Cloud Computing News, Features, and Interviews

• Palmerston North Council deploys Nutanix

  Palmerston North City Council has initiated a hybrid cloud strategy using hyperconverged IT infrastructure from Nutanix that, according to Nutanix, will reduce its outage risk and improve the digital services it provides to its 90,000 citizens.

• VMware Cloud goes live on AWS

  VMware has used its Las Vegas VMworld conference to officially launch VMware Cloud on AWS.

• Microsoft to host Azure in Infratil’s Canberra data centres

  Canberra Data Centres, 48 percent owned by diversified Wellington based company Infratil, has been chosen by Microsoft to host two new Australian instances of the Microsoft Azure cloud services, in its two Canberra data centres.

• #MoneyTalks17: The lowdown on salaries, generational differences and diversity in Auckland ICT

  ICT leaders discuss key findings of the inaugural RWA Auckland IT Salaries report.

• Warehouse Group takes up Zoho One ‘operating system for business’

  The Warehouse Group has become one of the first customers for a new offering from cloud business applications software developer Zoho that provides access to its full range of more than 30 business applications for a fixed per-employee price per month.

• SAM helps companies comply with CIS Security Controls

  A New Zealand developed cloud service enables organisations to assess and manage their compliance with CIS Controls, a set of best practice guidelines for computer security published by the US-based Center for Internet Security (CIS).

• Irrigation IoT system delivers 30 percent water, 50 percent energy savings

  An IoT system to monitor and control farm irrigation systems developed by water management and irrigation company WaterForce, Schneider Electric and Microsoft is reducing water consumption by 30 percent and energy used for irrigation by 50 percent.

• Qrious launches big data platform Qonnect: 'It's about creating smarter organisations'

  "The industry talks about making data more accessible. This is the foundation piece that makes it possible," says Qrious CEO David Leach.

• The 5 biggest challenges faced by remote startups

  ​Getting your business off the ground is expensive. According to a study conducted by the Kauffmann Foundation, startup costs average around $30,000. If you’re looking to significantly decrease your operating costs, you’ve probably already considered going remote.

• Hidden cloud migration gotchas — and how to avoid them

  From a lack of visibility into infrastructure to licensing and governance issues, frustrating surprises await your migration to the cloud. Here’s a real-world look at how traditional companies are navigating the cloud’s less-documented challenges.

• New Zealanders want access to online health records, from Government

  ​A survey of New Zealanders undertaken by global consultancy Accenture suggests strong support for the development of an electronic health record system operated by the Government that would enable individuals to see all information in their medical records.

• Google brings its cloud platform to Sydney

  Google Cloud Platform has landed in Australia, with the official launch this morning of a Sydney region for the service.

• IDC says businesses redefining managed IT service relationships

  IDC New Zealand has pronounced a fundamental shift in the country’s IT services landscape as a result of what it calls ‘third platform technologies’: cloud, mobility, data analytics and social media.

• NIWA and NeSI to get three new supercomputers

  New Zealand weather and research bodies are to get three new Cray supercomputers under a six-year $31.7m contract announced today by science and innovation minister Paul Goldsmith.

• PwC flags challenges for media and entertainment companies

  PwC has released its 18th annual Global Entertainment and Media Outlook 2017-2021 saying that entertainment and media companies accustomed to competing and creating differentiation through content and distribution must focus more intensely on user experience (UX).

• Dimension Data partners with Realtech for NZ-based SAP cloud hosting

  ​Dimension Data New Zealand has partnered with the local arm of global SAP partner Realtech to offer SAP certified hosting in New Zealand combined with SAP application and SAP Hana services and local support.

• New Kiwi tech start-up tackles SMB IT issues

  Origin IT spin-off aims to service IT needs of struggling small business owners.

• Thriving in the cloud: Business leaders share lessons learned

  Tales from the frontline on thriving in the cloud era.

• AWS scores whole of NZ Government cloud services supply deal

  ​Amazon Web Services (AWS) has scored a whole-of-government agreement, through the Department of Internal Affairs (DIA), to help New Zealand Government agencies accelerate the adoption of public cloud services.

• Wellington Airport deploys Skyfii to analyse user movements

  ​Wellington International Airport is to deploy data collection, analytics and marketing software from Sydney-based, ASX-listed Skyfii to gather, analyse and act on data about users of the airport.