Rackspace, co-developer of the OpenStack cloud platform, has created a more direct path for large, full-service IT providers to deploy the popular open source-based software in large-scale private cloud projects, according to an article on eWEEK.

Rackspace released three new blueprints, called Private Cloud Open Reference Architectures, to fuel the initiative, which is designed specifically for such companies as EMC, Dell, IBM, NetApp and Hewlett-Packard.

The new blueprints primarily are directed at Big Data-type private cloud projects, which are ramping up in many different verticals around the globe.

According to an article on TalkinCloud.com, "reference architectures are one way toward achieving maturity in a business technology, and that's what Rackspace is hoping to do. At the same time, it may give it and the channel partners that deal in private OpenStack cloud infrastructure and deployments an advantage, as the references should, ideally, make it easier for them to design private clouds for their customers."

As Cloud Use Grows, So Will Rate of DDoS Attacks
A recent report reveals the importance of implementing automated tools to spot and defend against attacks aimed at data centers and the cloud.

The eighth annual Worldwide Infrastructure Security Report, from security provider Arbor Networks, reveals how both cloud service providers and traditional data centers are under attack. The report, discussed in an InfoWorld article, examined a 12-month period and asked 200 security-based questions of 130 enterprise and network operations professionals. The key findings revealed:

Ninety-four percent of data center managers reported some type of security attacks.

Seventy-six percent had to deal with distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on their customers .

Fourteen percent had to deal with attacks targeting a cloud service.

The report concluded that cloud services are very tempting for DDoS attackers, who now focus mainly on private data centers. It's safe to assume that, as more cloud services come into use, DDoS attacks on them will become more commonplace.

The only defense is to use automated tools to spot and defend the core cloud services from such attacks. Over time, the approaches and tools will become better, hopefully to a point where the attacks are more of a nuisance than a threat.

The larger cloud providers, such as Hewlett-Packard, Microsoft and Rackspace, already have good practices and technology in place to lower the risk that these attacks will hinder customer production.

Parallels Summit 2013: Cloud Computing Trends to Watch
Parallels Summit is now underway in Las Vegas.

So what's next for VARs, MSPs and aspiring cloud services providers? Talkin' Cloud has served up several trends and news tips, which are worth following at the conference. Here are a few of those trends to look out for:

Telcos Become CSPs: Nearly half of the top 30 top telcos are leveraging Parallels' automation software to build out their cloud services. Classic telecommunications companies, ILECs and other phone service specialists see Parallels as a path to offering cloud services.

Cloud Marketplaces: A prime example here is LuxCloud - which operates a global, channel-centric marketplace for cloud services. Sales partners can use the marketplace to launch and deliver cloud services, by private labeling and/or syndicating all or parts of the marketplace, LuxCloud claims. In some ways, LuxCloud sounds like a cloud services aggregator - potentially competing with Ingram Micro Cloud and Tech Data TDCloud, among other emerging players in that market.