Microsoft AI and cloud, mapped
IntelligentHQ's guide to what each Microsoft technology does, how the parts fit together, and which ones your organization actually needs. Every fact links to Microsoft's own documentation.
Independent guide by IntelligentHQ. Not affiliated with Microsoft.
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Agents & automation3
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AI models & platform4
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Security, identity & governance6
44 technologies in 7 layers Reviewed 26 Oct 2026
From the apps people use to the cloud underneath
44 technologies on five layers, 24 documented deployments and three decision tools, in one map.
- Copilot & business apps 10 technologies Virtual Desktop · Microsoft 365 Copilot · Copilot Chat
- Agents & automation 3 technologies Agent 365 · Copilot Studio · Foundry Agent Service
- AI models & platform 4 technologies Machine Learning · Foundry Tools · Foundry
- Data & analytics 8 technologies AI Search · Cosmos DB · Database for PostgreSQL
- Cloud & hybrid infrastructure 7 technologies Arc · Container Apps · GPU virtual machines
- Security, identity & governance runs through every layer Defender XDR · Entra · Intune · Purview · Security Copilot · Sentinel 6
- Developer tools runs through every layer DevOps · GitHub Copilot · Microsoft 365 Agents SDK · Agent Framework · Power Platform · Visual Studio Code and Visual Studio 2026 6
Solution areas
Microsoft's portfolio grouped by the problem it solves, not by product family.
- Copilot and work AI Pick the right Copilot tier for each team and prepare your Microsoft 365 content before rolling AI out to staff. Microsoft 365 Copilot · Microsoft Copilot Chat · Work IQ 3
- Agents: build, run and govern Choose how to build an agent, then keep every agent registered, identified and under policy. Microsoft Copilot Studio · Microsoft Agent Framework · Microsoft 365 Agents SDK 8
- Microsoft Foundry and AI services Build, test and run AI apps and agents on Azure with models, tools and governance in one place. Microsoft Foundry · Foundry Models · Foundry Agent Service 6
- Data and analytics Bring data into one governed lake, model it once, and serve reports and machine learning from it. Microsoft Fabric · OneLake · Power BI 4
- Databases Match each application to the right managed Azure database and migrate with as few code changes as possible. Azure SQL Database · Azure SQL Managed Instance · SQL Server on Azure VMs 3
- AI infrastructure and compute Pick the GPU, container and hosting options that fit your model size, traffic and level of control. ND-series VMs · NC-series VMs · Azure Kubernetes Service 4
- Hybrid, edge and sovereign cloud Manage servers, clusters and edge sites outside Azure with the same tools, and keep data local where rules require it. Azure Arc · Azure Local · Azure IoT Operations 3
- Security operations Detect, investigate and stop attacks across Microsoft and other sources from one portal, with AI help for analysts. Microsoft Defender XDR · Microsoft Sentinel · Microsoft Security Copilot 3
- Identity and endpoint management Control who and what can sign in, from which device, and keep devices and work apps configured and compliant. Microsoft Entra ID · Microsoft Entra ID Governance · Microsoft Entra Private Access 2
- Data security and governance Label, protect and govern sensitive data so people and AI tools only use what they should. Microsoft Purview · Purview Data Loss Prevention · Purview Information Protection 1
- Developer tools and GitHub Plan, write, review and ship code faster with AI assistance while keeping humans in charge of approvals. GitHub Copilot · GitHub · Visual Studio Code 6
- Business applications Run sales, service, finance and operations on Dynamics 365 and add agents where volumes justify them. Dynamics 365 Sales · Dynamics 365 Customer Service · Dynamics 365 Contact Center 1
- Power Platform Let business teams build apps, automations and sites on shared data, under admin guardrails. Power Apps · Power Automate · Power Pages 2
- Collaboration and productivity Organize teams, files and sharing in Microsoft 365 so collaboration and Copilot both work from clean content. Microsoft Teams · SharePoint · OneDrive 2
- Windows, devices and Cloud PCs Keep Windows current and choose between physical PCs, Windows 365 Cloud PCs and Azure Virtual Desktop. Windows 11 · Copilot+ PCs · Windows 365 4
- Industry and sustainability Find the industry templates, clinical AI and sustainability tools Microsoft offers, and what has changed or retired. Microsoft for Healthcare · Microsoft for Financial Services · Microsoft for Manufacturing 3
- Quantum and AI for science Learn quantum programming, estimate whether a problem could benefit, and run experiments on partner hardware. Azure Quantum · Microsoft Quantum Development Kit · Q# 1
- Startups and partner programs Find the Microsoft program that fits your startup's stage, from first credits to selling through Microsoft Marketplace. Microsoft for Startups · Microsoft for Startups Investor Network · Frontier Accelerate for Marketplace 1
Start from what you want to do
Each route names the technologies involved, what each one does in it, and when a simpler option is enough.
First, automate business processes.
Automate business processesOr, build an AI agent.
Build an AI agentOr perhaps, build custom AI models.
Build custom AI models
Three decisions, worked through with you
Free tools that run in your browser from published rules. No sign-up, and no AI service is called.
Copilot Readiness Check
Example: A 250-person company on Business Premium
Ready for a phased rollout
Expand group by group. Keep Restricted Content Discovery on any high-risk sites that are not fixed yet.
Try it with your answersFirst actions
- SharePoint Advanced Management turns on for the whole tenant once one person has a Copilot license. Run its content assessment first, then every 30 days.
- Automatic labeling and Insider Risk Management need E5 or E7-level Purview. E3 includes manual labeling and core DLP.
- Put Restricted Content Discovery and DLP for Copilot on high-risk sites as interim protection, then remove them once access is fixed.
Agent Platform Chooser
Example: An HR onboarding assistant
Copilot Studio
The low-code maker tool for agents with actions, connectors and workflows on Power Platform, published into Microsoft Copilot, Teams and other channels.
Try it with your answersAlso consider
- For people without a Copilot license, agents that read SharePoint or connected data are billed per use in Copilot Credits. Set a billing policy and spending limits.
- Before production: manage agents under Agents, Settings in the Microsoft 365 admin center, and give each agent an identity in Microsoft Entra Agent ID (Entra policies for agents need Agent 365).
Startup Program Match
Example: A seed-stage AI software company
Microsoft for Startups: likely eligible
Ask your investor for the 10-character code; Microsoft does not publish the list, and the code can be added later in the portal.
Try it with your answersAll programs
- Microsoft for Startups: Likely eligible
- Frontier Accelerate for Marketplace: Likely eligible, check the flagged points
- Microsoft for Startups Pegasus: Invitation only
Easy to confuse
Copilot Studio, Foundry Agent Service or the Agents SDK? Pick what you need; the guide names the technology and says why.
Choose Microsoft Copilot Studio
For: Build an agent for staff in Teams and Microsoft Copilot without writing code
Copilot Studio is a low-code SaaS studio whose agents publish to Teams, Microsoft Copilot and websites and connect to systems through prebuilt or custom connectors. Microsoft's own example is an HR onboarding assistant over Microsoft 365 content.
Read the Copilot Studio profileChoose Foundry Agent Service
For: Run an agent built with your own code, framework and model on managed Azure infrastructure
Hosted agents let you ship code built with Agent Framework, LangGraph, the OpenAI Agents SDK or your own code as a container, and Foundry supplies the endpoint, autoscaling and a dedicated Microsoft Entra identity.
Read the Foundry Agent Service profileChoose Microsoft Agent Framework
For: Write multi-agent workflows in code with explicit control over execution order
Agent Framework adds graph-based workflows with explicit execution paths to its agent abstractions, and Microsoft pairs it with Foundry Agent Service for hosting and orchestration.
Read the Agent Framework profileChoose Microsoft 365 Agents SDK
For: Reach users in Teams, Microsoft Copilot, a website and Slack from one code base
The SDK provides a channel abstraction so agent logic is written once and translated for each surface, and it lets developers plug in any AI service or orchestration library.
Read the Microsoft 365 Agents SDK profileChoose Microsoft 365 Agents SDK
For: Sell an agent to other organizations through the Microsoft Commercial Store
Microsoft states that only agents built with the Teams SDK, the Microsoft 365 Agents SDK or Foundry can be published to the Microsoft Commercial Store with the Agents Toolkit, which excludes Copilot Studio from this route.
Read the Microsoft 365 Agents SDK profileChoose Foundry Agent Service
For: Keep an agent that touches confidential systems inside a private network
Foundry Agent Service supports private networking for prompt agents and bring-your-own virtual network for hosted agents, with Microsoft Entra identity and Azure RBAC.
Read the Foundry Agent Service profileEvery comparison in the guide
- Azure Kubernetes Service or Azure Container Apps?
- Azure SQL or Azure Cosmos DB?
- Copilot Studio, Foundry Agent Service or the Agents SDK?
- Microsoft 365 Copilot or Microsoft Copilot Chat?
- Microsoft Defender XDR or Microsoft Sentinel?
- Microsoft Fabric, Azure Databricks or Azure Synapse?
- Power BI licenses or a Microsoft Fabric capacity?
- Windows 365 or Azure Virtual Desktop?
Documented deployments
Each case links to its sources and says whether a result was measured or projected, and who reported it.
All 24 case studies- Accenture Professional services, Global (more than 120 countries) Monthly active use in one tranche of about 200,000 licenses (not stated as company-wide) Measured
- Air India Travel and hospitality, India Customer queries handled per day Measured
- ASM Manufacturing, Singapore; operations in Asia, Europe and North America Analyst investigation time saved each week, by ASM's own calculation (no method, period or baseline published) Measured
- Banco Popular Dominicano Financial services, Dominican Republic Share of the operational risk universe monitored, up from about 40% (stated by Microsoft without a named source or method) Measured
- Broward County Public Schools Education, United States (Broward County, Florida) Time teachers report reclaiming each week (self-reported, no method or sample given) Measured
- C.H. Robinson Logistics and transportation, United States (global operations) Response time for emailed price quotes, according to a key account manager Measured
- Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group Retail and consumer goods, Hong Kong (story dateline); store network across several markets Customized AI agents deployed across the company Measured
- County of Kern Government, United States (Kern County, California) Files classified with sensitivity labels Measured
- Direct pojišťovna Financial services, Czechia Handling time per windshield claim (stated by Microsoft; the page gives no measurement method) Measured
- EY Professional services, Global Dynamics 365 Sales licenses deployed (rollout scope, not a business result) Measured
Every technology, by layer
Each profile says what it is, what it is not, what it needs and how to start.
Copilot & business apps
- Azure Virtual DesktopCloud service
- Microsoft 365 CopilotAdd-on
- Microsoft Copilot ChatCloud application
- Microsoft Dragon CopilotCloud application
- Microsoft Dynamics 365Suite
- Microsoft Industry Solutions and Dynamics 365 SustainabilitySuite
- Microsoft TeamsCloud application
- Power BIPlatform
- Windows 11 and Copilot+ PCsOperating system
- Windows 365Cloud application
Agents & automation
AI models & platform
Data & analytics
Developer tools
Security, identity & governance
Cloud & hybrid infrastructure
Programs & resources
By industry
- Automotive2 cases
- Education2 cases
- Energy and utilities1 case
- Financial services3 cases
- Government and public sector2 cases
- Healthcare2 cases
- Life sciences1 case
- Logistics and transportation1 case
- Manufacturing1 case
- Media and entertainment1 case
- Nonprofits1 case
- Professional services3 cases
- Retail and consumer goods2 cases
- Telecommunications1 case
- Travel and hospitality1 case
Why we built this guide
Microsoft's portfolio is large, its products are renamed often and the word Copilot appears on many of them. The questions that follow are usually the same:
- Which of these do we need?
- What does each one depend on?
- What does it take to switch it on safely?
How we answer them
One profile per technology, in plain English
Each claim is linked to Microsoft's own pages and dated. Profiles say what a product is not, and when a simpler option is enough. Case studies say whether a result was measured or only projected.
Three tools that run in your browser
They work from published rules, call no AI service and keep nothing you enter. Where Microsoft's own pages disagree, we say so instead of picking the convenient answer.
Independent of Microsoft
If you find a mistake, the correction form on every page reaches our editors.
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