Cloud Computing on Ulitzer

Following the recent formation of its dedicated cloud consulting group, international solutions provider, Logicalis, today launches its Cooperative Enterprise Cloud Service. Architected on Cisco's Unified Computing System (UCS) and NetApp storage solutions, the service is the first to offer a single reference blueprint for on-site and hosted cloud services, enabling enterprises and public sector organisations to flex and scale their cloud computing strategies while ensuring seamless interoperability.

On-site services will be delivered with Logicalis' Bespoke On-Site Cloud Service (BOCS), a right-sized computing and storage infrastructure utilising Cisco's UCS stateless computing platform to enable virtualised and non-virtualised applications to coexist on the same platform.

Logicalis' hosted Cooperative Enterprise Cloud will offer a range of capacity services and, as a hybrid matched architecture, allow BOCS users to extend on-site infrastructure directly into the hosted platform. Storage will be provided in both services by NetApp.

"The matched architecture of our hosted service is critical in providing enterprise and public sector customers with the confidence of moving key workloads or critical services into the cloud," said Simon Daykin, Chief Architect at Logicalis UK, adding;

"We can now deliver 'workload containers' where all of the necessary resources to deliver an IT service, including its compute, storage, and network elements, can be mobilised between local and hosted clouds. Because both the on-site and hosted clouds are architecturally matched, these containers can be moved back and forward as logical constructs. Customers can continue to use their own hypervisor software and platform of choice, such as VMWare or Microsoft Hyper-V, to virtualise the infrastructure layer without the constraints of rigid public clouds."

The cooperative cloud model developed by Logicalis delivers the key attributes required by both enterprises and government G-Cloud CIOs, offering the economic benefits of elasticity with high levels of security, reliability, flexibility, and onshore location.

Logicalis' Cooperative Enterprise Cloud Service also drives new levels of infrastructure and energy efficiency; the right-sized nature of BOCs allows the local cloud to operate at maximum efficiency and, coupled with the hosted cloud delivering burst, scalability, off-site disaster recovery and test capacity on-demand, it ensures the service is highly optimised according to actual business need.

Tom Kelly, managing director of Logicalis UK says, "This is the first enterprise-class cloud computing service that truly addresses the challenges driving ICT change. The Cooperative Enterprise Cloud Service enables CIOs to safely exploit the commercial and operational benefits of cloud-based strategies without necessitating an all-or-nothing approach.

"Moreover, it allows customers to build and right-size on-site private clouds, and then utilise our hosted cloud to scale as required. Our belief is that matched-architecture hybrid clouds are going to be the private and public sector's first choice for their cloud computing strategies."

Available from Q2 2010 as a contracted service, Logicalis' Cooperative Enterprise Cloud Service will form part of the company's managed service portfolio. Logicalis will also be launching its 'Cisco Cloud Showcase Centre', at its Slough headquarters, in which enterprises can see and experience the cooperative cloud architecture and full workload container mobility.

• Nine Steps To an Enterprise Cloud Service Utility
• Exploiting Cloud and Services Values