1. Plenary three: Cloud computing – is
social housing ready for it?
Speakers: Phil Copperwheat
Head of Systems
Viridian Housing Association
Simon Acott
Business and Partner Development Director
Exponential-e
Chair: Andrew Harris
Head of ICT,
Cross Keys Homes

2. Cloud computing –
is social housing
ready for it?
Simon Acott, Business & Partner Development Director, Exponential-e
Phil Copperwheat, Head of Systems, Viridian Housing
20th Nov 2013

3. Examining the business drivers for cloud computing
• Are the risks still too high – how to mitigate them?
• Top ten questions to ask when buying cloud
• What cost savings are really achievable?
• Data protection issues – key contractual clauses

4. Cloud definition and business drivers

5. Definition
NIST Definition – version 15!
(National Institute of Standards and Technology)
• Cloud computing is a model for enabling convenient, on-
demand network access to a shared pool of configurable
computing resources (e.g. networks, servers, storage,
applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and
released with minimal management effort or service provider
interaction.

6. Definition
NIST Definition – version 15!
(National Institute of Standards and Technology)
• Cloud computing is a model for enabling convenient, on-
demand network access to a shared pool of configurable
computing resources (e.g. networks, servers, storage,
applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and
released with minimal management effort or service provider
interaction.

7. Definition
NIST Definition – version 15!
(National Institute of Standards and Technology)
• Cloud computing is a model for enabling convenient, on-
demand network access to a shared pool of configurable
computing resources (e.g. networks, servers, storage,
applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and
released with minimal management effort or service provider
interaction.

8. Definition
NIST Definition – version 15!
(National Institute of Standards and Technology)
• Cloud computing is a model for enabling convenient, on-
demand network access to a shared pool of configurable
computing resources (e.g. networks, servers, storage,
applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and
released with minimal management effort or service provider
interaction.

9. Buzzwords blurred
© Beyond Solutions

10. Applications Anywhere
Information &
Intelligence
Communicated &
Protected
What is expected

11. Stronger Balance
Sheet
Costs Down
Growth enabled Customer Experience
… the business view

12. Revenues Up Costs Down
Growth Enabled Brand Enhanced
Reliable &
Available
Secure
Functional &
Interoperable
Delivered now, at a
lower cost
Behind the business view..

13. Top 10 questions to ask

14. Top 10 questions to ask
• Exit Plan
• Is it a true cloud?
• Offer an end-to-end SLA?
• Data protection & location?
• Industry standards (ISO, PCI, FIPS )?
• Connectivity requirements ?
– web, ssl, private, bandwidth
• Existing investment?
– Hybrid
• Software requirements (IOPS, RAM, CPU)?
• Financial stability
• Flexibility

15. Mitigating risks

16. Key risks on the way to the cloud
• Requirements
• Planning
• Goals
• Organisational commitment
• Cloud provider
• Contract
• Security
• Performance
• Control
• Costs

17. Once you’re there
• Data security, privacy and ownership
• Application interoperability and compatibility
• Performance of applications and services
 (covering networks, processing, collection and storage)
• Developer and Administrator access and support
• Delivery to service levels / systems availability
• Reporting

18. Viridian’s path to the Cloud

19. Viridian - setting the scene
• Midsized housing provider circa 16,000 homes
– Historic cost driven focus, low investment
– In-house data centre (aka converted room)
– Lack of enterprise-class skills and capabilities
– Customer services moving towards a 24x7 basis
– Inability to easily flex as the business grows and contracts
– No direct linkage between cost and the size of the business
– Limited disaster recovery solution
– Security challenges given the wider technology landscape
– Desire to improve its carbon footprint

20. In-house vs. Outsource
CapEx vs. OpEx
V

21. Billing simplicity
CPU Memory Disk / Backup
Managed
Services
Network

22. Investment models
Amazon
Ref - Rackspace

23. Exponential-e
VPLS Network
DMZServerWAN
VDC1 - Enfield
VDC2 - Slough
Internet LAN
Centralised Internet
Datacentre
Head Office
Migration from
On-Premise to Cloud
Virtualisation Layer
Virtualisation Layer
On-Premise Server Farm
Offices
850 Users
Migration from
On-Premise to Cloud
Real Time
Replication
(1) Independent VPLS instances
(2) Multiple Stretched VLANs
across national sites
Viridian’s Cloud Infrastructure

24. Viridian’s Cloud Stack Viridians Cloud Stack
Connectivity
Content
Storage
Compute
Operating System
Application
Virtualization Layer
Dedicated IAAS
Managed IAAS
IAAS
Managed Application
Customer / User
Satisfaction

25. Post migration focus

26. Post migration focus
• Rationalisation of Virtual Servers
– Review resource utilisation
– Adjust
– Review resource utilisation
• Merge
– SQL servers
– File servers
– AD Servers
– Exchange servers

27. Securing your data
• Plan from the outset not once your there
• Understand you data landscape / assets & asses business
impact
– Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability (CIA)
• The contracts plays a key role
– Vetting employees / exit rights / service levels / data
locations
• Consider encryption at rest and in transit as well as usage of
certificates

28. Outcomes
• Is it cheaper than on premise ?
3 year TCO is cost neutral slight saving, true savings show into year 4
and beyond
Cost though was not the predominant driver……
• Enterprise class environment which Viridian could never afford
alone
• Mixed service levels based on business need
• True 24x7 cover (not reliant on Bob on call)
• Ability to scale up or down as the business changes

29. Thank you