Your monthly intelligence on leading the next wave of cloud ecosystems
This edition delivers a strategic lens on the evolving cloud landscape, where modernization is no longer a destination but a dynamic, data-driven journey.
We explore how Microsoft’s latest innovations are redefining migration intelligence. From secure, scalable modernization frameworks to governance strategies that tame digital sprawl, this issue equips forward-thinking leaders with the insights needed to architect future-ready cloud ecosystems.
Whether you're optimizing legacy workloads or pioneering AI-native experiences, the ideas here will help you lead with clarity, velocity, and impact.
In this edition you will find:
🗓️ 1 2toLead Feature Webinar
📰 9 Articles To Stay Ahead in the Industry
📈 1 Resource Radar to Increase Productivity
📚 1 Expert Insight
Gone are the days when organizations could afford to be solely reactive in their approach to IT governance and digital workplace migration. The AI era demands a proactive stance.
Key Takeaways: 💡
LATEST NEWS
In a significant move towards smarter and cost-transparent cloud modernization, Microsoft announced the General Availability of Continuous Migration Assessment for SQL Server enabled by Azure Arc on July 7, 2025.
This release transforms migration planning into a guided, self-service experience. The tool consists of a modern interface, showing real-time pricing, cost-saving options, and a clear breakdown of expenses like compute and storage. It also automates complex tasks like pricing updates and strategy suggestions, helping teams make faster, smarter decisions about migrating to Azure with more confidence and better results.
Big change on the horizon: on July 16, 2025, Microsoft will retire the legacy Data Migration Assistant (DMA). This shift highlights Microsoft’s move to a single, streamlined migration story and it’s one we’re excited about! It's a win for teams on every level!
What’s replacing it?
Adopting these integrated tools removes the clutter of utilities, cuts manual effort, and gives your team a repeatable pathway to cloud modernization at scale.
Azure’s Database Migration Service (DMS) now supports Managed Identity when moving data to Azure SQL Managed Instance. You will no longer need to use special access keys (SAS keys) to read backups from Azure Blob Storage. Instead, you can use the built-in identity of your target database. Just assign the “Storage Blob Data Reader” role to it, and you're good to go. This makes setup simpler, improves security, and helps you stay compliant with best practices.
LATEST NEWS
Whether you're modernizing legacy systems or scaling intelligent workflows, Model Context Protocol (MCP) offers a blueprint for accelerating AI outcomes without compromising trust. Learn how this protocol bridges the gap between context-rich data and real-time decision-making—empowering teams to move from insight to action in record time.
Azure App Service now supports outbound IPv6 connections for Windows-based web apps. This means your apps can connect to modern networks that use IPv6—without changing your code. Learn how to turn this on in shared environments, helping you stay ready for the future, simplify your setup, and connect to the latest cloud services.
If you're using Strapi on Azure App Service, discover how to automate secret management using Azure Key Vault. This step-by-step guide helps you avoid handling credentials manually, reduce security risks, and stay compliant—so your team can focus on building great content-driven apps without worrying about security gaps.
LATEST NEWS
Whether you're creating AI tools or adding security checks to your development process, these SDKs help you automatically label and classify data. Discover how to connect Purview’s powerful metadata tools directly into your apps—no more writing complex scripts or managing policies by hand. This update is a key step for anyone working on secure, modern cloud systems.
This guide explains how the new Graph eDiscovery API can automatically place legal holds and search through content in detail. Explore real examples, like handling data rules across different regions and using AI to improve search results. If your team is updating its compliance process, this step-by-step guide will show you how to build a modern, cloud-based eDiscovery system that can grow with your business.
If you use Microsoft Sentinel, it’s time to switch to the new Microsoft Defender portal. Learn how to move from the old Sentinel dashboards to the updated Defender interface. This change brings better tools for analyzing threats, combining alerts, and fixing issues faster by showing both XDR and SIEM data in one place. It’s more than just a new look—it’s a big upgrade that helps your security team work smarter and faster. Get your Azure setup ready for the change.
If your organization struggles with content sprawl, this guide offers insights that can help streamline content management, improve collaboration, and drive successful digital transformation.
As organizations increasingly rely on Microsoft SharePoint and Teams for collaboration, they face the growing challenge of an uncontrolled spread of digital content. Rapid tool adoption, lack of oversight, and insufficient governance policies often cause this issue, resulting in disorganized workspaces, security risks, and unnecessary costs. Our experts provide practical strategies for organizations to address these challenges in this toolkit created for you.
Feeling buried under outdated policies and scattered documents? In this case study, you’ll discover how a global manufacturer:
This isn’t just a theory, it’s a proven, step‑by‑step playbook that slashes search time, restores trust, and keeps your workforce informed and productive. Don’t settle for another “landfill” of forgotten files.
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