Microsoft's Azure to allow private cloud

Microsoft is planning to help customers build their own private cloud networks within their own data centres, reports Techworld.

In addition to embedding greater security into the public cloud, Hasan Alkhatib, Azure senior architect says Microsoft is planning to help customers build private cloud networks within their own data centres by using the same software Azure is based on.

The private clouds will provide isolation between customers' cloud resources with network virtualisation, and provide secure connections between an enterprise's internal data centre equipment and what it uses in the cloud, says Alkhatib.

Web hosting provider AYKsolutions has introduced Cloud Servers, which they say provides high-availability, enterprise-level hosting architecture for small to medium sized businesses, reports THEWHIR.

The hosts new Cloud Servers differ from shared or dedicated hosting architecture, where its solution uses integrated storage area network that centralises data storage to protect against hardware-related data loss.

"Cloud hosting is undeniably the new frontier in hosting," says Artyom Khmelnitsky, president of AYKsolutions. "Its success is predicated on the notion that businesses will continue to place a greater emphasis on uptime, data integrity, and long-term stability. We've implemented our Cloud Servers with a laser focus on meeting those needs."

Gen-i has won a contract to supply information and communication technology services for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand, reports ComputerWorld.

The company will provide services including data, voice and mobile networks, hardware, software, project management, enterprise architecture security / testing services and on-the-ground support personnel through until the end of the rugby world cup.

“Gen-i has demonstrated both the capability and commitment to provide a broad and complex range of services to the tournament,” says Therese Walsh, Rugby New Zealands chief operating officer.