As a long-time Microsoft partner, Trustwave is well-positioned to help an organization tap into the Microsoft End Customer Investment Funds (ECIF) Program.
Trustwave, as an ECIF-approved partner, has worked to help clients gain access to these funds and help them adopt Copilot, Azure AI, Fabric, Security, and Microsoft 365. The amount available varies, and there are prerequisites to being qualified to receive these funds.
Microsoft has designed ECIF to accelerate a qualified organization's journey to adopting Microsoft products and solutions by lowering or reducing its financial burden. This pain point often proves to be a stumbling block.
How ECIF Benefits Customers
Through ECIF, customers can access funded services that simplify the adoption and deployment of Microsoft technologies. Whether it's proof-of-concept projects, deployment assistance, or specialized training, ECIF ensures that your organization receives tailored solutions to meet your unique business needs when it comes to migrating to Microsoft solutions.
Organizations can use the funding for various purposes. Microsoft offers a range of services to help customers maximize the potential of their solutions. Proof of Concept (PoC) projects to test the feasibility and potential impact of Microsoft solutions within a customer's environment.
The funds can help support Pilot programs that involve initial deployments to evaluate performance and gather feedback before a full-scale rollout. Accelerated deployment speeds up the implementation process of Microsoft products to quickly realize benefits.
Organizations can use the money to help cover staff training sessions that will enhance their skills in the use of Microsoft solutions. Additionally, developing customized solutions tailors Microsoft products to meet specific business needs.
Key ECIF Advantages
- Financial Support: For a qualified organization, ECIF funding can significantly reduce the financial burden associated with implementing new Microsoft solutions, making advanced technologies more accessible to businesses of all sizes.
- Accelerated Adoption: ECIF supports initiatives like product deployment, migration from competitive solutions, or advanced training to help you maximize the value of your Microsoft investments.
- Expertise at Your Fingertips: Trustwave, an approved ECIF Microsoft Partner, provides services directly, ensuring the highest quality and compliance standards.
- Streamlined Process: Trustwave handles the funding application and execution so you can focus on your business goals.
- Customized Solutions: Partners can leverage ECIF to develop tailored solutions that meet the specific needs of their clients, ensuring that businesses get the most out of their investment in Microsoft technologies.
- Enhanced Training and Support: ECIF funding can also be used to provide training and support services, helping businesses fully understand and utilize their new solutions. This can lead to better adoption rates and higher user satisfaction.
How Trustwave helps
Trustwave’s expert team’s contributions are on several levels.
As a qualified vendor, we can initiate the process of determining if a client is indeed qualified to receive ECIF supplemental funds. Remember, Microsoft’s contribution is added to your budget to complete any project. To determine qualification, we contact the Microsoft AE and begin the process. Microsoft alone determines the amount.
With that noted, let’s look at how a typical MXDR project might progress:
- Phase 1 - Planning, Designing, and Configuration - MXDR and Sentinel Engagement
- Planning and Assessment
- Kickoff meeting
- Define scope and objectives
- Data retention and storage plan
- Develop deployment plan
- Deployment
- Add/Configure MXDR and Sentinel to existing Microsoft architecture
- Install content and data connectors
- Set up policies and alerts
- Training and Documentation
- Provide training for the security team
- Develop and distribute documentation Architecture Design or Assessment (Pre-Sales)
- Phase 2 - Sentinel Migration & Modernization engagement
Trustwave provides guidance to execute a Microsoft Sentinel migration project, in our example the client is migrating from QRadar to Sentinel and configuring other solutions for ingestion. During this activity, Trustwave facilitates a series of workshops regarding the review and development of SIEM Use Cases aligned to client cybersecurity requirements. The in-scope domains are:
- Use Case framework
- Attack surface mapping
- Data source prioritization
- Alerting and reporting criteria
- Capacity impacts and forecasting
- SIEM processes and security operations integration
- Business security requirements and cyber operations program capabilities.
Completion Criteria: This activity will be finalized when Trustwave has completed the Sentinel Migration and Modernization process and summarized the recommendations and outcomes.
Realize Potential with ECIF
With ECIF, Microsoft and Trustwave are committed to driving innovation, growth, and exceptional outcomes for you. Whether your project involves deploying Microsoft Security solutions or evaluating the benefits to your organization with proof-of-concept workshops, ECIF provides the resources to turn your vision into reality.
Get started using these funds. Contact Trustwave to verify your eligibility.
