Microsoft killed Small Business Server (SBS) in July 2012, essentially telling channel partners and customers that all roads led to Office 365. At the time, many channel partners resisted the cloud computing wave. But gradually, Microsoft has improved its cloud partner programs and customers have warmed up to the cloud model.
Still, Microsoft SBS retains strong brand recognition among channel partners. And a recent Microsoft blog about potentially launching Windows Small Business Server v.Next turned plenty of heads. But the teaser headline was exactly that: A teaser with a plot twist.
Microsoft SBS: Pardon the Bait and Switch
Microsoft's goal with the blog? Educate channel partners about how to mix and match Windows Server 2012 R2, Office 365, and Azure for a best of breed solution that addresses:
- Directory Services
- File and Print
- Messaging
- Intranet Web
- SQL Server
- Remote Desktop Services
Alas, Windows Small Business Server (SBS) is still dead. Long live hybrid cloud...
