Microsoft

The company said the layoffs were not spurred by the worsening economic picture, but in May it also slowed hiring in the Windows and Office groups.

The decision follows a recent study that found security to be the top priority when deploying IoT devices.

Regulators worldwide are increasingly concerned about finance’s shift to cloud computing services supplied by a handful of tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft.

Microsoft’s statement comes against the backdrop of a swell of labor organization in the U.S., including in industries and at companies where such efforts have traditionally struggled or failed.

The firm touts a unique model: it is financed by utility providers and oil and gas companies.

The move suggests that Microsoft is accelerating a push to create homegrown chips for its servers.

Microsoft is focusing attention on industries it believes have fallen behind when it comes to cloud modernization, like architecture and engineering.