Scott MacKenzie interviews Jason Meshell from Microsoft Azure at the Accruent Insights user conference in San Antonio. Meshell discusses the evolution of cloud computing, emphasizing its benefits over on-premises solutions, such as data security, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. He highlights Microsoft's strategic partnership with Accruent, which has enabled Accruent to leverage AI and cloud services for data-intensive tasks without the need for extensive on-site infrastructure. Meshell also touches on the environmental considerations, like power optimization and the strategic placement of data centers near power sources. He concludes by encouraging listeners to reach out to him on LinkedIn for further discussions.

Action Items

• [ ] Reach out to Jason Meshell on LinkedIn (Jason Meshell) to discuss further collaboration opportunities.

Outline

Accruent Insights User Conference Introduction

• Scott MacKenzie introduces the podcast and welcomes listeners, emphasizing the importance of celebrating industry professionals.
• The podcast is recorded on-site at the Accruent Insights user conference in San Antonio, highlighting the event's focus on customer-centric solutions.
• Scott MacKenzie introduces Jason Meshell from Microsoft Azure, noting his extensive experience and contributions to the industry.
• The conversation begins with Scott MacKenzie and Jason Meshell discussing the positive atmosphere and customer-focused approach of the conference.

Jason Meshell's Background and Microsoft Azure's Evolution

• Jason Meshell shares his 25-year career in IT, including a decade at IBM and his transition to Microsoft during the cloud revolution.
• He explains the evolution of Microsoft's cloud strategy, from the early days under Steve Ballmer to the current focus on cloud and mobile first.
• Jason Meshell provides a detailed explanation of the transition from mainframe computing to the cloud, emphasizing the benefits of centralized data storage and processing.
• He highlights the economic and security advantages of the cloud, comparing it to the physical mainframe setup.

The Importance of Cloud Adoption

• Scott MacKenzie expresses curiosity about the reluctance of some organizations to adopt the cloud, seeking Jason Meshell's insights.
• Jason Meshell uses a personal anecdote about data storage on phones to illustrate the benefits of cloud storage, including data replication and protection.
• He emphasizes the scalability and reliability of cloud storage, contrasting it with the limitations of on-premises storage.
• The conversation touches on the increasing demand for power to support server farms and the strategic placement of data centers near power sources.

Microsoft's Strategic Partnership with Accruent

• Jason Meshell discusses the early stages of Microsoft's partnership with Accruent, focusing on data cleanup and application transformation.
• He highlights the importance of clean data for effective AI implementation, noting that Accruent's early efforts in data cleanup gave them a competitive advantage.
• The partnership has grown rapidly due to Accruent's proactive data management and the emergence of AI as a critical technology.
• Jason Meshell compares the process of moving data to the cloud with decluttering a home, emphasizing the need for careful refactoring and planning.

The...