score: 536 Gflops. 6. Requires a system with Intel Turbo Boost Technology. Intel Turbo Boost Technology and Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 are only available on select Intel processors. Consult your system manufacturer. Performance varies depending on hardware, software, and system configuration. For more information, visit 7. No computer system can provide absolute security. Requires an enabled Intel processor and software optimized for use of the technology. Consult your system manufacturer and/or software vendor for more information. 7

8 ABOUT SCALEMATRIX ScaleMatrix takes an infrastructure-based approach to solving the needs of the IT community. With ScaleMatrix TruCore Cloud Hosting, performance is never virtualized. Built on enterprise hardware and leveraging rock-solid VMware orchestration tools, TruCore Cloud Hosting provides the scalability and costs advantages of Cloud, with the performance of dedicated infrastructure. Copyright ScaleMatrix All brand, service, and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies. 2014, Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. Intel, the Intel logo, and Xeon are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and/or other countries. *Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.