Layer2 Cloud Connector Released To Simplify Microsoft Cloud Integration with SharePoint, Dynamics and Azure – Layer2 has announced version 4.5 of the Cloud Connector for Office 365 and SharePoint. The “Swiss-Army Knife” of cloud data integration and synchronization closes many gaps that still exists with Microsoft’s out-of-the-box cloud offerings.
Quickly synchronize almost any business data with the cloud
The Layer2 Cloud Connector seamlessly integrates applications hosted in public or private clouds, as well as applications and data hosted on premises by codeless data synchronization – without the need to open the corporate network for the internet. It directly empowers departmental subject matter experts and reduces the dependency on corporate IT helping teams get up and running faster. They don’t need to be experts in web services or web security. No cloud installation, system configuration changes, programming or administrative rights are required.
“With the Layer2 Cloud Connector it is not only about connecting the data entities and surfacing the data in the Microsoft cloud, it’s about much deeper integration. The connector synchronizes pre-selected data sources with the cloud, e.g. with native SharePoint Online lists or libraries automatically in background. This straightforward concept makes all features of the specific services fully available for the synchronized data without any restrictions, e.g. for search, change notifications or workflows”, Frank Daske, Product Manager at Layer2, explains the benefits of the connector. “Data synchronization provides a simplified architecture, where users are working with copies of the original source data cached in the cloud, with highest performance and at a maximum security level. No additional user CALs are required for the connected systems, like databases, Dynamics CRM or SAP.”
Almost any data sources connected to the cloud codeless
To connect a data source a connection provider, connection string and a common data query must be provided. The current version now supports almost any corporate data sources, e.g. databases like Microsoft SQL Server and SQL Azure, MySQL, Oracle, Informix, DB2, AS/400, FileMaker, data files like Excel, Access, Dbase/FoxPro or CSV/XML, applications like Active Directory, Exchange or SharePoint (on-premise or cloud-based), ERP/CRM systems like SAP, Navision, Dynamics ERP/CRM or Salesforce, cloud-based services like RSS Feeds, Twitter, Facebook, Google and also generic provider like OLEDB, ODBC, OData or other custom or 3rd party .NET-based provider. File shares can be synchronized as well, e.g. with SharePoint on-premise or Online libraries.
Free Shareware Edition to download after registration
The Layer2 Cloud Connector comes with a robust installer to be easily deployed locally with support for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows operating systems. It provides a Connection Manager as well as a Windows Service for background update. Specific data providers are included, e.g. for OData, XML, File System, SharePoint and Exchange. Already installed 3rd party providers can also be used.
You can register and download a completely free Shareware Edition directly at the vendor’s product pages after registration. To overcome the shareware limitations you can license several different editions, e.g. for private, professional or enterprise requirements. A Software Assurance (SA) is offered to protect the customer’s investment with free updates and upgrades, if required.
Partner program for resellers and implementation partners
Layer2 apps are successfully used by small, mid-sized, and larger companies and organizations around the world like The Coca-Cola Company, Bauer Inc, IBM, Deloite, the US Defense Department, NATO, United Nations, leading banking groups and insurance agencies. A cost-free partner program was launched to better support resellers and local implementation partners. Registered partners receive up to 30% commission for each license sale. Additionally partners can receive qualified leads, free NFR Editions for internal use and priority support to accelerate their own cloud projects by implementing Layer2 solutions.
Further information
About Layer 2 GmbH
As a Microsoft Gold Certified Partner and ISV based in Hamburg (Germany), Layer2 is one of the leading providers of Microsoft SharePoint, Office 365 and Azure apps in Europe with a major focus on Data Integration, Collaborative Knowledge Management, Social Networking and Cloud Computing. Layer2 has also been known as a reliable partner to customers in Central Europe, offering additional consulting and services in the fields of SharePoint, .NET programming and IT infrastructure for more than 20 years.