7 new Microsoft Virtual Academy courses covering Private Cloud technologies

It’s never easy keeping up with all the latest technologies but at least the Microsoft Virtual Academy (MVA) helps. If you haven’t checked it out already, it’s a free training portal which allows you to get up to speed on the latest Microsoft technologies all at your own pace.

And great news…here are 7 new courses to help you get up to speed on the Microsoft Private Cloud:

1. Introduction to the Microsoft Private Cloud

• https://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/tracks/introduction-to-the-microsoft-private-cloud
• Modules: Private Cloud Overview; Private Cloud: Infrastructure Overview; Private Cloud: Application Overview
• This course focuses on proving an overview of the Microsoft cloud technologies and how using these technologies can help your business build, deploy, and maintain a private cloud. Module 2 will provide an infrastructure overview and how to use System Center 2012 to provision a private cloud. We will examine the set of tools available to you to configure and deploy infrastructure components; enabling you to deliver IT as a Service. The third module will provide an overview of the tools in System Center 2012 used to manage the underlying resources to achieve predictable application service delivery, and how to keep your applications running healthy by improving performance and monitoring.

2. Licensing the Private Cloud

• https://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/tracks/licensing-the-private-cloud
• Modules: Licensing the Private Cloud
• Learn how to license your private cloud; including server management and virtualization, as well as migrating servers to third party hosting companies. Products covered include Windows Server 2008 R2 and System Center 2012.

3. System Center Advisor

• https://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/tracks/system-center-advisor
• Module: Overview
• This module will help you discover the benefits of this useful new software assurance benefit from Microsoft. We will explain the benefits of Advisor and how it can be used to optimize your installations of Windows Server, and Server Workloads such as Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Exchange, and Microsoft SharePoint. You will also understand Advisor’s high-level architecture for optimizing data security, privacy, and control, all delivered through a user-friendly cloud service. Additionally, we will show how to use the Advisor service to proactively avoid problems, resolve issues faster, and reduce downtime. We will show you how to make the most use out of this tool to help you better manage your data center and cloud infrastructure.

4. System Center 2012 Licensing Overview

• https://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/tracks/system-center-2012-licensing-overview
• Module: Overview
• This presentation will provide an overview of the new System Center 2012 Licensing programs. We will look at these programs in the context of Microsoft private cloud solutions, and how the combination of the Windows Server 2008 operating system and System Center enables you to obtain the most cost effective licensing you need for your private cloud. As System Center 2012 is being delivered as an integrated private cloud management solution, we will analyze the server management license transition programs for existing System Center users. Further, we will discuss specific Microsoft licensing programs such as the Enrollment for Core Infrastructure, and how licensing for private cloud solutions maximizes your private cloud value while simplifying purchasing.

5. System Center 2012 Operations Manager

• https://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/tracks/system-center-2012-operations-manager
• Modules: Overview; Configuration and Deployment; Dashboards and Data Visualization
• In this course, we will provide an overview of Operations Manager, and how its functionality can help drive higher value from your existing IT assets by leveraging a single console. In addition, we will discuss how to use customizable dashboards to monitor and manage your physical, virtual, networking, application, and cloud resources.

6. System Center 2012: Orchestrator & Service Manager

• https://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/tracks/system-center-2012-orchestrator-service-manager
• Modules: Overview; Best Practices for Monitoring and Operating the Datacenter and Private Cloud; Data Warehouse and Reporting.
• ​In this course, we will discuss how the System Center 2012 Orchestrator and Service Manager components enable you to deploy, automate, update, and manage service offerings within your private cloud. Microsoft’s approach to self-service delivery will be discussed, and how System Center responds to end-user service requests. We will cover methods to challenging operational issues, and how using Orchestrator and Service Manager can allow the IT Pro to automate, standardize and offer self-service IT processes in the private cloud.

7. Windows Server 2012: First Look

• https://www.microsoftvirtualacademy.com/tracks/windows-server-2012-first-look
• Modules: Overview; Beyond Virtualization; The Power of Many Servers; Modern Workstyle Enabled; Every App, Any Cloud
• In April 2012, Microsoft officially announced that the product previously code named Windows Server "8" will be named Windows Server 2012. This updated Windows Server 2012: First Look course builds on the original Windows Server "8" First Look course with the addition of 4 new modules designed to go into more detail around the core Windows Server 2012 platform capabilities.  After completing this course, you will learn how to cloud optimize your IT with Windows Server 2012 and how to take advantage of the skills and investment you have already made in building a familiar and consistent platform. With Windows Server 2012, you gain all the Microsoft experience behind building and operating private and public clouds, delivered as a dynamic, available, and cost-effective server platform. This course will cover how Windows Server 2012 delivers value in four key ways including how it takes you beyond virtualization, delivers the power of many servers, opens the door to every app on any cloud, and enables the modern work style.