By: Nicholas Kolakowski, eWeek
Microsoft’s Office 365 marks a substantial foray into cloud computing and carries some substantial risks for the company. For quite some time now, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and his executives have been touting an “all in” strategy regarding the cloud. That strategy predicts a gradual transition from desktop-based software to online subscription services, with businesses eventually paying a set amount per month to store their data and launch applications from Microsoft’s servers. In theory, this benefits businesses by reducing the need for on-premises servers and other IT infrastructure (and spares them the sometimes onerous process of updating their own software, since those updates are ported over the cloud). It also benefits Microsoft by turning customers into monthly subscribers, ensuring a steady revenue stream.
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