Insightful Perspective on Cloud-Based Solutions for Radio Broadcasting
Magnum Media Shifts Towards Cloud-Based Operations
In the rapidly evolving world of media, Magnum Media, a Wisconsin-based company operating 22 stations airing 31 signals, is embracing the cloud to modernize its operations.
Chris "Doc" Tarr, the group director of engineering, emphasizes the strategic importance of cloud migration for radio stations. He advises a careful, planned approach, with clear objectives, prioritized system migrations, and continuous operations throughout the transition.
Security and cyber risk management are paramount in this shift. Tarr encourages network segmentation, tenant isolation, and protection of interfaces to mitigate vulnerabilities and meet regulatory compliance. He also stresses the importance of understanding the attack surface expansion that comes with moving to cloud environments, especially when legacy interfaces and protocols are exposed publicly.
When it comes to choosing a cloud model, Tarr suggests starting with a single, well-supported provider offering media-specific services. However, he also acknowledges the potential benefits of more complex multi-cloud strategies, which require wider scalability and flexibility.
The financial advantages of cloud-based SaaS are undeniable, with reduced costs of maintaining on-premises systems and associated cybersecurity risks. Centralized traffic management and improved flexibility for remote work are critical in today's media landscape.
Employee training and change management are crucial for the success of cloud migration. Tarr underscores the need for staff to be trained and comfortable using new cloud tools and workflows, as employee involvement is a key factor in realizing innovation and efficiency benefits from cloud adoption.
Magnum Media has already integrated several cloud-based services into its operations. Google is used for email, document sharing, meetings, and weekly sales meetings, while Google Meet is the platform for sales meetings. Magnum Media has also moved to Marketron for traffic, a cloud-based service.
In terms of infrastructure, Magnum Media is considering using local and cloud-based virtual machines for hosting its metadata systems. The company is also utilising Amazon's Cloud Services for backups of its automation systems.
Redundancy is a cornerstone of Magnum Media's operations, with two diverse network providers, high-availability routing, and backup playout systems at transmitter sites. The company has also implemented fiber delivery for its STLs.
However, Tarr warns against being overly critical of the cloud due to lack of understanding or creation. He encourages engineers to keep an open mind about the cloud, acknowledging that it can help make systems more reliable.
In conclusion, Magnum Media's strategic shift towards cloud-based operations is a testament to the potential benefits of this transition. By considering key factors such as careful planning, security, cost efficiency, employee training, and redundancy, Magnum Media is ensuring a secure, economically viable, and operationally effective migration to the cloud.
- The strategic shift towards cloud-based operations by Magnum Media is a notable example of the radio industry embracing technology, specifically data-and-cloud-computing, to modernize its infrastructure.
- To ensure the successful and secure migration of its operations, Magnum Media is employing a planned approach, focusing on cyber risk management, network segmentation, and employee training.
- Magnum Media is leveraging various cloud-based services for tasks such as email, document sharing, meetings, and traffic management, with providers like Google and Marketron being part of this switch.
- In addition to traditional broadcasting, Magnum Media is now transmitting audio data over the internet, emphasizing the importance of technology in the evolution of the media landscape.
