Today Intel announced Intel AppUpSM Small Business Service, a service running on the Intel Hybrid Cloud platform that offer small businesses the advantages of cloud computing, but with applications and data running on their own premises.

The service consists of a server reference design, a catalog of prepackaged small business applications from a range of software providers, and Intel-developed software to manage and track use of the application software. Intel's Customers access the solution through service providers, paying on a monthly basis for the software they use, just like in the cloud, but getting the responsiveness and control of running their applications and data onsite.

"We developed the Intel AppUp Small Business Service to build a foundation on which the industry can innovate and provide small business customers with a more convenient, secure, and high-performance experience," said Bridget Karlin, general manager, Intel Hybrid Cloud. "Small businesses are the ultimate beneficiaries because this service gives them a compelling new option for improving their business results through IT.This Intel-based solution comes ready to use, and doesn't require their own IT staff or the capital cost of a server."

The Intel AppUp Small Business Service's offerings include use of a subscription-based delivery model for software applications. Intel-developed software activates, deactivates, and then tracks the customer's usage of those applications on a platform that is secured using Intel Trusted Execution Technology (Intel TXT) in Intel Xeon processors.

Each month, that server tracks software usage and sends a secure encrypted report to an Intel data center. Intel invoices the small business's service provider, which bills the small business customer.

In addition, service providers can remotely manage their customers' servers that employ this Intel Hybrid Cloud reference design by using a Web portal hosted by Intel and secured by a Web application firewall and HTTPS encrypted communication. Using Intel Active Management Technology (Intel AMT), service providers can remotely troubleshoot, diagnose, and support the servers, saving the time and cost of sending a technician onsite in most cases.

Initial server platforms include the Lenovo ThinkServer TS200v and a white box server. A range of additional server models from Acer, NEC and others will soon be available.

The Intel AppUp Small Business Service is available now to qualified IT service providers and MSPs in North America and India. Intel expects to expand the program to other countries.