#Azure Action – Weekly Newsletter – 4th February 2011

clip_image00132222222Local Overview

  clip_image001422222222 Readiness & Resources

Reading:

Watch:

Case Study

Tools:

  • SQL Azure TCO Calculator - compare the cost of SQL Azure databases to other alternatives
  • Web based Windows Azure storage Management tool (watch for password caching):*thanks to Tom Hollander for link

Introduction

clip_image0011022222222Guidance:

Walkthrough:

Design

clip_image001622222222 In the news:

General news:

“The entire complex will initially cover some 646,000 square feet, according to IBM, which is collaborating with a Chinese company to build it.

“pure IaaS is largely the domain of the technical folks“

Microsoft

Windows Azure

clip_image0011222222222Events:

Local:

  • Cloud Computing Forum – Run by Orion VM (Sheng Yeo) First Friday in March – details coming soon

Webinar:

clip_image001822222222Community:

Like Azure?

Become a fan: www.facebook.com/windowsazure (Azure Facebook Toolkit)

Want answers? See the forums

Recorded but not yet publishe: CloudCast - an audio series featuring myself, Rab Thynne, Tom Hollander and Michael Rosic

Coming in March: Azure Meetups!

January/February community web cast boot camps

clip_image00132222222Questions

This week a few basic questions answered on the Windows Azure App Fabric Access Control Service (ACS)?

Q: What are the key components of the ACS?

  • A Management Portal - a user interface that you can use to create and manage
  • A Management Service - a programmatic interface to allow consumer to interact with ACS resources
  • A Token-Exchange Endpoint - issues security tokens
  • SDK - Tools and Samples to manage access to ACS

Q: I prefer to learn by watching. What videos are there?

A: Some examples here:

Q: I'm keen to get started. Where can I learn how to implement an Access Controlled Service?

A: Channel 9 - Getting Started with ACS

Q: Can I use the ACS with existing on-premise applications?

A: Yes. For example Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Q: How does ACS deal with the issue of threat management?

A: Read Windows Azure AppFabric Access Control Service (ACS) v2 – Threats & Countermeasures

Q: How much does ACS cost?

A: As of late last year the cost per 100,000 transactions was roughly 2 USD. See pricing

Q: What's coming in ACS 2.0?

A: In addition to authentication by other security providers,. each of the key components of ACS have been upgraded and setup and interactions made easier.

More questions? Go to the Windows Azure AppFabric CTP Forum