If Microsoft has its way, 10,000 SMBs will float on the cloud

MUMBAI, INDIA: Microsoft has launched a Cloud Accelerator Program to boost cloud adoption among the government organizations and the BFSI segment in India.

The announcement made at the 2015 Microsoft Azure Conference, being held in Pune, is in sync with the company’s announcement to offer Azure and Office365 services from local data centers by end of 2015. The company has already on-boarded 15 channel partners including HCL, Wipro and Tech Mahindra, and plans to enable 10,000 SMBs from 250 cities across the country, to the cloud.

Microsoft is witnessing rapid growth in cloud adoption in India and across the world.  In the quarter ending December 2014, Microsoft’s commercial cloud revenue grew 114 percent globally.  This was driven by Office 365, Microsoft Azure and Dynamics CRM Online.

Further, in a bid to enable the partners, Microsoft also launched cloud training programs—the Azure Vidyapeeth and the GuruVarta.  It will launched Cloud Decision Framework (CDF), an independent, open framework based on industry standards and regulator-guidelines. The framework builds on international ISO standards and incorporates India-specific guidelines from IRDA, IDRBT and the IT Act, thereby enabling customers to comply with local regulations.

“We are investing to provide cloud services from local data centers to help the government, BFSI and other regulated industries to take advantage of the cloud.  The Cloud Accelerator Program is designed to help India help Make in India a reality. This will open up new possibilities in e-governance, financial inclusion, healthcare, and education to positively impact the lives of a billion people,” said Bhaskar Pramanik, Chairman, Microsoft India.

Karan Bajwa, Managing Director, Microsoft India, said, “Our early-adopter customers are already seeing the benefits of cloud computing.”