Microsoft-based cloud platform could end the security concerns.
By Dileep Thekkethil
With India making tremendous growth in the state-owned enterprises, banking and smart cities, Microsoft has come down to government doorsteps requesting it to consider using Microsoft’s cloud platform so as to minimize the challenges of both storage and security.
The chief legal officer of Microsoft, Brad Smith who recently met Communications and Information Technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad put forward a proposal to consider using Microsoft-based cloud platform.
Mr. Prasad, in reply asked the US software giant to approach the government following the proper procedures and if found relevant by the authorities will be happy to accept the proposal can address many security concern.
Microsoft in the last quarter of 2015 had opened a data centre in India, offering its cloud-computing  service Azure and the commercial Office 365. Now, the company wants to seal a mutually beneficial deal, which will build up confidence in Indian companies, both small and large in the cloud based products of Microsoft.
Microsoft’s CEO, Indian born Satya Nadella during the launch event of the Data Centre said “When we think about the cloud opportunity in India itself, it is going to be a $2 trillion opportunity.” Microsoft chief executive Satya Nadella had said at the launch of the data centres.â€
Since the BJP lead by Narendra Modi took the office, the government has been pushing the international cooperations to set up their local data centres in India, this after major Indian companies aired concerns about storing highly sensitive and confidential data in public cloud systems.
The move of Microsoft to set up data centre in India came as a big relief to industries working with personal data such as banking and e-governance projects.
The legal head of Microsoft also discussed with the minister its ‘white space technology project’ which aims to connect India with free internet connectivity. Microsoft has been testing the project in pilot basis since last year.
Ravi Shankar Prasad is believed to have said to Brad that if the testing of white space technology is fund useful the government will decide on extending the project pan India.
“The ministry will take a call on the project provided security concerns are met. The minister asked Microsoft to look at developing alternative technologies to take broadband to the inaccessible areas of the country,” the person said.