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Scale Computing Delivers Highly Available, Efficient, Scalable IT Infrastructure to Educational Institutions

INDIANAPOLIS – MAY 25, 2021 – Scale Computing, a market leader in edge computing, virtualization, and hyperconverged solutions, today announced ongoing momentum with customers in education, as its HC3 platform enables educational institutions of all sizes to optimize operations with self-healing, automated infrastructure for all applications in the classroom, the campus, and beyond.

“Educational institutions require powerful systems that can run workloads with efficiency and speed. HC3 allows you to manage any workload of any size, while leaving more resources available for learning,” said Jeff Ready, CEO and co-founder of Scale Computing. “With the new American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 and Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, education leaders at every level will have federal funding available to invest heavily in new technologies in preparation for greater online learning, summer programming, and the 2021-22 school year. Scale Computing’s HC3 platform combines servers, storage, and virtualization into a single solution to make IT infrastructure easier for schools and universities of every size.”

Educational institutions continue to face tremendous challenges from the past year with the growing demands and pressures of remote learning. Scale Computing’s award-winning HC3 uses self-healing and automation to simplify management, maximize application uptime and performance, and protect data. Scale Computing also celebrates three recent wins in the education sector with new partnerships with Hood College, Virginia Tech, and Community High School District 218.

Auburn University earns its reputation as a premier public institution in part for how it embraces information technology. Like most institutions of higher education, each college within Auburn University functions autonomously from one another with the respective dean deciding how best to appropriate their respective budgets and staff various departments in the interest of its students and programs. Scale Computing’s HC3 platform brings storage, servers, virtualization and management together in a single, comprehensive system. With no virtualization software to license and no external storage to buy, HC3 products lower out-of-pocket costs and radically simplify the infrastructure needed to keep applications running. HC3 products make the deployment and management of a highly available and scalable infrastructure as easy to manage as a single server.

Joel Beckum, IT Coordinator, Auburn University noted, “Scale’s HC3 solution does everything that I need it to. It simplifies my network infrastructure so that I can be an expert. I was a desktop support guy who’s now a system admin. Scale Computing makes me look like a pro. As far as my users know, I’m a genius.”

The New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corporation is a public school district and has operated as a separate governmental unit since 1956, enrolling approximately 12,000 students in pre-kindergarten through high school programs, and employing more than 1200 full-time personnel. When the school district needed to support immediate work from home solutions in response to COVID-19, they turned to Scale Computing. Leveraging virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) technology, Scale Computing packaged two virtual machine images customers can download for free, and put together a how-to video and trained technical support staff to assist them in deploying the remote work technology solution. The VDI Connection Broker, Gateway, and Agent provide easy, intuitive configuration and management for the Scale Computing HC3 environment, whether using remote access, only on-premise access, or a combination of both. No additional devices or services are needed to get organizations up and running quickly.

As Chris Bowers, IT Manager at The New Albany-Floyd County Consolidated School Corporation, said, “When the work from home order was delivered the administrative offices needed connectivity and access, but many of the staff did not have a computer at home. Purchasing laptops was not going to happen in such a short time frame, and we did not want the security risk of opening up VPN connectivity to devices we do not manage.”

Bowers continued, “Luckily, we did have Chromebooks on hand and we issued those to people who needed them, but critical applications were a mix of web-based and internally-hosted applications. Scale Computing had emailed their customers with details for a fast solution, and it met our needs. The message claimed deployment would be in an hour or less, and honestly we didn’t really believe it. But it was true – we timed it and we were able to finish deployment in just under an hour. We had the school staff up and running, working from home, and we haven’t received a single support call since. It all just works.”

Willard Public Schools, an award-winning public school system in Willard, Missouri, has been relying on HC3 since 2011 for its long-term, future-proofed IT infrastructure to power its educational institutions. After its 2011 implementation, Willard Public Schools decided to replace all of its remaining legacy infrastructure with Scale Computing, creating an all-in-one hyperconverged solution with reliability, maximum availability, and ease of use. With HC3 as its IT foundation, Willard Public Schools has a future-proofed, efficient, high-performing IT infrastructure. Simplifying its entire IT infrastructure allows Willard’s IT team to focus on more strategic projects.

Willard Public Schools’ technology director Scott Wooldridge noted, “With nine schools spread out across the district, we needed an IT infrastructure that didn’t require us to devote additional time or resources to manage the technology. With HC3, we found a solution that checked all the boxes and allowed our IT team to focus on more strategic projects. Not only is it self-healing and reliable, but it actually does what it says it will.”

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

About Scale Computing 
Scale Computing is a leader in edge computing, virtualization, and hyperconverged solutions. Scale Computing HC3 software eliminates the need for traditional virtualization software, disaster recovery software, servers, and shared storage, replacing these with a fully integrated, highly available system for running applications. Using patented HyperCore™ technology, the HC3 self-healing platform automatically identifies, mitigates, and corrects infrastructure problems in real-time, enabling applications to achieve maximum uptime. When ease-of-use, high availability, and TCO matter, Scale Computing HC3 is the ideal infrastructure platform. Read what our customers have to say on Gartner Peer Insights, Spiceworks, TechValidate and TrustRadius.

ESET comes to RSA Conference 2021 with research on Android stalkerware and XP exploits

BRATISLAVA – ESET will highlight its latest and as yet unpublished research during the RSA Conference 2021 taking place virtually during May 17-20. ESET researchers Jean-Ian Boutin, Zuzana Hromcová and Lukáš Štefanko will provide a deep dive into Windows XP exploits and Android stalkerware.

Both presentations will take place on the opening day of the conference on May 17. ESET researcher Lukáš Štefanko will address “Security: The Hidden Cost of Android Stalkerware” from 11:20 to 12:00 PDT (20:20 to 21:00 CEST). Stalkerware is used to spy on users by gathering, transmitting, and storing their personally identifiable information. ESET Research has discovered serious vulnerabilities in Android stalkerware apps, and their monitoring servers, that could result in serious user impact if exploited.

“Mobile stalkerware is a popular threat sold legally on various websites,” explains Štefanko. “Based on ESET telemetry, the number of detections of stalkerware in 2020 rose by 48% compared to 2019. I will cover more than 80 different families of Android stalkerware and focus on security issues and privacy flaws in their code.”

Immediately following Štefanko, Head of Threat Research at ESET Jean-Ian Boutin and ESET researcher Zuzana Hromcová will take the virtual stage with “Beyond Living-Off-the-Land: Why XP Exploits Still Matter” from 12:05 to 12:45 PDT (21:00 to 21:40 CEST). Living-Off-the-Land refers to a technique where attackers use legitimate, preinstalled tools to carry out their malicious operations.

“This presentation will introduce evolution of this technique and explain how vulnerable binaries can be leveraged to replace the well-known and well-mapped living-off-the-land binaries”, says Hromcová.

“A vulnerable Windows XP DLL can quickly turn incident response into a nightmare, even on non-XP machines. Learn from ESET’s experience and leverage our guidance to fortify your defenses against this emerging trend,” adds Boutin.

To watch the presentations live, register at the RSA Conference 2021 website. Check the full agenda to find out which pass is the most accommodating to your interest.

However, if you cannot join the event live, ESET will release a white paper during the RSA Conference on Android stalkerware by Lukáš Štefanko. Check out WeLiveSecurity where the piece will be published. Make sure to follow ESET Research on Twitter for the latest news from ESET Research.

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

About ESET
For 30 years, ESET® has been developing industry-leading IT security software and services for businesses and consumers worldwide. With solutions ranging from endpoint security to encryption and two-factor authentication, ESET’s high-performing, easy-to-use products give individuals and businesses the peace of mind to enjoy the full potential of their technology. ESET unobtrusively protects and monitors 24/7, updating defenses in real time to keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. Evolving threats require an evolving IT security company. Backed by R&D facilities worldwide, ESET became the first IT security company to earn 100 Virus Bulletin VB100 awards, identifying every single “in-the-wild” malware without interruption since 2003.

ESET Research at RSA Conference 2021: Android stalkerware on the rise

BRATISLAVA – Mobile stalkerware, which is software silently installed by stalkers onto victims’ mobile devices without their knowledge, is on the rise, ESET Research finds. In 2019, ESET telemetry recorded almost five times more Android stalkerware detections than in 2018, and in 2020, almost 1.5 times more were recorded than in 2019. In addition, ESET Research has discovered serious vulnerabilities in Android stalkerware apps and their monitoring servers that could result in serious user impact if exploited. “Security: The Hidden Cost of Android Stalkerware” will be presented today, May 17, 2021, by ESET researcher Lukáš Štefanko from 11:20 to 12:00 PDT (20:20 to 21:00 CEST).

For stalkerware vendors, to stay under the radar and avoid being flagged as stalkerware, their apps are in many cases promoted as providing protection to children, employees, or women, yet the word “spy” is used many times on their websites. “Searching for these tools online isn’t difficult at all; you don’t have to browse underground websites,” explains Štefanko.

ESET researchers manually analyzed 86 stalkerware apps for the Android platform, provided by 86 different vendors. This analysis identified many serious security and privacy issues that could result in a third party – an attacker – taking control of a victim’s device, taking over a stalker’s account, intercepting a victim’s data, framing a victim by uploading fabricated evidence, or achieving remote code execution on a victim’s smartphone. Across 58 of these Android applications, ESET discovered a total of 158 security and privacy issues that can have a serious impact on a victim; indeed, even the stalker or the app’s vendor may be at some risk.

Among the most prevalent issues were insecure transmission of users’ personally identifiable information; storage of sensitive information on external media; exposure of sensitive user information to unauthorized users; server leak of stalkerware client information; and unauthorized data transmission from device to server.

“Following our 90-day coordinated vulnerability disclosure policy, we repeatedly reported these issues to the affected vendors. Unfortunately, to this day, only six vendors have fixed the issues we reported in their apps,” says Štefanko.

For more technical details about ESET’s analysis of Android stalkerware, read the blogpost “Android stalkerware threatens victims further and exposes snoopers themselves” and the white paper “XYZ” on WeLiveSecurity. Make sure to follow ESET Research on Twitter for the latest news from ESET Research.

Based on our detection telemetry, usage of Android stalkerware is increasing

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

About ESET
For 30 years, ESET® has been developing industry-leading IT security software and services for businesses and consumers worldwide. With solutions ranging from endpoint security to encryption and two-factor authentication, ESET’s high-performing, easy-to-use products give individuals and businesses the peace of mind to enjoy the full potential of their technology. ESET unobtrusively protects and monitors 24/7, updating defenses in real time to keep users safe and businesses running without interruption. Evolving threats require an evolving IT security company. Backed by R&D facilities worldwide, ESET became the first IT security company to earn 100 Virus Bulletin VB100 awards, identifying every single “in-the-wild” malware without interruption since 2003.

SaaS vs onPremise: Pros, Cons and Cost Analysis

SaaS vs onPremise, do you use the cloud?

Do you use the cloud?

Be aware that we’re not saying that you are in cloud nine, but that you may most likely be using the cloud. That is, if you use Google mail, Microsoft Office 365 office suite or you take a photo with your cell phone and then it gets automatically uploaded to iCloud or something similar, you are using the cloud.

The cloud, as an abstract concept, encompasses a series of technical terminology such as SaaS, IaaS, PaaS, etc. The good thing about the concept of the cloud is that you can guess what it does thanks to the metaphor: we do not know where our data are, or how they get there, nor does it matter much for us, because it is far away and it does not affect us. The great success of the cloud of the 21st century has been to find an especially powerful metaphor that omits the complexity behind that technology and gives us peace of mind.

The concept of using third-party infrastructure for “our stuff” is the oldest thing in computing. In fact, back in the 60s of the last century, most computing worked like this. You connected to a large machine from a computer that was not as such, but a screen and a keyboard. Then the microcomputer craze turned around and every computer was self-sufficient. Now, almost a century later, we have rediscovered that it is more efficient to have everything centralized in one big system.

I have nothing against the cloud. Well, my life is not at stake, unless for example, I entrust the IT infrastructure of my business to the cloud. This is what happened to a number of companies in Asia, such as CITEX or BitMax that used the Amazon cloud (AWS) to host their Bitcoin exchange service (Exchangers), well, them and also the Asian sites from Adobe, Business Insider, Expedia, Expensify, FanDuel, FiftyThree, Flipboard, Lonely Planet, Mailchimp, Medium, Quora, Razer, Signal, Slack, Airbnb, Pinterest, SendGrid and a few hundred more. The cloud is not infallible, the cloud is comfortable.

Today many companies have relied so much on the cloud that it is impossible to take a step back, get out of the cloud, because they would literally have to remake the system with another technology. The cloud is easy but implies total dependence on the provider, especially in technologically optimized systems such as Amazon’s. It’s too good a candy to resist.

Realistically, if you’ve already risen to the sky and are floating with the clouds, and the technology that supports your business is floating above your head, it may not be easy or comfortable to go back, in fact, you may have probably already realized that the cloud is not cheap at all and the costs are increasing over time, and are difficult to predict.

Well, it’s already in, and it’s not going to change, so you should at least be able to keep an eye on what your provider is doing. Monitor the quality of service they offer you and make sure for yourself, because who is watching the watchdog? That’s right, do it yourself, trust no one, do it with your own systems, don’t use a cloud system to monitor another cloud system, put your feet on the ground and buy yourself an umbrella, just in case it rains.

The “lifetime” model: onPremise

On the contrary, we have the classic model of “buying the software” and using it however you want, wherever you want and, whenever you want you change programs without much thought. Oddly enough, this is really the new model, the pay-per-use model that SaaS has copied predates conventional software licenses. The onPremise model gives you the right to use the software on your own computers, in your own facilities and where the manufacturer or software owner does not have any access or rights. The only requirement is to pay for it and use it under the conditions approved by the license you acquired.

Cost analysis: onPremise vs SaaS

The onPremise model has some undeniable advantages, the main one being data security. As it is running on your systems, you own both the information and the processes that use that information. This has legal and business implications, since changing providers can be easier than when you use its SaaS equivalent.

Although it may seem a lie, in the long term the SaaS model is more expensive than the onPremise model, and above all, with the onPremise model it is much easier to estimate the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) in the medium term. This can be easily demonstrated if we compare the costs in the subscription/pay-per-use model (SaaS) and the license ownership model (onPremise) for one, three and five years.

  • Suppose a SaaS license annual cost is €5,000/year. In this case it is pure OPEX (operating costs).
  • Let’s picture an onPremise license whose annual cost is €10,000 the first year, and whose annual maintenance cost is 20% (which is the standard in the market). That supposes a renewal cost of €2000/year. In this case, it is pure CAPEX (investment in assets, software).
 SaaS onPremise
1 year5,000 €10,000 €
3 years15,000 €14,000 €
5 years25,000 €18,000 €

There are intangible factors, such as input barriers, higher in onPremise models, and output barriers, higher in SaaS models. It is also true that an onPremise installation involves additional costs: those of infrastructure, operation and training.

In certain types of applications with little added value such as office tools, the SaaS model is here to stay. Office 365 or Google Docs are a perfect example.

In other cases, such as Adobe Photoshop, the onPremise model has been combined with a pay-per-use -subscription- model (but without being SaaS) combined with the conventional onPremise licensing model.

Summary of arguments in favor of each model

SaaSonPremise
Security depends on the provider.Security depends on the customer.
The responsibility for the operation lies with the supplier.The data is owned by the customer.
Savings in infrastructure and operating costs.Lower long-term license costs.
Ease of financing (monthly or quarterly payment).Easier-to-plan long-term costs.
OpexCapex
Lower input barriers.Higher input barriers.
Higher output barriers.Lower output barriers.
Faster deployment times.It is easier to integrate with the rest of the business processes.

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

About PandoraFMS
Pandora FMS is a flexible monitoring system, capable of monitoring devices, infrastructures, applications, services and business processes.
Of course, one of the things that Pandora FMS can control is the hard disks of your computers.

SafeDNS received the Global InfoSec Award during the 2021 RSA Conference

The 9th Annual Global InfoSec Awards saw SafeDNS virtually rewarded by the Cyber Defense Magazine and the Cyber Defense Awards during the RSA Conference USA 2021 for the cybersecurity industry. SafeDNS has been recognized as the internet filtering market leader.

This newest award comes in addition to other recognitions SafeDNS received over the past 10 years in the cybersecurity sphere for its internet filtering solutions.

Earlier this year, SafeDNS released a new interface for its web filtering dashboard, thus coupling clean design, better user-friendliness, and sophistication to provide a unique experience to its customers.

The whole SafeDNS team thank its customers and partners for their support and permanent feedback that has continuously allowed its team to come up with improved, simpler, cost-effective, and robust web filtering solutions.

About Version 2 Digital

Version 2 Digital is one of the most dynamic IT companies in Asia. The company distributes a wide range of IT products across various areas including cyber security, cloud, data protection, end points, infrastructures, system monitoring, storage, networking, business productivity and communication products.

Through an extensive network of channels, point of sales, resellers, and partnership companies, Version 2 offers quality products and services which are highly acclaimed in the market. Its customers cover a wide spectrum which include Global 1000 enterprises, regional listed companies, different vertical industries, public utilities, Government, a vast number of successful SMEs, and consumers in various Asian cities.

About SafeDNS
SafeDNS breathes to make the internet safer for people all over the world with solutions ranging from AI & ML-powered web filtering, cybersecurity to threat intelligence. Moreover, we strive to create the next generation of safer and more affordable web filtering products. Endlessly working to improve our users’ online protection, SafeDNS has also launched an innovative system powered by continuous machine learning and user behavior analytics to detect botnets and malicious websites.

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