Using Microsoft Office as a true web application in a browser: the association for the cloud computing industry, EuroCloud Deutschland eco, awarded this solution the new SaaS seal of approval at CeBIT. Pironet NDH received the highest score of five stars for its Office from the cloud. As part of this process, the auditors for the EuroCloud Star Audit SaaS evaluated certain criteria such as operational security, compliance, form of contract, infrastructure and service.
New software architecture for the cloud
As one of the first ever services of its kind, the award-winning SaaS (Software as a Service) solution is based on the Office web apps for companies, the cloud variant of Office 2010 and Microsoft's response to Google's Cloud Office. At Pironet NDH, MS Office is presented as a true web application in the browser and is known as a Rich Internet Application (RIA).
"With the web apps, Microsoft is providing a new software architecture for the cloud computing age," explains Khaled Chaar, Director of Business Strategy at Pironet NDH. "The software is no longer optimised for installation on local PCs, but instead for running in data centres and visualisation in a web browser. Instead of providing the service to a few dozen clients on a virtual server, we can now supply hundreds or thousands of users with an application service."
Product test for modern software services from the cloud
Chaar views the SaaS seal of approval from the EuroCloud Association as an important tool in promoting the development of modern cloud services: "In the long term, the application environments in companies are facing a technological revolution. Solutions such as Rich Internet Applications will replace inefficient client-server architectures. Companies require guidance in this transformation process. In this regard, the SaaS seal of approval ensures increased market transparency and sensible quality criteria."
Cloud Office becomes a "Social Office"
With the Cloud Office from Pironet NDH, teamwork is not a problem. The web apps are run together with Sharepoint, the document management system from Microsoft, which brings with it extensive opportunities for collaboration. Employees are able to edit Office documents together online, manage different versions and agree on approval processes.
Entry-level solution for medium-sized companies
The ICT service provider is positioning its Cloud Office as an entry-level solution for medium-sized companies in its own portfolio: companies obtain Office with the well-established basic functions from the market leader, Microsoft, via a web browser. To do this, each user will be given e-mail access via Web Exchange as well as its own online storage space. In addition to this, Pironet NDH guarantees fixed quality undertakings (service levels), a personal service manager, as well as continuous 24-hour telephone support. The Cloud Office is only produced in German data centres. According to information supplied by the provider, the licence fee for the package will only be a few euros per user per month.
Web Office integrated into Enterprise environment
Clients additionally have the option to use the Cloud Office in conjunction with other on-demand and outsourcing services of the ICT service provider, such as a with a complete PC desktop from the cloud based on Windows 7. "Medium-sized companies are expecting holistic solutions to their IT requirements. Companies are not helped by mass-service from the cloud," is how Chaar explains the product policy. "Consequently, we integrate all our cloud services into an over-arching service offer, which merges the client server and cloud computing architectures into a complete solution."
About the EuroCloud Star Audit SaaS
The EuroCloud Star Audit SaaS is the quality standard of EuroCloud Deutschland_eco (www.eurocloud.de) for SaaS applications. Independent auditors verify cloud services providers in the fields of contract and compliance, security, operation and infrastructure, processes, application and implementation. Depending on requirements, different certification levels can be obtained. The EuroCloud Star Audit SaaS assists users in selecting the right provider and creates security and transparency in the cloud services market.
New software architecture for the cloud
As one of the first ever services of its kind, the award-winning SaaS (Software as a Service) solution is based on the Office web apps for companies, the cloud variant of Office 2010 and Microsoft's response to Google's Cloud Office. At Pironet NDH, MS Office is presented as a true web application in the browser and is known as a Rich Internet Application (RIA).
"With the web apps, Microsoft is providing a new software architecture for the cloud computing age," explains Khaled Chaar, Director of Business Strategy at Pironet NDH. "The software is no longer optimised for installation on local PCs, but instead for running in data centres and visualisation in a web browser. Instead of providing the service to a few dozen clients on a virtual server, we can now supply hundreds or thousands of users with an application service."
Product test for modern software services from the cloud
Chaar views the SaaS seal of approval from the EuroCloud Association as an important tool in promoting the development of modern cloud services: "In the long term, the application environments in companies are facing a technological revolution. Solutions such as Rich Internet Applications will replace inefficient client-server architectures. Companies require guidance in this transformation process. In this regard, the SaaS seal of approval ensures increased market transparency and sensible quality criteria."
Cloud Office becomes a "Social Office"
With the Cloud Office from Pironet NDH, teamwork is not a problem. The web apps are run together with Sharepoint, the document management system from Microsoft, which brings with it extensive opportunities for collaboration. Employees are able to edit Office documents together online, manage different versions and agree on approval processes.
Entry-level solution for medium-sized companies
The ICT service provider is positioning its Cloud Office as an entry-level solution for medium-sized companies in its own portfolio: companies obtain Office with the well-established basic functions from the market leader, Microsoft, via a web browser. To do this, each user will be given e-mail access via Web Exchange as well as its own online storage space. In addition to this, Pironet NDH guarantees fixed quality undertakings (service levels), a personal service manager, as well as continuous 24-hour telephone support. The Cloud Office is only produced in German data centres. According to information supplied by the provider, the licence fee for the package will only be a few euros per user per month.
Web Office integrated into Enterprise environment
Clients additionally have the option to use the Cloud Office in conjunction with other on-demand and outsourcing services of the ICT service provider, such as a with a complete PC desktop from the cloud based on Windows 7. "Medium-sized companies are expecting holistic solutions to their IT requirements. Companies are not helped by mass-service from the cloud," is how Chaar explains the product policy. "Consequently, we integrate all our cloud services into an over-arching service offer, which merges the client server and cloud computing architectures into a complete solution."
About the EuroCloud Star Audit SaaS
The EuroCloud Star Audit SaaS is the quality standard of EuroCloud Deutschland_eco (www.eurocloud.de) for SaaS applications. Independent auditors verify cloud services providers in the fields of contract and compliance, security, operation and infrastructure, processes, application and implementation. Depending on requirements, different certification levels can be obtained. The EuroCloud Star Audit SaaS assists users in selecting the right provider and creates security and transparency in the cloud services market.
