Technology and Licensing Videos

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November 21, 2024 Directions Podcast. Season 3. Episode 7. More Microsoft End-of-Life Meteors Appear on the Horizon.

There’s a new wave of end-of-life Microsoft product meteors coming for your organization. Directions on Microsoft analyst Joshua Trupin talks with Mary Jo Foley about what to watch out for in 2025 and beyond, including new, pricey, Pay As You Go options — and how customers can try to blunt the impact.

November 20, 2024 Directions Podcast. Season 3. Episode 6. Cloud Repatriation! A Directions on Microsoft Brainstorm.

Directions analysts Jim Gaynor, Rob Sanfilippo and Andrew Snodgrass debate when, how, and why customers might want to move some (or even all) of their workloads and apps from the cloud back to on-premises.

November 19, 2024 Directions Podcast. Season 3. Episode 5. Windows Server 2025: What you need to know.

Windows Server is back! Directions on Microsoft analyst Jim Gaynor and Mary Jo Foley delve into the new features and capabilities coming with Windows Server 2025 worth knowing about, including new Active Directory and security features, GPU partitioning for Hyper-V, hotpatching – and the Azure services you need to use them.

November 18, 2024 Directions Podcast. Season 3. Episode 4. Microsoft Licensing Boot Camp Lessons Learned.

Mary Jo Foley interviews veteran Directions analyst Wes Miller, who shares surprising insights gained teaching customers how to navigate the Microsoft licensing maze for more than a decade. From over-licensing and under-licensing to underestimating Microsoft’s revenue drive, you’ll learn the important do’s and don’ts of effective Microsoft licensing.

November 17, 2024 Directions Podcast. Season 3. Episode 3. What’s on the Azure Roadmap.

Directions on Microsoft analyst Rob Sanfilippo talks with Mary Jo Foley about how the Directions’ twice-yearly Azure roadmap comes together. The two compare notes on the latest Azure trends and hot buttons. Plus, Rob takes the Azure codename challenge.

November 16, 2024 Directions Podcast. Season 3. Episode 2. Subscriptions! A Directions on Microsoft Brainstorm.

Directions analysts Michael Cherry, Jim Gaynor and Wes Miller dive into how subscriptions have transformed Microsoft’s business model and what it means for Microsoft customers, both now and in the future.

November 15, 2024 Directions Podcast. Season 3. Episode 1. A Deep Dive into All Things Data.

Directions analysts Barry Briggs and Andy Snodgrass talk with Mary Jo Foley about the hype and the reality surrounding database systems in this episode of the Directions podcast. Are organizations any closer to harnessing the power of data now than before? What works and what doesn’t when it comes to data-management strategies?

May 15, 2024 Microsoft EA Negotiation – Levers

Former Microsoft Deal Desk executive Dean Bedwell explains the negotiation levers you can use to optimize the outcome of your Microsoft EA renewal.

May 1, 2024 Microsoft EA Negotiation – Discounts & Concessions

Directions on Microsoft negotiation expert Dean Bedwell details the types of financial, legal, and business concessions Microsoft customers should ask for during an EA negotiation and the best way to ask for them.

February 14, 2024 Microsoft EA Negotiation – Project Management

Microsoft negotiation expert Gus Volpe describes the four phases of successful EA negotiations and how to structure your project plan to optimize the results of your EA renewal.

February 14, 2024 Microsoft EA Negotiation – Strategies

Former Microsoft Deal Desk executive and current head of Directions advisory services Dean Bedwell shares insights gained over decades negotiating against—and more recently on behalf of—Microsoft’s largest enterprise customers, including proven strategies and tactics for optimizing your EA renewal. He also discusses common negotiation pitfalls you should avoid.

February 14, 2024 Microsoft EA Negotiation – Analysis

Veteran Microsoft negotiator [MLF1]  Steve Kelley guides you through the EA Negotiation Analysis process and teaches you how to use information about your current Microsoft technology deployments and go-forward Microsoft technology requirements gathered in Discovery to determine your options and focus your attention when you engage with Microsoft in renewal negotiations.