ITPro Today’s Top 10 Stories About Microsoft in 2022

Microsoft kicked off 2022 with an $86.7 billion deal to acquire Activision Blizzard and kept grabbing headlines in the months that followed.

ITPro Today’s most-read articles about Microsoft chronicled the tech company keeping pace in sales, cybersecurity, and cloud services. Articles also explored Microsoft’s hard stance against spying on employees and controversies surrounding the company’s vulnerability disclosures.

Here are the top 10 stories about Microsoft in 2022.

1. Microsoft Targets Salesforce Clients With New Tools to Aid Sales Reps

In June, Microsoft unveiled Viva Sales, offering AI analysis of sales calls and the ability to synchronize information between customer management programs and Microsoft products. Learn how the Microsoft hopes to peel away clients from Salesforce. 

2. Inflation Concerns Not Stalling Public Cloud Growth at AWS, Microsoft, Google

Contributor Sean Michael Kerner in July reported on the resiliency of the cloud market, as AWS, Microsoft, and Google all reported impressive earnings in a difficult economic environment. Learn why Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella thinks the cloud will act as a hedge against inflation.

3. Don’t Spy on Employees To Ensure They’re Working, Microsoft Says

While the work-from-home era has raised questions about worker efficacy, even sparking “productivity paranoia,” Microsoft vice president Jared Spataro drew a hard line in the sand against managers snooping on worker activity.

4. Microsoft Build 2022: Nadella’s Top Announcements

Microsoft introduced several new initiatives that focused on cloud, data, and AI at this year’s Microsoft Build event. ITPro Today contributor Romi Mahajan reported on the key announcements and how the company aims to focus on “building what the world needs.”

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5. Microsoft Intros New Attack Surface Management, Threat Intel Tools

Microsoft’s security tools saw a significant upgrade in August. The company introduced new features that give security teams greater context and data on attacks and the capability to proactively identify new threats.

6. Microsoft Details New Security Features for Windows 11

Responding to new security threats posed by remote work, Microsoft unveiled enhancements for Windows 11 devices meant to give greater protection to user data. Find out how these features are intended to simplify security and guard against malware, credential theft, and phishing.

Further Reading: Windows 11 Migration Guide: 4 Best Practices When Upgrading

7. Microsoft: We Don't Want to Zero-Day Our Customers

After security researchers criticized limitations in Microsoft’s vulnerability disclosures, a top Microsoft security executive defended the company’s position. Read the highlights from a conversation with the corporate vice president of Microsoft's Security Response Center. 

8. Microsoft CTO Details Azure Cloud Future at Ignite

The annual Microsoft Ignite conference saw a host of new cloud services. CEO Satya Nadella previewed future innovations, estimating that Microsoft will build 50 to 100 data centers per year to meet the pace of demand for computing, storage, and networking capacity.

Further Reading: Microsoft Ignite 2022 Shows Users How To Do More With Less

9. 5 Reasons Microsoft Is Making Activision Blizzard Its Biggest Deal Ever

Learn how Microsoft’s January announcement that it was buying Activision Blizzard Inc. fits into the company’s overall strategy, and why they were willing to make the $68.7 billion all-cash acquisition – the company’s largest deal to date. 

Update: The FTC Is Suing Microsoft to Block Its Activision Blizzard Merger

10. Microsoft Begins Cloud Concessions After Rivals Complain

Amid an inquiry from the European Commission into alleged antitrust practices, Microsoft announced in May that it was launching new initiatives to make it easier to host the company’s software on European servers.

Update: Microsoft Changes European Cloud License Terms After Complaints

What was the most important move by Microsoft in 2022? Share your thoughts in the comments!