Dell and Microsoft Announce New Azure-Consistent, A Hybrid Cloud Appliance

Dell and Microsoft have collaborated to offer a new cloud solution and program that will facilitate organisations to use the Microsoft cloud platform to transform their business. They aim to bring customers into the mobile-first, cloud-first world.

The tech giants announced on Wednesday at Dell World a new, Microsoft Azure-consistent, integrated system for hybrid cloud and extended program offerings will help more customers benefit from Azure and Dell to drive greater agility and increased time to value, whether they choose on-premises or public cloud solutions, a press release said.

"A core part of our mission to empower every organization on the planet requires us to build world-class platforms and forge deeper partnerships that help businesses of all sizes transform with digital technology," said Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft. "By expanding our longstanding partnership with Dell to offer a truly integrated hybrid cloud, we will make the cloud more accessible to organizations of all sizes with the choice and flexibility to best meet their needs."

Extending their commitment to deliver simple yet powerful hybrid solutions, the companies announced Cloud Platform System Standard (CPS Standard), the latest addition to the Microsoft Cloud Platform System (CPS) family. CPS is the industry's only integrated system with a true hybrid cloud experience, built on optimized Dell modular infrastructure with pre-configured Microsoft CPS software, including the proven Microsoft software stack and popular Azure services.

With the new hybrid cloud appliance as well as Dell’s commitment to resell Microsoft Cloud services through the Cloud Solution Provider program, customers will have more options than ever to get to their hybrid cloud, on their terms, according to a Microsoft blog.

PCWorld reports that customers can rent Cloud Platform System Standard from Dell for US$9,000 a month. CPS Standard is shipping now with Windows Azure Pack, System Center 2012 R2 and Windows Server 2012 R2 and is ready to install Microsoft Azure Stack when it becomes available. Dell and Microsoft also offer CPS Premium for large enterprises and service providers requiring a higher-capacity hybrid cloud solution.