HP announced it is expanding its Converged Cloud portfolio with joint HP and Microsoft solutions that simplify and enhance every aspect of a client’s private cloud journey.

The HP and Microsoft Joint Private Cloud initiative features optimized, preintegrated solutions based on extensive joint technology development, and offers one-stop-shop life cycle sales and support.

While organizations are attracted by the flexibility and financial benefits of cloud, they are struggling with how to get started quickly while addressing risk areas such as data loss, security and vendor lock-in. By providing a clear, proven path along with a single-vendor client experience, HP and Microsoft are greatly simplifying and accelerating the evolution to cloud computing.

The agreement between HP and Microsoft Corp. builds on the HP Converged Cloud strategy to extend the power of the cloud across infrastructure, applications and information, providing customers with choice, confidence and consistency. As the industry’s first strategy and portfolio based on a single open architecture, HP Converged Cloud enables the integration of any combination of private, managed and public cloud, as well as traditional IT.

The new HP and Microsoft Joint Private Cloud initiative includes:

- Accelerated on-ramp to cloud deployment with new preintegrated solutions and reference architectures

- Simplified management across both physical and virtual environments with comprehensive management integration

- Trusted single-source engagement with Windows Server 2012 and Microsoft System Center 2012 SP1 available directly from HP

“As customers move to private clouds, they are looking for a simplified approach that minimizes risks, increases their flexibility and allows for greater cost savings,” said Stephen DeWitt, Sr. VP, Enterprise Group, HP. “Through this relationship with Microsoft, we’re providing customers with a trusted, single-source experience to provide them an easy on-ramp to cloud.”

“Because Windows Server 2012 was built from the cloud up, it represents a transformational leap for businesses. The HP Converged Cloud solutions with Windows Server 2012 give customers a clear path to go beyond virtualization and accelerate their journey to the cloud,” said Michael Park, Corporate VP, Windows Server Marketing, Microsoft. “With this private cloud agreement and more than 30 years of proven cooperation, HP and Microsoft are committed to helping customers drive success for their organizations as they experience the benefits of the cloud.”

The integrated HP CloudSystem offerings include comprehensive interoperability between HP Insight Management and Microsoft System Center. This enables System Center to deploy, monitor and update HP infrastructure without the administrator having to switch between multiple consoles.

The HP and Microsoft integration enables enterprises to:

- Save time and training costs while consolidating operations with more than 1,400 points of integration between HP Insight Control and Microsoft System Center

- Reduce risk and remove the need for scheduled downtime with nondisruptive, cluster-aware firmware and driver updates for HP ProLiant servers

- Deliver seven times faster volume creation and live storage migration with minimal network impact using HP 3PAR and Windows Server 2012 offload data transfer (ODX)

- Allow IT departments to move virtual machines between sites up to 100 kilometers apart without disrupting end users.

Clients can procure the entire HP CloudSystem optimized for Windows Server and Microsoft System Center directly from HP or an HP authorized reseller. Clients get a single point of contact for their HP-Microsoft solutions, including purchase, deployment, integration and maintenance, as well as support to enhance the customer experience and speed resolution time.

In addition HP will be able to offer Windows Server 2012 and Systems Center 2012 at a price commensurate with a customer’s existing Microsoft Enterprise Agreement, enabling HP to match the pricing level and offer the value of an end-to-end solution transaction.

For HP customers purchasing cloud and virtualization solutions that include Windows Server and Microsoft System Center, HP’s pricing will be competitive with their current Enterprise or Select Plus agreement.

Select HP Converged Cloud solutions, including the HP Departmental Private Cloud Reference Architecture, are available now through HP and its worldwide channel partners. Solutions that require Systems Center 2012 SP1 will become available in early 2013.