Microsoft cloud computing solutions gain ground in the public sector
Microsoft has been working on its cloud computing products and marketing for a while now. In the crowded cloud of Google Docs, Zoho, Yahoo, Rackspace, Salesforce and Amazon to name a few, Microsoft is banking on its name and proven desktop solutions to bring in cloud computing sales. So far it is working.
The company just signed 16 new new government and educational customers. Portland Public Schools, Oregon; University at Albany — SUNY; Fashion Institute of Technology — SUNY; Vanderbilt University; City of Alexandria, Va.; City of Virginia Beach, Va.; and the Poarch Band of Creek Indians tribal government in southern Alabama have joined the state of California, the state of Minnesota, U.S. Department of Agriculture, California State University campuses at Long Beach, Pomona and San Francisco, the State University of New York (SUNY), New York City Public Schools in partnership with ePals Inc., Kentucky Department of Education, and the University of Georgia as cloud computing customers.
According to the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), cloud computing is defined as follows:
Definition of Cloud Computing:
Cloud computing is a model for enabling convenient, on-demand network access to a shared pool of configurable computing resources (e.g., networks, servers, storage, applications, and services) that can be rapidly provisioned and released with minimal management effort or service provider interaction. This cloud model promotes availability and is composed of five essential characteristics, three service models, and four deployment models
What cloud computing options does Microsoft offer these various public institutions? A number of different services beginning with Microsoft Office 365. The program works with its desktop office suite allowing users to switch from the desktop environment to the cloud as necessary. This allows customers to collaborate and access information from anywhere with the same ease found sitting in their office. The normal programs like Word, Excel, Access, and Outlook are included.
Azure allows developers and IT departments to create applications and scale them up or down. Developers can use common computing languages such as .NET, Java, PHP and Ruby with Azure and the IT department can use the program to manage and securely store company data. Other services include Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Office Communications Online, Dynamics CRM Online, and Town Hall.
Although many of Microsoft’s other cloud computing services have been online for 15 years, its online office suite, Office 365 was added to other online services this past May. Google Docs has been offering online office and collaboration services since 2007. Zoho is another online business solution that has been around since 2007.
Even though both Google Docs and Zoho office suites have been around longer, Microsoft still has the most robust programs and name recognition. Whether you like Microsoft or not, whenever someone mentions office programs the one that jumps to mind the quickest is Microsoft Office. The same goes for office cloud computing options. True some businesses have opted for other cloud computing office suites but those programs still lack the market share that Microsoft is gaining.
Illustration created by Sam Johnston using OminGroup‘s OmniGraffle and Inkscape (includes Computer.svg by Sasa Stefanovic).
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