Aga Khan University (AKU), part of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), aims to improve global quality of life through education, research, and healthcare. To better serve its constituents, AKU prioritizes technological innovation and has embraced the Microsoft Azure cloud for digital transformation. Azure’s tools and agility are assisting AKU with research, data analytics, business intelligence, and security.

After careful consideration, the organization chose to move to the cloud to maintain performance expectations while working remotely. Microsoft solutions were deemed the best fit for the organization’s needs, with the help of implementation partner Jaffer Business Systems. JBS ensured a seamless implementation process, from licensing to deployment, to provide consistent service to AKU’s campuses worldwide.

In 2017, AKU migrated its SharePoint-based public websites to Azure for improved uptime, performance, availability, and security. AKU also achieved compliance with GDPR guidelines and can scale its resources as needed, such as during the release of exam results. When the pandemic hit, AKU’s transition to Microsoft 365 allowed over 4,000 employees to work remotely using Teams, OneDrive, and SharePoint. AKU reduced administrative tasks by 25%, gained more mailbox space and better security, and enabled 9,000 users to collaborate globally with Teams.

AKU uses Azure hybrid technology to incorporate on-premises data into its data pipelines through Azure Data Factory. Azure provides a foundation for improved data analytics and enables data-driven insights and AI workloads. AKU also utilizes Power BI for reporting and data visualization, integrating with Azure’s back-end technologies for added value.

AKU implemented a medical-grade voice recognition system (VRS) hosted on Azure, enabling doctors to dictate their notes and saving 40% in implementation costs. AKU is considering migrating development and testing environments to Azure, as well as disaster recovery and future research initiatives. AKU now has a cloud-first strategy and Microsoft as its preferred choice, with confidence in Microsoft’s understanding of their needs and support. AKU’s Global CIO reflects on how AKU’s confidence in leadership and decision to innovate have grown over time.