Introducing Dell PowerScale for Azure: Now in Public Preview
We’re excited to announce the public preview of Dell PowerScale for Microsoft Azure – a fully managed, enterprise-grade file storage solution natively integrated into Azure. This offering brings Dell’s proven scale-out Network-attached storage (NAS) technology directly into Azure, delivering the performance and scalability enterprises expect with the simplicity of Azure-native management. Supporting up to 8.4PB in a single namespace, Dell PowerScale offers the scalability needed for demanding modern workloads. With multi-protocol support (NFS, SMB, S3), it ensures seamless access across diverse applications while maintaining the trusted Dell PowerScale user experience. This Dell-managed solution handles monitoring, maintenance, and updates, enabling organizations to streamline operations, optimize storage, and focus on business priorities with confidence in their data’s security and accessibility. This natively integrated solution uses purpose-built virtual machine infrastructure provisioned by Microsoft in the standard Azure hyper scaler environment. This special VM leverages cache to flash persistent memory technology using NVDIMM-N specifications suitable for the fast linked journaling transactions. These purpose-built VMs enable higher performance throughput and max capacity scale. Capabilities of Dell PowerScale for Azure Multi-protocol access – Global permission structure shared across users and protocols. Seamless scalability – Easily adjust to changing workloads with scale-out capacity. Operational consistency – Same experience as PowerScale on-premises. Smooth data mobility – Transfer data across environments without disruption. Advanced data protection – Safeguard critical information with comprehensive backup and recovery solutions. Snapshots – Fast data backup and recovery. Native replication – Asynchronous replication for data migration or disaster recovery. Why Dell PowerScale for Azure? Dell PowerScale is purpose-built for modern data-intensive workloads that require high performance and scalability — such as AI/ML pipelines, media & entertainment, EDA (electronic design automation), backup & recovery, and enterprise content management. Key Benefits of the Integration: Dell-Managed Service: Enjoy a streamlined storage experience, with Dell handling deployment, monitoring, maintenance, and upgrades — freeing your IT teams to focus on higher-value initiatives. Scalable & Elastic: As business requirements grow, PowerScale dynamically scales capacity and performance by adding nodes on demand, without any downtime. Enterprise-Grade Durability: Data is distributed across multiple nodes within the cluster, ensuring high durability and fault tolerance. Advanced Protection: Uses erasure coding for space-efficient protection and features like SyncIQ for asynchronous replication across sites — keeping your data available even during outages. Secure Private Access: PowerScale integrates into your Azure Virtual Network (VNet) through Vnet Injection, ensuring secure, high-performance data access. Azure-Native Experience: Provision, manage, and monitor PowerScale from within the Azure portal. It supports full integration with Azure Resource Manager (ARM), upcoming support for CLI/Powershell/Terraform, and supports native billing. How to Use the Integration: Mount shared volumes to Azure VMs or Kubernetes running in the same VNet. Run analytics or AI workloads that need parallel access to high-throughput file storage. Support backup, disaster recovery, and archival workflows across sites. Store and manage media assets or research data in regulated industries. Getting Started with Dell PowerScale for Azure Getting started with Dell PowerScale is simple: Navigate to Azure Portal Go to https://portal.azure.com and search for Dell PowerScale in the Marketplace. The offer is named Dell PowerScale for Azure - Dell managed (Public Preview). Contact Dell for a private offer and request a Dell Reference Number. Deploy the Storage Resource Follow guided steps here to configure your resource or cluster Connect Your Workloads Use standard NFS or SMB to mount volumes from Azure VMs or AKS. More Resources You can subscribe to the service through the Azure Marketplace online store or through the Azure portal. Search for it by name: Dell PowerScale for Azure - Dell managed (Public Preview) To learn more about the service, check out Microsoft docs as well as Dell docsMicrosoft'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.View 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 sessionsPartner Skilling in the Age of AI: Potential Impact on Partner Success & Growth
The rise of Frontier AI is fundamentally transforming the Microsoft partner landscape. Traditional solution delivery models are increasingly insufficient—customers now expect AI-infused innovation, rapid time-to-value, and outcome-based engagements. Skilling is playing an increasingly pivotal role in this transition, evolving from a traditional support function into a key enabler of revenue growth, solution differentiation, and operational transformation. This blog explores how intentional, workload-aligned, project-ready skilling can equip partners to pursue greater impact—potentially shortening sales cycles, enriching engagement outcomes, and creating pathways to higher-value opportunities. It also highlights Microsoft’s structured AI readiness programs and resources, designed to support partners in evolving from traditional implementation approaches to more innovative, IP-led business models that reflect the future of Frontier AI firms. Informed by data-driven partner insights from Microsoft, this blog explores a practical approach to converting skilling investments into potential drivers of business growth. It reimagines capability development not as a cost center, but as a catalyst for supporting competitiveness, resilience, and category leadership in the AI-driven future. “We are participating in a $6.5 trillion opportunity that is addressable across our partner ecosystem. As AI becomes foundational, upskilling is critical. That is why we’ve expanded our skilling programs to support every role within your organization.” — Satya Nadella, Microsoft Build 2025 keynote Industry Insights A March 2025 IDC study of the Microsoft partner ecosystem found: Services-led partners generate $8.45 in additional revenue for every $1 of Microsoft revenue. Software-led partners generate $10.93 in additional revenue for every $1 of Microsoft revenue. Microsoft’s commitment to partner skilling is exemplified by the Microsoft Global Channel Partner Skilling (GCPS) initiative, designed to equip partners with the skills needed to thrive in the Cloud + AI ecosystem. The Microsoft Skilling Hub offers a comprehensive catalog of partner training across certifications, project-ready skilling, tech deal readiness, and sales skilling. Recent internal analysis by Microsoft, drawing from Partner data, underscores the transformative potential of skilling initiatives. These efforts can unlock new pathways to revenue growth, elevate deal performance, and position organizations to win more consistently in a rapidly evolving marketplace. Analysis Microsoft GCPS, in collaboration with Data Science Engineering and Microsoft Research, reviewed Partner program data to analyze the impact of skilled partners on Microsoft Partner revenues. The analysis focused on identifying: The amplifying potential of partner engagement in customer transactions, as reflected in Microsoft revenue outcomes. The elevated business impact that certified professionals can unlock compared to their uncertified peers. The distinct influence on revenue outcomes for partners trained with hands-on, project-ready skilling compared to traditional certifications. Impacts in deal velocity, pipeline performance, and customer acquisition based on project-ready and sales-ready training. Double Machine Learning (DML) algorithms developed by Microsoft Research were used to analyze Partner Influenced ACR (Azure Consumed Revenue) and Microsoft Partner Skills data, including certifications, certified individual counts, and Project ready trained learners from Microsoft GCPS Skilling Hub, Microsoft Learn, Enterprise Skills Initiative, and Partner.Microsoft.com/Training resources. (see *Resources for additional information) Key Insights from Microsoft’s Analysis Partner Attach Effect Millions of partner professionals have been trained through GCPS and Microsoft skilling programs. Customer Accounts supported by skilled partners showed significantly higher growth based on Partner data review, compared to partner engagements without upskilling. Certification vs. Project Readiness Certified professionals have the potential to deliver stronger revenue impact than their untrained peers, especially when supported by hands-on, project-ready training which can drive and influence customer outcomes with greater confidence and credibility. 3. Microsoft Solution Trends Our analysis of Partner data showed an upward trend in Partners skilled in the Data & AI solution area and impact on partner revenues, followed by Partners skilled in Application Innovation, Infrastructure, and then Security. Our analysis also provided a positive correlation between Partners skilled in AI solution areas (Copilot, Generative AI) and increased pipeline conversion rates, followed by Partners skilled in Application Innovation, Infrastructure, and then Security. Conclusion Investing in employee training can open the door to meaningful outcomes, from greater team confidence to improved business performance. Cultivating a culture of continuous learning may also inspire growth by making it easier to attract and retain talented technical professionals. Equipping partner teams with project-ready training and certification can deepen their understanding of Microsoft’s offerings, spark new insights into customer needs, and empower them with up-to-date knowledge about products and services. Skilling can be a powerful catalyst for partner transformation and long-term success. Organizations that prioritize skilling can strengthen their ability to remain competitive, positively impact win rates and revenue growth opportunities, respond to evolving market needs, and pursue new growth opportunities. By engaging with Microsoft initiatives like the Enterprise Skills Initiative, businesses can empower their teams, elevate customer experiences, and work toward sustained impact and performance. “The most successful organizations are those that view skilling as a core part of their strategy. Skilling empowers teams, drives innovation, and ultimately creates lasting value for customers.” – Judson Althoff, Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, Microsoft “Investing in skilling is about more than meeting current market demands; it’s about preparing for the future of business. Partners who prioritize skilling not only achieve higher revenue but also build stronger, more sustainable customer relationships.” – Alyssa Taylor, Corporate Vice President of Industry, Apps, and Data Marketing, Microsoft Closing skilling gaps can empower partners to better influence customer decisions, strengthen engagement, and move more confidently through the sales cycle. Now is an ideal time to prioritize skilling initiatives and explore the possibilities they can unlock. Together, we have the opportunity to create meaningful impact and drive greater value for our customers. *Resources Microsoft Partner Skilling Hub: Events and on-demand virtual trainings Microsoft Level Up: Comprehensive library of courses for all skill levels and project readiness. Project Ready Training: Learning paths, self-service training, instructor-led courses, and skilling playbooks. Agentic AI Transformation Skilling: Agentic AI courses. Microsoft AI Tour Machine Learning Algorithms – Microsoft Azure Introduction to causal inference using Double Machine Learning – Medium Orthogonal/Double Machine Learning — econml 0.16.0 documentation Tune-in : Upcoming Session If you’re ready to explore this advantage within your organization, join us at Microsoft Ignite, taking place November 17–21 in San Francisco. Ramanan Arunachalam, Global Director – Partner Solution Strategy & Skilling, will be sharing real-world strategies, practical frameworks, and customer-informed insights that highlight how leading partners are approaching skilling to unlock new revenue opportunities, strengthen co-sell motions, and implement transformative AI business models.Nonprofit AI solutions highlighted at Ignite
Tune into Microsoft Ignite next week! November 15 - 16 Online event Make sure to check out our nonprofit-specific session: Empowering impact with Cloud for Nonprofit and AI. You'll discover two new solutions to accelerate your organization’s impact: Community Training AI powered Likelihood to Donate Register for the digital event now: Microsoft Ignite
