Schneider Electric announced its selection of Microsoft Windows Azure, a cloud computing and infrastructure platform, as the preferred cloud provider for the company’s StruxureWare platform of integrated software applications and suites that help companies manage and monitor their sustainability initiatives, optimize their current operations and better manage their sites and processes. The Windows Azure platform is being rolled out globally to support Schneider Electric's StruxureWare cloud-based software offerings, beginning with StruxureWare Resource Advisor and StruxureWare Energy Operations.
Windows Azure expands Schneider Electric’s ability to rapidly deploy public, private and -hybrid cloud solutions. StruxureWare software customers can achieve gains in speed of processing, providing instant access to the online, web accessible software. Additionally, virtualization and automation software tools can be scaled, replicated and rolled out globally, with local language support and reduced cost of entry. Schneider Electric customers benefit directly with lower installation and maintenance costs due to the elimination of on-premises IT infrastructure.
“We selected Microsoft Windows Azure to accelerate the development of our software solutions, reduce costs and increase the reliability and security of our global offers," comments Pascal Brosset, chief technology officer of Schneider Electric. "We’re excited to further our relationship with Microsoft to jointly innovate in the domain of energy efficiency solutions and provide better value to our customers."
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Azure's cloud functionality allows customers to leverage installed investments through secure cloud connectivity to existing energy metering and monitoring systems, says Schneider Electric. It also increases mobility for customers by providing access to information within the StruxureWare software applications on the go. Schneider Electric software developers benefit from Windows Azure’s pay-as-you-go structure, allowing resources to be switched on and off, as needed, to further reduce costs. This functionality promotes systems integration by providing a flexible systems architecture based on open standards and protocols, while also enhancing portability, according to the companies.
Windows Azure is already in use in Schneider Electric’s Orbit, a mobile field data collection solution for ArcFM. Orbit uses Windows Azure technology to provide scalability in adding users without affecting load on enterprise systems. It also provides task management data storage to deliver backup, availability and security, while minimizing the burden of establishing and maintaining capital infrastructure.
Schneider Electric says its direct access to Microsoft cloud computing technology resources and programs accelerates customer software development programs, lowers research and development and operational costs and minimizes large capital expenditure. Through this partnership, Schneider Electric is leveraging the cyber-security expertise and industry security compliance provided by Windows Azure to further protect customer data and privacy. Schneider Electric will also team with the Microsoft sales and marketing resources for global support and to leverage their extensive customer relationships.
“Windows Azure’s scalable global infrastructure, flexibility and cost effectiveness offer customers and partners compelling value as they move to the cloud,” concludes Vibhor Kapoor, Director, Product Marketing, Windows Azure. “By naming Windows Azure the preferred cloud platform for StruxureWare, Schneider Electric is helping its customers save money and gain efficiency.”