• VMware launches network-savvy cloud service

  VMware has launched its long-anticipated public infrastructure as a service (IaaS), touting its virtual networking capabilities as a differentiator from other established hybrid cloud offerings.

• Amazon Web Services gets FedRAMP certification for US government cloud use

  Amazon Web Services has finally received certification under the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program, which the company said will lower the cost of implementing its cloud services among government organizations and agencies in the U.S.

• Opinion: Private data centre relevance in a cloud-centric world

  There’s no doubt cloud computing is a very real trend. While many organisations keep their core IT assets in-house and under direct control, nowadays you would struggle to find an enterprise that didn’t make use of any third-party cloud service.

• Dell dumps OpenStack and VMware for public cloud, focuses on private clouds

  Dell has dramatically shifted its cloud computing strategy, canceling plans it once had to launch a public cloud service based on the OpenStack open source platform, and discontinuing a VMware-based public cloud it already has on the market.

• Successful companies embrace shadow IT

  Businesses move quickly, and those that make missteps along the way or fail to adapt to the times rarely go unscathed. Consider the fate of the original 12 companies listed in the Dow. While General Electric is still an independent company, most of the others have been acquired by larger companies or have vanished altogether.

• Free Amazon Web Services -- and how to make the most of them

  If you avoid some gotchas and keep a close eye on resource usage, you can have a handy server in the Amazon cloud for free

• How-to: Get started with Amazon EC2

  Amazon cloud skills are in high demand. This easy, step-by-step guide will help start you on your path to cloud mastery

• Top 5 free Google Apps add-ons for business

  Google launched its Apps Marketplace back in March, effectively inviting companies to create business software for the cloud that would sit alongside the standard set of Google Apps.

• Get 5GB of free cloud-sync storage from SugarSync

  Wouldn't it be cool if you had a "magic" folder on your PC, one that automatically synced its contents with the Web, your other PCs, your cell phone, and other devices?

• How to get more out of the cloud

  It's topical and there are many considering a move to the cloud. So how do you get more out of cloud services? Here are a few tips and tricks to get you on your way.

• Google's next act: Diversify and conquer

  Center stage at this year's Google I/O was a company honing its vision for a future beyond search

• IT's new concern: The personal Cloud

  As personal and professional Clouds converge, IT's mission to improve productivity while protecting corporate apps and data is getting tougher.

• What to expect at SAP's Sapphire

  SAP's Sapphire conference kicks off next week in Orlando, setting the stage for the company to sell customers on its visions for cloud-based applications, in-memory computing and mobility.

• What the man behind HP's new internal IT plan has in mind

  As someone who spent billions with HP over 20 years while in IT leadership roles at Boeing and Verizon Wireless, John Hinshaw knew the big hardware, software and services company from the outside as well as anyone. In the year-and-a-half since becoming executive vice-president of technology and operations at HP, he's been putting that knowledge to use on the inside.

• Why developers are turning to API services

  As application development increasingly hooks into outside services, tools to manage all those APIs are sprouting up

Whitepapers about cloud computing

• 

  Clearing the Clouds for Midmarket Businesses

  Cloud computing promises to help midmarket companies reduce cost and complexity in the IT equation – and gain the flexibility and agility they need to thrive. Yet charting a clear course to the cloud isn’t always easy. In this paper, we aim to clear the clouds. We examine different cloud computing models, discuss the types of requirements that each can best address, and consider what midmarket businesses should look for in a cloud solutions provider.

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  The IT Priorities for 2013

• 

  Note to CIOs: Get Your Head in the Cloud

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  Forrester: The Three Stages of Cloud Economics