Author: Microsoft Stories

Microsoft is making its Cloud App Security service generally available to help businesses gain greater protection, deeper visibility, and stronger control over their cloud applications. Industry trends indicate most modern companies use cloud-based apps. There are two main components to Cloud App Security: cloud usage discovery and app control. The service identifies all cloud apps across the network, and across all devices, through a feature called App Discovery. It also provides ongoing risk assessment, risk-scoring, and analytics.

At its annual developer’s conference Build, software giant Microsoft announced that it is shipping its HoloLens computer glasses to developers. The consumer version is still far and Microsoft remains tight-lipped about its possible launch. Microsoft HoloLens is a complete wireless independent headset in itself. Users are not required to attach it to a smartphone or PC to enter VR mode. There are physical buttons on the rim of the headset for controlling brightness and volume.

The cloud wars between Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are heating up, with the three working tirelessly to attract the large business customers that bring in the big bucks. From a technological perspective, though, the three cloud platforms are basically equal, and offer a similar sales pitch. Pivotal is in a unique spot amid these cloud wars: It now boasts formal technology partnerships with Amazon, Microsoft, and Google to support its mega-popular Pivotal Cloud Foundry software. Pivotal Cloud Foundry is used by the likes of Home Depot and Mercedes-Benz to help build more software, faster.

Microsoft is testing a premium version of its Outlook email service that costs $3.99 a month for up to five users. The subscription lets users create five personalized email addresses with own custom domain (the domain fee is waived for the first year), along with the ability to share calendars, contacts, and documents between those accounts. The user’s inbox will be completely ad-free also.

Dimension Data, a South African IT services and solutions provider, has acquired Ceryx Inc., the privately owned Canadian Microsoft Messaging and Collaboration Suite services specialist. Ceryx offers services across the Microsoft Messaging and Collaboration Suite, including Office 365, Exchange, Sharepoint and Skype for Business. Dimension Data will combine Ceryx’s offerings with its Microsoft Services to deliver a full services portfolio that spans on premise, private cloud and public cloud, Office 365 or a hybrid of any for Microsoft Exchange, Sharepoint and Skype for Business.

Apttus, a quote-to-cash solution provider, announces its Apttus Intelligent Cloud platform made available to Microsoft users. Apttus Intelligent Cloud is a platform to maximize revenue for Apttus customers by combining deep learning capabilities and artificial intelligence to develop Apttus’s app. Jujhar Singh, General Manager, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, says, “Our customers are leaders in their respective markets and require enterprise-level Quote-to-Cash applications. We are delighted to introduce them to Apttus’ Intelligent Cloud, which adds value to their existing investment in Dynamics CRM. Our customers can benefit from Apttus’ Configure Price Quote, Contract Management, and Revenue Management solutions”.

Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has reshaped the company in these two years. Windows is still important, but it’s no longer the only platform that matters. He said, “At the core what we’re doing is reasoning over large amounts of data continuously. First, we have that data, data about you, your preferences, organization and the world. To do that on a continuous basis, you need lots and lots of computing power. That’s what we get through the cloud.”

Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft, took the stage at Envision 2016, to speak about his vision and strategy. Nadella’s Envision keynote was all about what Microsoft could do for the business. As part of that talk, Nadella shared the clearest look yet into Microsoft’s master plan, in a slide called “Interconnected Ambitions”. More personal computing, Reinvention of productivity and The intelligent cloud platform were the three pivotal points of the plan.

Bsquare announced that it is working with Microsoft to ensure DataV, a complete Internet of Things software stack, is able to fully utilize the Microsoft Azure IoT Suite and Microsoft Azure IoT Hub. Combining DataV software with Azure IoT technology will make it quicker and easier for businesses to realize inherent business value in predictive failure, data-driven diagnostics, and condition-based serving. Alysa Taylor, GM, US Cloud and Enterprise Business, Microsoft, said, “Bsquare’s utilization of Microsoft Azure IoT Hub and Microsoft Azure IoT Suite provides customers with easy, comprehensive and scalable IoT solutions. This will help our customers reduce cost, drive revenue and create new revenue streams by digitalization of their assets and connecting people, technology & business processes.”