Live Blog: HTG Vision Summit

The well-known MSP is talking about Windows Azure's growing impact. His key points:

Active Directory in the cloud, SQL Server in the cloud — now you can deliver them without hardware or virtualization worries.

West sees Office 365, Windows Azure and Windows Server (on premises) delivering the ideal hybrid cloud for shifting resources on demand. "It's the hooks between those services that will provide huge value. Customers don't really need to know or care" about how the information will flow.

"Microsoft as usual will step up their game here."

West is located in Seattle. Instead of embracing startups, he sat back and waited for Microsoft to deliver solutions — such as Office 365. "I knew Microsoft would eventually deliver a massive impact."

Brucker is president of Solve IT; Lane is a health care consultant in Omaha.

They offered some depressing stats about the cost of health care in the U.S., and the fact that $600 billion to $800 billion is wasted each year.

They see a shift to accountable care organizations (ACOs) and then primary care ACOs. 

They see a future where people WANT to go to the doctor for pro-active services, the way people show up at Apple Stores.

The IT opportunity involves management, building solutions, systems and support.

I'm way-oversimplifying their time on stage because heath care is such a complex topic. But keep an eye on how Brucker positions Solve IT for the opportunity…

He covered social media policies at work, and patent processes for business.

On social media, he noted that all companies now need an effective policy that outlines how social networks can be used.

Who ones the social identity or social account when an employee leaves the company? Who retains the followers of the account?