Schneider Electric selects Microsoft Windows Azure for StruxureWare

Energy management specialist Schneider Electric has selected Microsoft Windows Azure, a cloud computing and infrastructure platform, as a preferred cloud provider for the company’s StruxureWare software applications and suites. StruxureWare helps companies manage and monitor their sustainability initiatives, optimise their current operations and better manage their sites and processes.

Windows Azure is already in use in Schneider Electric’s Orbit, a mobile field data-collection solution for ArcFM. The technology expands Schneider Electric’s ability to rapidly deploy public, private and hybrid cloud solutions.

StruxureWare users can achieve gains in speed of processing, providing instant access to the web-accessible software. Additionally, virtualisation and automation software tools can be scaled, replicated and rolled out globally, with local language support and reduced cost of entry. Users benefit from lower installation and maintenance costs due to the elimination of on-premises IT infrastructure.

The cloud functionality allows users to leverage installed investments through secure cloud connectivity to existing energy metering and monitoring systems. It also increases mobility by providing access to information within the StruxureWare software applications on the go. Schneider Electric software developers benefit from Windows Azure’s pay-as-you-go structure, allowing resources to be switched on and off, as needed, to further reduce costs. This functionality promotes systems integration by providing a flexible systems architecture based on open standards and protocols, while also enhancing portability.

Schneider Electric’s direct access to Microsoft cloud computing technology resources and programs accelerates software development programs, lowers research and development and operational costs and minimises large capital expenditure. The company will leverage the cyber-security expertise and industry security compliance provided by Windows Azure to protect data and privacy. Schneider Electric will also team with the Microsoft sales and marketing resources for global support.

The deal builds upon Schneider Electric and Microsoft’s Global Alliance partnership agreement, which develops integrated solutions for data centres and smart infrastructure with the shared support of technical, sales and marketing resources. Microsoft and Schneider Electric are also working together on the CityNext initiative, which aims to help leaders create smarter cities.