Go on, treat yourself, it’s Friday! Why not take half an hour out and listen to what Chris Jackson, Principal Application Compatibility Consultant at Microsoft (AKA The App Compat Guy) and the ChangeBASE team have to say about the app compatibility challenges that can be faced when moving off of older browsers and onto IE9.
Check out the full show in the video below. You can find similar content on the AOKpulse Blog.
We’re also thinking of trying our hands at podcasting ourselves on the UK TechNet Blog. Do you think this is a good idea? What would you like to hear us talking about? How do you tend to consume your podcasts?
From the 22nd to 23rd of November this year the third annual SharePoint Connections conference will take place at De Meervaart, Amsterdam. This is set to be a very exciting event and critical for all IT Pros, Developers and Business Management Professionals who use SharePoint, to keep up to date with the latest developments.
The keynote speaker will be Microsoft’s Steve Fox, Director, Developer and Platform Evangelism for SharePoint. He’ll be sharing his thoughts in a session entitled “Evolving Collaboration into the Cloud: Implications & Opportunities”. As well as Steve there are lots of other great speakers, including Mirjam van Olst (Microsoft Certified Master for SharePoint 2007 and SharePoint 2010), Wouter Van Vugt (Code Counsel Director and Microsoft MVP) and Asif Rehmani (SharePoint Server MVP and MCT).
To register for SharePoint Connections or to learn more, including details of a specially negotiated Hotel rate and 50% student discount, go to:
http://nccomms-events.com/sharepointconnections
We’re busy planning away for our Windows 7 Deployment – Why and How online conference next Tuesday. Hopefully you’ll be joining us on the day, make sure you head over here and register for free now if you haven’t already.
We put the wheels in motion for this event as a result of discussions with our readers, and after getting yet more great feedback we have made some changes to the agenda. We’re consolidating the day into more concise sessions so that you can find out what you need to quickly and easily, without taking a whole day out of work. The amount of time dedicated to hearing TechNet Blog reader Paul Cooke’s real-world migration story has also been extended. He’ll be coming from Plymouth City Council, to tell us about how he and his team have implemented hot desking using Windows 7, Office 2010, App-V and Lync 2010.
But we don’t want to stop there; we still have a half-hour slot where we want you to tell us what you want to hear! So please leave a comment below – would you rather we discuss General Deployment Challenges, take a deep look at the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit or a deep look at SysPrep?
The newest version of Windows Intune is now available. Sign up here for a FREE 30-day trial and test it out on up to 25 PCs!
Windows Intune brings together Windows cloud services for PC management, endpoint protection, and a Windows 7 upgrade subscription. With its simple web-based console, it can help you manage and secure virtually all your users’ PCs through the cloud—whether they’re working onsite, at home, in a remote office, or on the road. All you need is an Internet connection and the Windows Intune client installed on each PC you wish to manage.
The October 17th release of Windows Intune is packed with exciting new features—such as the ability to distribute third-party software, manage Microsoft and non-Microsoft licenses, and get better control of remote PCs. It’s also easier to use, with context-driven menus, improved navigation, and color-coded alerts that you can sort according to your own parameters.
You can find out what else is new in the latest version or how to get started with Intune over in the TechNet Library. We also have a great ‘Intune at a Glance’ guide available here [PDF].
Our story so far revolves around Sam, an IT Project Manager who has purchased a large batch of Windows 7 Enterprise licenses without consulting her bosses. They don’t want to move from XP and now her job’s at threat! She needs your help as an IT Professional to convince the board that Windows 7 is worth deploying.
This fortnight we need your tips on Security. Sam says the board are worried that Windows 7 doesn’t protect them against threats from viruses and other computing nasties as well as XP does. She needs to know, what features does Windows 7 have to keep their network secure?
Free limited edition mugs for all new entrants and a Lenovo B320 Multi-Touch All-In-One PC for the best video are up for grabs this fortnight, so head over to YouTube and submit a short clip (3 minutes or less) as a response to our video here to enter! Be as creative as you like, add music, text or just record direct from your webcam. Remember to promote your video wherever you can to be in with a chance of winning our GRAND PRIZE – a 3D TV, Full HD 3D Ready Camcorder and 3D Conversion Lens for the highest number of views!
Check out the Windows 7 Tech Centre for some ideas on what to talk about and Tweet #SaveSam.
Further information, full Terms & Conditions and some more tips are available here.
Another week draws to a close on the UK TechNet Blog, here’s the low-down on all of this week’s posts.
We’ve had some great videos submitted to ‘Save Sam’ already, make sure you get your entry on Application Compatibility in before Monday to be in with a chance of winning this fortnight’s awesome prize. We’re going to be talking about System Center 2012 next week, as well as all the usual great competitions and events (hopefully we’ll be seeing you at IP EXPO!).
Until then, have a great weekend.
Before I get into this post I know the term Private Cloud is a dirty word for many IT Professionals, partly because it is seen as marketing fluff and partly because each vendor seems to have their own definition. The Private Cloud definition Microsoft uses is from the National Institute of Science & Technology. I don’t accept this as spin, it’s about taking best practice from running large scale data centres and making it available as techniques and software to those organisations who can’t or won’t move their services to a public cloud provider. This provides some of the tangible benefits of the public cloud like greater agility and efficiency but in your own data centre or one run specifically on your behalf. The key to this management and specifically automation; automation to respond automatically to known events and automation to requests for change from customers.
Automation means less human intervention, giving repeatability and consistency with a by product of reduced response times to requests. However the human bit of human intervention is the IT Professional so does that mean that they are so much excess baggage in a modern organisation?
To answer that I will use the same roles my desktop counterpart Simon May used in his article about the affects of the public cloud on IT Departments:
The helpdesker (a.k.a. Frontline support analyst)
These guys are still needed especially in dealing with the “how do I?” request from the users, but of course their ability to help individuals will be limited by the service level the business want from the help desk. Cutting back the help desk can be short sighted as their ability to help the user population can greatly increase their productivity, but this is hard to measure and therefore this might be under threat as well.
In a private cloud world a helpdesk request for “fix it for me it’s broken” , should mean that the helpdesk team will know about some issues before they arise because of there will be management tools like System Center in place. The service monitoring tools will tell them that a service is down while the desktop management suite will pick up any issue with the user’s desktop ( be it physical or virtual) before they do. So less time spent searching for what’s wrong leaving more time to concentrate on resolving the issue.
The desktop technician (a.k.a. 2nd level support, a.k.a “Dave in IT”)
If the desktop itself is the problem then in a private cloud style world this is either a commoditised or virtualised and can be swapped out. Even in the world of VDI the desktop is the desktop and most tech problems are down to drivers apps and connectivity, so these guys will still be pretty busy. However remote administration either with EasyAssist in Win 7 or Remote Desktop means that problems can be solved remotely. In my world Dave is a guy in Salt Lake City or Ravi in Hyderabad depending on the time of day. This is a good thing as we have 24 hour cover and we can be green and inclusive in our workforce by giving these people the tools to work at home.
The other key request that goes through the service desk , is requests for something new be it an application, a service on a virtual machine or a new starter will all be automated once the request has been through an approval process. This will have an impact on the size of the team but this should be offset by spending more time on strategic projects like implementing upgrades and designing new services.
The server huggers
On the surface of it, the private cloud is much more likely to the number of data centre administrators by allowing each one to manage many more servers (be they physical or virtual).
Actually these guys are already in decline as physical servers are virtualised. However virtualisation alone is NOT private cloud so this decline could be offset by out of control virtual server sprawl. However the routine administration of servers has already been outsourced in many companies and government departments, and the pressure is on the large system integrators (Cap Gemini, CSC, EDS etc.) who now run those data centres to make further savings and pass them onto their customers.
So for my money the only roles at risk are the ones that involve a lot of repetitive process, and lets face humans aren’t too good at that. Of course this type of work has already been eroded by offshoring and outsourcing so actually Private Cloud is just evolution not revolution here. Also skills in data and user management will continue to be required as before no matter where the database, mailbox , content management system actually is. The other thing to bear in mind is that the automation the private cloud brings to the data centre will be balanced by increased demand for richer services , compliance and the raw demand to store more stuff.
Summary
I think uncertainty is the issue here; uncertainty about the survival of your business, the future of your role in it, and if you have been doing the same thing for a while what else is out there. I can’t advise you on how to fix your business but the mitigation for all of theses issues is education and training. You don’t needed to outrun the lion of redundancy you just need to be running faster than the other guys he’s chasing, and to do that in a toughening job market you need more skills and the right attitude.
So my top tip would be to start with the free Microsoft Virtual Academy before going on to some wider or later certification. If you aren’t in work at all right now then Britain Works would be the place to start.
When we get some time out from bringing you all the latest IT Pro news, events and competitions, we like to do our bit for charity here at TechNet. The Developer Partner Evangelism (DPE) Group at Microsoft, of which TechNet is a part, are undertaking a ‘Store Wars’ challenge in conjunction with Naomi House and Jacks Place Children’s Hospice. As part of the fundraising for this wonderful charity our team members have come up with two great opportunities.
Over the next couple of days we are holding two auctions, one for a days Architecture Design Session for your company in the Microsoft Technology Centre and one for a days Interactive Marketing Session with our experts. But here’s the catch – you don’t know what everyone else is bidding, so you have to bid what’s you think it’s worth!
The deadline to get your bid in is Friday 14th October at 3pm, for updates on the highest bids take a look at the @RomseySoft Twitter account.
Further information on the prizes, Naomi House and how to enter can be found below. Many thanks for your support.
A One-Day Architecture Design Session in the Microsoft Technology Centre
This session focuses on the objectives of your business and looks at how the latest Microsoft technologies can help you meet your goals and explore new business opportunities. We’ll provide architectural guidance, consultation on preferred practices, and risk analysis to chief technology officers, architects, and senior members of your development team. The ADS will be facilitated by senior Microsoft architects with deep knowledge of key technologies across client, server, database, mobile and cloud, and with extensive experience of aligning business requirements and technology strategy. For more information, please see the Microsoft Technology Centre website.
Make your Bid for the MTC
A One-Day Interactive Marketing Session - Marketing to the Next Level
Phil Cross and Sara Allison are 2 Marketers in Microsoft DPE and would be delighted to work with a partner for a day sharing insight, experiences and laughs in an interactive workshop session based on specific challenges you are facing. The outcome would be to give you some ideas and tangible steps to take your marketing to the next level. Obviously we are doing this to raise money for charity and whilst we are not professional trainers we do live and breathe marketing to a huge audience every single day.
Phil has many years’ experience in Marketing both outside and inside Microsoft, from product management through to driving customer satisfaction to thousands of IT Professionals and Students. Obviously to do this you have to be creative with channels and resources! Sara is the editor of the UK Microsoft Developer Network website, blog and newsletter, as well as Ubelly, the unofficial official Microsoft blog for developers who love the web. As well as enjoying developing creative stories to engage her audience, she’s also keen on using social media and good old face to face communication to listen to what people want to hear about and help spread the word.
Make your Bid for the Marketing Experience
About Naomi House
Every day, Naomi House helps to relieve the pressures faced by families caring for a very sick child who won’t live to become an adult. Since 1997 we have been able to provide a home-from home environment to over 600 families thanks to the support of thousands of individuals, hundreds of volunteers and many local companies. Your support can make such a difference. Whether you can donate money or time, we offer a range of ways to help children with life-limiting conditions and their families to enjoy precious time together at Naomi House. Naomi House relies heavily on donations. We receive over 90% of our funding from supporters across Berkshire, Dorset, Hampshire, Isle of Wight, West Sussex, Surrey and Wiltshire. Every donation, large or small makes a difference, to the children and families who receive support from us. Hundreds of children and families benefit from the work of Naomi House each year, your donation can help to ensure that we can continue to give them the support they need. For more information visit www.naomihouse.org.uk
Terms and Conditions
1. ELIGIBILITY: This competition is open to any person resident in the UK who is 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. Employees of Microsoft or its affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising or promotion agencies are not eligible, nor are members of these employees’ families (defined as parents, children, siblings, spouse and life partners).
2. TO ENTER:
Method 1 (For Prize 1) - Send an e-mail to v-rapeck@microsoft.com containing your contact details and bid amount, stating “MTC Charity Auction” in the e-mail subject line.
Method 2 (For Prize 2) - Send an e-mail to v-rapeck@microsoft.com containing your contact details and bid amount, stating “Marketing Experience Auction Bid” in the e-mail subject line.
Microsoft is not responsible for lost, corrupted or delayed entries. Only one entry per person will be accepted. No purchase necessary. Entry constitutes full and unconditional acceptance of these Terms and Conditions. Microsoft reserves the right to disqualify anyone in breach of these Terms and Conditions.
3. TIMING: This competition runs from 09.00:00 am BST on 10 October 2011 until 15.00:00 p.m. on 14 October 2011(inclusive). Completed entries must reach Microsoft no later than the closing date.
4. USE OF DATA: Personal data which you provide when you enter this competition shall be used for the purposes of this competition only.
5. SELECTION OF WINNERS: There will be two winners, one for each Entry Method. The winners will be the entrants who have submitted the highest bid through the methods defined above by the closing date. In the case of two identical bids for one Prize having been received, the winner will be the individual whose bid was received first.
Rachel Peck will notify the winners by email by 17 October 2011. If a potential winner cannot be contacted, through no fault of Microsoft, within FIVE (5) working days after the first attempt, an alternative winner with the next highest bid amount will be selected. The winner may be required to become involved in further publicity or advertising.
The winner must submit their winning bid amount through the Virgin Money Giving donation page here no later than 12:00:00 on 18 October 2011. Failure to submit your winning bid amount will result in an alternative winner being selected.
6. PRIZE: A total of two (2) prizes are available, one (1) per entry method.
Prize 1 - A one-day Architecture Design Session in the Microsoft Technology Centre. This session focuses on the objectives of your business and looks at how the latest Microsoft technologies can help you meet your goals and explore new business opportunities. We’ll provide architectural guidance, consultation on preferred practices, and risk analysis to chief technology officers, architects, and senior members of your development team. The ADS will be facilitated by senior Microsoft architects with deep knowledge of key technologies across client, server, database, mobile and cloud, and with extensive experience of aligning business requirements and technology strategy.
Prize 2 - A one-day Marketing Interactive Session- Marketing to the Next Level. Phil Cross and Sara Allison are 2 Marketers in Microsoft DPE and would be delighted to work with a partner for a day sharing insight, experiences and laughs in an interactive workshop session based on specific challenges you are facing. The outcome would be to give you some ideas and tangible steps to take your marketing to the next level.
Prizes are as stated and are not transferable. No cash alternatives available.
7. WINNERS LIST: The winner consents to their first name and surname being made publicly available. The winners surname will be available for a period of 30 days after the closing date by emailing Rachel Peck at v-rapeck@microsoft.com.
8. OTHER: No correspondence will be entered into regarding either this competition or these Terms and Conditions. In the unlikely event of a dispute, Microsoft’s decision shall be final. Microsoft reserves the right to amend, modify, cancel or withdraw this competition at any time without notice.
All Money raised will be donated to Naomi House; Microsoft will not accrue any financial benefit from this auction.
Each day we will announce the value of the leading bid through twitter using the account @RomseySoft.
Promoter: Microsoft Limited, Microsoft Campus, Thames Valley Park, Reading, RG6 1WG, England
After much deliberation our judges have reached a decision on the winner of last fortnight's Save Sam competition. Congratulations to 'thelongclimb', a limited edition mug and Acer Aspire ICONIA TAB will be winging their way to you very soon! While thelongclimb's video may have been judged the best by our panel, it isn't the leader in our race to gain the most views and win the GRAND PRIZE – a 3D TV, Full HD 3D Ready Camcorder and 3D Conversion Lens, that honour is currently held by 'pauliddon'. Whose video do you think is best? Let us know in the comments.
You can watch all the entries so far, including last fortnight's winning video and the current front runner in the race for our grand prize, below. Think you can do better? There's just under a week to get your entry in for this fortnight's competition.
Many thanks and congratulations to all of our entries, limited edition mugs will be on their way!
thelongclimb
pauliddon
yachtinglimited
OnlineNudel
We're a week into the entry period for Sam's latest question on Windows 7 compatibility, so it's high time that we gave you the link to the video to which you need to post your response. So without further ado, here it is! Post your video as a response to this one by Monday 17 October to get your hands on a free limited edition mug and be in with a chance of winning a Sony 32” Full HD TV, Blu-ray Home Cinema System & Star Wars: The Complete Saga on Blu-ray! As soon as you're video's online promote it everywhere you can, be that Twitter, Blogs, Forums or anywhere else you can think of to ramp up your views and put yourself in the running for our GRAND PRIZE – a 3D TV, Full HD 3D Ready Camcorder and 3D Conversion Lens.
The eagle-eyed among you (and the not so eagled-eyed) will probably notice that Sam's had a bit of a makeover, but don't let that big grin fool you, her job is still at risk without your help!