What you need to know
- Office 365 services are generally available through Microsoft data centers in South Africa.
- Microsoft opened the new data centers in South Africa earlier this year.
- Microsoft brought Azure services to Africa earlier this year.
Office 365 services are now generally available through relatively new data centers in South Africa. Microsoft has expanded its presence in Africa steadily, including bringing Microsoft Azure to the continent earlier this year.
Opening data centers in South Africa is important because many countries have rules regarding the location of cloud data centers. Paul Lorimer, Distinguished Engineer for Microsoft 365, expanded on the importance of the data center in a Microsoft blog post:
In-country data residency for core customer data helps Office 365 customers meet regulatory requirements, which is particularly important and relevant in industries such as healthcare, financial services, and government—where organizations need to keep specific data in-country to comply with local requirements."
Microsoft claims that they are the first global provider to bring cloud services to the African continent. The company now provides both Office 365 services and Azure services to Africa through local data centers. Microsoft's growth in Africa helps extend its reach even further according to Lorimer:
The addition of South Africa as a new geography for Office 365 increases the options for secure, cloud productivity services combined with customer data residency in 16 geographies across the globe along with three additional geographies also announced."
Lorimer added that Dynamics 365 and Power Platform should also be available in the area in the fourth quarter of this year.
All of Office for one subscription price
Office 365 gives you access to the constantly updated suite of Microsoft's productivity apps, all for one subscription price. Whether you go with Home, Personal, or Business Premium, there's something for everyone.
Portable (and affordable) power accessories we love
Each and every one of these charging gadgets will keep your favorite gear and gadgets going for longer, and none of them costs more than $30.
VisionTek 8,000 mAh micro-USB power bank ($13 at Dell)
This compact dual-output powerbank can speedily recharge any and all your devices, thanks to a two-amp "fast charge feature," using its micro-USB out port. Its simple design includes an LED indicator, and it costs about as much as a single ticket to the movies.
Panasonic eneloop AA batteries (From $13 at Dell)
Panasonic's rechargeable batteries are among the best available, and just a couple of them will keep your favorite remote, mice or other peripherals powered up when you need them. They're also eco. And the company's affordable charger fits and charges both AA and AAA batteries at the same time.
Belkin Qi Wireless Charging Pad ($30 at Dell)
This unobtrusive Qi wireless charging pad looks good (and kind of like a UFO …) and easily charges all your Qi-compatible device up to 5W. Its LED indicator lights up when you're charging. And it costs just $30.
