While shifting to the use of cloud-based technologies presents a multitude of opportunities for cost-savings and efficiency benefits, it also fosters a host of security challenges for businesses.

In response to this rising trend, cloud and network service provider, Cbeyond (News - Alert) Inc., will conduct a complimentary breakfast seminar with Microsoft to provide attendees with best practices for leveraging cloud solutions while ensuring data remains secure and compliant.

“Transitioning to the cloud presents a range of unique challenges for businesses, but also a great opportunity to improve efficiency, reduce costs and enhance security,” said Fred White, senior director of cloud services project management at Cbeyond. “We are thrilled to partner with Microsoft (News - Alert) to share insight that will help businesses strengthen their overall cloud-enabled IT capabilities and realize the benefits the cloud provides.”

Sarah Barela, manager of database services at Cbeyond, will join Keith Keeler, a partner engagement manager in Microsoft’s Partner Hosting and Cloud Services division, to outline steps businesses can take to ensure critical applications – namely the Microsoft SQL Server 2012 platform – are secure in the cloud.

Coinciding with the beginning of hurricane season, the event will address the importance of securing data in the case of natural and man-made disasters.

SQL Server 2012 is a so-called cloud-ready platform that helps businesses build solutions and extend data across on-premises and public clouds. The platform also helps users to develop and connect private clouds to SQL server databases for greater flexibility, security and control over where data lives.

Cbeyond also recently announced the limited release of Windows Server 2012 beta, which provides IT professionals and developers the flexibility to deploy current and existing applications and websites on-premises, in the cloud, or both. Cbeyond has also made its SQL Server Support services available to end-users. The SQL Server Support program provides interaction with virtual database administrators to ensure mission-critical data storage and retrieval workloads are operating with maximum performance.

To find out more about Cbeyond, visit the company at ITEXPO West 2012. To be held Oct. 2-5 at the Austin Convention Center in Austin, TX, ITEXPO (News - Alert) is the world’s premier IP communications event.  Visit Cbeyond in Rm. #M10. For more information on ITEXPO West 2012 click here.