Page 50 - SAMENA Trends - November-December 2019

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Microsoft and NTT Form a Strategic Alliance to Enable New Digital Solutions

NTT Corporation (NTT) and Microsoft Corp. announced a multi- Development of digital enterprise solutions
year strategic alliance aimed at delivering secure and reliable The alliance also covers the development of digital solutions built
solutions that help enterprise customers accelerate their digital on Microsoft Azure to empower enterprises to accelerate their
transformations. The alliance will bring together NTT’s best-in- digital transformation and to operate more securely from the
class ICT infrastructure, managed services and cybersecurity enterprise to the edge to the cloud. Key initiatives include advanced
expertise, with Microsoft’s trusted cloud platform and AI analytics for cybersecurity threat intelligence, social robotics with
technologies. Key initiatives of the alliance include the creation of relational AI for digital companions, digital workplace solutions,
a Global Digital Fabric, development of digital enterprise solutions as well as knowledge discovery and management.
built on Microsoft Azure, and co-innovation of next-generation Co-innovation of next-generation technologies
technologies in the area of all-photonics network and digital The alliance will also explore research and development of all-
twin computing. As one of the world’s largest global technology photonics network and digital twin computing as part of NTT’s
and business solution organizations, NTT provides integrated Innovative Optical and Wireless Network (IOWN) concept. The
services that include digital business consulting and managed goal is to provide a more natural interaction between people,
services for cybersecurity, applications, cloud, datacenters and nature and technology, and to support sustainable growth with an
global networks in over 190 countries and regions. As part of the optical-based networking and information processing platform
strategic alliance, NTT has chosen Microsoft Azure as its preferred of the future. Furthermore, NTT and Microsoft are committed to
cloud platform for modernizing its global IT infrastructure harnessing the power of technology for a more sustainable future.
and customer solutions in the areas of advanced analytics for The companies intend to work together to invest in innovative
cybersecurity threat intelligence and the hybrid-IT management projects that leverage technology to build on NTT’s sustainability
platform. “NTT is committed to helping enterprises realize initiatives and Microsoft’s AI for Earth grants. “NTT and Microsoft
their digital transformation initiatives to help create a smarter have a long history of collaboration, and this strategic alliance
world. We believe that the combination of the Microsoft Azure will further deepen our partnership. We share the same vision of
platform along with NTT’s connected infrastructure and service empowering enterprises and society with intelligent and secure
delivery capabilities will accelerate these efforts. Additionally, the technologies for a better and more sustainable future,” said Jun
companies will collaborate on IOWN, including areas such as all- Sawada, President and CEO of NTT.
photonics network and digital twin computing,” said Jun Sawada,
President and CEO of NTT. “Our strategic alliance combines NTT’s
global infrastructure and services expertise with the power of
Azure,” said Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft. “Together, we will build
new solutions spanning AI, cybersecurity and hybrid cloud, as we
work to help enterprise customers everywhere accelerate their
digital transformation.”
Key initiatives of the alliance include:
Formation of a Global Digital Fabric
Global Digital Fabric is a combination of Microsoft Cloud and
NTT’s globally connected ICT infrastructure. It brings together
the strengths of the two companies in the areas of productivity
solutions, public cloud, global datacenter and network
infrastructure. The Global Digital Fabric aims to create a highly
sustainable, secure and robust environment for enterprises to
accelerate their digital ambitions around the world.

KPMG Enters 5-Year Agreement with Microsoft to Accelerate Digital
Transformation

KPMG, a global network of professional to invest $5 billion in its digital strategy. Through this cloud platform, KPMG will
services firms providing Audit, Tax and KPMG is modernizing its workplace using create a set of cloud-based capabilities
Advisory services, has entered into a the Microsoft 365 suite of cloud-based ranging from hosting infrastructure based
five-year agreement with Microsoft collaboration and productivity tools, on Microsoft Azure to more than 50
Corp. (MSFT) to accelerate digital including Microsoft Teams. The company advanced solutions, such as AI, cyber and
transformation for KPMG member firms is also utilizing Microsoft Azure and Azure robotic process automation.
and mutual clients. KPMG anticipates AI for a new global cloud-based platform.

50 NOVEMBER 2019