Oman Data Park (ODP) in collaboration with Microsoft and Cisco announced the deployment of Microsoft Azure Stack solutions in its facilities. A first for the Sultanate of Oman, the Microsoft Azure Stack is an extension of Microsoft’s Azure Cloud that brings the innovation of cloud computing to build and deploy hybrid applications anywhere, while meeting local data sovereignty and regulatory requirements. 

Established in 2011, ODP is Oman’s premier IT Managed Services Provider, that offers hosting, security and cloud services as well as virtual data centre services, leveraging its own Tier III certified data centres in Oman.

ODP was faced with the challenge of delivering on its digital transformation promises to customers while complying with the Sultanate’s regulations on data sovereignty. The organisation engaged Microsoft to explore deploying the country’s first Azure Stack, as a major step towards offering Azure services and capabilities within the compliance framework. 

“The key challenge faced by us in providing Azure services to our customers in Oman was the inability to store data locally,” said Eng. Maqbool Al Wahaibi, CEO, Oman Data Park. “We can now overcome this challenge through the Azure Stack which is planned for launch by September of this year. Being a hybrid solution, it is open for any entity to come on board and benefit from a wide portfolio of Azure services. Furthermore, this new addition is our way of supporting the economic development of the Oman by elevating the ICT sector to a new level of international expertise that offers a wide spectrum of Microsoft software portfolios while creating specialised jobs that supports this environment.” 

Hybrid Cloud Offerings

The ongoing ambition of ODP to become the digital enabler for organisations in Oman will now take a leap forward as it works with Microsoft and Cisco to launch hybrid cloud offerings. Organisations in the Sultanate of Oman can now innovate with a consistent cloud platform, and confidently make technology decisions based on business requirements, rather than business decisions based on technology limitations.

“As Oman Data Park works to move digital transformation forward across the sultanate, Microsoft will continue its commitment to the government, people and business community of Oman,” said Sheikh Saif Hilal Al Hosni, Country Manager, Microsoft Bahrain & Oman. “The ability to engage customers, empower employees, optimise operations and transform products and services will undoubtedly propel the country forward on its Vision 2040 journey. Now that ODP can deliver hybrid cloud services, the flexibility and agility that result, will allow thousands of organisations to take their place as innovators on the road to economic prosperity and achieve more.”  

Furthering Oman’s Digital Economy

“The ability to dynamically deliver business critical applications is a key requirement for all organisations in the age of digitization. Cloud computing is one of the main technologies driving this change. By deploying the Cisco Integrated System for Microsoft Azure Stack for the first time in Oman, ODP now has a comprehensive and pre-integrated cloud platform to accelerate service delivery and thus contribute to the development of the country’s digital economy. This platform was jointly developed by the engineering teams of both Cisco and Microsoft and brings the agility and fast-paced innovation of cloud computing to on-premises environments. Cisco has the breadth and depth of product and service offerings which have already been tested and consistently used for public, private, and hybrid cloud solutions,” Ali Al Lawati, General Manager Cisco Oman, added.