Monday, Microsoft said it has more than doubled its cloud capacity in Europe in the past year and has invested $3 billion in the region to date.
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and President Brad Smith were sharing the company’s cloud policy with business leaders, developers and entrepreneurs in an event Dublin, Ireland.
As part of the cloud momentum, Microsoft announced plans to offer Microsoft Azure, Office 365 and Dynamics 365 from multiple datacenter locations in France. Initial availability is anticipated in 2017.
Currently, Microsoft offers cloud services to its European customers from data centers in UK and Germany. The Netherlands, Ireland, Austria and Finland also host Microsoft data centers in the region.
Nadella noted that new investments in cloud are helping customers — including the UK Ministry of Defence, the Renault-Nissan Alliance, Ireland’s Health Service Executive and ZF from Germany.
“We continue to invest heavily in cloud infrastructure to meet the growing demand from European customers and partners,” said Nadella.
“Building a global, trusted, intelligent cloud platform is core to our mission to empower every person and organization on the planet to achieve more. There’s never been a better time for organizations across Europe to seize new growth and opportunity with the Microsoft Cloud.”
Also part of its cloud strategy, Microsoft announced the release of a book called “A Cloud for Global Good” that details 78 public policy recommendations to help make cloud technologies more trusted, responsible and inclusive.
The book talks about next-generation skills, enhancing security and privacy in the digital age, environmental sustainability, keeping communities safe, and securing a bright future for all our children.
“Cloud computing has the potential to solve some of our world’s most challenging issues, but, as with all technological advancements, it raises important questions for society,” said Brad Smith.
“We must work together to build a cloud for global good. Our hope is that the ideas shared in this book will help move technology forward while ensuring no one is left behind.”
In the cloud marketplace, Microsoft competes with Amazon and Google, and the company bets on its European investment plan to win over its rivals.
Nadella’s four-day European tour includes stops in Dublin, Paris, Berlin and London. He is scheduled to meet with European customers, partners, developers and government leaders during the visit.
