Andrew Snodgrass

Andrew Snodgrass

Analyst

Andrew analyzes and writes about Microsoft's data management, business intelligence, and machine learning solutions, as well as aspects of licensing

Before joining Directions on Microsoft, Andrew was vice president of IT for a global Fortune 500 company, where he directed overall IT activities and strategy for the company‘s global operations, including work sharing and collaboration, application design and development, communications, data center operations, security, compliance, procurement, and vendor management. Andrew also started and sold an independent software firm specializing in disparate data integration, cleansing, and analysis.

Andrew received a B.B.A. in information systems from Boise State University and an M.B.A. from Colorado State University.

Latest Content by Andrew Snodgrass

  Roadmap
August 28, 2026 · by Andrew Snodgrass
SQL Data Sync SQL Data Sync’s 2027 retirement leaves customers without a direct Microsoft replacement, making early migration planning essential—especially for complex bidirectional...
  Roadmap
August 28, 2026 · by Andrew Snodgrass
Data Share Roadmap Azure Data Share remains useful for narrow Azure-to-Azure snapshot sharing, but Microsoft’s investment has clearly shifted toward Fabric OneLake and...
  Roadmap
August 28, 2026 · by Andrew Snodgrass
Fabric IQ Fabric IQ could give Microsoft Fabric a smarter business context layer, but customers should treat it as an early-stage bet...
  Roadmap
August 17, 2026 · by Andrew Snodgrass
Azure Storage Azure Storage remains a strategic Azure revenue driver with no announced retirements, but Microsoft’s investment is concentrated in core services...
  Roadmap
August 17, 2026 · by Andrew Snodgrass
Azure Files Azure Files updates remove a major blocker to cloud migration and improve cost control, security, and resilience.
  Roadmap
August 17, 2026 · by Andrew Snodgrass
Blob Storage Important Blob Storage changes include GPv2 migration by Oct. 2026, smarter cost optimization, stronger identity-based security, improved resiliency, and more...
  Roadmap
August 17, 2026 · by Andrew Snodgrass
Queue Storage User delegation SAS is the key Queue Storage change, improving temporary access control by using Entra credentials instead of storage...
  Roadmap
August 17, 2026 · by Andrew Snodgrass
Table Storage Table Storage remains a mature, low-cost NoSQL service, with recent improvements focused on stronger Entra-based access control and customer-managed failover.
  Roadmap
August 17, 2026 · by Andrew Snodgrass
Managed Disks Managed Disks remains Azure’s core VM storage platform, with Microsoft pushing customers toward Premium SSD v2 and Ultra Disks and...
  Roadmap
August 12, 2026 · by Andrew Snodgrass
SQL Edge SQL Edge retired in September 2025 with no simple Microsoft migration path, so customers should consider non-Microsoft alternatives.