Feb17Written by:SuperUser Account
2/17/2011 1:55 PM 
By Anya Ciecierski, PartnerPoint Contributing Writer

With the introduction of Azure Platform, Microsoft is helping small and medium businesses (SMB) make the move into the cloud with integrated cloud applications that were once only available to large enterprises at a considerable price. One could say Microsoft has helped SMBs grow their wings and soar into the cloud.
Tools like the Azure Platform make it easy even for small businesses to deploy their own web applications right alongside trusted Microsoft products such as Office 365, SharePoint, Lync, and Dynamics CRM. Additionally, all of Microsoft's cloud products play nicely with on-premise or hosted tools, such as Microsoft Dynamics GP. Add the quickly rising market share of Microsoft's new search engine, Bing, and you have a legitimate advertising platform for your business as well, one that can reach audiences on everything from mobile phones to gaming consoles.
All of these software solutions make it simple for SMBs to get started at an enterprise level without the enterprise cost. Furthermore, they seamlessly integrate with each other and other Microsoft products, creating a user-friendly experience without the hassle of mixing and matching products for other cloud providers.
Windows Azure Platform is a cloud platform based on Windows Server 2008 that combines Live Services, SQL Azure, AppFabric, SharePoint Services, and Microsoft Dynamics CRM. More than just providing software-as-a-service (SaaS), the Windows Azure Platform is also a development framework, giving your developers the ability to create and deploy your own cloud applications. This means you can extend your integrated ERP and CRM with a customized web presence and fully functional cloud solution.
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