Cloud Computing


2012: The Year of Cloud Acceleration

All this cloud hype will finally come to a head next year. Here's what your business needs to do to get ready.

The Microsoft Partner Network's 1st Year: What Changed, What Worked and Where Does the Cloud Fit?

What's happened since Microsoft completely switched over to the Microsoft Partner Network with its dramatically different competency, specialization and incentive structures? A lot.

Parallels Adds 3 Execs, Including Microsoft Technical Fellow

Parallels announced Thursday the addition of three senior executives, including a Microsoft technical fellow, to support the cloud services enablement and desktop virtualization company's global growth goals.

Microsoft Mulling Cloud Sales for Gold Competencies?

A recent interview with Jon Roskill, Microsoft's channel chief, hints at a possible cloud requirement for the Microsoft Partner Network's highest tier.

The 3 Stages of Cloud Sales Mastery

A quick progression from the moment you meet a prospect to the moment you close the opportunity is critical to a partner's cloud business. The "Velocity Sales Process" shows you how to get from Point A to Point B.

Microsoft Issues First Major Office 365 Update, Revamps SkyDrive

Microsoft on Tuesday announced major updates to two of its cloud-based services, Office 365 and SkyDrive.

Microsoft Opens Lync for Mac 2011 to Office 365 Users

Subscribers of Microsoft's Office 365 cloud service can now download the Lync for Mac 2011 unified communications solution, which Microsoft broadly released on Wednesday.

Windows Azure Gets Bundled Into Fujitsu's Hybrid Cloud

Enterprises with apps running on-premises will be able to tie them to apps running on Microsoft's Windows Azure service through a hybrid cloud offering launched by Fujitsu this week.

Microsoft Partners Need a Strategic Plan for Moving to the Cloud

A report released in September based on a survey by CompTIA pointed out that transitioning to the cloud is not proving to be a cakewalk for all channel partners.

Former Windows Azure GM Named CIO of Washington State

Bharat Shyam, an 18-year Microsoft veteran, has been named the new chief information officer (CIO) for the state of Washington.

Salesforce.com and the Enterprise Social Revolution

The company that defined cloud-based Software as a Service is now looking to change the way workers collaborate, communicate and service their customers.

Microsoft Rolls Out System Center Operations Manager 2012 RC

Microsoft issued a release candidate (RC) version of its System Center Operations Manager 2012 solution last Thursday; it's available for download here.

Microsoft Talks Cloud (Not 'Software Plus Services') at Investor Event

Charles Di Bona, general manager of Microsoft's Server and Tools Division, offered some perspective on Microsoft's cloud vision on Monday at the CLSA Asia USA Forum for investors in San Francisco.

Best Buy To Acquire Cloud Provider mindSHIFT

Nearly a decade after it acquired Geek Squad, consumer tech retailer Best Buy has agreed to buy IT outsourcer and cloud provider mindSHIFT Technologies for $167 million.

Report: Google Enters Cloud Deal with General Motors

According to a report published Friday by The Wall Street Journal, Google has entered an agreement with General Motors Corp. to provide its cloud-based Google Apps suite to more than 100,000 of the automaker's employees.

Microsoft Considers Making Cloud Sales Required for Gold Competencies

It's no secret that Microsoft is encouraging partners to offer its cloud computing services, but the company may ultimately step that up to a requirement.

BlackBerry Service for Microsoft Office 365 Betas

Smartphone manufacturer Research In Motion on Tuesday announced an open beta trial for a new BlackBerry service that works with Microsoft Office 365.

Oracle Acquiring Cloud Vendor RightNow for $1.5 Billion

Less than a week after entering an agreement to buy enterprise search vendor Endeca, Oracle announced on Monday that it also plans to acquire RightNow Technologies Inc. for $1.5 billion.

SMB Nation: Where Did All the Cloud Supporters Go?

Enthusiasm for cloud computing was (surprisingly) weak among attendees of this year's SMB Nation Fall conference.

Two Years in, Google's L.A. Cloud Contract Hits Security Snag

Two years after winning a contract to provide cloud-based applications to the city of Los Angeles, Google is still fielding concerns over the security of its offerings.