Wes Miller analyzes and writes about Microsoft’s security, identity management, and systems management technologies.
Before joining Directions on Microsoft, Wes was a product manager and development manager for several Austin, TX, start-ups, including Winternals Software, acquired by Microsoft in 2006. Prior to that, Wes spent seven years at Microsoft working as a program manager in the Windows Core Operating System and MSN divisions.
Wes received a B.A. in psychology from the University of Alaska Fairbanks.
Latest Content by Wes Miller
Charts & Illustrations
Updated: January 10, 2026 · by Wes Miller
Azure Savings Plans vs. Azure RVMIs
Azure savings plan for compute can help customers save money on compute, but customers should plan carefully first.
Analyst Report
January 10, 2026 · by Wes Miller
How to Apply Azure Reservations and Savings Plans Effectively
Azure reservations and savings plans offer meaningful discounts if organizations commit to long-term resource consumption but can waste money if...
Sidebar
January 10, 2026 · by Wes Miller
Tips for Maximizing Reservations and Savings Plans
Several guidelines may help organizations maximize the return offered by reservations and savings plans.
Sidebar
Updated: January 2, 2026 · by Wes Miller
Developer Edition License Terms
SQL Server Developer edition provides exactly the same technical features as SQL Server Enterprise edition, with restrictive licensing rights limiting...
Analyst Report
Updated: January 2, 2026 · by Wes Miller
Do Multiple Microsoft 365 Tenancies Make Sense?
In certain situations, multiple tenancies of Microsoft 365 services (and their dependencies) might be justifiable, or even required.
Analyst Report
Updated: January 2, 2026 · by Wes Miller
Free SQL Server Developer Edition Is Mostly for Demos
SQL Server Developer edition is free for development and test use, but organizations should use it carefully.
Analyst Report
Updated: December 23, 2025 · by Wes Miller
Intune Premium License Tiers Still Not Worth It
Premium Intune features and service tiers are not in any Microsoft 365 suite, suggesting forthcoming Microsoft 365 suite changes.
Analyst Report
Updated: December 23, 2025 · by Wes Miller
Intune Suite Features Added to Microsoft 365 E5, E3 Ahead of 2026 Price Increases
The features of the Intune Suite have been split across the Microsoft 365 E5 and E3 suites for commercial customers....
Roadmap
Updated: December 18, 2025 · by Wes Miller
System Center Roadmap
The System Center software suite supports numerous on-premises and cloud server management and monitoring tasks. Some roles can also be...
Analyst Report
December 15, 2025 · by Wes Miller
Understanding Purview Data Governance
Purview Data Governance is intended to help discover, curate, manage, and share data, regardless of location, but limitations may restrict...