Cisco Simplifies Cloud Delivery for Service Providers

Sometimes you get burned by waiting too long before making a big business decision. Other times, you get a break if you just wait.

Cisco Systems might have just provided the break Web hosting businesses were looking for - if they were grappling about whether or not to take the plunge into cloud hosting.

Cisco's May 12th decision to introduce a Unified Service Delivery solution, "builds the foundation for innovative service providers... to optimize their networks towards delivering new revenue-generating, cloud-based services," said Kelly Ahuja, general manager in Cisco's service provider routing technology group.

That solid foundation would include several data center products including Cisco's Unified Computing System, the Cisco Nexus Switch, the new data center optimized Cisco CRS-1 Carrier Routing System and other IP Next-Generation Network gear.

So the decision isn't necessarily made until you work out what that all costs. However, Synergy Research Group says that significant cost savings will be realized in operating expenditures over a four year time table. More importantly though, the Cisco solution, says Ray Mota, chief strategist for Synergy Research Group will "increase speed to new revenue, simplify service delivery, provide a more secure experience and reduce costs while addressing data center longevity and efficiencies."

That's enough to warrant further investigation. Still though, it's quite interesting that Oracle today just announced the purchase of Virtual Iron Software. The company's products will help customers better manage their server capacity and optimize their power consumption. On the surface that seems like yet another wait and see type of proposition, but in the meantime, we hope you don't get burned.