Hyper-converged infrastructure explained

searchservervirtualization | May 30, 2019

HCI breaks down traditional IT silos by bundling compute, storage, networking and virtualization, which helps to streamline resource provisioning and management. Hyper-converged infrastructure is explained as a system that incorporates compute, storage, networking and virtualization technology, but there's more to it than that. Server virtualization fundamentally changed the way IT administrators provisioned and managed compute resources in the enterprise. But virtualization technology didn't stop at the server. As of 2019, virtualization technologies have also embraced storage and networking, enabling extensive software-layer control that can centralize workload resources and management. This confluence of compute, storage and network virtualization spawned HCI.

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When you install NAKIVO Backup & Replication on ARM-based NAS devices, an external Transporter is needed to work with VMware vCenters and ESXi hosts. This is to ensure smooth and efficient backup and replication processes for your VMware data.


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Virtual Desktop Tools, Cloud

Anjuna Adds Support for Microsoft Azure Confidential VMs

Globenewswire | July 04, 2023

Anjuna Security Inc., a confidential computing software company, today announced that its flagship product, the Anjuna Confidential Computing Platform, now supports Microsoft Azure confidential virtual machines (VMs) powered by AMD EPYC™ processors with Secure Encrypted Virtualization-Secure Nested Paging (SEV-SNP) security features. This added functionality represents a significant advancement in Anjuna’s support for Azure confidential computing (ACC) solutions and increases flexibility of choice for Microsoft customers. “As a leader in off-chain computation, where trust and security are non-negotiable, we are very excited by Anjuna’s expanded support for the latest AMD SEV-SNP confidential computing technology on Microsoft Azure that provides powerful isolation, risk reduction, and simplicity for sensitive data and code, taking confidential computing ease of use, trust, and simplicity to next level,” said Mitch Gildenberg, Switchboard CTO. Azure confidential VMs, powered by AMD SEV-SNP, provide a robust platform to securely migrate and run enterprise applications to the cloud with data-in-use protection. While running in confidential VMs, applications can be isolated from other VMs, the hypervisor, and cloud infrastructure operators. Additionally, Anjuna's solution provides further isolation and safeguards for threats originating from the guest OS, misconfigurations, and other applications running in the same VM and the VM administrator. With more organizations processing more sensitive data in the cloud for generative AI, financial systems, and high-value transactions processing, however, security must extend to cover all these additional threats. Anjuna Confidential Computing Platform enhances Azure confidential VMs, strengthening data protection and improving operational efficiency at scale. Anjuna automates the end-to-end deployment process and further protects applications in hardened Anjuna Confidential Containers that cannot be accessed by the other applications or the VM administrator. Moreover, Anjuna seamlessly and without code changes integrates attestation-aware key management capabilities via the Anjuna Policy Manager, ensuring that secrets are exclusively distributed to trusted applications. “At Anjuna, we believe Confidential Computing should be ubiquitous, easy to use, and above all, secure without trade-offs. For too long, enterprises have had to choose between ease of use and security. In today’s digital economy, this is no longer acceptable,” said Ayal Yogev, CEO and co-founder of Anjuna Security. “Microsoft Azure is a leading innovator in confidential computing and we are excited to be among the first Confidential Computing software providers to support both their Intel SGX and AMD SEV-SNP powered infrastructure. We are committed to keep working closely with Microsoft to unlock the full potential of Azure Confidential Computing services.” “We are committed to making Microsoft Azure a trusted cloud platform offering a broad portfolio of Confidential Computing solutions to customers,” said Vikas Bhatia, Head of Product, Azure confidential computing at Microsoft. “The combination of Azure confidential VMs powered by AMD SEV-SNP and the Anjuna Confidential Computing Platform unlocks value to customers, ensuring high levels of data protection and privacy with streamlined operations and ease of use.” About Anjuna Security Anjuna allows applications to run in any cloud with complete data security and privacy. Anjuna isolates workloads in a protected environment that intrinsically secures data in every state. Anjuna empowers enterprises to directly control application-level trust policies, ensuring that only trusted code can access sensitive data. Anjuna works with enterprises around the globe in industries such as financial services, government, and blockchain. To learn more about Anjuna’s platform and impact, visit Anjuna.io.

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Virtual Desktop Strategies, Backup and Disaster Recovery

eSentire's New MDR Agent Brings Unmatched Cybersecurity Value to Small and Medium Businesses

businesswire | August 10, 2023

eSentire, Inc., the Authority in Managed Detection and Response (MDR), today announced the expansion of its proprietary software and services portfolio with the introduction of its new MDR Agent. The eSentire Agent is the latest innovation of the firm's SaaS-based Extended Detection and Response (XDR) Platform, developed specifically for small and medium businesses (SMBs) seeking affordable prevention, detection, investigation, and response capabilities as part of an all-in-one 24/7 solution. eSentire will be elevating the eSentire Agent’s differentiated capabilities this week at Black Hat USA in Las Vegas and will begin offering its Agent as part of eSentire’s value-rich MDR service bundles, including endpoint, log, and network protection, in October 2023. eSentire created the category ofManaged Detection and Responsewith the vision of arming 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC) Analysts with the tools to perform digital forensic-grade investigations to rapidly contain attacks before they spread. As the firm has scaled to protect over 2000 leading organizations across 35 industries globally, its focus on deep investigation to drive proactive threat response and remediation has never wavered. In 2021, eSentire acquired state-of-the-art, digital forensics and investigative software, CyFIR, transforming its Incident Response practice and disrupting the industry with a 4-hour threat suppression SLA commitment as part of its24/7 On-Demand IR Retaineroffering. Over the last 24 months, eSentire has scaled its digital forensics software to also power MDR outcomes – delivering unmatched time to value and choice for SMBs. eSentire Agent’s Prevention, Detection, Investigation, and Response Capabilities eSentire’s MDR Agent begins with a prevention-first approach, stopping malware and ransomware using deep learning technology with incredible efficacy: Blocking 99% of known and unknown threats <0.1% false positive rate <20 millisecond time to prevent Delivering on eSentire’s service promise of world-class threat response that prevents business disruption, the Agent acts as a protective presence across customer endpoints, extracting unfiltered, rich telemetry data. These insights into potential threats are processed by eSentire’s XDR Platform and investigated by its SOC, driving improved security outcomes, including the containment of lateral movement and data exfiltration efforts. As SMBs grapple with a significant shortage of cybersecurity experts and the need to prioritize security investments, eSentire is delivering unmatched cybersecurity value with its XDR Platform and Agent as part of its MDR service, including: Rapid time to value with expert onboarding and one-push install 24/7 security monitoring and expertise to offset resource constraints Operationalized threat intelligence from eSentire’sThreat Response Unit (TRU) 150+ novel detections added per quarter to augment security threat detection Automated blocking of 99% of known and unknown threats Full-scale detection, prevention, investigation, and response Mean Time to Contain active security threats of 15 minutes The introduction of the eSentire Agent complements eSentire’s robust, best-of-breed ecosystem of endpoint partners, including CrowdStrike, Microsoft, SentinelOne, and VMWare Carbon Black, which can all be managed within eSentire’s MDR offering as a fully licensed solution or in a Bring Your Own Subscription model. “As the cybersecurity landscape continues to evolve and grow more complex, service providers everywhere have to remember the customer always gets a vote,” said Rahul Bakshi, Chief Product Officer, eSentire. “eSentire believes they will choose value, every time. That’s why we are bringing the eSentire MDR Agent to market as part of full-service bundles that offer enterprise-grade security at a fraction of the price. We have made great strides in advancing the Agent from a digital forensics tool to a MDR force multiplier and plan to leverage its innovative capabilities as a universal investigation and response enabler across all technology types in the near future.” eSentire will showcase its MDR Agent and full-service offering with demonstrations on the Black Hat USA show floor at booth #2823 from August 9-10, 2023. About eSentire eSentire, Inc., the Authority in Managed Detection and Response (MDR), protects the critical data and applications of 2000+ organizations in 80+ countries, across 35 industries from known and unknown cyber threats by providing Exposure Management, Managed Detection and Response and Incident Response services designed to build an organization's cyber resilience & prevent business disruption. Founded in 2001, eSentire protects the world's most targeted organizations with 65% of its global base recognized as critical infrastructure, vital to economic health and stability. By combining open XDR platform technology, 24/7 threat hunting, and proven security operations leadership, eSentire's award-winning MDR services and team of experts help organizations anticipate, withstand and recover from cyberattacks

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Virtual Desktop Tools, Virtual Server Infrastructure

SolidRun Unveils SolidWAN Small Form Factor SD-WAN Appliance Ideal for Small Offices and Branches

prnewswire | July 21, 2023

SolidRun, a leading developer and manufacturer of high-performance System on Module (SOM) solutions, Single Board Computers (SBC) and network edge solutions, today announced the expansion of its SolidWAN line of software-defined network appliances with the introduction of the SolidWAN CN9131. Building on the success of the previously launched SolidWAN system-level solutions for software-defined wide area networks and network security applications, the SolidWAN CN9131 sets a new standard for small form factor SD-WAN hardware solutions. "As businesses worldwide embrace the transformative power of software-defined networking, the need for adaptable and cost-effective network hardware becomes increasingly crucial," said Dr. Atai Ziv, CEO at SolidRun. "SolidRun understands that a one-size-fits-all approach doesn't meet the diverse requirements of connecting today's businesses and distributed workforce. That's why we've developed our SolidWAN line of SD-WAN appliances. By making software-defined solutions more affordable and easily deployable across home offices, branch offices, data centers, and beyond, we empower businesses to build agile and scalable networks that drive efficiency, security, and seamless connectivity." SD-WAN technology revolutionizes traditional networking by providing enhanced performance, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness. With their vast software-defined capabilities, SolidRun's SolidWAN solutions simplify network management, increase network agility, and improve application performance across multiple locations. These solutions are particularly crucial for businesses with distributed branch offices, enabling them to centralize control, optimize bandwidth usage, and secure their networks effectively. SolidWAN network hardware solutions are optimized for software-defined networking applications and provide direct connectivity of network ports to the CPU. This direct connection allows all network traffic to be managed by software, which not only guarantees the highest security and best possible quality of service, but also makes upgrading network hardware, deploying updates and establishing new network services fast and easy. The embedded Marvell OCTEON CN9131 SoC is designed to address the specific networking requirements of small to medium businesses (SMBs). With its powerful quad-core performance and 12 high-speed SERDES lanes, the SoC delivers exceptional processing power for network data management and security. It features a configurable packet processor, allowing for flexible parsing and classification of network traffic, supports I/O virtualization, enabling efficient resource allocation, and includes QoS buffer management and a virtual security engine and packet processor for enhanced security measures. Each unit features 8GB of eMMC storage, 4GB DDR4 RAM and 8MB SPI NOR Flash memory. "With its powerful quad-core performance, versatile packet processor, and robust embedded security features, the CN9131 was engineered to tackle complex networking challenges with ease," said Rabeeh Khoury, CTO at SolidRun. "By harnessing the capabilities of the CN9131, SolidRun's SolidWAN CN9131 SD-WAN appliance enables businesses to optimize their network performance, enhance security, and drive operational efficiency. Like Marvell, SolidRun is committed to creating powerful solutions that shape the future of network management and empower organizations to thrive in today's interconnected world." "With its best-in-class performance/Watt and vast IO flexibility, the CN913x family of SoCs is the ideal choice for small form factor SD-WAN products like SolidRun's SolidWAN CN9131 appliance," said Jeffrey Ho, director of product marketing, Marvell Semiconductor. The SolidWAN CN9131 offers a variety of connectivity options to meet diverse networking needs, including two SFP+ 10GbE ports, which provide high-speed connectivity for data transmission and four 1000BASE-T gigabit Ethernet ports, ideal for establishing fast data connections. For wireless connectivity, the device comes equipped with an mPCIe WiFi AP module, allowing wireless access point functionality. It also includes an M.2 SIM holder, enabling LTE connectivity for mobile networks. To accommodate additional storage and peripherals, the device offers a uSD slot, 2 USB 3.0 ports and two M.2 slots for internal storage (1 Key M and 1 Key B). As with many SolidRun network hardware solutions, the SolidWAN family of products offers SKUs that support a wide range of deployment environments and can be pre-configured for commercial applications where environmental conditions range between 0°C to 40°C, or for more extreme industrial applications where conditions range between -20°C to 65°C. All configurations feature a fanless design with a heat-shedding, finned aluminum enclosure. SolidWAN products are compatible with Linux-based software applications, including DPDK, which provides data plane libraries and network interface controller polling-mode drivers for offloading TCP packet processing from the operating system kernel to processes running in user space. SolidRun has also partnered with several software developers to offer full SD-WAN and security service software to customers. About SolidRun SolidRun is a global leading developer of embedded systems and network solutions, focused on a wide range of energy-efficient, powerful, and flexible products. Our innovative compact embedded solutions are based on ARM and x86 architecture and offer a variety of platforms including SOMs (System-on-Module), SBCs (Single Board Computer) and industrial mini-PCs.

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Virtual Desktop Tools, Server Hypervisors

Opvizor Rolls Out All-New Cloud Monitoring Platform for VMware vSphere, Hyper-Scaler, Operating Systems and Apps

businesswire | July 10, 2023

Opvizor, the leader for independent operational insight and monitoring solutions, has launched a GenAI-based cloud monitoring platform, named Opvizor/Cloud. The new version supports VMware vSphere, Google Cloud, AWS, Azure infrastructure including operating systems along with databases, storage, and network. Opvizor/Cloud, provides users with a single pane of glass to monitor performance, compliance and bottlenecks of their virtualized and multi-cloud environments​​. With Opvizor/Cloud, administrators can gain operational insight and with this new understanding optimize their infrastructure and applications, and reduce operational overhead. With hundreds of customers around the world including Motorola, Porsche, DZ Bank, the State of New Jersey, the Canton of Schaffhausen (Switzerland), and many others, Opvizor has become an industry standard for operational insight and monitoring of virtualized/cloud environments. The new GenAI capability will use insight and knowledge learned from all existing Opvizor/Cloud customers, as well as public sources to recognize trends, exceptions and faults within the customers' environment. This new GenAI facility supports operation specialists in increasing their understanding of their own environment and make decisions quicker. "The launch of Opvizor/Cloud provides our customers with a powerful, scalable, and flexible monitoring solution, without the need to provide in-house resources," said Dennis Zimmer, founder and chief technology officer, Opvizor. "Our hosted solution not only reduces the need for investment in physical hardware and associated maintenance costs, but also allows businesses to adapt easily to their changing IT needs​. Additionally, new features and early previews are available instantly without the need to redeploy or install patches." About Opvizor Opvizor has been a leader in operational insight and performance monitoring for over 10 years, serving hundreds of customers on all continents. Opvizor specializes in performance monitoring, operational insight, log analysis, wasted resource detection, resource forecasting, root/cause analysis, and change configuration management for platforms such as VMware vSphere, VMware Tanzu, VMware Horizon, VMware vSAN, Microsoft Hyper-V, Microsoft Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, Huawei, HPE, NVIDIA, Cisco, Brocade, NetApp, Dell, RedHat, Ubuntu, Debian, Microsoft Windows, FreeBSD, Microsoft SQL, Oracle, and PostgreSQL.

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