Microsoft Introduces New Solution for Windows-Based Hosting

REDMOND, Wash., Oct. 29, 2002 — Microsoft Corp. today announced a new solution for Windows® based hosting that offers service providers a comprehensive set of tested software tools and scripts with supported architecture guidelines. Because hosting services and applications present significant benefits to businesses, Microsoft has packaged seven thoroughly tested and supported components for service providers to deliver reliable hosting services with reduced operating costs, increased customer satisfaction and increased profit margins. Building their business on the best operational platform possible with the solution for Windows-based hosting, service providers can increase their profitability and customer satisfaction.

Utilizing Microsoft’s solution, leading service providers in early adoption have already experienced a 50 percent reduction in support call volume and a 30 percent improvement in response time to customer issues.

Terra Networks Brasil (a subsidiary of Terra Lycos — member of the Telefonica Group), the leading hosting service provider in Brazil, improved its quality and reliability of service and its customer satisfaction, while lowering internal costs with the solution for Windows-based hosting.
“Our administrators can handle twice as many sites, and the solution’s reference architecture guide reduced deployment time by a factor of 3,”
said Paulo Castro, sales director at Terra Networks Brasil.
“Microsoft’s solution for Windows-based hosting helped us achieve unmatched operational efficiencies while actually improving our customer service.”

“Windows-based Web hosting enables service providers to implement and execute cost-efficient business models,”
said Melanie Posey, Web hosting program manager at IDC.
“Service providers investing in a strong infrastructure such as the Microsoft® solution for Windows-based hosting will drive their success with rock-solid operations, operating cost efficiencies and a foundation for future revenue-generating services.”

Providing the tools, technologies and support that enable service providers to deliver exceptional hosted services to customers and run their business more profitably on the Windows platform, the solution for Windows-based hosting offers seven component options:

  • Centralized management and delegated administration. Active Directory®
    directory service can enable service providers to manage two to three times as many servers per administrator and cut support costs in half with centralized management and delegated administration.

  • Server purposing. Providing utilities and scripts to automate the process of creating an operational server, the Automated Purposing Framework (APF) fully configures servers in 30 to 60 minutes, which reduces cost of ownership.

  • Service provisioning. Reducing operational costs and time to market, the Microsoft Provisioning System (MPS) component automates time-intensive provisioning activities.

  • Proactive monitoring and reporting. Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM) delivers increased uptime and reduced support costs through comprehensive event management, proactive monitoring and alerting, as well as reporting and trend analysis, which has a positive influence on service providers’ churn.

  • Security and patch management. Empowering service providers to detect, download and deploy fixes before they are even needed, security and patch management helps eliminate service interruptions.

  • Platform design and operation. The solution for Windows-based hosting features customer-tested best-practice guidelines for optimizing network design configuration and daily administrative tasks.

  • Windows Media hosting. Using Windows Media®
    Technologies reference material, service providers can easily deploy the Windows Media service.

Rackspace Managed Hosting, one of the largest Web hosting providers with more than 6,000 servers, leverages the solution for Windows-based hosting in its Intensive Hosting offering. The cost efficiencies created by utilizing Microsoft Operations Manager and Active Directory have enabled Rackspace to build a profitable business model for hosting enterprise customers.

“Running a high-service managed hosting business profitably has always been our priority. Given the troubles of enterprise hosters, we have historically focused on the SME market. However, with the introduction of the Microsoft Windows-based hosting solution, we were able to deploy a best-in-breed enterprise offering, Intensive Hosting, while keeping our profitability requirement,”
said John Engates, chief technology officer at Intensive Hosting.
“The Microsoft tools offer a tremendous price-to-performance equation that is the foundation of our Intensive offering. Microsoft Operations Manager 2000 enables us to view incoming problems and handle any standard or unexpected customer requests much more effectively. As a result, we saved approximately $975,000 in licensing, consulting and integration costs by utilizing the Microsoft solution and cut our service costs by 20 percent.”

With access to several core component options, service providers using Windows-based hosting can configure a solution to best meet their individual needs and current technology investments. To help ensure successful and tailored implementation, service providers also have three implementation alternatives: self-deployment, support and services from Microsoft Consulting Services, or access to trained systems integrators.

“This comprehensive set of tested documents, tools and scripts is proven to increase customer satisfaction, accelerate cost reduction and enable new-revenue generation for service providers,”
said Pascal Martin, general manager of platform and application hosting at Microsoft.
“After talking with service providers worldwide, we designed this solution to address the key business issues facing the industry and help provide the most reliable and dependable service for enterprises looking to host Web sites and applications.”

Today, at 10:30 a.m. PST, customers, partners, members of the press and analysts will have the opportunity to experience the new solution for Windows-based hosting for the first time via webcast. Those interested can enroll for today’s webcast by visiting http://ems.interwise.com/msfm/live/enroll.asp?id=1266 . More information on the solution for Windows-based hosting can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/hosting/ .

Founded in 1975, Microsoft (Nasdaq
“MSFT”
) is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software — any time, any place and on any device.

Microsoft, Windows, Active Directory and Windows Media are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

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