Microsoft Azure for Partners

There's a sharp focus on cybersecurity and cloud as top investment priorities for organizations seeking to enhance their operational resilience and drive innovation. Microsoft Azure has emerged as the leading platform for organizations aiming to promote a culture of innovation that includes taking advantage of generative AI (GenAI) with more flexibility and less risk than prior on-premises deployments.

According to a recent Forrester study, the top four reasons organizations use Microsoft Azure to adopt and run GenAI securely in the cloud are:

1. Data Integration and Management Capabilities

With tools like Microsoft Fabric, and Azure Databricks, organizations appreciate Azure's robust integration and data management capabilities, including their colocation strategy that eliminates data silos and optimizes performance at scale. The improved data management processes are essential for building successful GenAI applications, allowing partners to help clients leverage their data more effectively.

2. Best-in-Class Cloud Security and Compliance Capabilities

Security remains a top concern for organizations. Azure provides comprehensive security and compliance features designed to be GenAI-ready, allowing organizations to navigate the complex regulatory landscape confidently. The platform's integrated cloud security and compliance capabilities, including Microsoft Sentinel, Microsoft Defender for AI, and Microsoft Defender for Cloud apps, empower partners to reduce their clients' GenAI risk and improve security and compliance postures at scale.

3. Increased Transparency and Accountability

As GenAI applications proliferate, Azure provides multiple layers of transparency and accountability in GenAI processes by delivering Responsible AI dashboards that include model interpretability and counterfactual what-if components to help data scientists and developers understand how models make decisions. This transparency not only mitigates compliance risks but also builds trust with end-users. By leveraging Azure, partners can guide clients in implementing GenAI solutions that are effective, ethical, and responsible.

4. Secure-by-Design AI with Integrated Privacy Considerations

Azure's secure-by-design approach prioritizes security from the outset of product and service design rather than as an afterthought. This means integrating security and privacy considerations into all phases of the software development lifecycle, from initial design to deployment and operation. By using secure coding practices, threat modeling, and implementing security controls and policies, organizations can innovate with confidence, knowing their AI deployments are safeguarded against potential threats.

As the GenAI landscape evolves, Microsoft Azure remains a pivotal ally for partners looking to help their clients improve security, compliance, and overall GenAI performance.

Download the Forrester study to uncover deeper insights and strategies for building and running GenAI securely on the cloud.