AFORE Debuts CloudLink to Secure VMware vCloud Workloads

AFORE Solutions announced the availability of its CloudLink SecureVSA for VMware (VMW) vCloud Hybrid Service, a virtual storage encryption appliance that enables vCloud users to encrypt their hybrid clouds to protect sensitive data from other tenants, cloud administrators and outside users.

CloudLink SecureVSA works within vCloud Hybrid Service to solve potential data privacy and security issues with a security policy that automates encryption management and enables VMware customers to have exclusive control over the encryption keys, according to AFORE. By locking down the data within vCloud, users are able to extend their private data centers to the public cloud while maintaining complete control over who has access to corporate information.

“VMware designed the VMware vCloud Hybrid Service to offer the agility of public cloud while providing full compatibility with customers’ existing data center infrastructure, making the migration easy and predictable,” said Ajay Patel, vice president of VMware vCloud Hybrid Service, in a prepared statement. “In a similar fashion, AFORE CloudLink addresses data privacy concerns with a hybrid cloud encryption solution that is transparent to applications and uses familiar VMware deployment and management tools.”

VMware vCloud users can deploy CloudLink using familiar tools including vSphere, vCloud Director and vCloud Automation Center without the need for an agent, and the encryption doesn’t require changes to existing workloads or applications. IT admins also can encrypt their vCloud infrastructures on a “per-VM” basis, with the option for flexible key management, even with customer-controlled keys. The features are accessible through a single encryption management plane across the hybrid cloud to make the setup and day-to-day monitoring of the system easy for admins, according to the company.

“We believe VMware vCloud Hybrid Service addresses an important customer need for enterprises looking to deploy mission-critical workloads in the cloud,” said Jonathan Reeves, AFORE chairman and chief strategy officer. “CloudLink enables VMware customers to encrypt all data used by their virtual machines and puts them in total control of their data security.”

AFORE CloudLink is available for download or a free trial from both the VMware vCloud Hybrid Service Marketplace and the AFORE Solutions website. Earlier this month, Tech Data (TECD) announced it would be expanding its agreement with VMware to provide users with Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) capabilities for vSphere virtual environments and the vCloud Hybrid Service through the company’s mutual channel partner customers. In addition, Virtualization solutions provider Xtravirt revealed new information on the forthcoming launch of its structured packaged services to support the delivery of vCloud Hybrid Service, adding to its previously released vCloud Hybrid Service Jumpstart program.