No Slides Attached podcast—Episode 6 coming September 4

No Slides Attached: AI Stories with Microsoft Partners is an exciting new podcast series featuring meaningful conversations that combine the expertise of Microsoft leaders and inspiring stories from our partners.

Check out the Season 1 schedule and look for the release tomorrow of Episode 6, featuring Microsoft partner GigXR. Meital Winer, a Partner Marketing Lead focused on AI, discusses Microsoft’s framework for building or extending Copilots, as well as the potential for partners. Next, Jared Mermey, CEO of GigXR, describes the Copilot built by his company, a holographic technology designed to train medical professionals, and shares his vision for the healthcare industry in the era of AI.

Real Stories, Real Success. Tune in and subscribe today, wherever you get your favorite podcasts.

Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #AllRoles #ProgramOfferUpdate #UnderstandBenefits #CrossSolution

Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program benefits are evolving

Access the latest Microsoft Cloud and AI innovation with evolved partner benefits. Read this blog by Julie Sanford, Vice President, Partner GTM, Programs & Operations, to learn about the what, why, and when—and why it should matter to you.

Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #Tech #Deadline #GrowSkills #CrossSolution

Take this Skillsoft survey for a chance to win

How have certifications impacted your career? Earning more? Working smarter (not harder)? Take Skillsoft’s annual IT Skills and Salary survey to share how certifications have impacted your professional trajectory. Complete the survey by September 13 for a chance to win a $100 gift card.

May 8 Americas Partner Insider Call: Demystifying Copilot Licensing

Shubham Choudhary, Director, Security Product GTM, GPS Americas, will lead the discussion and answer your questions on demystifying Copilot licensing. Peter Horsman, Partner Solutions Governance Lead at Microsoft, will also join the call to provide the latest Co-op (Partner Incentives Cooperative Marketing Funds) updates designed to help drive the growth of your business.

Don’t miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights from our expert speakers, connect with other partners, get the latest updates, and elevate your partnership with Microsoft. Register today!

See the list of previous sessions available to watch on demand.

Partner Audience:#CSP
Relevant to: #Deadline #UnderstandBenefits #Azure

End of support for SQL Server 2014

July 9, 2024, marks the end of support (EOS) for SQL Server 2014. As a Microsoft partner, it’s always important to understand the options available and the actions you need to take to keep your customers’ mission-critical systems secure and compliant. The approaching EOS deadline provides an opportunity to assess your customers’ business needs and upgrade their IT infrastructure. Read this blog to learn more.

Partner Audience:#CSP #MSP
Relevant to: #SalesAndMarketing #BestPractice #GrowYourBiz #CrossSolution

Microsoft AI Cloud Summit for SMB Partners: Session playlist

The MSP Summit in March provided an opportunity for managed service providers to connect with Microsoft SMB and partner stakeholders, explore new technology solutions for scaling your business, and learn best practices from other Microsoft partners who have successfully implemented solutions with their customers.

If you missed the in-person event or want a recap, you can watch the sessions on demand.

GitHub Certification Fundamentals

Register today for this four-episode series designed to help you enhance your software development skills and prepare to obtain certification. Sessions cover the basics of GitHub to hands-on exploration of GitHub Copilot and Codespaces. At the end of the series, you could be eligible to receive a free certification voucher on a first-come, first-served basis. See details.

Partner Audience: #AllPartners #AllRoles
Relevant to: #Deadline #UnderstandBenefits #CrossSolution

FY24 Co-op reminder

Start earning and spending your eligible co-op funds before it’s too late!

Co-op (Partner Incentives Cooperative Marketing Funds) provides reimbursements of earned funds to participating partners to help differentiate and build channel awareness and preference for Microsoft products. You can use co-op funds to conduct marketing activities that increase brand awareness and drive growth of your sales pipeline. Invest your co-op funds in activities to facilitate readiness, develop specializations, or attain Microsoft certifications—activities that foster focused solution practices and Centers of Excellence. Read this blog to learn more.

Partner Audience: #AllPartners #AllRoles
Relevant to: #Event #GrowSkills #CrossSolution

Microsoft Copilot for Security now generally available

Last month, we announced that Microsoft Copilot for Security would be generally available worldwide starting April 1, 2024. To understand how generative AI will streamline and enhance security tasks with exciting new product innovations and how Copilot for Security can seamlessly integrate with other products, read this Microsoft Security blog.

Upcoming training events

• • Learn Live: Get Started with Microsoft Copilot for Security
  • Microsoft Secure Tech Accelerator
  • Microsoft Copilot for Security Partner Bootcamp
  • Bookmark the security partner training events page for more upcoming training opportunities.

Recommended reading

• • Microsoft Copilot for Security: Protect at the speed and scale of AI
  • What is Microsoft Copilot for Security?

Partner Audience: #CSP
Relevant to: #DoingBizwMSFT #GeneratePipeline #Azure

Boost your hybrid cloud profits

Explore the innovative solutions and strategies that are helping Microsoft CSP partners integrate their on-premises solutions with the benefits of Azure. Register today for our one-hour April 9 webinar Microsoft CTO on Boosting Profits and Flexibility in Cloud Hosting to gain insights from Tony Surma, Microsoft Americas GPS CTO, on how to capitalize on the latest cloud hosting opportunities.

As a Microsoft partner, it’s always important to understand the options available and the actions you need to take to keep your customers’ mission-critical systems secure and compliant.

July 9, 2024, marks the end of support (EOS), for SQL Server 2014. The approaching EOS deadline provides an opportunity to assess your customers’ business needs and upgrade their IT infrastructure.

Flexibility for you and your customers with Extended Security Updates

SQL Server 2014 Extended Security Updates (ESUs) can help your customers stay secure while planning for the future. ESUs will provide up to three years of critical security updates along with continued access to technical support through existing support contracts. As of October 1, 2023, you can purchase ESUs as a Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) or Enterprise Agreement (EA) reseller. Watch this demo on Purchasing Extended Security Updates (ESU) with Azure Arc for your Windows and SQL Server.

Guide your customers on the best path forward

This is a great time to discuss with your customers their options. Together, you can evaluate the best path forward for securing their legacy end-of-support workloads.

The Microsoft Datacenter Optimization team can offer guidance on making the best decision for your customers and your business. If you have any questions or need any assistance, reach out to the DCO team.

And make sure your customers don’t miss out on these important security updates:

Related posts

Windows Server 2012 and SQL Server 2012 end of support: Keep your customers secure

Join the conversation

Want to explore this and other topics you care about with Microsoft and other US partners? Head over to the Microsoft Americas Partner Community on LinkedIn.

Leveraging the Copilot for Security opportunity

Join the next Americas Partner Insider Call on April 3 for a discussion on Copilot for Security, the industry’s leading AI security solution. Hear firsthand from our security experts about how generative AI is changing the security landscape and how to leverage this fast-growing opportunity. Register today.

Partner Audience: #AllPartners #AllRoles
Relevant to: #Deadline #GrowYourBiz  #CrossSolution

Microsoft Partner of the Year Award nominations close April 3

Each year, the Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards acknowledge outstanding successes and innovations by partners in over 100 countries and in a wide variety of categories and industries. Don’t miss the chance to nominate your business for the 2024 Partner of the Year Awards. Learn more and start your nomination here.

Partner Audience: #AllPartners #AllRoles
Relevant to: #News #GeneratePipeline  #Surface

Advancing the new era of work with Copilot

Last week, Microsoft announced the release of two new AI-powered PCs, Surface Laptop 6 and Surface Pro 10, along with advances in its management portal and the commercial availability of its Microsoft Adaptive Accessories. Read this blog for all the details.