Microsoft Corp. and ClearSky Data announced yesterday, March 23, Friday, that they are entering into a licensing agreement. This will enable access to the Server Message Block (SMB) file transport technology developed by Microsoft to collaborate with ClearSky’s on-demand, hybrid cloud storage service for backup and disaster recovery (DR). This agreement helps the seamless transport of multiple files or programs between the tools of ClearSky and Windows simultaneously.
According to Micky Minhas, the head of Microsoft Technology Licensing, this agreement will help demonstrate how Microsoft’s SMB intellectual property is licensed to give rise to innovative cloud solutions that are streamlined with the Windows ecosystem.
Microsoft ClearSky partnership provides the latter with a more robust network file sharing protocol for enterprise-based cloud storage systems. According to ClearSky CTO and co-founder Laz Vekiarides, the cloud transfer would then be seamless, and easier access to applications and efficient management of data would then be possible.
The partnership showcases Microsoft’s commitment to licensing intellectual property (IP). This will ensure the maintenance of a healthy and vibrant technology ecosystem. Ever since Microsoft’s launch of its IP licensing program in the December of 2003, there have been almost 1,200 licensing agreements.
As for Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC, it was formed in the year 2014 so as to acquire, manage and license its patent portfolio.
ClearSky® is a deliverer of on-demand primary storage, offsite backup, and DR as part of a single service. It also provides enterprise IT teams with a flash performance of on-premises storage and flexibility of cloud storage by bringing down storage costs by more than 50%.
This service allows enterprises to access all data on-premise or cloud-based, whenever necessary, without the need for replication. This on-demand service is elastic, so as to allow upscaling or downsizing of services as per necessity.
