Unlocking the Full Power of Artificial Intelligence with Microsoft Azure AI Foundry

AI is rapidly transforming the way businesses operate, from streamlining operations to creating new products and services. But to take full advantage of what AI offers, your organization needs to be AI-ready. That means having modern data systems, clear AI goals, and-most importantly, the right infrastructure to support AI at scale.

Many businesses still rely on aging on-premises systems that simply can't keep up. These systems often lack the flexibility, scalability, and speed that modern AI tools demand. That's where migrating to Microsoft Azure AI Foundry makes a difference.

A recent Forrester study, commissioned by Microsoft, shows how organizations that move to Azure are better prepared to innovate with AI-and do it more efficiently and affordably.

Modernize legacy on-premise systems to optimize for AI

Organizations trying to implement AI on traditional infrastructure face common issues:

• High costs for maintenance and upgrades
• Unstable systems that disrupt operations
• Limited scalability for AI and machine learning workloads
• Big upfront investments that slow innovation

Moving to Azure helps overcome these barriers, freeing your team to focus on innovation instead of IT upkeep.

Four key benefits of migrating to Azure for AI

1. Be AI-ready faster

75% of IT leaders in the study said Azure helped them overcome AI adoption challenges. Azure's on-demand services and pay-as-you-go model make it easier to experiment, build, and deploy AI solutions without massive upfront costs.

2. Cut costs, increase efficiency

Organizations reported saving over $500K in just three years by moving AI workloads to Azure. Ongoing maintenance costs are also about 15% lower compared to on-premises systems.

3. Scale without limits

With Azure, teams gain instant access to scalable AI tools. Ninety percent of cloud-based respondents said they had the flexibility to build new AI apps; that’s more than double those still on-prem. One CTO shared:

"With Azure, AI became accessible. It opened up new ways of thinking across the business."

4. Empower people, drive innovation

Upskill your workforce: Cloud migration frees up technical talent to focus on AI.

Create a culture of innovation: Easy access to tools and services enables teams across the business to adopt AI.

77% of Azure users said cloud migration made innovation easier, compared to just 34% of on-prem users.

Migrating to Azure is key to thriving in the AI era

Forrester’s study underscores the significant economic and strategic advantages of migrating to Azure to be AI-ready. Lower costs, increased innovation, better resource allocation, and improved scalability make migration to Azure a clear choice for organizations looking to thrive in the AI-driven future.

Ready to future-proof your business?

Whether you're just starting your AI journey or looking to scale what you've already built, Azure provides the platform, tools, and security you need to move fast and stay ahead.

Download the free eBook, Migrate to Microsoft Azure with Confidence, to explore the full economic and strategic impact of migrating to Azure, and see how Zones can help you take the next step.

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Forrester Consulting The Total Economic Impact™ Of Migrating to Microsoft Azure For AI-Readiness, commissioned by Microsoft, June 2024