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LOS ANGELES — Cast Iron Systems, a provider of Software-as-a-Service and cloud integration services, has announced that it is teaming with Microsoft to offer a solution that enables users to more quickly and easily move enterprise applications to the Windows Azure platform.
Cast Iron announced its Microsoft partnership at the Microsoft Professional Developers Conference (PDC) 2009 here on November 17. Cast Iron for Windows Azure is a new solution that enables customers to take advantage of the speed, simplicity, and cost effectiveness of cloud computing — within days. Cast Iron’s preconfigured data migration and integration templates for hundreds of enterprise applications expedite customer on-boarding, the company said. The combination of Cast Iron and Windows Azure gives customers the benefits of Microsoft’s cloud services quickly, Cast Iron officials said.
“With Windows Azure, we’re delivering a services platform for creating and delivering valuable Web applications and services,” said Doug Hauger, Microsoft’s general manager of the Windows Azure platform, in a statement. “By combining the power of our platform with proven integration from Cast Iron, we are providing the simplicity and speed our customers and partners need to develop and deploy Windows Azure solutions that work together with their existing solutions.”
Cast Iron integrates Windows Azure, SQL Azure, Windows Azure platform AppFabric Service Bus and Access control with hundreds of on-premise enterprise applications, Cast Iron officials said. Microsoft AppFabric is a new application server technology for the Windows Azure cloud platform announced at the PDC here. It is available in beta.
Ken Com??«e, CEO of Cast Iron Systems, in a statement, said, “Cast Iron provides the essential tools companies need to rapidly on-board data and applications onto the Windows Azure platform. By providing preconfigured migration and integration templates, our solution eliminates the need to consume limited resources on writing custom code, using complex integration platforms, or acquiring deep middleware expertise.”
Some Cast Iron customers shared their view of the company’s support for Windows Azure as well.
“Combining the Microsoft platform with Cast Iron integration has expedited our adoption of cloud-based services, resulting in improved efficiency for our business,” said Michael Knibbs, director of IT at CompWest Insurance, in a statement. “We use the Cast Iron solution to streamline our operations by integrating Microsoft applications, such as SQL databases and .Net applications, with other cloud services and on-premise enterprise systems. We will continue to use the Microsoft platform and Cast Iron integration to continue to exceed our clients’ need for accurate, timely information and cost-effective services.”
Moreover, “The launch of the Windows Azure platform is a tremendously significant event for any company looking to move their applications to the cloud,” Comee said. “Cast Iron for Windows Azure enables those companies to migrate their data and integrate their enterprise applications in just days and start realizing the compelling benefits of the Windows Azure platform immediately.”