Microsofts new toolset brings analytics to ambient intelligence [Video]

The new Azure ISS service targets the growing amount of machine data, and Microsoft has updated its data warehouse software for Hadoop as well

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Microsoft is targeting the growing volume of data being generated by both machines and humans. CEO Satya Nadella on Tuesday showed off tools that could help organizations better understand — and profit from — this trove of information.

One new hosted service, called the Azure ISS (Intelligent Systems Service), promises to ease the process of managing machine data from sensors and devices connected in the so-called Internet of Things. ISS is now available as a limited public preview.

Microsoft has also released APS (Analytics Platform System), an update and expansion of what was formerly called the Parallel Data Warehouse. APS can combine query results from relational data in SQL Server databases and non-relational data captured by Hadoop.

In addition, the company has launched SQL Server 2014, the first edition of Microsoft’s relational database system …