Microsoft expands Azure features aimed at $10 billion Pentagon contract decision as Google drops out

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by Radu Tyrsina 

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Several big tech companies are currently in a race to win the Pentagon’s $10 billion JEDI cloud contract, and after Google pulled out from the fight yesterday, Microsoft is now touting an upcoming expansion of its Azure Government Secret cloud service (via Reuters). Microsoft first announced Azure Government Secret back in October, and today Julia White, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Azure said that new Azure Regions dedicated to secret US classified data will be available in Q1 2019.

“We are making major progress in delivering this cloud designed to meet the regulatory and compliance requirements of the Department of Defense and the Intelligence Community,” the exec wrote in a blog post today. “In addition, to meet the growing demand and requirements of the U.S. Government, we are confirming our intent to deliver Azure Government services to meet the highest classification requirements, with capabilities for handling Top Secret U.S. classified data.“

With JEDI (Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure), the Pentagon is planning a major revamp of its IT infrastructure. Microsoft may not be able to win this multi-billion-dollar contract over Amazon, but Microsoft’s Julia White emphasized today that the company’s expanded Azure Government Secret Cloud service would make it “a strong option for the JEDI contract.”

Radu Tyrsina

Radu Tyrsina Shield

Radu Tyrsina has been a Windows fan ever since he got his first PC, a Pentium III (a monster at that time). For most of the kids of his age, the Internet was an amazing way to play and communicate with others, but he was deeply impressed by the flow of information and how easily you can find anything on the web. Prior to founding Windows Report, this particular curiosity about digital content enabled him to grow a number of sites that helped hundreds of millions reach faster the answer they're looking for.