It’s been a busy few weeks for the Server and Tools Business, with announcements at PDC10, TechEd Europe and the PASS (Professional Association for SQL Server) Summit 2010. At PDC and TechEd Europe, Microsoft launched several new products and updates, including tools and resources to help customers more easily develop and deploy cloud applications and a new set of Hyper-V Cloud programs that help businesses more efficiently build their own cloud infrastructures. The consistent theme across all announcements is that Microsoft’s offerings enable partners and customers to extend their current investments to take advantage of new solutions that drive efficiency and meet business demands.

Today, you can tune in here at 8:45 a.m. (PST) to watch Ted Kummert, SVP, Business Platform Division, give this morning’s keynote at PASS Summit 2010. During the keynote, Microsoft will make a number of exciting announcements focused on providing enterprise customers with a complete approach to deploying, managing, accessing and delivering their most mission critical business intelligence and cloud applications, including:

  • SQL Server 2008 R2 Parallel Data Warehouse: Available today, SQL Server 2008 R2 Parallel Data Warehouse (PDW) is a highly scalable, high performing appliance for warehouses, with hundreds of terabytes of data. PDW is pre-architected to deliver simplicity and reduced deployment time for customers’ most critical data warehouse needs.
    • In addition, Microsoft is offering customers’ choice in hardware, in partnership with HP and in the future through other partnerships, like Bull. Through deep integration with the Microsoft Business Intelligence (BI) platform, customers can deliver managed self-service BI solutions to everyone in the organization. The HP Enterprise Data Warehouse Appliance will be available through HP in December 2010.
  • Microsoft Critical Advantage Program: Offered as part of Parallel Data Warehouse, this new program provides appliance customers with an end-to-end suite of pre-tested hardware and software configurations, as well as services and support, all designed to make customers’ business more efficient, cost-effective, risk-resistant, and competitive.
  • SQL Server Code-Named “Denali”: The first Community Technology Preview (CTP1) for the next version of SQL Server, SQL Server code-named “Denali,” is available for download today. The product empowers organizations to be more agile in today’s competitive market through an enhanced mission critical platform, increased productivity for developers and IT professionals and pervasive insight.
  • Microsoft Certified Master (MCM) program for SQL Server: Microsoft will now offer an updated program that allows SQL Server experts to achieve MCM certification with more flexibility and at a lower cost. The program will also increase the visibility of MCMs and reinforces their value in the market.
  • Microsoft Code-named “Atlanta”: Customers can sign up today for a new cloud service for overseeing SQL Server configuration to ensure best operational practices. The secure cloud service can help IT to proactively avoid configuration problems and rapidly resolve identified issues through step by step guidance.

For more information about today’s PASS announcements, visit the SQL Server Team Blog.