17 Dec 2008

'Good start' in the cloud for Microsoft

Microsoft Azure has made a "good start" in its efforts to see the operating system act as a preferred location for enterprise data, an expert has said.

InfoWorld's Martin Heller said he was "overwhelmed" by the amount of independent functionality that is available through Azure.

The system was first unveiled at the Professional Developers Conference in October and includes hosting and management tools, as well Microsoft SQL and .Net services.

Mr Heller noted that Azure is intended to be a serious cloud computing platform for a range of developers, form start-ups to large enterprises.

He added that Microsoft has generated new capabilities by adapting technologies such as virtual servers, the .Net framework and workflows in the cloud.

"There's more to come … It goes beyond simple web hosting to a flexible architecture designed to automatically enlist additional resources in response to demand," Mr Heller commented.

Data centres opened by Microsoft as part of its expansion into the cloud during 2008 include facilities in Quincy, Wash and San Antonio.