Roundup: Citrix, Juniper, Interxion, NetApp

Here’s a roundup of this week’s headlines from the data center and hosting industry:

Citrix previews Receiver app. Citrix Systems (CTXS) joined Google on stage at its Google Chrome event to preview the new Citrix Receiver for Chrome Notebooks.  Receiver will be a free app on the Chrome Web Store that allows Google customers to run their existing Windows business applications directly on the new web-based Chrome notebooks  with a native user experience, fast performance, and full enterprise security.  “The new Chrome notebook breaks new ground in simplifying end user computing devices. Citrix is pleased to be working with Google on this exciting new technology and promise it holds for our joint customers.  Together, we can ensure that these new devices are enterprise-ready, allowing our customers to securely run their existing corporate applications on their Chrome notebooks. Extending Citrix Receiver support for Chrome notebooks will provide virtual computing solutions that simplify computing for IT, and enable productive, virtual workstyles for users," said Gordon Payne, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Citrix.

Juniper acquires Altor Networks.  Juniper Networks (JNPR) announced they have acquired Altor Networks, a leading provider of virtualization security technology that enables organizations to secure the virtualized world.  Altor has developed some key technologies in the industry, including a high-performance hypervisor-based firewall, on-board intrusion detection, and complete visibility and monitoring and comprehensive reporting for compliance. "Altor has led the virtualization security market in innovation, defense-in-depth and performance," said Amir Ben-Efraim, CEO and co-founder of Altor Networks. "Today, we join forces with Juniper, which shares a common vision for securing data centers and the cloud, and together we look forward to extending our leadership in the VM security market."  Juniper also announced Tuesday that Skyvision and Global CITC Telecom have selected Juniper equipment to support global expansion.

Interxion selected by CFN. Interxion announced an agreement with CFN Services managed telecom platform company, who owns and operates the CFN Low Latency Global Financial Exchange Platform, to expand its platform at Interxion’s City of London Financial Hub. Customers colocating at Interxion’s facilities will now be able to connect to a wide range of Global markets from a single location through CFN’s shared infrastructure. “The Interxion Financial Hub not only offers the high level of service we require, but also the opportunity to provide our services to the investment and trading firms located within the data centre. We are looking forward to offering our range of powerful solutions to market participants at Interxion and helping to deliver the optimal low-latency environment for electronic trading," said Sebastian Yoon, VP of Product Management at CFN.

NetApp used for cloud data backup. Asigra, a cloud backup and recovery software provider and Artisan Infrastructure, a wholesale-only Infrastructure as a Service provider, have teamed up to allow managed service providers (MSPs) and value added resellers (VARs) anywhere to offer their own cloud back-up services based on efficient and flexible NetApp storage to compete more effectively with larger hosting firms.  Instead of architecture planning, equipment vendor selection, cost modeling and engineering, MSPs and VARs can now setup a cloud backup service infrastructure with a click of the mouse and entering a software license key.  “Several of the world's leading service providers rely on NetApp to provide the unified storage infrastructure at the core of their service offerings,” said Patrick Rogers, vice president of Alliances and Solutions for NetApp Inc. “Our collaboration with innovative companies such as Artisan Infrastructure and Asigra underscores NetApp’s success as a storage provider of choice for cloud deployments for enterprise customers and service provider partners.”