According to IDC, 41% of executives say digital disruption increases risk of being put out of business. In this context, it is not surprising that every business, country and city is on a journey to become digital. But, no one company can deliver these digital solutions alone. That's why Cisco takes an ecosystem approach and why we believe that digital transformation is powered by partnerships.

Delivering solutions and services for digital business creates new opportunities for partners to reach new buying centers and allows them to help their customers stand out, remain relevant, and grow. How can you capitalize on this opportunity?

The answer is Partnerships.

Cisco and Microsoft have developed integrated solutions to help customers harness their data and deliver hybrid cloud environments. Through the Cisco Partner Ecosystem, Microsoft channel partners and System Integrators can forge partner-to-partner relationships with Cisco channel partners to extend these solution capabilities and grow their business.

The Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) is the perfect opportunity to learn how to capitalize on the Cisco and Microsoft partnership. I'm looking forward to joining the Cisco Partner Ecosystem team in Toronto, July 10 -14, for WPC.  If you're attending WPC, make plans to drop by the Cisco booth. We have an action packed agenda of theater sessions on partner programs and UCS solutions for hybrid-cloud and SQL Server. Our Service Provider team will also be on hand to discuss the Cisco Cloud Architecture for the Microsoft Cloud Platform.

Mark your calendar for July 12^that Noon, for the Cisco session in the Partner Theater in The Commons. Bryan McCarthy will be presenting onMicrosoft and Cisco: Leading the Digital Future with Cloud and the Transformed Data Center.You'll want to catch this session to learn how Cisco & Microsoft are working together to architect innovative solutions for our customer & partners that leverages the cloud, transformed data center, security, & management.

Partnerships are more important now than ever. That's why we're especially honored to be recognized by the International Association for Microsoft Channel Partners (IAMCP), with a Finalist spot in the 2016 IAMCP Member Awards. This award recognizes excellence in partner-to-partner (P2P) programs that drive strong customer outcomes. We appreciate the recognition and congratulation the other finalists.

If you're attending WPC, we invite you to schedule a 1-1 meeting with Cisco partner leaders from around the world by emailing a meeting request to [email protected].  Also, make sure to follow the Cisco team (@CiscoPartners; @CiscoDC and @CiscoCloud) for live updates from Microsoft WPC, and join the conversation via the#WPC16 and#CiscoPartners hashtags.

Even if you're not attending WPC, Cisco channel partners can capitalize on the Cisco and Microsoft partnership to deliver and drive demand for integrated solutions that deliver the business outcomes our customers are seeking. You can learn more about Cisco solutions for Microsoft applications at cisco.com/go/Microsoft. Also take advantage of partner ready marketing campaign resources. Login into Partner Marketing Central (PMC) to access the Cisco partner campaigns for Microsoft Private Cloud, SQL Server and Cisco Cloud Architecture.

Digital disruption is reshaping the partner business landscape. Together, we'll capitalize on this digital transformation opportunity.  We're looking forward to forging these new partner-to-partner connections.