(WEB HOST INDUSTRY REVIEW) -- Data center and IT "flexsourcing" provider Horizon Data Center Solutions (www.horizondcs.com) has launched its cloud computing solution, FlexSafe Cloud, a private cloud computing solution designed to meet the needs of organizations that want the flexibility, scalability and cost savings of virtualization, but require the security of a private computing platform.
According to Horizon's Thursday announcement, FlexSafe Cloud is part of its strategy to fill a gap in the marketplace by providing flexible, full-service IT outsourcing options for the enterprise client as well as small and medium-sized businesses.
Aimed to meet the needs of federal clients, Horizon executive vice president and chief marketing officer Chuck Smith said Horizon has adopted the National Institute of Standards and Technology working definition of cloud computing, which basically describes an on-demand self-service with ubiquitous network access and the ability to rapidly scale resources, as well as billing on a measured-usage basis.
"We believe that the large public cloud providers like Amazon and Google have done an excellent job of supporting the testing and development world, so there's no need for us to pursue the public cloud," Smith said in a statement. "For government and enterprise clients, private clouds are where we can add significant value and we will also offer community cloud solutions for related entities."
In the past, Horizon pioneered the concept of cloud computing with its DCFlexSpace colocation model and has continued to expand services to meet client demand with FlexSafe.
Horizon says the FlexSafe Cloud delivers immediate benefits for firms such as Software as a Service companies, e-commerce applications that experience fluctuating transaction volumes, as well as financial firms, government agencies, and other entities that want the greater efficiencies and cost savings of virtualization without giving up security.
Horizon CEO, Lance A. Smith adds, "Our current clients appreciate our highly secure, reliable data center infrastructure and have asked us to provide this service. We are pleased to extend our relationships with them, while at the same time offering an option that represents our continued charge to fill the gap in the IT outsourcing market between the very large, global IT outsourcing companies and traditional hosting companies. With the FlexSafe Cloud option, the latest development in our fast-paced growth strategy, Horizon continues to be among the leaders in the data center market."
The highly scalable FlexSafe Cloud is based on Horizon's industry leading Infrastructure as a Service platform based on Tier III data centers, and built on cutting edge technology from providers like AboveNet, Cisco, F5 Networks and HP. FlexSafe Cloud service is virtualized using VMware, providing high availability performance and security via two Dallas area data centers, connected by a private fiber ring, providing fast, reliable data backup and replication solutions.
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