By Staff Writer – Boonsri Dickinson (@boonspoon)

Cloud computing. Get familiar with those words. You probably already use a cloud computing service. If you use Gmail, you know what it is. And programs like Salesforce.com operate on a cloud.

In general,  cloud computing is any program or service that is run on an Internet connection. The servers and software are taken care of externally, so small business owners don’t have to worry about storage issues in their headquarters.

There are choices. Some businesses pay a company like Verizon — so they are basically buying power from a utility. Or companies can purchase computing power on a cloud service to cut down on some costs. The Wall Street Journal reports:

Two years ago, HotSchedules Inc., of Austin, Texas, a privately held provider of online work-force-management software for restaurants, moved to sales-force software provided over the Internet by NetSuite Inc. President Ray Pawlikowski estimated that it would reduce costs by roughly 20% over the next five years after factoring in software, hardware, personnel and training expenses. The result was steady costs despite the company tripling its business, according to Mr. Pawlikowski. “For a small business where every penny counts, you have to look at this seriously,” he says.

But cloud computing isn’t for everyone. Some companies prefer to keep their information behind their own internal firewall.

Still, storage systems are the most expensive IT problem and when starting a business, one must consider all their options.

Cloud computing is becoming the preferred choice. However, the technology used for storage is like a dinosaur. Kevin Brown, the CEO of Coraid wants his start-up to change that. Brown wants to do for storage, what Dell did for servers.

Still confused? Watch the black and white video below:

Coraid is even storing our DNA. Our appetite for data will only grow.

Should You Use Cloud Computing For Your Start-up? is a post from: TechStartups.com

With threats that beyond borders like the attack that occurred at Google last month and many other corporations it is no surprise that Google would seek outside help to secure its networks

The byproduct of that byproduct of that being trust from users.

So who did Google turn to? Leading defense contractors or a multi-national security firm? Nope. The NSA.

I had no idea that the NSA was in the consulting business or that private sector companies could engage with federal security entities.

Ellen Nakashima of the Washinton Post reported earlier today:

The pact would be aimed at allowing the NSA help Google understand whether it is putting in place the right defenses by evaluating vulnerabilities in hardware and software and to calibrate how sophisticated the adversary is. The agency’s expertise is based in part on its analysis of cyber-”signatures” that have been documented in previous attacks and can be used to block future intrusions.

The NSA would also be able to help the firm understand what methods are being used to penetrate its system, the sources said. Google, for its part, may share information on the types of malicious code seen in the attacks — without disclosing proprietary data about what was taken, which would concern shareholders, sources said.

I’m sure relationships like this are commonplace  or will become so with the rise of always on societies that are creating mountains of data. Someplace in all of it there are gatekeepers, like Google that need to protect their users to stay in business.

What I do find funny though is that I didn’t think there was anyone else that had more information than Google. I guess there is.

Google Deals with the NSA is a post from: TechStartups.com

I was a happy user of Microsoft’s Windows Live OneCare service for many years. I was an early beta tester of the product before it was released to the public. I’d regularly read reviews of people who weren’t happy with the product and would compare it to McAfee and Norton products.

Microsoft OneCare always worked for me without problems. I’d install it on other client’s machines and most of my family member’s desktops and laptops system. It always just worked, no headaches and no real hang-ups.

I can’t say the same for my experiences with McAfee and Norton. Both of those system applications seemed to always bog down my system and make it annoying to work within the configuration tools for each product.

Microsoft took OneCare off the market, leading to their new introduction of the Microsoft Security Essentials system. The Security Essentials is a completely free product from Microsoft that can be installed on Windows XP, Windows Vista and the new Windows 7 operating systems.

I’m installing the software now and it’s running its first scan. I’ll update with my experiences if there’s anything out of the ordinary that takes place. I’m planning on more of the same of what my use and enjoyment was with Windows Live OneCare.

Microsoft Releases New Security Essentials Software is a post from: TechStartups.com

Social networking is getting extremely popular. It’s already at the top of the list of the things people do most online, it’s already spreading like wildfire through just about every single age group, and now, it seems, it’s getting even more popular with people who want to do a lot of damage to your computer.

That’s right, Facebook is getting dark and dirty, and MySpace might be changing their name from “A Place for Friends” to “A Place for Viruses.” Yep, hackers have found a way to manipulate people and their connections to Other people and spread viruses the old fashion way: through friendly contact. Yikes. The question is, should we be surprised by this? Should the influx of dangerous attacks taking place inside Facebook’s walls be shocking? No.

According to a recent article in the Washington Post, Facebook is inherently vulnerable, here’s why:

“That’s because the most basic feature of these sites can be useful for anonymous enemies as well as known friends. Social networking sites provide their core value — no, not accelerating the distribution of gossip — by delivering a component missing from the Internet’s own architecture: trust.”

Using the trust of friendship to break down the doors. No more spam email messages from people we’ve never heard of, no more IM’s from people whose names we do not know. Now, it’s our Friends sending us the viruses, only they don’t know they’re doing it.

So, bottom line is, until Facebook steps in and cleans things up to prevent this from ever happening in the future: Keep your friends close and your enemies, well, closer?

Social Networking: Easy Access to Viruses? is a post from: TechStartups.com