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
Salesforce has introduced Agentforce IT Service, a new AI-driven IT service management (ITSM) platform designed to automate incident resolution and streamline support workflows. Built on the Salesforce platform, it replaces traditional ticket-based systems with conversational AI agents that handle issues directly in Slack, Microsoft Teams and web portals. The platform includes 100+ prebuilt connectors with partners like Microsoft, Oracle NetSuite, Workday and Zoom and features an agentic CMDB for real-time infrastructure visibility, along with Service Graphs for infrastructure, applications and service-based enterprise graphs.
The launch signals a shift toward agentic AI in enterprise IT. The launch features personalized resolutions, incident support and a seamless AI-to-human exchange. By embedding AI agents within daily workflows, Salesforce aims to redefine IT support as proactive, conversational and cost-efficient rather than reactive and ticket-based.
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
Nutanix has introduced Partner Central, a redesigned partner portal built to simplify operations for resellers, service providers and integrators. The AI-enabled platform consolidates sales tools, performance dashboards, training resources and marketing assets into a single environment. It also integrates predictive analytics to surface deal insights and automate incentive tracking.
Nutanix’s approach, which centralizes engagement, training and revenue analytics, positions the portal to better support partners navigating hybrid cloud and enterprise AI demand. Their aim is to centralize critical information for faster, more efficient decision-making.
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 15, 20250 comments
Microsoft has announced the general availability of Exchange integration with Dynamics 365 Field Service, enabling automatic synchronization of work order bookings into Outlook and Teams calendars.
The feature provides field-service users -- Microsoft specifies technicians and dispatchers -- with a single view of appointments, work assignments and meetings, reducing the need to switch between apps. Bookings sync within 15 minutes and the integration is one-way from Field Service to Exchange (Outlook and Teams).
Exchange integration is available to all customers with the Release Wave 2 2025 update.
The update underscores Microsoft’s push to improve cross-application workflows for frontline operations. By embedding scheduling directly into Microsoft 365 tools, Microsoft aims to simplify daily workflows for technicians and improve service consistency across hybrid 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 October 15, 20250 comments
Microsoft has deployed an internal AI agent, Licensing Navigator, to help employees resolve complex product licensing questions more efficiently. Built on Azure AI Services, Azure AI Search and Copilot Studio, the system uses a retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) model to parse hundreds of licensing documents and return validated, context-specific answers. The tool integrates with Microsoft Teams and Microsoft 365 Copilot, serving more than 800 active users and cutting response times by nearly 90 percent.
The project illustrates how Microsoft is using its own AI stack to improve enterprise knowledge management. By using Azure’s semantic ranking and tagging capabilities, Microsoft demonstrates how retrieval-optimized agents can scale across internal knowledge bases with governance and traceability built in.
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 15, 20250 comments