Name: Mastering SQL Server Modernisation Achieving Efficiency & Innovation with Azure
Start: 2023-09-28T12:00:00Z
End: 2023-09-28T12:00:32.000Z
Location: BrightTALK

For business leaders managing lots of complexity or disrupting the status quo, Ensono is an expert technology advisor, innovation partner, and managed service provider. Our team excels in managing over 1 million MIPS, reflecting our leadership in mainframe services. Ensono is one of only eight providers globally with the coveted AWS mainframe modernization competency, showcasing our expertise in seamlessly integrating legacy systems with modern cloud environments. Recognized as the Microsoft Datacenter Transformation Partner of the Year, we maintain a strong global presence with over 3,400 associates and are headquartered in greater Chicago. To learn more, please visit www.ensono.com.

Most cloud providers profit when you spend more. That’s the problem.

Traditional MSPs have little incentive to help you control cloud costs—they’re often rewarded for consumption, not outcomes. As a result, many enterprises are left with spiraling bills, stalled transformations, and no real accountability from their partners.
In this webinar, Ensono introduces Gain Share: an approach to cloud partnerships where success is mutual. 

Gain Share moves beyond vendor contracts and SLAs. It aligns incentives, shares risk, and ties partner compensation directly to the outcomes you care about—like faster deployments, better customer experience, and increased revenue.

We’ll explore why so many cost-reduction programs under-deliver, and why tools alone won’t realize your goals.

Whether you're a CIO looking to modernize legacy infrastructure, a CFO balancing OpEx pressures, or a procurement leader tired of fixed-fee contracts with little accountability, this session will help you reframe cloud as a value driver, not just a utility.

You’ll learn:
• The real reason most cloud optimization efforts fall short—and how to break the cycle
• What a successful Gain Share model looks like in practice—and how to tell if your organization is ready
• How leading enterprises are using outcome-based models to unlock innovation, agility, and measurable ROI

Beyond cost-cutting: How gain share unlocks cloud innovation and ROI

Legacy applications often sit at the heart of critical business operations—but as demands for agility, scale, and cost-efficiency increase, maintaining the status quo becomes harder to justify.

In this session, Simon Evans, VP and CTO of Ensono Digital, shares real-world strategies for modernizing legacy applications using today’s leading software engineering practices and generative AI tooling.

From understanding why modernization efforts succeed or stall, to exploring how Ensono applies AI to reduce development time, improve software quality, and simplify integration, this session offers actionable guidance for technology and business leaders alike.

What you’ll learn:
• Key drivers behind application modernization—and when to take action
• How generative AI can accelerate code analysis, testing, and refactoring
• Practical frameworks to evolve, build, and integrate modern software
• How Ensono combines AI tooling with open-source templates (Stacks) to improve delivery performance
• Why software delivery performance correlates directly with business outcomes

Whether you’re running on mainframe, legacy middleware, or custom platforms, this session will help you shape a practical path toward modernization—supported by repeatable methods and the latest AI capabilities.

App modernization: Unlocking business value with AI-powered modern applications

In this session, Ian Cowley, Director of Data and AI at Ensono, explores why effective data governance is critical to driving real-world AI outcomes—and why so many businesses lose momentum after the strategy stage.
With real examples from enterprise projects in the UK and beyond, Ian shares practical insights on how to approach governance in a way that supports long-term use of AI, while avoiding common pitfalls. He breaks down the pros and cons of different approaches—enterprise-wide cataloging vs. use case–driven execution—and highlights what it takes to make progress in complex environments with limited resources.
This session is ideal for IT and data leaders looking to align AI strategy with operational reality, avoid costly delays, and strengthen organizational readiness for future use cases.
What you’ll learn:
• The role of data governance in supporting AI use across the business
• How to address ownership, quality, and access without overwhelming teams
• Two approaches to data governance—when to use each
• What worked (and what didn’t) in large-scale AI and data projects
• Where tools like Microsoft Purview, Fabric, and AI agents can add value

AI and data governance: Turning data into a truly trusted and readily available asset that supports good AI

Gary Smith, VP of Cloud Consulting and Delivery at Ensono, shares real-world lessons from delivering cloud migrations across industries. This session explores how to balance innovation with governance, embed security into every stage, and avoid common pitfalls. Whether you’re exiting a data center, integrating acquisitions, or pursuing digital modernization, this talk offers practical guidance based on years of frontline experience.
What you’ll learn:
• How to align executive sponsorship with technical strategy
• The key elements of a secure, scalable landing zone
• How to incorporate cost optimization early in your migration
• Why your operations team is critical post-migration

Secure migration – Ensuring safe passage to the cloud

Artificial intelligence is evolving rapidly — and many organizations are eager to take advantage. But to get meaningful value from AI, a solid foundation is essential. In this session, Lee Welch, Azure Solutions Director at Microsoft, breaks down how enterprises can prepare for AI adoption through modernization of infrastructure, data, applications, and governance.

See how Microsoft Azure supports AI-driven change, backed by decades of research, powerful partnerships, and a commitment to responsible technology use and explore real-world examples, including how Azure is supporting improved diagnostic accuracy in NHS Scotland through AI-assisted mammogram analysis.

Key topics covered include:
Common challenges holding companies back from adopting AI
Microsoft’s AI-readiness framework and its role in large-scale transformation
The impact of copilots and the Azure AI platform across core business operations
Strategies for building scalable, secure, and cost-conscious AI foundations

This session is ideal for CIOs, CTOs, Heads of Infrastructure, and IT strategists looking to move from AI curiosity to AI capability.

Migrate to Innovate: Getting AI Ready with Microsoft Azure

When it comes to the housing and built environment industry, common technology challenges include integrating legacy systems, slow movement toward cloud adoption and a shortage of tech skills. 
In this fireside chat, Director of Partner & Alliances at Ensono, Rebecca Cartledge, speaks with 3 subject-matter experts about how to overcome those obstacles by relying on a partner for digital transformation. You’ll hear about how Notting Hill Genesis, a housing association with 67,000 homes in London, modernized its technology approach.
Watch now to access expert insights from: 
• Azure Solutions Sales Manager at Microsoft, Duncan Orme
• VP & CTO of Ensono Digital at Ensono, Simon Evans
• CIO at Notting Hill Genesis, Rajeev Peter

Digital Transformation in the Built Environment: A fireside chat with Microsoft, Notting Hill Genesis and Ensono

90% of reports are redundant or viewed once or twice annually, Ensono has found. And that’s not the only issue with modern reporting – it can also be costly and difficult to manage. 
In this webcast, in under 15 minutes, Director of Data & AI at Ensono, Ian Cowley, explores how businesses can use LLMs to simplify reporting and unlock benefits like lower costs and better, data-driven decision-making. 
Watch now to learn about:
• The impact of the democratization of data
• 3 things you might now know about LLMs
• How one of the largest rail operators in the UK transformed its reporting

Answers not Reports: Using LLMs to lower costs and make data driven decisions

Simon Evans, Ensono’s CTO, outlines how a continuous modernisation strategy is essential for unlocking long-term value from mergers and acquisitions. This session explores how to align application strategy with business goals—choosing between build, evolve, and integrate approaches. You’ll learn how Ensono’s rapid assessment framework helps rationalise applications, reduce technical debt, and enable more scalable, user-focused outcomes. Includes lessons from real-world examples, like Notting Hill Genesis and FirstPort, where Ensono delivered reduced TCO and improved business agility.

Modernise with Velocity: How continuous modernization is essential for long-term value from mergers and aquisitions

Understanding the technology landscape of any acquisition is key to reaching the goals of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) or joint ventures (JVs) at speed.
So what role, exactly, does your IT infrastructure play in a successful M&A or JV initiative? And how can you better inform your M&A decision-making?
In this informative webinar, learn how IT infrastructure delivers the speed you need to successfully navigate M&As and JVs, and discover a strategic roadmap to actualize your initiative. Webinar highlights include:

• 3 key IT objectives during M&A
• A drill down into M&A as a Service
• Tips for driving your M&A successfully
• And more

Place M&A & JVs in the Slipstream: How your IT Infrastructure can give you the speed you need for success

According to a recent GlobalData report covering construction mergers and acquisitions (M&A), $4.6 billion of M&A construction and real estate deals were announced in Q3 2024—and that’s just in the UK alone. The built environment sector is embroiled in these shifts, leaving companies in this area wondering how to navigate it all.
In this session, Gordon McKenna, Cloud Evangelist & VP at Ensono, shares his opening remarks for the event “Race to Innovation: Navigating M&A and JV Challenges in the Built Environment Sector,” covering:
• An overview of M&A trends and common roadblocks
• The acute need to fill construction skills gaps amid rising costs 
• How to ensure technology supports the needs and strategic aims for successful M&A
Tune in to access McKenna’s takeaways and tactics for navigating M&A issues.

Tactics for Navigating M&A Challenges: Common roadblocks and trends in the built environment sector

For companies undergoing mergers and acquisitions (M&As) or joint ventures in the public sector and construction industries, the foundational reason for undergoing an M&A has shifted from a desire to simply dominate the market to an imperative to create differentiation through new services. 
In these endeavors, Microsoft Azure is poised to enable business-driving outcomes across the M&A value stream, empowering organizations to:
1. Innovate with AI by building market-leading products
2. Leverage the Microsoft ecosystem and partners to scale projects
3. And reduce integration efforts by building on a natively integrated platform 
How can Azure support your M&A path? Tune into this keynote from Tom Harmer, Azure Solutions Industry Leader at Microsoft, as he answers this essential question and outlines 3 steps to get started.

Mergers & Acquisitions in AEC: Leveraging the Microsoft ecosystem to manage, migrate and secure

Moving beyond the 5 R's of modernization, Simon Evans, VP and CTO of Ensono Digital discusses how modern application development is an approach to designing, building and managing applications that increases software delivery speed and enables innovation.

Modern Application Development: Designing, building and managing applications that increase software delivery speed

The first step to unlocking the power of AI is migrating to the cloud. Gary Smith, VP Cloud Consulting and Delivery at Ensono discusses how to strike a balance between migration costs and innovation investment in your business.

Migrate to Innovate: Balancing migration costs and AI innovation for your business

What's preventing organizations from going to AI proof of concept and into production? Phil Le-Brun, Director, Enterprise Strategy at Amazon Web Services discusses the tipping point for AI and how the right foundations will power the success of generative technologies.

A Leader's Guide to Generative AI: Using history to shape the future with AWS

Which AI use cases will have the biggest impact in our businesses?  James Watson, Lead AI Consultant at Ensono, discusses  potential use cases and rapid prototyping that can make the most of generative AI across your business, with the crucial connected data sources and data foundations to back them up.

AI Beyond the Hype: Rapid prototyping with better data foundations and connected data sources

Recent findings by the IT analyst firm Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG) revealed that 74% of organizations are feeling the pressure to accelerate IT infrastructure provisioning and deployment to support developers and line-of-business teams. At the same time, 19% identify mainframes as a potential or strong candidate for cloud migration – representing a key opportunity for modernization.

In this fireside chat led by Scott Sinclair, Practice Director at ESG, you’ll discover how Ensono and Microsoft are partnering to help organizations modernize their mainframe environments, and what benefits organizations stand to gain thank to these efforts. You’ll also find out how their joint solution can help you unlock your mainframe data to drive business value.

Join the session now to learn how your organization can reap the benefits of a cloud-connected mainframe.

The Cloud-Connected Mainframe for Financial Services on Microsoft Azure - Part 2

According to recent research by TechTarget’s Enterprise Strategy Group (ESG), 91% of organizations agree that data center modernization can offer a strategic competitive advantage. And while 1 in 5 identified mainframes as a potential or strong candidate for cloud migration (19%), about the same percentage (22%) do not view mainframes as a candidate to migrate to public cloud services.

These findings highlight the balancing act between the value of mainframe data and workloads versus the risk averse nature of organizations when it comes to changes in their mainframe environment.

In this webcast, you’ll hear from a panel of experts led by Scott Sinclair, Practice Director of ESG, as they discuss the current state of mainframe environments, the pressure organizations face to modernize, and common challenges to address. Tune in now to find out how you can meet your modernization needs to maximize the value of your data while staying vigilant against bad actors.

The Cloud-Connected Mainframe for Financial Services on Microsoft Azure - Part 1

Unlock the Full Potential of Cloud Desktops for Your Organisation

Shifts in work and employee expectations has necessitated significant technological and cultural changes. Traditional tools and systems are being reimagined to meet the growing demand for flexibility and security.

In this session, we discuss how transitioning to cloud desktops with Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) can transform your organizational capabilities and secure your digital workspace.

Watch to:

· Understand the Importance of Virtual Desktops: Learn why cloud-based virtual desktops are becoming a cornerstone of modern IT strategies, especially in light of the increasing shift toward remote work.

· Explore the Core Benefits of AVD: Understand into how AVD can serve as your platform for growth, from enhancing security to improving regulatory compliance and boosting productivity,

· Cost-Effective Solutions: Discover how to reduce your IT overhead while maximising efficiency through Azure Virtual Desktop.

· Real-Life Implementations: Hear about a company that successfully integrated AVD into their operations, illustrating the practical benefits and transformative potential of AVD.

· Interactive Workshop: Learn about Ensono’s exclusive workshop designed to help you visualise and implement AVD tailored to your unique organisational needs.

Watch now to start your journey towards a more flexible and empowered workforce with Azure Virtual Desktop.

Empowering Your Workforce with Azure Virtual Desktop: Improve your productivity while keeping your costs in check

In the ever-evolving landscape of data management, SQL Server has undergone a remarkable transformation, opening doors to new opportunities while introducing challenges that compel organisations to adapt and evolve.

In the webinar, we'll shed light on the critical journey of SQL Server migration and modernisation, helping you navigate the intricate steps and crucial considerations  necessary to shed outdated and unsupported technologies for modern data solutions.

What you will learn:
• How to balance innovation and legacy with minimal disruption
• How to rapidly expanding your SQL Data Warehouse capacity while keeping costs in check
• How to overcome the multifaceted challenges and intricacies of modernizing your SQL Server environment
• How to unlock the economic and energy efficiency gains that come with migration and modernisation

Speakers: 
− Gordon McKenna, VP, Cloud Evangelist & Alliances, Ensono
− Tristan Edwards, Principal Consultant, Ensono
Moderator: 
− Bryan Glick, Editor in Chief, Computer Weekly

Mastering SQL Server Modernisation Achieving Efficiency & Innovation with Azure

SQL server

Data Warehousing

Cloud

Enterprise Applications

Enterprise Architecture

Enterprise Cloud

Enterprise IT

Server Storage

Server Virtualization

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Mastering SQL Server Modernisation Achieving Efficiency & Innovation with Azure

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