TrustedTech Presents The Microsoft Playbook - M365 Licensing Changes for 2026

TrustedTech Presents The Microsoft Playbook - Azure Cost Optimization

Are you overspending in Azure without realizing it? In this episode of The Microsoft Playbook, we break down one of the most common (and costly) challenges in the cloud: Azure sprawl and how it silently drives up your monthly bill. Joined by Heath Madison, Senior Director of Professional Services, we explore real-world examples of cloud waste, including a case where a company reduced an Azure service from $125,000/month to just $800/month without sacrificing performance. You’ll learn why Azure costs spiral out of control, why native tools only tell part of the story, and how organizations consistently uncover 20–30% savings in annual Azure spend. Whether you're already in Azure or planning your cloud strategy, this episode will help you think more strategically about cost, governance, and long-term optimization. Chapters 00:00 – Intro 00:13 – What is Azure sprawl? 01:00 – How cloud convenience leads to overspending 02:07 – Real-world example: $125K vs $800 ExpressRoute 03:28 – Why optimization isn’t a one-time fix 03:59 – What Azure Cost Management tools provide 04:44 – The limits of automated recommendations 05:44 – Why strategy matters in rightsizing 06:08 – How Trusted Advisors help control costs 06:56 – Catching unexpected Azure spend spikes 07:11 – Typical savings: 20–30% in Azure spend 07:43 – Eliminating orphaned and unused resources 08:00 – Why security matters in cloud optimization 08:28 – Governance and operational excellence 08:42 – Why Microsoft relies on partners 09:23 – What makes TrustedTech different 10:27 – Outro #azure #azureservices #cloudcomputing #microsoftazure #cloudcosts #finops #cloudstrategy #itinfrastructure #techleadership #digitaltransformation

TrustedTech Presents The Microsoft Playbook - Solution Partner Designation: Support Services

In this episode of TrustedTech Presents: The Microsoft Playbook, we dive into the evolving Microsoft support landscape and what it means for customers today. Joined by Mark Claremont, Director of Cloud Services at TrustedTech, we break down Microsoft’s shift toward leveraging CSP partners for support delivery and why that’s creating major opportunities for organizations looking for faster, more responsive service. TrustedTech is proud to be one of the first companies globally to earn Microsoft’s new Solution Partner Designation for Support Services, launched in late 2025 and awarded in early 2026. This designation recognizes elite operational performance, including response times, escalation rates, and customer satisfaction. In this conversation, we cover: * Why Microsoft is pushing more support responsibilities to partners * How Microsoft measures partner support performance * What it takes to earn the Support Services Solution Partner designation * TrustedTech’s reactive and proactive support model * Key performance metrics, including: * Under 10-minute first response times * 15% escalation rate to Microsoft Premier Support * 99.2% customer satisfaction rate Whether you're transitioning from Unified Support, exploring CSP options, or simply looking to consolidate licensing and support under one trusted partner, this episode explains how TrustedTech delivers both competitive pricing and enterprise-grade support, reactive and proactive, all under one roof. Explore our various Microsoft Support offerings: https://www.trustedtechteam.com/pages/professional-services-overview [https://www.trustedtechteam.com/pages/professional-services-overview] https://www.trustedtechteam.com/pages/reactive-support [https://www.trustedtechteam.com/pages/reactive-support] https://www.trustedtechteam.com/blogs/news/microsoft-support-services-designation [https://www.trustedtechteam.com/blogs/news/microsoft-support-services-designation]   Chapter List 00:00 – Introduction 00:15 – What’s Changing in the Microsoft Support Market? 00:49 – Why Microsoft Is Shifting Support to CSP Partners 01:16 – How Microsoft Measures Partner Support Performance 01:37 – New Solution Partner Designation for Support Services 02:01 – How TrustedTech Earned the Designation 02:34 – TrustedTech’s Support Promise & Performance Metrics 03:42 – Reactive vs. Proactive Support Explained 04:19 – Benefits of Partnering with TrustedTech 05:05 – How to Get Started with TrustedTech   #MicrosoftSupport, #MicrosoftCSP, #SolutionPartner, #TrustedTech, #CloudSupport, #ITSupport, #MicrosoftPartners, #UnifiedSupportAlternative, #CloudServices, #MicrosoftPlaybook

TrustedTech Presents The Microsoft Playbook - M365 Licensing Changes for 2026

Microsoft 365 licensing is changing, and if you’re not prepared, it could cost you. In this episode of The Microsoft Playbook, we sit down with Haley Alfonso, Account Executive Team Lead at TrustedTech, to break down the upcoming Microsoft M365 price increases taking effect July 1st and what organizations should do right now to get ahead of them.   We cover: ✅ What’s driving the 5–33% Microsoft price increase ✅ Which organizations are impacted (commercial, government, and nonprofit) ✅ New features being added to core M365 licenses, including Copilot Chat, Defender, Intune, and security enhancements ✅ How TrustedTech helps customers lock in savings, consolidate licensing, and avoid over- or under-licensing ✅ Why acting early with renewals and promotions can make a major financial difference   If you’re managing Microsoft 365 licensing, planning renewals, or trying to reduce IT spend in 2025 and beyond, this episode is a must-watch. 📈Check out our blog post on M365 Price Increases for 2026 https://www.trustedtechteam.com/blogs/news/microsoft-365-price-increases-2026-and-current-discounts [https://www.trustedtechteam.com/blogs/news/microsoft-365-price-increases-2026-and-current-discounts] 📞Talk to TrustedTech to get proactive, lock in pricing, and make sure your licensing aligns with your long-term IT strategy. Find out more about our M365 Solutions https://www.trustedtechteam.com/pages/microsoft-365-solutions [https://www.trustedtechteam.com/pages/microsoft-365-solutions]   Chapter List 00:00 – Why TrustedTech takes a proactive approach to licensing 00:15 – Introduction to the Microsoft Playbook & today’s topic 00:44 – Microsoft’s upcoming M365 price increase (what & when) 01:05 – Who is impacted by the July 1st increase 01:17 – New features added to M365 licenses 01:25 – Copilot Chat, Intune, Defender & security enhancements explained 01:56 – What customers are most concerned about right now 02:04 – Promotions, bundles, and how to get ahead of renewals 02:30 – “Act now” strategy to lock in pricing 02:39 – What differentiates TrustedTech from other CSPs 03:31 – How TrustedTech’s licensing consultation works 03:54 – Inside the TrustedTech self-service licensing portal 04:42 – Licensing consultation vs. professional services assessments 05:13 – How to mitigate price increases before July 1st 05:29 – Closing thoughts & next steps   #Microsoft365, #M365, #MicrosoftLicensing, #MicrosoftCopilot, #ITCostOptimization, #CloudLicensing, #CSP, #MicrosoftSecurity,#TrustedTech, #MicrosoftPlaybook

TrustedTech Presents The Microsoft Playbook - Modern Phishing

In this episode of The Microsoft Playbook, we delve into the latest and most creative phishing threats [https://www.trustedtechteam.com/blogs/security/modern-threats-advanced-phishing-and-identity-based-attacks]. Joined by Andy Nolan, Director of Strategic Programs at TrustedTech, we unpack real-world phishing scenarios that go far beyond the classic “reset your password” email. From deceptive look-alike domains like rnicrosoft.com, to malicious PDFs to physical attacks involving infected USB drives, this conversation highlights how a single click or plug-in can lead to catastrophic security breaches. You’ll hear firsthand stories from Andy’s 15+ years in IT and security, including: * How a simple phishing email led to a massive data exposure in the adult entertainment industry * How nation-state attacks leveraged human curiosity with physical media * Why Microsoft Defender’s layered protections are critical in stopping these threats before they escalate We also cover how Microsoft Defender works behind the scenes, URL detonation, sandboxing, domain reputation checks, USB controls, anomaly detection, and how TrustedTech’s Cloud Security [https://www.trustedtechteam.com/pages/cybersecurity-it-solutions] Envisioning Workshop helps organizations identify gaps and strengthen their security posture before attackers do. Whether you’re an IT leader, security professional, or simply want to understand modern phishing, this episode equips you with the knowledge to recognize real-world threats, protect your organization, and apply expert-backed strategies for improved security.   Chapter List 00:13 – Welcome to the Microsoft Playbook: Modern phishing overview 01:05 – How phishing has evolved (AI, deepfakes, and tailored attacks) 01:26 – Real-world phishing breach in the adult entertainment industry 02:46 – Why “low-privilege” users still pose high risk 03:54 – The cascading impact of a single phishing email 05:02 – Full network compromise: what went wrong 05:39 – How Microsoft Defender could have prevented the breach 07:04 – Physical phishing: infected USB drives and human curiosity 08:09 – Nation-state attacks and the Iran centrifuge example 09:22 – Defender protections: USB control, behavior monitoring, anomaly detection 10:54 – Look-alike domains and the rn vs m phishing technique 13:01 – Domain reputation, URL verification, and Defender URL Defense 15:51 – How TrustedTech helps secure environments with Microsoft Defender 17:01 – Closing thoughts and final takeaways   #phishing #cybersecurity #phishingawareness #microsoftdefender #cloudsecurity #zerotrust #securityoperations #threatdetection #trustedtech #informationsecurity

TrustedTech Presents the Microsoft Playbook - Service Provider Licensing Agreement (SPLA) Changes

Welcome back to another episode of The Microsoft Playbook! In this conversation, we sit down with Luan Tran our Lead Account Manager for Legacy Sales to break down everything you need to know about SPLA (Service Provider Licensing Agreement) — one of Microsoft’s most widely used licensing models for service providers. With major changes taking effect as of October 1, 2025, many organizations are unsure how these updates impact compliance, cloud usage, and their long-term licensing strategies. Luan walks us through: * What SPLA is and who it’s designed for [https://www.trustedtechteam.com/blogs/news/the-end-of-microsoft-spla-licensing-in-public-clouds] * Why Microsoft is shifting away from SPLA usage in public cloud environments * What organizations need to do to stay compliant * The best alternative licensing models, including Pay-As-You-Go, BYOL (Bring Your Own License), Open Value, and MPSA * The future of SPLA beyond 2025 If you’re a service provider, host, or IT leader trying to navigate Microsoft licensing changes, this episode is packed with clarity and guidance. Find out more on The End of Microsoft SPLA Licensing in Public Clouds https://www.trustedtechteam.com/blogs/news/the-end-of-microsoft-spla-licensing-in-public-clouds [https://www.trustedtechteam.com/blogs/news/the-end-of-microsoft-spla-licensing-in-public-clouds]   Chapters 00:00 – Intro 00:18 – Welcome to the Microsoft Playbook 00:34 – What is SPLA and who uses it? 01:07 – What changed on October 1, 2025? 01:52 – Why Microsoft is making these SPLA changes 02:21 – How to know if your organization needs to transition 02:58 – What the shift means for service providers 03:22 – Alternative licensing models to consider 04:07 – How Luan advises customers on choosing a path 04:28 – What happens to SPLA after October 1? 05:21 – SPLA isn’t going away — just evolving 05:23 – Wrap-up and closing