Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft
“In the wake of the pandemic, there’s no going back to the levels of digital adoption we saw two years ago; we can only move forward. And the future is the Microsoft Cloud.”
In this blog post, we summarize the key points from Satya Nadella’s opening keynote at Microsoft Inspire 2021. Microsoft Inspire is the largest annual partner event where Microsoft shares its vision and strategies for the coming year. Let's get inspired!
Microsoft Cloud
During the keynote, it became clear that Microsoft is investing in the cloud more than ever. Microsoft's ambition is to promote fundamental innovation that creates an entire ecosystem. The Microsoft Cloud helps enhance the digital capabilities of every organization while ensuring their independence and sovereignty. The Microsoft Cloud is based on trust in security, trust in technology, and trust in business model alignment.
Digital Infrastructure
“As we emerge from this pandemic, one thing is clear: Every organization is going to need more ubiquitous and decentralized computing power.”
Satya Nadella
We are undergoing radical changes in computer architecture that are affecting every business. Satya Nadella says that the Microsoft Cloud is the only cloud capable of supporting every organization's multicloud, hybrid, and edge computing needs. Microsoft has more than 60 data center regions worldwide, and it doesn't stop there. They are bringing the cloud closer and closer to where the data is generated.
To expand hybrid computing—so that organizations can build, manage, and deploy their applications anywhere—is Azure Arc an important part. With Azure Arc You can better secure your on-premises, multicloud, and remote environments and maintain consistent data management.
During the keynote, Satya Nadella also talked about Microsoft’s “enterprise metaverse“. This new platform layer brings together IoT, digital twins, and mixed reality. With Microsoft's Metaverse solutions, you can digital twins building everything that is physical or logical—from simple products to complex environments (energy distribution networks, warehouses, or factories)—then synchronizing them with the physical world, running simulations on them, and applying artificial intelligence to them.
Data & AI
“Data is the most strategic asset for every organization, and every business needs to achieve digital sovereignty over its own data.”
Satya Nadella
The Microsoft Cloud helps companies establish sovereignty over their own data and that of their customers. Azure Synapse is at the heart of this and combines data integration, data warehousing, and big data analytics, giving you the freedom to access data on your terms, at any scale.
Developer tools
“Now more than ever, the world needs technological advances that radically democratize creation. We need to expand access to skills, tools, and platforms, as well as connections and collaboration across communities, so that everyone can create and build.”
Satya Nadella
Today, application development is not just for professional developers, but also for subject matter experts, marketers, salespeople, customer service representatives, and others. The Microsoft Cloud offers developer tools for everyone—regardless of technical experience—across all platforms, whether it's Azure, Windows, or another cloud platform.
Think of powerful tools such as Visual Studio, GitHub and Microsoft Power Platform. During the keynote, Nadella spoke highly of an inspiring Rebecca Sackett's Power Platform Story, a woman who works at a small HVAC company in Houston, Texas. Even though she has no IT background, Rebecca uses Power Apps to develop more than 80 apps that help her company provide superior customer service.
In addition to the developer tools, there are Collaboration tools are also a key factor in the future success of businesses. Microsoft is therefore breaking down the silos between collaboration, communication, and business processes with tools such as Microsoft Teams, Power Platform and Dynamics 365.
Microsoft continues to push the boundaries in creating connected experiences between Dynamics 365 and Microsoft Teams. Over the past year, these two platforms have become increasingly integrated.
At Inspire, Satya Nadella announced that Teams customers now have access to Dynamics 365 data within Teams at no additional cost. >> Read more
Hybrid Work
“Hybrid work represents the biggest change in the way we work since the adoption of the 9-to-5 workday over a century ago. It will require a new operating model.”
Satya Nadella
Hybrid work offers tremendous opportunities. Every organization needs digital solutions to connect employees and keep them motivated, no matter where they work. The Microsoft Cloud supports everything an organization needs to adapt to hybrid work. Examples include Microsoft Teams, Dynamics 365 Guides, Microsoft Viva and Windows 365 (new!).
Satya Nadella proudly introduced Windows 365: the cloud version of Windows 10 and Windows 11 (which will be generally available later this year). With Windows 365, Microsoft is harnessing the power of the cloud to make Windows available not only on Windows devices, but on any device. This has never been done before.
With just a few clicks, you can set up your Cloud PC and have all your favorite apps, tools, and documents at your fingertips—on any device, anywhere in the world.
Windows 365 will be rolled out to the general public starting August 2, 2021, and will be available only to businesses for the time being.
Digital Adoption in Every Industry
“If there’s one trend that has defined the past year, it’s that digital adoption is accelerating in every industry.”
Satya Nadella
The Microsoft Cloud offers industry-specific solutions that help organizations accelerate time to value, increase the pace of innovation, and enhance agility. For example, over the past year, Microsoft has introduced cloud-based industry solutions for the financial services, healthcare, manufacturing, nonprofit, and retail sectors.
At Inspire, Nadella announced a new Microsoft Cloud solution that addresses a problem that is currently at the top of every customer’s priority list. “”Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability" is designed to help companies measure, understand, and manage their CO2 emissions, as well as set sustainability goals and take measurable action.
Trust and Safety
“Trust is the lifeblood of any business.”
Satya Nadella
Satya Nadella says that the Microsoft Cloud offers the very best and best-of-suite security capabilities. Microsoft's goal is to help every organization build a zero-trust architecture while reducing complexity, costs, and risks. Microsoft is recognized as a leader in cybersecurity, with leadership positions in five Gartner Magic Quadrants and seven Forrester Waves.
In our view, these were the most important statements and announcements made by Satya Nadella during his opening keynote at Microsoft Inspire 2021. It’s clear that Microsoft remains fully committed to the Microsoft Cloud to help partners and customers accelerate their digital transformation. If you’d like to watch the full keynote again, you can do so via the link below: https://news.microsoft.com/inspire2021/
Sources for this article:
* https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/expanding-partner-opportunity-microsoft-cloud-satya-nadella/
* https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/dynamics365/bdm/2021/07/14/bring-dynamics-365-into-the-flow-of-work-with-teams-at-no-additional-cost/
