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.

Our partners and customers are constantly innovating to keep pace with rapid market shifts and technological advancements. As part of this accelerated journey, they often face challenges such as sprawling systems, siloed teams, and technical debt. To address these issues, a unified platform is essential.

With Microsoft’s investment in Azure Arc, we believe Azure is the solution. Azure Arc crosses the boundaries of hybrid, multicloud, edge, and IoT, offering the next level of modularity, integration, and simplicity through the adaptive cloud approach.

The adaptive cloud approach

The adaptive cloud approach unifies siloed teams, distributed sites, and sprawling systems into a single operations, security, application, and data model. This enables organizations to leverage cloud-native and AI technologies across hybrid, multicloud, edge, and IoT environments. By shifting from a reactive posture to proactive evolution, businesses can anticipate and act upon changes in market trends, customer needs, and technological advancements ahead of time, optimizing resource usage and mitigating risks before they manifest.

The momentum we have with Azure Arc is building, with hundreds of partners and thousands of customers in the Americas leveraging it as a profitable path from SPLA. For example, Microsoft partner Rackspace has successfully implemented the adaptive cloud approach, resulting in significant savings of $40 million in total cost of ownership. Read more about the Rackspace success story.

Why now—upcoming SPLA price increase

Microsoft has released price changes for the Services Provider License Agreement (SPLA) program. As part of the announcement, licensing prices are changing for the following products, effective January 1, 2025.

Get started—explore modernization paths from SPLA with the adaptive cloud

We’re here to help you maximize the value of your investment and continue to be the bridge to secure AI innovation for your customers.

We encourage you to reach out to the Microsoft Datacenter Optimization (DCO) team to explore how the adaptive cloud can benefit your organization. The DCO team is ready to assist you in navigating this transition from SPLA and exploring paths as a Cloud Solution Provider or Microsoft Customer Agreement (MCA). Here is a summary of the paths you can consider:

We appreciate your continued partnership and look forward to helping you achieve new heights with the adaptive cloud.

Additional resources

• Tune in to the Hybrid Cloud Partners podcast.
• Learn more about how to innovate on an adaptive cloud.
• Visit Arc Jumpstart to try Azure Arc.
• Read the blog Advancing hybrid cloud to adaptive cloud with Azure.

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.

AI is transforming the education industry, changing how administrators, educators, and students operate. Now, more than ever, it’s important for EVERYONE to stay informed about the opportunities and challenges presented by this innovative technology. To explore the industry landscape, I had a great conversation with educational consultant and strategist, Carl Hooker. 

Harnessing AI’s potential in education

Education is undergoing a remarkable transformation thanks to the incredible power of generative AI. Across the globe, educators and students alike are embracing AI to tackle challenges that have long plagued the education system—from productivity bottlenecks to overwhelming workloads. At Microsoft, we believe this dramatic shift is an opportunity to create smarter, more efficient ways of teaching and learning. With partners by our side, we’re exploring innovative solutions that leverage AI to address these challenges head-on!

One thing is clear: AI has the potential to shape the future of education. In fact, the Microsoft 2024 Work Trend Index found that 71 percent of education professionals are already using AI, and they aren’t alone. Students are diving in too, bringing their creativity and curiosity to the table. As AI becomes an integral part of education, it’s essential that schools adopt intentional strategies and AI tools that foster the next generation of digital pioneers. 

Understanding how AI tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot can enhance data security, streamline workflows, and improve accessibility for decision-makers is critical for navigating AI’s role in education. However, it’s not just about technology; it’s about empowering everyone from administrators to teachers and students to effectively use AI, and to elevate the entire educational experience. 

Enhancing productivity and addressing burnout

For far too long, educators have stretched limited resources to meet growing demands. Thankfully, AI can now step in, offering a long-overdue assist. AI is a strategic enabler, helping education professionals do more with less by automating and accelerating tasks that have historically consumed time and energy. Whether modernizing student information systems, coordinating mass communication, or streamlining IT management, AI is freeing up valuable time for educators to focus on what matters most: their students.  

Early results have been impressive! Take the University of Pittsburgh, for example. In partnership with eGroup, they have completely transformed how they handle administrative tasks. With a custom-built AI solution, time-consuming chores like document redaction (to remove sensitive information) now take hours instead of days. This allows administrators to dedicate more time to the human aspects of their roles—where they can truly make an impact. 

Teachers, too, are benefiting. As the heart and soul of any school, educators often face overwhelming workloads, leading to burnout. A 2024 Forrester Study found that one of the biggest challenges they face is the growing volume of nonstudent-related tasks. AI is helping to lighten the load by streamlining repetitive projects and empowering teachers to build lesson plans more efficiently. 

Microsoft partner Anthology is one demonstration of this technology in action. Anthology worked closely with the University of Leeds to develop the AI Design Assistant; a tailored generative AI solution powered by Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service. From assignment rubrics to course design, this platform supports educators at every turn, with 95 percent of instructors recommending it to colleagues. It’s clear that when AI is used thoughtfully, it can make a real difference in education. 

Bolstering data security

Burnout isn’t the only challenge educators face—security is a growing concern as well. And for good reason: Microsoft Threat Intelligence reports that the education sector is the third-most targeted industry for cyber threats. Fortunately, AI is also becoming an invaluable ally in this ongoing battle. Microsoft AI tools, built with multi-layered security, proactively identify vulnerabilities, and automate compliance monitoring, safeguarding student data and institutional intellectual property. Newington College in Australia, for example, worked with Microsoft partner Quorum to improve its security and cloud platform, a vital collaboration that combines technological expertise with deep understanding of education systems and needs. 

The responsible design of AI is critical in education. Without the right tools, teachers and students might turn to systems that aren’t built with safety in mind. That’s why it’s important for administrators to partner with trusted sources like Microsoft, ensuring that the AI solutions they adopt are secure and reliable. To foster this initiative while ensuring valuable student data remains secure (and it’s awesome when people dive into innovation), administrators should search trustworthy sources for AI. Microsoft is committed to ensuring these tools are safe and secure for users and help educational organizations uphold data security when scaling AI solutions. This allows administrators to confidently integrate AI and empower educators to do the same. 

Creating a culture of skilling 

As AI continues to shape the future, we have a responsibility to ensure educators and students are not only protected but also prepared to engage with this technology responsibly. That starts with creating a culture of skilling, at home and in the classroom. 

One innovative approach is integrating AI into systems students already use. Microsoft partner Territorium worked with the University of Texas to create an AI-powered credential wallet that analyzes student data, helping them match their skills to career opportunities. This offers a hands-on, low-stakes way to introduce students to AI. 

Another important strategy is fostering a culture of continual learning to ensure our administrators and teachers are prepared to meet this evolving digital landscape.  

“With a lot of the tools from the past I’d say, ‘Let the kids figure it out; give it to them and get out of the way.’ But this [AI] is different. We must be aware of media literacy, bias, and things inherent in AI tools and platforms. Let’s make sure the adults are well-versed in it,” says Carl Hooker, an educational consultant and author of Learning Evolution: The New Era of AI in the Classroom. “Or at least enough where they can have a conversation with AI. It starts at the top with leadership.” 

As a result, our education leaders will be able to increase productivity, meet ever-shifting security demands, and confidently guide students in safe, responsible ways to use AI tools in their own learning. 

Is it worth the effort? Absolutely. AI offers immense benefits for education, from enhancing learning experiences to accelerating research, and improving literacy rates. It’s a tool that can truly make learning personal and accessible for every student!  

It is time to act

AI is transforming every aspect of education—from administrative processes to student experience. Microsoft and its partners are proud to play a role in empowering educators and institutions to make the most of AI’s potential. 

Now is the time to build a responsible adoption plan that meets your organization’s needs and culture. 

• Watch my discussion with Carl Hooker, educational consultant, strategist, and author of the book Learning Evolution: The New Era of AI in the Classroom, for more insights. 
• Study Microsoft Responsible AI standards. 
• Dive into other Microsoft Education stories. 
• Explore Microsoft resources for educators, leaders, and IT Teams. 
• Get started with Microsoft Copilot resources for Education. 

Cybersecurity Awareness Month is an international initiative celebrated in the United States each October. It’s the perfect time to reflect on our digital habits and fortify our defenses against cybercriminals. In an age where technology permeates every aspect of our lives, ensuring our personal devices and accounts are secure has never been more crucial.

Here are five practical actions you can take to significantly reduce the likelihood of being hacked or breached by cybercriminals.

Step 1: Use strong, unique passwords

One of the most effective ways to shield yourself from cyberthreats is by using strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts. Avoid common passwords such as “123456” or “password,” and instead create complex combinations of letters, numbers, and special characters. Using a different password for each account ensures that even if one password is compromised, your other accounts remain secure. Consider using a reputable password manager to generate and store your passwords securely.

Step 2: Enable two-factor authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to your accounts by requiring two forms of verification before granting access. Typically, this involves something you know (like your password) and something you have (such as a verification code sent to your phone). Enabling 2FA significantly reduces the risk of unauthorized access, even if your password is compromised. Make sure to enable 2FA on all accounts that offer it, especially those containing sensitive information.

Step 3: Keep your software updated

Regularly updating your software is a simple yet powerful way to protect against cyberthreats. Software updates often include patches for security vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. Ensure that your operating system, applications, and antivirus software are set to update automatically. This practice not only enhances your device’s performance but also fortifies your defenses against potential attacks.

Step 4: Be wary of phishing scams

Phishing scams are a common tactic used by hackers to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information. These scams often come in the form of emails or messages that appear to be from legitimate sources but contain malicious links or attachments. To avoid falling victim to phishing, always verify the sender’s identity and refrain from clicking on suspicious links. Additionally, be cautious of unsolicited requests for personal information and report any suspicious activity to the appropriate authorities.

Step 5: Secure your Wi-Fi network

Your home Wi-Fi network can be a gateway for hackers if not properly secured. Start by changing the default username and password of your router to something more secure. Use WPA3 encryption, if available, to enhance your network’s protection. Additionally, consider hiding your network’s SSID (service set identifier) to make it less visible to potential intruders. Regularly monitoring your network for any unfamiliar devices can also help detect unauthorized access.

Stay safe!

As we become increasingly reliant on digital technologies, the importance of cybersecurity cannot be overstated. By implementing these simple yet effective measures, you can significantly reduce your risk of falling prey to cybercriminals. This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, take proactive steps to safeguard your and your customers’ digital life and encourage others to do the same. Remember, a secure digital environment starts with informed and vigilant individuals. Learn more about Microsoft industry-leading Security solutions.

Keep learning

I have the privilege of working with many Microsoft partners across the Americas. If you are a Microsoft partner (anywhere in the world) bookmark the Microsoft Security Partners page. Stay up to date on new content, including recently launched Security training videos!

Stay safe, stay secure, and embrace the power of cybersecurity!

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.

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.

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.

Microsoft AI Partner Training Day

Join us, in person, to hear about the latest trends and technology in the era of AI, with guidance from Microsoft executives and industry leaders.

Learn more and register for a training event near you. We’ll be at 12 locations worldwide, including 3 locations in the Americas:

Mexico City, Mexico
October 2, 2024
Register now

Sao Paulo, Brazil
October 7, 2024
Register now

Toronto, Canada
December 2, 2024
Register now

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

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 September 19 session Creating Images with Copilot and Designer.

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

Microsoft Ignite 2024

In-person, Chicago | November 18–22
Online | November 19–21​

Save the date for Microsoft Ignite, a four-day hybrid event designed for business leaders, partners, and IT professionals to learn about the latest technology and innovations from Microsoft. With demos and firsthand access to new AI solutions and copilots, don’t miss this opportunity to explore the latest tools, receive deep technical training, and get your questions answered by Microsoft experts. Learn more.

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. 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.

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

Special Edition Americas Partner Insider Call on September 25

Don’t forget to register for this special edition 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 here
The event will be held in English, with closed captions in Spanish, Portuguese, and French.

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

September 4 Americas Partner Insider Call: Copilot and Co-op

Reserve your spot today for the next Americas Partner Insider Call and gain valuable insights from our expert speakers. Highlights include a Copilot demo for CPEM and guidance on using your Cooperative Marketing Funds (Co-op).

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

If you missed the August 14 call on Microsoft Copilot licensing, this and other previous sessions are available to watch on demand.

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

No Slides Attached podcast—Episode 5 coming August 21

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 of Episode 5 tomorrow on Fueling your data with Microsoft Fabric, featuring Microsoft partner Lantern and John Turk, Senior Partner Marketing Manager for Azure. In this episode you’ll learn:

• The importance of understanding your data to understand your business.
• How Copilot capabilities in Fabric allow for democratized insights in organizations.
• The most common challenges for organizations with their data.

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

Partner Audience: #AllPartners #ISV
Relevant to: #Tech #Developer #Event #GoToMarket #GrowSkills #DoingBizwMSFT #CrossSolution

AI Create | Tech Track

Register today for this innovative virtual event series on September 9–12 designed to help ISV partners navigate the paradigm shift created by AI and accelerate their AI journey with Microsoft. This four-part series will cover:

• Creating AI plugins in Microsoft Copilot Studio. Explore how to use AI Plugins to extend Microsoft Copilot or create custom Copilot extensions.
• Integrating ISV Apps with Microsoft Fabric. Learn how to seamlessly build products and services on top of Microsoft Fabric.
• Designing Your Own Copilot. Learn how to create custom copilots with Azure AI, on your data.
• Unleashing AI Superpowers: Task Automation with Agents​. Build Gen AI solutions and LLM workflows with multi-agent conversation frameworks.

These sessions aim to inspire and empower product, engineering, and technical leaders and practitioners with the knowledge and tools to innovate in the field of AI and technology. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to learn from industry experts and take your skills to the next level.

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

In the Microsoft Hybrid Cloud Partners podcast, we explore the latest opportunities for you to enhance your profitability and prepare for the future with AI. New episodes are now available in all podcast platforms and share the stories of Services Provider License Agreement (SPLA) partners scaling profitably and the innovative hybrid cloud solutions behind them.

Rackspace Technology is a trusted Microsoft partner and a leading driver of Azure Arc. Read their story here and listen to this recent episode of the Hybrid Cloud Partners podcast to learn how they will save $40M in the next three years with their hybrid cloud implementation of Azure Arc.

Rackspace partners with Microsoft to reduce costs and provide more value to customers

Rackspace has been an innovator and leader in the technology services industry for more than two decades. The latest innovations in hybrid cloud led to a partnership with Microsoft around Azure Arc, transforming how they help customers, both in the security space and in managing their workloads running Windows Server and SQL Server.

“This is the perfect world for Arc. It allows us to have a single pane of glass, to be able to manage and secure our customers’ workloads. It’s a bridge to hybrid computing.” —Jeff DeVerter, Chief Technology Evangelist

When Rackspace started looking into transitioning from their SPLA SQL Server to Arc-enabled SQL, they realized the potential to reduce total cost of ownership (TCO) was massive—an estimated $40 million over the next three years. Along with the financial benefit to Rackspace, Arc would enable their customers to manage, through a single pane of glass, their day-to-day business more cost-effectively and provide improved billing economics.

“Coming to us for not just our SPLA licensing but also for extended support is a huge value to our customers. They’re able to access and see in real time what their utilization is. It leads to better visibility or observability, as we like to say, which at the end of the day is what all customers want.” —Zachary Symm, Product Manager for Managed Public Cloud

Empowering partners and customers in a hybrid world

Rackspace plays a critical role in the hybrid world. Their ability to support customers in their data center and in Azure enables customers to utilize resources where it matters most. Azure Arc empowers customers to get the services they need in a more manageable and efficient way. The shift, says Symm, “opens up AI, it opens up security like Sentinel, it opens up licensing, it opens up as Microsoft evolves all these future services that they can now consume. It’s a massive transformation journey for the customer to be able to utilize all those benefits.”

Rackspace worked with the Microsoft Datacenter Optimization (DCO) team to successfully make the move to Azure Arc.

Looking ahead, Rackspace plans to continue growing their partnership with Microsoft as they continue to build out new capabilities and provide managed services on Azure and across their datacenters with Azure Arc. In Azure Arc, they now have a single management tool that reduces complexity and security risks while providing greater benefits to their customers.

Says Symm, “The ability to use all the new services from Azure and transport the scalability, the portability, all of those things, into the on-premises or multi-cloud world is a massive opportunity for all MSPs.”

Next steps

Learn more about this story in the latest episode of the Hybrid Cloud Partners podcast.

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.

For exclusive resources and to become part of the Microsoft DCO community, visit dco.microsoft.com.

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.

In a world where cyber threats are constantly maturing and evolving, no one provider can do it all. That’s why Bulletproof has partnered with another Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA) member, Senserva, to further develop our Microsoft Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) services with an advanced automation technology called Drift Detector.

As technology evolves, our solutions must be optimized to meet the ever-changing needs of our customers. Through our Drift Detector technology, we’ll reduce the time it takes to detect changes in configuration that might impact our client’s security posture.

Elevating our MXDR solution through automation with Drift Detector

Security technology is no longer something that evolves every few years; it’s evolving in real time. For some customers, this can cause a deviation or, as we call it, a “drift” from the established best practice-based configuration, which can leave a gap and cause a security risk.

With the Drift Detector solution, we can detect deviations from the best practice configuration within minutes.

The Drift Detector solution is available to our Bulletproof 365 Enterprise (B365E) customers. Best practice security configurations are used; however, the customer can make updates and changes to their tenant. If the security configuration is changed after the onboarding, the drift detection technology will provide that visibility. It will periodically scan the tenant for changes and drifts from the previous B365E configurations. Scans don’t have to be manually initiated; the solution will do this automatically. This strengthens the posture and confidence of a customer’s B365E settings and speeds up detection and response time if a drift from the Gold Standard occurs.

Here’s how it works

The control hub for the solution, which will constantly scan for drifts, is an Azure-hosted, .NET web service. There is also a Gold Standard based on best practices for each security solution in the stack; the solution will compare customer settings to this Gold Standard. Deviations will be reported and the Security Operations Center (SOC) team at Bulletproof will immediately triage drifts to proactively fix drift-related security incidents within minutes.

Information about the Gold Standard settings and deviations will be stored within a geo-redundant Azure SQL Server secured with the latest Microsoft Entra ID authentication. The solution will update the database with any drifts detected, which are then cleared at the next scan. This allows the Bulletproof SOC team to act with the latest and most up-to-date information possible. The only scan information from a customer environment that will be stored is that which deviates from the accepted Bulletproof Gold Standard. This solution scans and compares security configurations on Microsoft Sentinel, Intune, Entra, and Defender.

Putting Drift Detector to the test with our Microsoft customers

Bulletproof worked with a municipality that was hit by a serious ransomware attack. After reviewing their security environment and pain points, we knew the best solution for the customer. Bulletproof 365 Enterprise (B365E), the end-to-end enterprise security solution built on Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Sentinel, was key to restoring services quickly for the city.

As a customer of B365E, the municipality was eligible for Drift Detector. They’ve been onboarded to further improve the security posture for the city. If a drift in Gold Standard configurations is automatically detected, Bulletproof will create a ticket that will be managed by the SOC team.

Learn how Bulletproof empowers organizations with enterprise-class security and productivity solutions.

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.