1. Cloud Technology & Options
Available
Steve Grueter – Director – Platform Lab

2. What is Cloud Computing?
Cloud computing is the practice of using a network of
remote virtualized servers hosted on the Internet to store,
manage and process data, rather than a local server or
personal computer.
National providers Amazon, Google and Microsoft Azure, as
well as local providers Expedient, Platform Lab, BlueMile,
Qwest and eCommerce all use cloud technologies in
different ways to meet the needs of their clients.
The Best Value in IT Testing
www.PlatformLab.org

3. Cloud Computing
• Key factor for utilizing cloud computing technology is to
save money and increase capability
• Utilize infrastructure from a cloud instead of purchasing
hardware and maintaining it yourself
• Run apps, e-mail, CRM and various other tools from any
computer using a remote connection to a cloud
• Increase capability of existing infrastructure and reduce
carbon footprint
The Best Value in IT Testing
www.PlatformLab.org

4. Main Uses for Cloud Computing

5. Cloud Computing
Platforms Uses Access
• VMware • Hosting • Public
• MS Hyper-V • Storage • Pros/Cons
• Citrix Zen • SaaS • Private
• RedHat • IaaS • Pros/Cons
Virtualization • Testing • Hybrid
• Colocation
• DR
The Best Value in IT Testing
www.PlatformLab.org

6. Cloud Computing
Providers:
• National
• Amazon, HP, Azure, Google, numerous smaller
resources
• Local
• Expedient, BlueMile, Qwest, eCommerce, Platform
Lab
The Best Value in IT Testing
www.PlatformLab.org

7. Uses for Cloud Computing
• E-mail: services such as Gmail, Yahoo and Hotmail all
utilize cloud computing
• Web Hosting: many websites are hosted and deployed
from a cloud environment
• Apps: Google and Microsoft both deploy web apps from
cloud environments
• Storage: Dropbox and other cloud services provide
online storage accessible from web browsers and other
devices
The Best Value in IT Testing
www.PlatformLab.org

8. What is Platform Lab?
Platform Lab was established by the State of Ohio’s Third
Frontier Program. As a resource of TechColumbus, Platform
Lab gives companies a competitive advantage by providing
affordable access to cloud services for projects and testing.
After three years since the installation of cloud
infrastructure, Platform Lab remains the only non-profit
cloud service provider in the United States.
Platform Lab provides infrastructure resources to firms all
over the world, driving business into Ohio.
The Best Value in IT Testing
www.PlatformLab.org

9. Cloud Computing at Platform Lab
Platform Lab utilizes our cloud to provide clients with
access to infrastructure for the purpose of testing products
and services prior to release to ensure that everything
works as planned.
The Best Value in IT Testing
www.PlatformLab.org

10. Platform Lab Clients and Uses
• Load/Stress Testing
• Victoria’s Secret, Thomson Reuters (Minneapolis),
WalMart.com (Brisbane, CA), Coach Bags (NYC)
• Proof-of-Concept Validation
• Quest Software (Aliso Viejo, CA) Honda
• Hosted Project Infrastructure
• Columbus Airport, Scholastic (Boston)
• Colocation Services
• Northway (Brentwood TN), UglyData
• Training Room Rentals
• MicroTek (Chicago)
The Best Value in IT Testing
www.PlatformLab.org

11. Google Apps for Business
• Platform Lab, along with thousands of other companies,
utilize Google Apps for Business
• The cloud allows staff of Platform Lab to access e-mail,
calendars, customer relationship tools, specs and
various other files from a web browser
• This cuts down on the installed applications needed to
conduct our day-to-day business
• We can access files for clients form home, from our
offices, from our datacenter and from our smart phones
The Best Value in IT Testing
www.PlatformLab.org

12. Questions and Answers
• How can the various cloud services help our business?
• Who is going to be the QB for the Miami game?
The Best Value in IT Testing
www.PlatformLab.org

13. Many Thanks To…
• The Dublin Entrepreneurial Center
• Our thanks to the outstanding staff – Sandy
Blanquera, Cindy Groeniger, Chaz Freutel, Dana
McDaniel, Tammy Brown
The Best Value in IT Testing
www.PlatformLab.org