WEBZEN unveiled the official gaming service for Arctic Combat, the highly anticipated FPS game, after successfully completing the global open test using Windows Azure. In 2011, WEBZEN initiated the technology verification process for the hybrid method of connecting Windows Azure with its own private cloud. WEBZEN reviewed its methods to optimize the game server and operating platform architecture so that they worked smoothly and efficiently in the hybrid cloud. In addition to IaaS capability, WEBZEN tried to find ways to use its PaaS capability to manage the game server efficiently, from authentication to billing. After completing the preliminary technical review, on December 6, 2012, the company started an open test for Arctic Combat worldwide. Feedback has been positive, with users commenting that they are satisfied with the speed.

Orascom Development relies on email to connect employees with each other and with customers at numerous locations around the world. When business continuity was threatened by unrest in Egypt, Orascom decided to move to a location-independent cloud-based email system. With the help of Microsoft Services Consulting, Orascom made a seamless migration to Microsoft Office 365 and Microsoft Exchange Online, and it now plans to move more IT resources to the cloud.

Mirae Asset wanted a device capable of providing full and extensive asset management services to customers as if they are in the office, rather than a simple mobile device for outdoor sales. However, the tablet PCs available in the market tend to focus primarily on mobility and convenience, which were insufficient bases on which to provide the full services Mirae Asset wanted and, more pragmatically, need from a business point-of-view when consulting customers in the field, rather than being confined to desktop-based interactions in the office. It was in the process of driving sales force empowerment and greater customer interaction that Mirae Asset learned about Windows 8. It soon realized that, with Windows 8, it would be able to ensure business continuity regardless of location or device type, with a seamless tablet PC experience akin to that of a desktop.

After the successful debut of ‘iPlus Cloud Edition' designed for small businesses and tax accounting firms, DUZON is now expanding its cloud service infrastructure with Microsoft’s solution. Released in early 2012, iPlus Cloud Edition is a cloud service designed to help small businesses and tax accounting firms reduce their IT burden in the face of regulation changes that include the recent enactment of the Personal Information Protection Law. iPlus Cloud Edition serves small businesses and tax accounting firms in handling tasks, enabling 1,000 customers to be won within a year, a remarkable achievement. DUZON was soon expanding its iPlus Cloud Edition infrastructure to keep up with increasing market demands. Expanding the existing infrastructure, though, would mean having to part with considerable expense.

Leroy Merlin Italia operates 47 home improvement stores across Italy, and a smoothly running email system is key to keeping employees connected and informed. Burdened with an on-premises email system that didn't meet its needs and required significant IT resources for administration, the retailer decided to migrate its email to Microsoft Exchange Online, a cloud-based email solution that is part of Microsoft Office 365. In order to maximize the value of its Office 365 investment and gain deep expertise for its transition to the cloud, Leroy Merlin engaged Microsoft Cloud Vantage Services. Its close collaboration with Microsoft helped the retailer to optimize its existing technology infrastructure, improve business processes, and develop a forward-thinking technology roadmap that embraces new technologies and sales channels.

The Telenor Group is a Norwegian telecommunications company with worldwide operations serving almost 150 million mobile subscribers. To modernize its intranet and collaboration sites and deliver better search within and across business units, Telenor will soon migrate from the Microsoft SharePoint 2007 web application platform to SharePoint 2013. With 13 different business units spread across 12 countries, Telenor’s prime business objectives were to improve collaboration and best practice sharing, bolster process efficiency, and facilitate a more agile and responsive organization. Through SharePoint 2013’s enhanced capabilities, Telenor could also reduce significantly the complexity and maintenance cost of the 150+ custom features installed into its IT network.

Robeco is the first major financial services provider in the Netherlands to implement Office 365. Management and operational costs are significantly lower than before, while employee satisfaction and productivity have increased. ‘One of our staff described the implementation of Office 365 as “like moving from the stone age into the 21st century”’, says Robeco’s Ton Ligtvoet. ‘That shows how far forward we’ve come in less than two years. Although we started well and truly on the back foot, we are now an early adopter in the financial services industry. And the opportunities offered by our new IT environment are far from exhausted...’

Headquartered in Paris, France, Steria applies its keen insight and expertise to help organizations drive their business transformation through working more efficiently and profitably with the right IT-enabled business solutions. With 20,000 employees dispersed across Europe, India, North Africa, and Southeast Asia, Steria supports a diverse range of clients, including the BBC, Deutsche Telekom, and several prominent European governments. Its prowess and support have earned the company accolades, and Steria is currently recognized as one of the top 10 IT services companies in Europe.

To ensure victims of domestic violence receive legal and medical support quickly, the Domestic Violence Advocacy Service (DVAS) in Perth, Australia, wanted the ability to store client information in electronic files and selectively share them with other support providers. In 2012, DVAS teamed with a highly agile Microsoft Services Consulting team to deploy a cost-effective solution in just three months. Working with world-class product experts on the Microsoft Services Global Delivery team, a solution architect crafted a customized design with unique application file security features, while an engagement manager ensured the system could be used by associated service providers. Because the new system mirrors established work patterns, employees find it easy to understand. With rapid referrals to legal and medical aid, domestic violence victims find refuge in hours, rather than days.

IT services firm Steria needed to trim costs and better connect its global workforce. In selecting Microsoft Office 365, executives stressed the importance of access to expertise from Microsoft Cloud Vantage Services for Microsoft Office 365. By teaming with Microsoft to improve its readiness for adopting a cloud solution, Steria benefits from a shorter deployment, simplified IT management, and an estimated 20 percent IT cost reduction.