Opinion


Partners: Sound Off in 2016

We've always kept a tight focus on our Microsoft partner readers, but we're going to step that up in 2016 in a few ways -- and we hope you'll help us out.

How Cloud and IP Are Changing the IT Services Market

The old three-legged-stool model of partner-delivered IT services -- consulting, advisory services and support -- needs to adapt to the changing technology environment.

How a Microsoft Partner Found Success by Linking IP and P2P

Microsoft Partner of the Year winner Nintex kills two birds with one very effective stone by combining IP creation with partner outreach.

6 Things the Cloud Doesn't Change for Microsoft Partners

Cloud computing may be the poster child of disruptive technology, but there are a few business tenets that are simply impervious to change.

With CPS, Microsoft Tests Demand for Cloud-in-a-Box

Microsoft's new CPS Standard systems will likely test the mood among partners and organizations for turnkey on-premises Azure appliances.

The Hidden Payoff in Starting an IAMCP Chapter

In a region that's ripe for partner-to-partner networking, the launch of another IAMCP chapter is bringing more value to Microsoft partners.

Microsoft, Others Eyeing Cloud-Based ID Management

The burgeoning "ID Management as a Service" market represents an important opportunity for IT solutions providers.

Microsoft Promises To 'Mainstream' Dynamics, but Can It Deliver?

For those who believe Microsoft's rhetoric, the synergy that Dynamics partners have been dreaming about for 15 years might soon become reality.

Breaking Up with Windows Phone: It's Not You, Microsoft, It's the Apps

It seems tired to complain that there aren't enough apps for Windows Phone. And yet, the complaint persists because it's valid.

For Microsoft Partners, Now Is a Good Time To Think M&A

It's a seller's market in the IT industry, and Microsoft expertise is in particularly high demand.

Enterprise Mobility Suite Emerges as Microsoft's 'Hottest' Product

Though EMS is still relatively new, Microsoft is touting the mobility management offering as a major competitor of established solutions from Citrix, IBM and VMware.

Microsoft Extends CSP to Dynamics CRM: A Partner's Perspective

For the first time, Dynamics partners can take advantage of the biggest change to Microsoft's cloud business model.

After Missteps, Microsoft Gets Its Cloud Partner Messaging Right

Microsoft turned off many partners last year when it flubbed the announcement of its Office 365 onboarding plans. This year, the messaging has been decidedly more partner-friendly.

Two Years After Snowden, Microsoft Enlists Partners in Trust Fight

This summer, Microsoft gave its first substantial partner-focused response to the PRISM leaks of 2013.

Hiring? Make Sure To Get a Business Analyst

Technology pros may still be the core of your partner business, but you need a BA who can translate technology into real terms that business users understand.

Under Nadella, Microsoft Sheds Its Predictability

From its uncharacteristic embrace of third-party platforms to its rapid delivery of new cloud services, Microsoft has been steadily shedding its reputation as a slow-moving behemoth.

Microsoft Partner Mandates: Focus on P2P and IP for Azure

Howard spotlights Microsoft partners that are succeeding by forging partner-to-partner relationships and developing IP to drive cloud consumption.

A Decade of WPCs: Microsoft, 10 Years On

It's been 10 years since Redmond Channel Partner magazine launched at the 2005 Worldwide Partner Conference. Microsoft looked a lot different back then.

What To Expect in Microsoft's Fiscal '16: Focus on Cloud

How to navigate Microsoft's shifting attitudes toward the cloud in the coming fiscal year.

Survival of the Fittest Partners: Spotlighting New Partner Imperatives

Microsoft's channel vision is changing and partners are scrambling to adapt. Howard turns the spotlight on partners that have successfully evolved their businesses to keep pace with those changes.