Azure Updates: Arc; AI ISV innovation; Cost Management; DevEx

Microsoft CVP Douglas Phillips looked at ways to create a secure cloud foundation for AI-powered enterprises. Microsoft has adopted an adaptive cloud approach with Azure using Azure Arc. During the recent Ignite conference, the company announced a number of new Arc improvements including Arc gateway, Windows Server management enabled with Arc, Container Storage capabilities, Key Vault Secret Store general availability, Fabric Real-Time Intelligence, and Azure Local.

“Azure Arc, the core component of this approach, now supports over 39,000 customers worldwide, connecting servers, databases, and Kubernetes clusters directly to Azure. The rapid growth of Azure Arc signals that the cloud is more than just a place; it is a paradigm shift spread throughout every organization. We are excited to share how customers such as LALIGA, Coles, Husqvarna, and Emirates Global Aluminium are leveraging the adaptive cloud approach to help achieve their business goals,” he wrote. Phillips explained that LALIGA has used Arc to manage across cloud and on-prem to react to fan dynamics. 

CVP Jason Graefe explored ways the potential of AI as an area of innovation for ISVs. A startling 53,000 customers are now using Azure AI services, with some ISVs seeing a 350 percent ROI on each dollar spent on AI initiatives. He noted customer trends that are driving AI usage: improved customer engagement, automating repetitive tasks, updating business processes, and speeding innovation. According to Graefe, there are many examples of improvements that will help ISVs like the integration with Weights and Biases which gives developers more ways to optimize OpenAI models.