Microsoft Partner Program Updates, Azure, Teams Growth Make for Big Year
What a year already for the Microsoft Partner Network, Azure, Teams and more.
Shutterstock
CF: On the partner side, what should partners anticipate happening in 2021 in terms of the program? Are there any announcements or updates?
MK: Digital transformation and a focus on the partner experience are two elements that our program strategy will continue to focus on in 2021. We have several initiatives that are underway and more plans that are really going to demonstrate how our partners interact and sell our products and services. These efforts include an enhanced partner portal that’s going to give both our master agents, and for the first time, our selling agents, more control and visibility into their fiber order activity.
About a week later, Microsoft global channel chief Gavriella Schuster followed up those partner program announcements with a blog outlining updates on investments and new partner program offers. The blog replaced the company’s annual state of the partner ecosystem, canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Schuster highlighted the company’s investment strategy, which addresses several key areas of partner opportunity, which include Teams, Azure migration and security.
“Today, Microsoft partners are playing a critical role helping companies everywhere adjust to a new way of working,” Schuster wrote.
Among the partner program updates are more access to training, support and go-to-market services. Microsoft also is helping partners separate from the pack through new competencies and advanced specializations.
Here is the full rundown.
It probably comes as no surprise that Teams use is skyrocketing. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella described uptake as “two years’ worth of digital transformation in two months,” thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic forcing many people to work from home.
On April 30, Microsoft said more than 75 million workers now use Teams; that’s double the number of users since early March.
Teams use already was growing steadily before the pandemic took hold. In January, Microsoft counted 20 million Teams users, which was up from just 12 million six months before. In just one week in March, the number jumped by 6 million.
“We are working alongside customers every day to help them stay open for business in a world of remote everything,” Nadella said.
It just so happens that a fair amount of you use Microsoft products. It’s true!
So it’s no surprise that our review of enhancements to Microsoft’s Windows Virtual Desktop struck a chord with you. But perhaps the most compelling reason to read our article was the rebranding to Azure Virtual Desktop.
Can’t get enough Teams? Here’s another tidbit.
Microsoft 365 Business Voice, which the software giant initially launched in the U.K. and Canada, is making its debut in the States. It enables partners to offer PSTN calling with an audio conferencing capability from the Teams client. It gives businesses a cloud PBX option for up to 300 users.
The service costs $20 per user, per month. It is available with Microsoft 365 and Office 365 subscriptions, including the lower tier Essentials and Business editions.
Distribution giant ScanSource now offers the entire Microsoft cloud lineup. That means ScanSource partners in North America can sell Microsoft 365, Office 365 licenses and more.
The new agreement means ScanSource partners also get Microsoft technical support, onboarding and enablement tools. Those include provisioning and service management.
ScanSource says its latest software offer targets businesses’ increasing demand for remote workforce productivity products. The distributor says its partners can access the full Microsoft cloud portfolio via Cascade, a cloud platform it acquired from intY last year.
Microsoft in a late April blog introduced a new “patching people” cybersecurity strategy. The company’s Detection and Response Team (DART) explained exactly where companies should look to prevent ransomware attacks.
“Patching people” is precisely what it sounds like: looking for vulnerabilities in employee practices that malicious hackers can exploit. Take, for instance, simulating a ransomware attack on staff and running “what if” scenarios.
“[That] would be far more effective in reducing damage from ransomware attacks than solely focusing on plugging holes below the IT waterline after a hit,” said Colin Bastable, CEO of Lucy Security, a security awareness training firm.
Microsoft said early this month that it’s ready to debut three edge computing services.
One is for industrial connectivity on a 5G private network. Another is as a mini Azure region closer to your customers. The third is for offering cloud services that run inside a carrier network.
Dubbed “Azure Edge Zones,” the new services aim to bring consistency to applications that need to run at the edge for low latency. They are: Edge Zones, Private Edge Zones and Edge Zones With Carrier.
Azure Edge Zones are connected to Azure’s own network. They run in existing Microsoft network edge locations.
Learn more about the various types of Edge Zones.
Many things ground to halt when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, but not public cloud. And Microsoft’s Azure was right in the middle of the growth spurt.
Azure, Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud all saw significant gains in the first quarter, despite the coronavirus taking hold in March.
Revenue for Microsoft’s intelligent cloud group, which includes Azure, was $12.3 billion. That’s a 27% gain year over year. And don’t expect the second-quarter numbers to slip much, even with COVID-19 playing an even bigger role.
“For sure, the pandemic is causing some issues for cloud providers,” said John Dinsdale, chief analyst at Synergy Research Group. “But in uncertain times, the public cloud is providing flexibility and a safe haven for companies struggling to maintain normal operations.”
HPE’s Aruba integrated its ClearPass Policy Manager with Microsoft endpoint protection platforms.
ClearPass now controls access to network resources based on endpoint security intelligence that Microsoft provides. The goal?: to reduce the risk of compromised network connections.
“Protecting enterprises against attacks requires a holistic approach to security based on an open approach to device and application protection,” Aruba’s Michael Tennefoss, VP of strategic partnerships, told Channel Futures.
First, Microsoft said it would make a $1.1 billion investment in Mexico. That comes in the form of a new data center region for Azure.
Less than three months later, in May, Microsoft touted another new data center region — this one in Italy. That’s part of a $1.5 billion investment in the Boot Country.
Joint research between Microsoft Italia and a school of management in Milan predicts this could generate 10,000 jobs. It could also help create an estimated $9 billion in direct and indirect business impact by the end of 2024.
“In this time of change, it is important to create private and public collaboration and join forces among companies,” said Silvia Candiani, general manager, Microsoft Italy.
First, Microsoft said it would make a $1.1 billion investment in Mexico. That comes in the form of a new data center region for Azure.
Less than three months later, in May, Microsoft touted another new data center region — this one in Italy. That’s part of a $1.5 billion investment in the Boot Country.
Joint research between Microsoft Italia and a school of management in Milan predicts this could generate 10,000 jobs. It could also help create an estimated $9 billion in direct and indirect business impact by the end of 2024.
“In this time of change, it is important to create private and public collaboration and join forces among companies,” said Silvia Candiani, general manager, Microsoft Italy.
The COVID-19 pandemic isn’t slowing Microsoft down; in fact, it’s one of the technology providers that appears to be thriving. Take the Microsoft partner program, for instance.
In early April, members of the Microsoft Partner Network got new incentives and competencies to work into their business strategies. And with so many more people working from home, Teams use is way up — a big partner opportunity.
Microsoft’s Gavriella Schuster
Channel chief Gavriella Schuster wrote a blog on April 13.
“We have been carefully considering how our partner programs can serve our partners best, as this [COVID-19] situation evolves,” she wrote. “We understand that some partners may want to accelerate their pace, while other partners may want to slow things down. Regardless, what is most important for you to know at this moment in time is that we’re listening to feedback from you, our partners, and doing what we can to help.”
Of course, Azure is a big part of any Microsoft channel play these days. Not only did we learn that Azure use continues to grow, but Microsoft rolled out a series of new “Azure Edge” services to address the needs of 5G and edge computing.
Want security updates? No problem. Microsoft introduced a new strategy to “patch people,” or better prepare them for ransomware attacks.
What is amazing is that this has all happened just in the past two months! And that’s not all. The company also took another international step (think art, fashion and fine wine) and signed a big distribution deal with ScanSource.
Take a stroll through our slide show above to get the latest Microsoft partner program happenings, cloud moves and more.
Read more about:
MSPsAbout the Author(s)
You May Also Like