December 4 Americas Partner Insider Call

Register now for the next Americas Partner Insider Call. We’ll explore how Microsoft embraces Responsible AI principles and practices when developing AI solutions, including how our legal department uses Copilot to achieve more. Next, you’ll hear from Partner Marketing about how to accelerate your pipeline by leveraging funded engagements.

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

Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #SalesAndMarketing #DoingBizwMSFT #AccelerateDeals #CrossSolution

Resources to get you started: Retail industry

The emergence of AI has transformed the retail industry. Customers look to you for guidance, and there’s a wealth of information to help guide you when building your practice. But sometimes it’s hard to know where to begin.

Leverage these campaign assets designed for system integrators and service providers targeting corporate and enterprise customers in the retail sector. Help your customers empower their frontline retail workers with technology that enables them to focus on what matters most and their frontline workers to work smarter, not harder.

Read last week’s Top Stories for additional resources you can leverage to empower your retail customers, and look for more to come!

Partner Audience: #CSP
Relevant to: #Tech #SalesAndMarketing #Event #GrowSkills #ModernWork #Security

Level Up CSP Microsoft 365 & Copilot Bootcamps

Join us for these upcoming special edition bootcamps built to help you get ready to drive a successful renewal cycle and capture upsell opportunities starting in January.

Upsell and Renewal Sales Bootcamp
December 10 at 8:00 AM–12:00 PM PT

Upsell and Renewal Tech Bootcamp
Day 1: December 11 at 8:00 AM–12:00 PM PT
Day 2: December 12 at 8:00 AM–12:00 PM PT

Voiceover language coverage: Japanese, Chinese, Korean, French, German, Spanish (EU), Spanish (LATAM), Italian, and Hindi​

Learn more and register here. And be sure to check out the list of previous bootcamps, now available to watch on demand.

Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #AllRoles #News #LearnSolutionAreas #ModernWork

Microsoft 365 Copilot for SMBs—new study

Generative AI is transforming businesses of all sizes. To better understand how AI is helping businesses grow and compete, Microsoft commissioned Forrester Consulting to study the potential return on investment (ROI) of Microsoft 365 Copilot for SMBs. The study shows that Microsoft 365 Copilot drove up to 353% ROI for small and medium businesses. Read the blog to learn more about the results of the study.

Announcing Season 2 of the podcast No Slides Attached

In No Slides Attached: AI Stories with Microsoft Partners, we explore the latest technologies with expert guidance from Microsoft leaders and partners. Season 1 focused on how our Microsoft Copilots are already transforming businesses. In Season 2, we’re building on that momentum, diving even deeper into AI innovation across industries.

The first two episodes of Season 2 are available now, with new episodes coming out every two weeks:

Episode 1 – Open Innovation Is Crucial for AI + Unveiling the Industry Series!
Dr. Henry Chesbrough, the pioneer behind the concept of Open Innovation, shares his insights on how organizations can (and should) leverage both internal and external ideas to drive technological advancements. Next, Pam Salzer, Senior Director of Microsoft’s Industry Go-To-Market Team, emphasizes the importance of addressing industry-specific needs and how AI is being used to solve real-world problems across sectors. Listen now.

Episode 2 – [AI in Finance] Zafin is revolutionizing product and pricing in banking
Chris Dickin, EVP of Global Partner Strategy at Zafin, explores cutting-edge advancements in banking, focusing on Zafin’s innovative solution for core modernization, Zafin.io. Later in the podcast, industry expert Ryan Blakely discusses the inspiring conversation with Zafin, emphasizing how technology can accelerate time-to-market and enhance customer engagement in the financial sector, beyond banking. Listen now.

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

Partner Audience: #AllPartners #Services
Relevant to: #Event #GrowSkills #Security

October 22 Workshop: Build Security Culture and Governance with Microsoft’s SFI

The Secure Future Initiative (SFI) is Microsoft’s multi-year commitment to advance the way we design, build, test, and operate products and services to ensure the highest possible standards of security for our customers.

Register today for this October 22 webinar to learn more about SFI and what it means for you, along with best practices that help drive high standards for security.

This webinar will be live captioned in several languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, French, English, and German.

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

Last chance to register for the October 17 Copilot Partner Prompt-a-Thon

The Copilot Partner Prompt-a-Thon is an online series of actionable, hands-on sessions designed to help Microsoft partners make the most of Copilot.

Learn more and register now for the October 17 session on Adoption with User Personas.

We kicked off FY25 with the launch of No Slides Attached: AI Stories with Microsoft Partners, an exciting new podcast designed for partners who want to learn from the inspiring stories of their peers. Now, by popular demand, we’re back with Season 2!

Season 1 focused on how our Microsoft Copilots are already transforming businesses. In Season 2, we’re building on that momentum, diving even deeper into AI innovation across industries.

What’s new in Season 2

Season 2 features in-depth conversations with some of the brilliant minds behind AI transformations across key industries—from financial services to education, healthcare, retail, and more. Join hosts Helane Cohen and Fede Pacheco as they showcase the success that Microsoft Partner of the Year winners and finalists have found and ask them questions like:

1. What is a milestone achieved in this industry that seemed impossible just a few years ago?
2. What is something that hasn’t been solved yet, but they expect to see happen in the near future?
3. What is the role of Security in this industry?
4. What advice do they have for anyone looking to innovate in this industry?

Take a break

Need a breather from all the emails, meetings, and presentations? Connect on the go to get invaluable insights from industry experts and their inspiring stories. Whether you’re looking to stay ahead of the curve or searching for practical AI solutions, you won’t want to miss these latest episodes.

Subscribe today to listen wherever you get your favorite podcasts:

YouTube* | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | RSS

*With closed captions in Spanish, Portuguese, and French.

Season 2 episodes

The first two episodes of our second season are available now, with new episodes coming out every two weeks:

We hope you enjoy listening to No Slides Attached: AI Stories with Microsoft Partners and are as excited as we are by what’s happening in the world of AI and industry innovation. Look for updates in our weekly Top Stories blog as new episodes are released and, if you haven’t already, subscribe today!

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.

Microsoft 365 Copilot Wave 2

The next wave of Copilot innovation is here, bringing together web + work + Pages as a new design system for knowledge work. Read this blog to learn about the exciting new announcements that deliver unmatched value to our customers across Modern Work and Business Applications.

And join us on September 25 for a Special Edition Americas Partner Insider Call on Modern Work and Copilot. Our industry insiders will share the latest product announcements, CSP and getting-started offers, and guidance on how to drive Copilot customer success. Register today.

Partner Audience: #CSP
Relevant to: #ProgramOfferUpdate #UnderstandBenefits #ModernWork

Copilot for Microsoft 365 promo

Microsoft recently announced a special promotional offer focused on Copilot for Microsoft 365, available to CSP partners globally.

Microsoft is providing a 15% discount off the Partner Net Price for 10 to 300 seat purchases of Copilot for Microsoft 365, for customers that already have a qualifying subscription during the promotional period.

North America

LATAM

This promotion is valid for eligible customer transactions now through December 31, 2024, on annual subscriptions. Learn more.

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

October 2 Americas Partner Insider Call

Register now to learn about partner training and certification resources designed to help you build the skills you need today—and the expertise to achieve more tomorrow. Then, go on an expert-led deep dive into Copilot licensing for partners.

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

Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #AllRoles #SuccessStory #GrowYourBiz #LearnSolutionAreas #Azure #CrossSolution

No Slides Attached podcast—Season 2 kicks off September 25

After an incredible first season of No Slides Attached: AI stories with Microsoft Partners, we’re back with Season 2! Look for Episode 1 tomorrow, when we’ll begin to dive even deeper into the world of AI and industry innovation.

In No Slides Attached, we explore the latest technologies with expert guidance from Microsoft leaders and partners. Season 1 focused on how our Copilots are already transforming businesses—now, we’re building on that momentum, to bring an industry lens.

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

Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #AllRoles #DoingBizwMSFT #GrowYourBiz #CrossSolution #Azure #Security

Hybrid Cloud Partners podcast—inspiring stories and innovative solutions

In the Microsoft Hybrid Cloud Partners podcast we explore the latest opportunities to enhance your profitability and prepare for the future with AI. Each episode features an inspiring story from industry peers and innovative solutions for scaling your business profitably. Listen to the latest episode and check for more coming soon!

Subscribe today to listen wherever you get your favorite podcasts:
YouTube* | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | RSS

*With subtitles in French, Spanish, and Portuguese.

August 14 Americas Partner Insider Call: FY25 updates

Mark your calendar for the first Americas Partner Insider Call of FY25!

Featured topics include:

• The latest updates to the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program.
• A Copilot Licensing deep dive.
• How to help customers deploy Copilot for Microsoft 365 while simultaneously auditing and enhancing security posture with Restricted SharePoint Search.

Register here
The event will be held in English, with closed captions in Spanish, Portuguese, and French.

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

Partner Audience: AllPartners
Relevant to: #News #SuccessStory #GrowSkills #CrossSolution

No Slides Attached podcast—Episode 4 coming August 7

No Slides Attached: AI Stories with Microsoft Partners is an exciting new podcast 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 of Episode 4 tomorrow on Responding to threats in minutes, not hours with Copilot for Security, featuring Microsoft partner BlueVoyant. In this latest episode you’ll hear:

• How Microsoft Security integrates across clouds and platforms.
• The importance of prioritizing security into AI projects from the beginning.
• BlueVoyant’s learnings as a member of the Microsoft Copilot for Security Design Advisory Council.

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

Partner Audience: AllPartners #ISV
Relevant to: #SalesAndMarketing #AllianceMgmt #Event #GoToMarket #GrowYourBiz #DoingBizwMSFT #CrossSolution

AI Create | Business Track

Register today for this innovative virtual event series on August 19–22 designed to help ISV partners navigate the paradigm shift created by AI and accelerate their AI journey with Microsoft. In this four-part series we will:

• Uncover the Business Value of AI. Learn how to prioritize use cases for maximum impact.​
• Gain Insights from AI Pioneers. Navigate business transformation with principles that drive success.​
• Master AI Marketing Strategies. Discover best practices for bringing AI solutions to market, including buyer behavior and effective positioning.​
• Design Your AI Blueprint. Integrate AI into your business strategy for robust transformation and growth.​

This series promises to empower product, marketing, and sales leaders and practitioners with the knowledge to leverage AI for competitive advantage and customer satisfaction as you build and execute your Go-to-Market with Microsoft.

Partner Audience: AllPartners
Relevant to: #AllRoles #GrowSkills #GoToMarket #Copilot

Using Copilot in Marketing

Looking for ways to improve your marketing strategies? Bookmark the Microsoft Copilot Adoption site to get inspired and explore scenarios where Copilot can help!

On July 10, we launched an exciting new podcast series crafted for Microsoft partners who are eager to gain insights, learnings, and inspiration from industry leaders and peers.

Why tune in?

No Slides Attached features meaningful conversations that combine the expertise of Microsoft leaders and inspiring stories from our partners.

• Explore the latest technologies. Season 1 is all about Microsoft Copilot—your everyday AI companion.
• Listen to success stories directly from other Microsoft partners.
• Join the conversation through our LinkedIn Community.

Take a break

Need a breather from all the emails, meetings, and presentations? Our hosts, Helane Cohen and Fede Pacheco, will look to connect with you on the go.

Subscribe today to listen wherever you get your favorite podcasts:

YouTube* | Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | RSS

*With closed captions in Spanish, Portuguese, and French.

Season 1 is out now. Season 2 is coming soon! 

The first two episodes of our inaugural season are available, with new episodes coming out every two weeks:

We hope you enjoy listening to No Slides Attached: AI Stories with Microsoft Partners and are as inspired as we are by these success stories from your peers. Look for updates in our weekly Top Stories blog as new episodes are released, and subscribe today!

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.

Register for the June 5 Americas Partner Insider Call: The Era of AI and Copilot

Kevin Peesker, President, SMC and Digital Sales, will lead a discussion on the Era of AI and Copilot. Next, Rob Riordan, Director, Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program, will provide an update on the program and the new partner benefits package.

Note that there will be no Americas Partner Insider Call in July. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay ahead of the curve with the latest news and insights from our experts!

Register here
The event will be held in English, with closed captions in Spanish, Portuguese, and French.

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

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

AI and Copilot in-person workshops

Join us for these full day skilling events. Discover the latest trends and technology in the era of AI, with guidance from industry experts. Register today for an event near you:

Toronto, ON
June 6-7

• Empowering Business Growth: Modernizing Data and Analytics with Microsoft Fabric in the AI Era Workshop
• Copilot for Microsoft 365: Deployment and Adoption Workshop
  Delivery language: English

Sao Paulo, BR
June 25

• Powering Business Growth: Modernizing Data and Analytics with Microsoft Fabric in the Age of AI Workshop
  Delivery language: Portuguese

Partner Audience: #AllPartners
Relevant to: #News #GoToMarket #Surface

Important: Microsoft Surface for Business devices are only available for resale and purchase in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

New Copilot+ PCs bring partner opportunity

The new Copilot+ PCs are a game-changer, and we’re leading the industry with the scale only the Microsoft ecosystem can provide. The opportunities created by this technology shift are significant for all our partners, including Cloud Service Provider (CSP) partners, systems integrator and deployment partners, and Independent Software Vendors (ISVs).

Along with new offerings from our device partners, we introduced the new Surface Laptop (7^th Generation), the fastest, most intelligent Surface Laptop ever, and the all-new Surface Pro (11^th Generation), the most flexible 2-in-1 laptop, now reimagined with more speed and battery life for all-new AI experiences.

Read more about the partner opportunity surrounding Copilot+ PCs in this blog by Mark Linton, Vice President, Device Partner Sales, Global Partner Solutions. To learn more about the new Surface for Business devices, visit our Surface for Business Blog.

Important: Microsoft Surface for Business devices are only available for resale and purchase in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

In today’s rapidly evolving work environment, organizational agility and seamless collaboration are key to driving operational efficiency and increasing employee productivity.

Microsoft is at the forefront of this transformation, driving innovation on products that enable businesses and employees to thrive. The convergence of Microsoft Copilot, Windows, and cutting-edge AI PCs from Surface for Business is revolutionizing how organizations operate and empowering employees to achieve more.

While there are clear benefits of implementing these technologies independently, there are even greater advantages to using Copilot + Windows on Surface together. Let’s review the value to Microsoft partners and your customers.

Copilot: Your trusted digital assistant

Microsoft Copilot, introduced only a year ago, has already made a significant impact within the industry. Our Work Trend Index research reveals that it’s making employees more productive and creative, saving them up to 10 hours per month.¹ Copilot’s capabilities extend across Microsoft’s full product portfolio, from Windows and Microsoft 365 to Teams and Edge. By delivering Copilot in Windows to Surface users, we’re empowering them to advance in the new era of work.

Copilot in Windows 11: Orchestrating efficiency

Windows 11 lies at the heart of this transformative journey. Copilot seamlessly integrates with Windows 11, acting as an orchestrator. Imagine having a digital assistant that summarizes emails, personalizes settings, and optimizes your new Surface device—all while ensuring security and trust. Copilot lights up across apps, files, and the web, conducting tasks on your behalf. It’s like having a skilled co-pilot guiding you through the complexities of work.

Windows 365: Unleashing flexibility

Windows 365 takes flexibility to new heights. Whether you’re working on a new PC or streaming from a Windows 365 Cloud PC, the choice is yours. Employees can work securely without limits, and IT gains control over costs and management efficiency. The new Windows App, currently in preview, enables secure connections to cloud resources and virtual services.

AI-powered success with Windows and Surface

Windows + Windows 365 form the backbone of a secure and flexible computing solution. Here’s how:

• Cloud management with AI. Microsoft Intune automates and analyzes device estates, ensuring management efficiencies and cost savings.
• Enhanced security. Windows Autopatch keeps devices up to date, bolstering security.
• Innovation with AI PCs. New AI PCS from Surface for Business are a key part of the Microsoft AI story. These devices are built for Copilot, featuring a dedicated Copilot key on Laptop 6 and Surface Pro 10 when paired with the new Surface Pro Keyboard. With improved NPU-powered Surface Studio cameras enabling Windows Studio Effects and anti-reflective displays, employees can connect from anywhere.

Empower your business customers

Microsoft Copilot is more than a feature—it’s a game-changer for businesses. As a Microsoft partner, you’re at the forefront of this revolution. Embrace Copilot, embrace new AI PCs from Surface, harness the power of Windows, and empower your customers to thrive in the new era of work.

Related posts

Advancing the new era of work with Copilot, Windows, and Surface | Microsoft 365 Blog

Seize the AI opportunity with Copilot for Microsoft 365 in CSP | Microsoft

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.

¹ What Can Copilot’s Earliest Users Teach Us About Generative AI at Work?, Work Trend Index Special Report, November 15, 2023.

Important: Microsoft Surface for Business devices are only available for resale and purchase in the US, Canada, and Mexico.

On March 21, 2024, Microsoft announced at a digital event the release of two new AI-powered PCs, along with advances in its management portal and the commercial availability of its Microsoft Adaptive Accessories.

Advancing the new era of work with Copilot 

Built for business and designed to elevate the Microsoft ecosystem experience, these exciting announcements introduce further advancements to the new era of work. Our newest AI PCs, powered by Intel Core™ Ultra processor, accelerate Copilot experiences, enable the next wave of business features that power innovation, unlock the versatility to drive resilience, and inspire engagement. Let’s look at the announcements in more detail.

Surface Laptop 6 

Power and design, AI PCs built for business workloads 
Surface Laptop 6 elevates business with an elite level of performance, power, and sleek design. Built for demanding workloads, Surface Laptop 6 unleashes a new era of productivity. With Surface Laptop 6, employees get the benefits of an AI PC that accelerates Microsoft Copilot¹ experiences. Explore Surface Laptop 6.

Surface Pro 10 

AI PCs built for business, designed for versatility 
Surface Pro 10 blurs the boundary between hardware and software for peak performance in a secured, lightweight device that adapts to any work style. Employees get the benefits of an AI PC that offers integrated AI engines that enable the next wave of business features. Explore Surface Pro 10.

Microsoft Adaptive Accessories

Create a setup unique to you
Explore these highly adaptive accessories that let employees customize their own mice, keyboard inputs, and shortcuts—empowering them to create their ideal workspaces, increase productivity, and use their favorite apps more effectively. Users can further customize setups unique to them by 3D printing attachments through Shapeways.²

Surface for Business Essentials

Business moves quickly, making it essential for organizations to have a fully functioning fleet of devices. Microsoft Surface for Business Essentials provides a comprehensive collection of solutions and resources, making it possible for commercial customers to get even more out of their Surface devices and realize the complete built-for-business experience.  With Surface for Business Essentials, customers can take advantage of resources designed to maintain and extend the use of their Surface devices, including streamlined management, optimized support, simplified repair, and investment protection options.

Watch for additional announcements and information in the coming weeks, including customer-facing content and an all-new landing page.

Surface Reseller Expansion Program

We’ve made it easier than ever for resellers to get Surface for Business in their customers’ hands through the Surface Reseller Expansion Program. This program expands channel access to allow resellers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico to purchase the Surface portfolio (excluding protection plans) from Surface authorized distributors through June 30, 2024.

This is an incredible time to be communicating with your customers about Microsoft Surface for Business—giving them access to premium devices built for the future of modern work. Read our IT Pro Blog to learn more and contact your Microsoft Representative to start selling Surface today.

Related posts

Seize the AI opportunity with Copilot for Microsoft 365 in CSP | Microsoft
Prepare for the opportunity ahead: Copilot events and resources | Microsoft
Announcing the latest updates to our Surface device portfolio | Microsoft

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.

¹ Copilot in Windows (in preview) is available in select global markets and will be rolled out to additional markets over time. Learn more. Copilot with commercial data protection is available at no additional cost for users with an Entra ID with an enabled eligible Microsoft 365 license.
² Available 3D designs from Shapeways may vary from image shown and over time. See Get Started with 3D Printing for the latest offerings.

Microsoft provides flexible options to keep your customers’ servers secure. With the end of support (EOS) milestone for Windows Server 2012 on October 10, 2023, along with that of SQL Server 2012 in 2022, it’s important to understand your options and the actions needed to keep your customers’ legacy systems secure and compliant.

This Security Update for SQL Server 2012 was released in February 2023. Using the following guidance, you can provide your customers with access.

Meet your customers where they’re at

Your customers have three options to choose from when evaluating the best path forward for securing their legacy end of support workloads:

1. 1. Move to Azure and unlock new capabilities. You can securely migrate the infrastructure and databases to Azure or modernize on premises with options such as Azure Arc-enabled SQL Server and Azure Arc-enabled SQL Managed Instance.
   2. Go hybrid and get free extended ESU for three years after end of support. This includes hybrid destinations like Azure Stack, Azure VMWare Solution (AVS) and Nutanix Cloud Clusters on Azure to give flexibility to partners and their end customers.
   3. Deploy ESUs with Azure Arc. Purchase Extended Security Updates directly through the Azure portal by Arc-enabling their Windows and SQL 2012 servers.

Now let’s take a closer look at the latest option that Azure Arc has brought to the table. When you onboard legacy Windows Server 2012 or SQL Server 2012 with Azure Arc, it opens a world of possibilities. Specifically, it empowers you to offer ESUs directly through the Azure portal, utilizing your customers’ Azure subscriptions as the conduit.

This approach introduces a flexible billing mechanism, where ESUs are billed on a monthly basis. It’s worth highlighting that when a partner deploys ESUs, the billing takes into account the release date of the ESU. For instance, if ESUs are purchased in December, the customer will still be billed for October and November, aligning with the ESU release timeline.

The ESU opportunity creates additional opportunities for our hosting partners. For the first time, Services Provider License Agreement (SPLA) licenses are eligible for ESUs, offering your customers the chance to extend their upgrade timeline. It also sets the stage for a host of new opportunities. With Azure Arc infrastructure deployed and a CSP relationship established, you can provide your customers with a broader range of services and solutions, all within the Azure ecosystem. This transition not only enhances your service offerings but also strengthens your position as a trusted partner for your customers’ evolving needs. It’s also worth mentioning that if you’re managing infrastructure on other clouds, you can use the same Azure Arc deployment to provide ESUs and additional services to those customers as well.

What is Azure Arc?

Azure Arc acts like a bridge to extend the Azure platform to secure, view, organize, and govern IT inventory anywhere. With Azure Arc, your customers will have clear visibility into the entire IT estate, enabling them to make intelligent decisions about which servers require ESU. Once ESUs are purchased through the Azure portal, security updates can be directly assigned to server workloads in the same interface. On top of that, patches for these servers are also delivered through Azure or an existing patch management solution, so everything necessary for managing ESUs can be done through the portal.

To summarize, the Extended Security Updates through Azure Arc offer:

1. 1. Flexible billing and savings through a monthly billing model centralized in Azure to run end-of-support operating systems.
   2. Visibility and reliability to ensure consistent performance with high availability and visibility of the entire data and server estate.
   3. Security and compliance.

Azure Arc offers management, governance, and security
Azure Arc offers much more than just ESU updates. With Azure Arc, customers can also bring the power of Azure cloud tools to their on-premises servers. Azure Arc provides capabilities like support for Azure Monitor, Update Management, Guest Configuration, and many other tools for managing hybrid server workloads. Customers that onboard their on-premises/hybrid workloads with Azure Arc get management and governance with a common toolset in a single pane of glass.

Azure Arc also makes it simple to protect and secure their on-premises/hybrid servers using tools like Microsoft Defender for Servers and Azure Sentinel. With Azure Arc, Defender can be deployed as an extension to an Arc-enabled server. Once deployed, customers get vulnerability assessment, just-in-time access, malware protection, and other tools to protect server workloads. Defender also provides a robust set of compliance controls and a Compliance Dashboard to help customers with industry and regulatory compliance requirements.

Now, with Azure Arc-enabled SQL Servers connected to Azure, you have the option of purchasing SQL Server using a ‘pay-as-you-go’ model instead of purchasing licenses. This model is a great alternative if you’re looking to save costs on SQL Servers that have variable demand for compute capacity over time; such as when you can turn off a SQL Server at night or on weekends, or even just scale down the number of cores used during less busy times. It’s also a great option if you only plan to use SQL Server for a short period of time and then won’t need it anymore. Pay-as-you-go, billed through Azure, is now available for all versions of SQL Server from 2012 to 2022.

How to purchase ESUs

Extended Security Updates can be purchased for both Windows Server 2012 and SQL Server 2012. To purchase and configure ESU for Windows Server 2012, follow these few simple steps:

1. 1. Access Azure Arc through the Azure portal.
   2. Onboard your customers’ servers to Azure Arc by deploying the Azure Connected Machine Agent.
   3. View their complete server inventory and determine which servers will need ESU.
   4. Purchase and activate ESUs and apply to their servers. ESUs can also be deployed through Azure Policy.

The process for deploying SQL Server ESU is similar and can also completed through the Azure portal:

1. 1. Open the Azure portal and onboard SQL Servers.
   2. View your customers’ entire SQL Server inventory and select the servers where you want to apply ESU.
   3. Subscribe to ESU and configure how patches will be delivered.

Next steps

Are you ready to explore how Azure Arc can help you manage your customers’ legacy Windows and SQL Server workloads, keeping them secure and compliant? Get started with these Microsoft Learn resources:

Lifecycle FAQ – Extended Security Updates

Extended Security Updates for Windows Server Overview

How to get Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Windows Server

Extend Azure services to your SQL Server instances with Arc-enabled SQL

Related posts

Manage, govern, and secure all your SQL Servers with new hybrid capabilities enabled by Azure Arc  – Microsoft SQL Server Blog

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.