The Directions on Microsoft Briefing Podcast
Directions on Microsoft
With more than 30 years of experience covering Microsoft, Directions on Microsoft provides unique perspectives about the shifts in Microsoft technologies, roadmaps and licensing policies that matter most to enterprise-size companies. Twice each month industry veteran Mary Jo Foley interviews a different Directions analyst for informed insights and advice to help you derive full value from your Microsoft investments.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 15, 2025 • 26min
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.
Jan 15, 2025 • 56min
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.
Jan 15, 2025 • 28min
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 (and loses).
Jan 15, 2025 • 52min
Subscriptions! A Directions on Microsoft Brainstorm
Directions analysts Michael Cherry, Jim Gaynor, and Wes Miller dive into how subscriptions have transformed Microsoft business model and what it means for Microsoft customers, both now and in the future.
Jan 15, 2025 • 40min
Thinking about Data
Directions analysts Barry Briggs and Andrew Snodgrass talk with Mary Jo about the hype and the reality surrounding database systems 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?
Jan 15, 2025 • 55min
Copilots! A Directions on Microsoft Brainstorm
In our first Brainstorm episode, Mary Jo Foley, Andy Snodgrass, Rob Sanfilippo, and Barry Briggs discuss the avalanche of Copilots announced by Microsoft, whether they’ll live up to the marketing hype, and what they mean to enterprises and to enterprise users.
Jan 15, 2025 • 22min
Microsoft EA Negotiation Podcast – Levers
In the last episode of the Directions on Microsoft EA podcast series, Mary Jo Foley quizzes former Microsoft negotiator Dean Bedwell about common Microsoft negotiation traps customers should avoid and the negotiation levers they can apply to optimize their EA renewal outcomes.
Jan 15, 2025 • 1h 11min
Microsoft Roadmap: What was hot in 2023 and will matter in 2024
Our panel of Directions on Microsoft analysts talk enterprise product and licensing hot buttons for 2023 and what will be top-of-mind in 2024 -- and answer customer questions.
Jan 15, 2025 • 31min
Executive Focus: Microsoft's Seismic Shift to AI
After years of promoting "Cloud, Cloud, Cloud," Microsoft has shifted to "AI, AI, AI." Mary Jo and former Microsoft CTO Barry Briggs put Microsoft’s big bet on AI into perspective by comparing it to its other strategic initiatives – past, present, and future.
Jan 15, 2025 • 26min
Microsoft EA Negotiation Podcast Series – Discounts and Concessions
In episode five of the Directions on Microsoft EA Negotiation podcast series, Mary Jo Foley talks with former Microsoft negotiator Dean Bedwell about the top pricing, business, and legal concessions every Microsoft customer should ask for and the best way to negotiate for them.
