Partner Case Study | DeepJudge
Legal work depends on precision, precedent, and the ability to apply institutional knowledge across diverse matters. For many firms, that knowledge is documented but not always easy to access or act on. DeepJudge, a Microsoft partner, is helping legal teams bridge that gap with AI-powered search and workflow tools built on Microsoft Azure. DeepJudge specializes in enterprise search and agentic AI workflows tailored for legal professionals. DeepJudge participated in Microsoft for Startups and the Pegasus Program, a selective initiative that helps high-potential partners scale through technical guidance, go-to-market support, and early access to Microsoft innovations. Today, the company’s platform is built on Microsoft Azure—including Azure OpenAI Services, Azure Kubernetes Service, and Microsoft Defender for Cloud—to promote high performance and robust data protection. Making internal knowledge accessible—and secure CMS Switzerland, a full-service law firm with more than 160 employees and a legacy spanning over 80 years, offers tailored legal solutions for businesses, investors, and private individuals. Known for its deep legal expertise and cross-border capabilities, CMS Switzerland built a strong foundation of internal knowledge—contracts, case files, templates, presentations, and precedent documents—stored across various systems and folders. While this information was historically well maintained, it wasn’t always easy for lawyers to locate and apply it consistently across cases. “Clients hire law firms for their expertise—but law firms often underestimate their breadth and depth of existing knowledge and experience,” said Stefan Brunnschweiler, Managing Partner at CMS Switzerland. The firm wanted to better surface and apply its internal expertise across teams—without disrupting existing workflows or compromising on data protection. The goal was to institutionalize internal know-how so that all employees could access and apply it confidently in their daily work. Security was a critical consideration. As part of CMS, one of the largest international law firms with over 7,200 lawyers in 92 offices across 50 countries, CMS Switzerland needed a solution that could meet strict data protection requirements while offering the flexibility and performance of modern AI tools. “Data security is our top priority,” Brunnschweiler emphasized. “The fact that Microsoft hosts our data in Switzerland and that DeepJudge, through Microsoft, also ensures high data protection convinced us.” CMS Switzerland began exploring options that could help surface internal knowledge more efficiently, reduce time spent on manual research, and support faster onboarding of new employees. The firm was looking for a solution that could meet the highest standards for security, reliability, and usability—while also aligning with the operational realities of legal work. Continue reading here Explore all case studies or submit your own Subscribe to case studies tag to follow all new case study posts. Don't forget to follow this blog to receive email notifications of new stories!
Ep 39 | How Microsoft Partners Win More Deals Through Collaboration, AI Strategy, and Trust
There’s a quiet shift happening in the Microsoft partner ecosystem—and it’s not just about AI. It’s about how partners work together. For years, many partners have tried to build “full-service” capabilities spanning sales, delivery, data, AI, and industry expertise, but as technology becomes more complex and customer expectations rise, that model is starting to break down. The partners who are winning today are doing something different. They focus on building the right partnerships and executing together, not trying to do everything. That shift came to life in a recent episode of IAMCP Profiles in Partnership , where Anthony Carrano and Rudy Rodriguez sat down with Denny Ghim of Sandler Partners and Promod Antony of Logic Intelligence. Their story isn’t theoretical; it’s a real example of how partner-to-partner collaboration turns conversations into revenue and relationships into long-term growth. Listen to the full episode: How Microsoft Partners Win with P2P Collaboration, AI, and Data Strategy . A Simple Dynamic That Changes Everything At first glance, their partnership looks straightforward. Denny operates at the front of the market. He builds relationships, uncovers opportunities, and deeply understands customer needs. Promod leads with technical depth, data, AI, and business applications, turning those opportunities into real, working solutions, but what makes this dynamic powerful isn’t just the division of labor. It’s the alignment. There’s no competition between them. No overlap to navigate. No confusion about ownership. Instead, there’s clarity: One partner finds the problem. The other partner solves it. In a market where many partners struggle to balance sales and delivery, this kind of alignment becomes a force multiplier. It allows each side to operate at a higher level while presenting a unified front to the customer. And that unity is often what closes the deal. Where Most Partnerships Fail and Why This One Didn’t What’s striking about their story is how it started. Not with a formal agreement. Not through a strategic initiative, but in a breakout room during an IAMCP session. Like most networking interactions, it could have ended there. A quick introduction, a few exchanged ideas, and then nothing. But it didn’t. They followed up immediately. Continued the conversation outside the meeting. Took a rough idea and treated it like a real opportunity. Within a short period of time, they had moved from discussion to execution. That’s the difference. Partnerships don’t fail because of a lack of opportunity. They fail because of a lack of follow-through. In this case, momentum turned a casual interaction into a real project—and eventually into multiple opportunities in the pipeline. From Data Chaos to Real Business Impact The partnership quickly found its first proving ground: a nonprofit organization struggling with data. Like many organizations, they weren’t lacking tools; they were lacking clarity. Data was being collected manually. Systems were disconnected. Reporting took time. Decisions were delayed. The organization wasn’t just inefficient—it was operating without visibility. This is where the partnership model became tangible. Instead of leading with technology, they led with the problem. From there, the solution took shape: A move to Azure. A unified data environment. Automated processes. Real-time reporting. The outcome wasn’t just better infrastructure. It was better decision-making. Leaders could see what was happening in real time. They could respond faster and allocate resources more effectively. And for a nonprofit navigating funding pressures and operational complexity, that shift had real consequences. Microsoft partners: Customers rarely care about the platform. They care about what it enables. The AI Conversation Everyone Is Getting Wrong It’s impossible to have a conversation in today’s Microsoft ecosystem without talking about AI. But what stood out in this discussion was not the excitement around AI—it was the caution. There’s a growing tendency among organizations to treat AI like a switch. Something you can turn on by purchasing the right tool. But that’s not how it works. Underneath every successful AI initiative is something far less glamorous: data discipline. Clean data. Unified data. Governed data. Without it, AI doesn’t accelerate outcomes—it amplifies confusion. What Denny and Promod are seeing in the market reflects this disconnect. Companies are stacking tools, increasing spend, and expecting transformation, only to realize they’ve built complexity instead of capability. The opportunity for Microsoft partners is significant. Not by selling more AI but by guiding customers through the steps that make AI meaningful. Helping them slow down just enough to build the right foundation before scaling forward. Because in the end, AI is not the starting point. It’s the multiplier. Why Human Relationships Are Becoming More Valuable, Not Less As automation increases, there’s a natural assumption that human interaction becomes less important. The opposite is happening. One of the most compelling ideas from the conversation is the balance between what Denny calls AI and “real intelligence” (RI), the human side of business. The ability to read a situation, understand nuance, build trust, and navigate complexity. AI can generate insights. It can automate tasks. It can even simulate conversation. But it cannot replace trust. And trust is what drives enterprise decisions, long-term partnerships, and repeat business. This is especially true in the Microsoft partner ecosystem, where deals often involve multiple stakeholders, layered solutions, and ongoing engagement. The partners who will stand out are not the ones who adopt AI the fastest. They're the ones combining AI efficiency with human connection. The Invisible Advantage: Trust Between Partners One of the reasons this partnership works so well is something customers don’t always see, but they feel immediately. Trust. There’s transparency in how they work. Clarity in roles. Alignment in expectations. Even though how revenue is shared is defined upfront. That eliminates friction. And when there’s no friction internally, the external experience improves dramatically. Conversations are smoother. Proposals are clearer. Delivery is more consistent. Customers pick up on that. They may not articulate it directly, but they recognize when two partners are truly operating as one team, and that confidence often becomes the deciding factor. Growth Comes from Partnership—Not Expansion There’s a tendency among growing firms to expand capabilities internally: hire more people, add more services, cover more ground; but this story suggests a different path. Instead of expanding outward, they built depth through partnership. Rather than trying to become everything to everyone, they focused on becoming exceptional at what they do and then connected with others who complement that strength. The result isn’t just efficiency…. - It’s leverage. - More opportunities. - Better solutions. - Stronger positioning. - And ultimately, more growth. A Different Way to Think About the Future Looking ahead, the trajectory is clear. AI will continue to evolve. Automation will increase. New tools will emerge. The Microsoft ecosystem will become even more dynamic, but the underlying principle won’t change. The partners who succeed will not be the ones with the most capabilities. They will be the ones with the strongest relationships, with customers, with partners, and within the ecosystem itself, because in a world where technology is increasingly accessible…the real differentiator is how well you work with others. Final Thought If there’s one core takeaway from this conversation, it’s this: Growth in the Microsoft ecosystem is driven by focus and partnerships. Doing the right things, with the right partners, at the right time turns conversations into action and action into results. To learn more about IAMCP and the benefits of membership, visit the website at www.IAMCP.org.Ep 38 | The New Growth Engine for Microsoft Partners: Business Central, AI, and P2P Collaboration
The Microsoft Partner Ecosystem Is Entering a New Growth Phase The Microsoft partner ecosystem is evolving rapidly as organizations accelerate cloud adoption and digital transformation, creating new opportunities—and challenges—across the SMB and mid-market landscape. Three forces are reshaping the ecosystem: Rapid adoption of Microsoft Business Central and other Business Applications The accelerating push toward AI-enabled services Increasing reliance on partner-to-partner collaboration (P2P) to deliver complex solutions These trends are converging to create a new growth model for Microsoft partners. The key takeaway: Success will rely on integrated solutions, deeper specialization, and stronger ecosystem relationships. In the latest episode of IAMCP Profiles in Partnership, “How Microsoft Partners Can Grow Faster with Business Central, AI, and P2P Collaboration,” hear insights from longtime Microsoft MVP and industry leader Rick McCutcheon as he sits down with Anthony Carrano and Rudy Rodriquez to discuss how these shifts are unfolding and what partners should be doing to stay competitive. Why Business Applications Are Booming in the SMB Market One of the strongest signals in the Microsoft partner ecosystem today is the growth of Business Applications, particularly Microsoft Business Central. The SMB and mid-market segments are experiencing a surge in ERP modernization. Several factors are driving this expansion: Companies migrating from Microsoft Dynamics NAV Organizations moving off Dynamics GP Businesses outgrowing QuickBooks Enterprise The increasing demand for cloud-based ERP platforms Business Central sits at the center of this transition. Microsoft recently announced that the platform surpassed 50,000 customers, and many partners expect continued double-digit growth as migrations accelerate. For Microsoft Dynamics partners, this shift is a significant opportunity. As legacy systems reach end-of-life and SMBs modernize, demand for ERP consulting, implementation, and integration continues to rise, but the opportunity extends beyond ERP deployments alone. Modern ERP Is Becoming an Ecosystem A modern ERP implementation rarely exists in isolation. Instead, it increasingly acts as a platform that integrates multiple solutions from the broader Microsoft ISV ecosystem. In a typical Business Central deployment today, partners often integrate five to ten independent software vendor (ISV) solutions that extend ERP functionality. Common integrations include: Accounts payable automation Marketing automation platforms Warehouse management systems Logistics and shipping solutions CRM integrations Industry-specific vertical applications This shift means ERP deployments are now comprehensive business platforms. The key takeaway is that partners can now deliver end-to-end solutions rather than just single software tools. This shift greatly expands consulting opportunities for partners. A single ERP project can evolve into a broader transformation initiative involving workflow automation, analytics, and operational modernization. AI Is the Next Major Opportunity, But Data Readiness Matters While ERP modernization is driving immediate demand, AI adoption is emerging as the next major wave in the Microsoft ecosystem. Microsoft’s push toward “frontier partners”—organizations capable of delivering AI-enabled solutions—is accelerating across the channel. Tools such as Microsoft Copilot and AI agents are already improving productivity within partner organizations themselves. Examples include: Automating proposal writing Accelerating RFP responses Summarizing meetings and documentation Supporting research and content creation However, deploying AI within customer environments is far more complex. The biggest barrier to AI adoption is not the technology, it is data readiness. Many organizations still operate with fragmented systems, including: CRM platforms disconnected from marketing automation ERP systems that do not fully integrate with customer data Multiple databases containing duplicate or inconsistent records Without strong data governance, AI systems struggle to produce reliable insights. For partners delivering AI solutions, data architecture is becoming a core capability. Before deploying AI tools, partners must often help clients: Consolidate data sources Standardize data models Improve data quality Establish governance policies The main takeaway: Only after data consolidation and governance can AI offer meaningful business results for clients. Why MSPs and BizApps Partners Are Converging Historically, managed service providers (MSPs) and Business Applications partners operated in separate worlds. MSPs focused on infrastructure, security, and cloud services. BizApps partners specialize in ERP, CRM, and operational systems. Today, those boundaries are dissolving. Several factors are driving convergence: The Microsoft cloud integrates Modern Work, Azure, and Business Applications. Customers expect a single partner experience. AI solutions increasingly require data, infrastructure, and application expertise. As a result, MSPs are entering the Business Applications market in several ways: Building internal ERP and CRM practices Acquiring BizApps consulting firms Partnering with specialized implementation partners For MSPs, the opportunity is compelling. Business Applications projects often generate significantly higher service revenue than software licensing. The key takeaway: Due to the complexity of ERP and CRM, MSPs often need to collaborate with experienced BizApps partners to deliver complete solutions. Why Partner-to-Partner Collaboration Is Becoming Essential As the Microsoft ecosystem becomes more complex, no single partner can deliver everything on their own. Modern customer environments often require expertise across multiple domains: Infrastructure and cloud architecture ERP and CRM systems Data platforms and analytics AI deployment and automation Industry-specific solutions This reality is driving a shift toward partner-to-partner collaboration (P2P). Successful collaborations typically share several characteristics: Long-Term Trust: Effective partnerships are built over time, not through one-off project engagements. Complementary Expertise: Partners focus on their strengths while bringing in specialists where needed. Shared Opportunity: Strong P2P relationships create reciprocal value—partners refer opportunities to each other rather than competing. Communities such as the International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners (IAMCP) play an important role in facilitating these relationships. To summarize: As the Microsoft ecosystem becomes more interconnected, building strong partner networks is becoming essential for success. Strategic Moves Microsoft Partners Should Make Now For Microsoft partners navigating these changes, several strategic priorities are emerging. Invest in Business Applications Expertise The demand for ERP and CRM solutions is growing rapidly, particularly in the SMB market. Partners who understand Business Central and related ISV ecosystems will be well-positioned. Build Data and AI Capabilities AI will increasingly shape how businesses operate. Partners must develop expertise in: Data architecture Data governance AI deployment frameworks Develop P2P Partnerships Strategic alliances allow partners to expand capabilities without building every skill internally. Engage in the Partner Community Industry conferences, partner networks, and learning platforms provide invaluable opportunities to build relationships and stay informed. The main takeaway: Active participation in the partner community is vital to thriving in the Microsoft ecosystem. The Future of Microsoft Partner Growth The Microsoft partner ecosystem is entering a new era. ERP modernization, AI adoption, and collaboration are combining to create larger, more complex opportunities. The partners who succeed in this environment will not be those who try to do everything themselves. Instead, the winners will be the firms that: Build deep expertise in key solution areas. Invest in data and AI capabilities. Form strong, trusted partnerships across the ecosystem The key takeaway: Collaboration has become the foundation of partner growth in the increasingly interconnected Microsoft ecosystem. Listen to the Full Episode To hear the full conversation and additional insights on Microsoft partner growth, listen to the complete episode of IAMCP Profiles in Partnership featuring Rick McCutcheon on demand.Improving Sales Communication with AI – Turning Execution into Clearer, Stronger Conversations
Execution creates momentum — refinement creates results. In this session, we focus on improving communication quality using AI. Learn how to refine messaging, tighten positioning, and adjust outreach based on real feedback. This session moves beyond activity into clarity, tone, and impact. WHAT YOU’LL LEARN How to use AI to refine outreach messaging Improving tone, clarity, and brevity Turning replies into communication insight Avoiding over-automation in conversations How to iterate messaging without losing authenticity WHY ATTEND? Strengthen real-world sales conversations Improve response quality, not just volume Learn practical refinement workflows Build communication confidence Designed for sales leaders, advisors, consultants, and IAMCP members — as well as non-members looking to improve practical AI-supported sales communication. Register for the event herePartner Case study | TD SYNNEX
As a global Microsoft distributor, TD SYNNEX equips Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) partners and resellers with the tools, programs, and expertise they need to deliver solutions to market. TD SYNNEX has found that the shift to AI has sharpened customers' need not for another point product, but a practical path to adoption that’s secure, cost-aware, and repeatable. In a channel where devices, cloud, and security are often sold in silos, TD SYNNEX focuses on the connective tissue—helping partners position Microsoft as an ecosystem. The organization works across hardware and cloud motions, using Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program offerings and partner resources to turn guidance into action through training environments, packaged enablement, and hands-on experiences that partners can take directly to their customers. That matters because many CSP resellers aren’t starting from scratch. They’re facing a Windows refresh cycle, juggling budgets, and trying to understand what “AI-ready” actually means for their environment—from endpoint capabilities to identity and security controls. TD SYNNEX helps partners translate that complexity into an offer that makes sense: modernize endpoints, secure the foundation, and adopt Microsoft AI with confidence. Partners face fragmented adoption—devices, cloud, and security aren’t connected For many CSP resellers, the challenge starts upstream when customers express strong interest in AI before they’re truly ready to adopt it. Hardware refreshes happen without a clear understanding of cloud or security implications, while cloud services are purchased without accounting for endpoint requirements, leaving partners to reconcile disconnected decisions into a workable, secure AI foundation. Continue reading here Explore all case studies or submit your own Subscribe to case studies tag to follow all new case study posts. Don't forget to follow this blog to receive email notifications of new stories!AI Is the Headline — but Readiness Is the Real Story for MSPs
AI is everywhere right now. Customers are asking about Copilot. They’re curious about automation. They want faster, smarter ways to work. And on the surface, it all feels exciting—and urgent. But when you spend time with MSPs, a different story often emerges. Behind the AI curiosity are environments that aren’t quite ready. Devices are managed inconsistently. Identity hygiene varies by tenant. Security baselines drift over time. And for MSPs, holding all of this together manually—customer by customer—simply doesn’t scale. That gap between AI ambition and operational reality is becoming one of the most important conversations MSPs can have today. Why AI Success Still Comes Down to the Basics AI doesn’t fail because of a lack of innovation. It fails because the fundamentals aren’t in place. Without secure identities, compliant devices, and consistent policies, AI initiatives struggle to move beyond pilots—or worse, introduce new risk. That’s why so many Copilot conversations eventually circle back to the same question: Are we actually ready for this? This is where MSPs play a defining role. Not as AI hype merchants, but as partners who help customers build the foundation that makes AI practical, secure, and sustainable. At the center of that foundation sits Microsoft Intune. Microsoft Intune: Essential, but How Do You Scale? Microsoft Intune is already included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium. Many customers own it. Many MSPs support it. Yet adoption and consistency remain uneven. The challenge isn’t Intune itself—it’s the operational model. Managing Intune tenant by tenant, navigating multiple portals, and maintaining consistency across customers creates friction for MSPs. It’s time‑consuming, error‑prone, and difficult to turn into a repeatable service. And yet, Intune is critical. It’s the control plane for users, devices, access, and security—everything AI depends on to work safely at scale. Without Intune done right, AI readiness remains theoretical. Why the Partnership Matters: Microsoft Intune and AvePoint Elements This is why our partnership with Microsoft matters so much. Microsoft Intune provides the foundation. AvePoint Elements makes it scalable for MSPs. AvePoint Elements acts as the MSP operating layer on top of Intune—helping partners standardize, automate, and manage Intune across multiple customer tenants from a single platform. For MSPs, that translates into something very tangible: Less manual effort and portal hopping Consistent Intune baselines across customers Automated user and device lifecycle management Reduced drift, better efficiency, and healthier margins Instead of Intune being “work you absorb,” it becomes something you can package, repeat, and build a business around. From One‑Time Setup to Ongoing Value What we’re seeing with leading MSPs is a mindset shift. Intune is no longer treated as a one‑off deployment. It becomes a managed service—part of a broader story around security, governance, and AI readiness. That might mean standardized Intune onboarding, continuous device and identity hygiene, or positioning Copilot readiness as an ongoing engagement rather than a project. The outcome is powerful and familiar to MSPs who’ve made this transition before: Predictable recurring revenue Operational scale without linear headcount growth Stronger customer trust A clear path from security to AI enablement The Moment for MSPs Customers don’t just want access to AI. They want confidence that it’s being deployed responsibly. MSPs who can provide that confidence—by grounding AI adoption in strong Intune foundations—will stand out in the next phase of the market. That’s exactly what the partnership between Microsoft Intune and AvePoint Elements is designed to enable. A Note for MSP Partners If you’re an MSP thinking about how to: Scale Microsoft Intune delivery Reduce operational friction And turn AI readiness into a repeatable service This is a conversation worth leaning into now. Because in the age of AI, the partners who win won’t just deploy new tools—they’ll make them work in the real world. Join us for “From Copilot to Catalyst: How MSPs Turn AI Readiness Into Recurring Revenue” and explore how Microsoft Intune and AvePoint Elements work better together—helping you turn AI readiness into real, sustainable growth.Ep 36 | Why Public Policy Is Now a Growth Lever for Microsoft Partners
Why Public Policy Is Now a Growth Lever for Microsoft Partners Public policy is often treated as something distant, an abstract concern handled by large enterprises, lobbyists, or government affairs teams. But for Microsoft partners, especially small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs), that assumption is becoming increasingly risky. From data privacy and cybersecurity to AI regulation, broadband access, and energy infrastructure, public policy decisions are rapidly redefining how partners operate, how customers buy, and how innovation scales. In a recent episode of IAMCP Profiles in Partnership, leaders from Microsoft’s U.S. Government Affairs team and the Voices for Innovation (VFI) community emphasized why immediate policy awareness is essential—and how partners can transform it into a strategic advantage. The key message is clear: engaging with public policy is now a critical growth strategy for Microsoft partners, not a distant or background concern. Listen to full episode here! Public Policy’s Direct Impact on Partner Growth Technology policy influences nearly every dimension of the partner business model. Laws and regulations affect how data is stored and accessed, how AI is deployed responsibly, how cybersecurity risks are managed, and even which communities can reliably access cloud-based services. Government investment helped create the internet through early research and development funding. More recently, public policy played a critical role in expanding broadband infrastructure, enabling remote work, telehealth, and digital education—capabilities that partners now rely on daily. For Microsoft partners, these policies don’t just affect innovation in theory. They directly influence customer demand, compliance obligations, liability exposure, and service opportunities. When partners understand where policy is heading, they are better positioned to guide customers proactively rather than react after regulations take effect. Voices for Innovation: Policy Education Built for Partners Microsoft created Voices for Innovation to equip partners with clear, practical insight into technology policy discussions and to help them engage in policy matters that affect their businesses. Instead of expecting partners to become policy experts overnight, VFI begins with essential education to empower partners in these discussions. Through weekly executive briefings, webinars, newsletters, and policy updates, VFI delivers targeted information to help partners quickly grasp the business impact of key issues. Partners gain tailored updates on topics such as data privacy, cloud regulation, AI governance, cybersecurity, and energy and infrastructure investment, enabling them to make more informed decisions. Crucially, VFI offers partners flexibility to get involved at their chosen pace. Whether partners just want straightforward updates or prefer to participate more actively, by joining briefings, attending summits, or contributing feedback, they gain opportunities to influence outcomes and strengthen business positioning through policy engagement. Why SMB Partners Have More Influence Than They Realize A recurring theme throughout the conversation was the underestimated influence of SMBs. While large enterprises often dominate headlines, local and regional technology partners carry significant credibility with policymakers. Small and mid-sized businesses create jobs, support local economies, and serve constituents directly. Elected officials regularly seek their input when evaluating legislation that could impact economic growth in their districts. By participating in VFI, SMB partners gain the context and confidence to speak clearly about how policy decisions affect their customers and communities. That insight doesn’t just help policymakers; it also differentiates partners in the marketplace by positioning them as informed, trusted advisors. Data Privacy and the Cost of Fragmented Regulation Data privacy offers a compelling example of why urgent policy engagement matters. With hundreds of privacy bills proposed across U.S. states, the threat of fragmented regulation is immediate. Large technology companies may have the resources to navigate dozens of compliance frameworks, but SMBs often do not. Partner input at the state level has already helped improve privacy legislation by highlighting unintended consequences—especially in sectors like healthcare and clinical research. Those efforts also created momentum for federal-level discussions, where a unified national approach could significantly reduce complexity and risk for partners and customers alike. For Microsoft partners, understanding privacy policy trends enables more strategic conversations about data management, security, and compliance; turning regulation into an opportunity rather than a burden. AI Policy, Innovation, and Global Competition Artificial intelligence represents another area where policy decisions are accelerating rapidly. AI is a global race, and sensible regulation is urgently needed to ensure innovation remains both competitive and trustworthy. Policymakers face pressure to move quickly, yet poorly designed rules can slow adoption or create unnecessary barriers, particularly for SMBs. States have begun stepping in where federal action has lagged, but long-term stability depends on thoughtful national frameworks. For partners, AI policy is not just about compliance. It affects workforce readiness, customer trust, cloud adoption, and long-term investment decisions. Partners who stay informed can help customers adopt AI responsibly while navigating emerging requirements with confidence. Infrastructure, Energy, and the Foundations of AI AI growth also urgently depends on physical infrastructure, especially energy. Rising electricity demand from cloud computing, electrification, and AI workloads is exposing long-standing weaknesses in the power grid that require immediate attention. Modernizing infrastructure requires coordination between federal, state, and local governments, as well as responsible participation from private companies. Microsoft’s Community First AI Infrastructure and Elevate initiatives reflect a broader approach: investing in communities, expanding skills, and ensuring AI growth benefits both urban and rural regions. For partners, these initiatives signal where future opportunities will emerge, particularly in skilling, cloud services, and community-based technology projects. Cybersecurity as a Shared Responsibility Cybersecurity sits at the intersection of policy, technology, and trust, with attacks now targeting hospitals, utilities, elections, and public institutions. As threats increase in frequency and scale, cybersecurity has become an urgent matter of national infrastructure rather than a purely commercial concern. Policy discussions increasingly focus on information sharing, coordinated response, and workforce development. For Microsoft partners, this creates a significant opportunity to provide leadership. helping customers understand risks, adopt best practices, and prepare for incidents. Rather than reacting to breaches, partners who engage in cybersecurity policy discussions can position themselves as proactive defenders of customer trust. Turning Awareness Into Advantage The key message: Preparedness matters more than politics. Public policy will shape the Microsoft ecosystem, regardless of partner involvement. Voices for Innovation exists to reduce complexity, translate policy into practical insight, and give partners a seat at the table before decisions are finalized. By staying informed and choosing when to engage, partners can protect their businesses, guide customers more effectively, and influence the future of the technology landscape they depend on. Want to go deeper? Listen to the full episode of IAMCP Profiles in Partnership on demand to hear firsthand how Microsoft partners are turning policy insight into real-world impact. Connect and Grow with IAMCP For those looking to accelerate their partnership journey, consider joining IAMCP, the International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners. It's a global community where partners help each other grow, find new opportunities, and access exclusive resources. To learn more, visit www.iamcp.org.Microsoft at NVIDIA GTC 2026: Powering the AI Ecosystem
This year, the Microsoft presence at GTC highlights a simple but powerful idea: AI transformation does not happen alone. It happens through ecosystems. Through a curated series of partner demonstrations and industry conversations, we will showcase how organizations are designing, building, and scaling AI solutions on Microsoft Azure accelerated by NVIDIA. The result is a connected story about how enterprise AI becomes production-ready and delivers measurable business value.Partner Blog | Azure updates for partners: February 2026
AI is shifting quickly from experimentation to measurable impact. Customers are moving faster and asking for AI that scales profitably, reliably, and globally, without added risk or complexity. With the latest platform investments, Microsoft Azure provides a strong foundation for AI at scale, creating an opportunity for you to differentiate your services. Since the start of the year, we’ve shared updates that help you stay current on Azure, from expanding global AI data center capacity through our Community-First AI Infrastructure initiative, to introducing Maia 200, our latest AI inference accelerator designed to deliver competitive performance per dollar and support the move from AI pilot to production with confidence. To empower you to turn these platform investments into sharper customer conversations, join the March 10 partner webinar for an early preview of key announcements from the Microsoft Azure Summit: Migrate and Modernize with Agentic AI. You will get a clear view of what’s changing, why it matters, and how to engage customers with confidence as they move from migration to modernization and AI-driven growth. Continue reading hereMicrosoft Partners: Accelerate Your AI Journey at AgentCon 2026 (Free Community Event)
Recently, a customer asked me a question many Microsoft partners are hearing right now: “We have Copilot — how do we actually use AI to change the way we work?” That question captures where we are in the AI journey today. Organizations have moved past curiosity. Now they’re looking for trusted partners who can turn AI into real business outcomes. That’s why events like AgentCon 2026 matter. A free, community-led event built by practicioners AgentCon is not a traditional conference. It’s a free, community-driven global event organized by the Global AI Community together with Microsoft partners and ecosystem leaders. Simply put: it’s for the community, by the community. Across cities worldwide, developers, consultants, architects, and Microsoft partners come together to share practical experiences building with AI agents, Copilot, and the Microsoft platform. The focus isn’t theory — it’s implementation: What worked What didn’t What partners can apply immediately with customers This peer learning model reflects how many of us actually grow in the Microsoft ecosystem: by learning from other partners solving real problems. Why this matters for Microsoft partners The opportunity for partners is evolving quickly. Customers aren’t just asking about AI tools — they’re asking how to redesign processes, automate work, and unlock productivity using AI-powered solutions. The Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program emphasizes partner skilling and helping customers realize value from AI investments. Community events like AgentCon accelerate that learning by bringing partners together to exchange proven approaches and practical insights. When partners upskill faster, customers succeed faster. Why attend AgentCon is designed to help partners move from AI awareness to AI delivery. As an attendee, you can expect: Practical sessions and demos from practitioners Real-world AI and agent scenarios Direct conversations with builders and peers New collaboration and co-sell opportunities You’ll leave with ideas and approaches you can bring directly into customer engagements. Why speak AgentCon thrives because partners share openly with one another. If you’ve implemented Copilot, explored AI agents, or learned lessons from customer deployments, your experience can help others accelerate their journey. Speaking at AgentCon allows you to: Share your expertise with the global partner community Build credibility within the Microsoft ecosystem Create new partnerships and opportunities Contribute to collective partner success You don’t need a perfect story — just an honest one others can learn from. Join the global AgentCon community AgentCon 2026 events takes place around the world including these upcoming events: March 9 - New York: https://aka.ms/AgentconNYC2026 April 11 - Hong Kong: https://aka.ms/AgentconHongKong2026 April 16 - Seoul: https://aka.ms/agentconLondon2026 April 22 - London: https://aka.ms/agentconSeoul2026 Each event is locally organized, community-led, and free to attend. Help shape the next phase of AI adoption AI transformation is happening now — and Microsoft partners play a critical role in guiding customers forward. AgentCon is an opportunity to learn together, share experiences, and strengthen the partner ecosystem driving AI innovation. 👉 Register or apply to speak: https://aka.ms/agentcon2026 We hope you’ll join us — and be part of the community helping customers turn AI potential into real impact.
