Microsoft stated on Tuesday that it would strengthen Australia’s cyber defenses and economy by investing $5 billion (US$3.2 billion) in cloud computing and artificial intelligence.
Bosses at the US tech giant and Australia’s prime minister, Anthony Albanese, who is now on an official four-day visit to the US, provided details of the arrangement.
According to a statement from the business, it’s Microsoft’s biggest investment in Australia in its forty-year existence.
Microsoft announced that it will add nine data centers to its current 20 in Canberra, Sydney, and Melbourne as part of its “hyperscale” cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure expansion in Australia over the next two years.
The IT behemoth announced that it would also collaborate on a “cyber shield” to defend Australia from threats with the Australian Signals Directorate, the nation’s cyber intelligence agency.
During a press briefing at the Australian embassy in Washington, Albanese expressed his appreciation for the investment.
Microsoft’s partnership with the signals directorate would improve Australia’s capacity to identify, prevent and respond to cyber threats, he said.
“We know that this is having an impact on all companies. We know as well, that this is about individuals and the protection of who they are,” the prime minister told reporters.
“We need to get this right.”
