Rob Helm

Rob Helm

Analyst

As managing vice president, Rob Helm covers Microsoft collaboration and content management. His 25-plus years of experience analyzing Microsoft’s technology and strategy allows him to discern the company’s overall direction from the sometimes confusing and contradictory signals it sends to customers and the industry.

Rob previously managed the Directions on Microsoft analyst team and its database management systems, developer strategy, and embedded platform research. His 13 years of prior experience in the computer industry include research on advanced developer tools, optimization of cluster applications, design of network protocols at the University of Oregon, and design and implementation of databases for the U.S. Navy.

Rob received a B.S. in computer science and mathematics from the University of Puget Sound and an M.S. in computer science from the University of Oregon.

Latest Content by Rob Helm

  Roadmap
Updated: July 3, 2025 · by Rob Helm
Exchange Server Roadmap Roadmap for Exchange Server software, which provides e-mail communication and manages calendars, contacts, tasks, and voicemail.
  Analyst Report
July 3, 2025 · by Rob Helm
Begin Move to Exchange Server SE to Keep Support  Organizations running Exchange in their own data centers must migrate quickly to Exchange Server SE. 
  Roadmap
Updated: July 3, 2025 · by Rob Helm
Communication Services Roadmap Azure Communication Services is a set of cloud services and APIs for applications using voice and video calling, chat, SMS,...
  Infographic
July 3, 2025 · by Rob Helm
Overview of Azure Communication Services components.
Communication Services Overview Azure Communication Services provides voice, video, chat, and e-mail cloud services for developers to build into applications.
  Analyst Report
June 30, 2025 · by Rob Helm
Viva Packaging for Microsoft 365 Users Chart helps decide on license requirements and purchase choices for the Viva employee experience services.
  Infographic
June 30, 2025 · by Rob Helm
Viva Packaging for Microsoft 365 Users Viva rights in common Microsoft 365 licenses and in Viva premium add-ons, which include Viva Suite, two smaller suites, and...
  Analyst Report
Updated: June 27, 2025 · by Rob Helm
Exchange Server: Migrate Off Legacy Versions by Oct. 2025 Exchange Server 2016 and 2019 customers will have 90 days or less under product support to migrate to Exchange Server...
  Analyst Report
June 23, 2025 · by Rob Helm
Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel Drops Preview, Cuts Support Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise customers must move PCs off the Semi-Annual Enterprise (Preview) update channel, and should prepare to...
  Roadmap
Updated: June 10, 2025 · by Rob Helm
BizTalk Server Roadmap Roadmap for BizTalk Server, Microsoft's application integration and business-to-business commerce software.
  Roadmap
Updated: June 9, 2025 · by Rob Helm
Event Grid Roadmap Roadmap for Azure Event Grid, a cloud message broker service that routes messages between components of an Azure solution,