Azure Updates: JEDI contract shift; Connected Learning Experience; OWASP; EU Data Boundary; Quantum chemistry

In late 2019, we reported that Microsoft won the prized $10 billion JEDI cloud contract with the US Department of Defense. But Washington politics and lawsuits interfered with that decision and in July, 2021, the Pentagon canceled the contract, opting for a split approach among the largest cloud providers. Now, in December, 2022, the Pentagon has awarded Microsoft, Google, Amazon, and Oracle different elements of the revamped Joint Warfighting Cloud Capability (JWCC) that succeeded JEDI. The overall contracts total $9 billion and are expected to run until 2028.

Microsoft is deploying Azure Connected Learning Experience (CLX) as a new personalized Azure learning experience. According to senior product marketing manager Priyanka Rawat, the program is intended to be personalized and self-paced, starting off with a knowledge assessment and a Microsoft Learn study materials review, then moving to a practice test and a cram session. CLX has six different tracks: Azure Fundamentals, Azure AI Fundamentals, Data Fundamentals, Azure Administrator, Administering Windows Server, and Server Hybrid Advanced Series. A two hour final practice test mimics the actual certification exam. “Once you’ve sharpened your understanding of the Azure platform and its solutions, you’ll receive your certificate of completion. You’ll also walk away with the skills to confidently pass the Microsoft Azure Certification Exams—and the proven expertise to advance your career and exceed your cloud computing goals today and in the future,” wrote Rawat.

Microsoft is sponsoring the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) ModSecurity Core Rule ...