Microsoft has made a deal to buy cloud technology company Avere Systems, which could make Microsoft's cloud service Azure more attractive for companies with huge amounts of data.
Pittsburgh-based Avere, which was founded in 2008, specializes in storage technology for companies that require high-performance computing, including several companies in the entertainment industry. Sony Pictures and Moving Picture Company are among Avere's customers.
The Avere team will keep its office in Pittsburgh after the deal closes. Terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Avere's technology helps companies in the cloud and with their data stored locally, a so-called hybrid service that Microsoft has also been focusing on as more companies move between the cloud and on-premise systems.
Avere has raised more than $90 million from investors, including Menlo Ventures and Tenaya Capital.
