Hybrid Cloud Partners

On the 20th episode of The Microsoft Hybrid Cloud Partners Podcast, Fede Pacheco and Adam Burke chat with Berend-Jan Van Maanen, CEO of Intwo, a Netherlands-based Microsoft partner with a presence in 11 countries. Berend-Jan shares how Intwo evolved from managing on-premise data centers on SPLA to becoming a fully cloud-native provider with 1,000+ customers through the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) motion.  He discusses the growing demand for AI solutions, the importance of agility and peace of mind for clients, and why holistic security is critical for enabling innovation. The conversation wraps with a look at Intwo’s future following a management buyout and renewed focus on scale, specialization, and global growth. 

In this episode you’ll learn:       

• How Intwo saw the cloud as an opportunity, not a threat 
• What makes the CSP model simpler and more flexible than SPLA 
• Intwo’s believe in holistic cloud security as “the only way” 

Some questions we ask:     

• How has your investment in Azure and CSP impacted your business? 
• How did Intwo’s profitability evolve through their journey? 
• How does Intwo balance global reach and local speed? 

Resources:       

• Subscribe to our new LinkedIn Newsletter to get the latest news, insights, and episode recaps 
• Connect with the Datacenter Optimization team 
• Learn more about Intwo 

Related Microsoft Podcasts:         

• No Slides Attached Podcast 
• The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast   
• The BlueHat Podcast    

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

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On today's episode of Microsoft's Hybrid Cloud Partners Podcast, Fede Pacheco and Adam Burke welcome back Fernando Peoples to share their experience at NerdioCon 2025 in Palm Springs. They share highlights from the event, including exclusive interviews with 9 leaders from Nerdio, Pax8, and Managed Services Providers (MSPs) that attended the event. They cover key product announcements and insights from their breakout session. Plus, the team covers major NerdioCon updates and year-round training opportunities for partners. 

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Top announcements from Microsoft and Nerdio that are shaping the future of MSPs
• Testimonies and insights from peers attending NerdioCon 2025
• Insights from Fede and Fernando's session on Datacenter Optimization

Some questions we ask:

• Why do you come to NerdioCon every year?
• How is AI an accelerator for MSPs focused on the small and medium business space?
• How does the cost structure look like going from Remote Desktop Services to Azure Virtual Desktop?

Resources:

• Subscribe to our new LinkedIn Newsletter to get the latest news, insights, and episode recaps
• Watch all the interviews from NerdioCon 2025
• Download the deck from our breakout session
• Attend a Nerdio event this year
• Pax8 Academy | Marketplace | Events
• Download the Azure Arc Coretek eBook

Related Microsoft Podcasts:

• No Slides Attached Podcast 
• The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast   
• The BlueHat Podcast    

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Download the Transcript

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's episode, Fede Pacheco and Adam Burke are joined by Andreas Bergman, Global Lead for Hosting Partners at Crayon. They discuss Crayon’s role in empowering managed service providers (MSPs), its leadership in software asset management, and its approach to enabling hybrid cloud solutions. Andreas shares insights on how Crayon helps MSPs navigate technological changes, particularly in the SMB space, and highlights the growing adoption of hybrid cloud strategies worldwide. He also touches on the importance of cloud maturity, offering valuable guidance to partners and customers on their hybrid cloud journeys.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• How Crayon helps Microsoft partners grow and scale in the hybrid cloud space.
• The shift in cloud adoption and hybrid strategies across the globe.
• Why AI tools like Microsoft Copilot are becoming integral for both personal and professional tasks.

Some questions we ask:

• How important are MSPs in serving local businesses?
• How has the shift to the cloud changed MSPs and their business models?
• What trends are you seeing for small and medium businesses (SMBs) now compared to last year?

Resources:

• Connect with the Datacenter Optimization team
• Join the Hybrid Cloud Partners LinkedIn Community
• Forrester Study: The Future of Operations: Advancing AI-Driven Innovation and Cloud Agility for Small and Medium-Sized Businesses  
• Join the live Webinar with Forrester about this study
• Connect with Crayon

Related Microsoft Podcasts:

• No Slides Attached Podcast
• The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast
• The BlueHat Podcast

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Download the Transcript

Produced by Hangar Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's episode of the Microsoft Hybrid Cloud Partners podcast, Fede Pacheco and Adam Burke expanded the frontiers of the show. They are joined by Justin Bailey and Elliot Jurd from Nexon Asia Pacific. They discuss Nexon's journey, hearing directly from employee number 3 into the 700+ workforce they have today. They elaborate on their deep partnership with Microsoft and how AI is revolutionizing both their business and personal lives. They also discuss their decision to move from their datacenter and into Azure, and how this has put them into a premier position in the era of AI. 

In this episode you’ll learn:       

• How Nexon Asia Pacific has grown from a small team to a 700+ workforce. 
• How Nexon is utilizing AI to improve their services and customer satisfaction. 
• How Nexon incorporated DCO into their financial modeling while moving to Azure. 

Some questions we ask:     

• What were the key factors that led Nexon to migrate from their datacenter to Azure? 
• What challenges did Nexon face during their transition to Azure, and how did they overcome them? 
• What advice would you give to other companies considering a similar migration to the cloud? 

Resources:       

• Connect with the Datacenter Optimization team 
• Join the Hybrid Cloud Partners LinkedIn Community 

Related Microsoft Podcasts:         

• No Slides Attached Podcast 
• The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast   
• The BlueHat Podcast    

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

Download the Transcript

Produced by Hangar Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's episode of the Hybrid Cloud Partners Podcast, Fede Pacheco and Adam Burke are joined by Fernando Peoples, a teammate from the Datacenter Optimization team. Together, they cover the top questions asked by over 500 SPLA partners that have enabled their servers with Azure Arc. In the first section, Fede asks Fernando and Adam to make a 30-second elevator pitch for Azure Arc. The second section is for True or False statements where they answer common myths about the transition process. Third, they bring business and technical perspectives that every organization should consider. Finally, for the fourth section, they cover the commonly used features and whether customers have to pay for them or not.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why businesses can benefit from Arc even if they haven't fully adopted the public cloud
• How the Azure Arc Gateway simplifies networking and firewall configurations
• Key features and benefits in Azure Arc

Some questions we ask:

• How would you pitch Azure Arc to a SPLA partner in 30 seconds?
• Does Microsoft want every customer to migrate and modernize to Azure right away?
• Is Copilot available for Azure Arc?

Resources:

• Connect with the Datacenter Optimization team
• Join the Hybrid Cloud Partners LinkedIn Community
• Check out the pricing for the features discussed in the episode
• eBook: Streamlining SQL Licensing with Azure Arc and CSP

Related Microsoft Podcasts:

• No Slides Attached Podcast
• The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast
• The BlueHat Podcast

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Download the Transcript

Produced by Hangar Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's episode of the Microsoft Hybrid Cloud Partners podcast, Fede Pacheco and Adam Burke are joined by Ron Lisch, CEO of Coretek, and Brian Barnes, the company's CTO. Coretek, a long-time Microsoft partner, shares its decade-long journey of betting on Azure and helping businesses optimize their cloud transformation. From aiding customers in managing Azure costs to navigating complex licensing models like SPLA, Coretek has become a leader in empowering mid-market companies and other partners to embrace cloud innovation. 

In this episode you’ll learn:       

• Why Coretek fully invested in Azure ten years ago before it became widely popular 
• How prioritizing business outcomes over technology is key to achieving successful AI adoption 
• How is Coretek helping other Microsoft partners in their cloud modernization journeys 

Some questions we ask:     

• How has the decision to focus on Azure paid off for Coretek? 
• What is your perspective on the strategic opportunity with the Cloud Solution Provider model? 
• How does your focus on security help win new business? 

Resources:       

• Marketplace Offer: Azure Arc & SPLA Modernization Assessment 
• eBook: Streamlining SQL Licensing with Azure Arc and CSP 
• Connect with the Datacenter Optimization team 
• Join the Hybrid Cloud Partners LinkedIn Community 

Related Microsoft Podcasts:                     

• No Slides Attached Podcast 
• The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast   
• The BlueHat Podcast    

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

Download the Transcript

Produced by Hangar Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's episode, the second of a two-part series, Fede Pacheco and Adam Burke continue their conversation with NeoSystems, a long-time Microsoft partner specializing in back-office solutions for government contractors. In part two, Brad Mitchell, CEO of NeoSystems, and Stuart Itkin, CMO, dive deeper into the company’s transition from its datacenters to Azure and the impact it’s had on their business. Brad and Stuart share insights into their journey, including their decision to partner with Microsoft, their participation in programs like AOSG (Agreement for Online Services Government), and how these moves have helped them support government contractors more effectively. 

In this episode you’ll learn:       

• How NeoSystems transitioned from their own data centers to Microsoft Azure 
• The impact of the technical and go-to-market guidance NeoSystems received from Microsoft 
• How NeoSystems’ transition to Azure has opened doors for collaboration with other companies 

Some questions we ask:     

• How has the Microsoft team supported NeoSystems throughout this transition? 
• What growth opportunities do you see for NeoSystems after this transition? 
• How has Microsoft helped NeoSystems become a more effective selling partner? 

Resources:       

• Connect with the Datacenter Optimization team 
• Join the Hybrid Cloud Partners LinkedIn Community 
• Get the deck and links from Fede and Adam’s Ignite presentation 

Related Microsoft Podcasts:                   

• No Slides Attached Podcast 
• The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast   
• The BlueHat Podcast    

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

Download the Transcript

Produced by Hangar Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's episode, the first of a two-part series, Fede Pacheco and Adam Burke kick off 2025 by spotlighting NeoSystems, a long-time Microsoft partner specializing in back-office solutions for government contractors. For the first time, we delve into every step of a partner’s decision process as they moved from on-prem and into the cloud. Brad Mitchell, CEO of NeoSystems, and Stuart Itkin, CMO, discuss the company’s evolution from managed accounting services to offering a full suite of IT, HR, and managed security services tailored to the unique compliance and regulatory needs of government work. They highlight the critical role Microsoft plays in helping NeoSystems deliver scalable, cutting-edge technologies, including AI-driven solutions, that address customer challenges while enabling growth and compliance.  

In this episode you’ll learn:       

• Why NeoSystems prioritizes managed security services to tackle critical cybersecurity challenges 
• NeoSystems transition from managed accounting services to a one-stop-shop for back-office solutions 
• What led to the decision to move into the cloud, and why did they choose Azure? 

Some questions we ask:     

• How do you serve your customers, and what’s your focus today? 
• Why has it been important for NeoSystems to partner with Microsoft as you evolve? 
• What advice do you have for partners in similar situations like yours? 

Resources:       

• Connect with the Datacenter Optimization team 
• Join the Hybrid Cloud Partners LinkedIn Community 
• Get the deck and links from Fede and Adam’s Ignite presentation 

Related Microsoft Podcasts:                   

• No Slides Attached Podcast 
• The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast   
• The BlueHat Podcast    

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

Download the Transcript

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's special edition of Microsoft Hybrid Cloud Partners podcast, Fede Pacheco and Adam Burke are live from Microsoft Ignite in Chicago, and joined by Drew Wilson and Seth Bacon from RSM. RSM has evolved from its roots as a tax firm into a digital-focused firm offering Microsoft technologies, including cloud and generative AI services. Drew and Seth discuss RSM's 98-year history, their shift to the public cloud, and their unique focus on helping mid-market businesses navigate digital transformations. They also highlight RSM's industry-driven approach, collaborating with clients to address specific challenges, and the value of in-person networking at Microsoft Ignite.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why RSM shifted from a private cloud to Azure to better serve its clients
• How Microsoft Ignite strengthens RSM's relationships through in-person networking
• The role of security and AI in creating business opportunities

Some questions we ask:

• How has trust in the public cloud, especially Azure, changed over the years for your clients?
• What was your experience persuading your leadership to embrace the public cloud?
• What advice would you give to partners based on your story?

Resources:

• Connect with the Datacenter Optimization team
• Join the Hybrid Cloud Partners LinkedIn Community
• Get the deck and links from Fede and Adam’s Ignite presentation

Related Microsoft Podcasts:         

• No Slides Attached Podcast
• The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast
• The BlueHat Podcast

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts

Download the Transcript

Produced by Hangar Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On today's special edition of Microsoft Hybrid Cloud Partners podcast, Fede Pacheco and Adam Burke are live from Microsoft Ignite in Chicago, discussing key moments and takeaways from the event. They provide an insider look at their Theater Session: Profitable Paths for SPLA Modernization for ISVs and Hybrid Cloud Partners. Fede introduces the concept of the adaptive cloud and how this strategy has allowed over 500 SPLA partners to unlock cloud economics for over 2,000 customers in their servers, including Rackspace Technologies. Adam walks through the economics of this transition as partners unlock the operational and financial benefits of selling through Microsoft’s Cloud Solution Provider channel.    

In this episode you’ll learn:       

• Why partners are encouraged to position themselves as technology strategists  
• How CSP and MCA are available to support partners’ profitable modernization paths 
• SPLA partners are increasing profits transitioning to Arc Enabled SQL 

Some questions we ask:     

• What were some of your favorite announcements from Microsoft Ignite? 
• How do programs like CSP and MCA-E help partners modernize profitably? 
• What’s new with Windows Server 2025 and hot patching? 

Resources:       

View Adam Burke on LinkedIn  

View Fede Pacheco on LinkedIn  

Related Microsoft Podcasts:         

• No Slides Attached Podcast 
• The Microsoft Threat Intelligence Podcast   
• The BlueHat Podcast    

Discover and follow other Microsoft podcasts at microsoft.com/podcasts  

Download the Transcript

Produced by Hangar Studios

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.