The 2011 Microsoft Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC) is kicking off today, and with over 12,000 attendees expected, it promises to be an exciting event. The Server and Cloud team at Microsoft has been working furiously over the last few months to make this a successful event for our partners. Over the next few days, our team will provide you regular updates about the announcements and events at WPC. As with all WPCs, there’s a lot going on at the event, so we’d like to highlight some locations and events that our core infrastructure partners will find useful.

• Breakout Sessions: You can find a complete list of the Server and Cloud breakout sessions here. Our sessions cover a variety of topics, ranging from the how the Private Cloud can help expand your business, to a preview of the benefits that the upcoming System Center 2012 release can bring to your infrastructure practice. Each session will have partner speakers featured as well, so be sure to add these sessions to your schedule builder!
• Private Cloud and Platform Servers Booth: Please visit our booth (#1221) in the Solutions Innovation Center. In addition to demos of our latest products, you will find some really exciting offerings there:
  • In partnership with Microsoft, Global Knowledge (2011 Learning Partner of the Year) is offering partners who visit our booth a discount of at least 20% off the list price on qualifying Microsoft Virtualization and Systems Center courses across the world.
  • In partnership with Dell and HP, we shall be running live Private Clouds in our booth. Come see a real private cloud in action!
  • Happy Hour with Server and Tools Execs: Join us at the Server and Tools Lounge (located at LACC West near the entrance close to Staples Center) on Monday, July 11^th from 4:30-6:30.
  • Programs and offers: At WPC, we will be announcing a number of new programs for our partners – be sure to ask our team at the Private Cloud booth about:
    • Private Cloud, Management and Virtualization DPS Program (PVDPS) - click here to find out more
    • Changes to our Management and Virtualization Solution Incentive Program (SIP)
    • The Cloud Assessment Tool
    • The MPN Private Cloud Sales Specialist program

Stay up to date with the latest Server and Cloud information! Follow us on twitter (@MSServerCloud) on our blog (http://blogs.technet.com/b/server-cloud) and “Like” us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/Server.Cloud) to get access to WPC 2011 previews. And don’t forget tag your own twitter messages with #hyperv and #WPC11

Please remember that this is your event, and we want to hear from you! Please let us know what you liked, and didn’t like, at WPC 2011.We’ll be back over the next few days with many more updates for you.

Varun Chhabra

Partner Marketing, Windows Server and Management Business Group

Everyone is talking about the Cloud. At next week’s Worldwide Partner Conference, you and 12,000 other partners will be encouraged to take the cloud conversation to the next level from traditional virtualization to cloud-based computing.  As your customer’s trusted advisor, you will best be able to propose solutions when you understand opportunities around private clouds and public clouds.

At WPC 2011, you’ll learn about our Hyper-V based Private Clouds and Windows Azure-based Public Clouds that can be managed by System Center 2012.  Most importantly, you’ll learn how Microsoft can help you ramp up on cloud technologies, generate new revenue streams, and ultimately take your Infrastructure practice to the next level.  

We look forward to seeing you at WPC. Please read on for more event-specific information.

Cheers,

Kevin McCuistion

Director of Partner Marketing, Server and Tools Business

Take Advantage of the Microsoft Virtualization and System Center offer from Global Knowledge

Global Knowledge, 2011 Microsoft Learning Competency Partner of the Year, is offering partners who visit our booth a discount of at least 20% off the list price on qualifying Microsoft Virtualization and Systems Center courses. Make sure to come to our Microsoft Private Cloud and Server Platforms booth #1221 in the Solutions Innovation Center to learn more!

Don’t miss our sessions led by our executives on Tuesday, July 12th.

 Call to Action

• Sign up for Server and Cloud sessions today!
• Visit the Private Cloud and Platform Servers booth (#1221) in the Solution Innovation Center to take advantage of our readiness offer, and to see a Private Cloud solution from HP and Dell in action!
• Join us in the Server and Tools Lounge (located at the entrance to LACC West) for Happy Hour with Top Server and Tools Executives on Monday, July 11th from 4:30 – 5:30pm
• Stay up to date with the latest Server and Cloud information! Follow us on twitter (@MSServerCloud) on our blog (http://blogs.technet.com/b/server-cloud) and “Like” us on Facebook (Facebook.com/Server.Cloud) to get access to WPC 2011 previews. And don’t forget tag your own twitter messages with #hyperv and #WPC11.

An Update Rollup for Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010 is now available here:  Get Update .

 In addition to hotfixes, this Update also includes some important changes to note:

1. Support for Windows Embedded 7 platforms:  With this update, the FEP client software is supported on certain Windows Embedded 7 platforms (including Windows Thin PC) and Windows Server 2008 Server Core.  For more information about the additional support, see Prerequisites for Deploying Forefront Endpoint Protection on a Client Computer.
2. Signature Update Automation Tool used with Configuration Manager Software Update:  This tool automates downloading FEP definition updates using Configuration Manager 2007 Software Updates.  This is a command line tool that uses Configuration Manager APIs to get new definitions from Microsoft Update via the Configuration Manager software update feature, distribute the content to distribution points, and deploy the updates to Endpoint Protection clients on a recurring schedule.  The automation of the tool is done through the Windows task scheduler. To download the tool:  Go here.
3. Two new preconfigured policy templates for the following server workloads:

               a.  Microsoft Forefront Threat Management Gateway

               b.  Microsoft Lync 2010

You can find more details in the “What’s New” document on the TechNet site.  Please check out this KB article for a full list of fixes included in this Update Rollup.

Thanks,

Adwait Joshi

Sr. Technical Product Manager

Forefront Endpoint Protection 2012 beta is here!  We are extremely excited to announce the availability of Forefront Endpoint Protection 2012 Beta.  Customers and Microsoft Partners can download the Beta software immediately here. You can also download the pre-requisite System Center Configuration Manager 2012 Beta 2 here

Forefront Endpoint Protection 2012 continues to deliver on the promise of Forefront Endpoint Protection 2010, simplifying and improving endpoint protection while also greatly reducing infrastructure costs. It builds on System Center Configuration Manager 2012, allowing customers to implement endpoint protection as part of a unified infrastructure for securing and managing physical, virtual, and mobile client environments. This shared infrastructure lowers ownership costs while providing improved visibility and control over endpoint management and security.  

• What’s new in FEP 2012:
  • Support for System Center Configuration Manager 2012
  • Improved real time alerts and reports
  • Role-based management
  • User-centric reports (post beta)
  • Easy migration from FEP 2010/ConfigMgr 2007
  • Support for FEP 2010 client agents

Forefront Endpoint Protection 2012 continues to provide proactive protection against known and unknown threats using multiple technologies in the antimalware engine like behavior monitoring, network inspection system and heuristics.  With cloud based updates through the spynet service, endpoints get updated protection against new threats in real time.  See the benefits of enabling Dynamic Signature Service in FEP here.

You can find more product details on our Website or TechCenter. And for more information about convergence of management and security, please visit our new Windows Optimized Desktop page.

You can now evaluate Forefront Endpoint Protection 2012 beta and System Center Configuration Manager 2012 beta with a community of early adopters.  Join the Community Evaluation Program for System Center Configuration Manager and evaluate the products with guidance from the product team and by sharing of experiences and best practices among a community of peers.

In addition, Microsoft Identify & Security partners can take advantage of the Microsoft Solution Incentive Program. This program rewards partners that identify and sell solutions that include Microsoft Forefront client security. Visit our Hyper-V Enabled Private Cloud page on Microsoft’s Partner Network to get more information on eligible opportunities.  

We hope you will evaluate the early version and give us your feedback!

Forefront Endpoint Protection team

The Microsoft TechEd Twitter Army is looking for recruits to twitter off the show floor during our premier TechEd event running May 16-19 in Atlanta. If you’re going to the show and want your opinions heard, be sure to check in at the Social Media area in the Microsoft Server & Cloud Platform Booth on Monday afternoon at 12:30 pm.  Recruits who do well on the Twitter front lines will compete for an Xbox 360 + Kinnect package and other prizes to be handed out at a private Twitter Army event happening Thursday at 2 pm. Don’t forget, and remember that Uncle TechEd Wants You!