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
Analyst Report
Updated: August 23, 2026 · by Wes Miller
Windows Server Licensing Scenarios
Customers should consider whether they are licensing the optimal edition of Windows Server for each workload scenario, particularly when it...
Analyst Report
August 18, 2026 · by Wes Miller
Defender for Endpoint on Windows Receives New Deployment Tool
A new free tool for Defender for Endpoint should help organizations deploy the service to endpoints more easily, by centralizing...
Analyst Report
August 7, 2026 · by Wes Miller
Most Azure Reservation Exchanges End in 2027
Beginning in Feb. 2027, many types of Azure Reservations can no longer be exchanged once purchased, short-circuiting an indirect path...
Analyst Report
Updated: July 16, 2026 · 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.
Analyst Report
July 16, 2026 · by Wes Miller
DLP Cut from Defender for Cloud Apps – Customers Must Move to Purview DLP
Microsoft is removing data loss prevention (DLP) features from Defender for Cloud Apps, as similar capabilities are available in Purview...
Sidebar
Updated: July 15, 2026 · by Wes Miller
Security Copilot Features in Defender XDR
Security Copilot accelerates commonly performed tasks within the Defender XDR portal.
Analyst Report
Updated: July 15, 2026 · by Wes Miller
Security Copilot: Expanding and Expensive
Security Copilot can help customers with Microsoft 365 infrastructure-related tasks.
In Brief
July 6, 2026 · by Wes Miller
AI Features Cut from Defender for Cloud to Enhance Agent 365
Several AI-related features have been removed from Defender for Cloud Apps and Defender for Cloud and added to E7’s Agent...
Analyst Report
Updated: June 29, 2026 · by Wes Miller
Entra ID Tenancy Strategies for Complex Organizations
Entra ID is the identity provider for almost all Microsoft 365 services. How it is initially deployed can have significant...
Analyst Report
Updated: June 28, 2026 · by Wes Miller
Find and Secure Local AI Tools with Defender for Endpoint
Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 will soon include capabilities to help discover and protect a narrow but critical set of...