Microsoft to establish lab in ICT Application and Training Centre

A presentation on cooperation between Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies (MTCHT) and Microsoft Azerbaijan was held as part of the Innovation Week, co-organized by MTCHT and Heydar Aliyev Center.
 
It should be noted that earlier AzInTelecom LLC under the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies signed a three-year agreement with Microsoft on the acquisition of software license for government agencies. The main objective of the agreement is to reduce costs in this area, improve the country's position in the rankings for the protection of intellectual property rights, develop the innovation ecosystem, attract foreign investment, as well as increase the number of use of electronic services.
 
According to the agreement reached between the parties, it is planned to provide computers of civil servants with (20 thousand licenses) Microsoft software license (Windows Pro, Office 365 ProPlus, Core CAL), as well as licensing higher educational institutions on academic benefits.
 
Speaking at the event, First Deputy Minister of Transport, Communications and High Technologies Ali Abdullayev noted that the implementation of this project will facilitate the elimination of licensing problems existing in government agencies, have a positive impact on cybersecurity, protection of intellectual property and personal data and  development of the electronic environment. This, in turn, along with information and communication technologies, will have a positive effect on the promotion of the country in a number of areas of  general economy, including the investment environment in international rankings.
 
In addition, the First Deputy Minister said that successful projects are being carried out in partnership with Microsoft Azerbaijan in the field of information technology, cybersecurity, education, intellectual property and other areas. Microsoft Corporation has directly participated in the construction of the Public Key Infrastructure, which ensures the use of electronic signatures in Azerbaijan. The National Certification Services Center established within the framework of the project provides government bodies, legal entities and individuals with  enhanced electronic signatures. The Center has issued users over 159 thousand electronic signature certificates so far.
 
According to Ali Abdullayev, one of the most successful joint work carried out with Microsoft in this direction is the implementation of another important innovative project for the country -  integration of electronic signatures in the new generation identity cards.
 
Then, the event was addressed by Government Director for Microsoft in Central Eastern Europe Evangelos Chrysafidis, Cybersecurity, SAM & License Compliance Director at Microsoft Dmitry Beresnev,  and General Director of Microsoft Azerbaijan Sarkhan Hashimov.
 
During the event, a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a laboratory “Internet of Things” was signed between the ICT Application and Training Centre LLC under the Ministry of Transport, Communications and High Technologies and Microsoft Azerbaijan.