Beta Guide: Managing and Operating a Microsoft Private Cloud with MOF Application

After spending the last few months involved in writing a book that included a chapter on Systems Management with the Microsoft Operations Framework and Private Cloud components, it's typical that when I finish the writing process that Microsoft have just announced the release of the 'Managing and Operating a Microsoft Private Cloud-How to Apply the Microsoft Operations Framework (MOF) Beta' guide that covers most of what I was trying to research!

The guide is available on the Microsoft Connect site and you will need to click on the link below to register (if you aren't already registered) and then download the guide:

https://connect.microsoft.com/site14/InvitationUse.aspx?ProgramID=1880&InvitationID=MOFN-M6H9-PV3X

The following is an excerpt from the Overview section of the guide to give you a feel for what's contained in it:

Overview

This guide describes how to manage and operate a Microsoft private cloud using the service management processes of the Microsoft® Operations Framework (MOF). MOF is a framework that helps IT organizations plan, create, operate, and support IT services that deliver expected business value at an acceptable level of risk.

The guide assumes an organization has already built an infrastructure-as-a-service private cloud environment based on one of Microsoft’s three private cloud options, using the conceptual architecture and technical components that are recommended. More information about those options can be found in the “Microsoft Private Cloud” section of this guide.

The guide applies MOF’s IT service management principles to that conceptual architecture and technology stack. However, the guide’s approach and principles can be applied to any private cloud, regardless of the technology used, with the understanding that the specific technical references will not be relevant.

If you have deployed System Center 2012 or are planning on implementing it over the coming months, then this guide is essential reading before you deploy to get you in the correct frame of mind when designing your ITSM processes.