Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ) joined forces to pitch a range of cloud-based services to highly regulated companies. Exchange, SharePoint and Lync services will be available via private cloud, public cloud and hybrid cloud offerings, reports InformationWeek's Doug Henschen.

HP provides private cloud services that tout capabilities for complying with security, service quality, archiving and other regulatory requirements. Microsoft delivers public cloud services via Office 365. They hybrid offering will combine Office 365 with the private Exchange, Sharepoint and Lync services, and companies will be able to purchase a combination of the offerings but it will function like one service, Henschen reports.

An example of the targeted customer would be a bank that needs to maintain a private cloud environment for investment and internal financial data, but can make do with the public cloud Office 365 environment for sales reps or consultants. 

"With this approach, a CIO can feel comfortable that [he or she is] meeting compliance needs and paying for only what's needed for each end user on a monthly basis," Patricia Wilkey, HP's global director of marketing, workplace services, HP Enterprise Services, told InformationWeek.

HP brings to the partnership data centers located in nearly every country and a commensurate understanding of different national regulations. Its private cloud offerings differ from a hosting arrangement with Microsoft because hosting customers purchase fixed contracts while the HP private cloud customers contract on a monthly basis, Henschen reports.

For more:
- see Doug Henschen's article at InformationWeek

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