CLOUD SERVICE FIRM EXPANDS TO CEBU CITY
Moving your data to the cloud will make it safer and easier to access, says COO Craig Adams of CT4, which wants to work with local companies of all sizes, in addition to their clients abroad
An international cloud-service provider has marked its first Philippine expansion in Cebu.
CT4, a provider of private and managed public cloud services, launched its 102-square-meter office in the Avenir Building along Archbishop Reyes Ave. in Cebu City last Thursday with 20 staff on board. By the end of the year, it intends to have at least 100 workers specializing in cloud technology.
Craig Adams, CT4 chief operations officer, said that aside from servicing international clients in the United States, Europe, and some parts of Asia, CT4 Philippines can serve local companies as well, from small and medium enterprises to large corporations.
“We want to tap also companies here so they could benefit from cloud technology,” Adams said. The official, who also serves as CT4 Philippines executive director, said Cebu was the next place for CT4, being an emerging and fast-growing economy complemented by a readily available talent pool.
The need for using the cloud system in business, said Adams, cannot be underscored enough. Moving data to the cloud makes it more secure and convenient for anyone who has access to it, he said. Generally, cloud storage refers to the online space where one can store data. Since these data are stored in multiple locations, these are more accessible.
“Cloud environments use virtualization technology to consolidate resources that would otherwise be residing on individual physical machines. In straightforward terms, it al- lows us to segregate a physical device into several virtual machines, meaning that you can control the level of redundancy in the system,” said Addams.
Investing in the cloud system, he added, is also less capital-intensive. While traditional IT systems require in-house data centers that are generally expensive and can run up high maintenance costs, cloud services are a practical solution.
Adams said CT4 Philippines, which is a wholly owned branch office of CT4 Singapore, is serving two Philippine-based companies, and it intends to encourage more to join. Other CT4 solutions include virtual office, desktop as a service (DAAS), managed disaster recovery, and consulting.
CT4 Philippines and the Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE), said Adams, had previous discussions to make the stock exchange’s IT more efficient.
Ness Bacalso, CT4 country manager, confirmed in a text that there is a plan to open a CT4 office in Metro Manila.
Meanwhile, Adams said he had discussed with Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña the plan to put up a BPO City in the South Road Properties and that he is “open to collaboration” with the City Government and potential BPO locators, especially in providing technical advice on Cebu’s IT infrastructure.