The first version of Microsoft’s Datacenter Management and Virtualization Enablement Kit for System Integrators is now available.

The System Center Enablement Kit is a new initiative that brings all the components together for Services Integration consulting partners to deliver high-quality, repeatable Proof-of-Concept engagements on System Center Products. It contains resources for SI partners to build datacenter practices deploying Microsoft products.

This toolkit contains everything a system integrator needs to perform a 5-day Proof-of-Concept:

• Virtual machines
• Scenario documentation
• Presentations
• Planning templates

Read the full Microsoft IT Technical Case Study: Reducing Bandwidth Utilization with Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 BranchCache:

Does the increasing cost of wide area network (WAN) access restrict you from providing your branch offices with the data center services they need? Learn how Microsoft IT uses the BranchCache™ feature available in the Windows® 7 operating system and the Windows Server® 2008 R2 operating system to improve performance and availability to branch offices. Services at the branch office level include file and print management, offline folder redirection, operating system and application distribution, and patch management. By implementing BranchCache, Microsoft IT significantly improved service availability while maintaining network traffic encryption including HTTPS and IPsec and reducing WAN usage and server demand. Using BranchCache, Microsoft IT expects to save money while increasing branch user productivity.

SQL Server and BI professionals will gather from 21 till 23 April 2010 in Neuss (Germany) for the SQL PASS European Conference.

PASS European Conference 2010 is Europe's premier conference for SQL Server technical education and business networking. Meet top SQL Server experts from Europe and around the world. Learn about best practices, effective troubleshooting, how to prevent issues, save money, and build a better SQL Server environment for your company or clients. Roll up your sleeves and get hands-on. Get face-to-face answers and advice from Microsoft CSS experts.

The Belgian SQL Server User Group offers up to 35% discount on the regular registration price for SQL PASS. Be sure to check out their blog!

All organizations need to manage identities, credentials, and resources. Some lucky organizations only have to deal with one directory, but most have to deal with multiple directory trees and application-specific identity sources. The IT departments in those organizations are expected to deliver this management efficiently, cost-effectively, and securely. Microsoft Forefront Identity Manager 2010 (FIM) is a component of Microsoft’s Identity & Access Management solution that brings powerful capabilities, administrative tools, and enhanced automation to organizations to help them efficiently manage identities.

We recently announced the RTM of Forefront Identity Manager 2010 (FIM). FIM is not Microsoft’s first identity management solution; it has evolved from Microsoft Identity Lifecycle Manager (ILM) 2007, which was previously Microsoft Identity Integration Server (MIIS) 2003, which originated from Microsoft Metadirectory Services (MMS).

Find out how FIM makes identity management easier on TechNet Edge or watch one or more of following videos:

• Identity and Access Management Solution
• Forefront Identity Manager 2010: Technical Overview and Feature drill-down
• Forefront Identity Manager 2010: Deploying FIM
• Forefront Identity Manager 2010: Reducing cost of group management
• Channel 9 Video: Alex Weinert on Forefront Identity Manager 2010

Want to try it out yourself? Download the trial of Forefront Identity Manager 2010.

Announcement on the SharePoint product team blog:

“Today, we officially announced that May 12th, 2010, is the launch date for SharePoint 2010 & Office 2010. In addition, we announced our intent to RTM (Release to Manufacturing) this April 2010.”

Read more about it at the SharePoint product team blog.