As part of its Philanthropies division and its ‘Modern Non-profit’ campaign, Microsoft has announced that it will be making Microsoft Azure – the company’s open, flexible, enterprise-grade cloud computing platform – available to eligible non-profit and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). Qualifying NGO’s will receive credits for Microsoft’s Azure services that can be renewed annually. After credits run out, the subscription will convert into the commercially available “pay as you go offer,” and rates are available here.
This forms part of Microsoft’s ‘Public Cloud for Good’ initiative, through which it will donate $1 billion in cloud computing resources over the next three years to 70,000 non-profits and NGOs worldwide. The target is to have 10,000 NGO’s in Sub Saharan Africa using these resources within the next three years.
Microsoft Kenya Country Manager, Kunle Awosika said that the gesture is part of the firm’s global mission to empower individuals and organizations achieve more by using mutual partnerships. “Today’s announcement confirms that Microsoft is on a mission to empower every person and organisation on the planet to achieve more by investing in technology, employees and partnerships, to drive greater inclusion and empowerment of people who do not have access to technology and the opportunities it enables,” he said.
Microsoft Azure’s cloud services help organisations accelerate innovation with integrated intelligence that powers insights and decision-making, supports a broad selection of operating systems, and provides industry-leading security.
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Microsoft also offers an industry-leading donation program which includes free/discounted services including Office 365, Dynamics CRM Online, Enterprise Mobility + Security Suite, Power BI and more. More details here
Through this campaign, NGOs can access Microsoft data centres around the world, as well as its computing and storage power, to develop and run their applications and to manage relationships with donors, volunteers and beneficiaries. They can also manage all of their devices, applications and data on a cross-platform basis.
With Azure coming online for non-profits, Microsoft now offers the most comprehensive and industry-leading donations programme, providing cloud services that empower non-profit organisations to digitally transform their business, and transform the world.
For the full list of cloud products available for free/at discount for qualifying non-profits, please visit https://www.microsoft.com/nonprofits
