Microsoft offers utility computing boost

UK enterprises could find utility computing more straightforward following the release of a new product from Microsoft, it has been claimed.

According to Dan Scarfe, chief executive of software development firm Dot Net Solutions, 'utility computing' is the name given to the modernisation of a company's server in order to accommodate peak usage.

"If the customer has a high data processing requirement at certain times of the day, or month, or even the year, then they can ramp-up their infrastructure just for that short period of time [on a Microsoft cloud server]," he added.

Mr Scarfe went on to say the facility could benefit banks, which have end of day processing or retailers that want to boost their infrastructure in time for Christmas.

Last month, Microsoft announced the release of its cloud server product - named Azure - which contains low-level scalable storage, computation and networking platforms as well as facilities to store, share and synchronise documents, photos, files and information across PCs, phones, PC applications and websites.