Hi-tech titan serves up trio of tools

Published on Thursday 24 April 2008 21:39

IT'S A technology titan in the world of blue-chip business and its brand recognition from the back office to the boardroom and beyond has few peers. Yet Microsoft still seeks converts to the faith; how else could you interpret an organisation with function titles like "technology evangelist"?

Whether you view it as commercially savvy in the 21st century, or merely as marketing chutzpah, titles aside, Microsoft demonstrated a sharp ability to talk no-nonsense commerce in Edinburgh on Wednesday at the Scottish launch of Visual Studio 2008, Windows Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008.

The company insists that in launching this trio it is delivering powerful new tools that will transform the way developers build applications and IT professionals support IT systems. Together, it claims, they will open the door on a new era where companies build systems and applications that help advance business goals by aligning computing resources with strategic objectives.

Raymond O'Hare, pictured below, director of Microsoft Scotland, is bullish. He said: "Taken individually or together they provide a huge amount of support to businesses, large and small, and government agencies. The IT industry likes to think of itself as the enabling industry – the sector that lets other industries do great things. These products are examples of that."

The Royal College of Physicians offices in the capital's Queen Street were chosen as the launch venue. Appropriately then, and with much talk of aligning computing resources with strategic objectives, O'Hare underlines the ability of ICT (information and communications technologies) to keep companies as healthy as possible – in maximising profit, cutting cost and increasing efficiencies in the most secure environment. The latter point is one that has been heavily developed to offer a state-of-the-art solution.

"If you look at the SQL Server, the tools that come with it allow much better informed decisions with the information that exists in a company's systems," he said. "From a business point of view that gives more focus. From a government point of view, it allows it to be more cost-efficient and to make smarter decisions. That saves money, which can be put in to front-line services, for example. Used appropriately, these products can actually do those things.

"The launch is about Microsoft demonstrating its commitment to the growth of both its customers and business partners in Scotland. Their development and, ultimately, their future success, is paramount to us as a business."

Here, Microsoft enjoys an even spread of customer type. It comes as no surprise that many of its largest customers are in the financial sector, parts of which are experiencing additional strain in the current global downturn.

In that light, O'Hare is unequivocal about his company's new products being investments, not costs. "The financial services sector regards ICT as an investment going forward," he said. "There are many areas where technology is converging to offer more options. Technology is something the key players in financial services will need more."

Real-world example speaks volumes for a company's products. With that in mind, Microsoft is using Perth and Kinross Council to show how effective its software can be. With about 2,200 computer users across ten sites in the council area, it is working with Microsoft gold certified partner Charteris. The council joined the Windows 2008 RDP (rapid deployment programme) to implement a Hyper V-based virtualisation strategy for its core data centres. Hyper V provides software infrastructure and basic management tools in Windows Server 2008 that a customer can use to create and manage a "virtualised"server computing environment, where each site enjoys the benefits of those users at headquarters.

Charteris was briefed to achieve improvements in address power and space issues; consolidation of application server workloads, to reduce costs and increase efficiency; reduced time to market for new IT services and applications and a reduced carbon footprint, through a reduction in power consumption

Ken Wilson, the council's application services manager, said: "By implementing a Microsoft virtualisation strategy, the council is dramatically changing the way it delivers its IT services with savings and efficiencies directly benefiting the council's staff and its citizens, as well as reducing its carbon footprint.

Charteris is a specialist in business change through the application of Microsoft technologies. Roger Woods, the Edinburgh-based head of practice for Scotland and northern England at Charteris, says: "We are one of only three practice-level Microsoft virtualisation partners in Europe. This exclusive programme provides Charteris with insight into best-practice design and supporting operational processes for the Microsoft virtualisation platform."