In-person meetings, security-focused updates by Microsoft, Jamf, Dropbox's acquisition and more...

Hello everyone,

This is the 75th edition of this newsletter. This is the time of year when multiple events are organized and there are more in-person meetings. Significant developments in the market are worth discussing. Let's have a look at the key highlights from the past week.

End-user Technology

Microsoft makes MFA mandatory for Azure

微软 has announced that multi-factor authentication will be mandatory for all Azure services including Intune. More details here:

When MFA wasn't mandatory for Intune, clients could enroll devices and allow bypassing MFA while authenticating users. Because of this option, Microsoft systems faced multiple attacks, such as the one related to SolarWinds. In the zero-trust philosophy, if a device is compliant, it doesn't mean the user is as well.

Citrix DaaS on AWS WorkSpaces Core is now GA

Amazon Web Services (AWS) announced that Citrix DaaS is now available on AWS WorkspacesCore. More details here:

Interestingly, in this newsletter's 50th edition, we looked at Citrix DaaS on WorkSpaces Core being available in tech preview. Along with making it GA, Citrix has also announced some new features with Citrix DaaS on AWS WorkSpaces Core, such as data encryption at rest. As we discussed, it is a great move to help clients transition from an on-premise VDI environment to a cloud one at their own pace.

Jamf joins Okta Elevate Partner program

Jamf has joined Okta Elevate Partner program. More details here:

This shows how the changing way of working brings different vendors to collaborate and bring joint solutions to address modern enterprise IT MDM concerns. Be it Apple's Declarative Device Management program, Jamf's co-working with Intune and availability in Azure Marketplace, or now Jamf with Okta, all of these initiatives point toward the rapid response towards changing workers and users' expectations with respect to mobile device management, security, privacy and protection of enterprise data.

Digital Adoption Platforms

WalkMe enhances its AI capabilities

WalkMe? has announced that it has enhanced its AI innovation capabilities. More details here:

The AI-enabled capabilities of WalkMeX seem much more than just DAP. Somewhere it looks like when it comes to AI-enabled features, particularly those to support business functions such as sales, marketing, HR, etc., the traditional domain of the vendor becomes irrelevant. I mean, look at UCC, DEX, Collaborative Work, or now the DAP vendors; the AI-enabled features provide similar functionalities. Thus, AI has blurred the lines between traditional domains or markets. WalkeMeX features, such as those for the HR functions, seem really differentiating and relevant.

Managed digital workplace services

TCS opens a new Pace Port in Nordic

塔塔咨询服务公司 announced the opening of its new Pace Studio in Stockholm. More details here:

TCS Pace Studios are strong differentiators for the firm as it provides design-thinking-led co-innovation services with clients. As clients navigate multiple challenges and new technology opportunities, including those associated with digital workplace and employee experience, they need hand-holding. This new Pace Studio further strengthens TCS's presence in the Nordic region.

Provider visits: NTT DATA and Microland

I met the digital workplace leadership for NTT DATA and Microland this past week in Bangalore.

In Sujay Bhattacharya, NTT DATA has now got a dynamic leader who is extremely experienced in the digital workplace technologies. NTT DATA is already a very strong player in the digital workplace market. Its latest focus on generative AI and application in enhancing modern workplace support is really worth looking at. More details here:

Coincidentally, it is the 30th year anniversary of Microland Limited , and I got a chance to meet its digital workplace team led by Sunil Sarat. There were some really amazing demos of Microland's solution around device intelligence and workplace support. Fortunately, I got a chance to visit some of their ODCs and learned about their amazing client success stories. More details here:

I love to go and meet people where the actual action happens. I have often seen the messaging and story of real value-add missed when we listen to the marketing and AR folks. I encourage all vendors to have the analysts meet their teams and folks who work on the ground.

Connected and Collaborative Work

Dropbox acquires Reclaim

Dropbox has acquired an AI start-up firm Reclaim.ai More details here:

Calendar functionality is increasingly becoming an essential feature for connected and collaborative work solutions. ClickUp acquired a firm called Hypercal, Zoom brought in calendar functionality, and Notion introduced a calendar functionality. The acquisition of Reclaim brings Dropbox closer to enhancing its product portfolio attractiveness in this space.

Asana proceeds to get its FedRAMP certification

Asana announced that it is progressing to achieve FedRAMP certification. More details here:

Government agencies and firms have different sets of challenges, and collaborative work management is a new beast for many of them, but a beast they definitely need! If Asana gets a FedRAMP certification, it will be a strong differentiator.

Meeting the Wrike offshore development team

This past week, I also met the offshore software development team of Wrike in Bangalore. More details here:

I hope to have more in-person meetings to understand how user requirements translate into new feature development. It was great to see Wrike's vision and focus areas toward enhancing the experience of users on both enterprise/ desktop and mobile.

That's all for the week, folks. Please feel free to share your thoughts and feedback in the comments and share with anyone you think would be interested in the content. Thank you very much for your consistent support.

Thanks

-M