There's a storm a comin'

More bits and pieces of Microsoft's .NET puzzle are falling into place, the latest being a repository of personal data called HailStorm. This is Microsoft's big play for the .NET package, the place were we are all expected to keep our credit card

More bits and pieces of Microsoft's .NET puzzle are falling into place, the latest being a repository of personal data called HailStorm. This is Microsoft's big play for the .NET package, the place were we are all expected to keep our credit card details, address and phone numbers, appointments, and whatever else we may need to know at a moment's notice during the online day.

Of course, we have to pay a monthly servicefee for having all our personal information in Microsoft's hands. It seems like a good idea, being able to simply click a button to let Amazon.com know everything it needs to get a new book to you. HailStorm also tracks appointments, which means that your schedule is accessible wherever you are, and likewise updateable on the move, regardless of the platform doing the updating.

But this is inarguably a case of having all your eggs in one basket, and a basket which is renowned for its poor security record. HailStorm will be up and running hopefully by year's end, and Microsoft's biggests stumbling block on that long road, which the company acknowledges, is to make it airtight and secure, more secure than any Microsoft product has ever been in the past.
HailStorm in Microsoft's own words