Release the Google Internet Balloons!

Posted on June 18, 2013 by julianareed

Type in the word “Internet” in Google Plus Search and you’ll be in for a surprise. The topic going viral at the moment is Google’s balloon project called Loon. In fact, Trey Ratcliff did a long post in Google Plus that just blew me away with over 1400 votes and reshares!

Trey Ratcliff – Google+



From plus.google.com

Release the Google Internet Balloons! Photos and video!

See the Full article with all the pretty pictures on blog:…

Juliana Payson‘s insight:

Try to imagine a network, drifting balloons that swarm in the stratosphere, communicating internet from one balloon to the next. Just like the way phone towers come into reception as you drive through the states. Read more about Trey’s stunning behind the scenes story as the project was unveiled to him. You can read more about Project Loon here:

Loon for All – Project Loon – Google


From www.google.com - Today, 2:14 AM

Project Loon looks to use a global network of high-altitude balloons to connect people in rural and remote areas who have no Internet access at all, help fill coverage gaps for areas that can’t be served profitably by existing providers,

If you go deep in the desert or climb a mountain or find yourself in the South Pole or a remote farm or any place that can be considered ‘the middle of nowhere’, guess what? You have no internet. Well, Wired is reporting that Google wants to change all that by sending high-altitude balloons into the stratosphere to give the world Wi-Fi.

These balloons are autonomous, save for the obvious ground control, and self powered with solar energy. You’d need a telescope to spot one. And the only interference they present is a notification to Air Traffic Control that a balloon is either ascending or descending. Even the parts have become reusable while in their testing phase.
Has Google found a way to be the new totally green ISP?
by - Juliana

Posted in Cloud Computing, Cloud Hosting, Colocation, Computing Technologies, Disaster Recovery, News & Events | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

1TB Bandwidth—How Much is that REALLY?

Posted on June 17, 2013 by Joel

Early last month, Atlantic.Net officially announced that all virtual private servers (VPS) and cloud servers received an upgrade that provides an increased outbound data transfer capacity of 1 terabyte (TB), absolutely free. This gives our customers the ability to send 1,000 times more outbound data from their VPS and cloud servers than previously available. This essentially eliminates bandwidth costs, ultimately saving you even more money. But, what does the phrase “1TB of outbound data transfer” actually mean?

First, let us explore the concept of the terabyte. A terabyte (TB) is a unit of measurement for digital information. For comparison purposes, one terabyte is equal to one trillion bytes, or 1,000 gigabytes (GB).

When the first hard disk drives were created in the 1950s, they were the astonishing size of a household refrigerator. Even though they were massive in size, they only had the capacity of a few megabytes (MB). In 1982, the first IBM PC was released, and this computer had a storage capacity of just 5 MB. Three decades later, a major improvement was released to the general public—a 1TB disk drive that is just 2.5 inches wide—perfect for a laptop computer. It was also in 2012 that a 1TB USB flash drive was created—a concept that would have baffled the inventor of the original hard drives in the 1950s.

In 2007, 1TB hard disks cost over $350. Just five years later, you can find the same capacity for under $100. For just a little more money, you can purchase a 4TB hard drive at $179.

To imagine how much information a terabyte of storage can hold, consider the following information. One terabyte of audio recorded at studio quality will contain around 2,000 hours of audio. The same amount of storage will hold around 620,000 photos. This is surely enough space, even for most professional photographers. With a 1TB hard drive, you can store 2,000 hours of digital videos and around 1,000 hours’ worth of DVD quality movies.

Near the end of May, tech company Yahoo! unveiled a new interface for its popular high-quality image and video hosting site Flickr. This update included a new key feature in the hopes of reeling in new visitors from across the world—a whole terabyte of free space per user! This is approximately 70 times bigger than the storage capacity offered by other image hosting websites.

Next, let us investigate the concept of data transfer. In a self-explanatory fashion, data transfer references the volume of information that is transferred to and from your website. For example, every time a customer looks at your inventory in your online store, data is transferred. Each time a visitor purchases an item, more data is being transferred. Additionally, any email sent to you at your domain name consumes data.

Essentially, the concept of data transfer and allocated amounts should be a key factor in choosing a hosting provider. With the increase of 1TB of outbound data transfer, you can rest assured knowing that your information will continue running steadily, and at a good price; Atlantic.Net’s award-winning VPS and cloud server hosting plans start at only $0.007 per hour. That’s just $5.11 per month!

A virtual private server (VPS) hosting solution is perfect for businesses that need more dedicated service. An Atlantic.Net VPS allows customers to build, test and deploy Windows or Linux servers powered by cloud technology in just seconds. Our VPS solutions offer simplicity, security, scalability and reliability backed by the most up to date platforms available. With a VPS in the cloud, you are guaranteed to receive the full amount of allocated memory, CPU, network and other features that you are paying for and you have the ability to scale your resources as necessary.

Additionally, with a VPS hosted by Atlantic.Net, you will see the benefits of free nightly backup, no contracts, continuously running power systems and live technical support available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for 365 days a year.

In addition to our award-winning VPS solutions, we offer cloud hosting capabilities that unseen elsewhere. With almost two decades of experience in connectivity, advanced computing, hosting and web technologies, our cloud servers are truly the best in the industry. We realize that a one-size-fits-all approach to cloud computing practically never works, so we offer private and hybrid cloud options that are completely customizable depending on your personal or business needs.

Our proven cloud hosting guarantee includes a 100% guaranteed network uptime, 100% guaranteed cloud server hardware and a 100% guaranteed infrastructure. Are you seeing a pattern yet.

With Atlantic.Net cloud servers, you only pay for what you use—nothing more. Our cloud hosting technologies also reduce costs associated with sites that receive high traffic and maintain large databases. Try Atlantic.Net cloud hosting today and receive a free $10 trial credit! There are no commitments or contracts, and setup is completely free.

Now that Atlantic.Net has increased the previous capacity of outgoing data transfers to 1TB, you can clearly see that this is a big deal. What are you waiting for? Contact Atlantic.Net today to see how we can get your business running in the cloud.

Posted in Cloud Computing, Cloud Hosting, Computing Technologies | Tagged | Leave a comment

The Importance of a Disaster Recovery Plan

Posted on June 13, 2013 by Adnan

The 2013 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1st, and since we have already witnessed devastating effects from one tropical storm, it would appear that the Gulf coast is very overdue for an active season. In fact, the United States Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has released details regarding what they believe will be an extremely active season. According to their research, there is a 70% likelihood of 13 to 20 named storms this hurricane season, with three to six having the potential of becoming a Category 3 or higher. With these frightening numbers, how are you preparing your company’s IT infrastructure for the storms ahead?

In order to ensure your IT operation continues to run smoothly even during the worst weather, it is highly recommended that your company creates and tests a detailed disaster recovery and business continuity plan. Items included in this recovery plan should include solutions for IT infrastructure damage, power outages and maintenance measures.

If you do not feel that your current IT solution can withstand a busy hurricane season, look no further than Atlantic.Net. We have almost twenty years of experience in establishing and testing security measures to ensure that data remains secure and operations continue even when unexpected disasters occur.

Atlantic.Net is recognized by disaster recovery professionals for our hurricane-proof data center staffed 24/7/365 with backup generators and multiple redundant connections so you can stay online. Don’t lose business because of a storm—be prepared! To learn more about services offered by Atlantic.Net, contact us at 1-800-422-2936 today.

Posted in Data Site Orlando, News & Events, Security | Tagged | Leave a comment

How to make a VPN

Posted on June 11, 2013 by julianareed

Many companies use VPN’s or Virtual Private Networks that use gateways and secure servers in order to provide a more secure and private connection to the internet. If you want to be able to surf the internet without the prying eyes of your IP provider then check out the following websites.

Staying Anonymous Online: Screw You CMS, PRISM


Staying Anonymous Online: Screw You CMS, PRISM | How to Grow Your Business Online | Scoop.it

From www.nextbigwhat.com

With governments planning to monitor internet activities, staying private on the Internet is tough. But it’s not impossible. …

Surf from your PC feeling more secure through an encrypted VPS server. Keeping in mind the level of internet censorship all around the world the number of VPN service providers is growing. Most people are interested in the services of the virtual private network because it will be helpful in more than one way. For example to bypass censorship and access the websites which are blocked, as the following example here suggests:

Routing the VPN through one Ethernet card!


Routing the VPN through one Ethernet card! | How to Grow Your Business Online | Scoop.it

From www.daniweb.com

Hi guys, Actually I have a VPS, The operating system of my VPS is Windows Server 2008 R2. The VPS has three static IP addresses…

So if what you want to establish is a VPN connection (SSTP) with another server in another country, and allow other users to connect to your VPS to surf the internet. This might be the forum to try and find answers to your set-up questions. This user poses the question that in his area VPN protocols are blocked and only SSTP works properly, so he needs his users to connect to his VPS first. (Why am I getting the sniff of the great firewall of China here?)

With the governments planning to monitor internet activities, and the American government mining for your data, staying private on the Internet is tough. But it’s not impossible. The fundamentals to understand are that most online activity is tracked using cookies and IP addresses. Secure surfing through another server by proxy is essentially a VPN, but sometimes even getting that set up correctly needs a bit of troubleshooting. I found another forum to help with that:

VPN issue need some help – BlackBerry Forums at CrackBerry.com


VPN issue need some help - BlackBerry Forums at CrackBerry.com | How to Grow Your Business Online | Scoop.it

From forums.crackberry.com

I don’t know is there anyone like me use 12VPN, recently I have some problem with it. I am use Cisco Secure Firewall PIX setup, and sometimes even with the VPN sign on the…

It seems likely from the problem he’s having in this forum, that it’s his Internet service provider he’s having trouble with. Use VPN from where to where? In this case he’s trying to access it from within China. Unless your VPN exit is in a different country there is no guarantee that GOI cannot access. And then there are SSL proxy interceptors. Unless you encrypt your data and then transmit over VPN, do not expect any privacy.

In Conclusion

Here are some troubleshooting steps should you run into the need for posting on the above website forums yourself: (1) Check Your Virtual Network Connection (2) VPN Troubleshooting Error Messages (3) VPN Modems Troubleshooting Guide (4) VPN ISP Troubleshooting Guide.

by - Juliana

Posted in Security, VPS, Virtualization | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“Hey, You, Get Off of my Cloud”

Posted on June 6, 2013 by julianareed

3 Private Cloud Benefits (per VMware)… & Jokes

Mick Jagger always wanted his own cloud. Keith Richards was always hanging out on the couch at the end of his cloud, scaring away all the ladies. Finally, the web hosting world has a cloud available for Jagger. So… What exactly is the private cloud, and why might it be a good thing for the Rolling Stones and everyone else?

Basically, private cloud is a melding of dedicated technology with cloud computing. The cloud understandably raises various questions regarding security and privacy. In certain cases, legal or industry compliance can only be attained in certain types of environments as well. The private cloud gives you the positive features of a cloud environment – its highly adaptive, scalable attributes – in a scenario where you can have full control, rather than having to go along with the parameters of a shared system.

This article will explore what the private cloud has to offer and 3 advantages of using it for your company, per VMware’s solutions. Also, we will get into an exclusive transcript from the moment when Jagger let Richards know that he’d gotten his own private cloud. The first excerpt from that recording follows:

Rolling Stones Cloud Hijinks, Part 1

Jagger: Get up.

Richards: What do you mean? I’m doing my afternoon lounging.

Jagger: This is my cloud now. I’m expecting a woman. Bring your bowl of potato chips with you.

Richards: You want to come over to my garage in a little bit and practice? My parents are on holiday.

Jagger: Dude, we are like 70 years old.

Richards: Oh, right, forgot about that.

Oh, that Keith Richards… What a disoriented, obscenely wealthy man. A little more on the nature of the private cloud, and then we will get into 3 advantages of its use.

Understanding the Private Cloud

Clouds are – well, let’s face it, they are nebulous. Since the cloud is so vague, different ideas have sprung up related to exactly what the cloud is. In basic usage, there are two distinct versions of cloud computing:

  1. Front-End Cloud: Using anything that occurs in real time, such as Google Drive, Salesforce, or any other online software-as-a-service (SaaS) tool.

  2. Back-End Cloud: Looking at the structure on which a cloud system is built. Rethinking the cloud framework and what has prevented its full adoption (concerns with privacy, security, and compliance) has led to developments such as the private cloud.

Typically – at least from the outset – companies are testing a piece of their network with a private cloud. Essentially, many companies are dipping their toes into this technology to run tests, do business development, etc. Wading in allows organizations to stay ahead of the curve, without feeling they have to completely submerge themselves.

Rolling Stones Cloud Hijinks, Part 2

Jagger: Why are you still here?

Richards: I thought you said you were leaving. You said, “May I bring the potato chips with me?” The answer is halves.

Jagger: Again, I need this cloud for philandering purposes. Please leave immediately.

Richards: Don’t we have a song about something like this?

3 Benefits of the Private Cloud

OK, let’s take a look at three advantages of a private cloud for your business or organization. These benefits are via VMware:

  1. Control – It’s one thing to have a general sense of trust in a service and the security it provides. It’s another thing to have more control over the system yourself. VMware’s “change-aware” security and “host-based” cloud bolster the hands-on approach. Also, what about automated control? A private cloud can make it easier to achieve compliance with dynamic, automated processes.

  2. Automation – Speaking of automation, a private cloud makes it easier to automate processes via establishment of resource-management policies – allowing you to set different max levels of usage in different scenarios and for different applications. VMware calls this tactic “policy-driven automation.”

  3. Pro-Evolution – No one wants to have their hands tied (well… at least not in business). With a private cloud, you don’t have to be stuck in any specific network model. With VMware, for example, you are able to take advantage of open-source technologies such as Open Virtualization Format (OVS) and the Private Cloud API. If you already have vSphere, place it on top, like a layer cake.

Rolling Stones Cloud Hijinks, Part 3

Jagger: Hi, Bar. Come on in. Welcome to my private cloud.

Refaeli: Hey, who’s that guy?

Richards: Hey Bar, great bod you got there. Did you by any chance bring any snacks?

Jagger: He won’t leave.

Richards: I’ll be here if you need me.

Conclusion

So as you can see, the private cloud might be worth looking into. And as stated above, many companies are test-running the private cloud to get a sense of how much of their network they want to fully commit to that model. Here again are our private cloud solutions at Atlantic.Net . Please let us know if you know the whereabouts of Keith Richards. Apparently he wandered off Jagger’s cloud looking for salty snacks and, as of press time, is missing.

by Kent Roberts and Richard Norwood

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What Can I Use My VPS For?

Posted on June 3, 2013 by Adnan

A VPS is created by taking one massive server and partitioning it into several independent servers. Virtualization layers are then created to make sure each virtual environment appears as a standalone server with the ability to run its own OS and applications. Many people are discovering now that a VPS is actually very versatile and can be used for many things beyond traditional hosting. Here are just a few examples to get you thinking of how you can use your VPS:

Private VPN: A popular use for a VPS is to create a secure private VPN or “proxy” where a user connecting to the internet from a remote location that has access to the Internet connects to their home computer. A VPN configured properly allows the user to browse the Internet as if they are browsing from that home location. You can ensure that you’re always able to access the content you pay for, no matter where in the world you are.

DNS: As your business grows, you may want to create your own DNS server to streamline user queries. If your business is querying many websites each day, it may be worthwhile to use a DNS VPS option instead of using the public DNS server. The good news is that if you’re on a Linux VPS server with WHM/cPanel, the DNS application is already installed.

Testing: A VPS offers you an environment for development and testing for your website. For example, you can have a VPS dedicated to testing and a separate VPS running simultaneously for your live websites. You can safely debug software and install major changes and software updates in a secure environment without affecting your live websites.

Development: Using a VPS can make it easy for many developers working from remote locations to collaborate on the same projects, so long as they have the right permissions and reliable Internet access. This also means that new applications can first be tested in a secure environment that will not harm your company’s infrastructure or network if they do not perform as desired.

The uses of a VPS are virtually limitless! All you need is some creativity and technical know-how. For nearly 20 years, Atlantic.Net has helped thousands of businesses with industry-leading Cloud VPS solutions. To learn more about how Atlantic.Net can serve your VPS hosting needs, contact us today at 1-800-521-5881.

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How Has Cloud Computing Changed Over the Years?

Posted on May 31, 2013 by Joel

As with any other type of technology, the science that drives cloud computing has improved greatly over the past few years since its widespread introduction. But has the cloud lived up to its hype?

When the concept of the “cloud” was popularized in 2011, it was deemed to be the “next big thing.” Certainly, it has lived up to the title. The cloud has become so enveloped in our everyday lives that we can barely see where the technology ends and reality begins.

Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets are often sold without the storage capabilities of more powerful machines such as desktop computers and laptops, so the cloud helps to bridge this gap by providing all of your necessary files and applications in one centrally-hosted location. No matter where you are, you will be able to access anything and everything you need.

Popular applications such as Spotify and Adobe are utilizing the cloud to host seemingly endless amounts of data, a concept that benefits both the company and the consumer.

Over the next few years, the cloud will continue to improve in terms of security and available features, and will undoubtedly become an industry standard. At Atlantic.Net, our cloud service is completely guaranteed with 100% uptime. To learn more about our free cloud server hosting trial, contact us today at 1-800-521-5881.

Posted in Cloud Computing | Tagged | Leave a comment

How Cloud Servers Make Telecommuting Easier

Posted on May 30, 2013 by Adnan

In this day and age, workers are telecommuting more than ever. Telecommuting allows employees to work from home, but nothing quite matches the ability of being able to look your co-workers in the eye as you brainstorm on the latest project. Cloud servers, as well as other cloud technologies, are helping to eliminate the line between the office and home to make telecommuting as seamless as ever.

Privacy and security may be major concerns when it comes to workers telecommuting, but the cloud stores sensitive information in secure data pockets, instead of an unstable hard drive on an employee’s desk at home. Employees who must regularly access sensitive information can log onto the cloud service safely and privately on their own personal laptop.

Just like any employee working in the office, and employee at home must be able to access files and applications quickly and efficiently. Not a problem in the cloud! Applications and files that are held within the cloud can be accessed instantaneously from any location, even the local coffee shop.

While it may seem that telecommuters are not able to communicate as efficiently as co-workers standing by the water cooler, the cloud allows employees from any location to discuss important business matters as if they were in adjacent cubicles.

The cloud provides amazing technology that connects worlds and allows anyone to work from the comfort of their home, whether in usual business attire or pajamas. To see how cloud servers can help your business communicate more efficiently, contact Atlantic.Net today at 1-800-521-5881.

Posted in Cloud Computing, Cloud Hosting | Tagged | Leave a comment

Is Linux VPS Hosting Right for Your Website?

Posted on May 29, 2013 by Joel

If you have done your research, you know that there are a few basic categories of traditional website hosting—Virtual Private Server (VPS) hosting, cloud hosting, dedicated web hosting, colocation, etc. In terms of affordability, purchasing a VPS plan is a smart choice. But what operating system should you have installed?

When choosing between operating systems for your Virtual Private Server, you typically have two options: Windows and Linux. For a multitude of reasons, Linux is the ideal candidate for many servers.

Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system that has evolved the way consumers view open-source software. More often than not, Linux is the operating system of choice for hosting providers to have installed on their servers and mainframe computers. Because Linux is open-source, there is no special software, license or permission that is required before installation, thus making a VPS hosting solution more cost-effective for both the provider and the consumer.

One of the largest benefits Linux-based servers provide is the fact that Linux is almost always protected from virus attacks and malicious intrusion attempts. This factor greatly contributes to the popularity of this operating system. Additionally, since Linux does not regularly consume many resources, disk space, and bandwidth, RAM is conserved and uptime is maximized. Managing the server becomes an easier process due to the simplicity of the software, and all of these saved dollars are passed to the customer.

Overall, choosing a Virtual Private Server installed with Linux software is a great decision due to its inherent security, reputation for innovation and simplistic architecture. To learn more about Atantic.Net servers installed with Linux, contact us at 1-800-422-2936 today.

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Projection of Cloud Hosting 2014

Posted on May 28, 2013 by julianareed

How big is cloud’s impact? Depends on who’s asking


How big is cloud's impact? Depends on who's asking | How to Grow Your Business Online | Scoop.it

From www.networkworld.com - Today, 11:18 PM

Not surprisingly, vendor surveys point to higher adoption than independent researchers

Juliana Payson‘s insight:

RightScale, a company that acts a broker between end users and public cloud service providers, released the most recent results of its annual State of the Cloud report and found that about 75% of respondents surveyed were using the cloud in some capacity. We recently wrote an article about it here.

Check out his amazing infograph illustrating the growth potential of cloud computing services including cloud hosting:

Cloud Computing: Technology of Tomorrow | Visual.ly

From visual.ly - Today, 11:17 PM

65% of companies that use cloud computing report that a faster response time was a driving reason to adopt this IT technology. This fast response time

The noteable concept of growth in this infographic is further down the illustration, showing the cloud’s projected growth from 2014-2017. Not just in more computing, but in data storage and hosting requirements also.

Cloud Technology Replacing People – A place for the non-modern man


Cloud Technology Replacing People - A place for the non-modern man | How to Grow Your Business Online | Scoop.it
From www.unfashionablemale.co.uk - Today, 11:47 PM

Not only has cloud computing provided efficient information storage for businesses, but it has begun replacing jobs originally performed by people

Juliana Payson‘s insight:

In her presentation Grace Matthews states that cloud computing has replaced the need for an IT person to track inventory and stock – computers can monitor of all these transactions instead. However, given that the adoption of cloud facilities will need to rise in anticipation of the growth rate, I don’t feel that this means impending loss of IT workforce. Far from it, IT has been displaced and more likely to be centralized as a workforce from a facility rather than from within a small business IT department.

by - Juliana

Posted in Business Trends, Cloud Computing, Cloud Hosting | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment