Houston Texans and Cloud Computing: Playoff Edition

2011 Houston Texans: AFC South Champions

A couple of months ago, we decided it would be fun to use our hometown Houston Texans football team to use a fun (but very poor) analogy to how cloud computing works and how the Texans could use cloud computing principles to help their season.  We drafted a blog post, thought it might be funny, and posted it here.

It was a hit!  So now that the Texans have clinched their first ever playoff berth and an AFC South title, we thought it would be fitting to see how well they followed our advice, and tips they can use going into the playoffs with the IS Blog's edition of "Houston Texans and Cloud Computing: Playoff Edition."  Congrats to the Houston Texans, 2011 AFC South Champions!

1.  Reduced Costs

Since cloud computing reduces overall IT costs, with a pay-as-you-go scale, we suggested that the Texans use their salary space wisely.  While some high paid players have disappointed, Houston's rushing game is led by running backs Arian Foster ($525,000) and Ben Tate ($405,000).  They're probably due for a raise, but this year, there might not be a better bang for the buck and the duo has played a major factor in Houston's offense.

2. Disaster Recovery

When we last talked about the Texans and the cloud, we stressed the importance of disaster recovery.  It is much more secure to have critical data in the cloud, rather than an on-site server where hurricanes and fires can wreck a business and cause loss of important information and business productivity.


On the field, the Texans were facing the loss of star linebacker Mario Williams for the season and receiver Andre Johnson was hurt.  Since then, thing haven't gotten any better with both starting quarterback Matt Schaub AND his backup Matt Leinart hurt for the year.  It seems as though the Texans took our advice to heart.  Not only did they have serviceable back up plans for Williams and Johnson (Connor Barwin has stepped up his game to a Pro-Bowl level at LB; tight ends Joel Dressen and Owen Daniels also picked up their play)  but the story of the year might be T.J. Yates.

The rookie QB has only gone undefeated in three starts, including leading the team to a come-from-behind victory in Cincinnati last Sunday, throwing a TD pass with two seconds left to clinch the Texans first playoff berth ever!  Now that's what we call a great disaster recovery game plan.

3. Remote Access and Mobility

The business environment has changed; it is imperative now that employees and clients have access to information and files away from the traditional desktop.  Cloud computing allows the mobility for today's worker to be effective and efficient away by accessing what they need from home, away from the office, and even mobile phones.

In October, we suggested that the Texans could use better mobility since they were currently just 14-29 as a road team under coach Gary Kubiak.  Since then?  The Texans have only won four straight games away from Reliant Stadium and with their only other road game left against winless rival Indianapolis, the Texans could very well make it five in a row and claim that for the 2011 season, they were able to "get the job done" away from home.

All things aside though, we should give credit where credit is due.  It's been a great football season in Houston this year.  And we're not suggesting that the Houston Texans read the IS Blog or Coach Kubiak listened to our advice when we posted the first "Houston Texans and Cloud Computing" blog.  But is it a coincidence that when we posted that blog in October, the Texans have won six straight?  We're just saying....

And as always, if your business is interested in making cloud principles work for your company like the Texans, give one of our professional consultants a call or e-mail us at info@issupport.com.  You can also visit our website anytime of the day!


Congratulations from IS Support to our hometown Houston Texans, 2011 AFC South Champions!  

Cloud Computing and Disaster Recovery

If you've followed our blog or simply follow technology, you've likely heard about the Cloud.    While most businesses are drawn to the flexibility, scalability, lower costs, and simplicity which the on-demand model provides, there enough unknowns about the cloud to raise questions about security, with just enough headline-making outages to put up red flags about stability.   

When isolated incidents occur such as Amazon’s twin outages this past summer, it increases the concerns about the cloud many customers share.

However, for countless businesses, the cloud does work.  Millions utilize the cloud everyday to streamline communications, increase productivity, and cut costs.  Any concerns about reliability and security are easily drowned by the cloud model's ease of use, quick provisioning, and attractive pricing.  Still, organizations remain cautious about what kind of systems they put in the cloud.  Non-core applications such as messaging and secondary storage are obvious candidates; mission-critical decision applications, not so much.

There are interesting exceptions.  In Houston, with the threat of hurricanes and other natural disasters always looming, many of our clients are recognizing that one of the more compelling use cases for the cloud is to support business continuity and disaster recovery.  The virtual and geographically distributed nature of the cloud model increases redundancy, making it ‘a natural’ to play a role backing up and restoring critical services.  

Our past event this summer focused on disaster recovery; our partners, iLand Cloud Infrastructure promoted the cloud as a solid and very cost-effective option for both larger, highly-distributed enterprise customers and smaller businesses that previously may have gone without an adequate disaster recovery solution.

Many business are seizing the opportunity to use the cloud, and discovering that it can definitely function as a cheaper alternative to more standard back-up solutions.  What do you think?  Would you trust the cloud for disaster recovery?

Want to know more?  Visit our website or call 866-370-7142 and let our cloud consultants find a cloud solution that is tailored to fit your business needs.

~ IS Support

Houston Texans and Cloud Computing

Since our headquarters are in Houston, we like to think of the Texans as our "hometown team," despite the fact that we have Cowboys, Bills, Patriots, and even a Lion's fan frequenting our office.

Last Sunday saw the Texans smash the Tennessee Titans 41-7, to start the season at a 4-3 record.  With Texans fans hungry for a winning season and playoff success, we think that the Houston Texans could apply some cloud computing principals in an alternate universe for more success.

Here are a few benefits of the cloud that could help the Houston Texans as they push for a playoff spot. [editor's note: I am not claiming any of these are rational and/or possible]


1. Reduced Costs  

Cloud computing reduces overall IT costs such as hardware, software and networking management.  In addition, cloud computing offers a pay-as-you-go scale.

With the current NFL salary cap at $120 million dollars, wouldn't the Texans love to save money with the cloud?  I would say, start with WR Jacoby Jones, who's $10 million contract isn't living up to the production (1 TD in 6 games is making is hard for some fans to justify the cost).

2. Disaster Recovery 

Houston is the best at recognizing the importance of having company data stored in the cloud, rather than a server room where hurricanes, fires or power loss can ruin your business's productivity or even worse, lose your memory.  Having a solid backup recovery in the event of a disaster is crucial to your business.


Similarly in the NFL, injuries are a part of the game but it doesn't hurt to have a great disaster recovery plan.  When RB Arian Foster missed two of the Texans first three games, Ben Tate stepped in and filled in admirably as the Texans went 2-1.  With Pro Bowl WR Andre Johnson still out with an injured hamstring, the Texans probably wish they had a similar disaster recovery option at receiver, going 1-2 since Johnson's injury.   Too add another problem, star LB Mario Williams will miss the rest of the season...who will be the backup plan?

3. Remote Access and Mobility 
With the cloud employees, partners and clients can access and update information and files wherever they are.  In today's business environment, staying in communication and in control of responsibilities is vital for employees and with cloud computing, they can access all the information needed to stay efficient and effective away from the office.

The Texans road win at Tennessee was their second road win of the season, but it's interesting to note that Coach Kubiak's road record is currently 14-29 as the Texan's coach.  Imagine a cloud computing environment, where Matt Schaub's passes were just as crisp and accurate in Indianapolis, as in the friendly confines of Reliant Stadium.  Imagine a team that was unfazed by the crowd at Pittsburgh or Baltimore.  When you migrate your systems to cloud computing, it's like having home field advantage anywhere.

With the unofficial midway point at the NFL season, Houston will be alive and electric, hoping for the Texans to make the final push for their first ever playoff appearance.  The fans here at IS Support wish them luck and maybe even remember to apply some "cloud" principles into their team strategy.

Since it's unlikely we will get a call from Coach Kubiak, we'd like to help your business apply cloud computing to your advantage.  If you're interested in how the cloud can help your company grow, please visit our website or call 866-370-7142.

Top Ten Benefits of the Cloud: #3 - Disaster Recovery

Many small businesses that incur a significant data loss have often found themselves bankrupt within six months.  In Houston, we know firsthand that disasters such as hurricanes or floods can do irreparable damage to your company.  If you don't have a disaster recovery plan in place, you need one. If you haven't reviewed your plan in the past year, don't wait - But don't go it alone either.  IS Support can help.



Our cloud-based, IS RapidRestore is one of our premier services that is installed on your network to back up your server every 15 minutes on your company's site, then move it safely to an offsite location each evening.

Even in a catastrophic event your data can be restored with RapidRestore in less than an hour. In the event of a full server crash, RapidRestore creates a virtual replica to act as a standby server allowing business operations no interruption during timely server rebuilds. 

Features:

• 15-minute snapshots of server
• Offsite replication in the event of a total property loss
• Restores a full server or at the file level
• Back to business in less than one hour
• No expensive backup software or tape drives eliminating the risk of forgetting to change tapes or not take them offsite

If you're interested in more details on how IS Support can help give your business the peace of mind with a solid, redundant backup recovery plan, contact us today at 866-370-7142 or visit our website!