Microsoft Advances Cloud for the Enterprise

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by STB Blogger

Today, Microsoft announced enterprise products and services to help companies overcome today’s top IT challenges and seize the opportunities of cloud computing. More information can be found in today’s press release.

 In addition, Satya Nadella, head of Microsoft’s Cloud and Enterprise division, talks more about what it takes to be the leading cloud provider in a blog post.

News Highlights:

Complementing Office 365 and other cloud services, the new offerings discussed today deliver on Microsoft’s enterprise cloud strategy that connects IT and data infrastructure, application platform and development, device management and business solutions. Specifics include:

  • Upcoming Releases:   
  • On October 18, Microsoft will release:
    • Windows Server 2012 R2 and System Center 2012 R2, empowering companies to create datacenters without boundaries using Hyper-V for high-scale virtualization; high-performance storage at dramatically lower costs; built-in, software-defined networking; and hybrid business continuity.
    • The new release of Windows Intune, which combines with combines with System Center Configuration Manager to help IT departments give mobile employees security-enhanced access to the applications and data they need on the Windows, iOS and Android devices of their choice. data they need on the device of their choice, including Windows, iOS and Android.
    • Visual Studio 2013 and the new .NET 4.5.1, to create modern applications for devices and services.

In addition:

  • With Windows Server 2012 R2, Microsoft is introducing the Microsoft Remote Desktop app, available for download in applications stores later this month, to provide easy access to PCs and virtual desktops on variety of devices and platforms, including Windows, Windows RT, iOS, OS X and Android.
  • Next week Microsoft will release a second technology preview (CTP2) of SQL Server 2014, offering industry-leading in-memory technologies at no additional cost, giving customers 10 times to 30 times performance improvements without application rewrites or new hardware.
  • Later this month Microsoft will release HDInsight Service, an Apache Hadoop-based service that works with SQL Server and widely used business intelligence tools, such as Microsoft Excel and Power BI for Office 365.
  • Updates to Windows Azure:
    • A new strategic partnership with Equinix, providing customers with even more options for private and fast connections to the cloud.
    • On November 1 Microsoft will offer all Enterprise Agreement (EA) customers access to discounted Windows Azure prices, regardless of upfront commitment, without overuse penalties and with the flexibility of annual payments.
    • Introducing a newWindows Azure US Government Cloud, which will provide US government customers a dedicated community cloud for data, applications and infrastructure, hosted in the continental U.S. and managed by U.S. personnel.
  • Updates for Microsoft Dynamics:
    • Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online Fall ’13 will be available later this month, helping make customer interactions more personal via contextual information for deeper insights than the previous version, delivered on a variety of devices.
    • Available today, Microsoft Dynamics NAV 2013 R2, offering small and midsize businesses interoperability with Office 365, full multitenant support, and a range of tools designed to support large-scale hosting of the application on Windows Azure.

For more information on today’s cloud and enterprise news, please visit the cloud computing virtual press room and join the conversation on Twitter at #MSFTCloud.