Category Microsoft Cloud Services

Microsoft has announced that Windows Server 2003 is approaching its end of life. The official date of the end of extended support is July 14, 2015. This includes all versions of WS2003 and all the sub-editions. Microsoft will no longer provide patches, security updates, support or technical updates, and you also won’t be able to receive online technical assistance. Upkeep costs for older hardware will inevitably increase. Microsoft Small Business Server 2003 will also be affected.

“It’s time for a change”

The solution is to upgrade your server software to Windows Server 2012 R2 or to Microsoft Azure, if you want to switch to the Cloud. WS2003 was very stable, but this is no longer enough in today’s highly dynamic, Cloud-oriented world. A lot of enterprises still use WS2003, and it’s running on millions of systems; running applications on a server that has no support is very risky from a business standpoint. Do not wait for the last minute to migrate – rushing the process can result in many problems, errors, security issues, etc.

Migrating from WS2003 is an investment into your company’s safe future.

Cloud computing is a broader term for the delivery of scalable, hosted services through the Internet. It’s a kind of Internet-based computing environment where servers, storage and applications are delivered to computers and mobiles as a service. It’s based on sharing and optimizing computing resources. All data is stored on-line, so users can access it 24/7. All you need is an Internet connection.

In Europe, Cloud computing is still at its beginning. According to a study of the Eurostat, only 19% of enterprises use the Cloud. One of the main reasons why they moved to the Cloud is to reduce costs.

Cloud computing is one of the most outstanding tools that small and medium enterprises can utilize to gain a competitive edge and optimize costs.

Are you in the Cloud?

Advantages

You don’t have to pay somebody to maintain and update your software – everything is the Cloud vendor’s responsibility. There’s no need to purchase applications – it’s much more cost efficient to rent them via the Cloud, with all maintenance fixes and version upgrades included. Desktop software versions are usually more expensive and complex to license and manage. A good example of a Cloud service and application is Microsoft Office 365, which you can buy as an annual subscription. You’re able to choose a subscription plan that fits your exact needs (services, software, or both). Another example is Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online; a cloud suite of applications for managing Customer-related business processes for just a monthly per-user fee.

If you decide to take advantage of the Cloud, you don’t have to invest in a complex on-premises IT infrastructure. Cloud applications are updated and patched regularly, so you don’t have to waste your time and money on worrying about forward and backward compatibility. Cloud computing allows employees access to applications and data via  any of today’s relevant software platforms (Android, iOS, Windows). Without Cloud Services, when something is installed locally on a computer or server, users can usually access the program and content only from that specific computer or network. Therefore, it’s much more flexible and easier to use a Cloud application than to buy a server and all the required server software. The possibility of data loss in the Cloud is very low due to multiple layers of redundancy. Also, because of high-grade security mechanisms that Cloud providers employ, security risks are also minimized when using Cloud Services.

Summary

• Quick and easy implementation
• Cost reduction
• Service flexibility
• Mobility