Microsoft Small Business Server in the cloud

With the Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC10), there is an expectation that Windows Small Business Server will be gaining cloud computing capabilities. It will be interesting to see if there is really scope for Windows Small Business Server to thrive in the cloud. Also, another thing to watch is whether managed services providers (MSPs) will link SBS to the cloud.

Windows Small Business Server is without doubt amongst the most widely installed small business software platforms. Since the last 10 years, many companies including IBM and Novell have tried to compete with SBS and failed. But the current situation might be changing because more and more small business enterprises are evaluating cloud computing and Software-as-a-Service options.

Experts are of the opinion that small businesses will abandon servers present on premises completely.

Number of small enterprises will move forward by opting for hybrid solutions, and blending on-premise applications and cloud options together. Microsoft and its partners that include Lenovo, Intel and Level Platforms are trying to place SBS as a cloud-based on-premises server.

Intel has been talking about its Intel Hybrid Cloud, a pay for use server which can be offered to enterprises by MSPs. Windows Small Business Server runs on the Intel Hybrid Cloud solution on Lenovo or white-box hardware. Also, Managed Workplace, a remote monitoring and management (RMM) software, from Level Platforms, is part of the Intel Hybrid Cloud solution.

Microsoft certainly has an intention to acquire more market share in the small and medium business organizations. Some days prior to the conference, the company made an announcement of a new team called the Small, Medium Business and Distribution organization in order to focus on marketing and sales efforts targeted at small and medium enterprises. The team is being led by Microsoft’s Vice President Cindy Bates.