November 22, 2021
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3
min read

An annual assembly of leading tech executives and professionals, we like to think of Microsoft Ignite as the UN Summit of the IT world. It’s an opportunity to learn, network (yes, even virtually!), and expand your understanding of the Microsoft 365 universe, with sessions hosted by leaders at Microsoft, Veritas, IBM, Cisco Systems, and more. 

That said, it’s virtually (pun intended) impossible to soak up all of the content and insights offered at Microsoft Ignite on your own, which is why we brought in the experts. CoreView invited Microsoft MVPs, and founders of the MVPDays Community Roadshow, Cristal and Dave Kawula to walk our teams through their highlights from Microsoft Ignite 2021 — from updates to Azure Arc to Microsoft Sentinel innovations. And now, we want to pass that knowledge onto you. (You’re welcome.)

Here’s a look at three of Cristal and Dave’s takeaways (and pro tips) from the digital conference, largely focused on improvements made to Azure services. 

1. Updates to Azure Arc Make for a More Seamless M365 Experience 

Azure ARC provides central service management for hybrid and multi-cloud resources, creating a more organized — and more secure — experience for Microsoft users. And new updates to Azure ARC mean you can now have the same, smooth experience you see inside of the Azure portal while managing on-prem (e.g. on premises or on-site) infrastructure. 

Including a deep native integration with Azure Stack HCI and enhanced integration with VMare and vSphere, these updates allow you to take that same level of organization and security anywhere and everywhere across the cloud (a huge benefit for VMare users in particular, — e.g. most individuals in enterprise infrastructure today). 

2. Azure Virtual Desktop for On-Prem Azure Stack HCI Delivers Scale 

A just-announced capability, Azure Virtual Desktop (formerly known as Windows Virtual Desktop) now has the ability to run on Azure Stack HCI (or hyper-converged infrastructure) on-prem. 

The update doesn’t just make hybrid working smoother — enabling you to connect and run multi-session desktops across Windows 10 and 11 (which, yes, is pretty cool) — it also comes with a variety of automated scale-up features, so you can expand your network more quickly and efficiently than ever before. 

3. New Automation Tools Beef Up Security

While we’re on the topic of automation, it’s important to note — as Cristal and Dave made clear — that additional automated features are also making Microsoft 365 a safer, more secure environment. And, better yet, Microsoft partners are actively working together to deliver this airtight security to users. 

With any sort of cloud-based or hybrid infrastructure, it’s easy to experience what Dave calls “configuration drift,” or a lack of consistency across the security in your network. (Think: One employee keeps meaning to click that “Secure My Server” button, but it pops up every day just as they’re heading out to grab a latte, putting your entire ecosystem at risk. Whoops!) Azure Automanage, as one example, provides that consistency for your infrastructure, ensuring there are no gaps or cracks for threat actors to slip through. 

To that end, this year’s Microsoft Ignite event was largely focused on the ways in which working together — as services, as partners, or as teams within an organization — can allow us to create a more streamlined and sound Microsoft 365 experience for everyone. Teamwork makes the dream work, after all. As Cristal framed it, “Instead of just trying to compete, we need to work together to keep our clients secure.” 

For more lessons, tips, and takeaways, from Cristal and Dave head to CoreView’s YouTube channel and watch the full session. And if you’re looking for a hand with your own organization's Microsoft 365 management, be sure to request a personalized CoreView demo today.

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