The program will provide ISVs with business and technical guidance, consulting services and access to an established hosting channel for the reliable and security-enhanced delivery of their applications to customers. Working closely with the ISV community, the program will help participating Web hosts develop key partnerships, expand their customer base and drive revenue.

"Through the SaaS Incubation Center Program, hosting providers are able to combine their traditional expertise in managing infrastructure and delivering services with business and design guidance to help ISVs embrace this new model," says John Zanni, director of Worldwide Hosting at Microsoft. "Building on the Microsoft Solution for Windows-based Hosting for Applications and the SaaS On-Ramp Program, the SaaS Incubation Center Program helps bring together the world-class infrastructure, consulting services and partnerships ISVs need to be successful."

The Microsoft SaaS Incubation Center Program has established a number of facilities operated by Microsoft partners, where ISVs are guided through a series of business and architectural consulting sessions to help ensure their business model and applications are ready for the challenges of service-based delivery.

Microsoft recently confirmed that its Windows Server DNS service was hit with "very limited, targeted attacks".