The Directions on Microsoft Briefing Podcast
Technology Podcasts
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.
Location:
United States
Genres:
Technology Podcasts
Description:
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.
Language:
English
Contact:
206-755-0408
Episodes
Microsoft Contract Negotiation: Escalation Dos and Don'ts
9/19/2025
Organizations need to weigh when, how, and if it's worth escalating during their Microsoft contract negotiation process. In this episode, Directions on Microsoft Senior Consultant Steve Kelley shares his dos, don'ts, (and a few war stories) with Mary Jo Foley.
Duration:00:22:00
Enterprise Copilot Adoption: Lessons from the Field
9/8/2025
PwC Principal James Farhat joins Directions analyst Barry Briggs and Mary Jo Foley to discuss early real-world wins and challenges around Microsoft 365 Copilot adoption.
Duration:00:31:00
Get Ready for Microsoft's Coming Licensing Changes
8/26/2025
Starting Nov. 1, Microsoft is dropping the programmatic discounts that were baked into its volume-licensing agreements. But price hikes are just one of the resulting fallouts for which enterprises need to prepare immediately, as Directions' lead negotiator Dean Bedwell details in this episode with Mary Jo Foley.
Duration:00:19:00
Is No-Code Really Dead?
8/8/2025
Is there still a place for no/low-code tools like those in Microsoft's Power Platform with the rise of generative AI and GitHub Copilot? The New Stack's news editor Darryl Taft joins Directions Rob Sanfilippo and Mary Jo Foley to debate the topic.
Duration:00:23:00
The Human Side of Data Governance
7/16/2025
We've all heard repeatedly about the importance of securing your data estate before implementing Copilots, agents and other AI components. Directions analyst Barry Briggs talks with Mary Jo Foley about what needs to happen among execs, IT and employees on for data governance to really work.
Duration:00:24:00
SQL Server 2025 to Deliver AI Features and Lots More
6/26/2025
Microsoft is set to release this fall SQL Server 2025, its first new version of its flagship database in three years. Special guest, Microsoft Regional Director and MVP Andrew Brust and Directions analyst Andrew Snodgrass detail the AI, performance and other top SQL Server 2025 features in this episode with Mary Jo Foley.
Duration:00:36:00
Microsoft Security Copilot: What You Need to Know
6/10/2025
Microsoft made Security Copilot generally available just over a year ago. Special guest Microsoft MVP Ru Campbell and Directions analyst Wes Miller talk with Mary Jo Foley about the ways this marquee copilot is evolving, in terms of packaging, pricing and licensing — and what customers interested in it should and shouldn't be doing.
Duration:00:32:00
Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat vs. OpenAI's ChatGPT: How to Choose
5/29/2025
So many AI chat products; so little time. Directions on Microsoft's newest analyst David Berry shares his insights with Mary Jo Foley on how enterprise customers should evaluate Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat vs. ChatGPT (and Microsoft 365 Copilot itself).
Duration:00:23:00
What's Going on With Windows
5/21/2025
With less than six months left until Windows 10 is no longer supported by Microsoft, Windows users have a lot of uncertainties and a rapidly evolving landscape to navigate. Directions analyst Wes Miller and Mary Jo Foley talk about what -- and what not -- to expect in the coming months.
Duration:00:23:00
Microsoft: A Look Back From Inside
5/1/2025
This year marks Microsoft's 50th anniversary and several of the Directions analysts were part of the company's history. Barry Briggs, Michael Cherry, and Rob Sanfilippo share some ringside-seat insights with Mary Jo Foley from their years working across different teams and times at Microsoft.
Duration:00:49:00
Understanding Microsoft's AI Strategy
3/28/2025
Microsoft's repositioning of itself as an AI company has major implications for customers in terms of how you plan, buy, license and manage Microsoft products. Directions analyst Barry Briggs discusses with Mary Jo Foley what enterprises really need to know about Microsoft's AI strategy.
Duration:00:33:00
Understanding Microsoft's AI Strategy
3/28/2025
Microsoft's repositioning of itself as an AI company has major implications for customers in terms of how you plan, buy, license and manage Microsoft products. Directions analyst Barry Briggs discusses with Mary Jo Foley what enterprises really need to know about Microsoft's AI strategy.
Duration:00:33:00
The Growing Risks of Staying On-Premises
3/14/2025
While some customers just cannot let go of their on-premises Microsoft products -- for legitimate and not-so-valid reasons -- the risks of running software on-prem are growing. Directions analyst Andrew Snodgrass talks with Mary Jo Foley about on-premises realities and provides some recommendations.
Duration:00:22:00
The Growing Risks of Staying On-Premises
3/14/2025
While some customers just cannot let go of their on-premises Microsoft products -- for legitimate and not-so-valid reasons -- the risks of running software on-prem are growing. Directions analyst Andrew Snodgrass talks with Mary Jo Foley about on-premises realities and provides some recommendations.
Duration:00:22:00
The New Face of Shadow IT: A Directions on Microsoft Brainstorm
3/12/2025
Whether you appreciate it, tolerate it, or want to stamp it out, Shadow IT is not going anywhere. Is this necessarily a bad thing? Directions analysts Barry Briggs, Greg DeMichillie and Rob Sanfilippo share with Mary Jo Foley their ideas for managing and channeling Shadow IT in this roundtable discussion.
Duration:00:48:00
How to Save Money with Azure Reservations
3/12/2025
Azure Reservations is one of the best ways enterprises can save money on their Microsoft contracts. But, as Directions' Wes Miller explains to Mary Jo Foley, you need to know the gotchas before you jump in.
Duration:00:18:00
The New Face of Shadow IT: A Directions on Microsoft Brainstorm
2/28/2025
Whether you appreciate it, tolerate it, or want to stamp it out, Shadow IT is not going anywhere. Is this necessarily a bad thing? Directions analysts Barry Briggs, Greg DeMichillie and Rob Sanfilippo share with Mary Jo Foley their ideas for managing and channeling Shadow IT in this roundtable discussion.
Duration:00:49:00
How to Save Money with Azure Reservations
2/24/2025
Azure Reservations is one of the best ways enterprises can save money on their Microsoft contracts. But, as Directions' Wes Miller explains to Mary Jo Foley, you need to know the gotchas before you jump in.
Duration:00:18:00
Microsoft Support: You've Got More Options Than You Think
2/13/2025
Microsoft's Unified Support plan is not beloved by many enterprises. US Cloud VP Mike Jones provides the latest on the plan, plus some support tips and tricks in this conversation with Directions' Mary Jo Foley.
Duration:00:29:00
Azure Local: What's New, What's Next
2/13/2025
Microsoft's Azure Local falls in the uncanny valley between on-prem and cloud. Our newest analyst Greg DeMichillie shares his recommendations with Mary Jo Foley on what customers should (and shouldn't yet) do with this technology.
Duration:00:24:00