A few weeks ago, a report put together by a handful of JP Morgan analysts surfaced, detailing a potential future where current cloud solution leader AWS would lose ground to Microsoft’s Azure Cloud. The tipping point within the analysis occurred when reviewing Microsoft’s viable short term solution of providing a bridge for large firms to slowly migrate to the cloud with hybrid solutions. Unlike Amazon’s full-board cloud move, which probably has better long-term benefits, Microsoft is offering businesses a hybrid cloud that should make it easier for them to transition long-term to using exclusively Microsoft-hosted solutions.
On that note, Microsoft is doubling its efforts to simplify its hybrid management with a new System Center 2016 Preview and Operations Management Suite announced today. With more IT pros choosing to do a much more thoughtful transition to the cloud by utilizing hybrid solutions, Microsoft’s Server and Cloud Platform team sees an opportunity to ease management of existing infrastructure and new cloud resources.
As of today, System Center 2016 Technical Preview 5 is available and includes a host of additional management solutions that include:
- With this release, you’ll get new capabilities to simplify management of highly virtualized, software-defined infrastructure. System Center 2016 offers advances in data center control, drives forward management of Linux environments and helps you enable some of the most advanced features coming in Windows Server 2016. Here are just a few of the advances in System Center 2016:
- Provides advanced software-defined datacenter support, including managing the lifecycle of Nano Server hosts and virtual machines, simplified deployment of the new Windows Server 2016 software-defined networking components, and support for Storage Spaces Direct and replicated storage volumes.
- Expands the surface area of monitoring and reduces friction for IT Operations with data-driven alert management that reduces noise and enables faster troubleshooting, scheduling of maintenance windows, increased scale in the monitoring of UNIX and Linux servers, and streamlined access to management packs.
- Enables flexible approaches to Windows management, including in-place upgrade and provisioning packages and profiles, support for new Windows 10 features, a new servicing dashboard and improved mobile device and application management capabilities when connected to Microsoft Intune.
The new version brings “additional layers of security to help block today’s sophisticated cyber-attacks.” Perhaps the most standout feature of WS2016 TP5 is the new lightweight Nano Server development option.
To read more about Windows Server 2016 Technical Preview 5 as well as System Center 2016 Preview, visit Microsoft’s Server & Cloud blog. Downloads of both software solutions can be obtained from the site, as well FAQ’s and monthly log of news and updates for Microsoft’s Cloud resources.
