In a significant step towards advancing its digital capabilities, Qatar National Library has teamed up with Microsoft to shift its operations to the Microsoft hyperscale Cloud Data Centre Region located in Qatar.
This migration marks the successful conclusion of the Library’s groundbreaking initiative to relocate its Azure environment—Microsoft’s cloud computing platform—from the West Europe Region to Qatar Central Region.
This strategic decision not only enhances the Library’s technological prowess but also brings a host of benefits to the organization and its esteemed users.
A key outcome of the transition to the Microsoft Cloud Data Centre, the first of its kind in the country, is a notable reduction in latency, plummeting from 120 milliseconds to an impressive five milliseconds.
This substantial decrease significantly improves the responsiveness and performance of the Library’s website and essential business applications, delivering a smoother and faster digital experience for users.
This updated infrastructure reinforces the Library's commitment to ensuring robust and continuous services. The implementation of Azure across three availability zones in Qatar ensures unprecedented redundancy and high availability for critical applications and workloads, guaranteeing uninterrupted services even during unforeseen challenges or local disruptions.
As part of the repatriation initiative, the Library has also included plans for a disaster recovery site located outside the country. This additional precautionary measure fortifies the Library’s data and applications against potential failures, providing assurance to both the organization and its patrons.
Nasser S Al Ansari, Director of IT Operations and Infrastructure at Qatar National Library, expressed enthusiasm about the successful repatriation, stating, “This milestone achievement is a testament to the Library’s commitment to providing cutting-edge services to our community.
The reduction in latency and improved availability not only enhance our core operations but also reaffirm our position as a modern library that embraces digital advancements.”
Waqar Aziz, Customer Success Unit Lead for Qatar at Microsoft, commented on the development, saying, “Qatar National Library pioneered the adoption of Microsoft Azure Cloud in Qatar for digital transformation and innovation.
QNL’s repatriation to Microsoft Cloud region in Qatar will notably enhance the application experience for end users and bolster its business resilience, scalability, and agility through a multi-region approach.”
By bringing the data center closer to home, the Library aligns itself with the national vision of fostering innovation and supporting digital transformation in the country.
This repatriation project represents a strategic investment in Qatar's expanding technological landscape and solidifies the Library’s standing as a pioneering institution in the region.