If it’s not clear by now that cloud computing is much more than the latest technology trend, consider two conclusions from a recent IDC report:

  1. Cloud computing will create nearly 14 million new jobs between 2011 and 2015.
  2. By 2015, business revenues from IT innovation enabled by the cloud could reach US$1.1 trillion a yea

Indeed, the ongoing evolution and adoption of cloud technologies continue to deliver significant business opportunities, from reducing costs to increasing agility to spurring innovation. I will be discussing these opportunities and what they mean for service providers at WorldHostingDays, the world’s largest and most important hosting event, 20-23 March in Germany.

In opening the event’s plenary session—Tuesday, 9:15—I will be sharing Microsoft’s cloud vision and highlighting recent cloud trends. I’ll also discuss the latest technologies that are helping service providers bridge web hosting and cloud computing to create differentiation and deliver real value to their customers:

  • System Center 2012, the best-in-class management solution for service provider clouds, with more than 300 management packs (many of which are free).
  • Windows Server “8”, with exciting innovations in the areas of virtualization, networking, storage, user experience and scripting.
  • SQL Server 2012, which helps service providers build and grow profitable cloud-based offerings

Microsoft has always been a partner-driven organization, and we’re actively working to deliver enabling cloud technologies that benefit our service provider partners and their customers. I hope you will stop by our booth at WorldHostingDays to learn and see more (and have a chance to win one of the best smartphones on the market, a Windows-based Nokia Lumia 800). You can also join us for two breakout sessions:

  1. Tuesday, 16:30: Scalability and high availability hosting improvements with SQL 2012 and Windows Server 8. You’ll be able to see great demos of our new products.
  2. Wednesday, 16:00: Are hosting service providers ready to move beyond email to sell business productivity solutions? This session will focus on the Microsoft business productivity solutions Exchange, SharePoint and Lync.

 We look forward to seeing you at WorldHostingDays!

About the author

Andrew Lund brings more than 15 years of operational experience in the European telecommunications business. Having lived and worked in Moscow, Madrid, Budapest and Munich as well as his UK home, he is well aware of the opportunities and needs across the continent. Prior to his current role, Andrew was responsible for Microsoft’s Communications Sector (CS) success in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region. These experiences and expertise have allowed him to work with major telecommunications operators, hosting service providers and businesses of all sizes to support Microsoft’s growth and development in the CS and Hosting Service Provider space.

 Andrew is currently based in central London.