How IndiQus enables data centres, ISPs & telcos to run an AWS-like domestic public cloud?

There has been a rising trend across many regions where datacenters, telecom and ISP providers are considering setting up a regional public cloud to offer a completely self-served and automated cloud service just like AWS (Amazon Web Services) or Google Cloud. The main drivers for this trend are the push for data localisation combined with the fact that hyperscale cloud providers do not have their data centres in most countries. IndiQus Technologies has worked with ISPs, data centres and telcos in emerging economies as well as mature technology markets to successfully create AWS-like, but highly localised cloud infrastructure to cater to their very specific data regulations. Further, we have also experienced that, among local enterprises, government organisations, banking and finance institutions there is an increasing demand for domestic public cloud mainly because cloud computing helps organisations cut costs on hardware, software, maintenance and personnel and deploy a wide variety of business applications that can be run from anywhere. 

Also Read – The Rise of Cloud Repatriation: Balancing Cost and Performance in the Cloud Landscape

This is why setting up a domestic public cloud is an opportunity to seek for local ISPs, telecoms and data centre service providers as they already have the required base infrastructure that creates a strong foundation for building a cloud setup. They also have an existing set of enterprise customers and clearly understand the requirements of the local market. They already possess the key assets required to provide cloud services. However, building a successful cloud business requires the use of the right technology and the choice of cloud platform plays a decisive role.

Read on to learn more about our solution and how it can power a public cloud for data centres, ISPs and telcos: 

To begin with, there are 3 parts to offering a comprehensive AWS like public cloud service:

• Cloud Design – designing a scalable & robust cloud architecture
• Technology Stack– one that is highly optimised to handle costs and scale challenges
• Cloud platform– customer friendly and easy to manage cloud management platform

Modernised cloud design with hardware agnostic architecture

To kickstart your cloud business, we use a modernised strategy, design roadmap and scale path. Our team of cloud experts and network architects tailor your cloud to enable you to serve the localised requirements of your region. We provide alternative, localized cloud services with open-source virtualized technologies that aren’t tied to expensive enterprise-license agreements. This would enable you to offer cost effective cloud IaaS to a specific segment of subscribers. Cloud designs are tied to the underlying hardware layers. We focus on building hardware agnostic solutions with open-source virtualisation and orchestration layers that work well irrespective of the underlying hardware. The setup can be designed for different kinds of hardware without suffering too many compatibility issues.

Technology stack with 100% open-source components for orchestration, monitoring, reporting and support

Our technology stack is a combination of open-source technologies and highly efficient automated processes. The deployments are done with minimal timelines and cost of ownership are low too. Gone are the days when service providers could deploy proprietary stacks from large vendors and still make money. Adopting an open architecture gives you immense benefits. It keeps costs low. Leveraging open-source software and commodity hardware helps you keep your input costs low and build a competitive business case. Based on our experience, the savings are to the tune of 40-50% viz-a-viz proprietary stacks. While your input costs are significantly lower than the competition, you can continue to charge market rates and maintain high gross margins and ensure long-term competitiveness. Further, this kind of technology stack also helps avoid vendor lock-ins. Proprietary stacks from leading IT vendors appear very promising initially. However, in the long run, they lock you into their ecosystem leading to a lack of innovation and escalating costs.

Apache CloudStack for orchestration

We strongly prefer to deploy Apache CloudStack as part of our cloud setup for designing an in-country public cloud infrastructure. In our experience, Apache CloudStack is exceptionally stable, easy to deploy, manage and upgrade and deliver all the use cases for cloud infrastructure. Apache CloudStack is the best fit for designing a public cloud that offers Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS). Over the past seven years, we have been managing massive production setups that are designed with simplicity and help reduce management overheads. With CloudStack, we are able to develop cloud services that enable self-service of virtual machines and simplify operational tasks to a great extent.

For detailed understanding of why we built our technology stack on Apache CloudStack, read this detailed article: Why We Built Our Technology Stack on Apache Cloudstack?

Zabbix for monitoring

We use Zabbix to effectively monitor numerous parameters such as the health and integrity of servers, virtual machines, applications, databases, websites and more. Notifications are configured to send email-based alerts that help us keep on top of what’s happening on your cloud at all times. As your cloud grows and you either scale up or scale down resources, it’s easy to add or remove monitored devices. Further, Zabbix stores all the data in a database from where historical data can be configured and made available anytime. We help monitor and maintain your private, public or hybrid cloud 24*7 – with the right supporting tools and experts to attend to any issues that are brought to light.

You can also take a look at how we set up Zabbix for monitoring your cloud setup: How We Have Set-up Zabbix for Cloud Monitoring?

Deep integration with existing systems, support and ERP systems

Our cloud setup is designed to be capable of fully integrating with already existing systems like pre-installed order management systems, SAP, BMS, CRM etc. Helpdesk systems are easily integrated too. Many enterprises are still using some of the legacy systems and some have existing software for operations and business purposes such as support, CRM and SAP.

Here’s an overview of the technology stack we prefer, use and support:

	Primary	Supported
Storage	Storpool (c), Ceph	Open-e (c)
Virtualisation	KVM	Xenserver, ESXi (c)
Orchestration	Apache Cloudstack	Openstack
Containerisation	Kubernetes, Rancher	Docker, Openshift
Monitoring	Zabbix, Prometheus	Grafana, ELK
Automation	Ansible	Terraform, Chef, Puppet

Cloud management platform – Apiculus

We’ve built an integrated cloud management platform which is the key to offering a seamless cloud buying experience. It is built on open-source components that reduce upfront costs significantly and includes a multi-dimensional marketplace to address IaaS and XaaS use cases. It also includes a cloud monetisation and customer lifecycle management suite and is completely localised from the language to the service provider’s brand guidelines. This makes Apiculus a unique turnkey solution for service providers in emerging markets that takes care of all the aspects of technology and business for offering regional cloud services.

• Subscription billing for your public cloud. Track usage, purchases, subscriptions and configure billing cycles, usage tracking, generate invoices and lots more.
• To set up a complete subscription-based, multi-dimensional, multi-service, multi-cloud marketplace for IaaS, SaaS, PaaS and other value-added services.
• Automate the complete customer journey from onboarding, provisioning, purchases, service management and support operations. Manage SLAs and execute support workflows.
• Create promotional campaigns, cash coupons or offer time-based trials for accounts and delight subscribers by offering instant discounts
• Managing support operations through apiculus
•  Marketing cloud services with built-in marketing features
• Selling “Anything as a service” or Xaas through apiculus
• Workflow integrations
• White label CMP & marketplace

Further, the Apiculus license includes 24×7 managed services by a single all-inclusive SLA for all L2 and L3 support operations. Is offering regional public cloud services a part of your roadmap? IndiQus Technologies has built and are managing medium to large regional public clouds that are operated by telcos, data centres and ISPs in their respective geographies. Do reach out to us and we can discuss in detail.