Cloud Computing


Microsoft Releases Azure Rights Management Service Preview

A preview release of Microsoft's Windows Azure Rights Management Service (RMS), which provides organizational control over shared file access, is now available.

Microsoft Boosts Exchange Online and SkyDrive Pro Storage Space

Microsoft recently bumped up the storage capacities for two of its cloud-based storage services -- SkyDrive Pro and Exchange Online.

Windows Azure Clears Deloitte & Touche Security Compliance Audit

Microsoft recently became the first cloud service provider to pass a Service Organizations Control (SOC) 2 Type II audit conducted by Deloitte & Touche, a new security compliance audit recommended by the Cloud Security Alliance (CSA).

Microsoft Launches Windows Azure Hyper-V Recovery Manager Preview

Microsoft's Windows Azure-based disaster recovery solution for private clouds is now available as a limited public preview.

Microsoft Rolls Out Set of Windows Azure Improvements

Microsoft on Monday unveiled five new improvements to its Windows Azure cloud platform, including SQL Server AlwaysOn support.

Microsoft To Launch New Cloud and Server Licensing Plan in Q4

For organizations heavily focused on its cloud, server and management technologies, Microsoft is planning to roll out a new Enterprise Agreement license option called "Server and Cloud Enrollment" (SCE).

Microsoft To Make Office 365 Uptime Data Public

Microsoft will now publicly disclose the availability statistics for its cloud-based Office 365 service, the company announced on Thursday.

Microsoft Rolls Out Office 365 Subscription 'Switch Wizard'

A new "switch wizard" for Office 365 subscribers makes it easier and faster to switch between plans.

Microsoft Gives SkyDrive Functionality Boost But Kills Brand Name

Microsoft has settled with British Sky Broadcasting Group for undisclosed terms after losing a trademark infringement case concerning the use of the "SkyDrive" product name.

Microsoft, HP, VMware and Rackspace: The War of the Cloud OSes

With the cloud landscape growing more crowded, the upcoming Windows Azure Pack could be what raises Microsoft's Cloud OS above the fray.

Report: Google Chromebooks Have a Place in the Enterprise

A new report by Forrester Research outlines the business case for organizations to use Google Chromebooks, which run Google's Chrome OS cloud-enabled operating system.

Microsoft Releases Windows Azure SQL Database Premium Preview

Microsoft launched the preview version of its Windows Azure SQL Database Premium service on Tuesday, in addition to releasing the July Windows Azure update.

HP Loses $36 Million Contract To Move VA to Office 365

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has canceled a contract it awarded to Hewlett-Packard (HP) last year that would have moved VA employees to Microsoft's Office 365 for Government product.

Microsoft Expands Windows Azure Remote Desktop Use Rights

Service providers will now be able to use Remote Desktop Services (RDS) on Microsoft's Windows Azure cloud as part of their service offerings.

WPC: Microsoft-Backed Study Touts Partner Benefits of Cloud

Cloud computing is growing five times faster than the IT industry, and partners that incorporate cloud into their business models have more success than those that don't, according to a new Microsoft-sponsored report by IDC.

Microsoft Bringing Skype to Improved Windows Azure

Microsoft on Thursday announced its plan to host the Skype VoIP service on its Windows Azure cloud platform, which will be getting auto-scaling and single sign-on enhancements.

Microsoft and Oracle Bury Hatchet, Ink Cloud Alliance

Longtime rivals Microsoft and Oracle on Monday announced a joint partnership in which all of Oracle's key software offerings will be supported on Microsoft's Windows Server, Hyper-V and Windows Azure products.

Microsoft Lets Partners Deploy Dynamics ERP on Windows Azure

Two of Microsoft's enterprise resource planning (ERP) products, Dynamics GP 2013 and Dynamics NAV 2013, can now be purchased as Windows Azure-hosted services through partners.

HP Beefs Up Software and Services Portfolio with Its Own 'Cloud OS'

Hewlett-Packard recently released its new HP Cloud OS, an operating system designed to provide a common environment for public, private and hybrid cloud environments.

Microsoft Releases Windows Azure 'Active Authentication' Preview

First showcased at TechEd, Microsoft's cloud-based multifactor authentication service, code-named "Active Authentication," became available as a preview release last week.