14 DAY TRIAL // According to Microsoft, virtualization, its cloud operating system and the next version of its server platform represent nothing short of opportunities for IT departments in companies affected by the global financial crisis. On the debut day of TechEd EMEA 2008, Brad Anderson, general manager of the Management and Services Division at Microsoft, presented attendees the Redmond company's solutions to soften the impact of the tough economic times.
“IT professionals in Europe and elsewhere are under pressure to reduce costs and help their businesses be more efficient,” Anderson said. “We are working with our partners here and across the globe to give IT organizations one of the lowest costs of ownership in the industry as well as the ability to deliver new capabilities to their business.”
In this regard, Anderson pointed to Windows Server 2008 R2, developed under the codename Windows 7 Server, as a part of the solution which would enable enterprises to cut back on IT spending. In this regard, the next version of the Windows Server operating system will bring a variety of enhancements, including Branch Cache, designed to cut back bandwidth consumption for communications between the datacenter and branch offices. At the same time, Windows Server 2008 R2 will deliver DirectAccess, a feature set up to support remote worker scenarios, and the evolution of Terminal Services as the Remote Desktop Services.
Microsoft is also working to produce Dublin, which the company advertised as an enhanced collection of application capabilities designed as the evolution of the Windows Server platform. But when it comes down to Windows Server, with version 2008 R2, customers will be able to benefit from boosted virtualization capabilities including live migration of VHD images.
With Windows Azure, Microsoft is delivering its software-plus-services vision over a new Internet based services platform bringing together the cloud, the datacenter and devices such as PCs and mobile phones.
“We live in a hybrid world of software and services,” Anderson stated. “Customers need to choose a path that best aligns with their strengths. Microsoft’s software-plus-services offerings allow businesses to choose, and benefit from both the convenience and security of on-premises software and the efficiency of Web-based services.”