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Microsoft Ignite 2024 was a masterclass in innovation and a clear roadmap for the future of enterprise technology. As we continue to help our clients navigate the ever-evolving IT landscape, attending Ignite reaffirmed the importance of staying at the forefront of emerging trends. Here's what stood out to me as a CTO—and how these lessons will shape Coretek’s strategies in the months ahead.
AI: Moving From Assistance to Actionable Intelligence
If there’s one message Microsoft delivered loud and clear, it’s this: AI is no longer a nice to have tool; it’s a necessity for business efficiency. From Microsoft 365 Copilot’s seamless integration into everyday workflows to the game-changing potential of Azure OpenAI, AI isn’t just about doing tasks faster, it’s about making them smarter.
At Coretek, we’re driven and focused on AI innovation. Our focus is to help organizations implement AI responsibly and effectively, empowering teams to make informed decisions with confidence. Whether it’s improving healthcare operations or streamlining supply chain logistics, AI’s potential is limitless—and we’re ready to unlock it for our clients.
Future of Windows is AI and Cloud-powered
Microsoft is pushing the boundaries to continue making Windows the most secure and performant operating system, the best platform for AI, and extending it to more jobs in more organizations with Windows 365. Windows 365 Link is the first Cloud PC device purpose-built by Microsoft to connect directly to Windows 365 in seconds. It enables users to work securely in a familiar Windows desktop in the Microsoft Cloud with a responsive, high-fidelity experience.
Another new offer is Windows 365 Frontline Shared; this delivers the same secure and high-fidelity Windows experience cost-effectively for a single endpoint to be used by multiple people during their workday. It is designed for employees who need to use Windows 365 occasionally as part of their job rather than working full-time on a Cloud PC.
At Coretek, we work every day to adopt new technology releases and integrate them into needed use cases to create both cost-efficiency as well as bettering user experiences across multiple use cases.
Hybrid Cloud: The Foundation of Modern IT
One of the most exciting sessions was on Azure Arc and its ability to unify cloud and on-prem environments. As organizations grapple with increasingly complex IT ecosystems, the hybrid cloud has become the clear solution for scalability and flexibility.
Optimize operations across hybrid, multi-cloud, edge, and IoT environments: Azure Local is a new, cloud-controlled, hybrid infrastructure platform enabled by Azure Arc. Azure Local extends Azure services to customers distributed and on-premises locations, addressing both mission-critical and cloud-native applications like AI with flexibility and scalability. Partnerships with OEMs like Dell, HP, and Lenovo provide secure and pre-validated hardware integrated with cloud-based services. Coretek has established partnerships with the above OEMs from small industrial PCs to Enterprise Class deployments. Now in general availability.
SQL Server 2025 —an enterprise AI-ready database platform that leverages Azure Arc to deliver cloud agility anywhere. This new version continues its industry-leading security and performance and has AI built-in, simplifying AI application development and retrieval augmented generation (RAG) patterns with secure, performant, and easy-to-use vector support. In private preview
Hot patching subscription option enabled by Azure Arc: We recently announced the general availability of Windows Server 2025, with new features that include easier upgrades, advanced security, and capabilities that enable AI and machine learning. Additionally, Windows Server 2025 is previewing a hot patching subscription option enabled by Azure Arc that will allow organizations to install updates with fewer restarts – a major time saver.
Coretek has been a long-time leader in hybrid solutions and Ignite reinforced the importance of hybrid cloud for operational resilience. We’re eager to leverage Azure Arc and other tools to help clients manage and secure their multi-cloud environments without sacrificing performance or visibility.
Security at the Speed of Innovation
Security was a star of the show this year, especially with the introduction of Microsoft Security Copilot. As threats grow more sophisticated, the ability to respond quickly and intelligently is paramount.
Coretek is already aligned with Microsoft’s Zero Trust philosophy, and Security Copilot’s AI-driven insights will be a game-changer for our clients. From proactive threat detection to streamlined compliance with frameworks like CMMC, we’re committed to keeping our customers’ environments secure, no matter the challenge.
Accelerate App Innovation with an AI-powered Data Platform with Microsoft Fabric
Coretek believes in the future of data and AI and the convergence of all your data services into a single unified, open, and extensible platform. Designed to help organizations power their AI transformation and reimagine how to connect, manage, and analyze their data, Microsoft Fabric is an all-in-one, Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) platform with AI-powered services to accomplish any data project.
AI Functions in Microsoft Fabric: This feature enables users to perform text-related tasks easily with minimal code in Fabric. Notebook users can efficiently handle tasks with text summarization, classification, sentiment analysis, grammar correction and more. These functions provide a simplified API for the most used AI enrichments, making it easier to readily apply them with fewer lines of code. In public preview.
Specialized Solutions for Every Industry
Microsoft’s push for industry-specific clouds is a recognition that one size does not fit all. Whether it’s Azure for Healthcare or AI tools tailored for manufacturing, Ignite highlighted how vertical solutions can deliver more value, faster.
At Coretek, we see this as a golden opportunity to deepen our impact in sectors like healthcare and financial services. We’re working to deliver industry-specific solutions that align with unique business needs and regulatory requirements, driving innovation where it matters most.
Sustainability: IT’s Role in a Greener Future
Microsoft’s emphasis on sustainability was both timely and inspiring. From tools to measure your carbon footprint to strategies for greener data center operations, Ignite reminded us that IT leaders have a crucial role to play in building a sustainable future.
At Ignite, Microsoft announced the general availability of Microsoft Fabric Sustainability data solutions. This new feature is designed to empower organizations to compute, analyze, and disclose their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) metrics with unprecedented ease and accuracy. Sustainability data solutions in Microsoft Fabric provide a comprehensive suite of tools that include prebuilt and preconfigured resources such as data lakes, notebooks, and dashboards. These resources are designed to ingest, process, aggregate, and display data for various ESG scenarios, making it easier for organizations to manage their sustainability data.
At Coretek, sustainability is more than a trend—it’s a commitment. We’re integrating these principles into our projects, ensuring our clients can meet their environmental goals while optimizing costs and resources.
Looking Ahead
Microsoft Ignite 2024 wasn’t just an event, it was a call to action. As a CTO, I left inspired by the possibilities and reassured that Coretek is heading in the right direction. Our mission remains clear: to deliver secure, scalable, and transformative solutions that help our clients succeed in an ever-changing world.
The future is here, and it’s powered by AI, Security, and Cloud, and a commitment to innovation. Let’s embrace it together.
Ready to transform your IT strategy? Let’s talk.