UK SBSC : Training & Events

Implementing and Administering Windows Small Business Server 2008 (4 Days) – Edinburgh 31st August

UK SBSC — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 11:39:50 GMT

We are delighted to advise that we still have places available on the SBS 2008 four day technical training course, taking place in Edinburgh on the 31st August!

Implementing and Administering Windows Small Business Server 2008 (4 Days) – Edinburgh 31^st August

This hands-on workshop provides students with the necessary knowledge to plan and implement Windows Small Business Server 2008. Students gain first-hand knowledge on topics such as installing, migrating, monitoring, securing, and backing up data. £200 per delegate.

Don’t delay – register now!

Windows 7 Partner Readiness July Update

UK SBSC — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 11:49:00 GMT

Latest News:

Updating Your Technology Knowledge of Microsoft Windows XP to Windows 7 – 13^th August London

This two-day instructor-led course provides students with the knowledge and skills to work with the new technologies in Windows 7. £100 per delegate

Windows 7 Application Compatibility Briefings for ISVs

This 1 Day briefing will discuss and demonstrate the remediation techniques for Windows 7 compatibility issues, the common symptoms, how to test and debug them, and best practices for developing Windows 7 applications. FREE

26 Aug 2009 London

03 Sep 2009 Manchester

07 Sep 2009 Reading

Windows 7 – First Look Hands On Course – 3^rd August Southampton

This intensive one day course by Blue Chip Training is aimed at experienced users of the Windows platform and gives a clear understanding on what's new and what these new features mean to you and your organisation. £149 per delegate

Windows 7 Showcase – 28^th July Manchester | 30^th July London

For your chance to see a demonstration of what the press are raving about and experience what businesses will love about Windows 7 first hand, then join us at one of the locations below to gain a quick sales and technical immersion. They'll take you through the journey of converting your customers to Windows 7 − whether they currently are on Windows Vista or Windows XP – ensuring you are selling today and preparing your customers for tomorrow.
Register: 28 July Manchester using invitation code 443324, 30 July London using invitation doe 643157

Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 4.0 Beta Released: Integrated planning toolkit that makes it easier for Microsoft customers and partners to quickly identify what servers, workstations, and network devices are in their IT environment. You will need a LiveID to register and download
Windows 7 Partner Learning Centre (PLC) New Technical & Sales Training Released : All the latest Web Seminars and Online Tutorials in one place.
Windows 7 OEM Pre-installation Kit (OPK) Webcast Series: This series contains seven separate 15 minute webcasts on the OEM OPK Pre-installation process.

Application Compatibility:

ISV Application compatibility homepage - Stay ahead of the competition and ensure your application is compatible today

Deployment Training and Information:

Microsoft Deployment Partner Services Portal: Find out about driving deployment and increasing your profit margins!
Desktop Deployment Planning Services: Get detailed information about becoming a DDPS partner

Windows 7 Key Resources:

Windows 7 Resources by type of business:

New SBS 2008 course running in Edinburgh on 31st August

UK SBSC — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 16:16:22 GMT

We are pleased to announce that on the 31st August we will be running the 44CO120 - M6445 - Implementing and Administering Windows Small Business Server 2008 (4 days) course in Edinburgh.

This four-day instructor-led course provides students with the knowledge and skills to plan, implement, and manage Windows Small Business Server 2008
This course is intended for technology consultants, system integrators, and in-house technology staff that serve small and medium- sized businesses.

The course is priced at £200. To learn more and to register click here.

Implementing and Administering Windows Small Business Server 2008 – Another Date Available!

UK SBSC — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:37:58 GMT

There is another opportunity for you to attend the “Implementing and Administering Windows Small Business Server 2008” technical training course. This course is the 5 day version, running 22nd – 26th June in Birmingham. Paul Dadge, SBSC partner, has negotiated a special price of £353 per delegate for the 5 day course.

If you would like to attend please contact Paul: Paul@pcparamedics.it ASAP.

Dates :- 22^nd June to 26^th June
Location: QA Birmingham, 10th Floor, Centre City, 5-7 Hill Street, Birmingham, B5 4UA

Free Workshop: Competing with VMware vSphere: Understanding the Virtualisation Opportunity with the Microsoft R2 Wave

UK SBSC — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 13:29:56 GMT

With the launch of vSphere, VMware have introduced a number of new features and capabilities, yet at the same time, in addition to their Standard and Enterprise versions, they’ve introduced a number of new product SKUs, including the Essentials range, for the SMB, Advanced, and also Enterprise Plus, each with differing features, upgrade paths, and price points. However, with the upcoming R2 Wave of Microsoft Virtualisation technologies, namely, Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V, Hyper-V Server 2008 R2, System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008 R2 and System Center Operations Manager 2007 R2 to name but a few, the opportunity for Partners around the Microsoft virtualisation technologies has never been stronger. We’re well aware that the majority of VMware Partners, are also Microsoft Partners, so this session aims to provide you with a detailed comparative breakdown of the technologies from the two vendors, so you, the Partner, can go away and articulate the values of both to your customers, and provide them with the solution that fits best.

Join Matt McSpirit, Partner Technology Specialist at Microsoft UK, and Mike Peers, Channel Development Manager at Microsoft UK, at this informal, workshop-style session, which will take an in-depth, discussion-based look at the different SKUs, features, and technologies on either side of the virtualisation fence. You’ll also get to see some of the Microsoft technologies first hand, with detailed technology demonstrations.

Places are limited, so don’t miss out – register now!

Intended Audience: Pre-Sales, Technical, Architect

Click on the links to register:

TechNet Conference goes virtual on 19th June 2009 - register now

UK SBSC — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 09:23:33 GMT

We’re pleased to announce the launch of the very first TechNet Virtual Conference taking place on 19 June 2009.

You told us that time and budget pressures make attending in person events difficult – so to help both you and the environment we decided to take the TechNet Conference virtual. Now you and your colleagues can join us to get a flavour of some key Microsoft technologies from the comfort of your own desks.
The Technology sessions, selected by the readers of the UK TechNet Flash, feature key products including:

Windows 7 – Deployment and Management
Windows Server 2008 R2 - 10 things to make life easier for IT Pros
An overview of Office Communications Server R2 and voice capabilities
The trials and tribulations of SharePoint implementation

We are also really pleased to announce an exclusive Keynote featuring Mark Russinovich, Microsoft Technical Fellow specialising in the Windows platform.
And that’s not the only difference this year. In addition to Microsoft technology news and product overviews from the experts, the TechNet Virtual Conference will also feature a second auditorium focused on IT Management, including:

How IT will change over the next 10 years and why you should care - an exclusive session delivered at TechEd EMEA
Growing the Business and Managing Costs at Microsoft – An Insider’s View, presented by Asif Jinnah, IT Manager, Microsoft UK

Be sure to get the most out of your day by getting involved and asking our speakers questions via live chat. But if you can’t make it on the day, all the content will be available after June 19th for you to watch on demand.

Go here to register: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-gb/dd819085.aspx

Reminder: Register For Andy Trish's SBS 2008 Configuration exam 70-653 Prep Live Meeting

UK SBSC — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:38:25 GMT

Reminder... there are only a couple of days left to register for the first of a series of Microsoft Live Meetings where SBS MVP Andy Trish will be giving an overview of the features you’ll need to learn and guidance on exam taking for those that haven’t yet experienced Microsoft testing before.

The live meetings will be intensive so be prepared to answer questions thrown at you and you’ll be given homework to prepare for the next one with the intention of all candidates being able to complete the live meetings and take their exams prior to the end of June. The cost of attendance is free however if you don’t have a voucher the exam cost will need to be funded by yourself... but as Andy says, this is a great investment you are making in your future both for you and your customers.

Exam 70-653 will be one of a choice of exams required to be SBSC in the upcoming changes Microsoft are making in the Partner Community so get out your notepads and join in. The first event is Thursday 28^th of May at 3:30pm and is due to last 1.5 hours

The registration link is https://www.livemeeting.com/lrs/0000000379_116/Registration.aspx?pageName=9jp66cq70v4t53q2

FREE SBS 2008 or SharePoint Services training available for Next Week, courtesy of C2K!

UK SBSC — Fri, 22 May 2009 13:50:53 GMT

Authorised Distributor, C2k have a number of places available on their Free of Charge Technical Training series which they would like to offer out to Microsoft partners. Each course typically costs up to £800 per day per delegate, so this is a great offer. Capacity is 12 per course and we are some availability left, first come basis. Timing is the key concern as a number of the events are running next week.

The two courses available are:

26^th - 27^th May - M5060 Implementing Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 (2 days)

Where: QA, London Tabernacle Street
Overview of course:This two-day instructor-led course provides students with the knowledge and skills to successfully implement Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) version 3.0 in their organizations. It emphasizes that students should think about the architecture of their entire environment, including business and application needs, during the planning and deployment phases. The course covers how to perform a clean installation of WSS 3.0 and also describes all the prerequisites required to select the most appropriate method for upgrading WSS from 2.0 to 3.0 in a specific scenario. In addition, the course focuses on how to manage WSS after it is configured.
Intended Audience: This course is intended for Business Application Administrators (BAAs) who are engaged in the planning, design, and selection of Line of Business (LOB) applications, including Microsoft Office SharePoint Server (MOSS), in conjunction with internal business customers. Their primary responsibility is the deployment, customization, management, and support of LOB applications. They routinely monitor application status and troubleshoot application problems. The audience is expected to have at least two years of experience in implementing, managing, and supporting Microsoft Windows Server 2003, including Internet Information Services (IIS).

26th - 28th May - Implementing and Administering Windows® Small Business Server 2008 (3 days)

Where: QA in Hinckley, Leicestershire
Overview of course: This hands-on workshop provides students with the necessary knowledge to plan and implement Windows Small Business Server 2008. Students gain first-hand knowledge on topics such as installing, migrating, monitoring, securing, and backing up data. Please note this pre-release product course was written by Microsoft as an early adopter partner readiness course and is written on Beta product.
Intended Audience: This course is intended for technology consultants, system integrators, and in-house technology staff that serve small and medium- sized businesses.

To Register, or for more details, email: mwhittle@computer2000.co.uk and mdwane@computer2000.co.uk ASAP, copying in Ita McAndrew from Microsoft, to secure your place.

Please note that refreshments, travel and accommodation will need to be paid for by yourselves.

Are you prepared for the SBS 2008 Configuration exam 70-653?

UK SBSC — Thu, 21 May 2009 18:27:52 GMT

Are you prepared for the SBS 2008 Configuration exam 70-653? If you haven’t already taken it and you are looking for study guidance then join your peers in the first of a series of Microsoft Live Meetings where SBS MVP Andy Trish will be giving an overview of the features you’ll need to learn and guidance on exam taking for those that haven’t yet experienced Microsoft testing before.

Exam 70-653 will be one of a choice of exams required to be SBSC in the upcoming changes Microsoft are making in the Partner Community so get out your notepads and join in. The first event is Thursday 28^th of May at 3:30pm and is due to last 1.5 hours

The registration link is https://www.livemeeting.com/lrs/0000000379_116/Registration.aspx?pageName=9jp66cq70v4t53q2

Update: LiveSeries Partner Live Meeting Upcoming Events

UK SBSC — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:37:14 GMT

The Live Series are a programme of Live Meetings which aim to effectively deliver top line information and key value propositions, highlighting the opportunities available to you around Microsoft technologies and resources. For more information visit: www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/liveseries.

Here are the upcoming Live Meeting events - click on the links to register:

Tuesday 2nd June, 10am-11am -Drive Greater Revenue in the Schools Sector – Innovative Schools
Wednesday 3rd June 2009 4pm - 5pm - Capabilities and Value of Windows SharePoint Services
Thursday 4th June , 4pm - 5pm- Windows Server 2008 R2 – What’s New and where is the opportunity for Partners?
Tuesday 9th June, 10am-11am - Drive Greater Revenue in the Schools Sector – Connected Learning Community
Wednesday 10th June 2009 4pm-5pm - Capabilities and Value of MOSS Standard SAL
Tuesday 16th June, 10am-11am - Drive Greater Revenue in the Schools Sector – Anytime, Anywhere Learning
Wednesday 17th June, 4pm-5pm - Capabilities and Value of MOSS Enterprise SAL
Tuesday 23rd June, 10am-11am - Drive Greater Revenue in the Schools Sector – Academic
Tuesday 30th June, 10am-11am - Drive Greater Revenue in the Schools Sector – Dynamic Education and IT
Tuesday 21st July 3pm - 4pm - CSAT Index: Effectively Measure Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty
Wednesday 26th August 2009 3pm - 4pm - CSAT Index: Effectively Measure Customer Satisfaction and Loyalty

Windows 7 Live Meetings:

Wednesday 17th June 2009 16.00-16.45 - Ask the Expert: Technical training and help for partners
Wednesday 15th July 2009 16.00-16.45 - Ask the Expert: Getting Direct Access & Branch Caching up and running
Thursday 21st May 2009 15.30-16.30 - Value propositions of Windows 7 – Small to Mid market
Thursday 18th June 2009 15.30-16.30 - Value propositions of Windows 7 – Mid Market (MDOP)
Thursday 16th July 2009, 15.30-16.30 - Windows 7 & Windows Server 2008 R2 – building the compelling remote office & branch office solutions
Thursday 20th August 2009 15.30-16.30 - Getting market ready – sales & marketing materials for partners
Thursday 17th September 2009 15.30 - 16.30 - Getting your sales force ready & your customers engaged

Schools are spending on IT Now... so get in on the action!

UK SBSC — Wed, 20 May 2009 10:03:47 GMT

Question: When do schools spend their IT budget?

Answer: Now! ...Well the biggest spending time is in June and July.

Our analysis shows, and I suppose it is obvious really, that the key time the Schools spend money on IT is in June and July so that implementation can take place over the summer holidays to avoid too much disruption. So if you are thinking of selling to schools now would be a good time to speak to them.

To find out more about the opportunity in the schools market and the Microsoft solutions that can take advantage of this opportunity book on to the Webcasts in June:

Tuesday 2nd June, 10.00-11.00 -Drive Greater Revenue in the Schools Sector – Innovative Schools
Tuesday 9th June, 10.00-11.00 Drive Greater Revenue in the Schools Sector – Connected Learning Community
Tuesday 16th June, 10.00-11.00 Drive Greater Revenue in the Schools Sector – Anytime, Anywhere Learning
Tuesday 23rd June, 10.00-11.00 Drive Greater Revenue in the Schools Sector – Academic Licensing
Tuesday 30th June, 10.00-11.00 Drive Greater Revenue in the Schools Sector – Dynamic Education and IT

For information on how to become an Authorised Education Reseller partner click here.

Join the Ask the Expert: Technical help for OEM & System Builders Live Meeting

UK SBSC — Fri, 15 May 2009 12:44:36 GMT

On Wednesday 20th May 2009, between 16.00-16.45, Microsoft will be running an Ask the Expert: Windows 7 Technical help for OEM & System Builders. If you are interested register now but clicking on the link to attend.

LiveSeries: Details of upcoming Partner Live Meetings

UK SBSC — Fri, 15 May 2009 11:26:04 GMT

There are a number of new Partner Live Meeting events available to register for as part of the LiveSeries. The Live Series are a programme of Live Meetings which aim to effectively deliver top line information and key value propositions, highlighting the opportunities available to you around Microsoft technologies and resources. Visit: www.microsoft.com/uk/partner/liveseries

Click on the titles below to register now for the upcoming Partner Live Meetings:

Using Intelligent Application Gateway (IAG) to provide secure remote access to applications, Wednesday 20th May 2009, 2pm - 3pm
Who should attend? Partners who are looking to understand how to provide policy-based secure remote access to applications to extranet, mobile and internet users, be those Microsoft applications such as SharePoint or Exchange, or applications from 3rd parties.

Agenda:
• Overview of Microsoft Intelligent Application Gateway and the associated partner opportunity.
• Partner case study – Why we’re deploying IAG solutions to our customers.
• Q and A

Windows Server 2008 R2 – What’s New and where is the opportunity for Partners? Thursday 4th June 2009, 4pm - 5pm

The forthcoming new release of Windows Server provides a wealth of new capability for the web, virtualisation, manageability, and reliability. There are also a number of key features which makes it ‘Better together with Windows 7’, especially around the interconnecting of branch offices. Analyst AMI recently found that 80% of midmarket businesses wanted to better connect their remote offices and branches, rating it their number 1 strategic priority.

Agenda:
• An overview of key features and business benefits of Windows Server 2008
• Integration with Windows 7.
• What are the key opportunities for partners?
• Q&A

System Center Technologies with Exchange Server 2007 & SharePoint Server 2007, Monday 18th May 2009, 4pm - 5pm.

Who Should Attend? SharePoint and Exchange design and deployment partners who are looking to enhance the security of their solutions they implement for their customers.

Agenda:
• Overview of Microsoft System Center solutions and how they integrate into Exchange and SharePoint products, drive customer satisfaction and deliver incremental “services” opportunities for partners
• Partner case study – Why we’re deploying these solutions with our Exchange solutions. TBC
• Q&A

Reminder: Free regional events focusing on how to make the most of every sale!

UK SBSC — Wed, 13 May 2009 19:39:39 GMT

Don't delay - register now...

Are you looking to maximise every deal that you work on?

Do you know how to increase your sales pipeline and close sales opportunities more quickly?

Microsoft invites you to a new sales opportunity training day for resellers that focuses on exactly these issues. The sales training will take you through the process of targeting the right prospects, opening up conversations with customers by matching customer pain points to your value, creating more opportunity from every deal, closing the deal more quickly and effectively and how to action this when back in the office with your sales people.
We appreciate that business opportunities don't just land on your plate. That's why we've developed this session specifically to help you get the most from every deal – providing you with the information you need to recommend or add to sales; speed up your ability to bring deals into your business; and ensure you always sell the right solutions to meet your customers' individual pain points.
This event is aimed at Sales Directors and Sales Managers of resellers.

Simply click on the link below to register for whichever event you would like to attend:

• London Victoria: 4th June Invitation Code: 973ABF or Phone Number: 0870 166 6680 ref: 3226

• Leeds: 16th June Invitation Code: 2B900A or Phone Number: 0870 166 6670 ref: 3683

1,000 FREE exam vouchers are available to Microsoft Small Business Specialists

UK SBSC — Fri, 08 May 2009 10:13:31 GMT

Free exam vouchers are being made available to help you pass the latest Microsoft technology exams and Small Business Specialist
certification exams. Take advantage of this offer now as it expires June 30, 2009.

Be one of the first 1,000 partners to submit a request to askcorp@microsoft.com to get a FREE voucher for one of the following exams (a $125 value):*

70-653 – TS: Windows Small Business Server 2008, Configuring
70-654 – TS: Windows Essential Business Server 2008, Configuring
70-236 – TS: Exchange Server 2007, Configuring
70-432 – TS: Microsoft SQL Server® 2008, Implementation and Maintenance
70-630 – TS: Office SharePoint® Server 2007, Configuring
70-403 – TS: System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2008, Configuring

Requests must be submitted by May 30, 2009 and include your First and Last Name, Company Name, and Partner ID. To look up your partner ID, sign in at https://partners.microsoft.com/partnerprogram. Limit one partner and one exam per voucher. Terms and conditions apply.

Act Fast! Offer limited to first 1,000 requests!