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(The Hosting News) – Sentri, an award-winning Microsoft Gold Certified partner providing professional and managed services around the Microsoft stack, is pleased to announce the hire of Jason Himmelstein as its new SharePoint Practice Director. Jason will help Sentri extend the practice to meet the growing interest in SharePoint.

Peter Ferlazzo, a Founding Partner at Sentri commented, “Jason’s leadership experience at Raytheon and his extensive technology knowledge, involvement in the product community, and real world implementation skills will give Sentri the proficiencies necessary to deliver comprehensive SharePoint solutions to our clients.”

Prior to joining Sentri, Jason was the Lead SharePoint Architect & Infrastructure Services Lead at Raytheon. Jason blogs at http://www.sharepointlonghorn.com and is a regular speaker at conferences such as DevConnections, SharePoint Saturday, and The SharePoint Summit.

About Sentri, Inc.

Sentri, a Microsoft Gold Partner, is a leading provider of information technology consulting and managed and hosted services. Sentri will assess your network environment, understand your business objectives, and implement and integrate technology that will create efficiencies across your business operations. The SharePoint practice helps organizations create viable business solutions such as: document management platform, intranets, extranets, line of business integrations, business intelligence tools.

Sentri is a full service solutions integration company, focused on the synergy of business and technology. We work with our customers, assess their IT environment, recommend the best course of action, develop a process, test and deploy and manage and support. We currently offer our clients solutions based on communication & collaboration tools and managed & hosted services.

For more information, please visit: http://www.sentri.com

Sentri Announces SharePoint Practice Director

(The Hosting News) – Tech giants HP and Microsoft will partner on cloud solutions for a period of four years, the companies announced Thursday.

Specifically, the agreement will combine the companies’ cloud resources to allow for applications by Microsoft to run via public and private clouds.

Microsoft Office 365 will be supported by the public cloud, while the agreement allows for Microsoft applications such as SharePoint Server 10, Exchange Server 10, and others to run on private clouds.

Commenting on the matter in a press release, VP of Workplace Services at HP Enterprise Services Brandt Faatz stated, “Large organizations, particularly those in regulated industries like financial services and public sector, have demanding functionality and service level requirements.”

“HP and Microsoft help meet these needs with a flexible range of global, cost-efficient, cloud-based productivity solutions running on the latest technology,” Faatz continued.

With the move, the solutions will reach the entire world. However, the services will first become available before the end of the year in places including the U.S., the U.K., Canada and Australia.

The agreement also allows HP to resell Office 365 within its cloud service portfolio.

Meanwhile, Microsoft VP of Microsoft’s Enterprise Partner Group Mark Hill discussed the agreement, stating that it “not only broadens Microsoft’s geographic reach, it gives customers maximum flexibility to choose a cloud computing solution that meets their organization’s specialized messaging and collaboration needs.”

Both companies have a long history of working together. In the past, the companies have collaborated on projects including Windows Azure and working to enhance technology environments. HP has also been named a Microsoft Partner of the Year several times.  For more information, on the matter, view a press release by the companies here (hp.com).

4 Years of Cloud: Microsoft & HP Team Up

(The Hosting News) – While details regarding Windows 8 have begun to surface more and more over the past month, yesterday’s BUILD conference in Anaheim, California probably revealed more information about Microsoft Windows 8 than anyone had previously known before.

At the conference, Microsoft offered a developer preview of the highly anticipated OS. During the event, Microsoft President of the Windows and Windows Live Division Steven Sinofsky stated, “We reimagined Windows.”

“From the chipset to the user experience, Windows 8 brings a new range of capabilities without compromise,” he continued.

Even before the conference began, reports started circulating indicating that the still unreleased OS would have more specific compatibility for touchscreen devices (such as tablets).

And specifics were confirmed yesterday with Microsoft stating (in a PR highlighting the presentation), “Windows 8 introduces a new Metro style interface built for touch, which shows information important to you, embodies simplicity and gives you control. The Metro style UI is equally at home with a mouse and keyboard as well.” Such a feature could allow Windows 8 to compete head-to-head with Apple’s iPad (operated on iOS) via the tablet market (and perhaps even Android). In fact, Microsoft displayed the developer preview on a Samsung tablet device during the presentation.

While the news regarding the system’s more-advanced touchscreen capability may be one of the biggest highlights of Windows 8, yesterday’s presentation offered a lot more insight into other features that Microsoft looks to build on with Windows 8.

Specific highlights for developing showcased by the company included further hardware integration, a Windows Store (where developers can sell apps), and more programming languages for the OS.

Another area Microsoft is focusing on is application connectivity. Windows 8 seeks to improve communication between apps and syncing (via the cloud).

Overall, it appears that Microsoft is looking to keep what everyone likes about Windows 7, yet adding more integration for the touch-screen and tablet market.

Meanwhile, Microsoft is allowing anyone to experience the developer preview with downloads (which you can find here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/apps/br229516). For more information on the presentation, visit: http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/press/2011/sep11/09-13FutureofComputingPR.mspx

Building an OS: Microsoft Previews Next Windows

(The Hosting News) – Had a problem accessing Windows Live services recently? Then you’re not alone. According to various reports (and later confirmed by Microsoft), popular Windows Live software faced an outage last night.

According to a Windows Live blog, such services included SkyDrive (document storage), Hotmail, and more. Upon initially updating users on the matter following its occurrence, Windows Live stated, “We believe we have restored service for all customers at this time.”

“We will continue our investigation into the root cause of these issues and post an update following our investigation”, the statement continued.

Despite that, it appeared that problems continued to persist with Windows Live later stating, “We’re aware of reports including the comments posted below that some customers still are seeing issues.”

Later on, it seemed that DNS configuration was the cause for the issue, which Microsoft worked to fix. By 11:49 PM yesterday, it appeared that the problem had mostly been solved. “We have completed propagating our DNS configuration changes around the world, and have restored service for most customers,” Windows Live said.

According to CNET, the outage lasted for around three hours.

Plenty of popular online services have faced outages recently. Just last month, Microsoft faced issues concerning its Business Productivity Online Standard Suite (BPOS). Around the same time, Amazon Web Services was hit by an outage that effected Amazon CloudWatch and Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud.

Besides Hotmail and SkyDrive, other Windows Live services include Messenger, Contacts, and Essentials. The online platform launched in 2005.

For more information on the matter from Windows Live, visit: http://windowsteamblog.com/windows_live/b/windowslive/archive/2011/09/08/current-hotmail-and-skydrive-issues.aspx

DNS Issue Results in Windows Live Services Crash

(The Hosting News) – Lightning has struck the cloud. Amazon and Microsoft data centers in Dublin, Ireland were hit by a lightning strike on Sunday, resulting in temporary outages for customers who rely on cloud services provided by the companies. According to Data Center Knowledge, Amazon has reported that the strike resulted in an explosion, succeeding in disabling generators at the site.

Concerning Amazon Web Services, it appears that the outages mostly pertained to Amazon CloudWatch and Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud.

Yesterday regarding the recovery process for Elastic Compute, Amazon Web Services stated, “Due to the scale of the power disruption, a large number of EBS servers lost power and require manual operations before volumes can be restored.” Later on the company reported that it was making progress.

Concerning CloudWatch, AWS stated, “CloudWatch metrics are operating normally for all recovered instances in the affected Availability Zone. Metrics from instances still recovering from the power loss in the affected Availability Zone are still delayed.”

Meanwhile, Microsoft provided some information concerning its problems through its Twitter page, reporting service recoveries for BPOS (Business Productivity Online Standard Suite). BPOS provides communication services to various businesses.

Amazon Web Services was hit by a previous outage in April, although that outage was quite different. It was apparently due to an incorrect traffic shift during an upgrade on the AWS network. April’s outage resulted in technical issues for sites that rely on AWS, including the likes of HootSuite and Quora. Following up after the recovery, AWS worked to improve its network.

Cloud computing has commonly been seen as an efficiently reliable way of storing various types of data. Cloud users range from large companies storing information in the cloud to common consumers who use services to store personal multimedia files such as music.

Lightning Strikes the Cloud, Causes Outages

(The Hosting News) – As more businesses adopt cloud services, they can now turn to AIS Network for the flexibility they need to move in-house SharePoint server and application workloads to the cloud. The hosting pioneer today announced that it is the first SharePoint 2010-focused hosting company in the world to become a Microsoft Authorized License Mobility Partner.

“Take your in-house Microsoft SharePoint Server licenses and move them to the cloud, seamlessly, because when you host SharePoint with AISN, you can now place your licensed software in our hosted environment, instead of only on-premise,” said AISN CEO Jay Atkinson.

“So, if you’re a business that’s fed up with hosting your own SharePoint and you’re ready to rely on a SharePoint hosting provider to do it for you, you are now finally free to take that last step into cloud hosting.”

On July 1, Microsoft announced that businesses using Microsoft SharePoint and other software applications under volume licensing agreements now have the flexibility to deploy application server software on-premise or host it with authorized mobility partners like AISN.

This license mobility, known as License Mobility through Microsoft Software Assurance, covers Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft SharePoint Server, Microsoft Lync Server, Microsoft System Center servers and Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Licenses for application server software that are covered under software assurance can be run in service providers’ datacenters on shared hardware for that customer’s dedicated use.

“Now companies have a compelling business case to move their SharePoint to the cloud,” Atkinson said.  “The old licensing barriers to hosting SharePoint in the cloud are now gone for AISN clients. With this new authority from Microsoft, we can help our clients move existing, on-premise hosting licenses directly to the cloud without requiring our clients to buy new licenses.  We are currently the only SharePoint 2010-focused hosting company to be authorized to offer this license mobility.”

Atkinson explained that Microsoft’s new licensing model essentially helps “disconnect the purchase decision from the decision of where the customer deploys the license.”

Previously, a company’s reluctance to move its in-house SharePoint Server environment to the cloud may have stemmed from a hesitation to write off its capital investment in SharePoint licenses restricted to on-premise use. Moving to the cloud would have required subscribing to new licenses from the company’s hosting provider under a different licensing model – potentially a financially burdensome scenario.

Atkinson said that instead of paying a monthly subscription fee for new software licenses and shelving similar software licenses previously purchased for in-house use, a company can simply use the software that it has already licensed – in the cloud.  Depending on the actual environment, there may be a small monthly fee for this privilege, he said.

With network operations centers in the Chicago and Washington, DC metropolitan areas, 18-year-old AISN is recognized as a pioneer in managed hosting. The SAS 70 Type II-certified SharePoint hosting specialist already has a thriving partnership base in the Microsoft SharePoint implementation and development community and was among the very first hosting services providers to offer hosted SharePoint 2010 in the cloud.

About AIS Network, LLC

AIS Network takes SharePoint to the cloud.  AISN clients no longer maintain SharePoint servers in their office, because we secure and care for those servers 24x7x365 in world-class, disaster-resistant facilities and ensure their capacity grows with the client’s business.  Fully managed hosting is what we do best, and AISN has been delivering it in the form of managed, cloud and applications hosting since 1993.  Unlike many hosting companies, AISN, a SAS 70 Type II-certified organization, personalizes client service at every level, inspiring full confidence that mission-critical data, applications and email are in reliable hands.  Visit  www.aisn.net

AIS Network Offers License Mobility for SharePoint

(The Hosting News) – With the goal of providing cloud services to institutions in the health industry, hosting and virtualization company Parallels and Microsoft recently formed a partnership.

The plan will give those in the industry including administrators, insurance providers, and doctors the option of using clouds, whether they are public, private, or hybrid. The offerings seek to help make important information more readily available.

In a press release commenting on the matter, Parallels CEO Birger Steen stated, “We aim to provide emerging cloud service providers with vertical-specific solutions to bring to market and existing health service providers with a fast and reliable on-ramp to the cloud.”

Besides using Parallels Automation, Microsoft programs that will be used in the cloud offerings include Microsoft Office SharePoint Server, Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft Lync Server and more.

With the agreement, Parallels joins the Microsoft Health Partner Executive Board. The two companies will also work together to consult health institutions on IT matters.

To view a press release on the issue, visit: http://www.parallels.com/news/id,28041

Offering Cloud for Health, Parallels & Microsoft Partner

(The Hosting News) – Microsoft and Chinese search engine Baidu have partnered to provide Chinese citizens with English-based online search results, the New York Times recently reported.

The news means that Microsoft’s search engine Bing will be available through Baidu.

“Bing’s cooperation with Baidu will allow the vast Baidu users to receive better English search experiences and results and allow more Chinese users to experience Bing,” Microsoft’s Senior Global VP said in a statement provided by the New York Times.

Google had previously pulled its search engine from functioning in certain parts of China.

The Chinese tech market is especially sensitive due to censorship concerns. In the past, the country is known to have blocked such top global-known sites including Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter.

In China, Microsoft & Baidu Partner

(The Hosting News) – Autorun Malware is down, this according to a report posted online by the Malware Protection Center at Microsoft.

The report focuses on malware that takes advantage of the Windows component  “Autorun.”

However, in recent months, the company reports the number of infections has dropped significantly.

Microsoft attributes the drop to updates they’ve offered on Windows versions of XP and Vista.

The report states, “In comparison to the three months prior to the update, we saw 1.3 million fewer infections on Windows Vista and XP from February to May.”

Meanwhile, Microsoft expects the number of infections to continue to drop.

To view the entire report, visit: http://blogs.technet.com/b/mmpc/archive/2011/06/14/autorun-abusing-malware-where-are-they-now.aspx

Microsoft: Malware Down

(The Hosting News) – On Thursday, Microsoft lost a Supreme Court appeal over patents as Justices unanimously upheld a 2009 federal court ruling forcing the tech giant to pay $290 million to Canadian-based company i4i.

Microsoft’s appeal was based on a 2009 federal court ruling that found Microsoft guilty of infringing upon i4i’s XML technology in 2003 and 2009 versions of Microsoft Word.

Besides forcing Microsoft to pay the large sum of money to i4i, 2009’s ruling also forced the company to remove the infringing technology from Word.

Yesterday’s defeat marked Microsoft’s second attempt to appeal the 2009 verdict.

In their appeal, Microsoft argued that i4i’s patent on its XML technology was invalid.

Current law requires that plaintiffs give “clear and convincing” evidence when trying to prove the invalidity of a patent. However, Microsoft had argued that a lower standard should be set.

With yesterday’s ruling, the Supreme Court disagreed, stating, “The Court rejects Microsoft’s contention that a defendant need only persuade the jury of a patent invalidity defense by a preponderance of the evidence.” The court also said that any changes concerning patent evidence would have to be approved by congress.

In an email statement provided by Reuters, Microsoft spokesman Kevin Kutz stated, “While the outcome is not what we had hoped for, we will continue to advocate for changes to the law that will prevent abuse of the patent system and protect inventors who hold patents representing true innovation.”

Meanwhile, i4i was pleased with the ruling.

Despite losing the appeal, the battle is not completely over. Microsoft still has an ongoing patent challenge against i4i’s technology at the U.S. patent office.

Microsoft Loses Supreme Court Appeal