Several NOC (network operations center) companies monitor Amazon Web Services (AWS) for customers. But now, more and more NOC-oriented tools are emerging -- potentially allowing anyone to more effectively tackle AWS management.
A recent example involves Cloudnexa's vNOC cloud management platform, which has turned some heads in recent months. The platform includes six modules:
- Dashboard -- for a consolidated view of accounts.
- Cloud Manager -- for managing resources, costs, policies and day to day AWS operations.
- Reports -- yes indeed, reporting.
- Audit -- also allows you to search user activity.
- Configuration -- allows you to manage connections to the AWS console.
- Identity services -- define users and groups for role-based access.
A free version includes four basic capabilities (event monitoring; URL monitor; storage of key metrics; and change management). I don't know Cloudnexa's pricing model for the paid version.
Cloudnexa scored a patent for managing services in a cloud computing environment back in March 2015. And the vNOC platform has been around since at least Nov. 2014. While I'm often skeptical of technology patents (because the U.S. patent office is so far behind the times), I'm still impressed to see Cloudnexa developing and protecting its intellectual property.
Indeed, lots of consulting companies can shift you to Amazon's cloud. But how many of those companies can actually offer you homegrown tools for AWS management?
AWS Flexes Its Muscle
And for those who are still skeptical of Amazon's cloud and its impact on the market: It's pretty to clear that Amazon's strength forced HP to abandon or largely rethink its public cloud plans -- ultimately prompting HP to retreat to a hybrid cloud strategy that's still being worked out.
More AWS-related news will surely arrive during Amazon's AWS Re:Invent conference (Oct. 6-9, Las Vegas).
