11 Nov 2008

Microsoft Azure 'will take care of everything'

Businesses can make significant savings by pushing their applications and information into the cloud using Microsoft Windows Azure, an expert has said.

According to Dan Scarfe, chief executive officer of software development firm Dot Net Solutions, the operating system takes away the need for companies to maintain all their own equipment on premises or in their own data centres.

He noted that the main advantage for business in turning to the cloud is the reduction in hosting and infrastructure costs.

Medium to large-sized businesses with in-house applications could upload them onto the cloud and generate cost savings, Mr Scarfe suggested.

"There are obviously a lot of investment costs in their hardware and maintenance. Whereas if you push all of that information up into the cloud, it is Microsoft’s gear and everything is taken care of for you," he said.

Microsoft first unveiled details of its new Azure cloud-based platform at a professional developers conference in Los Angeles last month.