"A data center without walls" sounds like some sort of do-gooder project, but it's actually the way Microsoft is headed with its modular, containerized computing effort.

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Moving forward, however, Microsoft intends to be more radical. It's giving up on the actual building and placing containers out in the open.

By foregoing things like cement and drywall, Microsoft can build a new data center in about half the time it took in the past, according to Ms. Chrapaty.

"It usually takes about 12 to 18 months to build a new center," she said. "We're cutting that down to less than a year."

The new centers also cost one-third less than their predecessors.

"I think we are at least a generation ahead of any other company," Ms. Chrapaty said.