Microsoft’s ecosystem is complex, fast-evolving, and central to how modern businesses operate. Success is not just about having the right licenses or tools. It is about working with a partner who can translate Microsoft’s offerings into secure, efficient, and business-focused solutions.
In this episode of the Demystifying Microsoft podcast, host Nathan Taylor (SVP, Global Microsoft Practice Leader at the Sourcepass MCOE) sits down with Matt Lee (Senior Director of Security and Compliance at Pax8) to explore what makes a Microsoft partner worth trusting for IT professionals and business leaders.
A true Microsoft partner is more than a software reseller. The right partner acts as a strategic ally, guiding organizations through licensing, security, and deployment challenges while making sure technology decisions drive measurable business outcomes.
This episode explores the launch of the Sourcepass Center of Excellence for Microsoft, the changing role of security for SMBs, and how consolidation and hands-on expertise are reshaping IT for small and midsize businesses. Nathan Taylor and Matt Lee discuss how modern partners help IT teams cut through complexity, leverage integrated Microsoft tools, and deploy practical tactics that deliver real value.
00:00 — Introduction: Meet Matt Lee and the Sourcepass Center of Excellence for Microsoft
01:10 — Matt’s background: MSP experience, Pax8, and industry advocacy
03:17 — What customers want from Microsoft partners: Trust, simplicity, and business outcomes
05:14 — Translating complex tech: Why “no ants” matters more than technical jargon
06:35 — Balancing security and usability: The real challenge for IT partners
07:09 — Why SMBs may outpace enterprises in security over the next decade
09:39 — The role of Microsoft: Normalizing IT for agility and security
11:09 — Value in Microsoft Business Premium and E5 Security: Cost, integration, and settings
13:02 — Security consolidation: Why fewer, integrated tools are better for AI and data
14:31 — Vertical vs. horizontal LLMs: How AI models impact IT management
16:47 — What makes the Sourcepass MCOE unique: Depth, expertise, and partnership
18:50 — Community and collaboration: Solving problems together
The Sourcepass MCOE is a newly launched entity focused on delivering deep expertise and practical solutions for Microsoft environments. For IT professionals, this means access to a team that understands both the technical and business sides of Microsoft deployments, with a focus on security, efficiency, and real-world outcomes
The Sourcepass MCOE brings together top talent and proven methodologies to help SMBs navigate Microsoft’s evolving stack. The team’s approach is to simplify complexity, ensure security is built in rather than added later, and align technology decisions with business goals. This means less time spent troubleshooting and more time driving results.
Q: What makes a Microsoft partner valuable to SMBs?
A: The best partners simplify complexity, align technology with business goals, and ensure security is built into every deployment. They help SMBs get real results from Microsoft tools without the overhead of enterprise-scale operations.
Q: Who should use the Sourcepass MCOE?
A: IT professionals and business leaders who want practical, secure, and scalable Microsoft deployments without marketing hype or unnecessary complexity.
Q: How does consolidation of security and IT tools benefit small and midsize businesses?
A: Consolidating security and IT tools within the Microsoft ecosystem streamlines management, improves data integration, and enables more effective use of AI-driven insights. This approach reduces complexity, lowers costs, and helps IT teams respond faster to new threats and business needs.
Connect with one of our Microsoft experts to get more from your Microsoft investment. Our team at Sourcepass MCOE is dedicated to helping IT professionals and business leaders cut through complexity, optimize their Microsoft environments, and achieve measurable results.
Whether you’re looking to streamline licensing, strengthen security, or deploy integrated solutions, we’re here to provide straightforward guidance and hands-on support.
For ongoing insights and practical tactics, subscribe to the Demystifying Microsoft Podcast.