Google Chrome OS and the space in the Enterprise

Well, it has taken nearly two years since the announcement by Google to challenge Microsoft for a place at the desktop from the operating system upwards.  We all know that Google has tried to challenge Microsoft for a place at the table for cloud based applications; Google Apps.  They have had some high profile wins and made people consider cloud seriously.

Now, Google has officially unveiled Google Chome OS, its availability, pricing and supported hardware, and we believe it will seriously make people think about their desktop computing model.  Like most things entering the Enterprise IT space nowadays it will probably come in through the consumer channel and we will need to support it.

In a very bold move by Citrix they have come out and said that they will fully support the Google Chrome OS (a vision we had two years ago) to access windows based desktops and applications in the datacentre – a very smart move by Google.  VMware have also stated support for Chrome OS too.

Google, in partnership with Samsung and Acer, is pitching the laptops in a hardware, software and support package to businesses starting at $28 per user per month. The three-year contracts allow users to upgrade to new computers at the end of the term, and get replacements earlier if a device malfunctions.

While the price may be appealing to some customers, the problem of transitioning users from Windows applications to Chrome will be a roadblock, especially for customers who haven't installed any type of virtual desktop software.

But users of Citrix would have a much easier time, since the Citrix Receiver for Chrome OS technology will be very similar to what they already use to stream applications to other user devices.

VMware, which lagged behind Citrix in bringing virtual desktop functionality to the iPad, is in the same boat with Chrome OS. Google said it has a partnership with VMware to deliver similar functionality through VMware View, but Google Apps executive Rajen Sheth said it is unclear whether VMware will be ready in 2011.

"VMware is building a version of VMware View to work within the browser," Sheth says.

Using HTML5, Citrix says Citrix Receiver will create a rich user experience in the Chrome browser. Citrix engineering teams have been working on the project for six months to make it fast and secure.

At today’s Citrix Synergy key note Citrix have announced that their is a new Citrix receiver for web.  This works with any browser.

We are pretty excited by this move and it should start to shape the VDI market further and some of the constraints around licensing models.  And who better than Intrinsic to discuss this with…. Google Enterprise Partner, Citrix Gold Partner, VMware Enterprise Partner underpinned by hardware from HP and Cisco.

What's in the clouds for 2011?

Well after a fun packed Christmas holiday, I thought I should emerge from hibernation and think about what 2011 holds for the ever evolving cloud strategies.  There are many more than those highlighted below, but those below definitely come with some kudos. 

dataplex systems:

• Need for better access control and identity management
• Ongoing Compliance
• Multiple Cloud Tenants will compound and raise issues
• Be some firm standards and certifications for cloud security.

Gartner:

• By 2015, tools and automation will eliminate 25 per cent of labour hours associated with IT services.
• By 2015, 20 per cent of non-IT Global 500 companies will be cloud service providers.
• By 2014, 90 per cent of organisations will support corporate applications on personal devices.
• By 2013, 80 per cent of businesses will support a workforce using tablets.

Ovum:

• Mobility – In IT management, the mobility challenge in 2011 will be to embrace the new technology while developing a strategy that maintains a balance between user preference and productivity and corporate security and compliance.

• Data centre transformation – The role of the data centre is witnessing a dramatic shift as the cloud computing era heralds a new dawn in the delivery of IT services in 2011.
• Cloud services – Cloud computing will continue to grow steadily in 2011.

CCS Insight:

• Operators will focus on speed and quality of service rather than number of gigabytes when marketing mobile data.
• Operators will pay subsidies based on the data efficiency of a software platform, favouring BlackBerry over iOS and Android.

Nucleus Research:

• Politicians are out of touch with the realities of IT. The cloud enables white-collar workers to work anywhere, allowing smart companies to seek locales with low taxes and overhead.
• The cloud changes everything – still. Companies large and small are taking advantage of the economic and environmental advantages of developing and computing in the cloud.

HfS:

• Integrated offerings from service providers with broad capability gain market share. Distinction between BPO and ITO blurs
• Many CIOs will thrive or fail because of Cloud demand from their business function leaders

Infotrends:

• Cloud printing (or a similar term) to become the next big thing in the printing industry – we’re going to start moving beyond MPS and the hubbub around MPS – companies will begin to realise that the underlying theme is the mobility of the knowledge worker and that business processes, of which the majority still involve paper somewhere along the line, will need to adapt, evolve and maybe be totally reinvented for the next computing age

Forrester:

• You will build a private cloud, and it will fail. And this is a good thing.

• Hosted private clouds will outnumber internal clouds 3:1. The top reason empowered employees go to public cloud services is speed. They can gain access to these services in minutes. Private clouds must meet this demand and not once, but consistently.
• Community clouds will arrive, thank to compliance.
• Cloud economics gets switched on. Being cheap is good.

• Cloud standards still won’t be here — get over it.

• Cloud security will be proven but not by the providers alone. Because cloud security isn’t their responsibility —it’s shared.