Alibaba Cloud launches cloud computer in Singapore

Alibaba Cloud has launched its cloud computer in Singapore today, including the pocket-sized Wuying Cloud Computer and Elastic Desktop Service (EDS).

The company said its cloud computer brings businesses desktop as a service (DaaS) for faster IT deployment, increased device flexibility and enhanced security. It also offers reduced downtime for technical support since the setup, maintenance, connectivity, and storage issues are all managed by Alibaba Cloud.

It added that the cloud computer is especially useful to support companies that have a remote workforce in need of access to heavy computer powered productivity applications, like computer-aided design software.

Businesses across a variety of sectors, like medical and AI research, video production and rendering, or engineering and finance modelling, can use the computer’s secure, elastic, scalable, and highly available nature of the public cloud.

Alibaba Cloud added that the cloud computer can support geographically dispersed employees securely, using the pandemic as an example. It said the computer can allow them to access corporate networks from any device while minimising the risk of sensitive intelligence breaches as everything is stored and managed on the cloud via a secured network.

The device connected to the cloud computer can be disconnected remotely from the server immediately if lost or stolen, reducing risks associated with local storage, highlighted the company. It also pointed out that field employees don’t need to complete tasks that require heavy computer power with physical travel to the office, saving them time and reducing their risks of contracting COVID-19.

"Our cloud computer offers enterprises an innovative way to address business issues that arise during digitalization, including those associated with increased IT expenditure, the need to manage desktop clusters in a centralised way, and the means to leverage public cloud securely while enjoying all the economies of scale it can bring," said Derek Wang, general manager for Singapore of Alibaba Cloud Intelligence.

"We have seen customers using our cloud computer and reducing their IT hardware spending by almost 50%, resulting in a significant boost to their productivity levels. This is why we want to bring [our] cloud computer to Singapore as our first overseas stop, and to create a strong digital workspace locally in order to help the nation stay competitive."

The introduction of the Alibaba Cloud in the region comes after Microsoft was chosen to build Singapore’s first sovereign cloud last month. The state’s Home Team Science and Technology agency chose the tech giant to accelerate its digital transformation, and said the cloud would play a key role in helping domestic services, like the police, to deliver improved safety and security to all citizens.