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  3. Future of cloud

The future of computing: intelligent cloud and intelligent edge

Get an intelligent, consistent and comprehensive platform from cloud to edge with Azure.

What are the intelligent cloud and the intelligent edge?

The intelligent cloud is ubiquitous computing, enabled by the public cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) technology, for every type of intelligent application and system you can envision.

The intelligent edge is a continually expanding set of connected systems and devices that gather and analyse data – close to your users, the data or both. Users get real-time insights and experiences, delivered by highly responsive and contextually aware apps.

Combine the virtually limitless computing power of the cloud with intelligent and perceptive devices at the edge of your network to create a framework for building immersive and effective business solutions.

Powering innovation from the cloud to the intelligent edge

By combining the massive computing power of the cloud with increasingly connected and perceptive edge technologies, we’re creating possibilities we could only have dreamed of just a few years ago. These possibilities apply to millions of connected devices, virtually limitless data and a growing number of multi-sensory, multi-device experiences.

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Azure SQL Database Edge

Extend Microsoft SQL Server to the the intelligent edge network with data streaming, time series and database machine learning.

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HoloLens 2

Build smarter experiences with a heads-up, hands-free mixed reality solution.

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IoT Plug and Play

Connect IoT edge technologies to the cloud without having to write a single line of embedded code.

Browse certified devices

Build on consistency and innovation across your network

Get a consistent and comprehensive experience from the cloud to the edge. Azure capabilities are based on a set of enduring principles:

Simplify the development and deployment of your solutions with consistent programming models, app services, data services and DevOps tools. Develop an event-based system with Azure Functions that runs on Azure, Azure Stack and Azure IoT Edge.
Reduce the complexity of managing security across a distributed infrastructure. Azure Security Center provides a built-in, unified approach across environments and intelligent threat protection for workloads running on cloud-to-edge solutions.
Manage profiles for cloud-to-edge solutions with Azure Active Directory. Guard against unauthorized access to apps, devices and data – including conditional access, access control lists, identity protection and access reviews.
Manage cloud resources in Azure and your edge environment with intelligent, built-in tools for monitoring, backup, disaster recovery and update management.
Build machine learning models in Azure that you can run at the edge to deliver real-time insights. Retrain and improve your current machine learning models by transferring your data sets to Azure.
Adopt the broad set of edge devices provided by Azure as well as the robust ecosystem of partners to ensure the right edge solution for your business.

Learn more about products that power the intelligent edge

Azure Sphere

Create secure, Internet-connected microcontroller devices for end-to-end device security.

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Azure Stack Edge

Analyse, preprocess and transform your on-premises data with AI-enabled computing before transferring it to Azure.

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Azure IoT Edge

Extend cloud intelligence and analytics to edge devices with a fully managed service.

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Azure Stack

Bring an extension of Azure to your on-premises environment and build and deploy hybrid applications – anywhere.

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Windows IoT

Quickly create security-enhanced IoT solutions with Windows as your foundation.

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Customers are doing great things with edge technologies

  1. Airbus
  2. Starbucks
  3. Schneider Electric
  4. Shell
  5. Kroger

In aerospace, moving fast is critical. Airbus uses Microsoft Azure Stack for agility, innovation and competitive advantage to deliver more value to its customers.

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Airbus

Starbucks uses Azure Sphere to support a seamless customer experience and to connect shops’ edge devices to the intelligent cloud with built-in security.

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Starbucks

Schneider Electric embeds intelligence at the network edge for industrial assets without cloud access to make predictive decisions on local devices, avoiding critical failures.

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Schneider Electric

Shell prioritises the safety of customers and employees with solutions from Azure IoT and AI

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Shell

Kroger uses Azure Stack Edge and Azure IoT to transform the customer experience and increase employee productivity.

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Kroger

Microsoft invests USD 5 billion in IoT

Take advantage of the power and capabilities of the cloud and the edge with the Microsoft IoT portfolio – whether your solution is in the cloud, offline or somewhere in between.

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Qualcomm + Microsoft partnership

This partnership helps developers quickly create camera-based IoT solutions using on-device vision AI and edge computing.

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Documentation, training and resources

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Get started building for the intelligent edge

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