Microsoft
Full Text
Head office: One Microsoft Way, Redmond, Washington 98052-6399, USA. Tel.: +1-425-882-8080. Israeli office: Alan Turing St. 3, Herzliya 4672415, Israel
An American multinational technology corporation. One of the world’s largest IT companies, developing software products, services and devices. Company products and brands include Bing, Azure, Microsoft Account services, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, Dynamics, OneDrive, SharePoint Online, Skype, Xbox, Outlook.com, LinkedIn, Dynamics, Github, and Nuance.
Microsoft has a history of deep engagement with the Israeli high-tech industry and close ties to the Israeli military.
Through its fully-owned Israeli subsidiaries, the company has provided services to the Israeli government, the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD), and cloud services to the Israeli military and security bodies in Israel.
Microsoft Israel is one of the three strategic centers of Microsoft worldwide, and one of the company's largest leased international properties spaces. In November 2023, Microsoft launched its first Cloud Datacenter Region in Israel, with an estimated investment of hundreds of millions of USD.
Services to the Israeli military
Al- Munaseq app
Microsoft provides its cloud platform service to the Israeli military for its military apps.
The “Al Munaseq” application (the Coordinator in Arabic) was developed by the IMOD and is used by the Israeli Civil Administration (ICA) in the occupied West Bank to manage the issuing of permits needed for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza for work, commerce, family visits and medical and legal needs. The application runs on Microsoft Azure, a Microsoft platform for cloud computing services. The application is also used to schedule appointments for the issuance of biometric smart cards which are required for Palestinians to cross Israeli checkpoints.
In addition to the provision of general information such as their name, ID and phone number, users have to give access to their phone’s IP address, geographic location, access to the camera and to files stored on the mobile device, and consent to the extraction and storage of the data by the Israeli military, and of sharing the information with third parties such as other government authorities.
By November 2021, over half a million Palestinians were using the app.
During the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, with the closure of the offices of the ICA, Palestinian workers who work in Israel and in Israeli settlements in the West Bank were compelled to fill out a health form using the app and use it to check the status of their permits. For more, read our flash report Exploited and Essential: Palestinian Labour under Covid-19.
Microsoft's Azure servers were also used to establish military applications developed by the Israeli military IT and Cyber Defense Division. The company provided the military with servers to store the applications' information, and senior programmers of the company guided and advised in the development process.
Additionally, Microsoft Authenticator app is used by the Israeli military for soldiers to log into the military's apps with an "MY IDF" user using facial recognition, a fingerprint or a one-time code.
Services to the Military Computer and IT Directorate
Microsoft works in collaboration with the Israeli military’s Mamram Unit, abbreviation for Center of Computing and Information Systems, in the Computer and IT Directorate. Among others, the unit developed and operates the Israeli military cloud used to operate the Israeli military's "target bank", which was used in the Israeli attack on Gaza, and a platform that enables intelligence gathering.
In September 2023, Microsoft participated in the annual conference of Mamram unit's graduates with a lecture given by a representative from Microsoft Southeast Europe.
In August 2023, a developer conference was held at Microsoft Israel offices with the Shahar Unit, the software house for organizational systems of the Israel military combat management and support under the ICT Division. About 150 soldiers, officers and consultants from a selection of development frameworks in the army participated in the conference, and lectures and professional discussions were held on Kubernetes, React, cyber defense, testing, knowledge management and innovation.
In July 2023, Microsoft Israel R&D Center's chief scientist participated in a conference held at Ben Gurion University at the initiative of the MARAM Unit alumni association on the issue of Artificial Intelligence and the integration of information technologies in the Israeli military. The commander of the Lotem Unit, the Israeli military brigade for operational technological strengthening, also participated in the conference.
Courses for the Israeli military
In December 2022, Microsoft Israel launched a free cyber training program for the Israeli military's veterans in collaboration with the Israeli military. The program offers free training courses in the field of information security and Microsoft's cyber solutions for the purpose of integration into cyber security positions in the hi-tech industry.
In 2021, the Israeli military introduced an Artificial Intelligence training course established in partnership with Microsoft, accessible to every soldier from a mobile phone or computer for free. The course was established by the Shiloh Brigade (acronym for Combat Methods and Innovation), which deals with the development of innovative multi-armed combat methods, together with Microsoft and the military Tactical Command College. The course, which deals with the use of artificial intelligence and its contribution to operational activity, began as a pilot intended for a limited number of combatant commanders.
In April 2024, Microsoft Israel hosted a group from the "Combatants to Hi-Tech" program, held in collaboration with the Ministry and the Israeli army, for a TypeScript workshop developed in Microsoft, a lecture and a tour given by the company's employees. The "Combatants to Hi-Tech" program is a prestigious program designed to integrate combat fighters into the high-tech industry using their combat experience.
In 2021, Microsoft took part in a hackathon of the Israeli military, which took place at a military base, where Israeli soldiers developed new technology for military operational use with the assist of Microsoft mentors. The new developments included a “Settlement Defense” app, designed to assist soldiers guarding Israeli settlements, and a manual weapon calibration system for shooting training for combat soldiers.
In 2007, the Israeli military announced that soldiers in the military’s computing and cyber studies unit can get free training in a Microsoft course that was developed by the company according to the requirements of the military.
In early 2000, Microsoft signed an agreement with the Israeli military to provide programming courses programs that grant soldiers with the company's recognized degrees.
Microsoft Smart Glasses
In 2016, the Israeli military published a video presenting its use of Microsoft’s augmented reality smart glasses, Microsoft Hololens, for augmented battlefield training to help with battlefield strategy and training.
Collaboration with the Israeli military in schools
Microsoft has worked in cooperation with the Israeli military and the Israeli ministry of education to encourage high school students to excellent in computer science and technology. Engineers from the company lecture at schools alongside military officers who give preparatory lectures for military service.
Microsoft collaborated with the Israeli military in “Hadarim” project, which offers high school female students to join a prestigious pre-military program designed to integrate them in high-tech units in the Israeli military.
Software services
In 2002, Microsoft was contracted to provide unlimited software products and implementation services for the Israeli military, the IMOD and other security forces for a period of 3 years for the amount of $100 million. The contract included cooperation between the company and the military’s software developers.
In 1999, Microsoft signed a NIS 50 million agreement with the Israeli military to regularize the use of Microsoft software in military departments. The agreement constitutes one of the largest software licensing deals ever signed in Israel, at the time. An additional agreement was signed to formalize the use of Microsoft software systems in the military and Israeli Ministry of Defense.
Services to Settlements
Ariel University
Microsoft offers Israeli university students’ free use of the company’s software applications, including students in Ariel University, located in the Israeli settlement of Ariel in the occupied West Bank. Those benefits are also provided to staff at the university itself.
The Student Association at Ariel University in collaboration with Microsoft Israel offers students at the university Microsoft certification courses that grant an international certificate recognized by the company.
In September 2022, Ariel University published a call for three Microsoft research grants for researchers from Israeli universities. Microsoft has offered three research grants to researchers from Israeli universities in collaboration with the Inter-University Computation Center, which the head of the Computer and Information Systems Division at Ariel University is on its executive committee.
In July 2022, Microsoft Israel hosted the Ariel hackathon (Hack-AU) in its offices with the participation of 150 students from the university and 40 professional mentors in various fields.
In May 2022, Microsoft hosted the Ariel University hackathon, organized by Ariel University and the Ariel Student Association.
In addition, in 2008 Microsoft signed a collaboration agreement with Ariel University to provide E-mail services to all of the university’s students and graduates.
Ma’ale Adumim Department of Education
In 2019, the Education Department of Ma'ale Adumim settlement entered into a joint venture with Microsoft to implement the use of Microsoft applications for all students and teachers in schools in the settlement, with trainings held by representatives of Microsoft.
Services to the Israel Police
In January 2024, Microsoft Israel was contracted by the Israel Police as sole supplier, with an exemption from tender, to provide Microsoft Premier expert services and maintenance until the end of December 2026 for NIS 3,600,000.
In December 2022, Microsoft Israel was contracted, with an exemption from tender, by the Israeli Police to provide Microsoft AZURE Cloud Services for NIS 4 million for six months starting January 2023. Also in December 2022, the company was contracted with an exemption from tenders by the Israeli Police to provide licensing for Microsoft products for NIS 16 million from January 2023 until December 2025.
In 2021, Microsoft was contracted to be the sole supplier of software support services for Israel police for the amount of NIS 250,000. In 2020, the company was contracted to provide cloud services for Israel Police for the amount of NIS 7 million. In 2019, the company was contracted to provide Microsoft Azure cloud services for NIS 3.5 million.
Services to the Israel Prison Service
In April 2024, Microsoft Israel was contracted by the Israel Prison Service (IPS) as sole supplier, with an exemption from tender, to provide Premier support services until the April 2027 for NIS 2,674,620.
In 2021, Microsoft was contracted to provide software consulting services for the Israel Prison Service (for the year 2022, for the amount of NIS 796,415. In 2020, the company was contracted to provide the same services for the amount of NIS 793,893. In 2019, the company was contracted to be the sole supplier of computing products for IPS until 2022. Between 2017 and 2019, the company was contracted to provide software and servers support and consulting services for IPS.
Naqab
In June 2023, Microsoft opened a new office in the hi-tech park “Gav-Yam” in the city of Be'er Sheva in the Naqab. The industrial park is located next to the Israeli military telecommunication base and Computer Service Directorate campus, and was built as part of a Southern Relocation plan led by the Israeli Ministry of Defense. This military and industrial development plan was designed to relocate technology companies alongside military elite tech units to the Naqab in order to enhance the integration of soldiers from Cyber units in work in high-tech companies at the end of their service. This project is part of a greater attempt to strengthen Jewish settlement and development in the Naqab while Palestinian Bedouin communities in the region face forced displacement and de-development by Israeli authorities. For more on Development & Military Projects in the Naqab see Who Profits’ interactive map: Tools of Dispossession in the Naqab.
Services to the Israeli government
The Israeli government has an agreement with Microsoft that authorizes any government office to purchase Microsoft products from one of the company’s authorized suppliers, with almost no restriction. In addition, the Israeli government has been buying cloud services in recent years almost exclusively from Microsoft, in amounts ranging from tens of thousands to millions of NIS a month, with no tender and contrary to the regulations of the obligation of tender.
An American multinational technology corporation. One of the world’s largest IT companies, developing software products, services and devices. Company products and brands include Bing, Azure, Microsoft Account services, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, Dynamics, OneDrive, SharePoint Online, Skype, Xbox, Outlook.com, LinkedIn, Dynamics, Github, and Nuance.
Microsoft has a history of deep engagement with the Israeli high-tech industry and close ties to the Israeli military.
Through its fully-owned Israeli subsidiaries, the company has provided services to the Israeli government, the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD), and cloud services to the Israeli military and security bodies in Israel.
Microsoft Israel is one of the three strategic centers of Microsoft worldwide, and one of the company's largest leased international properties spaces. In November 2023, Microsoft launched its first Cloud Datacenter Region in Israel, with an estimated investment of hundreds of millions of USD.
Services to the Israeli military
Al- Munaseq app
Microsoft provides its cloud platform service to the Israeli military for its military apps.
The “Al Munaseq” application (the Coordinator in Arabic) was developed by the IMOD and is used by the Israeli Civil Administration (ICA) in the occupied West Bank to manage the issuing of permits needed for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza for work, commerce, family visits and medical and legal needs. The application runs on Microsoft Azure, a Microsoft platform for cloud computing services. The application is also used to schedule appointments for the issuance of biometric smart cards which are required for Palestinians to cross Israeli checkpoints.
In addition to the provision of general information such as their name, ID and phone number, users have to give access to their phone’s IP address, geographic location, access to the camera and to files stored on the mobile device, and consent to the extraction and storage of the data by the Israeli military, and of sharing the information with third parties such as other government authorities.
By November 2021, over half a million Palestinians were using the app.
During the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, with the closure of the offices of the ICA, Palestinian workers who work in Israel and in Israeli settlements in the West Bank were compelled to fill out a health form using the app and use it to check the status of their permits. For more, read our flash report Exploited and Essential: Palestinian Labour under Covid-19.
Microsoft's Azure servers were also used to establish military applications developed by the Israeli military IT and Cyber Defense Division. The company provided the military with servers to store the applications' information, and senior programmers of the company guided and advised in the development process.
Additionally, Microsoft Authenticator app is used by the Israeli military for soldiers to log into the military's apps with an "MY IDF" user using facial recognition, a fingerprint or a one-time code.
Services to the Military Computer and IT Directorate
Microsoft works in collaboration with the Israeli military’s Mamram Unit, abbreviation for Center of Computing and Information Systems, in the Computer and IT Directorate. Among others, the unit developed and operates the Israeli military cloud used to operate the Israeli military's "target bank", which was used in the Israeli attack on Gaza, and a platform that enables intelligence gathering.
In September 2023, Microsoft participated in the annual conference of Mamram unit's graduates with a lecture given by a representative from Microsoft Southeast Europe.
In August 2023, a developer conference was held at Microsoft Israel offices with the Shahar Unit, the software house for organizational systems of the Israel military combat management and support under the ICT Division. About 150 soldiers, officers and consultants from a selection of development frameworks in the army participated in the conference, and lectures and professional discussions were held on Kubernetes, React, cyber defense, testing, knowledge management and innovation.
In July 2023, Microsoft Israel R&D Center's chief scientist participated in a conference held at Ben Gurion University at the initiative of the MARAM Unit alumni association on the issue of Artificial Intelligence and the integration of information technologies in the Israeli military. The commander of the Lotem Unit, the Israeli military brigade for operational technological strengthening, also participated in the conference.
Courses for the Israeli military
In December 2022, Microsoft Israel launched a free cyber training program for the Israeli military's veterans in collaboration with the Israeli military. The program offers free training courses in the field of information security and Microsoft's cyber solutions for the purpose of integration into cyber security positions in the hi-tech industry.
In 2021, the Israeli military introduced an Artificial Intelligence training course established in partnership with Microsoft, accessible to every soldier from a mobile phone or computer for free. The course was established by the Shiloh Brigade (acronym for Combat Methods and Innovation), which deals with the development of innovative multi-armed combat methods, together with Microsoft and the military Tactical Command College. The course, which deals with the use of artificial intelligence and its contribution to operational activity, began as a pilot intended for a limited number of combatant commanders.
In April 2024, Microsoft Israel hosted a group from the "Combatants to Hi-Tech" program, held in collaboration with the Ministry and the Israeli army, for a TypeScript workshop developed in Microsoft, a lecture and a tour given by the company's employees. The "Combatants to Hi-Tech" program is a prestigious program designed to integrate combat fighters into the high-tech industry using their combat experience.
In 2021, Microsoft took part in a hackathon of the Israeli military, which took place at a military base, where Israeli soldiers developed new technology for military operational use with the assist of Microsoft mentors. The new developments included a “Settlement Defense” app, designed to assist soldiers guarding Israeli settlements, and a manual weapon calibration system for shooting training for combat soldiers.
In 2007, the Israeli military announced that soldiers in the military’s computing and cyber studies unit can get free training in a Microsoft course that was developed by the company according to the requirements of the military.
In early 2000, Microsoft signed an agreement with the Israeli military to provide programming courses programs that grant soldiers with the company's recognized degrees.
Microsoft Smart Glasses
In 2016, the Israeli military published a video presenting its use of Microsoft’s augmented reality smart glasses, Microsoft Hololens, for augmented battlefield training to help with battlefield strategy and training.
Collaboration with the Israeli military in schools
Microsoft has worked in cooperation with the Israeli military and the Israeli ministry of education to encourage high school students to excellent in computer science and technology. Engineers from the company lecture at schools alongside military officers who give preparatory lectures for military service.
Microsoft collaborated with the Israeli military in “Hadarim” project, which offers high school female students to join a prestigious pre-military program designed to integrate them in high-tech units in the Israeli military.
Software services
In 2002, Microsoft was contracted to provide unlimited software products and implementation services for the Israeli military, the IMOD and other security forces for a period of 3 years for the amount of $100 million. The contract included cooperation between the company and the military’s software developers.
In 1999, Microsoft signed a NIS 50 million agreement with the Israeli military to regularize the use of Microsoft software in military departments. The agreement constitutes one of the largest software licensing deals ever signed in Israel, at the time. An additional agreement was signed to formalize the use of Microsoft software systems in the military and Israeli Ministry of Defense.
Services to Settlements
Ariel University
Microsoft offers Israeli university students’ free use of the company’s software applications, including students in Ariel University, located in the Israeli settlement of Ariel in the occupied West Bank. Those benefits are also provided to staff at the university itself.
The Student Association at Ariel University in collaboration with Microsoft Israel offers students at the university Microsoft certification courses that grant an international certificate recognized by the company.
In September 2022, Ariel University published a call for three Microsoft research grants for researchers from Israeli universities. Microsoft has offered three research grants to researchers from Israeli universities in collaboration with the Inter-University Computation Center, which the head of the Computer and Information Systems Division at Ariel University is on its executive committee.
In July 2022, Microsoft Israel hosted the Ariel hackathon (Hack-AU) in its offices with the participation of 150 students from the university and 40 professional mentors in various fields.
In May 2022, Microsoft hosted the Ariel University hackathon, organized by Ariel University and the Ariel Student Association.
In addition, in 2008 Microsoft signed a collaboration agreement with Ariel University to provide E-mail services to all of the university’s students and graduates.
Ma’ale Adumim Department of Education
In 2019, the Education Department of Ma'ale Adumim settlement entered into a joint venture with Microsoft to implement the use of Microsoft applications for all students and teachers in schools in the settlement, with trainings held by representatives of Microsoft.
Services to the Israel Police
In January 2024, Microsoft Israel was contracted by the Israel Police as sole supplier, with an exemption from tender, to provide Microsoft Premier expert services and maintenance until the end of December 2026 for NIS 3,600,000.
In December 2022, Microsoft Israel was contracted, with an exemption from tender, by the Israeli Police to provide Microsoft AZURE Cloud Services for NIS 4 million for six months starting January 2023. Also in December 2022, the company was contracted with an exemption from tenders by the Israeli Police to provide licensing for Microsoft products for NIS 16 million from January 2023 until December 2025.
In 2021, Microsoft was contracted to be the sole supplier of software support services for Israel police for the amount of NIS 250,000. In 2020, the company was contracted to provide cloud services for Israel Police for the amount of NIS 7 million. In 2019, the company was contracted to provide Microsoft Azure cloud services for NIS 3.5 million.
Services to the Israel Prison Service
In April 2024, Microsoft Israel was contracted by the Israel Prison Service (IPS) as sole supplier, with an exemption from tender, to provide Premier support services until the April 2027 for NIS 2,674,620.
In 2021, Microsoft was contracted to provide software consulting services for the Israel Prison Service (for the year 2022, for the amount of NIS 796,415. In 2020, the company was contracted to provide the same services for the amount of NIS 793,893. In 2019, the company was contracted to be the sole supplier of computing products for IPS until 2022. Between 2017 and 2019, the company was contracted to provide software and servers support and consulting services for IPS.
Naqab
In June 2023, Microsoft opened a new office in the hi-tech park “Gav-Yam” in the city of Be'er Sheva in the Naqab. The industrial park is located next to the Israeli military telecommunication base and Computer Service Directorate campus, and was built as part of a Southern Relocation plan led by the Israeli Ministry of Defense. This military and industrial development plan was designed to relocate technology companies alongside military elite tech units to the Naqab in order to enhance the integration of soldiers from Cyber units in work in high-tech companies at the end of their service. This project is part of a greater attempt to strengthen Jewish settlement and development in the Naqab while Palestinian Bedouin communities in the region face forced displacement and de-development by Israeli authorities. For more on Development & Military Projects in the Naqab see Who Profits’ interactive map: Tools of Dispossession in the Naqab.
Services to the Israeli government
The Israeli government has an agreement with Microsoft that authorizes any government office to purchase Microsoft products from one of the company’s authorized suppliers, with almost no restriction. In addition, the Israeli government has been buying cloud services in recent years almost exclusively from Microsoft, in amounts ranging from tens of thousands to millions of NIS a month, with no tender and contrary to the regulations of the obligation of tender.
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Microsoft
Head office: One Microsoft Way, Redmond, Washington 98052-6399, USA.
Tel.: +1-425-882-8080.
Israeli office: Alan Turing St. 3, Herzliya 4672415, Israel
An American multinational technology corporation. One of the world’s largest IT companies, developing software products, services and devices. Company products and brands include Bing, Azure, Microsoft Account services, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, Dynamics, OneDrive, SharePoint Online, Skype, Xbox, Outlook.com, LinkedIn, Dynamics, Github, and Nuance.
Microsoft has a history of deep engagement with the Israeli high-tech industry and close ties to the Israeli military.
Through its fully-owned Israeli subsidiaries, the company has provided services to the Israeli government, the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD), and cloud services to the Israeli military and security bodies in Israel.
Microsoft Israel is one of the three strategic centers of Microsoft worldwide, and one of the company's largest leased international properties spaces. In November 2023, Microsoft launched its first Cloud Datacenter Region in Israel, with an estimated investment of hundreds of millions of USD.
Services to the Israeli military
Al- Munaseq app
Microsoft provides its cloud platform service to the Israeli military for its military apps.
The “Al Munaseq” application (the Coordinator in Arabic) was developed by the IMOD and is used by the Israeli Civil Administration (ICA) in the occupied West Bank to manage the issuing of permits needed for Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and Gaza for work, commerce, family visits and medical and legal needs. The application runs on Microsoft Azure, a Microsoft platform for cloud computing services. The application is also used to schedule appointments for the issuance of biometric smart cards which are required for Palestinians to cross Israeli checkpoints.
In addition to the provision of general information such as their name, ID and phone number, users have to give access to their phone’s IP address, geographic location, access to the camera and to files stored on the mobile device, and consent to the extraction and storage of the data by the Israeli military, and of sharing the information with third parties such as other government authorities.
By November 2021, over half a million Palestinians were using the app.
During the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, with the closure of the offices of the ICA, Palestinian workers who work in Israel and in Israeli settlements in the West Bank were compelled to fill out a health form using the app and use it to check the status of their permits. For more, read our flash report Exploited and Essential: Palestinian Labour under Covid-19.
Microsoft's Azure servers were also used to establish military applications developed by the Israeli military IT and Cyber Defense Division. The company provided the military with servers to store the applications' information, and senior programmers of the company guided and advised in the development process.
Additionally, Microsoft Authenticator app is used by the Israeli military for soldiers to log into the military's apps with an "MY IDF" user using facial recognition, a fingerprint or a one-time code.
Services to the Military Computer and IT Directorate
Microsoft works in collaboration with the Israeli military’s Mamram Unit, abbreviation for Center of Computing and Information Systems, in the Computer and IT Directorate. Among others, the unit developed and operates the Israeli military cloud used to operate the Israeli military's "target bank", which was used in the Israeli attack on Gaza, and a platform that enables intelligence gathering.
In September 2023, Microsoft participated in the annual conference of Mamram unit's graduates with a lecture given by a representative from Microsoft Southeast Europe.
In August 2023, a developer conference was held at Microsoft Israel offices with the Shahar Unit, the software house for organizational systems of the Israel military combat management and support under the ICT Division. About 150 soldiers, officers and consultants from a selection of development frameworks in the army participated in the conference, and lectures and professional discussions were held on Kubernetes, React, cyber defense, testing, knowledge management and innovation.
In July 2023, Microsoft Israel R&D Center's chief scientist participated in a conference held at Ben Gurion University at the initiative of the MARAM Unit alumni association on the issue of Artificial Intelligence and the integration of information technologies in the Israeli military. The commander of the Lotem Unit, the Israeli military brigade for operational technological strengthening, also participated in the conference.
Courses for the Israeli military
In December 2022, Microsoft Israel launched a free cyber training program for the Israeli military's veterans in collaboration with the Israeli military. The program offers free training courses in the field of information security and Microsoft's cyber solutions for the purpose of integration into cyber security positions in the hi-tech industry.
In 2021, the Israeli military introduced an Artificial Intelligence training course established in partnership with Microsoft, accessible to every soldier from a mobile phone or computer for free. The course was established by the Shiloh Brigade (acronym for Combat Methods and Innovation), which deals with the development of innovative multi-armed combat methods, together with Microsoft and the military Tactical Command College. The course, which deals with the use of artificial intelligence and its contribution to operational activity, began as a pilot intended for a limited number of combatant commanders.
In April 2024, Microsoft Israel hosted a group from the "Combatants to Hi-Tech" program, held in collaboration with the Ministry and the Israeli army, for a TypeScript workshop developed in Microsoft, a lecture and a tour given by the company's employees. The "Combatants to Hi-Tech" program is a prestigious program designed to integrate combat fighters into the high-tech industry using their combat experience.
In 2021, Microsoft took part in a hackathon of the Israeli military, which took place at a military base, where Israeli soldiers developed new technology for military operational use with the assist of Microsoft mentors. The new developments included a “Settlement Defense” app, designed to assist soldiers guarding Israeli settlements, and a manual weapon calibration system for shooting training for combat soldiers.
In 2007, the Israeli military announced that soldiers in the military’s computing and cyber studies unit can get free training in a Microsoft course that was developed by the company according to the requirements of the military.
In early 2000, Microsoft signed an agreement with the Israeli military to provide programming courses programs that grant soldiers with the company's recognized degrees.
Microsoft Smart Glasses
In 2016, the Israeli military published a video presenting its use of Microsoft’s augmented reality smart glasses, Microsoft Hololens, for augmented battlefield training to help with battlefield strategy and training.
Collaboration with the Israeli military in schools
Microsoft has worked in cooperation with the Israeli military and the Israeli ministry of education to encourage high school students to excellent in computer science and technology. Engineers from the company lecture at schools alongside military officers who give preparatory lectures for military service.
Microsoft collaborated with the Israeli military in “Hadarim” project, which offers high school female students to join a prestigious pre-military program designed to integrate them in high-tech units in the Israeli military.
Software services
In 2002, Microsoft was contracted to provide unlimited software products and implementation services for the Israeli military, the IMOD and other security forces for a period of 3 years for the amount of $100 million. The contract included cooperation between the company and the military’s software developers.
In 1999, Microsoft signed a NIS 50 million agreement with the Israeli military to regularize the use of Microsoft software in military departments. The agreement constitutes one of the largest software licensing deals ever signed in Israel, at the time. An additional agreement was signed to formalize the use of Microsoft software systems in the military and Israeli Ministry of Defense.
Services to Settlements
Ariel University
Microsoft offers Israeli university students’ free use of the company’s software applications, including students in Ariel University, located in the Israeli settlement of Ariel in the occupied West Bank. Those benefits are also provided to staff at the university itself.
The Student Association at Ariel University in collaboration with Microsoft Israel offers students at the university Microsoft certification courses that grant an international certificate recognized by the company.
In September 2022, Ariel University published a call for three Microsoft research grants for researchers from Israeli universities. Microsoft has offered three research grants to researchers from Israeli universities in collaboration with the Inter-University Computation Center, which the head of the Computer and Information Systems Division at Ariel University is on its executive committee.
In July 2022, Microsoft Israel hosted the Ariel hackathon (Hack-AU) in its offices with the participation of 150 students from the university and 40 professional mentors in various fields.
In May 2022, Microsoft hosted the Ariel University hackathon, organized by Ariel University and the Ariel Student Association.
In addition, in 2008 Microsoft signed a collaboration agreement with Ariel University to provide E-mail services to all of the university’s students and graduates.
Ma’ale Adumim Department of Education
In 2019, the Education Department of Ma'ale Adumim settlement entered into a joint venture with Microsoft to implement the use of Microsoft applications for all students and teachers in schools in the settlement, with trainings held by representatives of Microsoft.
Services to the Israel Police
In January 2024, Microsoft Israel was contracted by the Israel Police as sole supplier, with an exemption from tender, to provide Microsoft Premier expert services and maintenance until the end of December 2026 for NIS 3,600,000.
In December 2022, Microsoft Israel was contracted, with an exemption from tender, by the Israeli Police to provide Microsoft AZURE Cloud Services for NIS 4 million for six months starting January 2023. Also in December 2022, the company was contracted with an exemption from tenders by the Israeli Police to provide licensing for Microsoft products for NIS 16 million from January 2023 until December 2025.
In 2021, Microsoft was contracted to be the sole supplier of software support services for Israel police for the amount of NIS 250,000. In 2020, the company was contracted to provide cloud services for Israel Police for the amount of NIS 7 million. In 2019, the company was contracted to provide Microsoft Azure cloud services for NIS 3.5 million.
Services to the Israel Prison Service
In April 2024, Microsoft Israel was contracted by the Israel Prison Service (IPS) as sole supplier, with an exemption from tender, to provide Premier support services until the April 2027 for NIS 2,674,620.
In 2021, Microsoft was contracted to provide software consulting services for the Israel Prison Service (for the year 2022, for the amount of NIS 796,415. In 2020, the company was contracted to provide the same services for the amount of NIS 793,893. In 2019, the company was contracted to be the sole supplier of computing products for IPS until 2022. Between 2017 and 2019, the company was contracted to provide software and servers support and consulting services for IPS.
Naqab
In June 2023, Microsoft opened a new office in the hi-tech park “Gav-Yam” in the city of Be'er Sheva in the Naqab. The industrial park is located next to the Israeli military telecommunication base and Computer Service Directorate campus, and was built as part of a Southern Relocation plan led by the Israeli Ministry of Defense. This military and industrial development plan was designed to relocate technology companies alongside military elite tech units to the Naqab in order to enhance the integration of soldiers from Cyber units in work in high-tech companies at the end of their service. This project is part of a greater attempt to strengthen Jewish settlement and development in the Naqab while Palestinian Bedouin communities in the region face forced displacement and de-development by Israeli authorities. For more on Development & Military Projects in the Naqab see Who Profits’ interactive map: Tools of Dispossession in the Naqab.
Services to the Israeli government
The Israeli government has an agreement with Microsoft that authorizes any government office to purchase Microsoft products from one of the company’s authorized suppliers, with almost no restriction. In addition, the Israeli government has been buying cloud services in recent years almost exclusively from Microsoft, in amounts ranging from tens of thousands to millions of NIS a month, with no tender and contrary to the regulations of the obligation of tender.
Ownership
The company is publicly traded on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol: MSFT.
Major shareholders include: Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Co. (8.99%), BlackRock Advisors LLC (5.64%), STATE STREET CORPORATION (4.04%), Fidelity Management & Research Co. LLC (2.97%), Geode Capital Management LLC 2.12%), T. Rowe Price International Ltd. (1.91%), JPMorgan Investment Management, Inc. (1.67%), Eaton Vance Management (1.64%), BlackRock Life Ltd. (1.44%), Bill Gates (1.38%).
Chairman and CEO: Satya Nadella
Subsidiaries
GraceMac Corporation, Microsoft FSC Corp., Microsoft Manufacturing B.V., Microsoft Puerto Rico, Inc. (Manufacturing), Vermeer Technologies, Inc., Microsoft de Argentina S.A., Microsoft Pty Limited, Microsoft Gesellschaft m.b.H., Microsoft N.V., Microsoft Informatica Limitada, Microsoft Canada Inc., Softimage, Inc., Microsoft Chile S.A., Microsoft Colombia Inc., Microsoft De Centroamérica S.A., Microsoft s.r.o., Microsoft Danmark ApS, Corporación Microsoft Del Ecuador S.A., Microsoft Corporation (Representative Office), Microsoft Oy, Microsoft France S.A.R.L., Softimage France S.A.R.L., Microsoft G.m.b.H., Softimage G.m.b.H., Microsoft Hellas S.A., Microsoft De Guatemala, S.A., Microsoft Hong Kong Limited, Microsoft Kft, Microsoft Corporation (India) Private Limited, PT. Microsoft Indonesia, Microsoft S.p.A., Microsoft Company, Limited, Microsoft CH, Microsoft (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Microsoft México, S.A. de C.V., Microsoft Maroc S.A.R.L., Microsoft B.V., Microsoft International B.V., New Zealand Limited, Microsoft Norge AS, Microsoft De Panama, S.A., Microsoft (China) Company Limited, Microsoft Perú, S.A., Microsoft Philippines, Inc., Microsoft sp. z.o.o., MSFT-Software Para Microcomputadores, LDA, Microsoft Caribbean, Inc., Microsoft Taiwan Corporation, Microsoft A.O., Microsoft Singapore Pte Ltd, Microsoft Slovakia s.r.o., Microsoft d.o.o., Ljubljana Microsoft (S.A.) (Proprietary) Limited, Microsoft Iberica S.R.L., Microsoft Aktiebolag, Microsoft AG, Microsoft, Limited, Microsoft Bilgisayar Yazilim Hizmetleri Limited Sirket, Microsoft Corporation (Dubai Branch), Microsoft Limited, Softimage U.K. Limited, Microsoft Uruguay S.A., Corporation MS 90 de Venezuela S.A., The Resident Representative Office of Microsoft Corporation in Hanoi, Microsoft Ireland Research, Microsoft Global Finance, Microsoft Ireland Operations Limited, Microsoft Online, Inc., LinkedIn Corporation, LinkedIn Ireland Unlimited Company, Nuance Communications, Inc., DreamWorks Interactive L.L.C. (50%), The Microsoft Network L.L.C. (80%), MSNBC Cable L.L.C. (50%), MSNBC Interactive News L.L.C. (50%).
Israeli subsidiaries: Microsoft Israel Ltd., Microsoft Israel Research and Development (2002) Ltd., Microsoft 4772 Israel Ltd.
Partners
Elbit Systems, IBM, Cisco Systems, Motorola Solutions, Ness AT, Palantir Technologies.
* This section refers to the company's general business partners