#1 Business value 

This principle demands that decision-making is driven by the business value of the cloud. The team that manages your cloud setup should always keep in mind how they can optimize the business value when building, designing and finetuning your cloud infrastructure. With the help of FinOps, you can evaluate your results by comparing them with your industry peers. Learn from best practices and let team benchmarking drive you to improve and excel.

#2 Centralization 

FinOps needs a centralized and committed team to run smoothly and efficiently. Financial data should be collected and analyzed in one place. This ensures general oversight into cloud costs and spending. The need to up- or downscale and any opportunity to optimize the budget becomes visible a lot faster. Any additional purchases or negotiations can be combined to receive the best possible pricing.

#3 Collaboration 

For FinOps to work, all the teams involved need to collaborate consistently. This thorough way of collaborating will allow for your teams to learn from each other. They will be able to build on that new knowledge and constantly review their way of working, which will level up their workflow and processes. Collaboration encourages teams to take a fresh look at their tasks from the point of view of their collaborators. It will encourage them to try new things and take into account how their actions might affect their fellow collaborators. This ultimately results in enhanced creativity, innovation and efficiency.

#4 Opportunity

Working in the cloud comes with a whole new range of opportunities. Organizations are able to design their cloud infrastructure to perfectly fit their needs. This is not a static situation: it can be scaled up and down as needed. This customizability also means that you only pay for what you actually use. Make sure you make the best use of the variable cost model the cloud has to offer to get the most out of your budget.

#5 Ownership

FinOps can only work if all involved cloud users take ownership of how they use the cloud environment. Each team needs to feel empowered enough to take responsibility for their own cloud budget and usage. A very useful tool to use is to set team-level targets. Every cloud collaborator will feel accountable and eager to achieve their targets, and every team member will feel involved and carry their own weight.

#6 Transparency

The only way FinOps can generate trustworthy results is by making sure the data is collected and analyzed correctly and consistently. This data can then be translated into reports for further follow-up. It’s very important that these reports are generated on a regular basis. They should be made accessible to all the teams involved. Fast feedback gives you the chance to react and adjust when necessary.

Cloudar is an active member of the FinOps Alliance. Do you need guidance on implementing the principles of FinOps? Do you want to optimize your cloud spendure without losing oversight? Contact us and let’s find out how we can help make these principles a part of your organization’s culture!

The post Your guiding lights: The 6 principles of FinOps appeared first on Cloudar.

#1 Lacking password management

If the cloud is your kingdom, passwords and credentials are the key to getting into it. Credentials grant you access to all kinds of exploitable data. They are an absolute goldmine for anyone with bad intentions. Research shows that over 50% of users use the same password for almost all of their accounts. That means that theoretically half of the people who can access your cloud infrastructure, do it with the same password they use for their Facebook or Google account. The moment the big players suffer a data leak, hackers can use those passwords to try to get into all of the users’ other accounts, including your organization’s cloud data.

Preventing this data breach starts with setting the right password rules. Think about password length and more complex requirements such as including numbers and symbols. Users will now be obligated to choose a strong password. To avoid the reuse of passwords, you need to be able to remember them all, a seemingly impossible feat. But that’s where a good password manager comes in. So educate your users in good password management, and practice what you preach!

#2 Insufficient encryption

Traffic and data encryption creates trust among approved users. It makes it possible to work efficiently without any security risks. Sending forms, files and data through encrypted channels protects your data, your users and your company. We call this encryption in transit. Encryption is also an essential part of secure data storage. You cannot afford any weak links in the protection of sensitive data. We call this encryption at rest. Be sure to prioritize data and traffic encryption in your AWS cloud setup.

#3 Insider threat

As much as you train and educate your users, sometimes they still may unintentionally cause your cloud security to be at risk. By installing an unauthorized extension to their browser or too many failed login attempts, for example. You need to be able to pick up on unusual network activity like this in order to follow up with the user in question or snuff out an actual security threat. That requires consistent real time monitoring, logging and archiving those logs on encrypted storage. Ensure that you set up a variety of monitoring alerts that notify you of any aberrant behavior.

#4 Phishing

No less than 90% of system breaches start with users opening a phishing email, waich they are shown to do in about 30% of cases. There are two things you can do to get those numbers down. First of all, train your users in recognizing phishing attempts and teach them to report these to your security team. Secondly, protect your AWS root account. You can do this by enabling multi-factor authentication. Also, make sure the root account isn’t linked to any personal or external accounts. The next step would be to use a multiple AWS account strategy. By doing this, not all of your assets will be at risk when one of them is compromised.

#5 Not planning ahead

No matter how well you set up your cloud environment, things will go wrong. Accidents will happen. Unforeseen issues will arise. That’s a normal part of working in evolving technologies. But what it all comes down to at a moment like that is having an adequate incident recovery plan. Essentially, that means you imagine every worst-case scenario beforehand and create a plan for how you will handle it, should it come to that. That way, even if you are faced with a security issue, you will know exactly what to do and be able to minimize your downtime as well as any loss of data, resources and time.

Do you want to exchange ideas about how well-prepared your organization is for cloud related security threats? Get in touch with Cloudar, an official Next Generation AWS Managed Service Provider Partner.

The post The 5 biggest AWS cloud security threats appeared first on Cloudar.

#1 Act first, think later

Once you realize what the cloud can do for you, you might feel inclined to jump right in. Act first, think later. Before you know it, you will feel lost in a haphazardly put together collection of tools. Start by identifying your needs and key objectives. Do your research. Get trustworthy advice. Determine which features and functionalities you want to focus on and stick to them, especially in the beginning. This way you will end up with an efficient, effective and well thought out cloud infrastructure with a guaranteed return on investment.

#2 Too much, too soon

AWS offers a plethora of tools and applications. The possibilities are endless. But not everything that is possible, is also necessary. At least not right now. We would strongly suggest you focus on building a manageable cloud environment that meets your current needs first. Over the long term you can expand and finetune your infrastructure with more advanced applications. If you need any help with selecting the right tools for you, Cloudar is happy to lend a hand.

#3 Compliancy anxiety

Getting started with the cloud might be very daunting at first. You want to build a scalable workspace in the cloud, but how are you going to keep it secure and stay compliant? Data safety in the cloud is one of the biggest concerns when you are considering making the jump. Don’t let this overwhelm you into staying away from the cloud altogether. Security is always job zero. So make sure you have a clear overview of which data needs to be stored in the cloud exactly. Consider the best location for each type of data. Then you can work out your strategy on how to ensure the security of your data. You can absolutely stay compliant without any loss of efficiency or speed. With AWS, you have access to compliant and secure cloud infrastructure. So don’t let compliance anxiety stop you from migrating to the cloud.

#4 Lack of legacy

Many business processes are embedded in legacy systems. They are by far the most important systems, and the backbone of an organization. Migrating these systems to the cloud might be the biggest challenge. Processes can’t stop or be interrupted for too long without significant loss of productivity. Map out your essential processes and define the possible cloud solutions for the immediate and the more distant future. While transitioning, or maybe even in the long term, a hybrid cloud structure might be the solution. That way you can start your cloud migration immediately while combining the legacy system and cloud applications. In time, you can gradually move your entire operation to the cloud.

#5 Resistance to change

Implementing new tools is one thing. But if you do this without paying attention to user adoption, it will fall flat. Change is difficult. People are creatures of habit. Accepting new technology is no exception. To maximize your users’ cooperation and acceptance, it’s important for them to contribute and weigh in during the design process. If you involve your colleagues from the very start, they will feel much more invested in the new way of working. Not only that, they will look at each development phase from the specific point of view of their tasks. That way you make sure that no person or task gets overlooked and they will embrace the new way of working.

Have you encountered some of these challenges in your company’s cloud migration? Do you want to get ahead of them? Or do you just want to spar with an official Next Generation AWS Managed Service Provider Partner? Contact us at Cloudar, no strings attached. Let’s talk!

The post Growing pains: 5 Key Challenges of AWS Cloud Migration appeared first on Cloudar.

Since Cloudar was founded, we’ve been obsessed with our clients and delivering them nothing but the best. Completely unburdening them is what we strive for, so that they can focus on their core business. That’s why our employees are being held to extremely high standards. Our team is compiled of a select group of AWS professionals and cloud experts. We are as obsessed with our employees, as we are with our customers. Perhaps we should say we’re actually people-obsessed.

You get what you give

We ask a lot from our employees, and they keep up their end of the bargain. So should we. In our quest to match their dedication, we decided to offer extended health care benefits to our existing and new employees. We partnered up with health care specialist Alan to make this happen. Alan shares a lot of Cloudar’s values. They genuinely believe in their vision and have a true passion for innovation. From the get-go, we knew Alan could take us where we wanted to go.

Going the extra mile

Where traditional insurance parties only cover non-ambulatory costs, with Alan even outpatient health care costs are partially covered. This helps us truly democratize our health care by lowering the financial barrier. For example, even new glasses and dental care are now partly covered. We all know mental healthcare is at least as valuable and important as physical healthcare. COVID-19 and multiple lockdowns have put us all through the wringer. Knowing that our employees can always turn to Alan’s psychological hotline is very reassuring.

No more detours

Usability and agility are, as always, key to us. Thanks to Alan our employees can forget about filling out tons of paperwork and extended waiting periods to get their medical bills reimbursed. No more listening to endless loops of waiting music to get to the right person on the phone. After going to the doctor, they just scan their bill and the costs will be reimbursed on their account within 12 hours. With Alan’s intuitive app, our people have expert healthcare with them at all times.

Want to join this innovative team and become a Cloudar employee yourself? Check out our career opportunities!

The post Raising the bar in employee healthcare with Alan appeared first on Cloudar.

Is Amazon Web Services safe to use?

Cloud security is on many people’s lips these days. It’s important to understand that keeping the Cloud safe requires a two-pronged approach. On our end, we ensure maximum safety of all cloud components and the physical security of all facilities. AWS has several high-profile customers, and it can’t afford data leaks or cyber-attacks. Every single one of our customers reaps the security benefits of that need for security. You will, too. Meanwhile, you are responsible to keep things safe on the operating side of the Cloud. 

Will I lose control over my configuration?

Not at all. In fact, we expect you to structure your IT components exactly as you like them. You decide what your configuration is going to look like and how you intend to keep it safe. We take care of the components themselves and the security of our data centers, so you can focus on securing the operating system, including patching and firewalls. 

Does Cloudar keep my data secure?

Data security is a hot topic, and rightfully so. Customers and corporations alike are becoming ever more critical about privacy and data governance. Let us reassure you. We will never access your data without your explicit consent and you will always remain in the driver’s seat. You decide where and how your data is stored. To help you enhance your data security, AWS offers state-of-the-art encryption, and allows you to manage your own encryption keys. We have learned a lot about data security in the past years. And here’s what we have learned from our 100+ customers: most data breaches are caused by human error. Automating as many processes as possible is key to keeping your data safe.

How does AWS ensure compliance? 

Compliance is crucial and unfortunately it is not one and done: you have to stay on top of it as you scale.AWS’ scalability can help you to grow your business while maintaining compliance with ease. How? We have the right tools available to check the compliance of your AWS environments. With AWS, staying compliant will become a lot more manageable in the long run.

Any other questions? We are happy to talk. Let us help you grow your business.

The post COO Tom De Blende demystifies Cloud Security appeared first on Cloudar.

The post 10 random things you probably didn’t know about Cloudar appeared first on Cloudar.

Kontich, Belgium, February 26th, 2019 – Cloudar, Belgian based AWS Premier Consulting Partner, today announced it has achieved the Amazon Web Services Next-Generation MSP Partner Status.
The AWS Managed Service Partner Program equips the next generation of MSPs with the tools they need to deliver continuous innovation to customers regarding security, SecOps, DevOps, proactive monitoring, and streamlined management of their customers’ environment. Check out this cool blogpost for more info about what AWS expects from Next-Generation Managed Service Providers: https://aws.amazon.com/blogs/apn/what-exactly-is-a-next-generation-aws-managed-service-provider-msp/

Passing the rigorous 14-part, third-party validation audit for the AWS Managed Service Partner program is just another testament to Cloudar’s expertise and commitment to their customers’ success.
Cloudar is the first AWS Premier Consulting Partner headquartered in the Benelux that has achieved this prestigious AWS MSP status.

Why Work with an AWS Managed Service Provider (MSP)?

Cloudar has been part of the APN network since 2014 and has had a 100% focus on AWS since day one. This focus on one specific cloud allows Cloudar to excel and to have the best possible relationship with AWS.
In close collaboration with AWS, Cloudar has already achieved several AWS Competencies (DevOps/Government). All Cloudar engineers hold one or more AWS Certifications, including several AWS Specialties (Security/Advanced Networking/Big Data). Late last year, Cloudar achieved the AWS Premier Consulting status as the first company headquartered in Belgium. In the same year Cloudar got ISO/IEC 27001 certified for information security which is the internationally recognized and respected standard that applies an exacting, risk-based approach to determine the security of data in an organization, assessing IT structure, processes and people.
Entering the AWS MSP Program and being rewarded as an official AWS Managed Service Provider is another great milestone for Cloudar which recognizes the company’s 24/7 AWS Managed Services strategy.

About Cloudar
Cloudar was founded by Senne Vaeyens and Bart Van Hecke in 2014 with a 100% focus on Amazon Web Services.
As DevOps, AWS and infrastructure experts, Cloudar offers rock solid, high available and scalable solutions for any type of business in the AWS Public Cloud.
Being part of Cronos Groep( https://cronos-groep.be/en), Cloudar can offer their customers complete solutions that go beyond AWS expertise. With over 5,000 IT consultants, a 2017 revenue of 560M € and an average yearly growth rate of 15%, Cronos Groep has become one of the most solvent and trusted technology partners in Belgium and Luxemburg.
Cloudar has delivered dozens of agile, right-sized projects and provides 24/7 Managed Services to customers across all industries, creating a well-architected core from which these organizations can operate and grow their journey in the AWS Public Cloud. For more information, please visit https://www.cloudar.eu

The post Press Release: Cloudar being recognized as an official AWS Next-Gen Managed Service Provider appeared first on Cloudar.

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AWS APN Ambassadors are technical experts in the APN Consulting Partner ecosystem, who are passionate about contributing their technical knowledge to the community in the form of public speaking engagements and writing blog posts and whitepapers. APN Ambassadors have deep expertise on the AWS platform and can collaborate with AWS Solution Architects in their area to help address questions and schedule design reviews as needed.

Ben had this to say about becoming an ambassador:

I’m excited to be part of the growing AWS Community and very happy with the support both AWS and Cloudar are giving in contributing to its growth. Joining the APN Ambassador Program will allow me to particiapte even more, both by working on solutions and writing about them, and by being part of community events like the AWS User Group Belgium.

We wish Ben all the best in his new role as an AWS APN Ambassador. You can find him on twitter, read his blog posts or run into him at a meetup, event or conference. This month he will be talking about Serverless at the June Meetup of Full Stack Antwerp.

The post Cloudar gains an AWS APN Ambassador. appeared first on Cloudar.

All of this wouldn’t be possible without the help of our great team, so please join me in giving a big thumbs up for the entire Cloudar Team.
THANKS GUYS!!

If anyone would like to know more about the services Cloudar can provide to you as a customer, feel free to drop me an mail at bvh@cloudar.be or send me a PM.

Cheers,

Bart

The post Cloudar, a short recap… appeared first on Cloudar.