Now that the excitement of the news, the $26.2 billion acquisition of LinkedIn by Microsoft is behind us we have heard the pros and cons of the deal.
The purchase will allow Microsoft to pair its “professional cloud” with LinkedIn’s professional network. This move will accelerate Microsoft’s shift from traditional software to the cloud, where it will go head to head with technology giants Amazon.com, and Google.
Microsoft achieves two strategic purposes: massive amounts of data contained in LinkedIn’s 433 million member profiles kept up to date by business professionals which they can integrate with Microsoft’s Dynamics CRM software; and the algorithms necessary to crunch all that data.
According to Gartner, Cloud spending in 2015 reached $175 billion and is projected to top $315 billion by 2019. Much of this 4-year growth comes from companies realizing the benefits of shifting software and data off their on-premise computers.
Furthermore, Microsoft will extend the value of Microsoft 365 and it Dynamics for managing customer relationships. With LinkedIn, MS will be able to pick up useful tidbits about the background of potential customers. LinkedIn data will allow marketers more insight into their customers.
“We are in pursuit of a common mission centered on empowering people and organizations. Along with the new growth in our Office 365 commercial and Dynamics businesses this deal is key to our bold ambition to reinvent productivity and business processes,” Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella wrote.
We are aware, any data a LinkedIn user posts on that site or is virtually public information. There are many facts and messages that need much more secure handling than can be trusted to any social media site or even conventional email or fax systems.
Retarus is a leading provider of critical cloud based messaging for enterprises and service providers for over 20 years and is able to provide secure messaging in the Cloud. Recognized worldwide for reliability, security, innovation and complete global presence, Retarus offers an enterprise-class critical messaging portfolio that includes Fax, SMS, and E-Mail Security. Retarus’ secure Cloud solutions requires no additional hardware or software and offers seamless integration into mission critical applications like Microsoft 365.
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