I’ve spent the past 10 years of my career working side by side with customers to overcome their toughest IT challenges—ranging from balancing modernization goals with budget constraints to staying ahead of ever-evolving security requirements—and now AI. Organizations in all industries and sizes are racing to the cloud to maximize performance, accelerate adoption of AI, reduce costs, and improve efficiency. Today, customers expect that moving to the cloud means seamless integration of infrastructure, data, and applications.
Oracle AI Database and Microsoft Azure, Better Together
IT leaders across the globe tell me they want the ability to move their Oracle databases to the cloud while maintaining the performance, availability, and security they have on premises. This is precisely why Oracle Multicloud solutions exist—offering customers the flexibility to choose how and where to run Oracle AI Database—in OCI or as natively integrated Oracle database services co-located in hyperscaler data centers, including Microsoft Azure through Oracle Database@Azure. It’s a game changer for organizations that depend on Oracle databases to manage their business-critical data and want to use Microsoft apps and Microsoft Azure services to analyze or develop AI-driven apps leveraging that data. Oracle Database@Azure is helping customers around the world maximize solution performance, while optimizing cost and reducing management complexity.
Looking back on Microsoft Ignite 2025
Microsoft Ignite 2025 was amazing. The crowds were impressive, and the positive buzz around AI in general and how using Oracle AI Database on Oracle Database@Azure together with Azure AI services, infrastructure services, and apps was exciting.
During the event, I had the privilege of delivering an online breakout session exploring how the Oracle-Microsoft partnership provides organizations with access to Oracle’s enterprise-class database and our deep database expertise alongside Azure’s massive global reach. Enterprises can now use Oracle AI Database services via Oracle Database@Azure in more than 30 regions, and seamlessly integrate them with critical Azure features like Entra ID, Azure Key Vault, and AI-powered Copilot, just to name a few. Together, Oracle and Microsoft are delivering optimized performance, trusted security, and streamlined operations that IT teams can count on—whether they’re running mission-critical databases, launching new AI initiatives, or preparing for what comes next.
Ignite 2025 also included a thought-provoking breakout session led by Tushar Pandit (VP Product Management, Oracle) and Kalyan Kaki (Group PM Manager, Microsoft), where attendees learned how migrating Oracle databases to Azure can help eliminate challenges related to managing on-premises infrastructure and how integrating Oracle AI Database with Microsoft AI and analytic services can deliver richer insights. The session also provided guidance on leveraging Azure AI services to accelerate application modernization, streamline operations, and boost agility—empowering organizations to maximize the value of their Oracle and Microsoft investments. If you couldn’t attend, I highly encourage you to watch the recording.
For database architects, operators, and developers, Kevin Deihl and Andreas Marchesini (Product Management Directors, Oracle) hosted a theater session that looked at how to build and deploy AI-powered applications with enterprise-grade security and reliability, and techniques for accelerating development cycles and simplifying data architecture. The session included in-depth demonstrations of unique Oracle AI Database features like AI Vector Search and highlighted real-world scenarios involving Oracle databases seamlessly integrated with Microsoft AI tools such as Copilot and OpenAI.
Last, but certainly not least, the Oracle team was thrilled to have the opportunity to speak with so many attendees at our booth—learning about their unique challenges and discussing how Oracle Multicloud solutions can help.
Looking ahead
I am extremely stoked about Oracle’s partnership with Microsoft. Working together in 2025, we expanded Oracle Database@Azure with more than 17 new regions, launched multiple new services including Oracle Base Database Service, Exadata Database Service on Exascale Infrastructure, and Oracle GoldenGate. We’ve also made our newest versions of Oracle AI Database, Oracle Autonomous AI Database, and Oracle Autonomous AI Lakehouse available as part of Oracle Database@Azure. In 2026 we’re planning to continue our global expansion with Azure and add new features that our customers need to tackle their toughest IT challenges. Learn more at Oracle.com/azure today or connect with your Oracle and Microsoft teams to see how you can take the next step in your cloud journey.