Verizon reinvents cloud services platform

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Verizon just released significant changes to its enterprise cloud platform. The new capability will add to their storage options and take virtual machine (VM) deployment timelines down to seconds. Verizon Cloud, is an infrastructure as a service solution (IaaS) with object based cloud storage. The public beta for Verizon Cloud will launch in the fourth quarter of this year.

Verizon Cloud has two main components: Verizon Cloud Compute and Verizon Cloud Storage. Verizon Cloud Compute is the IaaS platform. Verizon Cloud Storage is an object-based storage service.

“We have always been innovators in cloud services, and our goal is continuous innovation. Verizon Cloud will give our public sector clients new capabilities with VMs, letting them deploy new VMs in seconds,” Norm Laudermilch, Chief Operation Officer, Verizon Terremark Public Sector, tells CivSource.

With Verizon Cloud Compute, users can determine and set virtual machine and network performance, providing predictable performance for mission critical applications, even during peak times. Additionally, users can configure storage performance and attach storage to multiple virtual machines. Previously, services had pre-set configurations for size (e.g. small, medium, large) and performance, with little flexibility regarding virtual machine and network performance and storage configuration.

“This is really a move away from the old days of buying a resource pool, and moving into buying what you need,” Laudermilch says.

Verizon Cloud Storage is an object-addressable, multitenant storage platform providing safe, durable, reliable and cost-effective storage accessible from anywhere on the Web. Object storage is extra robust and Web-traffic reliable, making it ideal for cloud-based applications.

“This is really a way for our storage clients to get to their information either as a backup or during an event. We also work with clients on business continuity and disaster planning,” he notes.

The initial launch phase will be limited to a couple hundred new users per month. The services are backed by Verizon’s security compliance team, and are in line with FISMA, FedRAMP and other public sector security requirements. Enterprise users can sign on with the swipe of a credit card, but the service will also be available through standard contracting vehicles for federal, state and local customers that require more traditional purchasing arrangements.