Self-Serve Cloud Tools for Beginners Hit the Market

A pair of newly released products aim to allow users with no technical knowledge to quickly spin up virtual servers and leverage public cloud services with the simplicity of using a smartphone.

Amazon Web Services’ “Lightsail,” and “Cloud With Me,” a tool developed by a Dublin, Ireland-based AWS partner, suggest that available technology has reached a point where average consumers can now access public cloud directly from vendors.

Lightsail launched on Nov. 30 in northern Virginia and will be rolled out gradually to other regions across the country and worldwide. No firm dates have been announced.

Cloud With Me hit general availability today.

“Our solution allows you to adopt AWS in minutes with zero resources or tech knowledge,” said an entry on the features page of the Cloud With Me website. “And for those who want to connect to AWS directly, our Self Hosting option provides a quick and simple step-by-step guide to help you launch your AWS server in minutes.”

The Lightsail product is touted as a way to leverage the power, reliability and security of AWS public cloud, with the simplicity of a virtual private server.

“As your needs grow, you will have the ability to smoothly step outside of the initial boundaries and connect to additional AWS database, messaging, and content distribution services,” AWS Chief Evangelist Jeff Barr wrote in a blog post. “All in all, Lightsail is the easiest way for you to get started on AWS and jumpstart your cloud projects, while giving you a smooth, clear path into the future.”

A webinar on Lightsail is scheduled for Jan. 17, where the public can receive more information, the blog states.

Both products offer a handful of pre-configured server packages at a flat monthly rate, including DNS management, access to the AWS console, multiple installations and free or premium add-ons.

In addition to being widely available immediately, Cloud With Me officials boast other advantages over the competing product, including out-of-the-box business email, FTP functionality, built-in support for MySQL and intuitive integration with Google Analytics.

Cloud With Me says it plans to expand the tool to integrate with other cloud service providers.

Managed services providers (MSPs) and other channel firms are increasingly tackling the business challenges posed by the explosion of public cloud.

On one hand, migrating and managing cloud workloads and offering strategic IT advice presents potential new revenue opportunities.

At the same time, intense competition by some of tech’s biggest players is flooding the market with cheap cloud computing and innovative self-serve apps and tools.

A recent CompTIA study found that managing the competitive implications of “cloud computing” was the number one concern keeping MSPs up at night.

In another potential threat to the cloud revenue of MSPs, Amazon last week launched AWS Managed Services, which provides a full suite of IT services to large enterprises. Some industry experts have speculated it’s just a matter of time before AWS Managed Services begins to target mid-sized and small organizations.

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