Microsoft releases, Azure Experts and more
Cloud Direct
Cloud Direct is one of the UK's leading Microsoft partners. We help our customers achieve fearless growth.
Did you know that if it rains on St. Swithin's Day, it's supposed to rain all summer?
Well, now you do.
Okay, this week's tidbit may not be quite so factual, but it tipped it down on Monday 15 July and I'm a little miffed. Just as I was starting to smell summer, my spines have been soaked.
While the weather hasn't been much to write home about, there has been plenty of news coming out of Microsoft to keep me busy. It's been raining releases over there, and we've got some exciting news of our own to share...
In this edition of my Microsoft Memo ??
?? Cloud Direct secure Azure Expert MSP status – again!
?? Purview gets general availability date
?? Entra Suite goes live
?? Our recent CISO Security Briefings
Without further ado, let's get into it.
Cloud Direct retains Azure Expert MSP status ??
The team at Cloud Direct really prides itself on being brilliant. We think we are, but it means 10 times more when Microsoft lets us know they feel this same.
This week, it was announced that we had retained our Azure Expert MSP accreditation following a rigorous, extensive auditing process. That means we're heading into our seventh year as a certified Azure Expert organisation, having first been accredited when the programme was launched back in 2018.
There are 400,000 organisations in the Microsoft Partner network. Only 150 of them hold this incredibly exclusive accreditation, so forgive me for blowing the Cloud Direct trumpet a little louder than usual here.
Retaining our Azure Expert MSP status is not only a huge source of pride for me and the team, it also massively benefits you, our customers. It means we'll continue providing...
?? Better service
??? Broader offerings
?? Closer partnerships
?? Exclusive funding
There's loads more to it that you can read up on over on the website, which includes insight from our CEO Brett Raynes on what it means for the whole company.
?? Head this way ??
Purview hits the shelves... soon ?
Microsoft's all-encompassing data governance platform Purview, which was service launched in April, has been given the green light for general availability on 1 September.
Purview is revolutionary – there's no two ways about it. It's a comprehensive toolkit that can help organisations secure, govern, and manage their data, wherever it lives. In simple terms, it simplifies the empowerment of your data.
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I'd love to sit here and take you through all the fixtures and features of Purview, but as you can see in the diagram below, I simply wouldn't have the time... and neither would you!
There's too much to take in all at once, so instead I'll sign-post you to some useful resources. Save these for next week's mid-morning cuppas.
Or you can talk to us . Our Data & AI Practice Lead, and seven-time Microsoft MVP Dr Victoria Holt FBCS , is one of only three people in the world to hold the Microsoft Purview specialisation as part of her MVP status. There's nobody better to help get you started.
A new security suite ??
While we have to wait a little longer for Purview to hit general availability, there's no such delay with Microsoft Entra Suite – the unified security operations platform. It's available right now , but what does that mean for you?
Entra Suite is Microsoft's most comprehensive security platform yet, allowing you to manage your security posture across devices, networks and cloud services, detect and respond to advanced threats with AI-powered analytics, and provide your team with secure and seamless access to their applications and resources.
In the ever-evolving age of artificial intelligence, a modern security platform is a necessity in keeping businesses safe. Entra Suite can help deliver a proactive Zero Trust security strategy that puts your organisation the best – and more secure – position to succeed, and to innovate.
Sounds ideal, doesn't it? This Microsoft webinar , taking place in just under a fortnight's time, looks like a perfect starting point for users looking to get started with Entra Suite sooner rather than later.
Speaking of security... ???
That's what we've been doing quite a bit recently. Following the success of our first CISO Microsoft Security Briefing a few weeks ago, we re-ran the event on Wednesday to show a new cohort what's possible with the Microsoft security toolkit – what to watch out for, and what to capitalise on.
This time around we were joined by 微软 's Fionn Condren , who provided excellent and engaging insight into Microsoft Purview ahead of its general availability release, including live demonstrations and fielding questions from the audience. He was joined by Leon Godwin , Pete Murphy and ??????Dan Powell who took us through the Microsoft's full security scope, from Defender and Sentinel to AI and other modern work considerations.
It's clear from the conversations we're having, and the popularity of both events, that cybersecurity is very much front-of-mind at the moment. It's always been a priority, but now more so than ever.
We'll be releasing the full talks from the event very shortly, so keep your eyes peeled on our LinkedIn feed to gain access and get clued up!??
It's been a busy couple of weeks, for the team at Cloud Direct and for Microsoft. I'll keep my eyes peeled for any further product releases or exciting information – I'm sure there's plenty bubbling away behind the scenes. That's all for this week...
What? It's not raining? Right, I'm off!
Eric ??