Cognizant announced on Friday a definitive agreement to acquire 3Cloud, one of the largest independent Microsoft Azure services providers and a leader in Azure-dedicated AI enablement solutions. The acquisition is a pivotal move for Teaneck-based Cognizant, significantly advancing its AI builder strategy and establishing one of the largest and most credentialed Microsoft partners globally.
The deal will combine 3Cloud’s deep expertise in Azure, data and AI, and application innovation with Cognizant’s global scale and industry frameworks. This merger is intended to create a leading force in enterprise AI transformation, enabling clients to rapidly build, deploy, and scale AI solutions on modern cloud infrastructure.
“This acquisition marks a pivotal step in Cognizant’s strategy to empower our clients for the future of enterprise AI,” Ravi Kumar S, CEO of Cognizant, said. “3Cloud’s deep Azure expertise, industry-aligned approach and longstanding Microsoft partnership will enable us to deliver even greater value to our clients as they accelerate their AI journeys.”
The combined entity will boast a formidable team, adding 1,000+ Azure experts and engineers and 1,500+ Microsoft certifications from 3Cloud to Cognizant’s existing nearly 20,000 Azure-certified associates.
The partnership has already garnered significant industry recognition:
- 3Cloud was recognized as the 2025 Microsoft U.S. SI Partner of the Year and U.S Channel Partner of the Year.
- Cognizant recently received the 2025 Intelligent Automation Partner of the Year, Americas SI Partner of the Year, U.S. SI Partner of the Year, and GitHub AI Services Partner of the Year awards.
“Microsoft Azure is the platform of choice for AI transformation, and Cognizant’s acquisition of 3Cloud will create one of the most capable and credentialed partners in the Azure ecosystem,” Judson Althoff, CEO of Microsoft’s Commercial Business said.
3Cloud, which focuses on enterprise-scale clients across sectors like banking, health care, and technology, has demonstrated strong growth, reporting a 20% organic compound annual growth since 2020. This growth mirrors the wider trend in cloud adoption, with Microsoft reporting 40% year-on-year growth for Azure and other cloud services in Q3 2025.
Upon closing, 3Cloud’s nearly 1,200 employees, approximately 700 of whom are based in the United States, will join Cognizant.
“Our shared vision for driving enterprise AI readiness and our combined strengths in cloud, app innovation, and data will help our clients realize the full potential of Azure, now at a global scale,” Mike Rocco, CEO of 3Cloud said.
The acquisition is expected to close in the first quarter of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.
