Today at MIX, Microsoft unveiled Microsoft SQL Server™ Data Services (SSDS), a Web-facing utility-based service designed for businesses and developers that need scalable, highly available, secure and easily programmable on-demand data storage with robust database query capabilities.

What SSDS offers:

• Virtually limitless, on-demand scalability. Customers pay only for the resources actually consumed
• Reduced costs.  Customers use the service with minimal up-front infrastructure and operational cost. Businesses can minimize their initial investment in hardware and software and the on-going cost for storage administration, scale maintenance.
• Universal access.  SSDS supports simple web-programming interfaces like SOAP and REST for quick provisioning of web applications. Primary wire format is XML for data interchange.These easy to use, standards-based interfaces enable developers to focus on innovating with data quickly.

Microsoft SSDS is built upon existing Microsoft SQL Server relational database technologies, and will include a strong service level agreement (SLA) for business continuity. This will cover high availability, performance, and protection against data loss.

For more information, check out the SSDS Home Page, or The Data Platform Insider.