How will it help?
According to the company, with the datacenters now giving both Azure and Office 365 for public use, industries such as banking, government, public sector and healthcare will be able to meet their customers’ needs, the regulatory requirements they are held to, and the need for local data residency and replication for business continuity.
In an official blog Takeshi Numoto, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Cloud and Enterprise, stated that with the availability of the new UK regions, Azure now offers customers 28 regions, with six more coming soon for a total of 34.
More than any other major cloud provider. In addition, Microsoft Cloud services have earned the broadest set of compliance certifications and attestations of any public cloud provider. In the first half of 2017, Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online will join the currently available line up in the UK.
Geographical localization
With more localized datacenters, various governments, agencies and businesses using Microsoft offerings around the globe will be able to meet compliance and transparency regulations and keep a tab on where the applications and data are being stored.
Mike Stone, Chief Defense Information Officer, Ministry of Defense, UK said:
Microsoft’s secure and transparent cloud service in the UK fits perfectly with the MOD’s digital transformation agenda. This agreement, which is based on Microsoft’s world-class reliability and performance, will allow us to deliver cost-effective, modern and flexible information capabilities. It will ensure we are better-placed in our ever-changing, digital-first world.
Microsoft in its blog also stated that companies like South London & Maudsley (SLAM) NHS Trust, the country’s largest mental health trust, and the Ministry of Defense (MoD). The MoD, which employs more than 230,000 people and currently spends over £3 billion (approx. $4 billion) on its infrastructure every year, will use Office 365 and Azure, citing both value and security as key reasons to use the Microsoft Cloud.
