Microsoft has transitioned a public cloud ecosystem for quantum computing platforms and services to public preview. Azure Quantum in public preview will provide developers, systems integrators, researchers and other users access to a diverse set of quantum hardware, software and related tools to learn and build quantum applications.

Jeremy Goldberg, a member of the worldwide public sector organization at Microsoft, wrote in a guest piece published Tuesday on Nextgov that government agencies looking to build a resilient technology infrastructure in support of digital government initiatives should push for long-term, sustained investments. “To succeed, governments must create long-term integrated plans that encompass enterprise architecture, funding and policy support for scaling infrastructure, shared services, automation and workforce development/skills building,” he suggested.

Microsoft has modified the requirements needed by members of the defense industrial base applying for access to the company's U.S. government cloud offerings to help them adapt to the Department of Defense's new Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification standards.

Microsoft and the Healthcare Information Trust Alliance have launched a matrix intended to assist customers of the company’s Azure cloud offering in efforts to implement HITRUST controls and comply with global cybersecurity standards.

A coalition of technology and health companies has launched an initiative that intends to enable individuals to obtain digital access to their COVID-19 vaccination records based on interoperable, open standards. Coalition members that are advancing the Vaccination Credential Initiative include Cerner, CARIN Alliance, Change Healthcare, Evernorth, Epic, Mayo Clinic, Microsoft, Mitre, Safe Health, Oracle, Salesforce and The Commons Project Foundation.

John Kahan, vice president and chief data analytics officer at Microsoft, has said the Federal Communications Commission must build on a recently passed internet access visualization law to fund areas in need of broadband services.

Brad Smith, president of Microsoft, has urged the U.S. public sector and technology industry to work together on coordinating a multipronged cybersecurity strategy in the wake of a SolarWinds network management software breach that hit several federal departments, private companies and non-governmental organizations.

Anchore has named Carahsoft, Red Hat, Microsoft and other companies to its new partner program that aims to mitigate cybersecurity risks and accelerate businesses' digital transformation efforts.

Toni Townes-Whitley, president of U.S. regulated industries at Microsoft, has described how the company helped agencies increasingly pursue digital transformation efforts as the COVID-19 pandemic tested the government's mission resiliency. She wrote in a blog entry posted Monday that the departments of Veterans Affairs and Defense implemented Microsoft offerings, such as Bing Maps Platform and Azure Government, to support continued operations.

TYSONS CORNER, VA, November 23, 2020 — Rick Wagner, president of Microsoft's (Nasdaq: MSFT) federal arm and a three-time Wash100 awardee, said the company will provide its Azure Government cloud platform to function as the underlying technology for U.S. Air Force Advanced Battle Management System integration efforts, GovCon Wire reported Tuesday.

Tom Burt, corporate vice president for customer security and trust at Microsoft, said the company has found nation-state hacking operations that have targeted seven companies developing vaccines and other potential treatments for the novel coronavirus.

T-Rex Solutions has achieved a Microsoft "Silver" competency level in recognition of the Greenbelt, Maryland-based information technology company's ability to respond to customers' data analytics and application development needs through Microsoft's enterprise platform. "We look forward to expanding our Microsoft services to better assist our customers in meeting their mission critical objectives," said Seth Moore, CEO at T-Rex and a Wash100 awardee.