Microsoft Boasts Cloud Partner Success

More chatter from the Microsoft Hosting Summit 2010: Hosting providers Fasthosts Internet Ltd. and nGenX Corp. have successfully leveraged the Microsoft Dynamic Data Center Toolkit to launch cloud-delivered managed services through their channel partners and to SMBs, or so says a statement issued from Redmond itself. Here’s the scoop.

If you weren’t previously familiar with it, the Dynamic Data Center Toolkit provides “sample code, marketing collateral and a prescriptive guidance based on best practices,” according to Microsoft. It’s powered by Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V and Microsoft System Center.

Fasthosts, purportedly the UK’s largest hosting company, launched their newfound Microsoft-enabled infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) capabilities in the form of Rise, a channel-dedicated subsidiary company enabling VARs to deploy white-labeled cloud services.

A similar story comes from nGenX, which is also deploying IaaS. The difference here is that they’re also offering cloud storage and disaster recovery solutions to SMBs through their membership in the Microsoft Dynamic Data Center Alliance program, which allows them to leverage products from companies like NetApp.

On the one hand, getting hosting providers like nGenX and especially Fasthosts on board with their cloud vision is a major feather in Microsoft’s cap. On the other, we haven’t had a chance to check in with all the parties to do a reality check.

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