Barron's - Finding Comfort In the Cloud
Savvis' savvy approach to cloud computing
We tend to think of enterprise computing and data centers as the stuff of just computer geeks, but the shift from owning and operating computers to outfits that specialize in managing information technology will affect all businesses-big and small. And not just in Silicon Valley. With the explosion of social networks and the prevalent use of e-mail, one can only imagine how Hallmark's core greeting-card business has changed. Its software developers are constantly creating new digital greetings, with various rich-media features, such as audio and animation. It is the future of the iconic company's core business.
These new digital products require extensive testing and development before they are launched. As a result, Hallmark's demand for computing power tends to increase during testing periods prior to launch. Also, the privately held company requires more computing power during peak holiday periods, as its digital products, much like its physical greeting cards, mirror the seasonal nature of the business. In fact, during the peak holidays, Hallmark.com's traffic is about six times heavier than usual.
By enlisting Savvis to manage and host its private cloud, Hallmark handles the workload surges more economically. But it is also able to test its products more thoroughly and expertly, because its Savvis-run cloud can replicate live conditions better than Hallmark could in-house.
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