WHAT'S NEW

• Microsoft Inspire Keynote Lineup To Include Huddleston

  The Microsoft Inspire conference will be the first high-profile opportunity for partners to get a sense of Ron Huddleston, who as the head of the newly created One Commercial Partner organization plays an important role in how Microsoft allocates its resources for the channel.

• It's Time for a Seismic Shift in Partner Value Propositions

  If customers don't know why they still need partners, you need to tell them.

• For M&A Success, Make Sure Lawyers Stay in Their Lane

  Partners, repeat after us: Attorneys are not advisers.

• Partners Applaud Surface Pro Battery Life, LTE Support, Processor

  Surface reseller partners were enthusiastic about elements of the lightly refreshed Surface Pro that Microsoft unveiled Tuesday morning at an event in Shanghai.

• 2017 Microsoft Conference Calendar: For Partners, IT Pros and Developers

  WEB EXCLUSIVE: From Microsoft mega-events like Build and Ignite to smaller one- and two-day training sessions, we've got your 2017 conference schedule covered.

• Webcast: Dynamics 365 in CSP for Infrastructure Partners

  Dynamics is a historically tricky business for Microsoft's traditional infrastructure partners.

• A Dozen Defenses Against Ransomware (Some Good Against WannaCry)

  WannaCry (also known as WannaCrypt) is developing into a potentially transformative ransomware incident.

• The 2017 Microsoft Product Roadmap

  Standouts of this year's release calendar include Windows 10's next update milestone and Azure Stack's long-awaited launch.

• Microsoft and the Q4 Incentive: How Long Will This Go On?

  As Microsoft shifts its revenue mix from on-premise to cloud, you might expect the transition to change the company's calendar emphasis on closing deals from the end of the fiscal year -- June for Microsoft -- to the beginning of the year a month later.

• How To Improve Partner Profitability in 5 Steps

  Why settle for 5 percent profitability when 30 percent is (relatively) doable? Here's how to get there.

• Kaseya Buys Cloud Management Tools Vendor

  LAS VEGAS -- In its ongoing quest to provide more components of the managed service provider (MSP) tool stack and broaden the definition of that stack, Kaseya acquired Unigma, a maker of cloud management tools.

• What 'Billions' Nails About the New Reality for Microsoft Partners

  "You offer a service you didn't invent, a formula you didn't invent, a delivery method you didn't invent."

• Continuum MSPs Get Access to Auvik Networking Tools

  Continuum's managed service provider partners will be able to manage customers' routers, switches and firewalls through a newly integrated third-party offering.

• Rhodes Leaving Rackspace, Cotten Named Interim CEO

  Rackspace CEO Taylor Rhodes is leaving the company on May 16 to become CEO of an unnamed smaller company, and President Jeff Cotten is stepping up as interim CEO while the board of directors seeks a long-term replacement to lead the privately held San Antonio, Texas-based hosting giant.

• After Putting Itself on the Block, Citrix Attracts Some Bids

  At least three buyout firms are in the running to buy Citrix Systems Inc., according to a report.

• ESW Capital Buys RoseASP

  Microsoft Dynamics hosting pioneer Linda Rose is retiring from day-to-day operations after the sale of San Diego-based RoseASP Inc. to ESW Capital LLC.

• Singh Takes on CEO Role at Docker

  Docker, the fast-growing, 4-year-old, flagship company of the open source container trend, is replacing its CEO with the seasoned technology executive who was already serving as its chairman for the last six months.

• Executive Moves at AvePoint, Intermedia, Datto, Teamatics

  Several technology companies unveiled new hires and promotions associated with strategic moves on Tuesday.

• Why IoT Sucks (And Why That's Good for Partners)

  As promising as it is, IoT has problems -- from security to reliability to management. And problems, of course, are good for Microsoft partners who can offer solutions.

• Riverbed's Push to the Cloud Is Both Buy and Build

  Acquisitions and organic product development will both be part of the strategic mix as Riverbed Technology seeks to grow beyond its WAN optimization roots into a future in the software-defined era.

• Microsoft Predictions Revisited: What Came True and What Didn't

  We were on the money with much of our forecast for Microsoft's FY2017, but there have been a few surprises. For starters, what ever happened to the company's "active usage" mantra?

• Microsoft Has Nerfed Its P-Seller Program. Now What?

  Will a revised Partner Seller Program with less access and fewer resources be worth the trouble of enrolling?