Microsoft Ignite is an annual flagship conference hosted by Microsoft, tailored for IT professionals, developers, decision-makers, and technology enthusiasts. It focuses on the latest advancements in Microsoft's technologies, services, and tools, providing attendees with insights, hands-on experiences, and opportunities to engage with experts and the community.
Ignite's importance is to flag the enhancements and new tools that Microsoft will be bring to your organisations over the next 12 months.
The event starts with a keynote and the above 15 minute video snapshots all the key announcements. If you are not interested in AI and Copilot your probably going to want to skip this one.
Below are a few of the reveals and launches that stood out to OCM.
#1: Microsoft Windows 365 Link Device revealed at Microsoft Ignite 2024.
The Windows 365 Link is a new device/platform that is designed with security first and is ideal for hot desking. The device is not running Windows 11.
However not only will you need the device, a Microsoft 365 subscription but also organisations must be using Windows 365 with Microsoft Intune and Microsoft Entra ID. To simplify this, the cheapest way most organisations will use is through a WIndows 365 Business Plan , cheapest in UK is £28.80 plus VAT and a Microsoft Business Premium subscription £18.10 plus VAT. Prices at November 2024.
The architecture of the device is very similar to Google Chromebooks and ChromeOS in security features although Chromebooks have more features which brings us onto below.
The device will launch in 2025 at $349.00.
#2: Windows App For Android.
The Windows App is a preview app currently in the Play store. Its features :-
Features
Access Windows 365, Azure Virtual Desktop, Remote Desktop Services and remote PCs
Security
Offers advanced security features like multifactor authentication
Customisation
Personalize the interface with customisable home screens, multimonitor support, and dynamic display resolutions
Efficiency
Includes features like device redirection, Microsoft Teams optimisations, and easy account switching
The release seems to conflict with aforementioned Windows 365 Link device because the preview is avalalble on the ChromeOS Play store. So you could get the security today using a ChromeOS device.
#3: Microsoft Copilot Everywhere. Agents Everywhere Too.
We have highlighted in a previous blog post that Agents are the next big thing. The keynote above has the launch of all the new prebuilt agents.
With Azure AI Agent Service in Azure AI Foundry, organisations can build, deploy and scale enterprise AI-powered apps to automate business processes. More info in the video below.
#4: Quantum Computing, Starting A Profound Change.
In partnership with Atom Computing 1000 qubit computers will start shipping to customers next year.
A 1000-qubit quantum computer can perform tasks in seconds or minutes that would take classical supercomputers thousands to millions of years, opening up revolutionary advancements in science, security, and technology.
A 1000-qubit quantum computer represents a massive advancement in computational power for specific problems. While it wouldn't replace classical computers, its ability to solve problems in cryptography, optimisation, and quantum simulation far surpasses what even the fastest classical supercomputers can achieve. Both systems will coexist, with quantum computers addressing specialised tasks and classical systems continuing to dominate general-purpose computing.
We may look back in a few years and see this as one of the most significant events in our evolution.
OCM are Microsoft partners and offer expert advice and deployment of Microsoft solutions.
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