TechNet Flash - Volume 16, Issue 5: March 5, 2014
Top News Worldwide
Live event: How to deploy Windows 8.1 the right way
Power BI for Office 365 adds connectivity for SAP BusinessObjects
Find out how the role of databases changes in cloud computing
Software-defined networking with Windows Server and System Center
Top Downloads
System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager
Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials
Get Microsoft Cloud OS products and services alerts
Your Featured Content
Now available: The TechEd 2014 content catalog
TechEd 2014 will offer hundreds of sessions for you to explore the most important technology trends in an immersive, hands-on environment. The content catalog is now live so you can start planning your schedule today. Register now to attend TechEd 2014 May 12–15.
Free MVA Course: Migrating from Windows XP to Windows 8.1
Join Microsoft Technical Lead Kyle Rosenthal as he walks you through the various challenges you’ll face when upgrading to Windows 8.1. This course will help ensure a seamless transition as you learn about the various tools available. Take the course now.
Enhanced Mitigation Experience Toolkit (EMET) 5.0 Technical Preview
EMET anticipates the most common attack techniques attackers might use to exploit vulnerabilities and helps protect systems by diverting, terminating, blocking, and invalidating those actions. The 5.0 Tech Preview offers new features to disrupt attacks we have detected over the past several months. Download this Technical Preview and give us your feedback.
Edge Show: A look at Windows Azure Pack with Windows Server and System Center 2012 R2
The Windows Azure Pack is a collection of technologies that runs in your datacenter, providing a self-service portal for managing services. Check out this episode for an overview of the features and benefits Windows Azure Pack offers.
Windows Azure HDInsight supports Hadoop 2.2 clusters in preview
Now in public preview, the next release of Microsoft’s 100% Apache Hadoop-based distribution for Windows Azure is engineered on the latest version of Apache Hadoop 2.2. This update will provide up to 40x improvement in query response time and up to 80% data compression.
Edge Show: Changes to DFS in Windows Server 2012 R2
Rick Claus sits down with Ned Pyle, Senior PM on the File Server team, to talk about changes to DFS in Windows Server 2012 R2 and how the staging and cloning capabilities have been altered.
Using PowerShell to deploy virtual machines to the cloud
Yung Chou concludes his deep-dive look at the Windows Azure IaaS Quick Start Kit with a demonstration of how to deploy virtual machines to the cloud with the help of PowerShell. Don’t miss Part 1 and Part 2 of this three-part series. And check out the free, 1-month Windows Azure trial.
TechNet Radio: Virtual machine and service templates
Keith Mayer and Andy Syrewicze take a look at how you can manage your VM environment using Hyper-V Manager and the virtual machine and service templates found within System Center 2012 R2 Virtual Machine Manager.
New virtual labs provide hands-on experience with Windows 8.1
TechNet Virtual Labs just released two new Windows 8.1 virtual labs. Check out the Introduction to Windows 8.1 and Access and Information Protection to get hands-on experience with Windows 8.1.
Power Map for Excel is now generally available
With Office 2013 Service Pack 1, Power Map is native to Excel and no longer a preview add-in. Power Map will also be updated automatically for Office 365.
Step-by-step guide to file server disaster recovery in the cloud
As an on-demand cloud platform, Windows Azure can provide a cost-effective alternative to a dedicated disaster recovery site, and one that can be brought online more quickly. Start your disaster recovery plan with free trials of Windows Server 2012 R2 and Windows Azure.
The road to recovery: A disaster recovery checklist
Things happen in life, but you don’t have to be unprepared if a disaster strikes. If you plan ahead, you’ll be ready to start your recovery efforts rather than losing time as you figure out what to do next. Check out this checklist to help you get prepared. Download the free evaluation of Windows Server 2012 R2.
Application patterns and development strategies for SQL Server in Windows Azure virtual machines
Determining which application pattern or patterns to use for your SQL Server-based applications in a Windows Azure environment is an important design decision. This requires a solid understanding of how SQL Server and each infrastructure component of Windows Azure work together. Here’s what you need to know.
Disaster recovery: The case for offline backups
What are your most valuable digital assets? How much are you willing to spend to protect those assets? Explore the pros and cons of keeping an offline copy of your most valuable data so it can be restored quickly in the event of a disaster. Download the free evaluation of Windows Server 2012 R2.
Linking unlikely data sources to generate new insights
Human resources data is typically maintained and queried separate from databases that house information about system configuration. By linking these sources, Microsoft IT was able to identify and address a variety of business challenges and opportunities.
Training and Books
Free MVA course: Migrating from Windows XP to Windows 8.1
Join Microsoft Technical Lead Kyle Rosenthal as he walks you through the various challenges you’ll face when upgrading to Windows 8.1. This course will help ensure a seamless transition as you learn about the various tools available. Take the course now.
Learn how to deliver a new, secure deployment model for your highly mobile workforce
Windows To Go provides a full Windows 8.1 environment on a bootable USB drive. It supports virtualization technologies, secure connection via DirectAccess, and data encryption with BitLocker. Discover how you can empower your increasingly mobile workforce with Windows To Go.
Advance your database career with a limited-time offer
Show you have the skills to develop and maintain the next wave of mission-critical environments. SQL Server training and certification will give you an edge in your career as a database administrator. Register now and gain access to free exam prep from Microsoft. Get the details and register here.
Free training: App performance monitoring with System Center 2012 R2
Learn how to improve your company’s application performance monitoring (APM) with a new course from MVA. This training will give you insights into reporting and a holistic overview of APM and the application delivery lifecycle.
Recommended System Center MVA training:
• IT Service Management with System Center 2012 R2
• Automation and Self-Service with System Center 2012 R2
• Infrastructure Provisioning and Management with System Center 2012 R2
• Infrastructure Monitoring with System Center 2012 R2
Events
How to deploy Windows 8.1 the right way
March 12, 2014, 9:00 A.M.–1:00 P.M. Pacific Time, online
Find out how to avoid Windows 8.1 deployment pitfalls and how to streamline the process with Microsoft experts, including a key developer of the Microsoft Deployment Toolkit (MDT). Benefit from their real-life experiences with early adopters. This will be a recorded session with a live Q&A.
Big Data: Don’t miss Structure Data 2014 in New York
March 19–20, 2014, New York, NY
Learn how today’s data strategies are moving businesses in compelling new directions. At Structure Data 2014, you can join more than 900 Big Data practitioners, technologists, and executives as they explore how Big Data can drive success.
Join us at the Gartner Business Intelligence & Analytics Summit 2014
March 31–April 2, 2014, Las Vegas, NV
See how our vision of bringing Big Data to a billion people is coming to life with Power BI for Office 365, Windows Azure HD Insight, and SQL Server 2014. Use code BISP7 when you register to get a US$300 discount.
Register for MEC and learn directly from Microsoft and Exchange experts
March 31–April 2, 2014, Austin, TX
With nearly 200 educational breakouts, multiple interactive sessions, and evening events to foster productive networking, MEC is the premier global event for Microsoft Exchange and Office 365 professionals to enhance their skills. Join us in Austin.