Partner Blog | Build what is next: A partner guide to Microsoft Ignite 2026
AI has moved decisively into production, and customer expectations are rising with it. Organizations want measurable business outcomes as they put agents to work across more complex processes and embed intelligence throughout their operations. At the same time, security, governance, and responsible AI must be built in from the start. For partners, this creates practical opportunities to shape strategy, build solutions and services, and guide customers from AI adoption to lasting business value. That is what makes Microsoft Ignite 2026 such an important moment. As Microsoft's flagship annual event, Microsoft Ignite brings together customers, partners, Microsoft leaders, and industry experts to explore the technologies, ideas, and conversations shaping the future of business. This year, it takes place November 17–20, 2026, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco and online. Microsoft Ignite provides a clear view of where customer needs and business priorities are headed, practical insight into the technologies organizations are adopting, and opportunities to connect with Microsoft experts, customers, and peers across the ecosystem. Direct access to Microsoft’s roadmap and product direction informs where you focus, invest, and grow. Registration for in-person and online experiences is open. Secure a spot for your team, then use the partner business view of the schedule builder to start building your agenda. I’m looking forward to connecting with partners throughout Microsoft Ignite and seeing how you are putting Microsoft innovations to work for customers across every segment, industry, and geography. Learn where customer opportunity is headed Frontier Transformation reflects the shift toward AI and agents becoming repeatable, governed capabilities, embedded in how organizations work, serve customers, and run business processes. That shift requires both intelligence and trust. Customers need AI grounded in their data, applications, workflows, and business context. They also need security, governance, management, and measurement built into how AI operates. Partners bring those pieces together. At Microsoft Ignite, you will see the latest product direction across AI, data, and security and decide which capabilities, solutions, and services to build next. Your opportunity is clear in every customer segment. If you serve small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), your priority is making AI practical and secure through repeatable solutions and services that are easy to adopt and manage. If you work with midmarket and enterprise customers, your focus is reimagining core business processes, modernizing architectures and data estates, and meeting broader security and governance requirements as customers move toward agent-operated workflows. Turn innovation into practical expertise Microsoft Ignite provides access to Microsoft leaders, engineers, and product teams, along with technical sessions, demonstrations, labs, and skilling experiences designed to connect product direction with implementation. One place to bring that perspective together is the Frontier Transformation Partner keynote on Wednesday, November 18, from 9:00–10:00 AM PT. Continue reading hereMicrosoft's Student Opportunities: A Gateway to Professional Growth
Are you a student looking to give your career in tech a boost? Look no further than Microsoft's student opportunities. From scholarships to internships, Microsoft provides a range of programs designed to help students develop their skills, gain practical experience, and build connections in the industry. In this article, we'll explore Microsoft's opportunities and events, and how they can be the gateway to professional growth for students seeking a career in technology.Secure a high-impact sponsorship for Microsoft Ignite
Become a sponsor at Microsoft Ignite in San Francisco, November 17–20, and showcase your organization to a global audience. Connect with tech leaders, Microsoft experts, partners, and customers. Becoming a sponsor offers you the opportunity to build your brand, generate leads, and announce new innovations through sessions, demos, and experiences. Engage with 25,000 in-person attendees and over 270,000 online. Review the sponsorship preview to learn more.Welcome, Purview Lightning Talks audience!
Please log in and then post any of your Data Security (and AI) spillover Purview Lightning Talks questions in the thread below. You can tag them using these hyperlinked handles: Session Title Speaker Tech Community Alias (tag) The Purview Label Engine: Automated Classification, Translation, and Co-Documentation for Enterprise Tenants Michael Kirst Neshva MichaelKirst1970 Stop, Think, Protect: Data Security in Real Life with Purview Oliver Sahlmann Oliver Sahlmann Using Purview to Prevent Oversharing with AI Services Viktor Hedberg headburgh How I Helped My Customers Understand Their AI Usage (and Protect Their Sensitive Data) Bram de Jager Bram de Jager Four Labels Max for Daily Use: Which Ones & Why? Romain Dalle RomainDalle_MVP_MCT Data‑driven Endpoint DLP Solution with Advanced Hunting Tatu Seppälä tseppala The Purview Hack No One Talks About: Container Sensitivity Labels That Fix Oversharing Fast Nikki Chapple nikkichapple Why You Should Create Your Own Sensitive Information Types (SITs) Niels Jakobsen Niels_Jakobsen From Zero to First Signal: Insider Risk Management Prerequisites That Actually Matter Sathish Veerapandian Sathish Veerapandian Securing Data in the Age of AI Júlio César Gonçalves Vasconcelos jcvasconcelos Beyond eDiscovery – Purview DSI for Security Investigation Susantha Silva susanthasilva Elevating Purview DLP with a Real‑World Use Case Victor Wingsing vicwingsing Purview Lightning Talks takes place April 30th at 8am pacific: Webinar Details Full agenda here. Also, you can come here at any time and click "Start a Discussion" to post a topic or question to your Purview Community!Do your deep customer support capabilities set you apart?
Announced at Microsoft Ignite, the Solutions Partner designation for Support Services publicly recognizes and rewards partners with the capabilities required to deliver a quality support experience to customers. The designation highlights your proven support capabilities and differentiates you in the market. It also unlocks valuable incentives including performance-based cost savings and enhanced support, both of which will be available through the upcoming Microsoft Unified for Partners offer coming later in 2026. Don't miss this opportunity to stand out and further develop your support capabilities. Start the eligibility assessment process today for a chance to earn a 5% discount on your next Microsoft Premier Support for Partners (PSfP) contract renewal. Learn more about the designation nowPartner Blog | What's new for Microsoft partners: January 2026 edition
Your voice continues to shape how the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program evolves. In this update, we’re bringing together the announcements, investments, and resources that matter most to partners right now. From the innovations unveiled at Microsoft Ignite to updates across benefits, Azure, AI business solutions, Marketplace, security, and skilling, this edition is designed to build capability, accelerate execution, and drive meaningful customer impact as AI becomes central to every workload. What follows highlights our focus and areas of partner opportunity, grounded in feedback from across the ecosystem and aligned to how customers are evolving their cloud and AI strategies. Spotlight Microsoft Ignite Microsoft Ignite marked an important evolution for the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program, introducing new investments for partners to lead as Frontier Firms, translating their own AI experience into customer impact. Read Nicole Dezen’s blog for a partner-focused recap of Microsoft Ignite 2025, bringing together the announcements that matter most across AI, cloud platforms, security, and developer tools. Continue reading herePartner Blog | Azure updates for partners: December 2025
At Microsoft Ignite 2025, we explored what it means for organizations to move into the era of Frontier transformation. This shift is focused on embedding AI across every part of the business to improve decision-making, increase speed, and create new value. Organizations leading in AI make it foundational. They rethink processes and integrate new technologies from the start to improve efficiency. For partners, this move toward Frontier represents a significant opportunity to lead customers into this new era. By building AI-powered solutions, connecting data for intelligent insights, and deploying Microsoft Azure’s cloud-ready platforms, partners can deliver value faster and scale confidently through the Microsoft ecosystem. Microsoft Ignite came with a significant number of announcements, so I’ve gathered the Azure updates that matter most for partners. These are the capabilities that can strengthen your ability to deliver intelligent solutions, drive operational efficiency, and differentiate your product or service in the market. You can also explore how partners are turning momentum into action, access highlights, and grab practical guidance from my Microsoft Ignite session. Continue reading hereView Microsoft Ignite sessions on demand
Microsoft Ignite sessions are now available on demand. Whether you were unable to attend this year's event or just want a refresher, you can catch up on what you missed, relive your favorite moments, and continue to gain transformative insights. Check out the post-event blog for more information, and visit the Microsoft Ignite page to view recorded sessions. Revisit Microsoft Ignite sessions
