At the meeting Javier Lozano , CEO of Nanfor , presents and explains the details of the successful SUMMER CAMP Marketing campaign.
Nanfor is a Microsoft Gold Partner , an indication that you will receive the highest quality course content and official certifications .
]]>Certified teams responsible for core IT activities are generally 20% more productive than non-certified staff
]]>Trained and certified teams translate to performance boosts across the organizational and personal spectrum. IDC found that certified teams responsible for core IT activities are generally 20% more productive than uncertified staff. 1 Skillsoft's 2021 annual IT Skills and Salary Survey found that, after certification 49% of respondents felt that the quality of their work had improved; 39% of respondents were more engaged with their work; and 27% were faster at performing their jobs. 2
How do you ensure that your training maximizes these benefits for your own team? The answer: Look for a full-service, end-to-end training partner. Where you're the expert in assembling a team that gets the IT job done every time, Microsoft Learning Partners are the specialists in ensuring your team has the right skills to tackle today's tasks and tomorrow's challenges, from identifying the skill gaps to filling them and keeping them up to date.
Possibly the best way to find out what Microsoft Learning Partners do is to hear it from those who have benefited most: the customers. For a closer look at what an end-to-end training approach looks like for organizations, watch Skill up with Microsoft Learning Partners .
Skill up with Microsoft Learning Partners
To get what you need from your training investment it's critical to identify the skills your team needs and what your desired end-state is from the beginning. This is probably the most important benefit of end-to-end services. Microsoft Learning Partners help you identify and focus your learning initiative on the specific requirements and impact you need from the program. They'll develop a deep understanding of your pain points and motivations and proactively guide you and your team to learning solutions you may not otherwise have considered. They'll start with assessments to identify knowledge gaps. They may even help you create a career or role framework for families of jobs to help you plan customized learning pathways with professional certifications that support your skill and development priorities.
It can be daunting to plan out even a single person's training and certification plan. A team-wide learning initiative goes well beyond that. It must meet not only the goals and performance needs of the team, but also help fulfill the career desires of your team members, keeping them satisfied and moving forward in their careers. This is exactly what Microsoft Learning Partners do. They can take the burden off you and your team by managing multiple trainers, ensuring the curriculum is aligned, coordinating the activities, and even monitoring and managing the program's progress. That's a lot taken off your plate.
Microsoft Learning Partners have the end-to-end capability to help you create an experience that meets your unique business objectives. They give you a single source—a true partner with the capacity to plan and offer everything your team needs and then to help you see that larger journey, as well as the individual training journeys within it.
As you plan your approach and engage with Microsoft Learning Partners, keep in mind these three areas where Learning Partners make the biggest difference to you and your team. Ask them these simple but essential questions as you consider a good Learning Partner fit:
By: Debbie Uttecht
Original source: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-learn-blog/skill-up-with-microsoft-learning-partners/ba-p/2319538
]]>Microsoft has announced the Climate Research Initiative (MCRI-) , made up of a community of multidisciplinary researchers who will work collaboratively to address and fight climate change .
The experts who make up the initiative offer transdisciplinary and diverse expertise, particularly in areas beyond traditional computing, such as environmental sciences, chemistry, and a variety of engineering disciplines. Initially, they will focus on three critical areas within climate research, where computational advances can drive key scientific transformations: overcome limitations for decarbonization , reduce uncertainties in carbon accounting and assess climate risks in more detail .
It is expected that all results of this initiative are made public and are freely available to the scientific community and further promote research and the search for solutions to these important climate problems.
Among the research projects, one of the University of Valencia and the University of Reading (UK), which together with Microsoft Research seeks to develop a new generation of AI algorithms to model and understand the impact of humanitarian interventions on food security in Africa .
The project Causal4Africa, where the teacher works Gustau Camps-Valls from the University of Valencia, Ted Shepherd from University of Reading and the experts at Microsoft Research Alberto Arribas Herranz, Emre Kiciman and Lester Mackey, investigates the problem of food security in Africa from a novel point of view of causal inference and with the help of AI.
Among its objectives is demonstrate the usefulness of causal Machine Learning approaches for climate risk assessment , by allowing the interpretation and evaluation of the probabilities and possible consequences of specific human interventions.
Other projects in which Microsoft Research experts collaborate with scientists, researchers and universities from around the world, focus on finding new ways to improve carbon accounting; the reduction and elimination of CO2 and environmental resilience projects.
Learn more about the Microsoft Climate Research Initiative -MCRI-) in the Microsoft Research Blog .
Original source: Microsoft News Center
]]> As a sponsor of Microsoft Inspire , we are pleased to invite you to one of the largest partner events in the world.
Register here to access all the global sessions that will take place on July 19 and 20, 2022 , in which Microsoft leaders will present the priorities for the new year, we will celebrate achievements and you will be able to learn about new opportunities to develop and expand your business.
The event will be held in digital format and is open to the entire partner ecosystem and anyone interested in collaborating and generating business with Microsoft.
Connect to the Spanish session on July 19 from 10:00 to 12:15
In addition to the global event, we invite you to also register for the local session for Spanish partners. In these two previous hours, the Microsoft Spain management team will share the local priorities that have been set, as well as the challenges and opportunities that our partners may find in the Spanish market.
Please note that you must register for each event separately in order to connect:
Is a free online training, Don't miss this opportunity and register: Microsoft Events
]]>Microsoft is pleased to invite its partners to this two-day training where they can prepare to obtain the AZ-104: Microsoft Azure Administrator certification.
It is a free and online training, do not miss this opportunity and register: Microsoft Events
Last week Nanfor, along with one of his teachers @Peter Frank Diaz Rosales, was present at the "Days of the Defenders with Microsoft".
This event was held at the Microsoft offices in Madrid, for Spanish and Portuguese partners. They were 3 incredible days of learning and immersion in security practices with Microsoft #Defender and #Sentinel.
]]>Nanfor complies with the Microsoft code of conduct, according to the following principles:
Microsoft is committed to maintaining a high standard on human rights and fair labor practices in its supply chain and we appreciate your company's ongoing efforts to ensure its compliance with Microsoft's supplier requirements, as well as all applicable domestic and foreign laws and regulations.
The Microsoft data region in Spain, announced two years ago and which along the way has found support in Telefónica's infrastructure among other partners, will see the light of day before the end of the year. This was confirmed by Brad Smith, global president of Microsoft, during a meeting in Spain, part of an authentic international 'tour' that has included stops in countries as diverse as Germany, the United Kingdom and Brussels.
"We are no longer talking about years, but about months. It will be soon and 2022 will be a great, very important year for us," the executive indicated. "It is almost here, because until now the data was in Dublin or Amsterdam. With these new data centers, we will be able to offer lower latency, and greater control of sensitive data by residing in Spain and being covered under Spanish law and, Also, we will be able to work more intensely on cybersecurity."
The three data centers in question will be located in Algete, Meco and San Sebastián de los Reyes. Neither Microsoft nor Brad Smith himself have confirmed the investment data or direct economic impact of these deployments, which are part of the multinational's expansion plans in Europe, "with 17 CPD deployed at the same time and an investment of 12,000 million dollars in the last two years.
Brad Smith has always been combative with the protection of personal data against intrusions... even when they come from the governments in power. In his only interview in Spain, granted to this medium in 2017, the executive already promised that "Microsoft would fight to the end to protect privacy" in the face of attacks, at that time, by President Trump.
Now, with the mood somewhat calmer at least from the White House, Smith continues to maintain his firm position on the matter. "Europe is the leader in privacy issues. Since the 90s, when it was forced to report that personal data was being collected and to ask for basic consents. And, since 2020, with the GDPR, which is a huge step forward although suffers from the same thing as the previous era: no one has time to look at and understand all the details of the legal texts.
"Therefore, there is still at least a new era to come in the next decade, in which clear guides or manuals are established on how data can and cannot be used. And I also believe that Europe will be the one to lead that leap," Smith advanced.
Meanwhile, Brad Smith recognized the difficulties for "all countries and economies when it comes to transferring and moving data. The different regulations and the fact that the Privacy Shield was invalidated a year ago greatly complicate these movements. Governments can and should play a role in "it's time to modernize the legal framework, giving more certainty to companies and more confidence to consumers."
Smith, a lawyer and recent author of a book called Tools and Weapons in which he outlines the positive and negative uses of technology, has not evaded the issue that occupies the top news stories around the world: the war in Ukraine. Or, in his opinion, the cyberwar that passes through an advance line that is more liquid and diffuse than anyone could think.
"In 2022, the war has moved to cyberspace. And technology companies have a great responsibility there, not only to support the companies that use our services, but to ultimately protect the population and society," he said. explained the president of Microsoft.
"The battle line in cyberwar is not the border between the two countries. As we have seen in this case, the war did not begin on February 24 with the launch of the first Russian missile, but a day earlier, when Russia used one of these digital weapons against 300 official targets and banks to disable their systems," Brad Smith explained. "That happened and we know it because we were able to monitor it and act from our cybersecurity center in Redmond. So, in a way, the battle line in the Ukraine war runs through Seattle."
This multinational allocated 100 million dollars so that the Ukrainian government's own services, "which ran in its own data centers, which could be destroyed", were transferred to its public cloud.
Microsoft has published a report detailing the destructive and persistent Russian cyberattacks it has seen in the hybrid war against Ukraine, and the actions the company has taken to help protect Ukrainian people and organizations.
According to the study, shortly before the start of the invasion, Microsoft observed that at least six nation-state actors aligned with Russia launched more than 237 operations against Ukraine, which were accompanied by espionage and intelligence activities affecting other member states of the NATO, in addition to some disinformation activity.
Cyberattacks have degraded the systems of Ukrainian institutions, sought to disrupt the population's access to reliable information and critical essential services, and attempted to undermine trust in the country's leaders.
Furthermore, these Russian cyberattacks appear to be strongly correlated and, at times, directly synchronized with their military operations to support the military's strategic and tactical objectives - hybrid warfare. For example, a Russian actor launched cyberattacks against a major broadcasting company on March 1, the same day that Russia's military announced its intention to destroy Ukrainian targets by conducting a missile attack on a television tower in Kiev.
The report indicates nearly 40 destructive attacks, of which 32% were directed at national, local and regional government organizations and another 40% at organizations in the infrastructure sector, which could have had negative effects on the military, the economy and the citizenship of the country.
Actors participating in these attacks are using a variety of techniques to gain access to their targets, such as phishing , the use of unpatched vulnerabilities and compromising IT service providers. These actors often modify their malware with each deployment to evade detection. Specifically, the Microsoft report attributes the malware of type wiper (destructive malware or virus, whose objective is to cause total and permanent unavailability of the target system), of which the company has previously warned a nation-state actor aligned with Russia and called Iridium.
Microsoft also notes that it has observed Russian-aligned actors operating in Ukraine showing interest in or conducting operations against organizations in the Baltics and Turkey. That is, from NATO member states that actively provide political, humanitarian or military support to Ukraine.
Microsoft security teams have worked closely with Ukrainian government officials, cybersecurity personnel from government organizations, and private companies to identify and remediate threat activity against Ukrainian networks. These cyberattacks have been highly targeted, and Microsoft is particularly concerned about those against Ukrainian civilian digital targets, such as critical infrastructure, emergency response services, and humanitarian relief efforts. The company believes that since these Russia-aligned nation-state actors have been replicating and escalating military actions, cyberattacks will too, as the conflict develops. Russian nation-state actors may expand their destructive actions beyond Ukraine's borders to retaliate against those countries that decide to provide more military assistance to the invaded country.
In the report, Microsoft includes specific recommendations for all organizations that may be targeted by Russian actors, as well as technical information for the cybersecurity community. Microsoft's intention is to continue reporting and updating these recommendations as activity is observed and we believe they can be safely made public.
Original source: https://news.microsoft.com/es-es/2022/04/28/microsoft-publica-un-reporte-sobre-los-destructivos-y-persistentes-cyberattacks-de-russia-to-ukraine /
]]>Madrid City Council and Microsoft maintain a strategic collaboration that includes a determined commitment to technological innovation and digital transformation, with the aim of improving the sustainability of the city and offering a better service to citizens.
The implementation of remote work options for the more than 27,000 city council officials, thanks to the use of Microsoft solutions, has allowed a reduction in emissions of 7,092 tons of CO2 per year, equivalent to what a forest with an area of 435 times the Royal Botanical Garden of the capital. This initiative is part of the sustainability plan of the city of Madrid, promoted by its mayor, and in which technology plays a key role.
The migration to the Microsoft Azure cloud and the use of Microsoft 365 solutions, such as Teams, has allowed the Madrid City Council to improve its internal collaboration and the services it offers to citizens, as well as enabling its more than 27,000 officials to carry out essential work. remotely in areas such as security, citizen services, social services, economic development, mobility, employment, urban planning, tourism, culture or sports.
In the meeting held today by the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, with Alberto Granados, president of Microsoft Spain, at City Hall, the current lines of work have been analyzed and new joint initiatives have been explored where the application of Technologies, such as the Cloud, Augmented Reality or Artificial Intelligence, promote a more sustainable city that offers better care and services to all its inhabitants and visitors.
The mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, positively valued the progress in improving the digital transformation of the administration through public-private collaboration.
For his part, Alberto Granados, president of Microsoft Spain, confirmed his enthusiasm for collaborating with entities that are decisively committed to digitalization, such as the Madrid City Council, with which they will explore new projects where AI, Augmented Reality or the Cloud, enable new scenarios to position Madrid as a benchmark for digitalization and represent an improvement in citizen services and the environmental sustainability of the city.
Madrid wants to be a benchmark for innovation and digitalization as part of its program for urban economic recovery and together with Microsoft it is exploring the use of augmented reality, metaverse and Artificial Intelligence technologies to improve various aspects and services offered by the city. Among them, being able to offer citizens and tourists digitized 3D versions of Madrid at different relevant moments in its history, or the application of virtual assistants, in a metaverse environment, to bring the city closer to the citizen.
The projects will pay special attention to population segments, such as young people, who carry out much of their activity in digital environments, without forgetting the elderly, who need more support and closer digital interaction. For these, the Madrid City Council launched last December the “Madrid Acompaña” app , designed and developed by Microsoft and its partner, Plain Concepts, in collaboration with the Digital Office of the City Council and the Volunteer Department of the Area of Families, Equality and Social Welfare.
This application connects older people with the network of Volunteers in Madrid to help them channel requests such as attending medical appointments, going for a walk or shopping, carrying out administrative tasks or leisure activities. Since its launch, the Madrid Te Acompaña application has made it possible to manage 3,048 services for the elderly, carried out by 301 volunteers authorized by the Madrid City Council.
]]>The way we work has changed drastically in the last two years. Most of the workforce prefers hybrid models and flexible hours, while cyber threats continue to increase . Therefore, IT managers face a new challenge: training employees in new technological experiences.
In this context, Microsoft has presented various new features in its professional editions of Windows 11 and Windows 365 in the areas of administration, security, productivity and collaboration . In this way, the company continues to promote a accessible, familiar and easy-to-manage ecosystem by the technology departments of companies, to face the challenges of this new digital scenario in constant evolution.
Cybersecurity incidents and risks top the list of concerns for managers in the next year, according to figures from the Microsoft Work Trends Index 2022. With built-in protection chip-to-cloud , Windows 11 helps organizations meet the security requirements required by hybrid work models, now and in the future.
The more than one billion Windows users will benefit from the Tightly integrated hardware and software protection layers . Microsoft has collaborated with different device manufacturers to increase security against multiple attack vectors . Its objective is for computers to be more protected than ever against phishing, vulnerable passwords, malware, ransomware , data loss and the serious risk of direct attacks against hardware when a cybercriminal has physical access to a device after it is stolen or lost.
For this reason, Windows 11 presents two New features that fight against the most common cyberattack techniques: phishing and targeted malware:
With these new features, Microsoft continues its mission to empower IT departments and help them continually raise their standards against new attack patterns, from the chip to the cloud. Another example of this is Config Lock , now available in Windows 11, which monitors registry keys through MDM policies and dynamically fixes them in the event of a security incident to ensure that devices in any ecosystem comply with industrial and organization-specific security protocols.
Windows 11 adapts to each user: it is the most accessible and inclusive version of the system created to date. New features like Focus Sessions, Live Captions and Voice Access They enable anyone, including people with disabilities, to boost their productivity.
Focus Sessions makes it easier for information professionals and people with ADHD to develop healthy digital habits and improve your daily life. The System-wide real-time subtitles in Windows 11 They make it easier for all users, especially those with hearing disabilities or language learners, to understand spoken content. AND Voice Access allows people with limited mobility or with repetitive stress injuries, such as carpal tunnel, control your device and dictate content using your voice. Each of these experiences has been developed in collaboration with people and associations of people with disabilities, allowing them to reach many other Windows users around the world.
Likewise, the company seeks to continue driving efficiency and productivity for each user through a multitude of features. An example of this is the Redesigned, cloud-based file explorer to streamline the search process by showing all results in one place. Now, it is also possible pin files and create tabs .
To further enhance the meeting and collaboration experience, Microsoft has also introduced new smart meeting capabilities for Windows 11, which take advantage of hardware features by incorporating Artificial Intelligence to improve the clarity of the voice ( Voice Clarity ), perform automatic framing of the participants ( Automatic framing ), improve the blurring of the background ( Portrait background Blur ) and maintain visual contact between the interlocutors ( Eye contact ) with the aim of improving the experience and achieve more natural and closer video calls.
Simplicity and ease of management are more important than ever as organizations and IT departments adapt to remote and hybrid work environments. Windows 365 Enterprise offers organizations greater flexibility by allowing Windows to be deployed on a business or personal device, managed in Microsoft Endpoint Manager . Through Endpoint Manager, IT can manage Windows 365 Cloud PC along with its physical computers. Additionally, support for Azure AD Join for Cloud PCs will be available starting in May.
The app management for Microsoft Edge It also comes to Windows 11 to offer greater flexibility in employee workspaces. With the With application protection policies applied in Endpoint Manager for Edge for Windows , administrators will be able to configure how data is transferred, within and outside the organization, as well as define the level of Windows Defender protection on the device. This way, Employees can securely access company resources from their personal Windows devices , maintaining security and privacy.
Microsoft Endpoint Manager has also been updated: it will be a single cloud-based solution that brings together security and management tools. endpoints critics . A premium management plugin has been introduced endpoints that helps workers make secure, support-to-user connections, no matter where they work. Later, a series of capabilities will be introduced in Endpoint Manager designed to improve end-user experiences, increase the security of endpoints and reduce costs of ownership (TCO). These new tools will help protect the endpoints in the cloud, on-premises, and across device platforms , and will be critical for organizations striving to adopt Zero Trust security models .
Microsoft will soon offer new integrations that unite the power of Windows 11 and Windows 365. Among them stands out Windows 365 Switch, for a seamless transition between your cloud PC and your local computer with just one click; and Windows 365 Boot, to directly boot your Windows 365 cloud PC in one step, and enable Automatic resynchronization after working offline , without losing any data, with Windows 365 Offline. These scenarios represent another step in the Windows and Microsoft cloud integration .
A key element to hybrid working is ensuring devices are modern and secure. Microsoft's partner ecosystem offers the widest range of devices on the market , from 2-in-1s to laptops and desktops, with a wide variety of prices. OEM brands such as Acer, ASUS, Dell Technologies, Dynabook Fujitsu Client Computing, Getac, HP, Lenovo, LG, MSI, NEC PC, Panasonic and Samsung, along with manufacturers AMD, Intel and Qualcomm work with Windows 11. Their offer includes computers with secure core, high-quality video conferencing, next-generation graphics, long-lasting battery life, rugged construction for essential workers, fast startup, great performance and sustainable designs.
The most successful companies are those that adopted digital transformation two years ago. With Windows, Microsoft guarantees organizations constant updates and optimized experiences for With Windows, Microsoft guarantees organizations constant updates and optimized experiences to address today's work scenarios. Windows 11 and Windows 365 are ready to accompany users in this new era of hybrid work: they offer the most secure, manageable and productive user experience on the market.
Original source: https://news.microsoft.com/es-es/2022/04/05/microsoft-presenta-novedades-en-windows-11-para-optimizar-los-entornos-de-trabajo-hybridos/
]]>Nanfor was present at the IAMCP meeting, at the Hotel Princesa Madrid, witnessing the presentation by Alberto Granados , CEO of Microsoft Spain.
At this meeting, the IAMCP has appointed our CEO, Javier Lozano , as representative of the Spanish chapter in the IAMCP EMEA & International (Europe, Middle East and Africa).
We also want to congratulate Antonio Budia Graña , for his new position as director of Microsoft Partners:
“As of next July 1, coinciding with the start of the company's new fiscal year, Antonio Budia will head the Microsoft Partners division in Spain, after more than four years leading the Operations and Marketing team. ” Reference link
We thank the entire Microsoft team for their continued support.
]]>At Nanfor, as a Microsoft gold partner , we assume the Microsoft Pledge initiative with responsibility and commitment.
We support Microsoft's theory that the nations that will prosper are those that are committed to innovation and sustainability. And with the conviction of the transformative power of technology we think that the time has come to Reimagine Spain .
It is necessary to rethink the future of our economy and society based on a sustainable digital transformation. For this reason, at Nanfor we assume the Microsoft Pledge commitment , which focuses on four fundamental objectives :
Digital Skills |
Diversity and inclusion |
Responsible and Ethical AI |
Sustainability |
Help the Spanish economy and society prepare for the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution through the Microsoft digital skills program |
It is important that our industry reflects and supports society, and that we continue to work to improve the diversity of our technology workforce. |
Ensure that artificial intelligence is developed and implemented responsibly and ethically, as we discuss in AI for Good and Future Computed. |
Our commitment to the environment and reducing your carbon footprint. |
More information about the Microsoft Pledge initiative : https://partner.microsoft.com/es-es/connect/local/es-partner/partner-pledge
]]>Microsoft aims to help every person and organization in the world strengthen their protection against security threats, while reducing the complexity of doing so in an environment that is increasingly aggressive by cybercriminals. For this reason, the company has presented new features in several of its solutions -Microsoft Defender, Sentinel and CloudKnox Permissions Management-. These allow you to strengthen visibility and control in multicloud environments, workloads, devices and digital identities, all from centralized administration; in addition to advancing the evolution towards hybrid work and digital transformation.
For organizations to successfully adopt a multicloud strategy, it is essential to simplify their security solutions. In this sense, Microsoft Defender for Cloud, which allows reducing complexity in heterogeneous environments by identifying weak points in the configurations of different cloud services, is now compatible with Google Cloud Platform (GCP) with its native Cloud Security capabilities Posture Management (CSPM) and Cloud Workload Protection (CWP). All this, without dependence on native Google tools and with complete integration into unified management. In this way, organizations see their user experience simplified with more than 80 recommendations ready to apply and reinforce the security of any type of cloud environment.
According to him Flexera 2021 State of the Cloud Report , 92% of organizations adopt a multicloud strategy mainly due to the flexibility it gives them when selecting services and optimizing costs. However, using different providers can be challenging. In one of his Latest studies , Microsoft found that the complexity of managing multicloud environments continues to be the top concern for 73% of professionals. For companies to fully embrace these strategies, it is critical that their security solutions offer comprehensive protection and easy management.
With support for GCP, Microsoft becomes the only provider with native multicloud protection for the three major platforms in the industry: Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web Services (AWS) ( announced at Ignite last November ), and now Google Cloud Platform.
In multicloud environments, the number of platforms, devices, users, services and locations multiplies exponentially, so protecting those identities and permissions - which change dynamically wherever they are - is another fundamental factor in maintaining their security. A key point for many organizations here is the lack of visibility and control over these.
With the aim of helping companies in this area, Microsoft last year acquired CloudKnox Security , an identity and access management platform designed to meet the current demands of organizations. Now, the company announces the version preview CloudKnox Permissions Management public. CloudKnox provides complete visibility into all identities, users and workloads across clouds, with automated AI-powered features that help organizations detect and remove vulnerable permissions to cloud resources and notify teams of unusual activity. cybersecurity.
To defend against the threats of today and tomorrow, SOC teams must have immediate access to all security data. But as their volume continues to grow exponentially, having a single model is no longer enough.
Microsoft continues to work on improving its security information event management (SIEM/SOAR) solution by collecting all types of data, wherever it exists, to optimize detection, visibility and response to threats. Therefore, the company has added new ways to access and analyze security data thanks to Microsoft Sentinel.
One of the new features consists of the introduction of basic registers, which allows Microsoft Sentinel analyze large volumes of data and locate high severity, low visibility threats. The storage policy has also been improved from 2 to 7 years, allowing customers around the world to have broader support to meet their compliance needs anywhere in the world.
In addition, Microsoft has also added a new search experience to allow cybersecurity analysts to quickly and easily locate massive volumes of security data from all logs, scans, and files, in order to locate threats in a simple and effective way.
In the current scenario, it is essential to offer comprehensive solutions that organize identity, security, compliance and device management. For this reason, Microsoft has announced some updates to its portfolio, which help its clients increase their level of protection:
Original source: https://news.microsoft.com/es-es/2022/02/23/microsoft-anuncia-nuevas-funccionalidades-para-ayudar-a-las-organizaciones-a-refuer-sus-entornos-multicloud /
]]>Microsoft has published its latest report IoT Signals , with the aim of offering a comprehensive vision of the Internet of Things ecosystem at the current time. The study offers adoption percentages, satisfaction and implementation forecasts, in addition to the main trends in the sector. To carry out this study, Microsoft has interviewed more than 3,000 business development managers in different companies in Europe, the United States and Asia.
The report highlights the rapid growth in the adoption of IoT solutions. 90.8% of companies in Europe have adopted IoT solutions in their business, compared to 94% of American entities and 89.7% of Asian entities. Regarding countries, Italy leads in adoption of this type of tools with 95%.
Likewise, 91.5% of European companies consider it necessary to adopt IoT solutions, a percentage that exceeds the United States (85%) and Asia (90.3%). In fact, 96% of Spanish respondents point out that the Internet of Things is essential for business success, second only to China (99%).
“The Internet of Things is transforming companies in all sectors: public services, electricity or oil companies can approach digital transformation in different ways, gain new knowledge through connected solutions and optimize their business processes,” explains Doris Gomes, director of Cloud Adoption and Innovation at Microsoft in Spain.
Here are the key findings from Microsoft's latest “IoT Signals” study:
After the pandemic, the IoT has been consolidated in companies in all sectors, since it allows them to create applications adaptable to all types of environments and achieve their objectives. The companies that have made the strongest commitment to investing in this type of solutions are those that diversify their use the most: they not only apply them in the field of workplace safety and productivity, but also to improve their sustainability objectives. And they are more likely to integrate them with emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, edge computing and digital twins.
Microsoft's primary focus is to address the challenge of ensuring the security of connected devices at all layers while advancing IoT to create a seamless experience between the physical and digital worlds. In the last year, the company has launched more than 100 new services and features that make IoT solutions more secure and scalable, reduce complexity and create opportunities in new business areas.
Original source: https://bit.ly/35fPqjB
]]>There is now a new hybrid infrastructure – in work, school and life – that allows for greater flexibility in where and how time is spent. And the PC is the center.
The personal computer market has experienced its greatest growth in a decade in the last two years, with Windows leading the way. Global PC sales have exceeded 340 million in 2021 and has led to a growth of 27% compared to 2019, in figures of Canalys . Windows already has more than 1.4 billion devices active monthly and Users spend up to 10% more time with their team , compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Three trends have driven this structural change in demand:
Next month , Microsoft plans to bring new experiences to Windows , including a public preview of how Android TM apps can be used on Windows 11 through the Microsoft Store and partnerships with Amazon and Intel ; Taskbar improvements with mute and call cancellation, easier window sharing and the addition of weather to the taskbar, plus the introduction of two new redesigned apps, the memo pad and the MediaPlayer.
The company's plans for this year and beyond are to continue investing in delivering Windows experiences that enrich and inspire people's lives and meet the changing needs of its customers.
Original source - Microsoft News
]]>Led by Repsol, Gestamp, Navantia, Técnicas Reunidas, Telefónica, Microsoft, Airbus and Ferrovial, the objective of the association is to position Spain as a benchmark in the use of data and artificial intelligence in the industrial field.
IndesIA, the Spanish association of artificial intelligence for the industry, formed by eight large Spanish companies, Repsol, Gestamp, Navantia, Técnicas Reunidas, Telefónica, Microsoft, Airbus and Ferrovial, has elected the board of directors that will be in charge of its management over the next few years. three years.
The project is chaired by Valero Marín (Repsol), vice chaired by Donato Martínez (Navantia) and its treasurer is Pablo de la Puente (Gestamp). They are accompanied, as members, by Juan Carlos García (Telefónica), José María de la Fuente (Microsoft), Marcos D. Bauer (Técnicas Reunidas), Isabel del Pozo (Airbus) and Javier Lázaro (Ferrovial).
The direction of the association will be Nuria Ávalos. IndesIA also has the support of the Basque Artificial Intelligence Center (BAIC), as a reference advisor, and with Accenture, which participates in the project, as the Value Achievement Office, to promote the execution of its initiatives.
Its mission is to launch initiatives with which to position Spain as a reference in the use of data and artificial intelligence in the industrial field, with the aim of placing our country in a hub international reference in this matter. Among its objectives, the development of a new economy that generates growth in the country also stands out, in a context in which the industrial sector in Spain faces great challenges.
IndesIA also has the purpose of helping to increase the competitiveness of the Spanish industry through the automation and optimization of processes, while promoting sustainability throughout the value chain. In this sense, they will also promote research for the development of new materials with less environmental impact and the commitment to the circular economy.
On the other hand, the transformation of employment will be promoted by focusing on the training of professionals, juniors and seniors, in new technologies. Thus reducing the existing training gap in the disciplines called STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics, in its acronym in English). The objective is to generate new highly qualified jobs and facilitate the attraction and retention of technological talent in Spain.
To this end, it will work with public and private educational institutions to define training itineraries to cover both the generalized knowledge that employees in the industrial sector must obtain, and to better understand how these solutions can help in the day-to-day life of organizations.
The association was born with the aim of expanding to reach the maximum number of companies and industrial environments in Spain and Europe. In this sense, IndesIA partners consider that artificial intelligence is already playing an important role among large companies in our country, with the presence of teams of big data or artificial intelligence, in most of them.
But its promoters, firmly convinced of the irreplaceable contribution that this integration can make to the growth, modernization and competitiveness of the national industry, have created this association with the desire to incorporate small and medium-sized Spanish companies, to help them in their transformation processes. digital.
Original source: https://news.microsoft.com/es-es/2021/12/14/indesia-elige-su-junta-directiva-para-impulsar-la-inteligencia-artificial-en-la-industria-espanola /
]]>Microsoft has announced Teams Essentials , a solution designed to improve collaboration, communication and productivity for small businesses. Affordable and complete, from 3.40 euros per month (without VAT) per user, it offers a simple interface and features that will help them adapt to a new hybrid work environment: an intuitive application with unlimited video conferencing of up to 300 users, 10 GB cloud storage per person, group chat and calendar.
Additionally, Microsoft Teams Essentials works in the cloud Azure , which implies maximum guarantees in terms of security, reliability, performance and support. Additionally, it has various privacy policies and controls so small businesses can communicate and collaborate securely.
Teams is used by 138 organizations with more than 100,000 users, and more than 3,000 organizations with more than 10,000 users worldwide. With the arrival of Teams Essentials, small organizations have at their disposal the collaboration tools necessary to coordinate their activity, like large multinationals, with a simple deployment and an extremely affordable cost.
“These last 20 months have been especially difficult for small businesses. “They have needed great flexibility to adapt to this change, often without having the appropriate tools or technology,” explains Jared Spataro, corporate vice president of Microsoft 365. “Teams Essentials is designed specifically to meet the needs of small businesses, making it easier for them to grow in this new era of work.”
Features designed to facilitate collaboration
Team Essentials introduces new capabilities and options that minimize employee communication startup time, reducing costs, increasing agility, and delivering the best experience. These are its most notable features:
According to figures from LinkedIn, job offers offered by SMEs increased by 81.9% compared to November 1, 2020. Small businesses need to provide flexibility to be able to meet this increase where technology is key to improving connections, collaboration and productivity within this new work model. Therefore, Teams Essentials provides these businesses with an affordable way to work, collaborate and grow.
]]>Nanfor, as a Microsoft Gold Partner, was present at the XII Annual Congress of the IAMCP Spain , on October 20, 21 and 22 at the AR Diamante Beach Hotel in Calpe.
An event full of news from the Microsoft environment, networking and leisure activities , achieving a record attendance with 105 participants belonging to 66 Microsoft partners from all over the national territory.
The congress began on the morning of Thursday the 21st with the IAMCP day with the 1:1 meeting session. Next, the main IAMCP initiatives were presented and a presentation from IDR on how partners can take advantage of the Next Generation Funds to subsidize their own projects and those of their clients.
In the afternoon, different recreational activities were carried out, wine tasting, a climb to the Rock of Ifach, paddle tennis tournament, sailing regattas and a golf clinic, which were greatly enjoyed by the participants in which they also had the opportunity to interact in a more relaxed format.
Thursday night continued with a dinner served by chef Rafa Soler (Michelin Star), joined by Carolina Castillo, Santi Oller and other people from the Microsoft team, followed by a party at the piano-bar with live music .
On the morning of Friday the 22nd, the Microsoft team shared the most important news for FY22. Among which it is worth highlighting the Partner Pledge and the signing of the adhesion document by a large part of the partners, the launch of the new partner guide or the changes in the licensing program.
More details at: https://iamcp.es/xii-congreso-anual-iamcp/
]]>Since 2010, the number of Internet users worldwide has doubled, and by 2022 global traffic is expected to increase by 4.2 zettabytes per year, while mobile and IoT connections multiply. These trends reflect exponential digitalization that is based on the cloud and translates into growing demand for data centers. As a consequence, the cloud industry faces an important challenge: to continue scaling computing capacity – a key factor in moving towards a digital economy model – while reducing carbon emissions to preserve the planet.
“ Data centers must be part of the solution for broad decarbonization, but the climate challenges we face will not be solved by a single company or industry. Our mission is to find ways to improve our data center operations, share these learnings with the entire cloud industry, and empower our customers and partners through tools to measure their sustainability progress,” says Noelle Walsh, corporate vice president of Cloud Operations and Innovation at Microsoft.
“ It is difficult to improve or change what cannot be measured. The world needs global standards, a common basis to ensure carbon emissions are measured accurately, consistently and reliably globally, and innovative technology solutions to reduce carbon emissions and our environmental impact,” adds Walsh.
To advance the Net Zero goal, Microsoft is not only investing heavily in R&D for its cloud infrastructures and sharing its expertise in this field, but also wants to help organizations record, report and reduce more effectively its carbon emissions. To do this, launch the preview of Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability , a specialized cloud that offers organizations the ability to access a comprehensive, integrated and automated set of insights to accelerate every stage of their sustainability journey.
Microsoft understands the fight against climate change and sustainability as a journey that must be taken together: “ Together with our partners and customers, we can achieve net zero and create the path towards negative carbon emissions. To achieve this, we have to share our learnings and progress, and create new solutions that allow us to compare where we are today and where we are going, making them available to everyone ,” insists the company's corporate vice president of Cloud Operations and Innovation.
As demand for cloud in the public and private sectors continues to grow, it is essential to dedicate resources to finding creative and innovative solutions in order to meet ambitious sustainability goals.
Today, migration to Azure offers a more sustainable solution , which is up to 98% more efficient in terms of carbon emissions and up to 93% in terms of energy consumption than traditional data centers. However, Microsoft's commitment goes further: it is to be carbon negative by 2030 and, by 2050, eliminate from the environment all the carbon that the company has emitted directly or through electricity consumption since its founding in 1975.
To this end, it has launched different initiatives that can also help the sector define the future of data centers. Some of the most significant are the following:
“ Our current progress is possible thanks to the investments we have made in the development of advanced data centers and the co-development, in collaboration with our partners, of cloud-based solutions and tools that we can use in our direct operations and that are also available to the general market,” comments Noelle Walsh.
These are some of the most recent milestones that Microsoft has achieved:
2021 has been a decisive year in cybersecurity . The pandemic continued to present new challenges as attackers took advantage of overstretched security teams to unleash new ransomware, malware, and human-operated nation-state attacks, such as those against Colonial Pipeline and JBS Food. With the shift toward hybrid and remote work , security professionals have found themselves with more endpoints to manage and protect. Meanwhile, threat actors are exploiting gaps wherever they can. Practicing basic cyber hygiene (applying security patches and updating software and applications) is a simple way to supercharge your organization.
This year, Cybersecurity Awareness Month will highlight the importance of cybersecurity education for everyone around the topic: Do Your Part. #BeCyberSmart . With more workers using personal and corporate devices interchangeably, it's even more important to be cyber-aware. As new vulnerabilities emerge, security for everyone becomes even more integral to organizational success.
Employees continue to fall victim to phishing scams at alarmingly high rates. According to the 2020 Gone Phishing Report prepared in partnership with Terranova, it's not just smaller, low-resource organizations that are at risk. Large, well-equipped organizations have proven to be even more vulnerable.
According to data from the SANS Security Awareness Report 2021, more than 75 percent of security awareness professionals spend less than half their time on security awareness, implying that awareness is often less than a full-fledged effort. During the pandemic, 32 percent of survey participants reported an increase in time spent educating and supporting users on security practices on an ad-hoc basis.
Find all the official courses and certifications available in our course catalog.
Original source: https://bit.ly/3vYaTH3
]]> As technology forms the basis on which organizations orchestrate their business, analyzing its impact on the environment becomes a necessity. That's why today, Microsoft announced the launch of its Microsoft Emissions Impact Dashboard, a valuable tool that helps companies understand, track, analyze data and generate reports with the goal of reducing carbon emissions associated with the use of information. technology.
This scorecard highlights the company's commitment to addressing its own environmental impact and helping customers do the same by leveraging the benefits Microsoft Azure offers over on-premises solutions . which can achieve an improvement of up to 93% in energy efficiency and up to 98% in terms of carbon emissions.
The Microsoft Emissions Impact Dashboard is the evolution of the Sustainability Calculator that Microsoft unveiled in January 2020. This tool provides customers with transparency into the greenhouse gas emissions associated with the use of Microsoft cloud services, facilitating a better understanding of the causes of changes in emissions. Companies can thus measure the impact of using the Microsoft cloud on their environmental footprint, and can break down emissions by month, service and Data Center Cloud Region.
The tool also allows customers to make an estimate of the emissions that the loads they have deployed in Azure would entail if they had them on-premises, thus highlighting the emissions savings they have achieved due to having migrated the workloads to the Azure. Microsoft cloud. Additionally, new data protection options enable panel administrators to control access to information within their organization.
The dashboard displays carbon emissions by scope and compares year-over-year, helping organizations track identified trends and make decisions about the use of their cloud services.
Scope 3 activities typically constitute the largest source of emissions for organizations and are also the most difficult for them to measure. Using Microsoft's third-party validated carbon measurement tool methodology, the Microsoft Emissions Impact Dashboard provides a detailed view of the impact of cloud workloads. This allows organizations to produce more complete and accurate emissions reports, facilitating data-driven decision making to improve sustainability.
RELX, a global provider of data analysis tools, has been using the preview version of the Microsoft Emissions Impact Dashboard for the past six months. For RELX, sustainability is a priority and now the Microsoft tool has become one of the key components of its CO2.Hub, a solution based on Azure, which it has developed using Power BI to measure its scope 1, 2 and emissions. 3.
Windows, the environment where more than a billion people turn to create, connect, learn and achieve their goals, is renewed to boost productivity and creativity. In the last 18 months there has been a big change in the use of computers. People have gone from integrating their equipment into their lives to turning it into an indispensable tool to provide continuity to daily activity.
]]>“The most striking thing was the change we saw and felt in the PC: from something practical and functional to something personal and emotional. This is what inspired us when building the next generation of Windows. “Develop a space that is familiar to you, where you can create, learn, play and, most importantly, connect in every way possible,” said Panos Panay, director of Product, Windows and Devices at Microsoft.
Among the new features that Windows 11 brings, the following stand out:
- Simplified design and user experience to boost productivity and inspire creativity . From the new Home Button to the taskbar, every sound, font or icon has been redesigned for simplicity.
- A unified experience across all devices . The new Home Button relies on the cloud and Microsoft 365 to display recent files no matter what platform or device they were previously used on, even if they are Android or iOS devices.
- Workspace customization . The new Snap Layouts, Snap Groups and Desktop management in Windows 11 make multitasking easier so that each user can adjust their workspace to the needs they have at any given time. With the new features, the user can organize their windows and optimize screen space with a visually clean design.
- The new Teams integration directly in the Taskbar allows users to instantly connect via text, rich chat, voice or video with anyone, anywhere across Windows, Android and iOS.
- Windows 11 provides the best gaming experience on PC, offering Auto HDR, Direct Storage and access to the Xbox app to enjoy great titles with Xbox Game Pass.
- Widgets, a new personalized feed powered by AI, that brings the most relevant information for each user directly to their Desktop . Widgets also open up a new space within Windows for creators to offer personalized content to users.
- The new Microsoft Store is reinforced as a trusted source for applications and content , creating a more open ecosystem for developers and creators, as well as a faster and more secure experience for IT professionals.
- The arrival of Android applications to Windows. Starting at the end of the year, users will be able to discover Android applications in the Microsoft Store and also download them through the Amazon Appstore.
- Faster, safer and more familiar to IT professionals. Windows 11 is based on the consistent, compatible and familiar foundation of Windows 10. Thanks to this, it is possible to plan, prepare and deploy Windows 11 in the same way that is possible today with Windows 10. Microsoft Endpoint Manager, configuration in the cloud , Windows Update for Business, and Autopilot enable natural Windows 11 integration.
- Windows 11 is secure by design , with new built-in security technologies that add protection, from the chip to the cloud, while helping you boost productivity and enjoy new experiences. Windows 11 offers a Zero Trust-ready operating system, protecting data and access across all devices. Microsoft has worked closely with its partners and OEMs to meet the needs of an evolving threat landscape and the new world of hybrid work.
Windows 11 will be available via a free upgrade to eligible Windows 10 PCs, as well as new devices, later this year. Starting in the fall, users will have the PC Health Check application at their disposal, in Windows.com , to see if your current Windows 10 PC will be eligible for the free upgrade to Windows 11.
Rollout of the free update will begin on Windows 10 computers later this year. Next week, the company will release Windows 11 to its Windows Insider program, a passionate community of Windows fans whose feedback is important to Microsoft.
Jeffrey Kozera is a Senior Developer/Integrator in the Automation Solutions Unit for the City of Ottawa, Canada's capital. Jeffrey shares his experience as a professional developer in adopting Microsoft Power Virtual Agents and the Power Platform low-code technology suite. Created an internal chatbot for employees and an external chatbot for citizens.
The COVID-19 virtual assistant was built in less than two weeks and has collectively saved approximately 65,000 phone hours.
The keynote speaker explains how he has used Azure DevOps and other professional development capabilities for application lifecycle management and integration with on-premises systems.
As a no-code/low-code development tool, Microsoft Virtual Power Agents allows anyone with little to no development experience to create their own chatbot.
Using artificial intelligence, the Microsoft Virtual Power Agents chatbot attempts to guess the developer's intentions and provide the most relevant information to its users based on a limited set of criteria.
Citizens can only access the chatbot through Ottawa's 311 website. Rather than replacing humans, the new virtual agent complements existing access channels.
The chatbot also provides less friction for people who don't want to talk to a live person for information.
This system can be integrated with different commercial systems, it has a low development cost, both in terms of time and economic cost, it is quick and easy to adapt, it gets quick feedback from citizens, and, last but not least, It is the democratization of the development of this chatbot technology in companies.
You can access the information session in full detail by clicking here .
]]>Microsoft has announced the next phase of its commitment to accessibility to help close the gap around social inclusion for people with disabilities.
This is a new five-year commitment , with which Microsoft wants to create and open doors to greater opportunities for people with disabilities, through technology. Microsoft's commitments will focus on three major priorities:
Microsoft has implemented an “accessibility by design” philosophy, not only for its products, but also for the tools and services that support software developers and vendors who create services for their customers or employees. All of this is part of an initiative, which also includes support for research and new data science capabilities that help promote continuous innovation in this area .
Microsoft has announced new accessibility-by-design features in Microsoft 365, allowing you to create, edit, and share documents. Using artificial intelligence (AI) and other advanced technologies, the company's goal is to make more content accessible and as simple and automatic as spell check is today. Among these new features are:
Likewise, Microsoft has announced that it will empower software developers, incorporating accessibility tools, notifications and automation thanks to AI, so that accessibility is included at the beginning of the product development cycle. Using Accessibility Insights, Microsoft's development tool for user interface accessibility testing and remediation, you can help improve the accessibility of websites and applications. Today, it detects up to 40 percent of accessibility errors, and through more automated testing and greater use of AI, it will detect even more in the future.
Another announcement focuses on GitHub, the collaboration platform for software developers. It now features new themes designed to make its features more accessible to the visually impaired. The first is a Dark faded theme that brings less contrast to the user interface for users with light sensitivity. In the coming months, GitHub will add high contrast features for users with low vision and themes for users with color blindness.
Microsoft Research has a research team focused on the study of human-computer interaction. Thanks to the work of this team, the company has launched useful new features for people with disabilities, such as Eye Control in Windows 10, which allows communication through eye control for people with ALS. Since 2014, more than 6,500 Microsoft employees have participated in the initiative Ability Hack , creating 1,000 projects like MirrorHR, which identifies potential seizure triggers in children with epilepsy and advances clinical trial research.
In Spain, Microsoft has established lines of collaboration with ONCE and its Foundation in the areas of technological accessibility, promoting the employment of people with disabilities, and incorporating accessible technologies in the classroom. An example of the collaboration established between Microsoft and ONCE and its Foundation is the “Accessible Camino de Santiago” project, an initiative that was launched in 2019 to make the French Way, one of the most visited by pilgrims, more passable. Microsoft's collaboration takes shape through the development of Soundscape , an application that Microsoft has developed with feedback from ONCE and that allows you to orient yourself in all types of environments.
Soundscape's 3D auditory guidance system allows people with visual disabilities to travel some sections of the French Camino de Santiago independently, knowing at all times the precise orientation within the trails and the different points of interest along the Camino.
]]>The European Statistical Office Eurostat estimates that, between 2018 and 2030, it will be necessary to cover about 1.6 million jobs in the field of ICT in all Europe. Among the most in-demand professionals are developers, one of the professional categories with the most projection in Europe and also in Spain.
The pandemic, on the one hand, has revealed the potential of developers when it comes to accelerating the digitalization processes of the Spanish business fabric, enabling, for example, teleworking or electronic commerce in record times. But, on the other hand, The health crisis has also revealed that there is a gap in professionals and a lack of talent : 86% of organizations have difficulties to find technical talent to build applications.
Microsoft is aware that one of the keys to the future is to invest in and enhance digital capabilities that differentiate and enhance the competitiveness of each company and profile. Hence The company has launched various free training programs that help Spanish professionals acquire digital skills that requires the new economic context based on data and Artificial Intelligence.
Within the framework of Build, the international developer event, Microsoft has organized a local conference in which it highlighted that, currently, Companies are accelerating their digital transformation thanks to the development of low-code/no-code applications that allow business solutions to be built in weeks, and not months . According to IDC forecasts, 500 million apps will be built in the next 5 years, more than all the applications developed in the last 40 years. Companies' IT departments cannot meet the demand for apps that has multiplied by 5, according to Gartner. Given this scenario, Microsoft, together with the Channel, has already trained and certified 300 Spaniards -employed and unemployed- in Power Platform and Power Apps , a service for the quick, simple and customized development of all types of applications, without the need to use code, which has as objective to cover all the needs of a company regardless of the sector it belongs to.
All of this has been possible thanks to “ Crea Futuro – Alumno 4.0 ”, an initiative that emerged in 2017 through which Microsoft joins forces with numerous institutions, universities and business centers to train young people from all over Spain and turn them into professionals of the future that our partners need. “ Through “Create Future – Student 4.0” We train and certify in Microsoft technologies with the aim of improving people's employability . "We are very proud to have trained in Power Platform and Power Apps, tools that have opened a new professional horizon in an agile way in a context like the current one," comments Lidia Mora, Program Manager of CreaFuturo.
In the ambitious project of Crea Futuro – Alumno 4.0, Microsoft works hand in hand with the International Association of Microsoft Channel Partners (IAMCP), Generation Spain, the European Union through the Entrepreneurship and Youth Employment Strategy, the Government of Spain through the School of Industrial Organization (EOI), in addition to other institutions such as ESIC, the Complutense University of Madrid, the University of Malaga, the Alfonso X El Sabio University, the Francisco de Vitoria University, CEU San Pablo University, Unir, etc.
Furthermore, aware of the real needs of the market, Microsoft is betting on a new training model and certifications role-based , rather than product-focused, to help professionals prepare to address present and future challenges.
To do this, it has renewed its certification program, which has been available since this March and for free at Microsoft Learn . It is an open platform organized by itineraries which has the objective of helping anyone (professionals, students, etc.) to obtain the most in-demand digital capabilities at zero cost). In this way, we provide those professionals who already have an official qualification with access to specific training to update their skills and extend the validity of their certifications.
There is also training for developers, such as AI School or the Microsoft Professional Program for Artificial Intelligence , which offers job-ready skills and real-world experiences for engineers and anyone who wants to improve their AI and data science skills.
]]>LaLiga and Microsoft have today announced an expansion of their alliance focused on the digital transformation of the sports experience worldwide. Both organizations will also collaborate on the development of technological solutions for the media and entertainment industry through the association's technological offering, LaLiga Tech.
As Tech and Innovation Partner global LaLiga, Microsoft will help develop new solutions and enhance existing ones, which will drive innovation throughout the sports industry in different areas:
As part of the collaboration, LaLiga will use the Microsoft Azure cloud, including its AI tools and machine learning to reinvent interactive audiovisual experiences and formats on its LaLigaSportsTV (OTT) platform and on Mediacoach (statistics and match viewing).
“We consider Microsoft our technology and innovation partner, and appreciate how they collaborate to the maximum to build innovative solutions to solve the specific business challenges of our industry,” said Javier Tebas, president of LaLiga. “We are moving into a new era where technology will become the center of the fan experience and data-driven insights will drive the next stage of global growth.”
“We are delighted to continue our partnership with LaLiga as it boldly moves forward to deepen engagement with its hundreds of millions of fans, while bringing new business opportunities and models to the market with Microsoft cloud and AI capabilities.” said Jean-Philippe Courtois, EVP and global president of Sales, Operations and Marketing at Microsoft . “Microsoft will help accelerate LaLiga's digital innovation, in addition to supporting new and interesting business opportunities in the sports and entertainment industries through LaLiga's technological portfolio.”
The collaboration is key to the growth and development of LaLiga Tech, through which LaLiga will bring together its entire range of existing technologies into a commercial offering for the sports industry, from match day statistics and analysis to the next generation of services of streaming OTT, through the most advanced content protection services and stadium access management systems. This will help LaLiga expand into a new era in sport and beyond, and improve the fan experience by creating new data-driven technology solutions, powered by Microsoft Azure, Power BI, Dynamics 365 and Microsoft 365, and to provide a customized technology platform, services and solutions to third parties.
The proposal is based on LaLiga's strong investment commitment, focused on the development of innovative technology aimed at improving the fan experience, including a broad ecosystem of applications on Microsoft Azure services. The family of official LaLiga applications has had more than 113 million downloads worldwide. LaLigaSportsTV, a free platform streaming OTT video platform, which offers multiple sports beyond football, has more than 1.5 million registered users.
The solutions harness the power of AI and data to deliver personalized content based on fan preferences, as well as games and videos, engaging both casual and hardcore fans on and after game day.
In addition, LaLiga uses Microsoft Power BI dashboards to provide a unified visualization of data such as TV audience, fan360, social networks, brand favorability and engagement, and app and website performance by country, helping to LaLiga and its clubs to create more attractive and personalized experiences.
With the expansion of the alliance announced today, LaLiga and Microsoft will focus on joint innovation and acceleration in the cloud with Microsoft Azure and its Artificial Intelligence capabilities. The collaboration will continue to allow LaLiga, through LaLiga Tech assets, to obtain new growth and business opportunities by taking advantage of the best innovations emerging throughout the sports market, entertainment companies and other commercial entities around the world.
About LaLiga
LaLiga is a global, innovative and socially responsible organization, a leader in the leisure and entertainment sector. It is a private sports association made up of the 20 teams of LaLiga Santander and 22 of LaLiga SmartBank, responsible for the organization of these national professional football competitions. In the 2018/2019 season, LaLiga reached more than 2.7 billion people around the world. Headquartered in Madrid (Spain), it is present in 55 countries through 9 offices and 46 delegates. The association carries out its social action through its Foundation and is the first professional football league in the world with a league for footballers with intellectual problems: LaLiga Genuine Santander.
]]>The COVID-19 pandemic has deeply affected a multitude of sectors, among which tourism stands out. The sector has gone from contributing 14.5% of the national GDP before the pandemic to 4.3% in 2020 and, given the uncertainty derived from continually changing restrictions, the period with which users contract their trips and accommodations has been reduced. has reduced very sharply from the more than 60 days that were common before the pandemic. Currently, up to 40% of trips are booked less than a week in advance. In fact, 20% of total reservations are now made less than a day in advance, also concentrating demand at a time when a relaxation of restrictions is announced.
In a context of transformation of the sector and the need for reinvention, it is more necessary than ever to have agile platforms that provide the client with all the options that fit their searches, including their availability and conditions, in real time. This entails enormous technical complexity, derived from the interconnection of the systems of all the players in the industry - travel rate aggregators, metasearch engines, hotel chains, airlines, etc. - with very low response times or latencies, to avoid that every moment of delay translates into a wait for the customer.
To respond to this need, which, although not new, does require a qualitative leap to successfully face changes in the demand for tourist services, TravelgateX has developed integration through APIs (Application Programming Interfaces). These tools, supported by Microsoft Azure, are responsible for interconnecting more than 1,000 partners in the tourism industry, channeling more than 3,000 million searches and completing more than 30,000 daily reservations.
“At TravelgateX we have the needs of our clients in mind and we are committed to working on technology and automation. "We consider it very important to stay up to date with the new technologies that are emerging in order to be competitive both technically and in terms of costs, which is why we have been using Microsoft for a long time, in which we now take innovation one step further," indicates Carlos Tur, CIO of TravelgateX.
Since its founding, TravelgateX has been a 100% cloud company, using the Microsoft Azure cloud for its rapid scalability and the possibility of deploying its solutions anywhere in the world with the best guarantees in terms of compliance, error tolerance and capacity. Microsoft is the provider with the most regions available worldwide - including the upcoming opening of a data center region in Spain. The geographical proximity of the data centers to the customer allows us to obtain lower latencies, an especially critical aspect for TravelgateX's business, since it directly impacts the user experience of the tourist reservation platforms.
In the words of Óscar Pérez, CTO, “At TravelgateX we work on three interconnected challenges: concurrency, scalability and stability. With our technology, built on Microsoft Azure, we must ensure that our platform is up and running 99.99% of the time. Partners, both Buyers and Sellers, can start using our services in minutes, without wasting time. The simplicity and speed of our APIs allows us to scale and maintain sustained high product availability throughout the year, 24 hours a day.”
The company has now opted for Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), which allows you to easily deploy and manage containerized applications, uniting development and operations teams on a single platform. With AKS, and the commitment to a microservices architecture, TravelgateX has achieved more flexible and scalable environments to guarantee service to suppliers and customers, as well as an internal unification that simplifies management and maintenance. Thanks to all this, the company has reduced deployment time very significantly, going from days to less than an hour.
TravelgateX has also chosen .NET Core, a high-performance work environment open source for the development of cross-platform applications, which speeds up working with containers. Its use has allowed TravelgateX to improve the performance of its services, which directly translates into a 20% reduction in CPU consumption, which also means a reduction in costs. In addition, the improvement achieved in response times also directly impacts the service provided to the different actors in the value chain and the satisfaction of the end customer.
About TravelgateX
TravelgateX is a B2B online marketplace and its mission is to democratize the travel industry. Any company connected to our network can buy and sell seamlessly with each other, regardless of their size or current technology. With over 1,000 Partners, TravelgateX simplifies connectivity with easy-to-integrate APIs that make searching, comparing and booking travel products in real time a breeze.
]]>]]>You can find more information about the procedures for renewing certifications here