Chris Foot

Cloud computing has grown from merely an IT trend to an essential technological initiative that is driving a competitive advantage for many enterprises. However, it has become clear from recent research that on the whole, firms are not effectively deploying these solutions. This means that in order to gain more value from cloud initiatives, companies may need to seek the support of remote database services.

Information Management contributor David Linthicum explained that private clouds have become increasingly common because firms are often more comfortable with this approach than moving sensitive data to the public cloud. And while these solutions can be valuable, he noted that most enterprises do not select the right applications and data for migration. By moving the wrong systems and information, he explained that companies are unable to derive the inherent benefits of cloud technologies.

A recent study by Claranet found that while companies are eagerly migrating web portals (67 percent), ecommerce web apps (61 percent), online marketing services (59 percent) and email (51 percent) to the cloud by the first quart of 2014, many are neglecting to move mission-critical systems. In fact, only 30 percent are planning to move IT asset management services, and just 32 percent are transferring finance applications to cloud servers. Michel Robert, managing director at Claranet, asserted that that with managed cloud migration of mission-critical apps, these projects can be both effective and secure.

Siloes obstruct value
A related Oracle report had similar findings that suggest challenges to cloud adoption. In fact, more than half of the 1,355 senior decision-makers surveyed admitted their department had experienced downtime in the last six months due to cloud integration issues, and the same number have missed deadlines as a result of these problems. Three-quarters of respondents even experienced an inability to innovate from isolated cloud apps integration. The failed promises of cloud projects have mainly resulted from business process siloes, according to Oracle. Three-quarters of businesses aimed to leverage quick access to software in the cloud, but only half of respondents have been able to access cloud data in other departments directly from within their designated business application.

"Subscribing to a cloud service may be relatively straightforward, but how this application fits in with the rest of the enterprise, including on-premise systems and other cloud applications must be thought through," said Rex Wang, Oracle vice president of product marketing.

Wang stressed that cloud apps have the potential to drastically minimize costs and drive business performance, but only if they can function effectively across the business.

RDX offers a full suite of cloud migration and administrative services that can be tailored to meet any customer's needs. To learn more our full suite of cloud migration and support services, please visit our Cloud DBA Service page or contact us.

With the emergence of IT trends such as cloud computing and mobility, enterprises have realized that previous security efforts are inadequate for mitigating the new risks that come with these technologies. While looking to upgrade the security infrastructure, firms are may need remote database support to ensure improvements in data protection.

The information security job market continues to expand. In fact, Help net Security revealed that according to a report by Burning Glass Technologies, over the past five years demand for cybersecurity professionals grew 3.5 times faster than that for other IT jobs. These needs will continue to grow as enterprises deploy new solutions that create vulnerabilities not previously dealt with. Help Net Security revealed that  ISACA International Vice President Allan Boardman believes the skill​ set for these jobs has also been evolving.

"Security professionals need to be knowledgeable about the main threats and issues related to key current technology trends, such as cloud services, social media, and consumerization of IT, including BYOD," Boardman told the source. "They also need to be well-versed in data privacy and data protection, particularly if they are in financial services or healthcare. It is highly desirable to have strong technical skills, including security architecture and forensics skills."

Additionally, Eric Presley of CareerBuilder explained to Help Net Security that while information security analysts are among the most sought-after professionals, there is a rising need for network architects and engineers that can manage security protocols, particularly in the realm of healthcare.

Filling the gap
In an interview with BankInfoSecurity, Boardman asserted that there is a considerable shortage of IT security skills. He pointed out that cybersecurity is a top priority for organizations in all industries, but the required knowledge has become more specific.

"Some of the gaps I would see specifically are around providing specific security guidance to organizations to address the issues in the current topical areas like big data, cloud security and mobile computing," Boardman explained to BankInfoSecurity. "Those are all topics where people need more detailed specific guidance and tools to be able to help them through that."

It can be difficult to find professionals that have the technical and architecture skills, such as database experts and security specialists. By seeking third-party support, enterprises can leverage the required knowledge for safeguarding sensitive information.

RDX's highest priority is safeguarding customer information. To learn more about how RDX ensures data security, please visit our Focus on Security page or contact us.

As companies have come to realize that attracting and retaining customers depend on providing a personalized experience, more firms are looking to mine big data for enhanced analytic insight. By leveraging support from dba services, enterprises have the opportunity to understand consumers on a deeper level, develop more targeted strategies and thus, secure stronger and more loyal relationships.

CIO Magazine reported that Nationwide, a 90-year old insurance company with a multitude of databases and compliance requirements, has spent billions on big data initiatives for these purposes. Matt Jauchius, CMO of Nationwide, explained that these efforts are invaluable to his company.

"The ability to collect vast amounts of data on individual consumers – their consumption habits, their preferences, their interactions with the company – and then analyze those data sets for predictive behavior and proactively apply those insights … [that's] the basis of competitive advantage in the future for the CMO because you can provide a better experience," he told CIO.

Elana Anderson, vice president of IBM Enterprise Marketing Management, noted that big data projects have the potential to give marketers predictive capabilities that could result in more successful campaigns.

"Marketing has long been on a quest to get to the individual," she said, according to CIO. "Smart marketers…have been trying to get beyond the demographic for a long, long time. If you're able to address the individual at an individual level, if you're able to sense needs or meet needs before the customer is explicitly saying, 'I have a need,' that requires big data and analytics in order to get to that point. We're seeing tremendous value with uses cases around that."

More profitable relationships
Forbes revealed that successful big data initiatives can even lessen customer churn rates. The source explained that understanding this rate is critical for identifying and addressing any ineffective tactics or weak relationships. By patching these faults, businesses can retain more clients and ultimately drive profit long-term. According to Forbes, recent research from a data visualization firm found that if a customer had made just one purchase from a specific store, there is a 27 percent chance that he or she will repeat business with that company. Further, after three purchases, the customer is twice as likely to return in the future.

By analyzing big data from an ever-increasing variety of channels, including mobile devices and social media, enterprises can gain a stronger grasp on customers' needs, desires and preferences. This can eventually strengthen client loyalty and as a result, boost revenue.

RDX's business intelligence and big data experts assist customers in leveraging data contained in large data stores. For more information, please visit our Business Intelligence and Predictive Analytics pages or contact us.

Big data has become an increasingly critical focus for enterprises in every sector, but decision-makers are still struggling to make sense of these vast volumes of information. In order to extract value from these sources, enterprises need to seek reputable database experts to aid in capturing and analyzing both structured and unstructured data.

According to CMSWire, a major reason that big data projects fail is that departments often aren't on the same page in terms of defining the scope, objectives and technological needs of these initiatives. In order to effectively mine this information, the source asserted that business and IT groups need to be aligned on the goal of these efforts. By committing to a specific problem to solve or question to answer, firms are much better prepared to derive the right analytics. Another issue, the news source revealed, is that access to data is often too restricted, preventing certain team members from finding useful answers. This is mainly due to siloes that have been formed around sales, marketing, HR, financial and other data that has been strictly guarded and inhibits the gathering of real insight from big data. While some of these siloes are necessary for compliance, CMSWire explained, buy-in needs to come from top executives so that adequate information can be made available to those who need it.

Expertise and support
And even with emerging technologies for big data analysis, CMSWire pointed out that many of these solutions are so foreign that enterprises lack the ability to work with them to drive results. It is critical to have the right skills on board when executing these initiatives because these projects go beyond traditional analysis. CMSWire asserted that big data requires an understanding of machine learning and natural language processing, knowledge that many IT teams lack. Fortunately, firms can partner with database experts to fill this shortfall.

Lifehacker reported that Gartner Analyst Brian Burke recently emphasized the importance of acknowledging the big data skills shortage at the Gartner Enterprise Architecture Summit.

"Some of you are already wrestling with the issues of big data inside your organization," he said. "Some of you know that it's coming but aren't quite sure how to prepare for it. This challenge is about skills that aren't just about IT. They're clearly also about business… You must help your organization gain clarity so there are two sides of the house working together in unison."

By deploying third-party services for database management, monitoring and analysis, firms can start to fill that gap and drive big data success.

RDX's business intelligence and big data experts assist customers in leveraging data contained in large data stores. For more information, please visit our Business Intelligence and Predictive Analytics pages or contact us.

There are a multitude of emerging trends that have the potential to offer enterprises considerable cost savings, including cloud computing and collaboration technologies, but many firms are still failing to capitalize on these rewards. Poor planning and a lack of visibility into the infrastructure have hindered enterprises from integrating such solutions. By leveraging remote dba services and support, businesses can more effectively customize deployments to fit any unique needs and demands for reduced long-term spending and further, a competitive edge.

A recent study by Forrester revealed that despite continual efforts to minimize unnecessary IT costs, many firms miss out on savings each year by prematurely upgrading networking infrastructure and insufficiently considering maintenance contracts. Although 76 percent of decision-makers are concerned about these pressures to lower spending, many are actually unaware of the their options. Still, an overwhelming 80 percent of firms would leverage third-party maintenance if they found it to be more affordable than their current contract. Mike Sheldon, president and CEO of Network Hardware Resale, commented on the survey's findings.

"Businesses of all sizes need to know that there can be incredible value and cost savings with a reliable third-party maintenance service provider – helping to ease worries about tightening IT budgets without sacrificing quality," he stated.

In order to maximize value and ROI from the network infrastructure, Forrester Consulting advised that enterprises carefully scrutinize ongoing maintenance contracts. Additionally, the research firm stressed that metrics are key for measuring quality and longevity in regard to these solutions over time.

A seamless migration
One technological transition that can have a profoundly beneficial effect on the network is cloud computing. Computerworld reported that a hasty migration to the cloud can actually lead to higher costs and ineffective functionality, however. Casey Coleman, CIO for the General Services Administration (GSA), explained the importance of strategic cloud deployments.

"It is the case that it has to be well thought-out and methodical," Coleman said, according to the news source. "You have to plan for change management, promote user awareness, ensure cybersecurity in contractual terms, like with any IT project."

After moving to a cloud-based email system, the GSA was able to eliminate a large amount of unnecessary applications and consolidate workflows from the legacy email system, thus enabling the agency to turn off 300 in-house servers. Coleman revealed the GSA predicts it will save $16 million over five years as a result.

RDX offers a full suite of cloud migration and administrative services that can be tailored to meet any customer's needs. To learn more our full suite of cloud migration and support services, please visit our Cloud DBA Service page or contact us.

Big data analysis has come to play a major role in providing enterprises with a competitive advantage. However, many firms are still struggling to effectively manage and mine these large caches of information, which are only continuing to grow, integrating new sources and formats that complicate the process. As a result, businesses need to deploy the skills of database experts in efforts to fuel more accurate and efficient decision-making.

Network World reported that a recent panel discussion at Interop in Las Vegas discussed the immense potential opportunities that come with big data analysis. According to the news source, these initiatives enable companies to gain a new level of visibility into current operations and tailor products and services based on consumer trends. And as new data storage, analytics and visualization tools emerge, enterprises have the chance to understand this information more easily than before. Bruno Aziza, vice president of marketing for SiSense, explained that the market for big data has been growing, forcing more enterprises both small and large to take notice.

"Businesses are starting to take control of the issue and figure out how they can use it," Aziza said, according to Network World.

He noted that due to the expanding amount of data available to businesses and advanced platforms for handling it, firms of all sizes can capitalize on the benefits of these analytics.

Breaking down barriers
Enterprise Apps Today reported there are still obstacles to big data implementation, however. In order to move beyond these roadblocks, firms need to adapt to demands for new skills, develop a clear plan for these projects, achieve more synchronized strategies between IT and other departments and deploy the latest solutions for handling analysis. The source explained that by "reskilling," enterprises can better train IT teams to utilize new technologies as well as empower other areas of the company to apply these analytics. This is a complicated process, however, and may require remote dba services for support. Enterprise Apps Today pointed out that IT needs to understand how to handle sensor-derived or unstructured data, such as social media information and other external sources. Unstructured sources could include smartphone photos or GPS tracking data, and is often the most valuable for providing companies with insight into customers.

The real advantages of big data come with customization, however. With support and guidance, firms can automate unnecessary tasks and engage in new ways with customers using in-depth analytics and searches that are tailored to address specific issues or concerns.

RDX's business intelligence and big data experts assist customers in leveraging data contained in large data stores. For more information, please visit our Business Intelligence and Predictive Analytics pages or contact us.

Due to the emergence of new mobile devices, the proliferation of cloud computing and other complexities contributing to the "Internet of Things," many enterprises have had to overhaul IT departments to meet new needs and objectives. However, a growing skills gap has left many firms unable to capitalize on the advantages of these IT trends. By leveraging remote dba services, enterprises can support effective database administration and ensure the analytical and operational benefits of these new solutions are realized.

According to research by TechServe Alliance, IT employment has grown 5.1 percent since April 2012 totaling 4,424,200 total jobs as of last month.

"I am pleased to see demand for IT professionals remains very strong," said TechServe Alliance CEO Mark Roberts. "With April's numbers, IT employment has grown for the 17th consecutive month hitting yet another all-time high. IT continues to handily outperform most other sectors with an annual growth rate of more than three times the growth rate of the general workforce."

Meeting new demands
But there are more factors that are driving complications in IT staffing. A Cisco study revealed that as businesses increase the number of new application rollouts, IT organizations face challenges to aligning network strategies to fulfill the requirements of the business. Cisco's research found that while 63 percent of IT professionals are confident in their ability to respond to business needs, almost one-third still cited very limited visibility into the company's initiatives. This lack of understanding has the potential  to greatly hinder any possible positive impact from new technology-related projects.

Survey participants ranked cloud readiness (29 percent) as the most important network initiative in the coming year, followed by "converging IT technology and operations technology" (28 percent) and data center consolidation and virtualization (27 percent). When asked about what main factors were slowing new application rollouts, most cited the budget, while 26 percent claimed data center infrastructure readiness was hindering these efforts.

"More than ever, IT has the potential to make a profound impact on the business – and opportunity to act as a strategic partner – by building a network architecture that can leverage multiple technology transitions," said Rob Soderbery, senior vice president and general manager for Cisco Enterprise Networking Group.

By working with a reputable IT services provider, enterprises can ready the network for bring-your-own-device (BYOD), cloud migration and any other trend that can promote a competitive advantage, all without the risk of business interruptions during the deployment process.

RDX is a leading provider of advanced remote database management and monitoring solutions. For more information about database administration and management, please visit our Services page or contact us.

According to recent research, cloud deployments continue to rise as enterprises finally grasp how these technologies can offer efficiency, agility and a leaner business model. As more companies embrace the cloud, however, realizing these benefits may depend on support from a third-party, such as dba services, for effective implementation.

SmallBusiness reported that in fact, 70 percent of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in a Fasthosts study said that cloud adoption will be a critical factor for growth over the next 12 months. Simon Yeoman, general manager of Fasthosts commented on the implications of the study's findings.

'"Many large enterprises have firmly established their cloud strategies but SMEs have up until now found the concept of cloud quite alien and therefore haven't integrated it into business operations," he said, according to the news source. "The results of this survey demonstrate that SMEs are starting to think seriously about the cloud and that they are taking important steps to use it to their business advantage."

When asked which aspect of business these companies felt the cloud would be most helpful in, 38 percent cited flexibility and scalability.

Agile adaption
A major reason that more firms have turned to a cloud model is that software-as-a-service (SaaS) has enabled companies of all sized and budgets to quickly integrate the latest technologies at an affordable rate. Business 2 Community contributor Sara Harold revealed that for many SMEs, SaaS has transformed the IT infrastructure, offering dramatic savings as well as more powerful computing. Harold noted that these factors allow firms to experiment with new IT concepts and tools and adapt to a rapidly changing business environment.

Another key driver of cloud initiatives is the transition from capital expenditures to only paying for operating costs. Harold explained that SaaS and the cloud offer low subscription-based payment models, so there are no technological obstacles or need for hefty investments in hardware, maintenance and upgrades. As an example, she pointed out that ten years ago enterprises had to buy multiple copies of virus protection software and constantly invest in new solutions as technologies became more advanced. However, now businesses can purchase a single-user license and scale this software up in the cloud as the business expands, addressing new risks and needs.

One of the most important aspects of the cloud is that it is easier and more cost-effective to adjust the technology based on actual company demands, which allows for smarter investments and budgeting as well as boosts the bottom line.

RDX offers a full suite of cloud migration and administrative services that can be tailored to meet any customer's needs. To learn more our full suite of cloud migration and support services, please visit our Cloud DBA Service page or contact us.

Cloud computing has brought a host of advantages for businesses that have become impossible to ignore, from decreased capital spending to enhanced collaboration. However, the true benefits of these technologies come with time, and therefore, a more extensive and strategic cloud plan, with remote database support, can potentially offer enterprises a more significant competitive edge in the long run. By applying these initiatives more holistically to all aspects of the organization, firms stand to gain more flexibility and productivity than ever before.

In a report for Forbes, Oracle Software Chief Thomas Kurian asserted that the rewards to cloud computing are different for users in various industries and departments. For example, he noted that professionals in HR, sales or financial sectors might hone in on the fact that the latest app updates are available more rapidly in the cloud while operational complexities are eliminated. Conversely, he explained that business decision-makers and executives are more focused on the functional aspects of cloud services. Kurian stressed that one of the reasons many enterprises have embraced the cloud is the inherent speed of adoption.

"Most people are really surprised at how fast they can go live with a deployment and then how quickly they can add and get new features up on it," he told Forbes.

A strategic journey
Kurian was adamant that cloud migration is not a one-time transformation, it is a continual exploration that can bring new efficiencies as deployment becomes more in-depth and sophisticated.

However, Daniela Gomes, a founder of the Brazilian Telecom Company Tellfree, explained to The Next Women that there have been challenges in her firm's cloud journey.

"When you migrate a service into the cloud and the functionalities keep the same, the process is transparent to the user," Gomes stated to the source. "However, in our case it hasn't been so because we have added new features to our communication services. And, as a result, the challenge was to introduce these new features to users (our employees), teach them how to use and implement the culture of using them – which is the most difficult part, as people in general are resistant to changes, mainly to new technology."

By utilizing dba services, businesses can ensure a more effective cloud transition with minimal interruptions or issues that could hinder ROI.

RDX offers a full suite of cloud migration and administrative services that can be tailored to meet any customer's needs. To learn more our full suite of cloud migration and support services, please visit our Cloud DBA Service page or contact us.

Business intelligence (BI) solutions have the potential to empower businesses in a multitude of ways by allowing professionals to mine extensive stores of information for enhanced insight. However, many firms still aren't fully leveraging these tools due to inadequate resources or expertise. However, by seeking the professional support of database experts and remote dba services, these enterprises can gain greater control over data analysis for a considerable competitive advantage.

Channelnomics reported that the BI market is set to grow 7 percent annually over the next four years, according to Pierre Audoin Consultants (PAC). The research firm has determined that the BI market is in fact developing quicker than before, and is worth more than $42 billion in software and services. The strongest growth is expected to occur in advanced solutions such as predictive analytics. Philip Carnelley, research director at PAC, revealed that one of the biggest trends in BI is mobile technology, which gives users quicker access to reports on any device, from smartphones to tablets.

"Major obstacles can be seen among rapidly evolving technologies, requiring big efforts to keep pace and to acquire and maintain competency," Carnelley asserted, according to Channelnomics. "IT users need to move from one-stop shopping with ERP vendors to best of breed to get state-of-the-art solutions. New technologies may require significant product upgrades or architecture overhaul before they can be deployed."

New tools for changing objectives
As BI technologies evolve and become more complex, enterprises can leverage the assistance of third-party remote monitoring services. Carnelley explained that CIOs should partner with professionals that have expert knowledge and can guide BI projects, especially when adopting new solutions.

Information Management revealed that a related report from Saugatuck Technology also emphasized a shift in BI initiatives. The source explained that according to Saugatuck, firms are looking to harness more on-demand access to data and address challenges to the accessibility and delivery of analytics.

"I've never met any business or IT leader who complains about not having enough data. The complaints have always centered on how to find, access and effectively utilize the data available," said Saugatuck Analyst Bruce Guptill, according to Information Management. "We have practically unlimited data available, now we really need ways to manage it, quality-control it, secure it, cleanse it, etc."

Enterprises that seek support in these BI efforts have the opportunity to mine company data in new and innovative ways for more valuable conclusions.

RDX's business intelligence and big data experts assist customers in leveraging data contained in large data stores. For more information, please visit our Business Intelligence and Predictive Analytics pages or contact us.

Business intelligence (BI) solutions have the potential to empower businesses in a multitude of ways by allowing professionals to mine extensive stores of information for enhanced insight. However, many firms still aren't fully leveraging these tools due to inadequate resources or expertise. However, by seeking the professional support of database experts and remote dba services, these enterprises can gain greater control over data analysis for a considerable competitive advantage.

Channelnomics reported that the BI market is set to grow 7 percent annually over the next four years, according to Pierre Audoin Consultants (PAC). The research firm has determined that the BI market is in fact developing quicker than before, and is worth more than $42 billion in software and services. The strongest growth is expected to occur in advanced solutions such as predictive analytics. Philip Carnelley, research director at PAC, revealed that one of the biggest trends in BI is mobile technology, which gives users quicker access to reports on any device, from smartphones to tablets.

"Major obstacles can be seen among rapidly evolving technologies, requiring big efforts to keep pace and to acquire and maintain competency," Carnelley asserted, according to Channelnomics. "IT users need to move from one-stop shopping with ERP vendors to best of breed to get state-of-the-art solutions. New technologies may require significant product upgrades or architecture overhaul before they can be deployed."

New tools for changing objectives
As BI technologies evolve and become more complex, enterprises can leverage the assistance of third-party remote monitoring services. Carnelley explained that CIOs should partner with professionals that have expert knowledge and can guide BI projects, especially when adopting new solutions.

Information Management revealed that a related report from Saugatuck Technology also emphasized a shift in BI initiatives. The source explained that according to Saugatuck, firms are looking to harness more on-demand access to data and address challenges to the accessibility and delivery of analytics.

"I've never met any business or IT leader who complains about not having enough data. The complaints have always centered on how to find, access and effectively utilize the data available," said Saugatuck Analyst Bruce Guptill, according to Information Management. "We have practically unlimited data available, now we really need ways to manage it, quality-control it, secure it, cleanse it, etc."

Enterprises that seek support in these BI efforts have the opportunity to mine company data in new and innovative ways for more valuable conclusions.

RDX's business intelligence and big data experts assist customers in leveraging data contained in large data stores. For more information, please visit our Business Intelligence and Predictive Analytics pages or contact us.

Enterprises of all sizes and sectors have invested significant time and funding into big data projects, but research has shown that many firms are disappointed with the results. Industry experts suggest that the problem lies in a lack of strategy and expertise. For these initiatives to be successful, firms need support from database experts as well as the most transparent analytics solutions that can integrate with existing business intelligence (BI) tools.

The Financial Times reported on a multitude of conflicting studies that have demonstrated big data successes and failures. Many of these initiatives show great promise, but the source noted that Accenture found only 22 percent of companies are satisfied with analytics programs and just 39 percent say their data is relevant to the business strategy. According to the source, Accenture attributed this to the fact that enterprises often measure too much data that doesn't matter as opposed to focusing on the information that does. In order to improve the outcome of big data projects, experts agree that enterprises need to invest in new capabilities and intensify the application of analytics. The Financial Times explained that, for instance, businesses can analyze information to answer questions such as how many customers have been lost in a given month. But to gain deeper insight into why they have left, and furthermore, predict when they might leave in the future, is something only big data can provide with proper tools and IT management.

A new approach
Big data can be especially useful because it incorporates external information, such as weather patterns or social media trends, with internal business data, like customer transactional histories. EWeek asserted that this capability has been offering enterprises an "odd reality": firms can find a new market, product or price level that was previously out of reach using intuition-based decision-making.

However, to achieve this, companies need to re-approach big data analysis. EWeek contributor Eric Lundquist revealed that asking a simple query over a large, real-time set of data is a more accurate and effective way to gain value from these projects than creating sophisticated algorithms for smaller samples.

This process can be applied to a number of indicators, including customer sentiment, weather forecasting, sports predictions or financial services. As long as firms take a new approach to business analytics, almost anything is possible.

RDX's business intelligence and big data experts assist customers in leveraging data contained in large data stores. For more information, please visit our Business Intelligence and Predictive Analytics pages or contact us.

Effective business decision-making has come to depend on real-time access to business intelligence (BI) analytics, which offer firms deep insight into particular processes, customer behaviors or market trends. However, that capability has become a challenge in the face of ever-expanding big data, which many enterprises are looking to overcome. According to industry experts, in order to harness this information for meaningful application, firms need to take a more strategic approach with the support of robust BI solutions and database experts.

A series of reports recently released by Aberdeen studied how corporations are struggling with big data while the demand for fast access to analytics is rapidly accelerating. Nathaniel Rowe, an Aberdeen analyst, argued that firms need to delve more deeply into business metrics and customer desires. He recommended investing in real-time integration tools that can allow companies to rapidly incorporate raw data for analysis, thus fueling faster and higher quality decisions. Rowe revealed that organizations using these tools are able to deliver timely information 89 percent of the time, while this is only possible 73 percent of the time without such tools.

Rowe also suggested that evaluating supplementary integration technologies may be useful, especially since modern IT environments are constantly evolving and becoming more complex. Ideally, he asserted that enterprises should deploy a single skilled professional or team of such experts, such as DBA services, to meet big data needs. According to Rowe, organizations that do so are able to reduce integration costs while sustaining productivity.

Taking a unique approach
Wired contributor Doron Aspitz reported that the majority of legacy BI tools fail to efficiently and accurately interpret big data. Enterprises are bogged down by a multitude of reports, all of which break down data but don't offer actionable insight that can have any kind of impact or concrete results. To create ROI from BI solutions, Aspitz argued that firms need to deploy the most advanced tools and expert advise for analyzing information in a way that fits the business' specific domain. He explained that by doing this, companies can better understand what information specific to the industry is most valuable based on trends and patterns within the market. 

There is no one approach to harnessing big data that can work for all organizations. The most effective BI solutions and experts can not only interpret large stores of data, but also provide context around the information for more relevant events and a more holistic understanding.

RDX's business intelligence and big data experts assist customers in leveraging data contained in large data stores. For more information, please visit our Business Intelligence and Predictive Analytics pages or contact us.

Inarguably, the data center has been transforming as enterprises look to adopt new technologies for a competitive edge, such as cloud computing and bring-your-own-device policies, while also mining large volumes of big data. As the IT environment becomes more complicated, firms are requiring database experts and administrators to aid in managing these challenges.

Andrew Hillier, the CTO and co-founder of CiRBA, told ITWorld that traditionally, databases were run using a combination of internal corporate knowledge around historical issues, device-specific analytics and process performance analytics. Now, though, enterprises are looking to manage data centers as a whole. Hillier explained that new technologies have allowed firms to manage these components as a single entity for improved analytics and enhanced insight into information. This is especially true, he noted, for organizations that are migrating from a conventional computing environment to a private cloud infrastructure. As a result of this shift, Hillier revealed that people can gain a deeper comprehension of monitoring and analytics tools as data centers become more centrally controlled. However, this integrated approach to database management also brings a need for technical expertise, according to Hillier. For example, businesses working to manage virtualized hardware will need to leverage remote database support in order to understand CPU utilization and capacity planning.

The value of DBAs
Enterprise Apps Today reported that according to Bert Scalzo, database domain expert for Quest Software, big data has completely changed the role that the database administrator (DBA) plays in many corporations. He asserted that the DBA's role has become more important because may companies are accumulating terabytes and petabytes of data due to inexpensive cloud storage capabilities.

"It's not that the number of DBAs is decreasing, but the amount of data that companies are keeping is increasing exponentially with the same amount of resources," Scalzo explained to the source.

Gwen Shapira, senior database administrator at data infrastructure management company Pythian, also reportedly believed that there is a considerable opportunity for DBAs to address big data obstacles.

"A few years ago, executives only noticed the database when it stopped working," Shapira said, according to Enterprise Apps Today. "Now they are looking at the database and they think of all the information it holds as an opportunity: How can we get more value out of the information we have here? What other information can we collect to support our decision making?"

Harnessing big data will likely continue to drive a need for expert knowledge and new solutions, such as those provided by DBA services.

RDX is a leading provider of advanced remote database management and monitoring solutions. For more information about database administration and management, please visit our Services page or contact us.

Companies are collecting mass amounts of data by the second, causing CIOs to seek new technologies and methods to mining information for value. As these enterprises deploy dba services for analyzing big data, experts agree there are immense opportunities for enhancing corporate security.

In a podcast interview with ComputerWeekly, Vigitrust CEO Mathieu Gorge explained that harnessing big data and matching particular points of information gives enterprises endless possibilities for improved security.

"The whole idea behind security in the storage of big data is being able to know where data is, where it is being stored, who has access to it and being able to track it for data protection and compliance…" he explained to the source. "In summary, the best way to do it is to map out the data, have a data flow diagram, classify the data and data points, the correlation of links between those data points, and then apply the standard mix of technical solutions, policies and procedures, and training."

Navigating a complex security landscape
A recent report from the Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) revealed that one reason corporations are looking to big data for these purposes is that the emergence of IT trends such as cloud computing, social media and bring-your-own-device have created new obstacles for managing security initiatives. Further, nearly one-quarter of organizations faced a security skills shortage in 2012, ESG explained, which has placed new demands on existing staff and technologies. Meanwhile, ESG stressed that the existing security infrastructure has become inadequate, as cybercriminals have new tool​ sets and tactics at their disposal.

However, database experts can empower firms to mine massive volumes of collected information to gain insight into potential vulnerabilities and security opportunities. According to ESG, 47 percent of enterprises collect, process and analyze more than six terabytes of security data on a monthly basis, which is an increase from two years ago for the majority of organizations. By analyzing this information for real-time security intelligence, firms gain hyper-visibility into all technology layers so risks and susceptibilities are detected more quickly across the enterprise. ESG noted that big data security intelligence thus gives teams the power to prioritize certain actions, adjust security controls and fine-tune incident response. Not only do these practices promote stronger protection of critical information and applications, but these advances can also lower security costs, the report explained.

Security analytics give firms the chance to make more data-driven decisions, which is the key to truly safeguarding information from any possible threat.

RDX's business intelligence and big data experts assist customers in leveraging data contained in large data stores. For more information, please visit our Business Intelligence and Predictive Analytics pages or contact us.

As enterprises rapidly develop initiatives for a cloud transition, experts agree that remote database support is needed for secure, effective deployment of these technologies. While businesses are eager to leverage these technologies to optimize efficiency, a strategic approach is critical.

According to Silicon Angle, JD Sherry, global director of technology solutions at Trend Micro, recently discussed how cloud security concerns remain at the forefront of business' minds at the AWS 2013 Summit. He noted that while many cloud providers have made a concerted effort to offer built-in security capabilities for cloud solutions, there is still a shared responsibility for protecting assets. He warned against a too-rapid migration that fails to take into account new risks that might arise in the transition process.

"We can get caught up in how quickly we can move, especially legacy businesses," he claimed, Silicon Angle reported. 

Sherry explained that strategic cloud deployment demands a cost-benefit analysis. This aids a company in deciding what data to move to the cloud, as well as in determining what preparations and solutions are needed to secure that information. He pointed to a shifting approach to cloud adoption, as more businesses move away from relying on in-house IT to outsourcing for data center support in the cloud.

Taking accountability in migration
Computerworld contributor Steve Pate asserted that small businesses in particular are aggressively pursuing cloud computing to address rapid growth. The scalability that comes with cloud services has become attractive to these firms, which are required to maximize small budgets and spin up servers as needed. Unfortunately, in addition to limited resources small companies often also lack adequate staffing, according to Pate. Without a team of security experts dedicated to data protection, cloud computing can potentially open up new vulnerabilities.

Conversely, Pate noted that larger companies typically invest more heavily in datacenters to support operations along with a well-trained staff to run these technologies. In order to meet new security demands, Pate predicted that enterprises will look to incorporate new security features to fully address data protection and compliance requirements. Still, he expects that cloud breaches will increase unless firms take these matters more seriously. 

Cloud adoption shows no signs of slowing down, but successful migration demands database experts to identify and mitigate security risks while optimizing and customizing the features of these solutions to fit unique objectives.

RDX offers a full suite of cloud migration and administrative services that can be tailored to meet any customer's needs. To learn more our full suite of cloud migration and support services, please visit our Cloud DBA Service page or contact us.

Previously regarded as an IT trend, the hype around cloud computing has proven to sustain {rephrase}, causing many enterprises to adopt these technologies in order to stay up-to-date, relevant and competitive. Experts agree that the explosion of interest in these solutions shows no sign of slowing down, and in fact, as businesses rapidly migrate to the cloud with the support of dba services, the benefits will only increase.

ZDNet contributor Ken Hess predicted that the cloud will completely replace in-house applications as CIOs realize the transition to a cloud environment is essentially inevitable. While the cloud still represents a small percentage of the total software market, he noted that by the end of the decade it will likely comprise more than 90 percent. The reason for this, according to Hess, is that like with any new technology, it has taken time for enterprises and IT professionals to become comfortable with these tools and address any concerns, such as security. Now that cautiousness is wearing off, firms are realizing that on-premise hardware will eventually become obsolete. Hess expects that by 2020, less than 20 percent of hardware will be located onsite.

Affordable innovation
Information Management also reported on the life-changing impact that cloud computing is having on enterprise IT. The source revealed that as businesses are continually looking to do more while spending less, cloud solutions are especially attractive because they support optimal productivity and are also cost-effective. A major challenge for IT teams has been dealing with the increasing accumulation of data while simultaneously navigating budgetary restrictions. As a result, for some firms, the cloud has become a necessary reality to maximize budgets while adopting the latest technological trends. One way in which cloud computing supports this initiative, according to Information Management, is by simplifying reporting and budgeting for better fiscal planning.

Additionally, the source pointed out that as the total costs of owning physical hardware and software rise along with the rapid need for upgrades, organizations are looking for flexible ways to update the infrastructure. Cloud services allow firms to add or remove technologies easily and adapt to changing business demands. The source stressed that the true value of these tools is that as IT demands increase, there is a considerable gap in available, proficient professionals.

By utilizing skilled database experts, enterprises can leverage the cloud for a competitive advantage from higher availability and agility along with more flexible spending.

RDX offers a full suite of cloud migration and administrative services that can be tailored to meet any customer's needs. To learn more our full suite of cloud migration and support services, please visit our Cloud DBA Service page or contact us.

Big data has become a major focus for retailers, as these companies look to improve pricing, marketing and sales strategies for a competitive advantage. However, harnessing these capabilities increasingly depends on analytics support from database experts as enterprises are collecting an ever-increasing amount of information from a range of channels and in a variety of forms.

Hispanic Business reported that firms have the opportunity to streamline shipping, drive conversion and optimize inventory, but only with the help of expert analysts. The source cited McKinsey Institute's prediction that the big data boom would create up to 190,000 new deep-analytics positions in the U.S. and a demand for 1.5 million data-savvy managers. Ravi Bapna, director of the University of Minnesota's Social Media and Business Analytics Collaborative, commented on this trend.

"The premium for these sort of people is already very high, and it will only increase over time," Bapna said, according to Hispanic Business. "There is a huge shortage of people who can handle the data, who have the business acumen to be able to ask the right questions, to do the experiments and make the right inferences."

A significant development in big data has been the ability to sort and analyze unstructured information such as social media interactions to aid in understanding buying behaviors. Mike Webster, general manager of Oracle Retail, explained to Hispanic Business that major retail corporations like Best Buy and Target are becoming more interested in these solutions. The news source noted that Oracle software, which is used by the top 20 global retailers, allows companies to track purchasing, shipping and sales processes both in stores and on the Internet. Now these businesses are looking to merge that information with data on what customers want, where they are and how and when to make offers or ship products to them.

A predictive model
According to CFO, Destination XL Group, a retailer specializing in big and tall men's apparel, has been using big data to make better decisions regarding what items to carry. When Dennis Hernreich became CFO of the company in 2002, he reportedly realized that business intelligence (BI) tools could improve inventory management. The technologies have allowed Destination XL Group to analyze what sizes and products sell most and predict customer demands.

By leveraging big data to mine multiple sources and types of information, retailers have the potential to fuel more efficient, streamlined processes and avoid under stocked or excess products to better satisfy consumer expectations.

RDX's business intelligence and big data experts assist customers in leveraging data contained in large data stores. For more information, please visit our Business Intelligence and Predictive Analytics pages or contact us.

As interest in cloud computing steadily rises, studies are showing that the benefits to these technologies are finally paying off. With remote database support, businesses can leverage cloud solutions for a significant positive impact, including a major boost in efficiency, productivity and savings for a competitive advantage. 

An annual survey by RightScale of IT and business executives demonstrated that firms are adopting cloud computing at a rapid rate, and further, that companies which expand investments in these technologies reap more rewards and experience fewer challenges.

"In our 2013 State of the Cloud survey, we were able to gather meaningful insights as to how an organization's level of cloud maturity impacts both the benefits they are able to realize and the challenges they perceive," said Michael Crandell, CEO of RightScale. "The results reveal a clear cloud value imperative: more cloud adoption unlocks more cloud value."

RightScale defined a cloud maturity model in the survey in order to segment companies based on their level of adoption and analyze which methods are most effective. The majority of businesses fell into the "Cloud Focused" category, demonstrating heavy and strategic use of these tools to transform the business, followed by "Cloud Beginners" that are still working on initial projects. Only 8 percent of companies have no plans to use the cloud. Organizations reported experiencing significantly more benefits as they progress from throughout the maturity model. While 30 percent of Cloud Beginners gained faster access to infrastructure, an overwhelming 87 percent of Cloud Focused respondents realized the same outcome. Further, the risks decrease with maturity: Security was reported as a challenge to 38 percent of Cloud Beginners as compared to 28 percent of Cloud Focused companies.

Challenges fade
InfoWorld contributor David Linthicum noted that these findings are unsurprising and in step with cloud computing market revenues have indicated. He explained that as businesses become more comfortable with cloud computing concepts, the less significant issues such as security, compliance and resiliency may seem. For example, he pointed out that many firms find ownership daunting, but issues relating to managing cloud solutions can be quickly mitigated with proactive and strategic planning.

As cloud computing becomes more sophisticated, the potential opportunities that come with deployment are endless. And by seeking dba services, businesses will be able to fully leverage these solutions with minimal risks and a considerable competitive edge during the transition.

RDX offers a full suite of cloud migration and administrative services that can be tailored to meet any customer's needs. To learn more our full suite of cloud migration and support services, please visit our Cloud DBA Service page or contact us.

The database is the central repository of an enterprise's total assets, and therefore it is imperative that companies deploy the proper solutions and services to support functionality. As managing the data center becomes more complex, experts agree it is important to leverage remote database support for support in ensuring proper bandwidth, optimal connectivity and overall administration so that analytics and other operations can run smoothly.

In an interview with Smart Business, Mike Tighe, executive director of data products for Comcast Business, explained that the data center itself doesn't affect value or generate ROI, but management of critical IT functions does.

"The function of a data center is to ensure availability of IT applications and data," Tighe told the source. "If employees don't have access, they can't be as productive and in some cases, the business can't run."

Tighe further predicted that the concept of leasing as opposed to owning IT infrastructure will only accelerate as businesses increasingly migrate to the cloud, which offers more rapid deployment of applications and enhanced scalability. He noted that more companies will likely outsource IT, such as with dba services, for higher security and uptime.

"When IT becomes an important component of how you run your business, you have to ensure high availability," Tighe stated to Smart Business. "If, for example, you install specialized applications used for resource planning and creation of content, but the server starts going down because of power or network connectivity loss, it impacts your business's ability to run."

Maximizing Oracle benefits
These considerations are particularly important when it comes to maintaining Oracle performance. TechTarget reported that there are many powerful functions that come with Oracle products, such as SQL construction, application development and database optimization, but seeking third-party tools can be even more beneficial. By filling in gaps in these systems with the help of Oracle experts, firms can effectively enhance the native tools to these technologies while customizing the application for unique and specialized advantages. For example, the source pointed out that cross-platform data replication helps to unify information across multiple database platforms, while other solutions offer improved disaster recovery, business continuity and cross-platform data sharing.

With support from third-party services, enterprises can generate greater value from the database by uncovering bottlenecks, debugging issues more quickly and optimizing performance to support new features and capabilities.

RDX is a leading provider of advanced remote database management and monitoring solutions. For more information about database administration and management, please visit our Services page or contact us.