Microsoft Pushes Platform As A Service In Cloud

In class we have recently learned about cloud computing, or software as a service. We talked about Amazon as the market leader in cloud computing; however, Microsoft is now trying to compete with Amazon. They want to make it easier to create the cloud computing infrastructure. In my opinion, Microsoft will definitely benefit from this for a number of reasons. For example, I think that many people think of Microsoft before Amazon when talking about computer software. Most common consumers turn to Amazon for products rather than services, especially with something like cloud computing. On the other hand, I do applaud Amazon’s strategy because they have been able to master the market of cloud computing up to date.

Microsoft will provide tools so that you won’t have the same confusion that you may face when using Amazon. You will not have to mess with the infrastructure because these easy tools allow you to build something that will run in a “pre-defined, Windows environment.” This is extremely beneficial to Microsoft and to the users of Azure - the cloud which Microsoft has developed. I think that it’s beneficial to Microsoft for obvious an obvious reason. This simplified technology will attract more simple-minded consumers. These consumers will be able to do things such as market themselves through cloud computing. I’m thinking that businesses, especially small businesses, aren’t always as technologically informed as they should be, so Microsoft’s simplified version of cloud computing will only benefit them.

I really like the introduction to this article because it kind of simplifies the idea of cloud computing. It talks about how the Outback Steakhouse chain did not have a lot of money for marketing in 2009, but still wanted to increase its business. As a result, they put a coupon on Facebook for a free, delicious Bloomin‘ Onion appetizer. They wanted to give out 500,000 of these coupons by the end of the year. Instead, 670,000 were distributed in only five weeks. Azure made this possible for Outback during its preview, and in my opinion, most likely will benefit hundreds of other companies as well. I thought this was good to write about because many people simply use things such as Facebook as a social networking system for friends, not realizing that businesses are indeed a part of this social network.

Another strategy that Microsoft has developed will be profitable because it helps the company save a lot of energy and money. If something fails in Microsoft’s servers, they don’t immediately fix it. They are able to transfer the data to another server and keep working, leaving the other one idle until the next eight-hour maintenance shift. Amazon constantly fixes disks that have something wrong with them. In my opinion, I think they should take the same route as Microsoft because obviously Microsoft is still able to function even if something is wrong. It saves a lot of money, and money is exactly what every company is seeking, so the twenty-four hour maintenance scheme seems like a waste in my mind. I guess it helps the environment as well, since it saves a lot of energy. For many people in present day, this is a pretty big deal.

Cloud computing is something I never heard of before this course. However, I now know it is a big deal and extremely beneficial. Companies can use it in a number of ways to market, as well as other things. Look at Outback Steakhouse, because I know they appreciate Microsoft’s Azure as much as anyone.

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