Cloud Insiders

In this episode, Cloud Insiders host Stuart Robinson talks to Xtravirt Senior Consultant Steve Wood about VMware® AppDefense - a datacentre endpoint security product that protects applications running in virtualised environments.Listen in to find out what AppDefense is, how it works, how it can be deployed and what it means for the security of IT infrastructure.Steve has also put together a demo on deploying AppDefense, which you can view by going to:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1i5VBPyyeo&t=This episode was recorded before the release of VMware's vSphere Platinum which as Steve alludes to in this episode now includes AppDefense. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this podcast, Paul Davey and Sam Perrin from Xtravirt’s Cloud Automation Practice discuss automation, sharing their insight and learnings from having worked on dozens of automation projects.This episode outlines:What is automation?The common reasons businesses are automating business processes.Some of tools being used in automation – from Puppet and Chef for configuration management to HashiCorp’s options for provisioning, security and the running of applications.The need for businesses to take a business logic first approach to automation projects.Some common mistakes to avoid.How Xtravirt have designed workshops and best practice methodologies to ensure automation projects stay on track and deliver the business outcomes they were intended to.To find out more about Xtravirt’s Cloud Automation Practice, please contact:Sam Perrin - Sam_Perrin See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode of Cloud Insiders Tech Focus, we are looking at the VMware OS Optimization Tool with Xtravirt's Curtis Brown. Find out how you could be saving time and optimizing with this free tool. A product of a VMware fling, this is essential for the toolkit of any EUC specialists or any one that finds themselves deploying desktops on a regular basis.Listen as Curtis us leads us through the uses, features and specs of the VMware OS Optimization tool. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this podcast episode, Xtravirt Senior Consultant Matthew Tupper shares some of his learnings from helping many organisations to better manage their PKI environment. Tune in to find out:What is public key infrastructure and how does it work?What are some common mistakes organisations are making in relation to PKI and how can you avoid making them too?And, finally, Matthew suggests a best practice approach to PKI and shares some top tips for effective Certificate Management.Matthew Tupper is a Senior Consultant at Xtravirt and has been with Xtravirt for 8 years. He is a self-confessed fan of the minutiae and one of his specialist subjects is Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this special Tech Focus podcast from Cloud Insiders, we speak to Jonathan Medd, co-creator of PowervRA – a PowerShell module for managing VMware vRealize automation. Jonathan created this tool, because in his role as a consultant, he kept encountering the need for just such a tool, but found one didn’t exist, so set about creating one. Available from github.com and powershellgallery.com the tool has been downloaded thousands of times and user feedback is helping steer ongoing improvements.Tune in to find out more about PowervRA - what it is, why it’s useful and what you need to get up and running.Find out more about PowervRA on Twitter @PowervRAModule, or search for PowervRA on powershellgallery.com or GitHub See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This episode of Cloud Insiders focuses on the issues facing today’s email systems and the reasons why they may not be future proofed. Stefan Gibney from Ultimate Migrator and Gavin Jolliffe from Xtravirt discuss what it means for email to be GDPR compliant and what solutions are available to help ensure this. They identify some key steps to ensuring a successful cloud adoption, as well as share their views on the future of data compliance and management. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode of Cloud Insiders, we are joined by Senior Systems Engineer, Michael Armstrong and Xtravirt Senior Consultant, Steve Wood, to revisit the topic of NSX. Our guests explore the developments and improvements seen over the last few years including the key features of the latest NSX 6.4 release and VMware’s AppDefence product, including what it is and how it can work with NSX to secure a customer’s datacentre.Michael and Steve also address what NSX Cloud is, how NSX-T differs from NSX-V, the key steps to ensuring a successful implementation, as well as where the future is heading for NSX.Topics covered:What have been the key developments and improvements of NSX over the last few years?How can VMware AppDefence integrate with NSX to secure a customer’s data centre?What are the key steps to ensuring a successful NSX implementation?Where is the future heading? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the latest episode of Cloud Insiders, VP of Product and Alliances Marketing for Druva, Dave Packer joins Solutions Architect, Alex Galbraith for an interesting discussion around Data Management as a Service (DMaaS). Our guests explore how DMaaS relates to data protection, data governance and data intelligence, as well as the ways in which organisations are addressing the protection of data in the cloud.Dave and Alex also address the industry drivers pushing organisations to look at the ways in which they are managing their data including the implications of GDPR; the industry trends such as an ever-increasing mobile workforce, as well as what Druva is doing within the data management space to support organisations. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode of Cloud Insiders, we are joined by Hitachi Vantara’s Cloud & Data Mobility Solutions Practice Lead, Rob Rowe and Xtravirt Lead Consultant, Curtis Brown, who discuss their thoughts and experience of Hybrid Cloud. Our guests identify the benefits of adopting hybrid cloud and the solutions available, what the term Edge Computing refers to and how it fits into the hybrid model.Rob and Curtis also address the key steps to implementing hybrid cloud successfully, how Hitachi Vantara are helping customers within the hybrid space, as well as where the future is heading. Topics covered include: What is Hybrid Cloud?How are customers benefitting from adopting Hybrid Cloud solutions?What does the term ‘Edge Computing’ refer to?What is Hitachi Vantara doing within this space?Where is the future heading for Hybrid Cloud? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Join us for the latest episode of Cloud Insiders, where we welcome Senior Systems Engineer for Morpheus Data, James Smith and Senior Consultant at Xtravirt, Simon Eady for an interesting discussion around Cloud Application Management. In this episode, our guests address what Cloud Application Management actually is and how it relates to PaaS (Platform as a Service), as well as how it compares with traditional methods of cloud management.  James and Simon discuss the industry drivers for adopting Cloud Application Management solutions, and the increased demand to move application workloads to the cloud, as well as what Morpheus Data are doing within this space.  Topics covered:  What does the area of Cloud Application Management encompass? How does Cloud Application Management relate to PaaS? What are the key steps to adopting a cloud management solution? What are Morpheus Data doing within this space? Where is the future heading for Cloud Application Management? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out

In this episode, we are joined by Xtravirt Project Manager, Craig Whelan and Technical Pre-Sales Consultant, Andy Hine, who explore the area of Large Scale Transformations; what the term means and what it encompasses. Our guests address the results and outcomes that organisations undertaking these transformations are hoping to see, as well as the common mistakes that they have seen organisations making, from their experience in the industry. Craig and Andy also discuss the tools that are available to help businesses manage transformations of this size whilst ensuring success, what the future holds for large scale projects and address the question; is large scale really the way forwards? Topics covered: What does the sphere of ‘Large Scale Transformations’ encompass? What are the common pitfalls to avoid? What tools are available to help manage large scale transformations? Where is the future heading for large scale projects? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the latest episode of Cloud Insiders, Insight’s Pre-Sales Manager for Hybrid Cloud, Chan Ekanayake and Chief Technologist of WoodITWork.com, Julian Wood join us for an interesting discussion on Serverless Computing. Our guests explore the pain points and trends driving its adoption, how it compares with other forms of utility computing, and identify the benefits that its implementation could ensure for organisations. Chan and Julian also address how a serverless approach is beneficial in relation to IoT (Internet of Things) applications, and how businesses are leveraging serverless computing platforms. Our guests also discuss why, having been around for over a decade, serverless computing is only becoming mainstream now, as well as the role that microservices can play within the serverless space. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode of Cloud Insiders, we are joined by Gavin Jolliffe, Director of SonarHub, who talks us through IT analytics and what this area encompasses. Throughout the discussion, Gavin outlines the ‘Analytics-as-a-Service’ solutions available in the market, the benefits of using these solutions, as well as how Sonar fits into this space. Gavin also talks us through what he believes to be the main market factors driving the need for analytics solutions, how analytics will change the role of the sys-admin and how Sonar can help to facilitate this. Topics covered include: What does the term ‘analytics’ actually mean? What are the benefits of analytics solutions? How is Sonar addressing the market? What are the market trends driving the adoption of analytics solutions? Where is the future heading for analytics? See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this special episode, Xtravirt Senior Consultant Nick Goldman shares his experience of VMworld Europe 2017. Nick talks about his highlights from this years’ event, the key sessions he attended and the latest VMware announcements. Topics covered: Highlights from this years’ event Key sessions attended Exciting VMware announcements See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this special episode, Xtravirt Senior Consultants Curtis Brown and Simon Eady share their experience of VMworld Europe 2017. Curtis and Simon talk about their highlights from this years’ event, the key sessions they attended and the latest VMware announcements. Topics covered: Highlights from this years’ event Key sessions attended Exciting VMware announcements See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In this episode, we focus on the different perspectives of working client and consultant side of an IT project. Joining us for this discussion are experienced IT Consultant, Phil Milroy and Xtravirt Project Manager, Craig Whelan. Our guests talk us through their experiences including, the pressures, benefits and pitfalls of working both client and consultant side of a job. Our guests analyse the main challenges that client businesses are wrestling with in IT, the consultative approach vs in-house approaches, as well as what they would do differently in past roles, knowing what they know now. Craig and Phil also discuss the common mistakes they’ve seen clients making, what should be considered when thinking about implementing a new tech or transformation, as well as trends they  see impacting organisations within the near future. Topics covered: What differentiates the client side vs the consultative side? What IT challenged are organisations currently facing? What should be considered during an IT transforma

In this podcast, we welcome Rubrik’s Chief Technologist, Chris Wahl and Xtravirt Lead Consultant, Christopher Lewis, who talk us through cloud data management and what it means. In this episode, our guests delve into the depths of data management, exploring the question: is it more than just back up and disaster recovery? Chris and Christopher also investigate how cloud data management differs from traditional data management approaches, the benefits that organisations can reap from the adoption of data management through the cloud, as well as how Rubrik is helping businesses within this space and what they can help end users to achieve. Topics covered include:  What is cloud data management and how does it differ from traditional approaches? What are the benefits of data management through the cloud? What should be considered when thinking about a cloud based data management solution? What are the market factors driving the need for cloud data management? Where is the future heading? See acast.com/privacy

In this episode of Cloud Insiders, we are joined by Alain Geenrits, Director Solutions Architects EMEA at Blue Medora and Simon Eady, Senior Consultant for Xtravirt, who talk us through the ways in which organisations can benefit from an operations management solution. Throughout the discussion, Alain and Simon address the reasons why businesses should adopt a cloud management solution, what it can help them achieve, as well as the options available to them. Our guests also talk us through what they believe to be the main market factors driving the need for operations management, what to look for when considering an operations management solution, as well as what Blue Medora and Xtravirt are doing to help organisations within this space.   Topics covered include:   Why should organisations be considering an operations management solution? How can organisations benefit from operations management? What operations management options are available? What are the market factors driving the need for operations mana

Join us for an interesting discussion around Cloud Desktops. Our guests for this episode are Xtravirt Senior Consultant Curtis Brown and Cloud Insiders regular Pete Grant who discuss cloud desktops, offerings available from the main vendors, and how organisations can benefit from their adoption. Curtis and Pete provide insight from their own experiences, and analyse the questions clients should be asking when considering a move to a DaaS (Desktop as a Service) model. Our guests also discuss the types of businesses that are beginning to implement DaaS; where to start when considering moving to a cloud desktop model; how Xtravirt are addressing issues and helping organisations within this space; as well as where the future is heading for cloud desktops.  Topics Covered: What are Cloud Desktops? How can organisations benefit from their adoption? What questions should clients be asking when considering a move to a DaaS model? How is Xtravirt helping organisations within this space? What does the future look like

In this episode, we’re all about Cloud Hosting. Joining us for this discussion are iland Enterprise Solutions Architect, Richard Stinton and Xtravirt Lead Consultant, Christopher Lewis, who talk us through Cloud Hosting and why it’s important. Our guests consider their own experiences and analyse the main business drivers they’re seeing for clients making a move to the cloud, what organisations are looking for, as well as the main issues that need to be considered when contemplating this transition.   Richard and Christopher also discuss the types of businesses that are beginning to implement cloud hosting services; how both iland and Xtravirt are addressing issues and helping organisations within this space; as well as what the future looks like for cloud hosting.  Topics Covered: What is Cloud Hosting and why is it important? What are the market factors driving the adoption of cloud hosting services? What issues should clients bear in mind when considering a cloud hosting solution? How are iland and Xtravi