No. You do not need to use Microsoft Azure to have an AI readiness assessment. The Knowledge Elephant says it assesses Azure, AWS, Google Cloud and on-premises environments using the same framework.
What matters more than the cloud provider
The assessment examines whether your data, systems, team and controls are ready to support AI in production. This includes customer data separation, safe connections to systems, testing and release, cost and performance, and security, risk and compliance.
What to share about your environment
Be ready to describe your current cloud or on-premises setup, the AI use cases you want to deliver, and any security or compliance concerns. The review is intended to identify what is blocking production and what needs attention next.
Common concern
If your organisation is considering a cloud change, do not assume it must move to Azure before starting the assessment. The stated framework includes multiple cloud providers and on-premises environments.