Lenovo Launches Cloud Ready Client with Secure Cloud Access

Lenovo is launching its Cloud Ready Client technology for Enterprises that work with the Lenovo Secure Cloud Access, a delivery method to improve cloud-based interaction between devices. What is a Cloud Ready Client, and what implications could it have for the channel? Read on for the details.

Cloud Ready Clients are already built into ThinkPad and ThinkCentre computers and use a unique, Intel-developed API to “expose key hardware attributes of the client-to-cloud applications,” according to Lenovo. Translation? Cloud applications essentially can tap into parts of the physical computing, allowing for more complicated and sophisticated processes to be run from the cloud. Lenovo calls this an “enterprise-class” innovation, which it co-developed with Intel.

Simultaneously, Lenovo launched Secure Cloud Access (SCA), a service designed to help Cloud Ready Client-enabled computers interact with the cloud-based applications. This technology also is expected to trickle down to smartphones, tablets and nearly any device that uses a browser-based interface. SCA gives users access to local or web-based Windows applications and mimics the feel of a normal Windows desktop. SCA is powered by Stoneware’s webNetwork.

The conjunction of these two technologies purportedly will allow businesses to quickly deploy a private or hybrid cloud environment and make it simple to deliver applications and services to users. Both Cloud Ready Client and SCA have a plethora of specialized authentication methods and automation capabilities to ensure secure connections across devices, even when they’re outside the enterprise. Single sign-on to applications are supported, along with integration into Active Directory.

The whole package is also being billed as an easier way for IT admins to manage their network, since everything can be tweaked from the cloud. Check out the full details in Lenovo’s press release.

Right now, Secure Cloud Access is only available in North America through Lenovo sales and Lenovo partners. Partners can start selling the service at Lenovo-set price of  “approximately” $80 per user. Existing partners working with Lenovo might want to capitalize on Lenovo’s recent ThinkCentre computers, which carry the Cloud Ready Client feature-set, in conjunction with the SCA offering.

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