subject: Cloud for Business - Protecting Your Business as a Cloud User [print this page] Cloud for Business - Protecting Your Business as a Cloud User
One of the most important aspects of taking the plunge into using the cloud is what happens with data. Data is the foundation of every business process. How it is handled either makes the cloud the best thing that ever happened to your business. Or it can become the greatest disaster. So how do you protect your business as a cloud user?
Understanding Data and Databases
Originally databases were heirarchichal or network. These systems were efficient. When the relational or schematic database came on the scene it became popular because it was easier to understand. Relational database management systems still remain the preferred choice for storing certain types of records--medical, financial, personnel information and manufacturing logistical data despite the inefficiencies.
Unfortunately, the relational database design is inefficient. Only the increased power available in today's computers has made this database design functional. The fact that they function by sorting data into groups that share common characteristics is a limitation. Object-relational impedance mismatches occur when relational database management systems (RDBMS) are accessed by programs that are written in object-oriented programming language.
Object-oriented programming becomes important because it is this type of database that is becoming one of the popular database types for cloud computing. Because objects are essentially broken down into two parts--information (data) and sequences of computer instructions (code), they are easier to work with. Once a class is assigned to the object, a type of database known as a NoSQL database can be be built.
There are advantages to NoSQL Data stores. They are extremely scalable. They can be used to store tabular/columnar data, documents, graphs, key/value pairs, and objects. They are capable of handling web-volume data. This opens up opportunities for expanding business services like never before.
Multiple Database Types Common
The question remains, no matter how data is stored or accessed, how does a business ensure that the data is safe and business processes are executing properly? It is common for a business to have multiple database types in existence within its IT infrastructure. Some applications may use legacy databases. Others may use a relational database design. Adding a cloud-based object-oriented database only increase the complexity.
A technology exists that is capable of working with data from both relational databases, legacy databases and object-oriented databases. The technology is known as business transaction management.
Business Transaction Management (BTM)
There are many business transaction management (BTM) software tools on the market that track data. The key is making sure that the BTM solution you chose to protect your business on the cloud offers the ability to analyze the performance multiple types of transaction data. Data may originate from a relational database only to finally be delivered to its final destination at an object -oriented data base. The ability to follow the transaction process from end-to-end as it executes through the many Java, .NET, messaging middleware, CICS and database applications is vital to leveraging the power of the cloud safely. BTM provides deep visibility into application stacks whether they are local or virtual.
Every IT operation has seen how a small transaction issue can explode into problem with major business impact. Business transaction management provides constant monitoring that identifies when data is not being processed correctly. This means that no matter which database type your business uses, if transactions aren't flowing, you know about it before users are impacted and business processes are disrupted. Your customers are likely to never know that there was a problem, and that's good for business.
AutoPilot Business Transaction Management Solution
Nastel Technologies has been servicing Fortune 500 companies with its application performance management / business transaction management solution for over ten years. AutoPilot has been deployed effectively in financial services, banking, healthcare, manufacturing and telecommunications.
From the beginning, AutoPilot integrated a powerful complex event processing (CEP) engine into the software's design. The CEP isn't an add-on. It drives AutoPilot's capability as a business transaction monitoring and management tool. The CEP can crunch volumes of diverse data and provide visibility from end-to-end for every transaction executed. If a business abnormal transaction pattern emerges, automatic alerts go out instantly.
So if your business wants to leverage the cloud, go for it. Just take AutoPilot along. It's one of the best ways to protect your business on the cloud.
