September 26, 2013 Microsoft News Thursday: Windows Azure Multi-Factor Authentication Now Generally Available and more Server and Tools News...

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by STB Blogger

Windows Azure Multi-Factor Authentication Now Generally Available

Yesterday Microsoft announced the general availability of Windows Azure Multi-Factor Authentication (previously Active Authentication), which helps safeguard access to both data and applications by strengthening traditional sign-in methods, while still providing the simple sign-in that users want. The service supports cloud applications that use Windows Azure Active Directory, as well as on-premises using the Multi-Factor Authentication Server. For custom applications, there’s an SDK available. For more information about the service or to get started, check out the Windows Azure Blog.

Smart Government transformation made Possible Through Microsoft

With the help of open data solutions from Microsoft's partner Socrata, government organizations around the world are using their data to meet citizen demand for more efficient and responsive services. Two examples include: 

  • Code4Kenya – A program that provides funding to support the rapid development of software applications that incorporate public data.
  • The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) – CMS published information on the prices that hospitals charge for the 100 most common inpatient procedures.

A growing number of high-profile public-sector organizations are also meeting the “open data mandate” using the Socrata Open Data Platform on Windows Azure. They are using this solution to quickly launch comprehensive data portals where citizens can search, browse, and interact with public data sets—all in one place.

To learn more about how other government organizations are seizing the power of public data to transform government, please see the full whitepaper.