Novell joins Microsoft Windows Azure Technology Adoption Program to Test and Validate Novell Cloud Security Service

Today Novell announced it has joined the Microsoft* Windows Azure* Technology Adoption Program to address cloud security challenges through the Novell® Cloud Security Service. Microsoft and Novell will work together on pre-release, non-commercial, internal testing and validation of Novell Cloud Security Service on Windows Azure with a goal to deliver a consistent access, security and compliance management framework for applications hosted on Microsoft's cloud application platform, Windows Azure.

According to research from the Cloud Security Alliance and Novell, managing and enforcing security in the cloud is a top concern among IT executives considering cloud-based solutions. The combination of Novell Cloud Security Service on Windows Azure reduces security concerns by leveraging seamless cross-platform authentication, single sign-on and audit for users. Interoperability between Novell Cloud Security Service and Windows Azure will allow businesses to save money when moving data resources to Windows Azure.

"Microsoft is excited to have Novell participate in the Windows Azure Technology Adoption Program. The Windows Azure platform enables Novell to deliver cloud-based services that extend the value of on-premise software without the need to manage technology infrastructure," said Robert Duffner, Director of Product Management for Windows Azure, Microsoft Corp. "Integrating Novell Cloud Security Service into Windows Azure ensures an identity, security and compliance management framework is in place to give our customers peace of mind without sacrificing investments in existing applications."

With Novell Cloud Security Service, developers using Windows Azure will be able to quickly and easily extend any business identity and access management infrastructure to Windows Azure. Changes made to user access permissions within an organization's application infrastructure using Novell Cloud Security Service will be immediately replicated in the cloud. The result will help customers using Windows Azure to deliver a consistent identity and security framework to address compliance needs in heterogeneous cloud environments, while keeping critical identity data secure behind customers' firewalls.

As cloud models mature and businesses look at cloud solutions to reduce costs and increase agility, security questions such as protecting data in the cloud and ensuring regulatory compliance are becoming increasingly important. Part of Novell's WorkloadIQ™ vision, Novell Cloud Security Service offers a multi-tenant environment with built-in metering, and auditing so cloud services providers, like Windows Azure, can offer a secure, compliant computing environment to their customers.

Windows Azure offers a simple, reliable and powerful cloud computing platform that enables customers to focus on business opportunities as opposed to operational hurdles. Windows Azure provides developers with on-demand compute and storage to host, scale and manage services on the Internet through Microsoft data centers.

"Running applications and storing data in the cloud can have clear benefits," said Josh Dorfman, director of Global Alliance Marketing at Novell. "Today's enterprises are embracing cloud services, but security is top of mind when it comes to the cloud. We are pleased to be working with Microsoft to offer an interoperable set of identity, security and compliance management products for Windows Azure. Our goal is to give service providers the ability to enable cloud computing while mitigating risk and maintaining compliance".