Microsoft and the Private Cloud
Not long ago, cloud computing was seen as an exciting new technological development. Now, the cloud is moving firmly into the mainstream, becoming a basic, necessary business tool. Firms that opt to avoid deploying cloud systems might end up surpassed by their more advanced competitors.
Among those businesses that have not yet embraced a private cloud configuration, one of the leading reasons for hesitancy might be the sense that achieving an effective private cloud deployment is difficult, especially if the organization's owner, manager, or executives do not feel confident in their knowledge of the technology.
These organizations, however, have several options at their disposal to make the deployment and maintenance of a private cloud configuration quick, easy, affordable, and effective.
Take Microsoft's private cloud solution. Microsoft offers a wide range of resources to help organizations determine the right configuration for their operations and then achieve that arrangement.
Assessment and Planning
As with any business or technological endeavor, assessment and planning is crucial for effectively deploying the private cloud. A well-conceived, detailed plan can ensure that a business's private cloud is as efficient and effective as possible.
To this end, Microsoft offers resources to help organizations plan out their private cloud deployments. For starters, the Microsoft website offers a bevy of information concerning Microsoft private cloud options, as well as tools that can be used to calculate potential costs, installation times, and other factors.
The Microsoft Private Cloud Evaluation Guide, available for free via the Microsoft website, provides step-by-step details for users to go through their systems and install and deploy a private cloud infrastructure. At more than 350 pages, this guide accounts for virtually any element of the private cloud that a firm might be interested in implementing.
Microsoft also has numerous teams and partners available to help organizations develop the specific details of their private cloud deployment plans. For example, Microsoft recently worked with Staffordshire County Council to create a private cloud solution to help it provide public services to 830,000 individuals and 30,000 businesses in the UK.
According to a Microsoft case study, Microsoft Gold Partner Risual worked with Staffordshire's internal IT department to develop a proof-of-concept and production deployment for the private cloud. The teams were able to customize the deployment to best meet the needs of the council, and demonstrated the potential benefits and value of such a configuration prior to a formal agreement.
Deployment, integration, and management
In addition to helping plan out a private cloud deployment, Microsoft teams and partners work with clients to ensure that the strategies developed are implemented correctly.
But those using Microsoft's private cloud solution are not by any means dependent on Microsoft to install, implement, or maintain their cloud environments. The company makes a wide variety of materials available, allowing businesses' IT departments to learn everything they need to know about the technical aspects of the private cloud and related features and products, such as Fast Track, Window Server 2012, and Microsoft System Center 2012.
Microsoft's Technical Resources center features detailed instructions and explanations for all these solutions and products. Included in the Technical Resources center are the Microsoft TechCenter, Library, Solution Accelerators, TechNet Edge, and Windows Server Forums where users can ask questions and start and contribute to discussions relating to the functioning of Microsoft private clouds and related products and services.