Microsoft Gold Partner Quisitive Rolls Out Azure Assessment Program Focused On 'De-Mystifying' The Cloud

Quisitive has been a Microsoft Gold partner for years, but the solution provider is now doubling down on cloud services and helping customers get there with a new Microsoft Azure assessment program.

In addition to enjoying its elite-level partner status, Quisitive is a Microsoft National Solution Provider, Customer Engagement Alliance Member, and serves on the Partner Advisory Council and Azure Blockchain Advisor. Quisitive is a pure-play Microsoft cloud partner, Steven Balusek, Quisitive's chief services officer, told CRN.

Quisitive's customer base consists of midsize to Fortune 100 companies in financial services, manufacturing, retail and health care. The solution provider has been actively working on "de-mystifying" the move to the cloud for its customers because it's not a matter of if they move to the cloud anymore, it's when and how, Balusek said.

[Related: Microsoft Azure Tempts Business Users By Slashing Support Prices, Critical Response Times]

"Cloud is penetrating all areas of many kinds of businesses. For us, it's about bringing a breadth of understanding of how the cloud can be used to optimize our customers' businesses, and help drive innovation and cost savings," he said.

To that end, Quisitive's Microsoft Azure Cloud Assessment Program walks customers through the business case for moving various applications and business processes to the cloud. The six-week program includes a cloud migration plan, cloud ROI analysis, and a road map for moving cloud applications in the future.

The Dallas-based company is one of only eight Microsoft partners certified to provide Azure assessment and said it is adding 50 IT consultants to handle the influx of customers moving to the cloud.

Through the assessment program, customers will be able to move to the cloud more quickly with a concrete plan on how to get there. They'll also have a clear picture of the associated consumption costs and how to optimize or consolidate their cloud environment, Balusek said.

"Customers are being challenged in moving to the cloud with where to start, what resources they'll need, and what to expect in terms of ROI, so our assessment program can give customers an ROI analysis and consumption costs over a multiyear road map to show them exactly when they'll begin saving money by moving to the cloud," he said.

Quisitive, by way of the program, can even help customers connect back to internal systems and continue to take advantage of their existing networking gear to save money, Balusek said.

Most cloud conversations often start by looking at a customer's existing infrastructure and quickly pivots to a discussion on how to modernize business applications. Quisitive sees Microsoft Azure as a leader in this area, Balusek said.

"Azure is really at the forefront in building business applications and driving the value of data within the cloud," he said.

Earlier this month, Quisitive said it was being acquired by Toronto-based private equity firm Fusion Agiletech Partners For its part, Fusion specifically wants to fund investments in Microsoft partners with blockchain, cloud and agile development skills, according to the firm.

"[The Fusion investment] will allow us to scale geographically and go out and acquire talent that gives us the opportunity to service more customers in more markets," Balusek said.