Daily Archives: July 12, 2021

What Is Cloud Computing in Education?

Before schools can create effective cloud frameworks, they need to know what theyre getting into. What is the cloud, exactly, and how can it help schools?

Put simply, cloud computing offloads some or all of a schools IT environment to an offsite server cluster that is managed and maintained by a cloud provider. Cloud deployments are governed by what are known as service-level agreements. SLAs spell out what level of reliability schools can expect, what services are included, what they cost and what recompense is offered if cloud services go down.

According to Rob Clyde, executive chair of White Cloud Security and ISACA board director,cloud computing adoption in K12 schoolsis on the rise as IT teams see the advantage of outsourcing specific functions or workloads. Rather than running and owning their own servers, schools use can cloud computing as a utility, says Clyde. All resources are available on demand.

He notes that there are two broad models of cloud adoption, though one is more often used by schools. The most common isSoftware as a Service rather than deploying an app on your own servers, you buy a service that the provider has hosted in the cloud. Its also possible to deploy your own legacy apps in the cloud, but this is less common in K12. Why roll your own when on-demand apps are available?

LEARN MORE:Manage your multicloud environment more effectively with these solutions.

While57 percent of IT staffbelieve their school should prioritize updated software and hardware, 55 percent say existing budgets arent enough to cover these costs. In addition, many school IT teams are understaffed and under-resourced especially when it comes to the deployment and integration of online learning tools. Cloud solutions can help solve this problem by providing schools reliable and repeatable costs for service. But beyond better budgeting, how does adoption help IT admins?

According to Clyde, the cloud lets IT hand off specific tasks to a trusted third party. Youre no longer managing servers, he says, so you can take that off your list. You dont have to worry about buying, maintaining or ensuring you have enough server space, and you arent responsible for security for all of those servers.

The cloud can also help with staffing concerns. Youre standing on the shoulders of experts, says Clyde, so you dont have to hire your own.

KEEP READING:Here are three ways to support understaffed IT departments.

Cloud computing also extends beyond IT infrastructure to offer key benefits to K12 districts. It provides flexibility, accessibility and simplicity for all users, from students to administrators.

Importantly, for education, cloud computing allows schools to access resources on-demand if learning suddenly shifts from in-class to at-home, providing much-needed flexibility to students and educators. The disruptions of the last year have shown the necessity of flexible technology.

The cloud eliminates the need to be physically at school, Clyde says. You can have a single IT admin for many schools where youre located is no longer a barrier. The accessibility component of cloud computing benefits both rural schools, where campuses are spread out across large distances, and urban schools. When it takes just a single IT admin to control the cloud, other IT staff members can focus their attention elsewhere.

More here:

Cloud Computing in Education and the Impact on K12 Classrooms - EdTech Magazine: Focus on K-12

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach - 9 July 2021 - Asia Cloud Computing Association (ACCA) released its 2021 report on the financial services sector, Better on the Cloud Financial Services in Asia Pacific. This is the third iteration of this report, examining the nuances of cloud and technology adoption by the Asia Pacific financial services sector.

The report examines eleven Asia Pacific markets, looking at the digital transformation accrued by jurisdictions which have facilitated greater cloud adoption within their financial sectors. The report reviews developments and policy adjustments made by regulators to work with financial institutions (FIs) and cloud service providers (CSPs) adjustments which unlock the enabling power of cloud as a key support technology for FI business objectives, and risk management.

Digitally Transforming During The COVID-19 Pandemic

This pandemic season has significantly accelerated the need for FIs to transform digitally, with minimal disruption to their business. The financial sector's resilience has been supported and enhanced by the availability of cloud computing technologies, which have supported transactions being enabled online and via mobile apps, allowed for secure means of remote identity verification and other Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements, and have paved a new way forward for managing relationships, balancing limited physical interactions with virtual connections.

"During this intense work-from-home period, cloud-based tools have allowed rapid adoption of new ways to communicate and collaborate all over the world," says Quint Simon, Head of Public Policy, Asia-Pacific & Japan at Amazon Web Services (AWS), and Vice-Chair of the ACCA. "This has improved business efficiency and mitigated the risk of stress on FIs' technology systems with capabilities that would have been far more challenging and costly without adoption of cloud computing."

Enabling a Robust and Resilient Regulatory Environment

The report findings reveal that strong financial regulatory markets are characterized by a policy environment that has continuously updated, adapted, and revised regulations and guidelines to enable FI adoption of cloud computing technologies.

"We are pleased to note that many regulators are taking the step to go beyond accepting cloud adoption in the financial services sector, to actively affirming and encouraging FIs to consider the benefits of cloud," observes Barbara Navarro, Director of Google Cloud Government Affairs and Public Policy, and Treasurer of the ACCA.

Ten Regulatory Recommendations

While there are positive developments within APAC which demonstrate the importance and benefit of continued dialogue between regulators, FIs and CSPs, the report notes that not all regulatory conditions are equally robust. It makes ten recommendations which will further accelerate digital transformation in financial services while mitigating associated risks.

Strengths and Opportunities for Regulatory Improvement

"From the report's analysis, the leading markets have fully achieved most, if not all of our recommendations," said Eric Hui, Chair of the ACCA, noting the improvements in APAC's pro-cloud policies. "Financial regulators in Australia, Philippines, Singapore and Japan have made strong positive statements, or through their guidance, clearly support the adoption of cloud computing by FIs."

However, there are opportunities for regulatory enhancement, to increase clarity and reduce cloud deployment times. "Beyond the leading regulators, there is a group of markets where the shift to cloud is more challenging because some regulatory requirements may tend to impede cloud adoption and technological innovation in the FIs," adds Lim May-Ann, Executive Director of the ACCA. "There are variations on why this is the case for each of these markets, and this report provides a deep dive market analysis to examine market nuances further."

One such nuance is the requirements for a regulatory approval or notice of no-objection from the financial regulator when deploying cloud technology. "In some markets the regulator requires approval or a notice of non-objection for each occasion an FI intends to place a workload on a cloud service, and this process can be highly repetitive, lengthy and opaque, which can impede cloud deployment," observes Bojan Obradovic, Head of Cloud Services, HSBC, a member of the ACCA. "Regulators should consider the FI's risk-based analysis and how the standards, best practices and certifications of a CSP align with objectives."

The report is available for free download at https://www.asiacloudcomputing.org. Markets covered include Australia, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand along with two global benchmark jurisdictions markets, the United Kingdom and the United States of America (federal, and New York state.)

The ACCA is the apex industry association for Asia Pacific stakeholders in the cloud computing ecosystem. We represent a vendor-neutral voice of the private sector to government and other stakeholders, with the mission to accelerate the adoption of cloud computing through Asia Pacific by helping to create a trusted and compelling market environment, and a safe and consistent regulatory environment for cloud computing products and services.

#AsiaCloudComputingAssociation #ACCA

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Asia Cloud Computing Association Releases 2021 New Financial Services and Tech Adoption Report: Better on the Cloud for Financial Services in Asia...

HONG KONG, July 12, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Enterprises around the world have been strengthening international collaboration in order to boost economic recovery in the post-pandemic era. Leveraging the innovations, resources and advantages of both parties, Tencent Cloud today announced its strategic alliance with globally renowned Boston Consulting Group (BCG), carrying out cooperation in a range of areas, including finance and retail, to help enterprises in their digital transformation. In the future, the cooperation will be extended to Asia Pacific and around the world to jointly explore the development of localized digital solutions.

Amid the pandemic, leaders of every industry are exploring ways to bolster the digital transformation of enterprises. However, the transformation requires professional consulting agencies to advice on many aspects such as corporate strategy, business model and organizational transformation, among others. It also requires strong technical service providers to offer solutions based on new technologies such as cloud computing, big data, AI and IoT, to enable the launch of digital projects.

Under the alliance, Tencent Cloud and BCG will carry out cooperation in various fields, including finance and retail, together to facilitate digital transformation in enterprises, and to provide enterprise architecture design for enterprises' access to the cloud. In addition, talent has been a key element in digital transformation together, both parties will offer staff enablement solutions, moving employees' work and training online through tools such as Tencent Cloud's AI, Tencent Agile Product Development (TAPD) and WeCom, to enhance collaboration, efficiency and creativity of employees.

In the future, the alliance between Tencent Cloud and BCGwill be extended to Asia Pacific and the global market. Being one of the top five global cloud service providers, Tencent Cloud's infrastructures have already covered 27 geographic regions on five continents. Since April 2021, Tencent Cloud has launched new data centers in Bangkok in Thailand, Jakarta in Indonesia, Singapore, Tokyo in Japan, among others, offering more localized services to local enterprises.

As a global top management consulting services company which has established for more than 50 years, BCG is proud to add Tencent Cloud into its growing ecosystem of alliances.In 2020, BCG was recognized as a pioneer in the digital business transformation service industry by Forrester, an international authoritative research institution. Recently, it has been ranked as a leader in digital strategy consulting services industry by IDC. Apart from the launch of digital centers in San Francisco and Paris, BCG has also launched a digital center in Shenzhen, providing governments and enterprises in the Greater China, Asia Pacific as well as global customers with consulting services on digital solutions.

In the post-pandemic era, as every industry around the world is accelerating their digital transformation journey, the internet infrastructure in the Southeast Asia region is still being developed. Many enterprises are in need of technical support provided by cloud providers in their digital transformation. Leveraging the innovations, resources and advantages of both parties, Tencent Cloud will join hands with BCG to strengthen their cooperation in the international market, providing digital solutions to meet local needs, and ultimately helping to boost economic recovery.

About Tencent Cloud

Tencent Cloud is Tencent's cloud services brand, providing industry-leading cloud products and services to organizations and enterprises across the world. Leveraging its robust data center infrastructures around the world, Tencent integrates cloud computing, big data analytics, AI, Internet of Things, security and other advanced technologies with smart enterprise scenarios. At the same time, we provide a holistic smart enterprise solution for sectors including finance, education, healthcare, retail, industry, transport, energy and radio & television.

SOURCE Tencent Cloud

Excerpt from:

Tencent Cloud and Boston Consulting Group Announce Strategic Alliance - PRNewswire

Cambridge, Massachusetts, June 14, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE)-NSRs latest report as cloud computing continues to be adopted Cloud computing via satellite, 2nd Edition (CCvS2) We forecast cumulative cloud service revenue of $ 21 billion by 2030 across four major market segments. The imminent wave of both LEO, MEO and GEO-HTS satellite communications services is set to predict 233 exabytes of traffic, significantly drive long-term cloud adoption and enhance market engagement opportunities. It has been.

The transformation brought about by the adoption of cloud computing is just beginning to impact the satellite sector, he said. Shiva Prakashmurganandam, NSR Senior Analyst and Report Creator. We are seeing change and evolution in many areas, from cloud-hosted applications to cloud storage / processing by geospatial analytics providers.

Partnerships with large IT and cloud players drive market acquisition and growth opportunities across multiple segments. Within these core segments, satellite communications will continue to lead traffic over satellites, and earth observation data downlinks will lead revenue. This represents a $ 10 billion opportunity for ground stations and data relay services to enter the downlink market.

Growth opportunities are projected in both existing and early markets, but cost scalability remains a challenge, added NSR analyst and report co-author. Arthur Van Eeckhout.. But the adoption of the cloud has dramatically reduced the traditional knowledge required for engagement and lowered the barriers to entry for space-derived data services. Today, cloud-born start-ups are more than ever before. There are also many opportunities available.

About the report

NSRs, built on NSRs industry-leading Satcom and EO market analysis Cloud computing via satellite, 2nd Edition (CCvS2) The latest NSR report identifies trends and developments related to cloud and big data use in the satellite industry by 2030. It forecasts the outlook for the global industry in terms of cloud data traffic / volume and cloud service revenue across key regions and applications. CCvS2 It provides decision makers with the essential tools for strategic planning and engagement across cloud computing over the satellite value chain over the next decade.

For more information on this report, including a complete table of contents, list of exhibits, and executive summary, please visit: http://www.nsr.com Alternatively, call NSR at +1-617-674-7743.

Companies profiled or mentioned in this report:

AddValue, Airbus, Amazon Web Services, Arctic Space Technologies, Atlas Space Operations, Ball Aerospace, Blacksky, Capella Space, Cloud Constellation, CloudEO, Clutch Space Systems, Deimos, Descartes Labs, Dish Network, DLR, Ericsson, ESA, Gilat, Global Eagle, Global Star, Google, Groundspace, Hiber, HPE, Hughes, IBM, Iceye, Infostellar, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Iridium, Kineis, Kratos Defense & Space, KSAT, KUBOS, Leafspace, Leocloud, Lockheed Martin, Lyteloop, Maxar, Microsoft, Mynaric , Myriota, NASA, Orbex, Orbit20, Orbital Insights, Orbits Edge, Planet, Raytheon, RBC Signals, Redhat, Rezatec, RS Metrics, SAP, Saraniasat, Satsure, SES, Skyroot Aerospace, Skywatch, Sobolt, SpaceX, Spire, Spliethoff, SSC, Telesat, Tototheo Maritime, TransDigm, Unibap, Up42, Ursa, US Space Force, ViaSat, Virgin Atlantic, Vodafone, We4sea.

About NSR:

NSR is one of the worlds leading market research and consulting firms focused on the satellite and space sectors, with NSRs global team, unmatched coverage, and the ability to forecast trends with greater reliability and accuracy than its competitors. , Is the basis of all NSR products. With its first market coverage and transparent and reliable approach, NSR stands out as a leading provider of important insights into the satellite and space industries.

Contact Us info@nsr.com To discuss how we can support your business.

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Cloud computing with satellite adoption triggers - Illinoisnewstoday.com

The role technology plays in the typical advice businesshas expanded over the past decade, but alongside the opportunities for greater efficiencycomes the enhanced threat from a cyber attack damaging both the operations and the reputation of a financial adviser.

The scale of the threat from cyber criminals is starkly illustrated from data showing that 44 per cent of advisers have had some experience of cyber attack, with just over three quarters of those (77 per cent) attacks being 'phishing'via fraudulent email.

Solutions

The options available to an advice business seeking to develop a robust IT infrastructureare to deploy in-house serversor to use a cloud computing product.

Using in house servers requires physical space in a specific location, and is likely toincur significant installation and maintenance costs.

A cloud computing solution is not necessarily new, but it does offer the chance to store data remotely, and externally, which should deliver savings and efficiency for advisers. Many cloud computing options come without the bells and whistles of a traditional server, but a lot advice businesses will feel they do not need the full suite of extras offered by the old 'server room'approach.

Security concerns

Many institutions rely on the same model of security controls, but as the risks have changed, so should the approach. While everyone is shelving added cybersecurity risks, malware, and other malicious attacks under 'just what happens in the new normal', I prefer to label it as the inevitable normal.

Independent financial advisers, accounting companiesand other financial organisations that manage mass amounts of sensitive client data on an everyday basis should already be ahead of the cybersecurity curve. This is true pandemic or no pandemic, and whether digitalisation has slowed or picked up pace in your business.

In my own experience, IFAs choosing a cloud solution is not a matter of if, but when. Cloud computing is already a well-regarded, innovative way to leverage powerful systems to instantly address known threats and predict threats that seek to overwhelm security. The misconception that moving to the cloud will simply put more IFAs in harms way as compared with sending regular emails containing spreadsheets is false.

Cloud computing and accounting ensures no copies of data are kept locally on any device, and that all are stored in encrypted environments. Only those with permissions have access. It is also normal for cloud-based solution providers to employ teams of penetration testers, which work directly with your cloud providers development team to ensure no hidden loopholes are available in the system allowing hackers to take advantage.

Penetration testers, also sometimes known as ethical hackers, effectively try to disrupt the IT systems of a companyin a bid to identify where the weaknesses are, then tell the company about these weaknessesin order that they can be remedied. Penetration testers work for the cloud providerand test the security of each of the cloud provider's clients, allowing the advice companyto benefit from the scale of the cloud computing business.

Excerpt from:

Advisers should look to the Cloud for their IT solutions - FT Adviser

Last time, I covered stocks six through 10 in my top 10 cloud stocks. Today, I will finish the series with my top five high-conviction cloud stocks to buy on the next dip. These are high-growth software-as-a-service (SaaS) and cloud stocks that I currently hold in my $1.6 million long-term investing portfolio.

In case you missed the last article, I'll provide some background. If you aren't familiar with the terminology, SaaS is simply a component of cloud computing. SaaS refers to software hosted outside of your organization and offered as a subscription-based service. SaaS generally offers businesses lower total cost of ownership. The latest software updates and enhancements are generally done for the client, allowing businesses to have the latest and greatest without additional effort or overhead. Additionally, SaaS enables businesses to shift capital expenses to operating expenses, allowing them to stretch budgets from an accounting perspective.

Cloud computing refers to servers that are connected through the internet, as well as the software, data centers, and databases that create an online network. Leveraging "the cloud" allows users and businesses to consume and analyze data without having to manage databases or software on their own physical, on-premises servers and machines.

Digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, machine learning, centralized analytics, customer relationship management, enterprise resource planning (ERP), connected TV (CTV), streaming, work from anywhere, the gig economy, and other secular growth trends fuel SaaS and cloud infrastructure. But what are the best stocks to buy in order to ride these waves and boost your portfolio?

Here are my top five cloud growth stocks. Please make sure to watch the below video for additional information as well as several bonus picks!

#5. Zscaler (NASDAQ:ZS) offers customers a security stack as a cloud service, which offers lower cost and complexity than "old-school" traditional gateway methods. Zscaler's global infrastructure brings internet gateways closer to users all around the world, creating a faster and more streamlined experience. The company enables work-from-anywhere cloud security in a highly scalable fashion.

#4. Datadog (NASDAQ:DDOG) provides monitoring and analytics tools that give IT teams insights from anywhere and at any time. Datadog, like Zscaler, is very scalable. In fact, most cloud-native providers are highly scalable, which is part of the reason they rank high on the list. Datadog brings information together from across an entire organization into a simple dashboard. Companies that leverage Datadog enjoy benefits such as improved user experience, faster resolutions to interruptions, and overall better business decisions.

Datadog has continuously improved its product suite as well as its partnership network. In fact, Datadog recently announced a new partnership with Microsoft (NASDAQ:DDOG) Azure, which allows streamlined experiences for configuration, purchasing, and even managing Datadog inside the Azure portal. Additionally, on July 1 Datadog announced a partnership with Salesforce to provide real-time monitoring and threat detection across the Salesforce (NASDAQ:DDOG)platform.

From a product perspective, here are the highlights:

#3. Snowflake (NYSE:SNOW) offers what it calls a "data warehouse-as-a-service" (DaaS), a cloud-based data storage and analytics solution. Interestingly, Snowflake is not a SaaS company since its revenues are over 90% consumption based. Snowflake reduces cost and improves agility. Its data platform is unique in that it is not built on an existing big data platform.

As you may have heard around the time of the IPO, Snowflake is backed by Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE:BRK.A). Snowflake's clients include Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Nike (NYSE:NKE), Mastercard (NYSE:MA), and many others. Snowflake is all about big data, and it deserves a top spot on the list.

#2. Cloudflare's (NYSE:NET) mission is to help "build a better internet." Cloudflare is actually a network. In fact, it's one of the larger networks on the planet. Cloudflare enables a faster and more secure internet for anyone with an internet presence. Cloudflare has data centers across the globe, and it boasts an astonishing 25 million internet properties, a number that grows daily. To date, Cloudflare handles over 17 percent of the Fortune 1000 internet requests, and the company handles 25 million HTTP requests every second on average. Cloudflare is all about the future of the internet, and it belongs in my portfolio as a long-term investment.

#1 Crowdstrike (NASDAQ:CRWD) is the leader in endpoint security. Crowdstrike's Falcon platform stops breaches through both prevention and response, a process known as endpoint detection and response (EDR). It uses agent-based sensors that can be installed on Mac, Linux, and Windows. Crowdstrike relies on a cloud-hosted SaaS platform that manages data and prevents, detects, and responds to threats. Both malware and non-malware attacks are covered via Crowdstrike's cloud-delivered technologies in a lightweight solution.

Cyberattacks continue to be a major threat, and the total addressable market for cybersecurity is enormous. Crowdstrike has been a monster since its IPO in 2019, growing into a $60 billion market cap company. But I think Crowdstrike is just getting started, and it stands tall as my top high-conviction cloud/SaaS stock for the next decade.

If you want deeper-dive analysis on these stocks, please watch the video below, where I cover these and many others in the cloud space. These growth stocks can boost your long-term investing portfolio, so please check out the below video and subscribe to make sure you stay on top of this sector.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the official recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium advisory service. Were motley! Questioning an investing thesis -- even one of our own -- helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer.

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Top 10 Cloud Stocks to Buy on the Next Dip -- Part II - The Motley Fool

Oxford Quantum Circuits has launched a commercially available cloud service for enterprises to access a UK-based quantum computer to solve complex business tasks.

The startup said it is the UKs first quantum computing as-a-service (QCaaS) platform, which involves companies paying to remotely run programs on quantum computer hardware.

OQC told Verdict that its platform is capable of connecting many customers simultaneously but the number will depend on their computation needs.

OQC partner Cambridge Quantum, which develops software for quantum computation and recently launched a joint venture with quantum computer hardware company Honeywell, will be the first to gain access to the private cloud. It will use the quantum computer to demonstrate and test its cryptographic keys, which are designed to withstand the superior firepower of quantum computers.

OQC said it has opened a beta list for companies in sectors ranging from finance to pharmaceutical. Our focus right now is on building relationships, gathering customer feedback and future needs rather than large volumes of users, a spokesperson said.

We know quantum computing has the power to be revolutionary but for decades this power and potential has been relatively untested and unverified in the real world, said Ilana Wisby, CEO of OQC. By making our QCaaS platform more widely available to strategic partners and customers, we are offering the worlds leading enterprises the chance to demonstrate just how far-reaching quantum will be for their companies and their industries.

It is the latest sign of the nascent quantum computer industry looking to apply the technology commercially. Experts say quantum computers will be able to help identify new drugs, identify new molecules and advance artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms.

Sam Holt, GlobalData thematic analyst, told Verdict that it is definitely significant for the UK quantum computing sector and that OQC was looking to benefit from a first-mover advantage.

Classic computers store information in a series of 0s or 1s binary with each unit known as a bit. However, quantum computers store information as 1s, 0s or both. These are known as qubits and it allows quantum computers to perform calculations in parallel and so significantly reduce the time it takes to solve complex problems.

OQC did not disclose how many qubits its machine contains, but in 2017 the company was working on a 9-qubit system.

The startup told Verdict that users would have competitive computing power comparable to most existing quantum processers.

However, Holt said it is really difficult to be sure of the technical capabilities of the platform because OQCs announcement is so sparse in detail.

Holt added: We dont know the quantum volume, qubit count, the gate fidelity or any other technical specifications of its machine.

What we do know is thatOQC uses a novel approach to its hardware that uses three-dimensional superconducting circuits.

The architectural approach, called Coaxmon and described by Holt as potentially revolutionary, can reduce interference from the wiring on circuits and as such reduce the error rate as the number of qubits is increased.

Its really complex engineering and fiendishly difficult to do, added Holt.

Contrastingly, Honeywell uses trapped ion architecture. Holt said the partnerships could be the companies wanting to diversify the technology stack.

Googles quantum computer used 53 qubits when the company claimed to achieve quantum supremacy when a quantum computer solves a problem that a classical computer cannot.

Despite recent advancements, the technology remains immature and machines are often error-prone.

Quantum computers must be kept in controlled conditions that involve sub-zero temperatures, making them impractical to run outside of laboratories.

These logistical challenges have seen a rise in quantum simulators, where a classical computer simulates the running of programs on a quantum system. The current limit for simulation is 48 qubits because the number of classical bits required per qubit increases exponentially.

Given OQC will not disclose the number of qubits in its quantum computer, it is unclear whether it can offer much if any superior processing power over a simulated quantum computer.

But Holt said that there are some tasks, such as generating truly random numbers for quantum cryptographic keys, that cannot be done by simulating a quantum computer.

A handful of other companies are already offering access to quantum computer hardware via the cloud.

IBM, for example, rents out access to its quantum computers through IBM Q Network, while Microsofts Azure Quantum provides full-stack remote access to quantum computers.

Google offers a service to run programs written in an open-source quantum computing language on its quantum computers located in Santa Barbara, California.

Meanwhile, cloud computing giant Amazon Web Services (AWS) offers services that allow businesses and researchers to access quantum hardware operated by manufacturers D-Wave, IonQ and Rigetti.

OQC told Verdict that its machine will have an equivalent power to the devices publicly available on AWS Braket within six months.

Founded in 2017, OQC built its first superconducting computer in 2018 and has received 2m of UK government funding.

While OQCs platform much like existing QCaaS platforms can be accessed anywhere in the world, the company told Verdict being based in the UK meant it could schedule uptime around European and Asian users.

Digital Infrastructure Minister Matt Warman said: The UK boasts some of the worlds top innovators and research institutions and this partnership helps reinforce our position as a global leader in quantum computing.

Quantum computing can help tackle some of the worlds greatest challenges such as climate change, and UK firms can use this cutting-edge service to boost growth and innovation, and build back better from the pandemic.

The rest is here:

'Only working quantum computer in UK' now accessible in the cloud - Verdict

Thematic exchange-traded funds saw fund inflows of about $38.8 billion in the first half, compared with $7.8 billion in the first half of 2020, according to Morningstar Inc. There are now 191 such funds with a combined $164.2 billion in assets, up from 55 funds and $11.2 billion in assets five years ago.

Investors are shifting from buying individual story stocks to thematic ETFs to get diversification in some of the hottest growth markets in the world," says Todd Rosenbluth, CFRAs senior director of ETF and head of mutual-fund research.

To be sure, themed funds are riskier than ETFs that follow the broader market and can tank when enough investors start to think a trend has run its course. Cloud computing, for example, while still seen as a strong trend for the long term, has lost momentum recently as the pandemic has started to wane and fewer people are working remotely. Through June 30, ETFs based on cloud computing have seen net outflows of $600 million this year, Morningstar reports.

The Wall Street Journal asked a number of ETF experts to identify themes they believe are likely to produce strong returns for years to come. Here are five:

1. Cloud Computing

In 2020 the pandemic accelerated cloud migration for all types of enterprise applications as more people shopped online and worked remotely. Now, despite an easing of pandemic concerns in many places, demand for cloud computing continues. Many countries have cloud-based development projects in the works that should drive the markets growth globally. Deloitte projects a 30% compound annual growth rate for the cloud sector through 2025.

First Trust Cloud Computing (SKYY) is a $5.8 billion fund with a large-cap focus on such companies as Microsoft, Oracle and Amazon.com. Though it is up 11.5% this year through June 30, it has a one-year total return of 42.5%. WisdomTree Cloud Computing Fund (WCLD), a $1.1 billion fund that tracks an index of 50 companies, is up 4.4% this year as of June 30, but it has a one-year return of 43.5%.

Spending on cloud technology continues to accelerate," Mr. Rosenbluth says. We are in the beginning stages of this boom."

Downside risk: Demand for thematic ETFs in cloud computing has waned in recent months as the effects of the pandemic recede and states are generally reopening. If employers shift technology spending to support on-site personnel, cloud companies could face less demand.

2. Cannabis

New cannabis and hemp industries are emerging in the U.S. thanks to some form of legalization in 36 states and the District of Columbia. Congress has reintroduced legislation to federally legalize marijuana for recreational and medical use throughout the country. With the Democrats controlling both houses, this has a good chance of passage. The legal cannabis market is expected to double to $41.5 billion by 2025, projects New Frontier Data.

Amplify Seymour Cannabis ETF (CNBS) is a $145 million fund that invests 80% of its assets in companies that derive 50% or more of their revenue from cannabis and hemp. It has year-to-date returns of 47.7% and one-year returns of 136.6%. Global X Cannabis ETF (POTX), a $191.5 million fund, has a year-to-date return of 40.1%, and a one-year return of 38%.

Cannabis is one of our top themes this year as states move to legalize it for revenue," says Jay Jacobs, senior vice president and head of research and strategy at Global X ETFs. This is the tipping point for the cannabis industry."

Downside risk: Cannabis companies face changing compliance issues. At the same time, mounting competition from large brands is spurring industry consolidation, which may portend volatility in the sector in the years ahead. Small-cap cannabis companies have limited resources to offset these challenges.

3. Infrastructure

President Bidens American Jobs Plan aims to create millions of jobs through infrastructure spending. While the initial plans $2 trillion price tag had Democrats and the GOP deadlocked, a roughly $1 trillion slimmed-down bipartisan version could have a better chance of passing.

Global X US Infrastructure Development ETF (PAVE) invests in all players in the construction supply chain, including raw-materials producers and engineering-service providers. It is up 21.4% this year and has a one-year return of 69.3%. IShares U.S. Infrastructure ETF (IFRA) also invests in construction and materials companies and in railroads and utilities. It has a one-year return of 51.8% but is up 18.4% year to date.

Infrastructure investment is a way to stimulate the economy," says Mr. Jacobs. This is one area of consensus between Democrats and Republicans."

Downside risk: The bull run in these stocks could end if the infrastructure bill fails to pass in Congress.

4. Clean Technology

The Biden administration is giving priority to clean-tech investments such as renewable energy and electric vehicles. Despite a decline in clean-tech stocks in the first half, ETFs in this area have had strong one-year returns.

Invesco WilderHill Clean Energy ETF (PBW) is a $1.94 billion fund that invests in clean energy and conservation. It has a one-year return of 131% but is down more than 9% so far for 2021. Global X Lithium & Battery Tech ETF (LIT), a $3.2 billion fund, invests across a range of battery interests, from mining to battery production. It has a one-year return of 129.4%, and 17.9% year to date.

Downside risk: Clean-tech stocks have gotten swept into the technology selloff, and volatility in the sector remains high in the short term. The sector has become crowded, MSCI reports, and could fall sharply if there is an economic downturn or outbreak of stagflation.

5. AI and Robotics

Companies are increasingly using AI and robotics to alleviate supply-chain issues and boost productivity. The market is expected to grow at a compound annual rate of 20% through 2026 and reach $74 billion, according to Mordor Intelligence. It is the centerpiece of many disruptive shifts in industries from manufacturing to space exploration.

ARK Autonomous Technology & Robotics ETF (ARKQ) has a one-year return of 83.8% and a year-to-date return of 13.3%. Global Xs Robotics & AI ETF (BOTZ), a $2.6 billion fund, has garnered a one-year return of 46.6%, and year-to-date return of 5.8%.

Mr. Rosenbluth says, Companies learned the benefits of automation during the pandemic and have sought out ways to be even more efficient."

Downside risk: Job losses as a result of advanced AI and robotic systems in the workplace could cause serious pushback from unions as low-skill jobs get delegated to machines. High investment costs could slow adoption of the technology.

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Themed ETFs are hot. Here are five of the hottest to invest in - Livemint

IDrive cloud storage has been a long-time favorite of ours, receiving 4.5 stars in our IDrive review. It offers generous storage tiers, affordable rates, and an intuitive user interface, which is why weve included it in our list of the best cloud storage services available today.

We reached out to CEO Raghu Kulkarni to give us some insight into the world of cloud storage from an industry leader.This interview covers some of IDrives most important recent successes and challenges, and we also talk about the impact of COVID-19 on the online storage industry; IDrives new cloud computing platform; and what its like standing tte--tte with giants like Microsoft and Amazon.

IDrive cloud storage interview: growth, COVID-19 and new ventures

IDrive is a leading cloud backup and remote access services provider for consumers and small- to medium-sized businesses. We have more than four million users worldwide storing over 400PB of data, with data center footprints at over 200 locations.

Our biggest success at IDrive has been building a sustainable, profitable business that has become a leader within the cloud backup marketplace. We listen to our customers' feedback, and do our best to address those requests while continuing to innovate.

The breadth of services we provide within the backup space, and the value we offer to our customers, is unmatched.

The biggest challenge in the cloud is always the big players: Google, Microsoft, and Amazon. It is not easy to out-innovate and out-value them. But with a razor-sharp focus on what consumers and businesses need in our specific segment, we have been able to innovate more, and offer better value, in comparison to the big players.

The biggest positive is the global move to working from home. This resulted in a multi-fold increase in remote access service needs, and the need for backing up critical data that is now residing on home computers and devices.

The biggest negative is related. More people working from home has reduced the need for backing up office computers.

With more opportunities in the remote work space, more of the big players got into the space with bigger resources. So it is a race against time to meet the demands for consumers and businesses.

There are software and infrastructure tweaks needed that fit the work-from-home system better. The hybrid workplace is here to stay. Remote work will be a key component for almost every business.

We continue to focus on our core products, IDrive and RemotePC, both key players in the remote work and hybrid workplace. We just recently launched ZipDrive, a personal cloud platform that uses the user's own computer for resources.

We want to continue to focus on our core products. In addition, we also aim to provide an edge computing platform for developers and businesses, with hundreds of locations across the globe able to serve the cutting edge applications that require low latency and high performance.

This computing platform will leverage the work we are already doing for our remote access and backup services. We have just launched a phase one product for the same with 20 locations, called IDriveCompute.

With the continued growth of consumer data from desktops, laptops, and of course, mobile devices, the need and demand for quality cloud backup will always be there, and IDrive will be there to help those customers.

In terms of changes, we expect that with new technologies like 5G, consumers and businesses will have faster access to the cloud to upload photos/videos or critical data, which will further the growth of cloud storage.

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IDrive cloud storage interview: growth, COVID-19 and new ventures - ITProPortal