7 WE LCOME : S UMME R 2 0 2 2 A time for change ANDY C L AY TON - SM I TH : E X E CUT I V E ED I TOR The subject of security is never far away from the minds of enterprise and public sector leaders. From offering secure online retail facilities to guaranteeing the availability of critical healthcare services, it is paramount for all organisations to counter the challenge of cyberattacks in a digital world. Along with developing key technologies that enable resilience across the entire security landscape, Microsoft has also gathered together a community of partners specialising in cyberattack detection and prevention. The Microsoft Intelligent Security Association (MISA), launched in 2018, now comprises well over 300 members, all of which are committed to providing customers with end-to-end secure operations. In our cover story starting on page 42 we talk with MISA lead Maria Thompson, along with Microsoft security leads Vasu Jakkal and Rob Lefferts, about the advances being made in countering the global threat of cyberattack. Since its launch in 2020, the World Economic Forum’s Reskilling Revolution initiative has fundamentally changed the attitudes of organisations when considering the ongoing education and training of their workforces. The need for employers to provide their personnel with better education, new skills and more productive work environments is now essential. This is particularly true in manufacturing, where the adoption of new technology can yield visible impact on established ways of working. In our feature starting on page 130, Microsoft’s Abid Chaudhry shares how tools such as Microsoft 365 and Cloud for Manufacturing are connecting workers in entirely new ways and shaping the future of a rapidly transforming industry. As leaders across all industry sectors explore new ways of working, Microsoft has also taken stock of the changing role of technology in an era of digital transformation. At its State of the Partner Ecosystem presentation in March 2022, vice president for global partner solutions Nick Parker announced the launch of the Microsoft Cloud Partner Program – the first major evolution of the Microsoft partner programme in 15 years, designed to create new opportunities for partners and customers alike. We take some time to talk further with him about this new partner ecosystem, the ongoing impact of digital transformation on the traditional workplace and Microsoft’s vision for the future of work in a post-pandemic world on page 34. A packed issue! I hope you enjoy the read.
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