Next Generation Technologies

Microsoft Leads the Way for a New Era of Enterprise Computing
Windows, the Microsoft enterprise product family, and .NET have evolved to become the most popular platform for the next generation of business applications. Microsoft is leading the way for the adoption of new technologies, such as Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) and virtualization.
The next generation of IT solutions is available today
Microsoft platforms provide outstanding business value to customers today, but as new technologies are embraced, businesses can expect to get even more from their IT solutions in the future. Dynamic IT is Microsoft's initiative to help customers reach their goals, through optimized people, processes and technology. Our goal with Dynamic IT is to help customers move to a more dynamic state where they are leveraging technology to be an optimized strategic asset, where IT becomes a strong partner and trusted advisor to the business.
The following areas are just of few of the technology spaces where Microsoft is focused on translating technology trends into helping customers optimize their entire operations.
Service Oriented Architecture
With the Microsoft Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) vision and technology, you can realize a more agile and connected enterprise by using an IT infrastructure that can help streamline business processes, increase customer responsiveness, and improve interactions with key partners.
Interoperability by Design
Interoperability has long been a feature of Microsoft’s technologies, achieved through extensive work with customers, partners, competitors, governments, and standards-setting organizations. In its approach to interoperability, Microsoft strives to bring technologies to market in a way that balances competitive innovation with an ability to connect diverse systems and applications.
Microsoft Identity and Access Solutions
Microsoft Identity and Access solutions are a set of platform technologies and products that are designed to help organizations manage user identities and associated access privileges. With a focus on security and ease of use, these solutions help businesses boost productivity, reduce IT costs, and eliminate the complexity of identity and access management.
The resources below provide more information on the Microsoft vision for the next generation of computing, and they highlight customers who are reaping the business benefits of leveraging the latest Microsoft product developments.
New in Windows Server 2008
Windows Server Core
The Server Core installation option is a new option that you can use for installing Windows Server 2008. A Server Core installation provides a minimal environment for running specific server roles, which reduces the maintenance and management requirements and the attack surface for those server roles.

Windows PowerShell
Windows PowerShell is a new command-line shell and scripting language that helps IT Professionals achieve greater productivity and control system administration more easily. Windows PowerShell accelerates automation of system administration tasks and can help improve your organization’s ability to address the unique system-management problems of your server environment.

Virtualization and Consolidation
Server virtualization, also known as hardware virtualization, is a hot topic in the IT world because of the potential for serious economic benefits. Server virtualization enables multiple operating systems to run on a single physical machine as virtual machines (VMs). With server virtualization, you can consolidate workloads of underutilized server machines onto a smaller number of fully utilized machines. Fewer physical machines can lead to reduced costs through lower hardware, energy, and management overhead, plus the creation of a more dynamic IT infrastructure.

With Windows Server 2008, everything needed to support server virtualization is available built right into the operating system as Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V.



White Papers and Resources

DynamicIT Overview
Dynamic IT delivers a foundation for creating an IT infrastructure that will automatically adjusts to changing business conditions by aligning computing resources with strategic objectives.
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Real-World SOA Through the Microsoft Platform
Learn how the Microsoft SOA platform can provide developers, architects, and IT professionals with the tools, technologies, and guidance for building and maintaining SOA solutions that can help optimize business processes, increase productivity, lower costs, and promote organizational agility.
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Leveraging the Value of Your Host Systems with Real World SOA
Following a real world SOA example, this document provides details on how to leverage legacy systems by using Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006 and the BizTalk Adapters for Host Systems.
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UNIX Interoperability in Microsoft Windows Server
Download this white paper for a description of the UNIX interoperability components contained in Windows Server 2003 R2. These same components are also contained in Windows Server 2008.
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Optimizing Infrastructure: The Relationship between IT Labor Costs and Best Practices for Identity and Access Management with Active Directory.
IDC: Directory and identity management has emerged as one of the fundamental building blocks used in modern computer architectures.
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Case Studies

AutoZone Drives Business Success with Tool to Access Data and Business
To maintain its position as the leading auto-parts chain in the United States, AutoZone sought an easier way to provide employees with access to data and business intelligence. Working with SAS, a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner, AutoZone deployed a modern Windows-based solution and the company has saved both time and money, while making it far easier for its staff to achieve business goals.
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Italian Education Ministry Doubles Efficiency, Halves Costs with New System
The Italian Ministry of Education, Universities, and Research (MIUR) wanted to improve the organizational and technical architecture of the national school system. EDS deployed a software framework using the Microsoft server product portfolio to replace extensive computer hardware and automate workflow. MIUR estimates that efficiency has doubled, while costs have halved. In addition, solutions developed across the Italian public sector can be shared between all of the ministries and departments.
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