The Univa Approach To Cloud Computing

Univa enables companies of all kinds to achieve the promised benefits of cloud computing. We understand the challenges and benefits associated with cloud – and, through years of practical experience and proven technology, we have developed the right path to obtain these benefits for the lowest cost and at the lowest risk.

An Incremental Approach

We take an evolutionary (not revolutionary) approach to cloud implementations, working with customers to determine the best way to leverage cloud. Our lightweight products integrate with your existing systems and technologies, rather than requiring you to 'rip and replace' what you've already invested in. We apply best practices and proven methodologies and technology to get you up and running quickly, reducing risk and time to value.

A Comprehensive Range of Options

Univa offers the most comprehensive cloud options available:

• Cloud types:
  • External/Public: Leverage 3rd party cloud services to outsource you computing environment – or build a cloud service for your end customers
  • Internal/Private: Optimize your existing infrastructure to gain cloud-style benefits while maintaining autonomy and control
  • Mixed/Hybrid: Combine internal and external cloud approaches, extending your resources on demand to create a fully optimized hybrid computing infrastructure
• Cloud technologies:
  • Infrastructure Provisioning and Management
  • Service Governance
• Cloud services:
  • Auditing and Assessment
  • Application Classification and On-boarding
  • Implementation
  • Single path for support

Assess, Deploy, Analyze

This approach isn't new – most successful technology implementations, whether small or large, follow a path where assessment leads to deployment and then analysis or measurement. Our experience with early cloud adopters has taught us the same path is best with cloud. At a high level, here are the steps involved:

• Assess:

  There are several elements that need to be assessed and comprehended by both you and your chosen cloud vendor, before an implementation course can be charted:

  • Business drivers:

    What specific pain is leading you to consider a cloud strategy? Do you need to simply find an occasional solution for supplementing capacity (which might lead to an external cloud solution)? Or have you been charged with reducing operational expense by automating data center processes, which would lead us to recommend a service governor as part of your solution? Assessing the business drivers is the critical first step of any cloud engagement.

  • Usage scenarios:

    What type of work do you intend to do with your cloud? This will help determine the right solution type (external, internal, hybrid). Note that not all usage scenarios are a good fit for Cloud – we can help you determine whether yours will be.

  • Business and technology requirements:

    What are your constraints around business needs, user concerns, and technology must-haves? This will determine, among other things, whether an external cloud solution can be considered or whether things need to be kept internal.

  • Applications:

    Are the applications you hope to use (or deliver to customers) via a cloud infrastructure ready to be delivered on that infrastructure – can they be made cloud-ready? This stage of analysis may take the form of a technical service engagement. You also need to determine which applications have the most ‘bang for your buck' when enabled on the cloud – this will help prioritize applications for the Private or External clouds versus those which should remain dedicated.

• Deploy:

  Once you've determined, either on your own or with the assistance of an expert partner or vendor, the right solution path, it's time to take action. Univa's solution offerings range from implementations that get you up and running in less than 30 days to custom-building a set of cloud services over several months.

• Analyze:

  Success must be measured. Univa products include monitoring and analysis tools so that progress can be reported and value documented.