Microsoft Ignite 2025: A Look at What’s Ahead for EUC
Microsoft Ignite wrapped up recently (November 18-21), and as always, it served as a cornerstone event for IT professionals. It offered a deep dive into the latest innovations and future roadmaps from Microsoft. For those of us living and breathing the End-User Computing (EUC) space, Ignite was particularly significant. It set the stage for the next wave of workplace technology, and there was plenty to unpack.
What We Saw at Ignite
Microsoft Ignite lived up to its reputation for unveiling major announcements across the entire ecosystem. The sessions were packed with topics critical to the evolution of EUC. We saw significant advancements in Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) and Windows 365, alongside new developments in security, identity, and management through Intune. The potential for impactful updates was immense.
I closely followed sessions related to hybrid work environments, AI-driven productivity tools, and the ongoing integration of Microsoft's security stack. The conversations around leveraging these technologies to create more secure, flexible, and efficient digital workspaces were a highlight for me. These weren't just new features; they represented new possibilities for solving the complex challenges our customers face every day.
It was great to hear what the community was most excited about during the event. Many of you shared which sessions you bookmarked and the technologies you were tracking. That perspective is valuable, and it really helped shape my own post-event analysis.
Beyond Ignite: Industry Updates
While Ignite was a major focus, the pace of innovation didn't stop there. I recently met with the team at Airlock Digital and, as expected, they released some key market insights and product updates shortly after. Their perspective on application whitelisting and endpoint security is always insightful. I’ll be sharing a breakdown of their announcements now that they are public, so keep an eye out for that.
This forward-looking view also got me thinking about how we can better serve our customers. We’ve been running a campaign for Desktop as a Service (DaaS) health checks, which has been incredibly valuable for many organisations. However, it became clear that the need for proactive assessment and optimisation extends far beyond just DaaS.
I believe there is a great opportunity to expand our health check offerings to other critical areas of IT infrastructure. We are looking at a dedicated Azure Health Check to review configurations and identify security gaps, and a Cost Optimisation exercise designed to reduce a customer's cloud spend without compromising performance.
Another area of increasing importance is the Australian Cyber Security Centre's Essential Eight. Offering this as a managed service could provide organisations with a clear, structured path to improving their security posture and mitigating cyber threats. These ideas reflect our commitment to providing practical, high-value services that address real-world business needs.
Moving Forward
The insights gained from events like Microsoft Ignite are most powerful when they are shared and discussed. Now that the conference has concluded, I’m working on compiling a summary of the key announcements and takeaways specifically relevant to the EUC space.
I invite you to connect with me here on LinkedIn to stay informed. Let’s continue the conversation and explore how these emerging technologies can be applied to drive success in your own organisation. The landscape is constantly changing, and by working together, we can stay ahead of the curve.
