Four essential Azure conversations that matter for IT leaders. From cost management to cloud security and governance– discover what’s next. Missed the sessions? Catch up on the insights and start your Azure journey.
We recently hosted a four-part virtual roadshow focused on helping IT leaders build, secure, and modernize their Microsoft Azure environments. The goal wasn’t to just showcase every new feature, it was to have meaningful conversations about what works, what’s changing, and what’s next.
Each session tackled a different challenge, but they all shared a common theme: strategies that work. Whether you’re just getting started with Azure or refining a mature deployment, these are the conversations that matter.
If you missed the live sessions, the recordings are available. Below is a recap of each part, along with key takeaways and an opportunity for continuing the conversation.
Part 1: Azure Cost Management: Beyond the Billing Dashboard
We opened the roadshow with a foundational session on how to architect Azure environments for long-term success. This wasn’t about lift-and-shift, it was about aligning platform choices with business outcomes.
We walked through:
- The decision tree for Infrastructure (IaaS), Platform (PaaS), and bare metal (BMaaS) workloads.
- How to navigate turbulence in the market with changes in VMware.
- How to use the established frameworks combined with a methodology for planning to ensure business outcomes stay at the forefront of decision-making.
- Why the small things like governance, tagging, and FinOps discipline should start on day one, not year two.
Key Takeaways:
- Azure success is less about what you move, more about how you operate.
- Platform choice isn’t static, reassess as your business evolves.
- Visibility and a foundation for automation build predictable clouds.
Part 2: Azure Innovation: Building What’s Next
In part two, Kai Andrews led a deep dive into Microsoft Fabric: a single platform for data ingestion, transformation, storage, analytics, and AI. For organizations drowning in spreadsheets and disconnected reporting tools, Fabric offers a way out.
We covered:
- How Fabric consolidates tools like Data Factory, Power BI, Synapse, and OneLake.
- The cost model: one capacity, one price, scalable up or down.
- Why iterative development and pragmatic governance are key to successful data modernization.
Key Takeaways:
- Fabric simplifies architecture and accelerates time-to-value.
- Copilot is now available across all capacity tiers, making AI more accessible.
- Governance doesn’t have to be bureaucratic; it just needs to be intentional.
Part 3: Azure Security: What CISOs Actually Care About
Security was the third topic and is arguably the most urgent. We focused on how to move beyond disparate, somewhat connected, solutions and how we can adopt a platform to build a proactive, integrated-by-default, security solution by leveraging the expertise of a Microsoft Validated Security Solution Partner (ThreatDefender).
Highlights included:
- Entra, Defender, and Sentinel as the backbone of cloud security operations.
- Zero Trust architecture in practice: identity, conditional access, and data protection.
- Going beyond networks and MFA with how Purview supports compliance through automated classification and policy enforcement.
Key Takeaways:
- Security tools are only as good as the visibility they have.
- Integration matters: visibility without correlation leads to missed threats.
- Integration in disparate tools is costly: From personnel costs to critical gaps in coverage.
Compliance isn’t just about checkboxes; it’s about confidence.
Part 4: Azure Governance: From Chaos to Clarity
We wrapped Day 1 of the Roadshow with a session on modern desktops; specifically, an ongoing trend towards changing strategies between managed endpoints and virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI). Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), Windows 365, and Intune all provide viable options. However, the conversation centers around successful flexibility, cost, and user experience.
We explored:
- Why some organizations are moving away from legacy VDI toward cloud-managed endpoints with Microsoft Intune.
- Practical considerations and pros/cons in the Endpoint, Windows365, and Azure Virtual Desktop solutions.
- The role of Intune in managing both corporate and BYOD devices across distributed teams.
- How Nerdio provides an opportunity to simplify desktop management and scale.
Key Takeaways:
- Desktop strategy is now a cloud conversation.
- Windows 365 offers predictable cost and simplicity for dedicated users.
- Nerdio can reduce AVD compute costs by 60%+ in the right scenarios.
Final Thoughts
The Azure platform is broad, but full of opportunity. These four conversations (building for success, data, security, and endpoints) are where most organizations find challenges with evaluating their posture, upskilling their teams, and making meaningful progress. If any of these topics struck a chord, let’s have a conversation that centers around your goals.
Whether you’re planning a migration, launching a new initiative, or just trying to clean up what’s already there, we’re here to help.
