Forecast 2013 Showcases Broad Adoption of Open Data Center Alliance Requirements for the Enterprise Ready Cloud

SAN FRANCISCO, June 17, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Open Data Center Alliance (ODCA), today announced at Forecast 2013, the release of new usage models, a significant expansion in its membership, and tremendous growth in the adoption of its requirements across enterprises and industries worldwide. Since its launch in 2010, ODCA has moved quickly to deliver comprehensive requirements designed to speed the migration of data center IT operations to the cloud, and after just two years is demonstrating how its members have adopted ODCA usage models and requirements as the foundation for speeding the delivery of enterprise cloud and big data implementations that are open, interoperable and secure. Forecast 2013 is ODCA's annual cloud and big data conference taking place today and tomorrow in San Francisco at the Westin St. Francis Hotel.

"Forecast 2013 is about showcasing how quickly ODCA has moved from the requirements development stage to demonstrating real-world enterprise cloud and big data implementations that have been built based on ODCA requirements. We're showing how our members are using these requirements to solve real business issues today, and in doing so we're providing other enterprises with a model they can use to implement their own cloud strategies and architectures," said Mario Mueller, VP of IT Infrastructure at BMW and chair of the Open Data Center Alliance. "At Forecast 2013 we're demonstrating that organizations can trust ODCA usage models for cloud and big data implementations, and that now is the time to begin building cloud solutions based on ODCA requirements."

ODCA members are leaders in driving the enterprise ready cloud

Mueller is giving the Forecast 2013 keynote at 1:00pm PT today when he will welcome ODCA members and the global cloud and big data communities to Forecast, provide an update on ODCA initiatives, and review how BMW is using ODCA usage models as the basis for its cloud strategy. He will discuss BMW's multiple phases of cloud implementation, from internal cloud delivery to full integration of public cloud services, and overview the ODCA usage models used within each phase. BMW's ODCA cloud strategies are highlighted in a new video and discussed in detail in the recently released Open Data Center Alliance: Private Cloud Strategy at BMW white paper. The paper has been developed to serve as a model for helping other enterprises establish their own path to the cloud, and as a resource solution providers can use to identify requirements for enterprise ready cloud service delivery.

Mueller is joined at Forecast by IT experts from ODCA leadership who have adopted ODCA usage models as the basis for developing their company's cloud strategies, and for delivering a wide variety of cloud services. These strategies and services include: Capgemini: leveraging ODCA as a pragmatic guide for internal and client cloud implementations; China Unicom: leveraging ODCA usage models and requirements as a guide for gathering multi-industry collective wisdom for full scale private cloud build out, big data and networking strategy; Lockheed Martin: using ODCA usage models for deployed clouds as well as future engineering and acquisition of new cloud services; NAB: anchoring its cloud strategy and procurement decisions on ODCA requirements; NTT Data: integrating ODCA usage models into its global cloud strategy and procurement processes; T-Systems: integrated ODCA usage models into a breadth of cloud services that are deployed today, and as the foundation for services that will be deployed in the future; UBS: driving RFPs based on ODCA requirements; and Verizon Terremark: using a wide range of ODCA requirement to develop public, private and hybrid cloud offerings. 

These ODCA deployment scenarios are being presented during panel discussions and presentations taking place at Forecast as means to engage with enterprises on best practices for the adoption of ODCA usage models, and delivered as interactive educational sessions for helping enterprises transition to the cloud based on the experience of ODCA members. The complete list of Forecast speakers and sessions is available on the Forecast 2013 website.

ODCA announces industry's first customer requirements for Information as a Service

With the adoption of ODCA usage models growing, ODCA is announcing today that it has significantly expanded its portfolio of requirements for the enterprise ready cloud with the release of the Information as a Service (InfoaaS) Master Usage Model, the first customer requirements for big data. This document has been developed to help answer many of the questions enterprises have as they begin to tap into the enormous business opportunities associated with big data and data analytics, a market industry analyst firm IDC is projecting will grow to $23.8 billion in 2016. The organization has also completed its Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) requirements definition with the delivery of Scale-Out Storage and Software Defined Networking Master Usage Models, complementing ODCA's Compute Infrastructure as a Service Master Usage Model. Highlights of the ODCA usage models released today include:

Information as a Service - This ODCA Master Usage Model is the industry's first set of comprehensive requirements developed to help enterprises move toward interoperable Information as a Service. Information as a Service provides many benefits, including a dynamic ability to acquire information and access business insights through the orchestration of information delivery from multiple data sources and in multiple formats. The publication details the information architecture required for implementation and what aspects of that architecture can be enhanced by big data, mobile applications, and cloud computing technologies. The requirements discuss data management, tools and technology that support governance and security, and service delivery architecture. The Information as a Service Master Usage Model is available for download here.

Software Defined Networking – Software Defined Networking (SDN) is an emerging approach to data center network technology that promises to eliminate many of the limitations of current networking solutions by moving network packet control to software. SDN is a critical component to Infrastructure as a Service as it provides new network management flexibility in multi-tenancy environments. The ODCA SDN requirements detail the challenges associated with modern networks and how the SDN helps address these challenges, the benefits SDN delivers to enterprises, requirements for maximum interoperability, and the role open standards play in SDN implementations. The SDN Master Usage Model extends the ODCA Compute Infrastructure as a Service Master Usage Model and is available for download here.

Scale-Out Storage – The Scale-Out Storage Master Usage Model specifies the common usage patterns and requirements for IaaS storage where storage capacity is sought as infinitely available, sourced on-demand, and purchased or moved from one or multiple providers in a consistent manner. The Scale out Storage Usage Model provides rare insight into enterprise requirements for this arena of rapid industry innovation and extends the ODCA Compute Infrastructure as a Service Master Usage Model. The Scale-Out Storage Master Usage Model is available for download here.

In addition to the new usage models released today, ODCA is also announcing that it has delivered the most comprehensive enhancements to existing usage models since the organization's formation. These enhancements reflect input from solutions providers, standards bodies and member POC results with an intent to drive a deeper level of technical detail, create a clearer path from requirements definition to solution delivery, and ultimately to help remove barriers to solution adoption. Updates have been made to the Data Security Framework, Carbon Footprint, IO Control, Long Distance Migration, and Provider Assurance usage models. The most updated list of ODCA usage models and requirements is available on the ODCA website.

Scaling member deployments with ODCA Accelerate 2013

To help leverage the insights offered by its leadership at Forecast, ODCA has also announced Accelerate 2013, a program to help spur member sharing of insights from cloud deployment and encourage alignment of RFPs to usage model requirements. Enterprises use PEAT, ODCA's online proposal engine assistant tool, to integrate ODCA usage model requirements into the corporate RFP process. PEAT helps organizations issuing RFPs based on ODCA requirements to quickly identity the ODCA usage models that match hardware, software and services requirements outlined in an RFP, and to easily connect with vendors and providers offering products and solutions. 

Accelerate 2013 is designed to further advance the breadth of membership adoption based on ODCA requirements and streamline processes for RFP issuance. The program encourages members issuing an RFP to share their deployment insights with other ODCA members as an additional tool for identifying how organizations are deploying cloud services. ODCA members who participate in Accelerate 2013 by sharing their deployment successes are rewarded with up to half-price membership dues for 2014. The Accelerate 2013 program is outlined in detail on the ODCA website.

Infosys, SAP and UOL join Open Data Center Alliance

ODCA is also announcing today that is has significantly expanded its membership roster with the addition of Infosys, SAP, and UOL as new members. These industry leaders bring a wealth of global experience and valuable perspectives to the organization and are expected to immediately begin contributing to the mission of the Alliance. With the addition of Infosys, SAP and UOL, ODCA membership, which consists of adopter, contributor and solution provider members, has now grown to include over 320 companies from around the world.

About Forecast
Forecast is ODCA's premier once-a-year conference where ODCA and its collaboration partners and event sponsors come together with industry to address best practices for the adoption of enterprise ready big data and cloud implementations. Forecast provides attendees with a unique opportunity to grow their network of cloud and big data professionals, have conversations about the issues that matter most to their business, and learn about the latest ODCA developments from ODCA leadership. Forecast has grown to include hundreds of participants from around the world and now includes ODCA University, which is focused on educational and training sessions where attendees learn about usage models from ODCA members who have worked on creating the requirements. Forecast 2013 is taking place in San Francisco on June 17 and 18. Harper Reed, Obama Campaign CTO, is the luminary speaker who will open day-two (Tuesday, June 18) of Forecast 2013 with a keynote beginning at 9:30am.  The complete two-day agenda is available on the Forecast 2013 website. Follow Forecast developments on Twitter using hashtag #Forecast13.

About The Open Data Center Alliance
The Open Data Center Alliance^SM is an independent IT consortium comprised of global IT leaders who have come together to provide a unified customer vision for long-term data center requirements. ODCA is led by a twelve member steering committee and has over 320 members. Intel serves as technical advisor to the Alliance. More information about Alliance publications and membership can be found at the organization's website: www.opendatacenteralliance.org, and on Facebook, LinkedIn, Slideshare, Twitter, and YouTube.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Russ DeVeau
Open Data Center Alliance
[email protected]
Mobile/Text: 908-251-1549

SOURCE Open Data Center Alliance

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