Satya Nadella may have only recently replaced Steve Ballmer at the helm of Microsoft, but he's already tackling (and accomplishing) seemingly impossible feats like saving Microsoft's web search, and finally explaining devices and services. Nadella has also had a huge impact on the future of Microsoft cloud services. Windows Azure, under Nadella, now boasts more customers than any other cloud enterprise.
Nadella also announced five major changes in the "Mobile First, Cloud First" Partner Update that will create new opportunities for companies to drive services on the Microsoft platform.
As of March 27th, Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, and Word are all available on the iPad in 29 langugages. While the software maintains the fresh but familiar look of Microsoft products, the suite of popular tools was built specifically for mobile - and it shows.
One of the major advantages of this change is that users may now deliver PowerPoint presentations from their iPad as a free service, while Office365 subscribers may edit and create new documents. All software is available on mobile devices from the Apple App Store.
Of course, Microsoft also rolled out Office Mobile (iPhone and Android) for free to join the already free Office apps available on the Windows Phone.
EMS is a comprehensive suite of cloud services specifically built to aid businesses that manage corporate data and services both from work and home. In addition to addressing consumerization of SaaS, IT, and BYOD challenges, the Enterprise Mobility Suite will now be the most cost-effective method of acquiring major Microsoft cloud data protection services like:
The software will officially be available beginning on May 1st with mobile device management, data protection, and identity/access management capabilities.
The premium version of this tool gives users single sign-in access to more than 1000 popular apps for security reporting, SaaS, and self-service applications. Azure Active Directory Premium subscribers will be able to lower IT costs in their organizations while still managing SaaS application access, groups, and users.
Also available with Azure AD Premium will be Windows Intune enhancements, like support for the Samsung KNOX platform, a Windows Phone update, and Remote to My PC capabilities.
While many critics are already claiming that Satya Nadella has accomplished the impossible and taken the brakes off Microsoft's innovation strategies, what's clear are his contributions to Microsoft cloud services. Users can only expect it to become easier to manage business data from anywhere using services like Office 365 and Microsoft Azure as Microsoft continues to grow in 2014.