Building an Effective Private Cloud

How to Achieve an Successful Private Cloud

Cloud computing and virtualization is favored because it centralizes and consolidates a companies data infrastructure.

Virtually any type of organization looking to lower IT costs can benefit from the cloud. Centralization and virtualization will make it easier to both manage and maintain your organization’s managed servers. The key to success is addressing the limitations inherent in any cloud based computing platform.

One area to focus on is your WAN network. Wide Area Network (WAN), as it is known, allows us to successfully transfer our data across vast distances over networks that may be both public and private. Inefficient network protocols and bandwidth bottlenecks are what plague our WAN networks and will lead to a frustrating end-user experience. Here are a few tips on how to get the WAN properly optimized for your cloud network:

Streamlining Data

In order to cut down on the total amount of bandwidth used, data must first be streamlined. For example, if a user stores a presentation on a company server and retrieves it remotely, only saved changes would need to be sent. If a server has seen specific data travel through its network, it stores it locally for quicker access. Therefore, only saved changes or revisions need to travel over a WAN network. Streamlining data reduces bandwidth and cuts down on computing speeds.

Application & Transport Streamlining

Network protocols are often redundant, meaning that information has to make numerous round trips between the point in which its stored and that where it is accessed. Transfer protocols should reference and store packet data locally and be configured in such a way that reduces the amount of roundtrips packet data has to make. Streamlining the transport of data over a WAN cuts down on latency during peak traffic hours.

Aside from configuring your companies WAN network efficiently, applications stored on dedicated servers should be delegated specific tasks and duties. Workers should be able to access and deploy network services from various devices remotely or locally. Make sure your network supports out-of-box software from such vendors like Microsoft, McAfee etc etc. Proper filtering of access requests made to servers dedicated to specific functions will greatly streamline application performance.

To sum it up, Cloud computing and virtualization is favored because it centralizes and consolidates a companies data infrastructure. WAN optimization quickly becomes a key factor in reducing network latency, improving network productivity and streamlining application requests. If your company lacks the in-house expertise investing in a technology solution may help you reap the benefits of cloud optimization. On the other hand, if qualified IT personnel are able to configure the network in a way that cuts down on WAN inefficiencies, considering the tips above may help you achieve an effective private cloud.