Barney's Blog

Blog archive

On-Premises Azure

Since Microsoft announced its Azure cloud platform, folks have wondered what Microsoft will do about private, on-premises clouds. For more than a year, Redmond had no answer. This week there is one, and it is one I didn't expect. I assumed Microsoft would just sell software to let companies craft their own private clouds, which could be a complicated enterprise.

Instead Microsoft is working with OEMs to build appliances that combine servers, networking and storage to ease the creation of these corporate clouds.

Unfortunately no real details or specs were released.

Do cloud appliances make you more interested in cloud computing? You tell me at [email protected].

Posted by Doug Barney on July 14, 2010


Featured

  • Microsoft Offers Support Extensions for Exchange 2016 and 2019

    Microsoft has introduced a paid Extended Security Update (ESU) program for on-premises Exchange Server 2016 and 2019, offering a crucial safety cushion as both versions near their Oct. 14, 2025 end-of-support date.

  • An image of planes flying around a globe

    2025 Microsoft Conference Calendar: For Partners, IT Pros and Developers

    Here's your guide to all the IT training sessions, partner meet-ups and annual Microsoft conferences you won't want to miss.

  • Notebook

    Microsoft Centers AI, Security and Partner Dogfooding at MCAPS

    Microsoft's second annual MCAPS for Partners event took place Tuesday, delivering a volley of updates and directives for its partners for fiscal 2026.

  • Microsoft Layoffs: AI Is the Obvious Elephant in the Room

    As Microsoft doubles down on an $80 billion bet on AI this fiscal year, its workforce reductions are drawing scrutiny over whether AI's ascent is quietly reshaping its human capital strategy, even as official messaging avoids drawing a direct line.