Microsoft is preparing to bring together its partner ecosystem at Ignite 2025 with an agenda built around four pillars: improving employee experience, reinventing business processes, deepening customer connections and driving industry innovation. Driven by the acceleration of AI and cloud adoption, the event aims to help partners build differentiation, scale go-to-market (GTM) practices and evolve the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program. Keynotes, breakout sessions, hands-on labs and networking events are structured to support technical, sales and strategic roles. The partner-centric programming features hundreds of sessions spanning topics such as Copilot and agentic AI, Azure and data modernization, unified security operations and industry-specific growth strategies. To make the most of it, partners are encouraged to register (in-person or digital), plan their personal agenda, secure sessions early and define follow-up actions for their business.
What's new for partners in 2025 includes expanded partner benefits, skilling resources, and marketplace opportunities—most notably a unified partner marketplace with a dedicated category for AI apps and agents. A large focus for future developments to be discussed at Ignite will be on building AI-first capability throughout the ecosystem as well as expanding opportunity and simplifying engagement. The new Copilot for Business aims to position Microsoft as a leader in AI business solutions. Additionally, Microsoft Agent Factory will aim to allow organizations to move from experimentation to execution faster. Ignite partner-focused sessions can be joined virtually and are listed here.
The "RCP Channel Briefing" blog is researched, fact-checked, edited and updated by the editors of RCPmag.com, with writing assistance from AI. To submit your channel company's press release for consideration, contact Ammaarah Mohamed.
Posted by Redmond Channel Partner magazine staff on November 18, 20250 comments
BitTitan spotlights a new partnership with PowerSyncPro along with two new solutions: Directory Sync and Migration Agent. Showcases at Microsoft Ignite 2025 (Nov 17-21, San Francisco), these solutions show the broadening of MigrationWiz towards modernizing Mircosoft 365 and Entra ID for AI adoption. The launch follows the release of MigrationWiz Active Directory allowing users to migrate accounts, groups and objects across Active Directory into Microsoft Entra ID. Ehnancements also include preserving user SID history during migrations, seamless tenant-to-tenant moves, automatic generation of passwords and alignment of users. The PowerSyncPro launch features a user-friendly approach with seamless workstation transitions, preservation of user profiles and application reconfiguration.
These innovations align with the broader trend of enterprises moving hybrid and legacy systems into cloud-native environments. BitTitan’s deeper focus on cross-workload, identity- and device-inclusive migration offers a more comprehensive approach than traditional mail-and-file migration tools.
The "RCP Channel Briefing" blog is researched, fact-checked, edited and updated by the editors of RCPmag.com, with writing assistance from AI. To submit your channel company's press release for consideration, contact Ammaarah Mohamed.
Posted by Redmond Channel Partner magazine staff on November 18, 20250 comments
AvePoint has introduced AgentPulse, a new command center for monitoring and governing enterprise AI agents as organizations scale production use of agentic AI. Built into the AvePoint Confidence Platform, AgentPulse acts as a centralized registry that shows which agents are active, what data they can access and how frequently they’re interacting with corporate systems. The goal is to give security and IT teams a consolidated view of agent permissions and behavior—areas where traditional identity and data governance tools offer limited coverage.
The release comes amid rising scrutiny of AI agents in enterprise environments. AvePoint’s own research shows that 75% of organizations using AI reported a data breach in the past year AgentPulse’s focus on real-time activity monitoring and cost analytics addresses two of the fastest-growing concerns: data exposure and unpredictable cloud charges. For enterprises accelerating Copilot, Azure AI Foundry, or ISV agent deployments, among others, AgentPulse offers a governance model aligned with zero-trust and financial accountability requirements.
The "RCP Channel Briefing" blog is researched, fact-checked, edited and updated by the editors of RCPmag.com, with writing assistance from AI. To submit your channel company's press release for consideration, contact Ammaarah Mohamed.
Posted by Redmond Channel Partner magazine staff on November 18, 20250 comments
Cognizant Technology Solutions has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire 3Cloud Technologies, a U.S.-based specialist in Microsoft Azure, data and AI services, to enhance its global footprint in enterprise AI and cloud transformation. 3Cloud brings more than 1,000 Azure-certified engineers and a track record of 20 percent annual growth driven by demand for Azure-native business transformation.
Through this acquisition, Cognizant aims to combine 3Cloud's Azure and AI delivery capabilities with its own industry-tailored service frameworks and global scale, positioning itself as one of the largest Microsoft partners worldwide. The move aligns with the industry shift toward cloud-native AI operations: Microsoft recently reported Azure growth of around 40 percent year-on-year in Q3 2025. The acquisition is tabled for Q1 of 2026 pending regulatory approval.
The "RCP Channel Briefing" blog is researched, fact-checked, edited and updated by the editors of RCPmag.com, with writing assistance from AI. To submit your channel company's press release for consideration, contact Ammaarah Mohamed.
Posted by Redmond Channel Partner magazine staff on November 13, 20250 comments
A new Microsoft-sponsored IDC study examining more than 4,000 AI decision-makers across 16 countries identifies a category of “Frontier firms” achieving significantly higher returns from generative and agentic AI. Most organizations report 2.8x ROI from generative AI projects and 2.3x ROI from agentic AI, reflecting deeper integration across business workflows rather than isolated pilots.
The report also notes that legacy integration and security governance remain the top barriers for organizations still early in adoption, with almost 30 percent of reporting issues with security, privacy and governance. Key takeaways from this study emphasize how AI is essential in today's times, but that the AI divide is significant. IDC claims that, "achieving sustainable growth and innovation, organizations must develop an AI-fueled operational plan that encompasses strategy, governance and technology."
The "RCP Channel Briefing" blog is researched, fact-checked, edited and updated by the editors of RCPmag.com, with writing assistance from AI. To submit your channel company's press release for consideration, contact Ammaarah Mohamed.
Posted by Redmond Channel Partner magazine staff on November 13, 20250 comments
Action1, an AEM solutions provider, has introduced an enhanced integration that extends Microsoft Intune to bring advanced cross-platform patching and risk-based vulnerability management to endpoints. Through this integration, organizations can execute real-time scanning of both operating system and third-party application vulnerabilities, automate patch deployment policies and gain live dashboards into endpoint compliance. The solution supports hybrid and remote environments and aims to close visibility and remediation gaps.
Some of the main gaps addressed by this launch include closing third-party patching gaps, unifying coverage for Windows endpoints, a provision for actionable vulnerability prioritization and real-time visibility. This move taps into the growing emphasis on endpoint security as distributed workforces expand. By complementing Intune’s device management with richer patch workflows and vulnerability analytics, Action1 addresses a key operational need for IT and security teams.
The "RCP Channel Briefing" blog is researched, fact-checked, edited and updated by the editors of RCPmag.com, with writing assistance from AI. To submit your channel company's press release for consideration, contact Ammaarah Mohamed.
Posted by Redmond Channel Partner magazine staff on November 13, 20250 comments
Microsoft has expanded its Dynamics 365 ERP Model Context Protocol (MCP) framework, introducing a dynamic MCP Server, now in public preview, which allows real-time use by agents, developers and applications. A new Dynamics server for analytics, specifically, makes hundreds of thousands of ERP functions callable for automation, workflow orchestration and intelligent analytics. This companion MCP Server for Analytics—launching in December—extends this standardized model-context approach to business intelligence use cases.
The development reflects Microsoft’s strategy to make ERP systems AI-native. The move further means that new ERP agents will all be built using MCP, with existing agents migrating to MCP by December 2025. Additionally, all static tools will transition to the dynamic ERP MCP server. Microsoft’s MCP standard focuses on dynamic extensibility and unified governance across its business applications.
The "RCP Channel Briefing" blog is researched, fact-checked, edited and updated by the editors of RCPmag.com, with writing assistance from AI. To submit your channel company's press release for consideration, contact Ammaarah Mohamed.
Posted by Redmond Channel Partner magazine staff on November 13, 20250 comments
Rapid7 has expanded its partnership with Microsoft, unveiling a new Managed Detection and Response (MDR) for Microsoft solution that integrates directly with Microsoft Defender and the broader Microsoft security ecosystem. The joint offering combines Rapid7’s AI-native operations platform and SOC expertise with Microsoft’s telemetry and analytics, delivering unified detection and contextual response across endpoints, email, cloud and identity services.
The collaboration underscores the industry’s pivot toward integrated security operations that can advance customers' security programs toward aligned business outcomes. Rapid7’s human-led MDR model provides more tailored threat response and compliance support. The service will be generally available in early 2026, marking a significant expansion of Rapid7’s Microsoft-aligned security portfolio.
The "RCP Channel Briefing" blog is researched, fact-checked, edited and updated by the editors of RCPmag.com, with writing assistance from AI. To submit your channel company's press release for consideration, contact Ammaarah Mohamed.
Posted by Redmond Channel Partner magazine staff on November 04, 20250 comments
WatchGuard Technologies has expanded its Professional Services Automation (PSA) integrations and introduced a Unified Agent for centralized management across its security portfolio. The new integrations support ConnectWise Manage, Autotask PSA and HaloPSA, allowing managed service providers (MSPs) to automate ticketing, billing and service deployment workflows within WatchGuard Cloud. The integration consolidates endpoint, identity and network security management, simplifying visibility across customer environments.
The update reflects broader MSP trends toward service unification and automation. WatchGuard’s native PSA alignment positions it as a strong player in the managed cybersecurity ecosystem. Managed through WatchGuard Cloud, the update accelerates onboarding, reduces maintenance and simplifies upgrading, enabling MSPs with one platform towards an ultimate goal of total security. By embedding automation into PSA workflows, WatchGuard is targeting operational efficiency and scalability for MSPs managing multi-tenant security portfolios.
The "RCP Channel Briefing" blog is researched, fact-checked, edited and updated by the editors of RCPmag.com, with writing assistance from AI. To submit your channel company's press release for consideration, contact Ammaarah Mohamed.
Posted by Redmond Channel Partner magazine staff on November 04, 20250 comments
Microsoft posted $77.7 billion in revenue for the first quarter of its fiscal 2026, up 18 percent from last year, fueled by continued growth in cloud and AI services.
Operating income rose 24 percent to $38 billion, while net income climbed by 12 percent to $27.7 billion (GAAP). Microsoft Cloud revenue hit $49.1 billion, a 26 percent increase, with Azure and other cloud services revenue up 40 percent. Revenue in Productivity and Business Processes increased by 17 percent to reach $33 billion.
However, Microsoft said it took a hit from its ongoing partnership with OpenAI. "In the first quarter of fiscal year 2026, net income and diluted earnings per share were impacted by losses from investments in OpenAI, which resulted in a decrease in net income and diluted earnings per share of $3.1 billion and $0.41, respectively," it said. "In the first quarter of fiscal year 2025, net income and diluted earnings per share were impacted by losses from investments in OpenAI, which resulted in a decrease in net income and diluted earnings per share of $523 million and $0.07, respectively."
In a webcast, Microsoft CEO, Satya Nadella said, “Microsoft Copilot and Copilot stack are orchestrating a new era of AI transformation, driving better business outcomes across every role and industry.” The company returned $10.7 billion to shareholders through buybacks and dividends during the quarter.
The "RCP Channel Briefing" blog is researched, fact-checked, edited and updated by the editors of RCPmag.com, with writing assistance from AI. To submit your channel company's press release for consideration, contact Ammaarah Mohamed.
Posted by Redmond Channel Partner magazine staff on October 30, 20250 comments
Cyware has announced a strategic partnership with Microsoft to integrate its Cyware IntelExchange platform with Microsoft Sentinel and Defender. The collaboration enables bi-directional sharing of threat intelligence using STIX/TAXII standards, allowing real-time validation and faster response to indicators of compromise. Cyware’s tools are now deployable via the Microsoft Commercial Marketplace, simplifying procurement for enterprise and government customers.
Integration with Microsoft Defender further enables Defender Threat Intelligence insights to flow into Cyware for automated indicator searches against existing data and investigations. This announcement highlights the move towards continued collaborations between Microsoft and Cyware. By embedding AI-powered enrichment and actioning capabilities directly into Microsoft Sentinel, Cyware strengthens its position in the operational threat intelligence market while advancing Microsoft’s broader vision for intelligence-driven defense.
The "RCP Channel Briefing" blog is researched, fact-checked, edited and updated by the editors of RCPmag.com, with writing assistance from AI. To submit your channel company's press release for consideration, contact Ammaarah Mohamed.
Posted by Redmond Channel Partner magazine staff on October 21, 20250 comments
At Oracle AI World 2025, Oracle announced a partnership with Microsoft to link Oracle Fusion Cloud Supply Chain & Manufacturing (SCM) with Azure IoT Operations and Microsoft Fabric. The integration blueprint connects live factory data, such as sensor readings and equipment telemetry, directly to Oracle SCM, enabling automated workflows for order management, maintenance and quality control. The goal is to reduce downtime and improve responsiveness through real-time data exchange and event-driven automation.
The initiative comes as manufacturers push to modernize supply chains through connected operations. The integration ensures that real-time intelligence and secure data flows, best practices become standardized and business events are automated. By combining Microsoft’s real-time analytics with Oracle's supply chain applications, the two vendors are signaling greater openness in cross-cloud industrial automation, an area once defined by siloed ecosystems.
The "RCP Channel Briefing" blog is researched, fact-checked, edited and updated by the editors of RCPmag.com, with writing assistance from AI. To submit your channel company's press release for consideration, contact Ammaarah Mohamed.
Posted by Redmond Channel Partner magazine staff on October 17, 20250 comments