Avanade CEO Adam Warby On Getting Clients Digitally-Enabled In The Cloud

Even companies in highly regulated industries are finding that combining on-premises data with cloud data can provide the right combination of security and convenience, according to Avanade CEO Adam Warby. With his companies use of Microsoft technologies, Warby said his company can now focus on helping companies take advantage of hybrid cloud deployments.

"Microsoft is making strides with particular commercial and financial regulatory terms, and coming to terms with major clients. What that's enabling us to do is have the conversations about migrating core applications into the cloud," said Warby. In this process, he says, Avanade can also focus on getting clients digitally-enabled.

"Now you're able to really combine cloud data with on-premises data – and we should remind ourselves that Microsoft is one of the only providers out there with a strong hybrid story. I think this is still relevant to people and that companies will want to still have the option of data on-premises," said Warby.

This desire for a hybrid data system exists, Warby said, because there are still sovereignty issues and data residency issues around the world.

"I think the importance of regulation, data privacy, managing security is a process that a few years ago, people would consider insecure. But now, the education and security have drastically increased," said Warby.

He says that because of recent advances, security is no longer the main concern and that enterprises are focusing more on data.

"Data really becomes the next part of the conversation as companies feel more secure and protected in the cloud, he said. "People are getting more and more comfortable with how things get managed, and the regulatory environment around it as well."