intY 2022 Wrapped: a year of memorable moments and key developments for MSPs
- Marcus Ollenbuttel
- Company News
Now that 2022 has wrapped and we look ahead to the new year, it’s time to reflect on all the exciting things that have happened at intY over the past 12 months:
More of our MSP partners than ever before have grown their businesses.
We’ve seen multiple new launches and interesting changes to existing products, as well as some significant events and newsworthy highlights.
From in-person events to in-depth virtual training, we’ve brought you more of the tools and resources you need to succeed.
Let’s dive in and take a closer look at what made 2022 such a memorable year. We’ll highlight some of the most significant ways we’ve supported MSPs in their development and look ahead to the exciting opportunities the new year will bring.
New Launches: Azure Ascend, Zebra Workforce Connect and more
This year, we launched Azure Ascend, a comprehensive 5-stage training and enablement program for partners. It includes e-learning, interactive sessions with experts, and ongoing support to track progress. The program covers the full range of Azure offerings and helps partners build their expertise and bring new solutions to customers.
Azure Ascend has been a huge success, with many of our partners praising its thorough and interactive approach to learning. It’s been an invaluable resource for partners as they navigate the complexities of the cloud and grow their practices.
In August, we launched Zebra’s Workforce Connect, a product that’s targeted specifically at frontline workers. Workforce Connect enables instant voice chat capability, enterprise-class messaging, and location-based tracking services for a variety of industries. It’s the first of its kind offered by intY, and we’re excited to see the impact it will have on workers and businesses in fields like manufacturing, logistics, and healthcare.
In addition to these new products, we’ve been working hard to build a suite of PSA billing integrations to help our partners manage their cloud business more effectively. The first of these integrations we now provide is – Autotask, and we’re really excited about it. With this integration, our partners will be able to seamlessly connect their PSA system to CASCADE and streamline their billing and invoicing processes, helping you to run all aspects of your business at peak efficiency.
Another successful initiative has been our new collaboration with Elysian IT, a specialist in Azure professional services, which has bolstered our in-house capability. This partnership allows partners to book sessions through our Azure Practice to help scope and deploy your customers’ IT infrastructure into Azure. It means you can work with a leading team of Azure experts to enhance your offering – delivering scalable, secure and governed cloud solutions. This is a great opportunity for our partners to tap into the expertise of both intY and Elysian IT to explore the full capabilities of Azure.
Key changes to existing products: Microsoft’s New Commerce Experience and the Microsoft Cloud Partner Program
2022 saw many significant changes to existing SaaS solutions. One of the biggest changes was Microsoft’s New Commerce Experience, which required all partners to switch to the new model for licensing. This caused a great deal of upheaval in the industry, but we’re confident it will ultimately lead to a better experience for our partners.
The New Commerce Experience replaces the legacy CSP licensing program and is designed to provide a more streamlined and simplified way to transact and sell Microsoft licenses. All partners should have switched by 1st January 2023, but if you’re finding the transition challenging, we’re here to support you so please get in touch.
Along with the New Commerce Experience, Microsoft also replaced the Microsoft Partner Network with the Microsoft Cloud Partner Program (MCPP). This change was announced in September and took effect on 1st October. Under the new program, the Silver and Gold badges have been replaced by 6 solution designations that are intended to better demonstrate the ability to meet specific customer needs.
The 6 solution designations include Azure Infrastructure, Azure Data & AI, Azure Apps & Innovation, Modern Workplace, Security and Business Applications. We’re looking forward to upskilling our team in these key areas as well as supporting partners to successfully earn yours.
Significant events: in-person meetings and moments
In 2022 we were able to get out and meet our partners in person again, which was hugely enjoyable after such a long period of remote communication.
We hosted a number of in-person events, including:
Microsoft Masterclass at Microsoft HQ in Reading: This event featured presentations from intY Microsoft consultants and security experts, as well as Partner Development Manager and Partner Technology Strategist from Microsoft. Attendees had the chance to learn about the benefits of intY’s Azure and Modern Workplace Practices, discuss their own experiences with Microsoft, and gain access to marketing, technical support, and training. There was also an opportunity to network with other MSPs and hear updates from Microsoft Inspire, the company’s annual global partner event. The event was well-received, with attendees praising the presentations and valuable insights shared.
Cyber security event at the Churchill War Rooms in London.
At ‘Why intY for security?’ we were thrilled to see such a strong turnout and positive response from attendees. The event, which focused on the importance of comprehensive security in the face of the ever-evolving threat landscape, featured presentations from a range of industry-leading security vendors. Attendees had the opportunity to learn directly from the experts and network with partners, making it a valuable and well-received addition to our event lineup for the year.
Azure Ascend Base Camp at Microsoft HQ.
This workshop was a huge success, with attendees gaining valuable insights into how Azure can benefit their businesses. Led by experts from intY and Microsoft, as well as our Azure Professional Services Partner Elysian IT, attendees learned about the commercial opportunities of Azure and received hands-on training on building solutions using the platform. The workshop even included Azure credit for attendees to try building solutions live. With a full agenda of presentations and demonstrations, attendees had the opportunity to ask questions and receive specialized advice from the experts and it was great to see so many of our partners already on board with Azure Ascend.
Barracuda Roundtable:
The intY Barracuda event held at Twickenham Stadium in December 2022 was really well received. Barracuda’s experts shared the benefits of partnering with Barracuda MSP and intY. Attendees were informed about the latest cybersecurity technologies and how to redefine their cybersecurity functions
These events were a great opportunity for us to connect with our partners face-to-face and share knowledge and insights about the latest developments in the tech industry. We’ll be continuing this tradition in the coming year and hosting even more events for our partners.
If you’re interested in any of the events mentioned above register your interest here.
Newsworthy highlights: intY’s 25th anniversary and team expansion
We had a number of memorable highlights this year that really stood out.
One of the biggest highlights was celebrating our 25th anniversary in tech. It feels incredible to have been in business for a quarter of a century. We’ve been through a long and fascinating journey – but we couldn’t have done it without our partners. We’re grateful for all the support we’ve received over the years and are excited to continue our successful collaborations as we embark on the next 25 years.
Finally, we’re thrilled to be in a position to grow our team as we head into 2023. We put people at the centre of everything we do and value the diverse backgrounds, interests, and talents of our employees. Innovation and creativity are encouraged from every team member and we offer flexible working arrangements to support personal and professional growth. We’re excited about the fresh perspectives and expertise our new team members will bring to the table, and are looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together. Head here for our current opportunities.
Looking ahead to 2023
So, that’s a wrap for 2022. It’s been a busy and rewarding year for intY, and we’re looking forward to all the exciting things that the future has in store. Thank you to our partners for your continued support – we couldn’t have done it without you. Watch out for our emails and blogs bringing you exciting new announcements, events, product developments, launches and business opportunities. Here’s to a bright and successful 2023.
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