Google Cloud Next 2019, the search giant's cloud services conference for partners and customers, continues today in San Francisco. Stay tuned to this live blog throughout the week for news, analysis and trends from the event.
Here's the recap so far:
1. Google Cloud Platform Strategy: In recent quarters, Google has not disclosed its cloud revenues -- a potential signal that the company may be losing ground to perceived market leaders Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure.
Still, Google has been making major investments. Chief among them:
- Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian, an Oracle veteran, succeeded Diane Greene earlier this year.
- The company also hired Oracle veteran Amit Zavery as VP of engineering to drive the Apigee cross-cloud API developer push.
- The company acquired Alooma, which could position GCP as a data warehousing system.
The moves suggest Google understands that it needs to coexist with Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure, the two leading public cloud providers. Stay tuned for more news directly from Kurian at the show.
2. Updated - Google Cloud Overall Strategy: The cloud effort includes Anthos -- which allows customers to run Google Cloud technology on-premises, in third-party clouds and across third-party clouds. The company is also pitching an open source ecosystem for partners and customers.
3. Updated - Google Cloud Partner Strategy: The partner strategy is outlined here from VP of Global Partner Ecosystem Kevin Ichhpurani & VP of Worldwide Channels Carolee Gearhart.
4. Network, Server & Storage Partnerships: Among the key partnerships announced...
- Cisco Systems: The networking giant says it has agreed to support Google's Anthos multi-cloud and hybrid cloud strategy.
- HP Enterprise: HPE has vowed to certify its hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) for Google Anthos. Plus, HPE GreenLake (hardware as a service) will support the Google cloud offerings.
- Intel: The chip giant will design its Xeon processors to support Anthose, while also promoting an optimized Kubernetes software stack for the Google cloud offerings.
- Lenovo: They're working together to bring enterprise-grade Kubernetes to the data center -- while also focusing on the new Google Anthos multi-cloud and hybrid-cloud initiative.
5. Data Protection Services: Numerous companies announced backup, disaster recovery and business continuity services for GCP. The lineup includes:
- Actifio GO, a backup service for VMware VMs, is now available via the Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Marketplace.
- Cohesity Cloud Backup Service for Google Cloud.
- HYCU now offers one-click backup and recovery for Google Cloud SQL.
6. Cloud Migration Services: Softwatch is launching OptimizeIT Enterprise for Google Cloud Platform (GCP). The tool gathers in-depth application usage information, thereby easing migrations to GCP, Softwatch asserts.
7. Managed Database Services: Redis Enterprise is now available as a GCP managed database service.
8. Security: Multiple security announcements surfaced. Examples include:
- McAfee MVISION Cloud now integrates withGCP Cloud Security Command Center (Cloud SCC) to assist incident investigation, configuration auditing, security and compliance controls.
- Trend Micro is boosting gmail security.
9. Error Monitoring: Rollbar, provider of real-time error monitoring Software as a Service, is now available in the GCP Marketplace.
10. Managed Infrastructure Services: Maven Wave, a ChannelE2E Top 100 Public Cloud MSP, has introduced managed services for GCP.
11. Managed Database Services: Redis Enterprise is now available as a GCP managed database service.
12. Sold Off: A few weeks before the show, SADA Systems sold off its Microsoft cloud business to Core BTS. The move allows SADA to focus exclusively on Google customers. We'll be watching for updates at the event.
13. M&A - Private Equity: Renovus Capital Partners acquired Google Cloud and G Suite partner Tempus Nova ahead of the conference. We'll be watching for potential updates from Tempus Nova at the show.
14. M&A - Cloud MSP: Accenture is acquiring Cirruseo, a GCP services provider and a ChannelE2E Top 100 Public Cloud MSP in France.
15. More Google Cloud Next 2019 News: Please email me your news tips, perspectives and observations ([email protected]). We'll update this blog multiple times daily through the end of the conference.
