Defense contractors from across the globe showcased their solutions and capabilities at AUSA 2023. Solution providers making up the Defense Industrial Base (DIB) community are a vital component of national and economic security delivering the research, design, production, integration, sustainment, and service of everything from microelectronics to platforms, airfields, and command and control (C2) systems—all to serve mission needs. Microsoft is proud to partner with the DIB community; innovating with cutting-edge technologies and accelerating adoption within the United States Army.  

Microsoft as a trusted partner is helping our DIB community embrace digital transformation by providing secure, scalable, and innovative cloud-based solutions that enable mission assurance, operational efficiency, and interoperability. Microsoft also supports its ability to modernize product lifecycle methodologies, including the adoption of modern software methodologies and digital engineering best practices.  

We collaborate closely with our partners to help them adopt cloud capabilities for enterprise use like Microsoft 365 in the Azure Government, and Microsoft is now working even more closely with the DIB to enhance mission offerings. This includes the full range of cloud capabilities and services—from commercial Microsoft Azure to Azure Government is the mission-critical cloud built to exceed requirements for classified and unclassified US Government data.

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Microsoft unleashing innovation for the Defense Industrial Base

As a prelude to AUSA 2023, we brought the DIB together for the Aerospace and Defense Summit from September 12 to 14, 2023, at the Executive Conference Center in Redmond, Washington. This summit provided a unique opportunity to showcase Microsoft’s dedication to revolutionizing the defense industry through innovative, commercial, and classified technologies for the mission, and the benefits that Microsoft DIB partnerships can bring to the defense ecosystem. At the summit, we presented an overview of our cutting-edge capabilities encompassing a range of industry-leading solutions: from the fullness of the cloud continuum (including commercial hyperscale, edge capabilities, and secret and top secret-accredited offerings), to Quantum Computing, advanced AI, and DevSecOps adoption.

The summit hosted an impressive array of nearly 300 attendees—Chief Executive Officers, Information Technology Directors of DIB contractors, and leadership team members from “Best in Breed” Independent Software Vendor (ISV) partners. Major industry players participated such as Airbus, AM General, GE Aerospace, Ball Aerospace, Textron, Boeing, General Atomics, L3Harris, Leidos, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Palantir, Parsons, RTX, Saab, SAP, and Sierra Nevada Corporation.

We also leveraged this summit to gather varying DIB perspectives and insights as we seek to further inform our own product roadmaps.

Featured topics

The comprehensive agenda featured sessions that piqued the interest of attendees, covering topics such as:

• Microsoft 365 for secret classified workloads
• Edge solutions for mission
• Microsoft Fabric
• Microsoft Azure Government
• Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service
• GitHub CoPilot
• Digital manufacturing and engineering
• Microsoft Azure Cognitive Services
• Process automation
• Modeling and simulation
• Microsoft Azure Space
• 5G

Our intent was to showcase technologies that could improve the DIB’s offerings to DoD end customers. A standout moment was the panel discussion with Lockheed Martin and Leidos, shedding light on the DD254 approval process and their classified cloud migration efforts. The discussion took center stage during the summit because of the multiple partners present and seeking to expedite their journey to classified cloud environments. Yet most notably, it was Azure OpenAI Service that left an indelible mark at the event—igniting internal dialogue and discussions about its potential for the DIB. Microsoft is leading the way with such innovative solutions. 

Independent software vendor partners in the spotlight

ISV partners played a pivotal role in the summit’s success, with prominent booths showcasing their cutting-edge capabilities tailored for the DIB, and available on Microsoft Azure Marketplace.

• archTIS: archTIS, with its booth, provided insights into secure information sharing and collaboration solutions tailored for the defense sector. 
• C3: C3, a key ISV partner, demonstrated its advanced cybersecurity solutions designed to fortify the DIB’s security posture. 
• Conquest Cyber: Conquest Cyber showcased its expertise in proactive threat hunting and cyber defense, offering valuable insights to summit attendees. 
• Crestron: Crestron’s booth highlighted its innovative technologies for mission-critical command and control environments. 
• NeoSystems: NeoSystems, specializing in managed IT services and financial management solutions, offered strategic insights to support DIB entities. 
• Planet Technologies: Planet Technologies’ booth provided a glimpse into its comprehensive digital transformation solutions for the DIB. 
• Protiviti: Protiviti shared expertise in risk management and compliance solutions, addressing the critical security and regulatory challenges faced by the DIB. 
• Quzara: Quzara highlighted its data analytics and visualization capabilities, demonstrating how data-driven insights can drive mission success. 
• Summit 7: Summit 7’s booth showcased its expertise in compliance and security solutions, aligning with the DIB’s stringent requirements. 
• Thinaer: Thinaer’s presence revolved around Internet of Things (IoT) solutions and real-time analytics, emphasizing the potential for data-driven decision-making in defense operations. 

These partners added significant value to the summit by providing attendees with a firsthand look at innovative solutions tailored to the unique challenges and opportunities within the DIB. The event served as a platform for collaborative discussions, idea exchange, and networking opportunities that will undoubtedly drive innovation and success for the defense industry ecosystem. 

Mission engineering: Showcasing Microsoft capabilities

The summit not only showcased Microsoft’s commitment to developing innovative, secure solutions for the DIB sector but also, emphasized the pivotal role of the Microsoft Mission Engineering team within our comprehensive portfolio of capabilities. The team fosters exceptional defense customer engagement and a deep understanding of architectural requirements, feature priorities, and technical and procurement challenges in the defense arena. Among their standout sessions was the Microsoft Azure Government Secret briefing, providing invaluable insights into classified platforms for heightened security and performance like the MS-Isolated Secret Region (MS-ISR); showcasing our commitment to end-to-end solutions for mission-critical workloads. Additionally, discussions around Azure OpenAI Service ignited excitement about the potential of AI in classified spaces. The event also delved into Microsoft 365 classified, demonstrating how Microsoft is transforming collaboration and productivity in secure environments. Moreover, attendees discussed how to accelerate the DD254 approval process for classified cloud access, partnership opportunities, tailored licensing models, simplified legal considerations, industrial security alignment, and efficient cloud adoption and workload migration strategies, all highlighting Microsoft’s comprehensive approach to empowering the DIB.

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Microsoft for Defense and Intelligence is committed to our partners in the DIB community and our United States Army customers in the mission of providing stability and security for residents, nations, and multinational alliances. The DIB summit went beyond technology discussions and addressed the people, culture, and process improvements that underpin successful partnerships within the DIB ecosystem. Microsoft’s aim is to enhance skills, simplify processes, improve security, and enable cloud adoption working in close collaboration with DIBs to drive innovation and growth for the defense ecosystem. Our sponsorship of AUSA 2023 demonstrated Microsoft is a trusted partner by sharing a vision of how technology can act as a force multiplier for DoD and the United States Army. 

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Using GEMS to enhance defense and intelligence capabilities

In 2021, the United States Defense Science Board released a report outlining the six key interdisciplinary areas that transcend the traditional Department of Defense (DoD) organizational silos:

• Wargaming
• Experimentation
• Campaign modeling and analysis
• Simulation technology enablers, like engines and data formats
• Immersive training
• Digital engineering platforms

These interdisciplinary areas resonate at the intersection of Gaming, Exercising, Modeling, and Simulation (GEMS); so much so, that Microsoft created new teams solely focused on GEMS, bringing the best of Microsoft to the forefront of this new wave of digitally enabled capabilities.

Microsoft for Startups supports and enables GEMS innovation

The Microsoft for Startups program, including the new Microsoft for Startups Founders Hub, an innovative platform offering support for all startups at every stage of their journey, from ideation to exit, helps GEMS developers achieve more with our platform. We want to unleash an entire ecosystem of developers and start-ups, including those focused on how gaming technologies like hyperscale cloud, the Internet of Things (IoT), AI, machine learning, augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), virtual reality (VR), extended reality (XR), and many others, constructively converge to build a GEMS foundation that will deliver enhanced capabilities for solving some of the most difficult problems for defense and intelligence organizations.

One such start-up, VRAI, will be co-exhibiting with Microsoft for Defense and Intelligence at the I/ITSEC conference, bringing their data driven VR simulation solutions to our customers. VRAI started working with Microsoft via the Microsoft for Startups program, giving them initial, critical access to the technology and support they needed to turn a product vision into a real and disruptive solution. Since then, VRAI has built their HEAT simulation data platform on Microsoft Azure. VRAI is now part of the Microsoft co-sell program and plans to develop an offering for the Microsoft Azure Marketplace.

VRAI: 2022 Military Simulation & Training Award winner

On November 21, 2022, VRAI was announced the recipient of the prestigious Military Simulation & Training Award for Outstanding XR Application by a small company in 2022 in the MS&T Magazines I/ITSEC edition. The award is for VRAI’s ReACT VR Armour Crew Sim, which increases training opportunities for armor crews using immersive VR environments to replace the need for real world platforms. It leverages cutting edge data exploitation to provide personalized learning insights for trainees and instructors while decreasing the carbon footprint of training. The solution combines virtual reality technology with data capture, analysis, AI, and machine learning in order to measure, evaluate, and predict human performance to improve training outcomes.

VRAI co-founder and former Armored Unit Commander, Pat O’Connor, commented on the collaboration with Microsoft saying: “We built our ReACT VR Armour Crew Sim from the ground up, knowing it solves a critical training problem for military end users. We employed top tech talent and military veterans to work with front line military end users to design and build this product. Collaborating with Microsoft gives us the opportunity to get the solution into more of our customers hands, more quickly, solving our customers’ problems and helping to better prepare troops for service, which is a very fulfilling mission for us.”  

Additionally, Microsoft recently highlighted VRAI as one of various partner solutions at a technology showcase for the United States Army Program Executive Office—Ground Combat Systems (PEO GCS). We supported one of their major programs at our Microsoft Conference Center in Redmond, WA, coordinating the activity within their annual “Light Armored Vehicle User Nations Group” Conference, which included uniformed and civilian personnel from across seven nations.

Meet the Microsoft and VRAI teams at I/ITSEC

The Microsoft Defense and Intelligence team is thrilled to be participating at I/ITSEC with our partners. We’re eager to meet with you to discuss our point of view on GEMS and demonstrate a few of the innovative technologies that can be a positive force for digital transformation. Stop by and visit with Microsoft and our partners booth, #1969, and meet with the team.

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At Microsoft, our defense teams are thrilled to be supporting AUSA with our partners. We’re eager to meet with you, and for the opportunity to discuss our point of view and demonstrate just a few of the technologies that can be a positive force for modern missions across the defense community. In the spirit of AUSA’s mission—educate, inform and connect—we are pleased to share the following partners will be joining us at our booth at AUSA this year. Here is a summary of what they will be showcasing to help accelerate mission outcomes across the defense ecosystem.

Partner showcase

Striveworks: a pioneer in operational data science for national security and other highly regulated spaces, Striveworks and Microsoft are working together to increase operational insight and accuracy by combining the compute and infrastructure of Microsoft Azure with Striveworks’ rapidly adaptable and deployable AI and machine learning technologies in a low- to no-code environment that enables the Army’s organic talent.

Striveworks’ flagship MLOps platform is purpose-built to enable engineers and business professionals to transform their data into actionable insights. In recognition of this work, Striveworks was named in the National Security Commission for AI 2020 Final Report as the example to follow for operational AI and machine learning.

Taqtile: By leveraging proven technologies, including augmented reality, 3D visualization, and real-time collaborative communication, Taqtile’s platform empowers defense personnel to complete complex tasks more efficiently, completely, and safely than ever before. Digitized standard operating procedures, just-in-time guidance and job aids, remote collaboration, and IT system integration enables higher operational readiness with fewer resources and experts.

Taqtile’s work-instruction platform now offers the built-in support of Microsoft Azure Remote Rendering, delivering digital twins and incredibly detailed 3D content once only available to CAD engineers. This hyper-realistic 3D content is accessible via Microsoft HoloLens 2 and other augmented reality and virtual reality platforms, enabling personnel to complete tasks more efficiently, thoroughly, and safely within an immersive augmented reality-enabled environment.

Applied Insight: Will showcase mission-focused solutions for Department of Defense (DoD) through their best-in-class support in cloud, big data, cyber, and mission IT to build, manage, and secure defense systems, handle their complex data and computing requirements, and deliver insights that aid decision-making. With extensive experience in delivering Cloud Infrastructure and Governance, expertise in facilitating “Low to High” Software Development emulation, and the proficiencies for CI and CD of authorized DevSecOps Zero Trust solutions, their engagements across the DoD for Defensive Cyber Operations and cloud and next-gen infrastructure enables Applied Insight to bring the subject matter expertise needed for Data-Centric Warfighting solutions.

Persistent Systems: A global communications technology company has developed and manufactured a patented and secure Mobile Ad hoc Networking (MANET) system which transmits and receives data, video, voice, and other applications under DDIL conditions. Their suite of products is utilized in commercial, military, government, industrial, agriculture, robotics, and unmanned systems markets.

Tomahawk Robotics: A leading innovator of common control solutions, will share a body-worn edge processor and network hub, successfully hosting Microsoft Azure SDK on the Kinesis Expansion Module (KxM). Through this integration, Tomahawk’s Kinesis common control infrastructure created digital twins of the connected unmanned systems (UxVs), providing relevant, real-time telemetry data and insights gained from forwarding sensors into Azure.

In the coming months, the Azure SDK will be further integrated onto the KxM edge processor to allow video data collection and distribution through Azure from connected UxVs, and to enable distribution of AI and machine learning models from Azure to end users operating in austere environments at the tactical edge.

Microsoft industry demonstrations

At AUSA, Microsoft will be showcasing two “industry scenario demonstrations” at our booth. Below is a summary of what we will be showcasing that helps accelerate mission outcomes across the defense ecosystem accelerating the overall “time to value” in using Azure. 

Large Scale Data Discovery—This concept demonstration showcases how to support the data discovery capability for large collections of unstructured data and media. These capabilities enable organizations to discover and prioritize time-sensitive data with Microsoft AI. The concept will encompass digital media enrichment, supervised and unsupervised machine learning models, rules-based alerting, overhead imagery pattern recognition, and automated tradecraft for multi-source anomaly detection to increase productivity and increase the speed of intelligence analysis.

AI in Disconnected/Deployed Environments—This concept demonstration was created to demonstrate the ability to take AI to the “edge”. It is designed to recognize objects on a live video feed and function without any form of external communication. The demonstration illustrates the full life cycle from model creation, and training evaluation through to deployment and operation, outlining how Azure IoT and Azure cognitive services can be combined to help address key mission requirements for operators “at the edge.”

This year’s theme

Continued transformation of the U.S. Army will be the focus of the 2022 AUSA Annual Meeting and Exposition. It is an opportunity designed to publicly deliver the Army’s message by highlighting the capabilities of its organizations and presenting a wide range of industry products and services. Microsoft is pleased to showcase technologies to aid in this continued transformation, consistent with this year’s theme, “building the Army of 2030.”

Come by and visit the Microsoft for Defense and Intelligence team and our partners at AUSA 2022 in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C., from October 10 to 12, 2022, booth 4151. See the Exhibit Hall Floor Plans.  

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Cyber threats play a key role in global conflicts. The speed and relentlessness of worldwide cyber attacks reflect the ubiquitous global routes for their advance. They are unrestricted by borders and unimpeded by the resistance and risks imposed by more traditional terrain that military forces must traverse when conducting operations across sea, land, or air.

The cyber domain is a man-made construct. It is characterized by a combination of public and private-sector ownership, operations, sustainment, and even security. This in turn requires a new form of collective defense. Cyber defense relies on a coalition of countries, private companies, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). Central to these efforts is protecting civilians from attacks that can impact their lives and access to critical services.

Check out Microsoft for Defense and Intelligence to see how other defense agencies are using new and innovative ways to manage these threats.

Microsoft and securing the cyber domain

Microsoft’s cybersecurity strategies are informed by the visibility we have into the cyber threat landscape. Microsoft serves billions of endpoints globally, allowing us to aggregate security data from a broad and diverse spectrum of sources, including enterprise organizations and consumers. With a view of more than 24 trillion security signals per day, we can build a granular understanding of the current state of cybersecurity. We also can provide indicators that help us predict what the threat will attempt to do next.

While security has always been a priority for Microsoft, we recognize that the digital world requires continuous advances in how we protect, detect, and respond to cybersecurity threats. The Microsoft Cyber Defense Operations Center (CDOC) is one example of the more than USD1 billion we invest each year in security, data protection, and risk management.

Showcasing the future of cyber security

How the cyber domain is shaping the conflicts around the world will no doubt be top of mind for everyone attending the Atlantic Future Forum 2022 (AFF’22). This event takes place in New York City from September 28 to 29, 2022. The AFF will be hosted onboard the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales as part of her maiden visit to the United States. Now in its fifth iteration, this summit brings together military leaders, senior politicians, and policymakers, together with business leaders, innovators, and tech entrepreneurs from both sides of the Atlantic.

AFF ‘22 will address the new threats and security dimensions in the world. This year’s forum will help showcase advances in quantum computing, artificial intelligence, cyber security, and the emerging technologies that are proving to be critical for collective security, economic resilience, and future prosperity.

AFF’22 looks to reinforce and cement the partnership between the North Atlantic allies who seek to reassert Western values while defending democratic institutions and the global rules-based order. Informed by the urgent challenges now facing the west, this year’s forum seeks to reinvigorate collective security discussion across the NATO alliance and will include other partners to broaden these dialogues.

“AFF22 comes at a critical time for the Euro-Atlantic alliance with the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The US/UK relationship has always been at the core of the alliance and the AFF is a unique opportunity to bring together government and the military, together with academia and business, to strengthen not only security and defence but also the trade and economic sinews of the alliance.”—Lord Sedwill, Chairman of Atlantic Future Forum, AFF’22 Press Release.

Learn more

As an active partner, the Microsoft Defense and Intelligence team will be at the Atlantic Future Forum 2022 to discuss ways in which we are working with militaries and other security forces; helping them reimagine what digital operations can do to protect national security. We’re seeing tremendous instability in the global environment, not just in eastern Europe. As a result, we’re watching new alliances form and, as with NATO, old ones reinvigorated. These new alliances drive a need for improved interoperability and cybersecurity so that alliance members can respond quickly and effectively to traditional warfare, cyberwarfare, or warfare in space. The Atlantic Future Forum 2022 could not be more relevant or important. We’re looking forward to connecting with existing partners—and making new ones—at this significant event.

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Technology advances that have improved the interoperability of forces in a conflict will be the focus of several upcoming discussions. We hope you will join us for the webinar, Enabling Interoperability in the Future Operating Environment. Set for April 28, 2022, at 4:00 PM Pacic Time, the event will show organizations that are interoperable can respond with agility, leveraging technology to collect, analyze, and disseminate massive amounts of data.  

Following that, our Defense and Intelligence team will be at June’s Eurosatory 2022 event to discuss ways in which we are working with militaries and other security forces to improve operations and protect national security. Since 1967, Eurosatory has brought together exhibitors and visitors from around the world and is a major forum for discussions about the evolution of defense and security issues. We encourage you to register now for this important and strikingly relevant event. Our commitment to this is based on five principles:

1. Delivering a trusted and secure digital backbone built on secure cloud-enabled capabilities.
2. Empower personnel and modernize facilities to better meet the needs of warfighters and their families.
3. Transform the capability lifecycle to support the defense industrial base.
4. Optimize decision advantages with data and AI that support readiness and mission effectiveness.
5. Enhance interoperability to ensure secure data-sharing with partners and allies.

Enhance interoperability with collaboration

The key context is that today’s defense challenges exist at a scale, scope, and complexity that no military can meet alone. In addition, the pace of change is such that defense organizations—particularly those of the middle powers—are having to decide how they balance their investment in mass against the need to modernize.

This is driving closer ties and new relationships, such as the Australia-UK-US (AUKUS) partnership of 2021, designed to strengthen credible deterrence in the Indo-Pacific and to assist in that mass versus modernization issue, through sharing of innovation and technology.

And it’s important to note that this alliance adds to, rather than sidelines, other agreements with a regional focus, such as the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue involving India, the United States, Japan, and Australia. These new alliances drive a need for improved interoperability so that alliance members can respond quickly and effectively to regional instabilities, traditional warfare, cyber warfare, or warfare in space. Meanwhile older associations, such as the Five Eyes intelligence partnership involving the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Australia are being reinvigorated with additional requirements for interoperability at scale.

For instance, Australia’s 2020 Defence Strategic Update and Force Structure Plan dramatically shifts the focus of the Australian defense forces from largely defensive operations to one that is capable of deterrent, offensive operations. The revised plan acknowledges that regional coalitions will play an important role in any future conflicts, meaning that Australian forces will need to be ready to quickly share data and planning to better coordinate responses.

Similarly, the United States military is taking a fresh look at its strategic thinking, with a new commitment to empowering allies, integrating supply chains, and planning across military commands.

Our own contribution to this shift will be to leverage our heavy investment across multiple nations, as well as our team’s deep experience within defense and intelligence organizations. This gives us great insight into the benefits of interoperability, as well as how data can improve mission planning, logistical structures, and military training.

Technology for space

We’re also taking a hard look at the role space will play. Microsoft Azure Space was created to be the space-based platform of choice for the growing needs of the space community. We’re using it to give new power to cloud computing, create a thriving ecosystem of satellite providers, and discover new technologies to help the space community create new capabilities.

The creation of powerful space-based 5G networks will allow us to distribute data securely across a battlefield and link force headquarters to the combat edge via satellite. Tools such as the Microsoft Azure Stack Edge can analyze that data, then use today’s interoperability standards to knit together the space-based assets of allies.

Our upcoming webinar, Enabling Interoperability in the Future Operating Environment, and Eurosatory 2022 could not be more relevant or important. We’re looking forward to connecting with existing partners—and making new ones—during these valuable activities.

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In the 1960s, military strategist John Boyd developed the concept of OODA – Observe, Orient, Decide, Act. This combat philosophy emphasized agility over brute force: If you see more, understand better, decide faster, and react more quickly than an adversary, you likely win.

Boyd died in 1997, well before anyone had heard the term “edge computing.” But he would have intuitively understood its significance. For the military, edge computing puts computation and data resources closer to where relevant information may be emerging—at the “tactical edge.” Microsoft can extend Azure services into denied, disrupted, intermittent, and limited bandwidth environments to enhance near real-time decision-making for defense and intelligence leaders; giving elements in the field a chance to maintain their operational momentum, and even perhaps, seize the initiative.

Of course, tactical forces also must contend with military operations other than war, that include contingencies such as disaster relief, border security, and even search and rescue operations for downed airmen or sailors whose ship has sunk. Who can forget the international military operations to search for survivors and wreckage associated with the Malaysian Air flight 370, or the more recent example of an Indonesian submarine that sank? Unlike in the movies, finding a person or a life raft in a tossing ocean can seem impossible. A single person may be somewhere in a patch of ocean encompassing thousands of square miles.

We are seeing a perfect example of how the edge can help save lives in New Zealand. There, the New Zealand Defense Force (NZDF) has partnered with Microsoft and the Aware Group—a New Zealand-based internet of things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) specialist—to develop lifesaving, cutting-edge technology. NZDF responds to the scene of a mishap with various support platforms with a variety of sensors sent to capture relevant data. The responding package often includes camera-equipped drones and manned aircraft.

Using advanced AI-based analytics from the Aware Group—built atop the Microsoft Stack Edge Platform—the NZDF processes video feeds in real time, tagging and geo-locating frames with indications of promising contact. If that contact proves likely to be a search subject, search-and-rescue assets can be dispatched to the precise location for a recovery. That can make all the difference in an environment where survival times run in the minutes, not hours.

Microsoft’s Stack Edge Platform plays an important role in this life-saving mission. It comes with specialized IoT hardware and accelerated data processing and can run effectively even when completely offline in a harsh environment. Using this platform and the Aware Group’s sophisticated AI, hundreds of hours of video footage can be analyzed in seconds, and rescuers given critical information.

Now in proof-of-concept phase, the NZDF’s video analytics rescue technology hints at much wider applications for computing at the edge. A similar approach could be taken to finding missing—or deliberately hiding—individuals or forces in remote, disconnected, and austere environments around the world, such as forests, mountains, and jungles.

As the New Zealand case shows, edge computing is here now, and is being deployed not only by the by the U.S. military; but also, the militaries of coalition partners. Microsoft is bringing to bear an unprecedented partner eco-system to assist defense and intelligence agencies in leveraging these advanced capabilities.

This eco-system includes local partners like the Aware Group in New Zealand, who are working closely with our defense and security teams to help drive innovation into our customer environments. But it also includes global-scale defense contractors such as Thales, which is innovating with Microsoft to place our capabilities into platforms such as the Nexium Defense Cloud Edge, which can help modernize existing programs of record by infusing them with latest cloud technologies.

Microsoft is increasingly working directly with our customers and with our partners in the defense and intelligence communities to take full advantage of computing on the tactical edge for humanitarian and disaster relief and other military operations. Learn more about how we are helping these organizations enhance military operational effectiveness with secure and robust digital technology.

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Consider the recent outbreak of the Ebola virus, for example. When the disease began spreading across West Africa, the US military sent a task force there to help contain the epidemic. To quickly stop the spread of the virus, military officials needed to communicate and collaborate with other government agencies and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) across borders so they could prioritize their efforts, quickly learn about new outbreaks, and propagate the most successful ways of containing and treating affected citizens.

In the same way, military organizations are collaborating with other entities to address a wide variety of non-traditional threats including terrorism, cyberattacks, narcotics and weapons trafficking, mass migration/refugees, human trafficking, and natural disasters. To effectively work in situations such as these, armed forces need an interoperable platform that enables them to share information securely with outside government agencies and NGOs—and Microsoft Office 365 offers them just that.

Office 365 delivers state-of-the-art email, instant messaging, file content and calendar sharing, telephony and videoconferencing tools to help defense workers effectively communicate and collaborate across organizations regardless of where employees are located or what device they’re using. Moreover, military officials working from a central command center can easily share real-time information, maps, and intelligence with forces deployed in the field, giving them the situational awareness they need to make the best decisions. Capabilities such as these are critical to helping military organizations successfully handle the wide variety of modern threats they’re called upon to assist with.

Over the past few years, many military organizations around the globe have been moving to Office 365 for exactly these reasons. For example, the UK Ministry of Defence has been migrating its 420,000-member workforce to Office 365 as part of an effort to adopt user-friendly technologies that exploit the cloud and mobile computing. And the United States Air Force is deploying Office 365 to power productivity and collaboration for more than 100,000 active, civilian, and reserve personnel. We’re seeing similar trends from military organizations in the Netherlands, Italy, Chile, and elsewhere around the world.

With Office 365, military organizations can put real-time information in the hands of those who need it, right when they need it—helping them make strategic decisions that save lives. To learn more about how cloud computing can improve communications and collaboration, please see our Microsoft Office 365 website or request one of our available trials: Azure Government Trial, Office 365 Government Trial.

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When Ball wrote a blog, found here, on the two primary areas in public safety that need to be prioritized by 2026 to keep citizens safer, we listened.

1. The Maritime Domain is threatened by piracy, security breaches, human smuggling, natural disasters, and theft of natural resources. These threats will increase by 2026, partly due to climate change and migration to urban centers. Read the full blog to learn how technologies and new policies can help solve these challenges.
2. The Cyber Domain has evolved from kids in a garage hacking your bank account to state-sponsored cyber warfare and massive criminal enterprises. Read the full blog to learn how to decrease your systems’ vulnerabilities and keep yourself, your company, and your country protected from virtual attacks.

As the world evolves over the next decade, Ball advises that we are going to face more uncertainties and challenges to overcome in the area of public safety. But early investment in technology infrastructure can help officials manage these risks, and mitigate the consequences.

Want to learn more? Read A.T. Ball’s full blog to learn more.

Contact Microsoft CityNext on Twitter or LinkedIn to comment on this blog or ask a question about Microsoft’s safer cities solutions.

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The event was held in the Microsoft China Center One (MCCO) facilities in Beijing. It was the perfect venue to establish the “wow” effect with the ministry right from the beginning by conducting a tour of the facility—complete with the latest demos of innovative Microsoft technologies and devices. In addition, we were fortunate to be able to schedule Winnie Chen, from our local CELA team, for a presentation on the Digital Crimes Unit from the Microsoft Cyber Crimes Center. She discussed PhotoDNA technology and applications and also showed some very compelling, real-time cybersecurity visualizations based on the extensive sensor network that Microsoft customers can access in order to better protect their systems.

In addition to brief talks from the subsidiary and MCCO, we heard wonderfully relevant presentations delivered by our Worldwide Government and Defense Solutions team on big data/analytics (Jorge Lopez, Team Lead) as well as mobility and devices (Eric Basha, Devices). Microsoft has the right analytics solutions for assessing potential emergencies, determining their projected impact, and then facilitating the execution of incident action plans. We do so by combining information from different sources (e.g., location, tracking, sensors, video, traffic reports, hospital status, weather reports, social media, and other dynamic data) with GIS data (e.g., imagery, elevations, streets, and critical infrastructure).

We also demonstrated how we could support the ministry’s transformation plans with devices that enable highly secure collaboration and mobility while helping to safeguard sensitive information with built-in information protection capabilities to prevent unauthorized access. Additionally, we were able to bring in Genetec and iOmniscient—ISVs with “world class” public safety solutions built on the Microsoft platform—to address specific capability gaps raised by the customer with respect to CCTV video storage, management, and analytics.

Mr. Dong was also very interested in Microsoft’s ongoing work with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. He was also keen to know about our work with the TSA in American airports, because their agency must abide by TSA guidance as well or else flights departing from China may not go to US destinations. Of course, we referenced the recent sale of Microsoft Aware Unified Search and Analytics to the TSA’s Transportation Security Operations Center (TSOC).
This success was the result of persistent hard work and deep collaboration across Microsoft, with ESRI as our subcontractor/partner and with TSOC business leadership. Microsoft Aware was procured via the Microsoft Department of Homeland Security IDIQ contract.

The solution will provide instant search, alerting, visualization, and analytics of incidents/threats associated with air and surface transportation across the United States. The TSA leadership is partnering with Microsoft to transform situational awareness, and additional phases are planned to add more data sources, enable more Aware functionality, and support more users.

As part of the seminar, we also had a long discussion about using data and analytics to enhance public safety at air transportation hubs. One area of focus was a project in which Microsoft provide a big data analytics solution for the Auckland Airport in New Zealand.

Our meeting went very well—100 percent positive feedback with tons of Q&A. The attendees from the ministry stayed way past the appointed time due to interest in Microsoft and our partner ISV solutions, which they felt were very relevant for their current needs and future plans.

To learn more, visit our Windows solution for Public Safety.

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Microsoft shared a display booth at the Expo with Genetec and KAGA, thanks to the efforts of Nobuki Fujinaka (Senior Industry Manager for Microsoft Public Sector in Japan). The booth included a fully functional security surveillance system based on Genetec’s Security Center and its Omnicast IP video management system. Also on display at the booth was Genetec’s video-surveillance-as-a-service solution called Stratocast, which is based on the Microsoft Azure Cloud.

Our partners graciously asked Microsoft to present solutions in two different sessions during the conference. The team decided to highlight our Microsoft Global Security Operations Center (GSOC) case study and our “intelligence-led, first response” (ILFR) campaign; a global best practice for anti-terrorism efforts and includes our Microsoft solutions—Connect and AWARE. Mohanvel Shanmugasundaram, Senior Security Consulting Manager at Microsoft, presented a very interactive demo showcasing GSOC’s capabilities, including managing physical security through video surveillance and alerting, failover, and real-time communication using Skype for Business. The live demo was a collaboration with a colleague in Hyderabad and was well received by the audience. Mahesh Punyamurthula, our Worldwide Industry Technology Strategist, briefed the audience on Microsoft’s vision for “intelligence-led, first response” with a presentation and demo. Our marketing vendor is now consolidating our presentation material into a white paper in Japanese for attendees to access.

During the event, the PSNS team connected with Genetec’s Japan Country Manager Alan Broderick to propose setting up a video surveillance demo platform, similar to what was shown at the booth, at Microsoft’s Redmond campus. It could aid us with executive briefings and provide us with an innovation platform powered by solutions from partners, AWARE, and Azure Intelligent Cloud. The demo proposal was very well received by the Genetec team and is a key action item from the event.

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