Tuesday, September 17,2013


in associationwith


BusinessArgus


Nothing nebulous aboutcloudbenefits


CLOUD computing has become one of the most commonly used phrases when talking about everything from smartphones to corporate IT infrastructure, yetinthe worldofthe SME, very fewpeople seem to know what it means, or more impor- tantly,what it can do to enhance their business. In its simplest form, cloud com- puting is the process bywhich IT services,applications and data are stored on servers in aremote loca- tion such as adata centre and delivered overanetwork, in most cases the internet. The benefits are many.Itsaves


on the need to purchase expensive hardware and software,giving access to the latest technology and computer programmes without the huge costs associated with buying them outright. Through a‘virtual desktop’ a computer’sdesktop space can be expanded beyondwhat is physical- ly available and is useful for work- erswhomay need to utilise many different programmes at once.It allows smaller businesses to com- pete onamore-levelplaying field with much-larger organisations. As the data is stored remotely,it


is perfect for businesses that need to access their data on-the-go,and allows for features such as auto- matic data back-up and easy resto- ration in the event of adisaster: crucial for every business. Simply ask yourself howlong


youwould survive if youcouldn’t access keydata, client informa- tion and financial records –the honest answeris‘not long at all’. Cloud computing also delivers


Newport cafeisnow open again


ANEWPORT café reopenedthis summer followingclosure earlier this year. Thecafé, in Beechwood Park,


wasreopenedbynew manager JaneThorley. Theex-floristdecidedto


embark in thenew venture fol- lowingarthritis which madeher previous profession too difficult aworkingenvironment. Nowthe café, which is open


sevendaysaweek, is thriving despite itsinitial closure,but now theowner wants to ensure thecafé doesn’t closeagain by making peopleaware thatitis not just seasonal.The café is open from 9.30am to 4.30pm MondaytoFridayand from 10am to 4pm Saturday andSunday.


By Paul Brown, CEO, Certus IT,Newport


economies of scale,asany good cloud provider will allowyou to expand or reduce your server space in line with the current requirements of your business, making it afar more cost-effective option in the long term. Youonly have to look at the pic-


ture in America to see that the move to the cloud is the wayfor- ward. Google spent $1.6bn on data centres to host their cloud servic- es in the second quarter of 2013 alone,while according to the tech- nology research group Gartner, the nationwide spend for this year is expected to hit $143bn. Welaunched our owndatacentre


in 2011 in response to the huge growth in demand for cloud ser- vices in the UK, and were fortu- nate enough to find the perfect home in Next Generation Data’s (NGD) world-class facility in Newport. Not only is highly secure but it is also earthquake proof!Itmeans that our clients knowwhen they entrust their data to us it is 100 per cent secure,and that they can access it 24 hours a daywithout any disruptions or unscheduled downtime. “InWales,weare lucky enough


to have one of Europe’slargest Tier 3facilities on our doorstepin the formofNGD.For SMEs in Wales,itshould no longer be a case of asking ‘what is cloud com- puting?’ but more ‘what can it do for me?’.


5


OneGold Tops Newport


NP20 4PG T: 01633 844141 W: www.newportunlimited.co.uk


91 homes nowsold


lFrom page 1 This 600-acre scheme is being devel-


oped by StModwenusing aphased approach to deliver4,000 new homes and 6,000 new jobs over the next 20 years. When complete,Glan Llyn will pro-


vide arange of facilities including leisure and retail space and educa- tion facilities all surrounded by 80 acres of open parkland. The site also houses a100 acre busi-


ness area, Celtic Business Park, pro- viding quality office,industrial and warehouse space.The business park has capacity for circa 1.5msqftof commercial facilities,which will be developed over the life of the project, in line with marketdemand. Anew website,www.glanllyn-new-


port.co.uk, and concept images for Glan Llyn have been unveiled this week. RupertJoseland, SouthWales


Paul Brown, CEO, Newport-basedCertusIT On course to boost charities


TWENTY-FIVE teams representing local businesses took partinacharity golf event in aid of Tenovus and Sparkle,which was held recently at the Parc Golf Club,Coedkernew. The daywas organised by Terryand Helen Hicks,who ownthe Parc Golf course andwhoprovided the facili- ties free of charge. More than £6,000 was raised on the


day. MrHicks said: “It’sencouraging to


see so many local firmssupportsuch aworthwhile cause.Tenovus and Sparkle do aremarkable job.” The teamwhich came second on the


dayincluded Alan Darlow, represent- ing Newport-based estate agency Roberts&Co. Another (which is pic- tured) was made up of Chris Blight (CEO,Caerleon Nursing Home), Dave Stock (mortgage broker), Stuart Brothers (solicitor) and Barrie Whiter (captain 2012 of Tredegar ParkGolf Club).


Newport, a smart and connectedcity. www.newportsmartandconnectedcity.co.uk


regional director for StModwen, said: “The launch of this new road and Glan Llyn vision illustrates our commitment and ambition to deliver along-termsustainable community, acommunity vision that is already recognised asamajor partof NewportCity Council’swider £2bn regeneration programme.Wewill continue to work with our project partners to realise significant new opportunities to regenerate Newport.” “The first phase of housing at Glan


Llyn is being delivered by Persimmon as partofa joint venture with St.Modwenand comprises 307 new homes of which 91 have already been sold. The properties include a range of two-, three- and four-bed- room homes and townhouses. “Glan Llyn is one of four regenera-


tion schemes we’redelivering across SouthWales.These schemes include the £1.2bn Coed Darcydevelopment in Neath and the first phase of the £450m Science and Innovation Campus for Swansea University.”


Glan Llyn,Newport.Whatthe local shopping centre couldlooklike


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