How to install Magento on Azure Websites

23rd of May, 2014 / / 10 Comments

This blog explains in a step-by-step how to install (fresh install or migrate) a Magento package into Azure websites

Background

1. What is Magento?
Magento is an eCommerce software platform used by some of the world’s leading brands. More details could be found here on Magento.

2. Why install Magento on Azure?
There is a long list of reasons of why would somebody wants to migrate to the cloud, but few of these reasons could be 1) Cost saving 2) Load Balancing 3) Scalability 4) Less maintenance.… [Keep reading] “How to install Magento on Azure Websites”

When Will Microsoft Drop “Windows” from the Name of Windows Intune?

18th of May, 2014 / / No Comments

It has been a pleasure to observe a truly significant change in the thinking at Microsoft.  Slowly, Microsoft is realizing that not everything is about Windows anymore.  I say this as someone who is a former employee of Microsoft.  I am a regular user of Windows.  I personally think that Windows is a terrific product and brand.  I run Windows 8.1 Update 1 on my notebook.  I also run Windows VMs.

 

But we live in a world of BYOD now. … [Keep reading] “When Will Microsoft Drop “Windows” from the Name of Windows Intune?”

Demonstrating Cross Platform testing with Browserstack – A beginner’s guide

16th of May, 2014 / / No Comments

This is a follow-on from my previous post on Cross-platform testing. Hope you enjoyed the realms of wandering around the way you could potentially plan your platform testing. I thought I would take some time to explain some of the concepts on cross-platform testing with examples from Browserstack.

Browserstack (www.browserstack.com) is a standard tool these days for testing your web application across multiple platforms.

The current Browserstack product family offers the following three broad service lines (The website offer a good amount of details on different products and offerings)

a.… [Keep reading] “Demonstrating Cross Platform testing with Browserstack – A beginner’s guide”

Empower Your Employees and Build Customer Loyalty With Mobile Apps

4th of May, 2014 / / No Comments

Mobility is a pervasive trend across different industries.  Companies are investing in mobile technologies to increase employee productivity and connect with customers.  I wanted to blog about some of the business benefits of corporate mobile apps.  There are a number of scenarios where enterprises are delivering clear business benefits with mobile apps:

  1. Gathering customer data
  2. Connect with customers and internal staff
  3. Bar code scanning with a mobile phone camera
  4. Assigning tasks to field workers

 

There are some of the industries where Kloud is helping to build mobile apps for the enterprise:

1.… [Keep reading] “Empower Your Employees and Build Customer Loyalty With Mobile Apps”

Windows Intune vNext Coming Q2/Q3 2014

4th of May, 2014 / / 1 Comment

Here is a summary list of features for the next version of Windows Intune which Microsoft has indicated will release in Q2/Q3 2014:

Flexible Deployment

  • Full MDM parity in Windows Intune standalone
    • Email/Wi-Fi Profiles, VPN and Certificates
  • Bulk IT enrolment of devices and device targeting
  • Cloud-only scalability

Device Configuration Management

  • Windows Phone Enterprise Feature Pack support
  • Application Whitelist/Blacklist
  • Customizable IT Terms of Use
  • Start Screen in Windows 8.1
  • Windows Azure AD Premium Integration in Company Portal 

Email Configuration and Protection

  • Access to email only if device is managed

Safety

  • Family Safety in Windows 8.1
  • URL Filtering 

Device Data Protection

  • Application restriction policies for iOS
  • Enterprise Wipe of Email (iOS) and access controls via certs
  • TPM cert enrolment
  • MFA support for Intune enrolment

New Windows Intune MDM Features for iOS and Android

4th of May, 2014 / / No Comments

The January 2014 release of ODS includes a number of new features to extend and enhance the MDM capabilities of the service. ODS uses a direct management method to manage iOS and Android devices. There is no longer a requirement to have an Exchange Server or Exchange ActiveSync. iOS and Android devices can be managed via the ODS cloud service with no on-premises infrastructure required.

Here are some of the ODS features available for iOS and Android device management:

•Retire or remotely wipe a device that is lost or stolen
•Remotely lock a device
•Remotely reset the passcode
•Detect if a device has been jail broken
•Proactive alerting to identify problems with the health of the device
•Hardware inventory
•Enforce policies and settings for:
◦password management
◦encryption
◦malware
◦device security
◦documents and data
◦email
◦web browser
◦apps
◦gaming
◦device hardware
◦cellular
◦voice assistant

If you are looking for a way to manage and secure iOS and Android devices in your home or office, please contact Kloud Solutions using the following URL:

http://www.kloud.com.au/contact-us/

Cross-Platform Testing: Myths and Mysteries

2nd of May, 2014 / / 1 Comment

Cross-Platform testing (aka Platform testing) is often a confusing term and it means different things to different people. This post aims to bring together some common concepts in this area. Feel free to add your thoughts.

What is cross-platform testing really ?

Cross platform testing is one form of specialized testing where you would verify the suitability of your solution to work across various different platforms.  Platform can include pretty much anything including OS, browser or a device that will be necessary to run your solution.… [Keep reading] “Cross-Platform Testing: Myths and Mysteries”

Windows Intune Agent Update Coming April 23rd, 2014

22nd of April, 2014 / / No Comments

Windows Intune will be releasing an update to the anti-malware agent beginning on 23/4/2014. The service regularly releases anti-malware platform updates to guarantee consistency in protection, performance, robustness, and usability in a malware landscape that is constantly changing.

Since this is an agent update, computers may have to be restarted after the update is applied; in most cases however, a reboot is not required.

Protect Your Identity in the Cloud With Multi-Factor Authentication

16th of April, 2014 / / 2 Comments

Multi-factor authentication is now available for both administrator and end user accounts.  This service is now available Office 365, Windows Intune, and Microsoft Azure.

One of the risks of cloud technologies is that they are accessible from anywhere.  This means that any hacker can try to log into your account from anywhere in the world.  User names are usually public and widely known (i.e. an email address).  The only thing standing between the hacker and your personal data is a password. … [Keep reading] “Protect Your Identity in the Cloud With Multi-Factor Authentication”

New backup to Azure feature in SQL Server 2014

10th of April, 2014 / / No Comments

SQL Server 2014 went RTM a couple of weeks ago and today it hits general availability for on-premises users via MSDN download, and for the cloud, where you can now spin one up as a VM from the Azure image gallery.  So let’s saddle up and take Microsoft’s new Pegasi workhorse for a flying gallop through the hybrid cloud. Giddyup!

Installation

First to download the SQL Server 2014 Developer Edition (x64) from MSDN.  It’s a hefty 2.6 GB image, meaning it’s time to put the new Kloud HQ 100 Mbps fibre link through its paces… four minutes later and we’re done, nice. … [Keep reading] “New backup to Azure feature in SQL Server 2014”