Microsoft Articles / Blogs / Perficient https://blogs.perficient.com/tag/microsoft/ Expert Digital Insights Fri, 13 Dec 2024 19:58:14 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://blogs.perficient.com/files/favicon-194x194-1-150x150.png Microsoft Articles / Blogs / Perficient https://blogs.perficient.com/tag/microsoft/ 32 32 30508587 Matt Isbell Inspires Growth in Perficient’s Microsoft Practice https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/12/13/matt-isbell-inspires-growth-in-perficients-microsoft-practice/ https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/12/13/matt-isbell-inspires-growth-in-perficients-microsoft-practice/#respond Fri, 13 Dec 2024 19:58:14 +0000 https://blogs.perficient.com/?p=373308

No matter the project, location, or career path, Perficient promises to challenge, champion, and celebrate every colleague on their journey to success. Perficient is a place where great minds and great companies converge to boldly advance business. Our colleagues bring fresh perspectives and innovative ideas to the table that inspire creativity, spark collaboration, and ignite change.  

We recently sat down with Matt Isbell, senior project manager, to learn more about his experience as part of Perficient’s Microsoft practice and involvement in our PRISM Employee Resource Group (ERG). Continue reading as he shares key insights into his project management responsibilities, advice for colleagues, and his passion for taking group fitness classes.  

Hi Matt, thank you for meeting with us today. Could you share more about your role at Perficient?  

I joined Perficient through an acquisition in 2012. At Perficient, I’m a project manager and team leader. I manage large technology projects, often helping clients move to new systems that make their business more efficient. From a project management perspective, I typically spend my day meeting with delivery teams, reviewing work progress, facilitating escalations, helping remove blockers, and just generally moving projects forward.  

I also co-lead the PMO team within the Microsoft Business Unit (BU), and so I have regular one-on-one meetings with the folks on my team. I work with business analysts, project managers, and solution managers. It’s my goal to understand how they’re doing from a career perspective. In my downtime, I also help them brainstorm by working through issues or conflicts. Outside of my usual meetings, I focus on project work, auditing project performance, tweaking project plans, brainstorming solutions to make my project more efficient, and creating reports on my projects.  

Additionally, since 2019, I have worked alongside several members of the marketing team on designing and rebuilding the company website. We launched the current version of the website in 2020, and I have helped maintain it ever since. Collaboration with content, design, and development teams has been important to keep the website updated. We’ve had some impactful updates, and we released a large update this year to completely redesign the main navigation and add new sections to the homepage. We regularly keep it alive and refreshed. 

What advice would you give to colleagues who are starting their career with Perficient?   

In terms of advice for folks, diversifying your workload and getting involved in different activities is essential to see what you enjoy. The worst thing that can happen is you find that you just don’t like doing something, and you can move on to something that you do enjoy. 

I’m also actively pursuing getting a Project Management Professional (PMP) certification in my spare time. In our group, we typically focus on learning the different types of technologies through Microsoft certifications. As a project manager, it is still super valuable to understand the ins and outs of the projects. Project leaders are here not only to help organize the delivery teams, but also to challenge some of the assumptions that are being made in the solutions that we’re delivering. The more you know about the technology that you’re implementing, the better you are suited to do your job. 

Read More: Perficient Prioritizes Professional Development With Award-Winning Growth for Everyone Program 

Whether big or small, how do you make a difference for our clients, colleagues, communities, or teams?   

I’m organized and detail-oriented, and I make a difference by helping others build clarity in their work. An increasingly important part of my role is working with the Microsoft BU leadership to improve overall operations and delivery quality. Over the last several months, I have spent time standardizing methodologies such as the ways that we manage projects within the Microsoft BU. For example, we recently established a handbook for Perficient’s Microsoft project leaders. We built new operations and procedures within the BU for managing, staffing, and reporting on utilization and providing more clarity into data than what we’d had in the past.  

In 2022, I partnered with our Delivery Excellence group to develop and roll out the risk management and escalation frameworks company wide. That was a huge effort that took an entire year. We established a group of 30 people who provided input and supported the change that we were implementing. We developed job aids and templates and then delivered the materials through a series of presentations to company leaders. That was a huge effort that I had the opportunity to participate in, and I’m super proud of our collaborative effort.  

Read More: Discover Insights From Perficient’s Microsoft Business Unit  

Are you involved in any culture groups at Perficient?  

I am a committee member of the PRISM Employee Resource Group (ERG). I participated in the group when it was Pride@Perficient, but now that it is a formal ERG, I have supported the leadership team further with my project management skills. I’ve partnered with ERG leadership to organize how we track, manage, and document tasks. We hosted a process improvement session with about 20 folks to plan out how we’re organizing events in the coming year. 

It was formally launched in June, National Pride Month, which made it easy to grow. We had fun events during Pride Month, including our Perficient Ball, “10 10 10’s – Celebrating Pride Across the World event and informative sessions like the proper usage of pronouns. Going forward, there’s going to be an ongoing series of social events, like our monthly film club. Pride month was our big launch with a whole series of activities, and I’m looking forward to what’s to come for this ERG.  

Learn More: Explore How Perficient Embraces Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging 

What’s something surprising people might not know about you or your background?   

In high school, I wanted to be a pilot. I love flying and even took some lessons. Once I started college, my interest shifted, and I wanted to be an architect. I still love residential design and flying, but I eventually got an industrial engineering degree studying supply chains and engineering processes.  

Since the pandemic hit, I got a puppy and embraced the work from home lifestyle. I am usually at my desk by 7 a.m., and I love knocking out a couple of hours of work before breakfast. The Atlanta market has grown tremendously, and our culture has evolved with that. I go into the office once a month for happy hours and team meetings. We had a happy hour just a couple weeks ago, and folks from my team traveled to Atlanta for client planning meetings. While they were here, we decided to take them out and have a good time. 

I typically start working early because I attend group fitness classes in the afternoon and have a very regular schedule. On Mondays, it’s a HIIT style class called Warrior. On Tuesdays, it’s body pump. Then, on Wednesdays, it’s a break day but I take yoga. I also do spin occasionally.

I often need to sign off early to ensure I have enough time to walk the dog and get to the gym. That’s how I build a work-life balance in my schedule. If you don’t build your personal and professional calendar together, it’s easy to have one overstress the other. You also need good leadership and a support system to ensure that you don’t get overallocated on project work.  

How do we shatter boundaries?  

Project management is all about defining boundaries, including the budget and timeline. When I think about how we as an organization shatter boundaries, it’s about exceeding expectations, creative solutioning, and working with our clients to deliver where we can while maintaining the boundaries of our contractual agreements. I’ve been with the same client for 10 years, and most of our recent contracts have been staffing delivery agreements that need project management support. I bring a consulting characteristic to my project management instead of building boundaries around the project.  

I’ve worked on several large, multi-year projects, but I’ve also been involved with a smattering of other smaller, well-scoped projects. Most of my large projects are global platform migrations. This extranet project that I’m working on right now is going to take two and a half years. This is a large project where we’re working with each individual client to get them transitioned over. At the end of the day, this is consulting. My day-to-day changes, and that’s really what keeps me here. 

Read More: Understand How Perficient Accelerates Growth for the Biggest Brands  

SEE MORE PEOPLE OF PERFICIENT 

It’s no secret our success is because of our people. No matter the technology or time zone, our colleagues are committed to delivering innovative, end-to-end digital solutions for the world’s biggest brands, and we bring a collaborative spirit to every interaction. We’re always seeking the best and brightest to work with us. Join our team and experience a culture that challenges, champions, and celebrates our people. 

Visit our Careers page to see career opportunities and more! 

Go inside Life at Perficient  and connect with us on LinkedIn,  YouTube, Twitter,Facebook,  TikTok, and Instagram. 

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Powering the Future: Key Highlights from PPCC24 and What’s Next for Power Platform https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/09/26/powering-the-future-key-highlights-from-ppcc24-and-whats-next-for-power-platform/ https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/09/26/powering-the-future-key-highlights-from-ppcc24-and-whats-next-for-power-platform/#respond Thu, 26 Sep 2024 23:55:49 +0000 https://blogs.perficient.com/?p=369888

The energy was electric last week as thousands of attendees invaded MGM Grand along the Las Vegas Strip for the 3rd Annual Power Platform Community Conference (PPCC24).

From groundbreaking announcements to new features unveiled during keynotes from Microsoft’s Charles Lamanna, Corporate Vice President of Business Industry and Copilot, and Jeff Teper, President of Apps and Platforms, PPCC24 offered an electrifying three days of innovation and collaboration.

Lamanna kicked off day one with an eye-opening overview of Microsoft’s low-code superhero of today, Power Platform. With more than 48 million active users every month – surpassing the population of Spain – Power Platform has become the “one platform” for everyone, whether it’s for no code, low code or pro code. But what truly stole the show this year was Copilot – set to revolutionize how developers work, bringing automation dreams to life.

The future of low-code development is evolving, and at PPCC24, it was clear: Power Platform plus Copilot equals transformative potential for businesses across industries, signaling a new road ahead for citizen developers and Microsoft automation:


“Most people overestimate what they can do in one year and underestimate what they can do in ten years.”

Let’s dive into key announcements and takeaways from PPC24:

The Rise of AI and Natural Language in Power Platform

AI is more deeply integrated into Power Platform than ever before, with a major emphasis on natural language capabilities and intelligent apps. Here are some of the top features unveiled during the conference:

  • Desktop Flows from Natural Language – Now in public preview, this feature enables users to generate desktop flows in Power Automate simply by using natural language. The barriers to automation just got lower for everyone, regardless of technical expertise.

 

  • Power Automate AI Recording for Desktop Flows – Also in public preview, this “show and tell” experience allows users to record desktop flows, making RPA workflows easier for users of all skill levels. The AI will interpret recordings to generate automated processes, speeding up adoption and productivity.

 

  • AI Agents for Copilot Studio – A game-changer for developers, AI agents will dynamically execute actions based on instructions and automatically handle workflow based on parameters. These agents can be trained and improved continuously, turning Copilot Studio into a true powerhouse for automation.

Coauthoring in Power Apps Now Generally Available

A highly anticipated feature from the Power Community, Co-Authoring in Power will beckon the next level of developer collaboration. This functionality allows up to 10 developers to collaborate in real time, editing apps simultaneously and a bringing new level of teamwork to app development.

As Charles Lamanna put it, “We are now all coauthors of this vision.” The seamless collaboration made possible through coauthoring will undoubtedly push the boundaries of what’s possible for low-code development.


The Road Ahead is Copilot-First

A standout theme from the conference was a Copilot-first vision for the future of low-code development. With tools like Copilot Studio set to be upgraded with GPT-4, the next generation of low-code technologies will be supported by AI agents that assist with tasks like solution design, data modeling, development, and visual design.


Perficient a Standout in Power Platform’s Future

As a leading Microsoft Solutions Partner, ranked 12th for Microsoft Power Platform partners, Perficient is thrilled to be at the forefront of this Community. From hosting a successful happy hour at Chez Bippy’s the night before the conference, to engaging with attendees at our booth—where we proudly supported donations to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital—we’re excited to continue building on PPCC24 momentum. Our focus on helping organizations harness the full power of the latest Power Platform features to innovate faster and more intelligently will continue to help us lead the way.

While PPCC24 offered new announcements and innovations, it is only the beginning. As an award-winning Microsoft Solutions Provider, we’re committed to building groundbreaking solutions and bringing the robust capabilities of Power Platform to organizations everywhere. Whether it’s through AI-driven automation, real-time app coauthoring, or our continued work with Copilot, we’re dedicated to empowering businesses to innovate at scale.

Read more about our Power Platform practice here and stay tuned for upcoming events, workshops, and other exciting Power Platform activities!

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Smart Manufacturing, QA, Big Data, and More at The International Manufacturing Technology Show https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/09/19/smart-manufacturing-qa-big-data-and-more-at-the-international-manufacturing-technology-show/ https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/09/19/smart-manufacturing-qa-big-data-and-more-at-the-international-manufacturing-technology-show/#respond Thu, 19 Sep 2024 14:43:19 +0000 https://blogs.perficient.com/?p=369461

For my first time attending the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS), I must say it did not disappoint. This incredible event in Chicago happens every two years and is massive in size, taking up every main hall in McCormick Place. It was a combination of technology showcases, featuring everything from robotics to AI and smart manufacturing.

As a Digital Strategy Director at Perficient, I was excited to see the latest advancements on display representing many of the solutions that our company promotes and implements at the leading manufacturers around the globe. Not to mention, IMTS was the perfect opportunity to network with industry influencers as well as technology partners.

Oh, the People You Will Meet and Things You Will See at IMTS

Whenever you go to a show of this magnitude, you’re bound to run into someone you know. I was fortunate to experience the show with several colleagues, with a few of us getting to meet our Amazon Web Services (AWS) account leaders as well as Google and Microsoft.

Google

The expertise of the engineers at each demonstration was truly amazing, specifically at one Robotic QA display. This robotic display was taking a series of pictures of automobile doors with the purpose of looking for defects. The data collected would go into their proprietary software for analysis and results. We found this particularly intriguing because we had been presented with similar use cases by some of our customers. We were so engrossed in talking with the engineers that our half-hour-long conversation felt like only a minute or two before we had to move on.

 

 

 

robotic manufacturing on displayAfter briefly stopping to grab a pint—excuse me, picture—of the robotic bartender, we made our way to the Smart Manufacturing live presentation on the main stage. The ultra-tech companies presented explanations of how they were envisioning the future with Manufacturing 5.0 and digital twins, featuring big data as a core component.  It was reassuring to hear this, considering that it’s a strength of ours, thus reinforcing the belief that we need to continue focusing on these types of use cases. Along with big data, we should stay the course with trends shaping the industry like Smart Manufacturing, which at its roots are a combination of operations management, cloud, AI, and technology.

Smart Manufacturing Presentation at IMTS

Goodbye IMTS, Hello Future Opportunities with Robotics, AI, and Smart Manufacturing

Overall, IMTS was certainly a worthwhile investment. It provided a platform to connect with potential partners, learn about industry trends, and strengthen our relationships with technology partners. As we look ahead to future events, I believe that a focused approach, leveraging our existing partnerships and adapting to the evolving needs of the manufacturing industry, will be key to maximizing our participation.

If you’d like to discuss these takeaways from IMTS Chicago 2024 at greater depth, please be sure to connect with our manufacturing experts.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Computational Complexity Theory https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/09/10/computational-complexity-theory/ https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/09/10/computational-complexity-theory/#respond Tue, 10 Sep 2024 14:40:48 +0000 https://blogs.perficient.com/?p=368922

Computational complexity studies the efficiency of algorithms. It helps classify the algorithm in terms of time and space to identify the amount of computing resources needed to solve a problem. The Big Ω, and Big θ notations are used to describe the asymptotic behavior of an algorithm as a function of the input size. In computer science, computational complexity theory is fundamental to understanding the limits of how efficiently an algorithm can be computed.

This paper seeks to determine when an algorithm provides solvable solutions in a short com- putational time and to find those that generate solutions with long computational times that can be categorized as intractable or unsolvable, using these polynomial functions as a classical repre- sentation of computational complexity. Some mathematical notations to represent computational complexity, its mathematical definition from the perspective of function theory and predicate cal- culus, as well as complexity classes and their main characteristics to find polynomial functions will be explained. Mathematical expressions can explain the time behavior of a function and show the computational complexity. In a nutshell, we can compare the behavior of an algorithm over time with a mathematical function such as f (n), f (n2), etc.

In logic and algorithms, there has always been a search for how to measure execution time, calculate the computational time to store data, determine whether an algorithm generates a cost or a benefit in solving a problem, or design algorithms that generate a viable solution.

Asymptotic notations

What is it?

Asymptotic notation describes how an algorithm behaves over time, when its arguments tend to a specific limit, usually when they grow very large (tend to infinity). It is mainly used in the analysis of algorithms to show their efficiency and performance, especially in terms of execution time or memory usage as the size of the input data increases.

The asymptotic notation represents the behavior of an algorithm over time by making a com- parison with mathematical functions. The algorithm has a cycle while repeating different actions until a condition is fulfilled, it can be said that this algorithm has a behavior similar to a linear function, but if it has another cycle within the one already mentioned, it can be compared to a quadratic function.

How is an asymptotic notation represented?

Asymptotic notations can be expressed in 3 ways:

  • O(n): The term ‘Big O’ or BigO refers to an upper limit on the execution time of an algorithm. It is used to describe the worst-case It is used to describe the worst-case scenario. For example, if an algorithm is O(n2) in the worst-case scenario, its execution time will increase proportionally to n2 where the n is the input size.
  • Ω(n): The ‘Big Ω’ or BigΩ, describes a minimum limit on the execution time of an algorithm and is used to describe the best-case scenario. The algorithm has the behavior of Ω(n), which means that in the best case, the execution time of the algorithm will grow at least proportionally a n.
  • Θ(n): ‘Big Θ’ or BigΘ, are to both an upper and a lower bound of the time behavior of an algorithm. It is used to explain that, regardless of the case, the execution time of the algorithm increases proportionally to the specified value. For example, if an algorithm is Θ(nlogn), your execution time will increase proportionally to nlogn at both ends.

In a nutshell, asymptotic notation is a mathematical representation of computational com- plexity expressed in terms of computational complexity. Now, if we express in polynomial terms an asymptotic notation, it allows us to see how the computational cost increases as a reference variable increases. For example, let’s evaluate a polynomial function f (n) = n + 7 to conclude that this function has a linear growth. Compare this linear function with a second one given what g(n) = n3 − 2, the function g(h) will have a cubic growth when n is larger.

Computational Complexity 1

Figure 1: f (n) = n + 7 vs g(n) = n3 − 2

From a mathematical point of view, it can be stated that:

The function f (n) = O(n) and that the function g(n) = O(n3)

 

Computational complexity types

Finding an algorithm that solves a problem efficiently is crucial in analyzing algorithms. To achieve this we must be able to express the algorithm’s behavior in functions, for example, if we can express the algorithm as the polynomial f (n) function, a polynomial time can be set to determine the algorithmic efficiency. In general, a good design of an algorithm depends on whether it runs in polynomial time or less.

Frequency counter and arithmetic sum and bounding rules

To express an algorithm as a mathematical function and know it is execution time, it is neces- sary to find an algebraic expression that represents the number of executions or instructions of the algorithm. The frequency counter is a polynomial representation that has been worked on throughout the topic of computational complexity. with some simple examples in Csharp on how to calculate the computational complexity of some algorithms. Use the Big O, because expresses computational complexity in the worst-case scenario.

Computational complexity Constant

Analyze the function that adds 2 numbers and returns the result of the sum:

Computational Complexity 2

With the Big O notation for each of the instructions in the above algorithm, the number of times each line of code is executed can be determined. In this case, each line is executed only once. Now, to determine the computational complexity or the Big O of this algorithm, the complexity for each of the instructions must be summed up:

O(1) + O(1) = O(2)

The constant value is equal 2, the polynomial time of the algorithm is constant, i.e. O(1).

Polynomial Computational Complexity

Now let’s look at another example with a slightly more complex algorithm. We need to traverse an array containing the numbers from 1 to 100 and the total sum of the whole array is required:

Computational Complexity 3

In the sequence of the algorithm, lines 2 and 6 are executed only once, but lines 3 and 4 will be repeated n times, until reaching 100 iterations (n = 100 the size of the array), to calculate the computational cost of this algorithm, the following is done:

O(1) + O(n) + O(n) + O(1) = O(2n + 2)

From this result, it can be stated that the algorithm is executed in time lineal given that O(2n + 2) ≈ O(n). Let’s analyze another algorithm, similar but with two cycles one after the other. These algo- rithms are those whose execution time depends on two variables, n and m, linearly. This indicates that the length of the algorithm is proportional to the sum of the sizes of two independent inputs. The computational complexity for this type of algorithm is O(n + m).

Computational Complexity 4

In this algorithm, the two cycles are independent since the first while represents n + 1 times while the second while represents m + 1, being n ̸= m. Therefore, the computational cost is given by:

O(7) + O(2n) + O(2m) ≈ O(n + m)

Exponential computational complexity

For the third example, the computational cost for an algorithm containing nested cycles is analyzed:

Computational Complexity 5

The conditions in a while (while) and do-while (do while) cycles are executed n + 1 times, as compared to a foreach cycle. These loops do one additional step: validate the condition to end the loop. In line number 7, by repeating n times and doing its corresponding validation, the computational complexity at this point is n(n + 1). In the end, the result of the computational complexity of this algorithm would result in the following:

O(6) + O(4n) + O(2n2) = O(2n2 + 4n + 6) ≈ O(n2)

Logarithmic computational complexity

  • Logarithmic Complexity in base 2 (log2(n)): Algorithms with logarithmic complexity O(logn) grow very slowly compared to other complexity types such as O(n) or O(n2). Even for large inputs, the number of trades does not increase Let us analyze the following algorithm:

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Using a table, let us analyze the step-by-step execution of the algorithm proposed above:

 

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Table 1: Logarithmic loop algorithm execution

If you examine the sequence in Table reftab:tab1, you can see that their behavior has a logarithmic correlation. A logarithm is the power that must be raised to get another number. For example, log10100 = 2 because 102 = 100. Therefore, it is clear that the base 2 must be used for the proposed algorithm:

64/2 = 32

32/2 = 16

16/2 = 8

8/2 = 4

4/2 = 2

2/2 = 1

It can be calculated that log264 = 6, which means that the six (6) loop has been executed six (6) times (i.e. when k takes values {0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5}). This conclusion confirms that the while loop of this algorithm is log2(n), and the computational cost is shown as:

 

O(1) + O(1) + O(log2(n) + 1) + O(log2(n)) + O(log2(n)) + O(1)

= O(4) + O(3log2(n))

O(4) + O(3log2(n)) ≈ O(log2(n))

  • Logarithmic complexity (nlog(n)): Algorithms O(nlog(n)) have an execution time that increases in proportion to the product of the input size n and the logarithm of n. This indicates that the execution time does not double if the input size is doubled, on the contrary, it increases less significantly due to the logarithmic factor. This type of complexity has a lower efficiency than O(n2) but higher than O(n).

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O(2 ∗ (n/2)) + O(1) ≈ O(nlog(n))

Analyzing the algorithm proposed above, mentioning the merge sort algorithm, the algorithm performs a similar division, but instead of sorting elements, it counts the possible divisions into subgroups. The complexity of this algorithm is O(nlog(n)) due to recursion and n operations are performed at each recursion level until the base case is reached.

Finally, in a summary graph, you can see, the behavior of the number of operations performed by the functions based on their computational complexity.

Example

An integration service is periodically executed to retrieve customer IDs associated with four or more companies registered with a parent company. The process performs individual queries for each company, accessing various databases that use different persistence technologies. As a result, an array of data containing the customer IDs is generated without checking or removing possible duplicates.

In this case, the initial approach would involve comparing each employee ID with all other elements in the array, resulting in a quadratic number of comparisons, i.e., O(n2):

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In a code review, the author of this algorithm will be advised to optimize the current approach due to its inefficiency. To solve the problems related to nested loops, a more efficient approach can be taken by using a HashSet. Here is how to use this object to improve performance, reducing complexity from O(n2) to O(n):

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Currently, in C# you can use an object called IEnumerable, which allows you to perform the same task in a single line of code. But in this approach, several clarifications must be made:

  • Previously, it was noted that a single line of code can be interpreted as having O(1) complex- ity. In this case, it is different because the Distinct function traverses the original collection and returns a new sequence containing only the unique elements, removing any duplicates using a HashSet, which, as mentioned earlier, results in O(n) complexity.
  • The HashSet also has a drawback: in the worst case, when collisions are frequent, the complexity can degrade to O(n2). However, this is extremely rare and typically depends on the quality of the hash function and the characteristics of the data in the collection.

The correct approach should be:

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Conclusions

In general, we can reach three important conclusions about computational complexity.

  • To evaluate and compare the efficiency of various algorithms, computational complexity is essential. Helps to understand how the execution time or resource usage (such as memory) of an algorithm increases with input size. This analysis is essential for choosing the most appropriate algorithm for a particular problem, especially when working with significant amounts of data.
  • Algorithms with lower computational complexity can improve system performance signifi- cantly. For example, the choice of an algorithm O(nlogn) instead of one O(n2) can have a significant impact on the amount of time required to process large amounts of data. Ef- ficient algorithms are essential to ensure that the system is fast and scalable in real-world applications such as search engines, image processing, and big data analytics.

Cuadro (1)

Figure 2: Operation vs Elements

 

  • Understanding computational complexity helps developers and data scientists to design and optimize algorithms. It allows for finding bottlenecks and performance improvements. By adapting the algorithm design to the specific needs of the problem and the constraints of the execution environment, computational complexity analysis allows informed trade-offs between execution time and the use of other resources, such as memory.

References

  • Roberto Flórez Algoritmia Básica, Second Edition, Universidad de Antioquia, 2011.
  • Thomas Mailund. Introduction to Computational Thinking: Problem Solving, Algorithms, Data Structures, and More, Apress, 2021.
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Increasing Threat of Cyberattacks is Causing Energy Companies to Bolster Security https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/08/30/increasing-threat-of-cyberattacks-is-causing-energy-companies-to-bolster-security/ https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/08/30/increasing-threat-of-cyberattacks-is-causing-energy-companies-to-bolster-security/#respond Fri, 30 Aug 2024 15:50:08 +0000 https://blogs.perficient.com/?p=368464

A major energy and utilities supplier has become the latest victim in a growing list of organizations targeted by cyberattacks. Without a quick response to an attack like this, energy companies can risk exposing customer data, cutting off energy supply, slowing or completely stopping operations, and more. 

According to the Department of Energy, the recent incident was responded to quickly, and had minimal lasting impact. However, these attacks are becoming increasingly frequent across industries, and the risks continue to grow. Let’s focus on one of the most common types of cybercrime: ransomware. 

Are Your Systems Susceptible to Malware? 

Ransomware attacks are pervasive, affecting various sectors including organizations like Colonial Pipeline, JBS Foods, and Kaseya. The most frequently targeted industries range from energy and finance to healthcare and entertainment. Malicious software, better known as malware, compromises network integrity by gaining access through phishing, stolen passwords, and other vulnerabilities. 

Ransomware-as-a-Service is a cybercrime business model made possible via modular business models with low barriers to entry, creating a wide market of perpetrators. These individuals are divided into developers who create the malware and affiliates who initiate the attacks, with profits split between them. 

It is crucial to be vigilant, with the most common defense being routine basic cybersecurity hygiene, such as implementing multi-factor authentication. Other tactics include adopting Zero Trust principles and preparing for potential attacks to minimize impact. While a good defense is wise, it is still essential to have a strong relationship between the government and private sector, with collaboration being of utmost importance. Companies must share information about breaches and their efforts to disrupt infrastructure with the support of law enforcement. 

Three Simple Ways to Prevent Cyberattacks 

Now that we have identified what makes malware like ransomware possible, let us address the best ways to avoid becoming a victim. We have broken the solution down into a few simple steps: 

  1. Be prepared with a recovery plan – Make it incredibly challenging to access and disrupt your system. If you make an attack economically unfeasible, you have already avoided the threat. The goal is to avoid paying the ransom for privileges that might not be returned or using keys provided by attackers to regain access. While restoring corrupted systems can be burdensome, it is better than the alternative. 
  1. Limit the scope of damage – By limiting privileged access roles, you reduce the number of entry points for attackers to acquire access to critical components of your business. If they can only gain access to pieces rather than the entire system, it will deter attackers from pursuing an escalated attack. 
  1. Challenge cybercriminals as much as possible – This step should not interfere with steps 1 or 2, but it is essential to create as much friction as possible for potential attacks. Make it an uphill battle for intruders attempting to gain remote access, emails, endpoints, or accounts. If they do manage to get in, ensure they cannot escalate their privileges by implementing robust detection and response capabilities. 

Perficient’s team of experts is well-versed in these incidents and what can be done to prevent them. If you would like to begin mounting more serious defenses, explore our energy industry expertise and browse the many technology partners with which we work to give companies confidence in their security, like Microsoft. 

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Maximize Your PPCC24 Experience with Perficient: Insights, Innovation, and Impact https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/08/26/maximize-your-ppcc24-experience-with-perficient-insights-innovation-and-impact/ https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/08/26/maximize-your-ppcc24-experience-with-perficient-insights-innovation-and-impact/#respond Mon, 26 Aug 2024 17:12:43 +0000 https://blogs.perficient.com/?p=368082

The Power Platform Community Conference 2024 in Las Vegas is fast approaching, and it’s shaping up to be one of the most impactful events of the year for anyone involved in digital transformation. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just getting started with Microsoft’s Power Platform, this conference offers unparalleled opportunities to learn, connect, and grow. At Perficient, we’re excited to share our expertise, showcase our success stories, and connect with you to explore how we can help you maximize your Power Platform investment. Here’s everything you need to know to make the most of this conference, from what to expect to why you should engage with Perficient.

What is the Power Platform Community Conference?

The Power Platform Community Conference (PPCC) is the premier event for professionals who use or are interested in Microsoft’s Power Platform. This annual gathering brings together thousands of developers, business leaders, and technology enthusiasts from around the world to explore the latest trends, tools, and best practices in Power Platform. PPCC 2024 is set to showcase cutting-edge AI innovations, building on the success of previous years. It offers more than 150 sessions and keynotes, along with 20 hands-on workshops, and opportunities to connect with and gain insights from Microsoft thought leaders, product experts and developers, MVPs, and peers.

Key Takeaways from Last Year’s Conference

The 2nd annual Power Platform Community Conference in 2023 was a major success, highlighting the growing momentum behind low-code development. Some key takeaways include:

  • Low-Code Momentum: The 2023 conference underscored the rapid expansion of the low-code market, with Power Platform playing a central role in enabling organizations to innovate quickly and efficiently.
  • AI-Powered Solutions: There was a significant focus on integrating AI with Power Platform, particularly through tools like AI Builder and Power Automate. These advancements are helping organizations automate more complex tasks, driving efficiency, and reducing manual work.
  • Community and Collaboration: The strength of the Power Platform community was a key theme, with thousands of professionals collaborating to share insights, solutions, and best practices.

What’s New for the 2024 Conference?

The 2024 conference will build on these themes, with an even stronger focus on AI-driven innovation. Microsoft plans to unveil several new AI features designed to help users automate more complex tasks and gain deeper insights from their data. The conference will highlight how generative AI advancements can be integrated seamlessly with existing Power Platform solutions to enhance productivity and efficiency.

This year, you can expect:

  • Showcasing AI Innovations: New AI capabilities in Copilot Studio, Power Automate, Power BI, and AI Builder that simplify the implementation of intelligent automation and analytics solutions.
  • Hands-On Labs and Networking: Continued opportunities to engage directly with the technology through hands-on labs and to connect with other professionals and experts in the field.
  • Expert-Led Sessions: Sessions led by industry experts focused on how AI is transforming the approach to digital transformation.

For more details on what to expect from this year’s conference, check out Microsoft’s announcement here.

Getting Registered

To register for the Power Platform Community Conference, visit the official conference registration page. Full conference passes start at $1,849 and will be raised to $1,899 after August 27th. You can add on one, two, or three full-day workshops for additional costs.

Once registered, take some time to plan your conference experience by reviewing the agenda and identifying which sessions align with your current projects or areas of interest.

Why Perficient Leads in Power Platform Solutions

At Perficient, our passion for Power Platform stems from its transformative impact across various industries. We’ve developed a proven track record, backed by 30+ certified experts and over 50 successful enterprise projects, delivering tangible results for our clients. Whether it’s implementing a Center of Excellence (COE) for a global auto manufacturer or building an automation program for a healthcare provider, our diverse industry experience allows us to craft tailored solutions that address unique business challenges.

We understand that every organization is at a different stage of its Power Platform journey. Whether you’re just starting or looking to optimize, our solutions and workshops are designed to align with your organization’s maturity level, ensuring you maximize your Power Platform investment.

Why Talk to Us at PPCC24

  1. Custom Solutions for Unique Challenges: We tailor our Power Platform solutions to meet your specific business needs, from app development to automation and data analytics.
  2. Deep Industry Insights: Our extensive experience across industries equips us with the insights needed to leverage Power Platform for addressing sector-specific challenges.
  3. Commitment to Long-Term Success: Beyond implementation, we offer ongoing support, maintenance, and optimization to ensure your Power Platform environment continues to deliver value as your business grows.

By connecting with Perficient at PPCC24, you’re not just getting a solution; you’re gaining a partner committed to your success.

We’re looking forward to the Power Platform Community Conference and hope to see you there. Be sure to visit us at booth #134, where you can learn more about our success stories, discuss your specific challenges, and discover how Perficient can help you harness the full potential of Power Platform. Let’s work together to turn your vision into reality.

For more information about our Power Platform capabilities, visit Perficient’s Power Platform page.

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5 Major Benefits of Azure Integration Services Over MuleSoft https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/08/12/5-major-benefits-of-azure-integration-services-over-mulesoft/ https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/08/12/5-major-benefits-of-azure-integration-services-over-mulesoft/#respond Mon, 12 Aug 2024 07:56:19 +0000 https://blogs.perficient.com/?p=366852

In the realm of enterprise integration, choosing the right platform is crucial for ensuring seamless connectivity between diverse applications and systems. Azure Integration Services (AIS) and MuleSoft are two prominent players in this field. Azure Integration Services is a cloud-based integration platform provided by Microsoft, while MuleSoft is an integration platform that allows developers to connect applications, data, and devices. While both offer robust capabilities, Azure Integration Services provides distinct advantages that can be pivotal for businesses looking to optimize their integration strategies. Here are five major benefits of AIS over MuleSoft.

1. Seamless Integration with Microsoft Ecosystem

One of the standout benefits of Azure Integration Services is its seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem. AIS is designed to work natively with other Microsoft products and services such as Azure, Office 365, Dynamics 365, and Power Platform. This native compatibility ensures a smoother and more efficient integration process, reducing the need for custom connectors and simplifying the overall integration architecture. This compatibility provides a sense of reassurance to the audience, knowing that their existing Microsoft investments will seamlessly integrate with AIS.

Integration capabilities don’t stop there – AIS can integrate with all kinds of other systems including SaaS platforms, existing on-premises API’s, commerce platforms, banking platforms, and more.  Additionally, AIS supports more than .Net – you can also integrate with Java, Node, Python and many other technologies.

2. Comprehensive and Unified Offering

Azure Integration Services offers a comprehensive and unified suite of integration tools, including Azure Logic Apps, Azure Service Bus, Azure API Management, and Azure Event Grid. This unified approach allows businesses to address a wide range of integration needs within a single platform, streamlining management and reducing the complexity associated with using multiple tools. This versatility and adaptability of AIS’s suite of tools instills confidence in the audience about the platform’s ability to meet their diverse integration needs.

3. Scalability and Performance

Azure Integration Services leverages the global infrastructure of Microsoft Azure, ensuring high scalability and performance for enterprise-grade integrations. AIS can handle large volumes of data and transactions with ease, providing reliable and fast performance across various integration scenarios. MuleSoft, although scalable, may require more effort to achieve the same level of performance, particularly when dealing with complex and high-volume integrations.

4. Cost-Effectiveness

Cost is a critical factor for many organizations when choosing an integration platform. Azure Integration Services offers a more cost-effective solution compared to MuleSoft, primarily due to its consumption-based pricing model. Businesses pay only for the resources they use, allowing for better cost control and budgeting. Additionally, AIS often incurs significantly lower licensing and maintenance costs, making it an attractive option for organizations looking to optimize their IT expenditure.

5. Enhanced Security and Compliance

Security and compliance are top priorities for any integration platform. Azure Integration Services benefits from Azure’s robust security features and compliance certifications. With AIS, businesses can leverage advanced security measures such as encryption, identity and access management, and threat protection, ensuring that their integrations are secure and compliant with industry standards. While MuleSoft also offers strong security features, AIS’s integration with Azure’s comprehensive security framework provides an added layer of protection and peace of mind.

Conclusion

Azure Integration Services stands out as a powerful and cost-effective integration platform, offering seamless integration with the Microsoft ecosystem, a comprehensive suite of tools, high scalability and performance, cost efficiency, and enhanced security and compliance. For businesses looking to streamline their integration processes and leverage the full potential of their existing Microsoft investments, AIS presents a compelling choice over MuleSoft.

 

Contact us to learn more about how we can help you maximize your investment in Azure!

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Unleashing Business Potential with Microsoft Cloud Solution Providers https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/08/04/unleashing-business-potential-with-microsoft-cloud-solution-providers-csp/ https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/08/04/unleashing-business-potential-with-microsoft-cloud-solution-providers-csp/#respond Sun, 04 Aug 2024 07:55:18 +0000 https://blogs.perficient.com/?p=366849

In today’s dynamic digital landscape, businesses continually seek ways to streamline operations, boost productivity, and surge ahead of the competition. Microsoft Cloud Solution Providers (CSPs) play a central role in aiding organizations to achieve these aspirations. Let’s explore how CSPs deliver unparalleled value to their customers.

Tailored Solutions for Unique Needs

Every business possesses distinct requirements. Microsoft CSPs understand this and offer tailored cloud solutions to meet the specific needs of each organization. Whether implementing Azure services, Office 365, or Dynamics 365, CSPs provide expert guidance to ensure that businesses leverage the right tools for their unique circumstances.

Cost Efficiency and Flexibility

Working with a Microsoft CSP brings the significant advantages of cost efficiency and flexibility. CSPs provide various subscription & procurement models, allowing businesses to scale their services up or down as per demand.  This adaptability ensures that companies only pay for what they use, optimizing their IT spend and avoiding unnecessary expenses.  These subscription models are more flexible than traditional Enterprise Agreements and typically do not have the minimum seat requirements that EA’s have.

Seamless Integration and Migration

Migrating to the cloud can be a daunting prospect. However, CSPs have the expertise to ensure a smooth transition, minimizing disruptions to business operations. They handle everything from planning and execution to integration with existing systems, ensuring businesses can continue to operate efficiently during the migration process.  Combined with 24×7 managed support, CSPs can handle these needs via white-glove treatment.

Enhanced Security and Compliance

Security and compliance are primary concerns for businesses today. Microsoft CSPs bring a wealth of knowledge in implementing robust security measures and ensuring compliance with industry standards and regulations. They utilize advanced security features like multi-factor authentication, data encryption, security event monitoring, and regular security audits to protect sensitive information and maintain regulatory compliance.

Continuous Support and Managed Services

CSPs offer continuous support and managed services, ensuring businesses can access expert assistance whenever needed. From troubleshooting technical issues to providing ongoing maintenance and updates, CSPs act as an extended IT department, allowing businesses to focus on their core activities without worrying about IT management.

Innovation and Future-Readiness

Staying updated with the latest technological advancements is crucial for business growth. Microsoft CSPs keep businesses at the forefront of innovation by providing access to the latest cloud technologies and solutions. They help companies adopt new tools and features as they become available, ensuring that businesses are always future-ready.  CSPs often have a variety of engagements available to implement POC’s, facilitate knowledge transfer & adoption needs, and can also bring in full implementation teams to build new innovative solutions including AI readiness, landing zones, and product integration.

Conclusion

Microsoft Cloud Solution Providers are invaluable partners in the digital transformation journey. They bring tailored solutions, cost efficiency, seamless integration, enhanced security, continuous support, and innovation to businesses of all sizes. By partnering with a CSP, organizations can unlock their full potential, drive growth, and stay competitive in an ever-evolving market.

Have you explored the benefits of working with Microsoft Cloud Solution Providers?

If you already have one and you are only receiving services for monitoring and support, we can help accelerate your initiatives with industry experts, product development teams, AI adoption frameworks, and much more.

Contact us to learn more today!

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Unlocking the Power of Azure Integration Services for the Financial Services Industry https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/08/04/microsoft-azure-integration-services-financial-services-industry/ https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/08/04/microsoft-azure-integration-services-financial-services-industry/#respond Sun, 04 Aug 2024 07:34:06 +0000 https://blogs.perficient.com/?p=366844

In today’s rapidly evolving digital landscape, financial services organizations are increasingly relying on cutting-edge technologies to stay competitive and deliver exceptional services to their clients. Microsoft’s Azure Integration Services, a suite of tools designed to seamlessly connect applications, data, and processes, is emerging as a game-changer for the financial services industry.

This blog post delves into the myriad benefits of Azure Integration Services and highlights high-impact examples that demonstrate its transformative potential for financial services organizations.

The Benefits of Azure Integration Services

Enhanced Connectivity and Interoperability

Azure Integration Services offer a robust framework for connecting disparate systems, enabling financial organizations to integrate on-premises, cloud-based, and third-party applications seamlessly. This connectivity enhances interoperability, allowing for streamlined operations and improved data flow across various platforms.  Additionally, Azure offers best-in-class capabilities to support hybrid scenarios with stringent requirements for private networking & threat detection – all of which are critical in today’s cloud world.

Scalability and Flexibility

Financial organizations often face fluctuating demands and need a flexible infrastructure that can scale accordingly. Azure Integration Services provide the scalability required to handle varying workloads, ensuring businesses adapt quickly to changing market conditions without compromising performance.

Improved Security and Compliance

With stringent regulatory requirements in the financial sector, security and compliance are paramount. Azure Integration Services leverage Azure’s robust security features (including multi-factor authentication, encryption, role-based access control, and private networking) to ensure that data is protected and compliance standards are met.

Cost Efficiency

Financial organizations can reduce IT overhead costs by integrating existing systems and leveraging cloud-based services. Azure Integration Services minimize the need for extensive physical hardware and maintenance, resulting in significant cost savings.

Streamlined Business Processes

Automation is a key benefit of Azure Integration Services. By automating repetitive tasks and processes, financial organizations can increase efficiency, reduce errors, and allow employees to focus on more strategic activities that add value to the business.

 

High-Impact Examples in the Financial Services Industry

Real-Time Fraud Detection and Prevention

Fraud detection is critical in the financial industry. Azure Integration Services can connect various data sources and use machine learning models to analyze transactions in real-time. For example, a bank can integrate its transaction processing system with Azure Machine Learning to instantly identify and flag suspicious activities, reducing fraud risk.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM) Enhancement

Financial organizations can enhance their CRM systems by integrating them with Azure Logic Apps, Azure Functions, and Azure Service Bus. With Azure, organizations can integrate just as seamlessly with Microsoft technology (such as Dynamics) as it can with non-Microsoft technology (Salesforce).  This integration allows for real-time updates and data synchronization across customer touchpoints, providing a unified view of customer interactions. As a result, financial advisors can offer more personalized services and improve customer satisfaction.

Regulatory Reporting and Compliance Automation

Compliance reporting is often a resource-intensive process. Azure Integration Services can automate data collection and reporting from multiple sources, ensuring accuracy and timeliness. For instance, an investment firm can integrate its trading platforms with Azure Logic Apps to automate the generation and submission of compliance reports to regulatory bodies.  In addition, Azure provides security & compliance dashboards to ensure the environment itself remains secure and minimizes the threat of breaches & unauthorized access.

Seamless Payment Processing

Financial organizations can offer seamless and secure payment processing services by integrating payment gateways with Azure API Management. This integration ensures that payment data is transmitted securely and efficiently, enhancing the customer experience and reducing transaction times.  API Management benefits your products & customers as much as it benefits your development teams.  Implementing API Management provides full lifecycle support for your API’s, API discovery, and a developer portal to streamline both development and operational needs.

Enhanced Risk Management

Risk management is a critical aspect of financial services. Azure Integration Services can integrate risk assessment tools with core banking systems to provide real-time insights into potential risks. For example, a lending institution can use Azure Functions to analyze borrower data and assess credit risk more accurately, leading to better-informed lending decisions.

 

Conclusion

Azure Integration Services offers a powerful suite of capabilities that enable financial organizations to enhance connectivity, scalability, security, and efficiency. By leveraging these services, organizations can drive innovation, improve customer experiences, and maintain a competitive edge in the market. The high-impact examples highlighted in this post demonstrate the transformative potential of Azure Integration Services in the financial services industry, making it an indispensable asset for forward-thinking organizations.

By embracing Azure Integration Services, financial institutions can navigate the complexities of the digital era with confidence and agility, positioning themselves for sustained success and growth.

Contact us to learn more!

Learn more about our Financial services capabilities with our Financial Services Lookbook

Learn more about our Azure solutions & capabilities here.

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Celebrating Amarender Peddamalku’s Second Microsoft MVP Award https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/07/26/celebrating-amarender-peddamalkus-second-microsoft-mvp-award/ https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/07/26/celebrating-amarender-peddamalkus-second-microsoft-mvp-award/#respond Fri, 26 Jul 2024 16:05:19 +0000 https://blogs.perficient.com/?p=366508

Perficient is thrilled to announce that Amarender Peddamalku has been awarded the prestigious “Most Valuable Professional” (MVP) status in Business Applications by Microsoft for the second time. This achievement is especially significant, highlighting his continued excellence and commitment to the Microsoft community.

Amarender Peddamalku serves as the Microsoft Modern Work practice lead and digital transformation leader at Perficient. With a focus on Employee Experience and Power Platform, Amarender brings over 15 years of expertise with Microsoft Technologies, having worked with every version of SharePoint since its inception. He is passionate about building high-performing teams, crafting exceptional customer experiences, and nurturing top talent. His commitment to digital transformation is evident in his ability to lead technology implementations from sales to delivery.

In June 2024, Amarender spoke at TechCon365 (Microsoft 365 conference), leading various sessions and sharing his deep knowledge and insights with attendees. He is also presenting at upcoming TechCon 365 conferences in Washington, D.C. and Dallas. His contributions continue to enhance Perficient’s presence at conferences and within the broader tech community.

He is the sole Microsoft MVP at Perficient, a distinction that elevates the company’s reputation and unlocks valuable business opportunities. This prestigious recognition is a testament to the unwavering support and commitment Perficient has shown to Amarender and all colleagues. Reflecting on his achievement, Amarender states, “I’m so honored and grateful to be recognized as a Microsoft MVP for the second time. I want to express my heartfelt thanks to Perficient, my close colleagues, and all my project teams for their unwavering support. A special shoutout to my wife and family for standing by me throughout this journey. Microsoft products and technology have shaped my career, and now it’s my turn to give back to the community. Thank you, Microsoft, for this prestigious award, and to our amazing community for your constant support. Here’s to many more years of learning, innovation, and collaboration together!”

Read more about Amarender and his achievements here.

 

Perficient + Microsoft

As an award-winning Microsoft Solutions Partner, we’re recognized experts for delivering strategic solutions across the Microsoft Cloud. Our 20+ years of Microsoft experience brings true business transformation – whether it’s app modernization, cloud-native development, employee experience, hybrid work, or intelligent business applications for employees.

 

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Andrew Hammond Brings Value and Expertise to Perficient’s Microsoft Practice https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/07/03/andrew-hammond-brings-value-and-expertise-to-perficients-microsoft-practice/ https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/07/03/andrew-hammond-brings-value-and-expertise-to-perficients-microsoft-practice/#respond Wed, 03 Jul 2024 15:27:52 +0000 https://blogs.perficient.com/?p=364181

As the digital world continues to evolve, organizations must pivot how they do business to meet consumer needs. Through Perficient’s People Promise, and our award-winning Growth for Everyone programming, we’re providing resources to further enable the success of our colleagues and the industries they support.  

We recently sat down with Andrew Hammond, senior solutions architect, Microsoft, to learn more about his role working in the Microsoft business unit (BU) and expertise with Microsoft Azure. Continue reading to discover more about Andrew’s experience at Perficient and to catch a glimpse of his family’s spooktacular Halloween traditions! 

What is your role? Describe a typical day in the life.   

I do a little bit of everything, and I actively work on sales pursuits and on my own projects. I also assist others on their projects. I’m in Perficient’s Microsoft BU, and work with the Azure team specifically. The Microsoft BU includes Azure, Modern Work, and Dynamics. 

My responsibilities reflect the projects I’m assigned. That could include attending client meetings, deploying things in Microsoft Azure, and writing code. In addition to working on client projects, I also help my fellow colleagues work through problems and find alternative methods to deploy things. I work with our sales teams and directors to create presentations and resource plans for sales pursuits. I also meet with new or existing clients to discuss opportunities and projects.  

I love to learn new things to stay challenged and engaged. While I think I know a lot about Azure, it seems like every day there’s something new I’m learning and picking up. We do a lot of infrastructure-as-code, and I really enjoy that.  

Read More: Learn About Perficient’s Microsoft Azure Consulting Solutions  

What are your proudest accomplishments, personally and professionally? Any milestone moments at Perficient?   

There was a new service in Azure, the Azure VMware solution, and I was the first one at Perficient to lead a project on this and be successful. I created pursuit artifacts that we can use for Azure VMware projects in the future. 

What has your experience at Perficient taught you?   

One of the things that I’ve learned is that you need to speak up and not be afraid to propose new ideas or alternative solutions. Clients come to the table and want something done a certain way, but there could be a better option. Instead of only doing what is asked, suggest alternatives and better ways to do things. Within the cloud space, whether it’s Azure, AWS, Google, or any of the clouds we work with, there’s always evolving tech and new ways to do things.   

 

 

What motivates you in your daily work?   

I hold myself to a high standard, and I also hold my work to that same standard. Making sure that I’m delivering the best I can for my customers, and ensuring the highest quality, is what drives me forward. I take pride in that. 

What advice would you give to colleagues who are starting their career with Perficient?   

Andrew and his family exploring Arkansas.

Always be open to learning new things and continuing to grow. Don’t be afraid to go out and get certifications because they help you continue your education. Also, don’t be afraid of new things. A lot of the technologies that I work with were new to me as I had not deployed them before. I went out and learned them, and through this, I was able to deploy them for customers and make the project successful.  

When I came to Perficient, I did not have any certifications. Now, I have six Microsoft certifications and completed SAFe 6 Agilist certification.  

Learn More:  Discover How Perficient Prioritizes Growth for Everyone  

Whether big or small, how do you make a difference for our clients, colleagues, communities, or teams?   

The first project I worked on at Perficient was with a team of relatively new colleagues. Through that experience, we all created a strong bond and became friends. After completing the project, we continued to stay in touch. One of my fellow colleagues ran into a few challenges, and I acted as a pseudo-mentor by providing advice. It was a nice opportunity to share my knowledge and experience, while helping my peer grow and overcome problems. It was a great experience for both of us. I’m always willing to help. 

What are you passionate about outside of work?   

I’m passionate about my family. I’m married and have a daughter. We spend as much time as we can together and are very close.  We like to travel, but always seemed to take beach vacations. We have started going to random places to find something new, including Wisconsin, Michigan, Arizona, and Tennessee. It’s exciting to travel all over the place to see what’s out there.  

My favorite place to visit is Gatlinburg, Tennessee. We loved going hiking in the mountains and seeing the wildlife and bears. It’s very nice and laid back, so we enjoyed it.  

What’s one thing you wish your colleagues knew about you? 

One of the things I like to do is create Halloween displays in my yard. My family does a lot of digital decorations with projectors, screens in our yards, and physical objects. We built a large display last year and have a goal to continue growing it.

Read More: Check Out Andrew’s Spooktacular Halloween House Feature  

My parents work at a campground in the summer, and they have a Halloween party every year. People decorate their house or campsite with Halloween decorations. It’s a competition with three categories: campsites, RV sites, and cabins. My family does a large display there too. It’s always fun to set up.   

SEE MORE PEOPLE OF PERFICIENT 

It’s no secret our success is because of our people. No matter the technology or time zone, our colleagues are committed to delivering innovative, end-to-end digital solutions for the world’s biggest brands, and we bring a collaborative spirit to every interaction. We’re always seeking the best and brightest to work with us. Join our team and experience a culture that challenges, champions, and celebrates our people.  

Visit our Careers  page   to see career opportunities and more!  

Go inside Life at Perficient   and connect with us on LinkedIn ,YouTube ,Twitter ,Facebook ,TikTok , andInstagram. 

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All Aboard! Visualize Business Impact with the Enterprise Cloud Transit Map https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/03/22/all-aboard-visualize-business-impact-with-the-enterprise-cloud-transit-map/ https://blogs.perficient.com/2024/03/22/all-aboard-visualize-business-impact-with-the-enterprise-cloud-transit-map/#respond Fri, 22 Mar 2024 17:33:43 +0000 https://blogs.perficient.com/?p=360117

Cloud modernization is the primary driver of digital transformation and impactful business value. Cloud platforms have evolved from core technology to disruptive ecosystems of strategic advantage.  Migration and modernization are vital to reach new markets, deliver innovative products, improve resiliency, reduce costs, and improve customer experiences.  But it’s easy (and common) to lose sight of your business mission as you navigate complicated technological challenges.

Sometimes, visualization can help.  We’ve created our Enterprise Cloud Transit Map as a simple blueprint for navigating complexities while staying focused on the win themes that really matter: creating competitive advantages, adding customer value, building a strong operational core, and growing your business:

Perficient Cloud Transit Map Large

The Tracks of Transformation: I Think I Can

Our map consists of five distinct tracks, each with its own set of ‘stations’ or focus areas, designed to guide your voyage towards the real value prop outcomes of cloud modernization:

  • Competitive Advantage
  • Business Growth
  • Innovation & Acceleration
  • Profitability
  • Operational Maturity
  • Foundational Core
  • Customer Value

Strategy & Architecture: This is where your journey begins. Aligning organizational goals with industry insights and crafting fit-for-purpose architecture lays the foundation. Business Alignment, Product Strategy, Scalability, and Interoperability are key stops for this line, as well as Centers of Excellence ensuring adoption success and leading to innovation and differentiated products.

Platform Foundation: The next path is getting your infrastructure, platform, connectivity, and governance set up for success across multicloud and hybrid cloud architectures, modernizing legacy IT, solving for resiliency issues, and setting the table for sustainability and cost optimization wins down the line.

Migrate & Modernize: The heart of transformation lies in scalability, cost optimization, and interoperability. This track is a deep dive into streamlining deployments, embracing cloud-native capabilities, and modernizing applications to deliver differentiated products more efficiently.

Data Insight: Data is the engine driving intelligent decision-making. This track emphasizes modernizing your data platform, ensuring regulatory compliance, and unlocking (and trusting) the potential of AI, setting the stage for insightful, data-driven decisions and truly impactful applications of emerging tech.

Cloud Operating Model: The maturity of your journey, focusing on developing team skills, optimizing costs, enabling new business objectives, and establishing a modern operational model. Success here aligns your cloud model to your existing organization while embracing transformative tools, technologies, and processes, with effective resource management and sustainable policies & governance.

On the Path to Business Impact

For IT and business leaders committed to modernizing their organizations, our Enterprise Cloud Transit Map is more than just a navigational guide; it’s a sanity check on delivering real-world business impacts and outcomes.  Understanding the key themes of the map helps you set a course to resiliency, performance, profitable growth, and competitive innovation.

All Aboard!

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