Ready for a Future of Device Independence?: MS TechNet Flash Newsletter 2/29/12

Unsubscribe | Customize TechNet Flash Volume 14, Issue 5 | February 29, 2012 Top Stories Windows 8 Consumer Preview Released – What’s Next?You can now test drive Microsoft’s vision of a unified operating environment across all your users’ computing devices. But the road to Windows 8 goes through Windows 7. See how to prepare now for the next user experience. TechNet Subscribers can get the Consumer Preview bits here. “Smoked by Windows Phone” Goes Social“Smoked by Windows Phone” is a fun way of showing how Windows Phone is faster at doing the real stuff that real people do on their smartphones every day. See the Windows Phone Facebook page and download “Smoked by Windows Phone” wallpapers for your phone and desktop. TechNet Subscription Offer ExtendedGet access to full version Microsoft products with no time or feature limits. Your Featured Content Access Microsoft Forums with This Mobile App The Microsoft Forums app allows you to access MSDN, TechNet, and Office365 forums from your mobile devices. You can keep on track with the hottest topics, your own threads, favorite forums, search on major topics, FAQs, and the latest news from OneCode and OneScript. Case Study: Monitoring Applications via Windows Phone 7.5 and the Cloud Volume Licensing IT Monitor (VLIT) is designed to provide near real-time status on availability and performance for critical applications in the VLIT ecosystem along with their business process mapping. It is difficult for the business and IT leadership to understand which critical business processes are affected if a system is down or having issues. Now with VLIT Monitor, monitoring alerts can be sent directly to your Windows Phone 7.5 device wherever you are. Twelve Reasons to Love SQL Server 2012: Reason #11 – Optimized Productivity  For an integrated development experience, build for traditional server, private, or public cloud deployments with new SQL Server Data Tools and gain efficiency with T-SQL enhancements. Download the SQL Server 2012 Release Candidate today and try it for yourself. TechNet Radio: The Consumerization of IT at Microsoft Director of IT Business Relationships Gus Gustafson joins us to talk about the consumerization of IT. Tune in as he shares some industry insight into this technology trend as well as Microsoft IT’s viewpoint on how to embrace a more flexible work style that can benefit employee and company. Also be sure to listen in for how Microsoft IT is preparing internally for Windows 8. Windows 8 and Personal Cloud Storage Get an update on how Microsoft expects to deliver its vision of personal cloud storage for Windows 8 that will scale to meet the needs of billions of customers who will store hundreds of petabytes of data in the service. Virtual Lab: System Center Configuration Manager 2012 Hierarchy Install After completing this lab, you will be better able to prepare Active Directory for System Center Configuration Manager publishing, install a central administration site, install a primary site server, install a secondary site server, view status message activity related to site server installation, and configure appropriate boundaries for the environment. Application Management in a Private Cloud with System Center 2012 Learn how the application management capabilities in System Center 2012 empower you to deliver applications more cost-effectively, quickly, and reliably to your business. TechNet Radio: The SQL Server 2012 Virtual Launch Event Bruno Aziza, Worldwide Product Marketing Director for SQL Server, covers the upcoming SQL Server 2012 Virtual Launch Event: what we can expect to see, hear, and learn, how to sign up, and how to interact with other attendees online. TechNet Flash SponsorsBDNA, and Veeam: • Make Your ConfigMgr Data Work Harder NOW@BDNA – Win MMS Pass • Hyper-V Backup and Recovery Planning Best Practices Editor’s NoteTechNet Flash Editor Mitch Irsfeld Ready for a Future of Device Independence? Microsoft has released another preview of the upcoming Windows 8 operating system, so aside from an opportunity to get a hands-on look at a pivotal Microsoft work-in-progress, what does the Windows 8 Consumer Preview release mean to IT professionals? The answer, as with most things IT, is “that depends.” One of the key dependencies is which operating system you are moving from. If your organization is still on Windows XP, consider this your wakeup call…. Read more ADVERTISEMENTAnnouncing BDNA Normalize for ConfigMgr – Win MMS Pass Windows 7 migration, software license audit, other IT projects? Need detailed inventory of your IT environment? Watch the demo. Download the free trial. Win a pass. Training and BooksGet Trained on Exchange Server 2010 Microsoft Learning Partners are offering special training deals for course 10135, Configuring, Managing, and Troubleshooting Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, and course 10233, Designing and Deploying Messaging Solutions with Microsoft Exchange Server 2010. Offers are available both online and in the classroom.20 Years|20 Ways Opens Forum, Needs Your Input Help aspiring technical professionals by sharing your industry experience and insights on the 20 Years|20 Ways Forum – it’s the latest way you can support the next generation of global IT workers during the year-long 20 Years|20 Ways celebration. ADVERTISEMENTWatch now this recorded Veeam webinar with Brian Posey. Explore common “gotchas” that can undermine your disaster recovery initiatives. Learn more about the backup types, advantages and disadvantages, and more. EventsRegistration Opens for 24 Hours of PASS: SQL Server 2012 March 20 – 21, 2012 Online, in 15 languages The Professional Association for SQL Server (PASS) is bringing an exceptional lineup of SQL Server and business intelligence (BI) experts directly to your computer March 20 – 21 for the free, nonstop 24 Hours of PASS: SQL Server 2012.IT Camp: The Future of IT, Series 1 March 16 – June 19, 2012 Nationwide Find a location near you and learn about Microsoft’s virtualization solution, Hyper-V, the first step on your path to mastering private cloud. TechEd North America 2012: Learn. Share. Connect. June 11 – 14, 2012, Orlando, FL Get four days of more than 1,000 learning opportunities covering Microsoft’s current and future technologies. Share real-world IT solutions with like-minded peers and connect with Microsoft and industry experts. Visit our website for more details and register today. ResourcesTechNet Plus Direct Subscription TechNet Evaluation Center TechNet News Feed TechNet Flash Archive TechNet Magazine Microsoft Virtual Academy MSDN Flash Newsletter Security Newsletter TechNet ©2012 Microsoft Corporation Terms of Use | Trademarks | Privacy Statement Microsoft respects your privacy. To learn more please read our online Privacy Statement.Microsoft Corporation One Microsoft Way Redmond, WA 98052 USA

MS TechMentor Conference Agenda: 8/20-8/24

Agenda Sneak Peek! The TechMentor Advisory Board is hard at work on the agenda to develop dynamic conference content for 2012 — and it’s looking really good. We’re so excited about how the event is shaping up; we couldn’t help but give a preview of what we have in store for you at Microsoft HQ! Save $300! Use priority code NX4B Workshops: Workshop: SharePoint for Dummies – A Day-Long Deep Dive into SharePoint Administration  Workshop: Completely Automating Windows Deployment in Seventeen Steps (or Less!)  Workshop: Learn PowerShell in a Day Sessions: Communicating in the Cloud with Lync Online  Planning, Deploying, and Operating Wireless Networks with Windows Server  Using Free Tools for Troubleshooting Windows Performance Problems  Surviving without Administrative Rights: Real-World Solutions for a Really Tough Problem  MCITP: Certificate Services & AD Additional Services  Best Practices in Delivering Applications to Mobile Workers with Tools you Already Have  Managing SQL Server for the Reluctant DBA  Bend R2’s Active Directory to your Will  Conducting a Forensic Computer Investigation: Essential Skills for IT Staff  Five Real and Relative Tricks for Automatically Provisioning an IIS 8 Web Farm *Sessions subject to change as speakers are confirmed. The full conference agenda will be available soon — register now and start planning your conference experience today! Save $300! Register today with your EXCLUSIVE Priority Code NX4B P.S. Check out TechMentor Redmond’s accommodations at the stunning Hyatt Regency Bellevue. Choose the Complete Conference & Hotel package at the super early bird rate which includes a 5-night stay!

Meet the 2012 TechMentor Advisory Board: Microsoft Conference August 2012

Introducing the 2012 TechMentor Advisory Board We’re pleased to introduce the 2012 TechMentor Advisory Board! Hard at work on the agenda, these industry heavyweights continue to support TechMentor by bringing new ideas and a unique perspective to each conference. Save $300! Use priority code NX3B Conference Co-Chairs: Don Jones TechMentor Conference Co-Chair Founding Partner, Concentrated TechnologyWith more than fifteen years of IT experience, Don Jones is one of the world’s leading experts on the Microsoft business technology platform. Greg Shields TechMentor Conference Co-Chair Partner and Principal Technologist, Concentrated Technology  Greg serves as a contributing editor and columnist for TechNet Magazine and Redmond Magazine, and is a highly sought-after and top-ranked speaker for live and recorded events. Advisory Board: Doug Barney Vice President, New Product Initiatives and Editor in Chief, Redmond magazine Keith Combs Senior Program Manager, Server and Tools Online, Microsoft Bruce Hoard Editor in Chief, Virtualization Review Lafe Low Editor in Chief, TechNet Magazine Mitch Ratcliffe Principal Program Manager, TechNet, Microsoft Check out their full bios here! Let us know what content you would like to see at TechMentor! Email us: TechMentor Save $300! Register today with your EXCLUSIVE Priority Code NX3B P.S. Check out TechMentor Redmond’s accommodations at the stunning Hyatt Regency Bellevue. Choose the Complete Conference & Hotel package at the super early bird rate which includes a 5-night stay!

Microsoft Management Summit 2012: Registration Now Open

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Innovation. Expertise. Community. At the 2012 Microsoft Management Summit (MMS) the brightest and most skilled IT Professionals from around the world meet to increase their technical expertise through deep hands on technical training, sharing of best practices, and interaction with innovators and pioneers in desktop and device management, datacenter and cloud technologies.We hope you will join us for this popular event designed to stimulate new thinking and forge lasting relationships among a remarkable group of IT professionals and industry leaders. Be the First to Try New Technology At MMS you will be the first to learn about how Microsoft management technologies enable a new breed of datacenter through private cloud and public cloud solutions, and deliver a more flexible and productive desktop infrastructure. You’ll also gain free access to valuable trial software and be able to visit with over 50 technology companies who will be exhibiting their latest innovations and technology solutions. Five Days of Intense Learning & Networking MMS offers a jam packed schedule of learning opportunities that will help you accelerate your career and solve today’s most challenging technical problems while preparing you for tomorrow’s innovation.Learn about a variety of technologies by attending expert led sessions through either instructor-led labs or self-paced labs, as well as Microsoft Certification Exam cram-sessions and tests when you’re ready to take the next step. Bring your questions, your experiences and your curiosity to structured and unstructured networking events that will provide the opportunity to meet and discuss topics of common interest peer-to-peer or with Microsoft and industry experts. Register now and save up to US $275 off the standard registration price.* *Early Bird Registration ends January 27, 2012; discount is shown in United States Dollars only.

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