WHAT'S NEW

• 2018 Microsoft Conference Calendar: For Partners, IT Pros and Developers

  From mega-conferences like Microsoft Inspire and VMworld to more niche partner meet-ups, we've got your 2018 conference schedule covered.

• The 2018 Microsoft Product Roadmap

  Our annual guide to what major Microsoft releases are coming down the pipeline, and when.

• Microsoft Sees Partners Driving GitHub Usage in the Enterprise

  Microsoft envisions partners helping to drive a major push of the GitHub software development and version control platform into the enterprise.

• Microsoft's Reorg Continues with Executive Reshuffling

  Microsoft announced its latest companywide reorg back in March, but with just a month to go until the end of its fiscal year, its executive roster is still in flux.

• The 3 Critical Components for Microsoft Partner M&A Nirvana

  Heed these tips to avoid spending time and money only to have your transaction go sideways in the 11th hour.

• Exclusive: Nerdio Lowers Azure Barriers to Entry for MSPs

  A year after launching a platform based on the idea that Microsoft Azure was both a powerful and challenging platform for IT as a Service, Chicago-based Nerdio is taking its vision for MSPs and SMB to another level.

• SOHO Routers, NAS Devices at High Risk from VPNFilter

  MSPs who manage small office/home office (SOHO) routers and NAS devices for SMB customers are facing a major new headache in the destructive malware dubbed VPNFilter.

• Analysts See Huge AI Opportunity for Niche ISVs

  Any ISV looking for growth opportunities in the enterprise needs to take a hard look at AI right now. And for the next few years, at least, the more niche the solution, the better.

• Aparavi Aims To Reduce Wasted Cloud Storage, Ease Moves Between Clouds

  A startup in the crowded cloud backup space believes it knows how to appeal to the second-generation of cloud storage users, who have experienced some of the pain points in the cloud and have more sophisticated requirements.

• Veeam Urges Partners To Go 'All In'

  Veeam Software executives urged partners to go "all in" with the backup and availability specialist as the company focuses on a dramatically expanded portfolio of solutions from on-premises agents to public cloud.

• Top 12 Channel Takeaways from Microsoft Build

  Here are 12 key takeaways from the three main Build keynotes last week that highlight important trends and opportunities for Microsoft partners.

• What Microsoft Means When It Calls Something a 'Graph'

  There's the current Microsoft Graph, the older Office Graph, the LinkedIn Graph and other graphs.

• Azure Co-Sell Program Hits $2.3 Billion in Partner Revenues

  An Azure co-sell program launched last July to incentivize Microsoft field sellers to promote partner solutions with customers has generated $2.3 billion in partner revenues so far, a Microsoft executive said.

• Microsoft Gives Overdue Demo of Cortana-Alexa Integration

  Cortana and Alexa shared the stage on Monday during the Build 2018 keynote, five months after their respective proprietors announced a joint plan to integrate the two.

• Microsoft Kinect Gets New Life Beyond Gaming

  Microsoft's defunct foray into motion-based gaming technology is back for the "intelligent edge" era.

• Kaseya Merges with Unitrends

  Kaseya, a vendor of managed service provider (MSP) and midmarket enterprise tools, merged with backup specialist Unitrends on Thursday.

• Nadella Touts Rapid Rise of Microsoft's Cosmos DB

  Just a year after launching Cosmos DB as an Azure service at the 2017 Build developer conference, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella says it's the fastest-scaling database he's ever seen.

• Windows, Surface Surprise to the Upside in Microsoft Earnings

  Microsoft reported surprisingly strong Windows and Surface revenues in a largely flat-to-declining PC market, but the company's third-quarter financial results seemed mainly powered by continuing cloud strength.

• Tips for Taking Your Microsoft Partner Business Global

  Per shares advice for Microsoft partners interested in expanding their geographical markets beyond their own borders.

• Microsoft Puts Linux at the Heart of Its New OS

  Microsoft's ongoing courtship of Linux reached a new milestone this week when the company unveiled a brand-new operating system product with a Linux kernel.

• Microsoft's IoT Push Continues Apace with Azure Sphere

  Fresh from announcing a plan to invest $5 billion in Internet of Things (IoT) initiatives over the next four years, Microsoft this week took its IoT push even further with the launch of a major new security vision.