For organisations already invested in Microsoft, the opportunity isn't simply about accessing the latest technology. It's about making sure the technology you already have is delivering the value it should.
Speaking at the recent Intercity Unplugged event, Simon Mullins, Microsoft Solutions Specialist at Intercity, highlighted the importance of understanding where you are today before deciding what comes next. That means establishing a baseline, measuring it against best practice and looking at how effectively you're using the capabilities you've already invested in.
It sounds simple, but it changes the conversation from from "What should we buy next?” to "Are we making the most of what we already have?”
More technology doesn't automatically mean more value
Microsoft's direction shows how interconnected AI, security and governance are becoming.
AI is moving beyond experimentation towards delivering business outcomes. At the same time, security is becoming a critical foundation for adoption, with Defender and Purview positioned as important parts of that foundation. Visibility and governance then become increasingly important as organisations adopt AI more widely.
Microsoft's Integrated Security Operations Centre (ISOC) is another example of that direction. It brings Defender XDR, Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) capabilities, automation, reporting and AI-driven security operations together within one experience for eligible Microsoft 365 E5 and E7 customers.
The bigger picture isn't simply that Microsoft is adding more.
It's that businesses need to understand how the different parts of their Microsoft environment work together, and whether they're getting meaningful value from that investment.
8 ways to get more from your Microsoft investment
1BASELINE WHERE YOU ARE TODAYBuild a clear picture of your existing Microsoft environment, capabilities and current adoption.
2MEASURE AGAINST BEST PRACTICECompare that baseline against relevant industry best practice. This can help distinguish genuine gaps from areas where existing capability could simply be better used.
3MAXIMISE WHAT YOU ALREADY PAY FORBefore investing in additional technology, understand the capabilities you already have available and whether you're actually making use of them.
4IDENTIFY AND PRIORITISE THE GAPSOnce you understand the current position, identify what is genuinely missing and prioritise what needs attention.
5BUILD SECURITY INTO AI ADOPTIONAI shouldn't be treated separately from security. Microsoft's direction places Defender and Purview as an important foundation underneath AI adoption.
6KEEP GOVERNANCE IN THE PICTUREAI shouldn't be treated separately from security. Microsoft's direction places Defender and Purview as an important foundation underneath AI adoption.
7PLAN FOR SKILLS AS WELL AS TECHNOLOGYAs organisations move towards agentic AI, consider the skills required alongside the technology instead of treating skilling as an afterthought.
8BRING IN THE RIGHT EXPERTISEAs organisations move towards agentic AI, consider the skills required alongside the technology instead of treating skilling as an afterthought.
|
The best next investment might be the one you've already made
Microsoft's direction can create a temptation to focus on what to buy or deploy next. But getting more value doesn't necessarily start with adding more technology.
It starts with understanding what you've already invested in.
Are existing capabilities being fully used? Are there gaps that genuinely require further investment, or could they be addressed by configuring and adopting what you already have more effectively? And as AI becomes more embedded in the business, do your security, governance and skills keep pace?
That changes the conversation from “What's the next Microsoft product we need?” to “How do we make our Microsoft investment work harder?”
Getting more from Microsoft with Intercity
That's where Intercity's role fits naturally.
Rather than starting with another product, the first step is understanding where you are today. That means establishing a baseline, measuring against best practice, identifying gaps and looking at how effectively you're using the Microsoft technology you already have.
From there, you can make clearer decisions about what comes next, whether that's strengthening the security foundations around AI, improving governance, addressing skills or making better use of existing capabilities.
Because successful Microsoft investment isn't about having the most technology.
It's about getting the right value from the technology you've invested in.
Watch whenever suits you
Short enough for a lunch break
Watch: What's next from Microsoft?
Microsoft's approach to AI, security and governance continues to develop. Understanding how those changes fit together can help you make more informed decisions about where to focus next.
Watch the full What's next for Microsoft? on-demand session with Simon Mullins, Microsoft Solutions Specialist at Intercity, for a closer look at Microsoft's priorities, AI, Defender, Purview, ISOC and eight practical ways to maximise your Microsoft investment.
