44HOL003 - Systems Center Specialisation - Exam Preparation Bootcamp - (SCOM and SCCM) – 17^th November

This 5 day instructor-led course will help students prepare for Microsoft exam 70-400 on Configuring Microsoft System Center Operations Manager 2007, and Microsoft exam 70-401 on Configuring Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager 2007.  The course focuses on the domains covered on each exam.
The course will include lecture and demonstrations by the instructor, hands-on labs for the students, and tips on how to effectively prepare for a Microsoft certification exam.
The students will take exam 70-400 on the third day of the course and exam 70-401 on the fifth day of the course.

https://training.partner.microsoft.com/plc/details.aspx?publisher=12&delivery=256005&site=UK&lang=en-uk

Quantifying the Value of Microsoft's Desktop Optimization Pack

http://mediaproducts.gartner.com/reprints/microsoft/vol4/article6/article6.html

How to Quantify the Value of Software Assurance for Windows Client

http://mediaproducts.gartner.com/reprints/microsoft/vol4/article5/article5.html

Understand the Risks of Skipping Windows Vista

http://mediaproducts.gartner.com/reprints/microsoft/vol4/article4/article4.html

Gartner have published a great paper that can be used with customers to help them better understand SCCM. Available here.

Over the past two years Microsoft has been steadily investing more and more in our security channel (whilst others are doing the opposite). Between the benefits of the Security Competency and the added value of SSA, if you have yet to file your first SSA claim there has never been a better time.

Until 30th September any partner submitting their first claim will receive a bonus 50% of the amount of that claim. There is more information on the SSA site.

One common question from customers is around the downgrade process and options available for users who purchase Forefront but need Antigen to run on Exchange 2003 or SharePoint 2003.

Exchange 2003

• The customer should purchase Forefront Security for Exchange and exercise downgrade rights
• On MVLS search for "Messaging Security Suite" which includes Microsoft Antigen 9 for Exchange which is the current version
• If downloaded from MVLS Antigen 9 does not require any product key or license file so the end user can be up an running straight away

If the customer is currently an Antigen 8 user they should make sure they upgrade to Service Release 3 (SR3). From SR3 there is a direct in place upgrade available to Antigen 9.0. Antigen 8.0 will reach End of Life at the end of this year so customers should plan to move to version 9.0 as soon as possible.

SharePoint Portal Server 2003

• The customer should purchase Forefront Security for SharePoint and exercise downgrade rights
• Go to the Sybari website to download Antigen 8 for SharePoint
• If you require a username and password please contact your Microsoft Large Account Reseller who can escalate to the Security Business Desk for an account.

A pre-configured VHD for the latest addition to the Forefront family has been made available for download here

The full lab download weights in at around 16 gigs but you cand download individual components if you just want to test pieces of functionality. 

It also includes VHDs for Forefront Threat Management Gateway (ISA Server v.next)

I posted a while back about using Forefront internally. Now there are entitlements for our AI partners to use System Center internally also.

The following products are eligible for internal use rights:

Data Protection Manager 2007

Configuration Manager 2007

Operations Manager 2007

Virtual Machine Manager 2007

Specific information can be found here: https://partner.microsoft.com/US/program/competencies/40012886

The readiness kit is now available to order online at https://partner.microsoft.com/UK/40057196. The kit includes 7 DVDs packed with VHDs, full tutorials, presentations and videos. Numbers are limited so make sure you order yours before they run out!

Content from the Forefront Partner Airlift that was held recently in Seattle has been made available online at the partner portal for registered partners. Its worth noting that over half the content at the airlift was either brand new content that had never been disclosed before or was highly confidential (such as compete information). As such what has been published online is just a small subset of the full content that was shared at the airlift. I can particularly recommend the Forefront Edge sessions :)

Sandeep Modhvadia

ZDNet posted an interview a few weeks with with Gene Hodges, CEO of Websense.  One part that jumped out at me was the following:

Hodges said CIOs could bring in Sophos, Kaspersky and Microsoft as antivirus vendors and “kick the stuffing out of the price structure for antivirus and firewalls.”

Interestingly enough, engines from all three vendors can be found in Forefront Security for Exchange Server. You can read the full article at ZDNet.com.

Sandeep Modhvadia

Many partners ask how they can deploy Forefront internally for their own usage. The following table outlines what you are entitled to deploy as part of your partner benefits:

The DVDs are included in the box that the partners  receive and the activation key is on the label (NOT an MSDN download).  If you have a question about receiving your software (or not receiving it), you should contact the local MSPP Regional Service Center (RSC) to get further info.  The RSC contact info can be found at https://partners.microsoft.com/PartnerProgram/ContactMicrosoft.aspx

Sandeep Modhvadia

There is a new learning path for the management technologies which will be updated as more courses become available.

Full information can be found here

Sandeep Modhvadia

This is a question that many customers and partners ask us on a daily basis. Head over to ChannelWeb to see for yourself - http://www.crn.com/software/205801327

Sandeep Modhvadia

For our Certified and Gold Partners there are phone based specialists to help you with pre-sales questions including technology, licensing and compete information. All the Forefront and System Center products are covered by this service.

In the UK they can be reached on 0870 60 70 700. Also don't forget that there is Newsgroup Support for partners. The Forefront group is located at https://partner.microsoft.com/global/40046699 

Sandeep Modhvadia

The System Center team have created a new ROI tool to help customers build a business case for the management technologies. You can access the tool at this link below.  When you launch the tool (button in upper right), you will need to log in (or register if you haven’t accessed before).  Then you will see a model called “Microsoft System Center (Pilot)”.  The model will be in pilot for 4-6 weeks while we collect feedback on the costs and benefit inputs.

https://roianalyst.alinean.com/microsoft/iotool/launch.html.