3-Click Cloud Transition from Appcara
3-Click Cloud Transition from Appcara by UCStrategies Staff
It can be difficult for channel partners to assist customers to move away from their on-premises systems, as the process can be quite lengthy and complex. A Milpitas, California-based company that focuses on cloud management, Appcara, has found a solution to this problem.
The CMO of Appcara, Paul Speciale, stated: “We believe that customers and partners want more efficiency as they run mission-critical applications like accounting software, customer relationship management software and ERP. We focus on managing applications in the cloud. That means that we simplify the whole process of installing the software, setting up the application packages and making sure that all the dependencies are set. There is always a collection of servers, Web servers and databases, inventory systems and a lot of different pieces that need to collaborate. Our software provides the workflow automation that will allow our partners to make this happen efficiently.”
Following three years of product development, Appcara is at present attempting to draw channel partners to its cause.
Speciale said: “I think the key thing that partners need is basic understanding of cloud technology, either public or private cloud. We can stand up an application in the cloud in three clicks. I challenged one of my guys to [manually] install Hadoop in the cloud environment. Seven hours later he still was not done. But, one of my channel partners can click on Hadoop and have it up and running in about five minutes.”
Channel partners of the company are concentrating mostly on testing. The company only has four channel partners, but the benefits of that technology are expected to kick off soon.
Impex Technologies is an El Segundo, California-based channel partner which is concerned with storage technologies. The CEO of that company, Rajiv Shah, noted: “Our customers want to move their business apps to private clouds, and we haven't really had the necessary skills to move those apps over, so we've been looking for a good management system. The applications are being tested out in the lab, and so far the feedback from the engineering team is really positive. We are planning some proof-of-concept solutions.”
A three-step process is needed to aid application distribution in a public cloud via Appcara. The partner is able to choose between the company’s portal, sleeve the appropriate cloud to use, confirm the cost structure to assist with the application, and this is when the distribution begins. When the app is operational, security rules, backup, auto-scaling and similar configurations can be established.
The opportunity for private cloud deployment is also an option.
Speciale of Appcara added: “The whole idea is to keep the user in a simple environment, rather than having to connect to the server and do this all manually. So if I'm a partner who is moving into the cloud, I can establish a foothold in one technology segment using our platform and then expand into other technology segments, and perhaps even technologies that I did not offer the customer prem.”
However, there are some channel partners who are wary of this move.
Cumulus Global is a Westboro, Massachusetts-based solution provider. The CEO of that company, Allen Falcon, said: “If the vendor has a very solid relationship with the providers with whom they work, then this should be pretty straightforward. If all the necessary APIs are available and working properly, it could be good. If not, then the primary benefits will be reduced. It's kind of like the old days of HP OpenView. If you have the right MIB for your switch, then you were in good shape. If they didn't, it was going to be very expensive.”
There are at present 85 prepackaged application components that are available through Appcara, and these are suitable for a variety of apps, including Oracle and MySQL. (CY) Link