TechNet Flash - Volume 16, Issue 9: April 30, 2014
Top News Worldwide
Live event: Moving to a hybrid cloud with Microsoft Azure
Free ebook: Microsoft System Center Integrated Cloud Platform
Register for free, live training on Windows 8.1 security (May 8)
InfoWorld: SQL Server 2014 pushes the pedal to the metal
Top Downloads
System Center 2012 R2 Configuration Manager
Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials
Get Microsoft Cloud OS products and services alerts*
Your Featured Content
The risks of running Windows XP
Now that support for Windows XP has ended, running it in your environment will expose your organization to a variety of security risks. Blain Barton and Tim Rains, Director of Trustworthy Computing at Microsoft, discuss the risks you’ll face if you continue to run Windows XP. Download Windows 8.1 for Enterprise Evaluation today.
Join Early Experts for a free way to enhance your skills and career
Microsoft Early Experts is a free, online study group for virtualization professionals who want to extend their Hyper-V, System Center, and Microsoft Azure knowledge with Microsoft certifications. You’ll find videos, study materials, and hands-on practice with real products. Join today.
Now available: Microsoft Threat Modeling Tool 2014
A new version of the Security Development Lifecycle Threat Modeling Tool is now available. It offers several improvements, including an enhanced approach to threat generation and a drawing service so Visio is no longer required. Download the Microsoft Threat Modeling Tool 2014 now for free.
New user experiences with groups, attachments, and Office 365 mail
The Garage Series hits the Microsoft Exchange Conference in Austin, Texas. Learn about group collaboration with new Office 365 experiences, check out inline editing using Office Online within OWA, and see the OWA for Android app.
What’s new in PowerShell: Desired state configuration simplifies auto-provisioning
A new update to the PowerShell DSC Resource Kit provides 14 additional resource modules. Get an overview of the new modules and discover how they will make DevOps auto-provisioning even easier.
Roadmap for the next version of Microsoft Identity Manager
Get an update on the next version of Forefront Identity Manager (now Microsoft Identity Manager). Find out about the approach and investments Microsoft is making to enhance on-premises, private cloud, and hybrid cloud identity management solutions.
Companies already benefitting from new features in SQL Server 2014
Many companies are already taking advantage of the performance improvements offered by SQL Server 2014 and getting new insights from all their data. Check out some of the familiar names and the benefits they have gotten from SQL Server 2014.
Accelerate Your Insights: Watch the videos
Check out short videos giving quick overviews of Microsoft’s big data solution. Discover how to make data more accessible, learn about in-memory design in SQL Server 2014, and find out more about Microsoft’s vision for BI and analytics.
Read about Microsoft’s approach to compliance in the cloud
Want to know how Microsoft handles compliance for its cloud services? Download this new paper for an in-depth look at how Microsoft addresses compliance and delivers trustworthy cloud services.
Edge Show: What’s new in the Windows 8.1 update
Microsoft recently announced a new Windows 8.1 update. Brad McCabe visits the Edge Show to take a close look at what’s new in this update and highlight some of the changes that will be important to IT pros.
Battle the monsters of IT, sharpen your IT skills, and possibly win an Xbox One
Wield powerful weapons, face the eight monsters of IT, and see if you have what it takes to reach Castle Refactory. Play the game and improve your IT skills. For each weapon you download, we’ll enter you for a chance to win an Xbox One (up to four entries).
New Windows Intune update provides support for Windows Phone 8.1 and Samsung Galaxy devices
A new update for Windows Intune provides support for Windows Phone 8.1 and certain Samsung Galaxy devices. Be sure to check out the list of Windows Intune mobile device management features available on the supported devices.
Introducing the new DevOps blog for IT professionals
What is DevOps? How might it affect your career? Check out the DevOps blog series to get a deeper look into the role of IT professionals in DevOps and get access to resources that will help you understand DevOps from different perspectives.
Critical design considerations for a bring-your-own-device infrastructure
Created with system architects and system designers in mind, this new guide provides a collection of design considerations that need to be addressed when planning a BYOD infrastructure to ensure you protect company data.
Big data: Introducing the Microsoft Analytics Platform System
The evolution of Microsoft’s turnkey appliance for big data analytics (formerly SQL Server Parallel Data Warehouse) includes a dedicated region for Hadoop based on the Hortonworks Data Platform.
Available on demand: The Accelerate Your Insights keynotes
Watch Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella describe the new era of “ambient intelligence” and Corporate Vice President Quentin Clark detail the data platform for this new era.
Power Map: April update now available
The latest update to Power Map adds new features and also extends the Power Map Preview for all versions of Office 2013 and Excel 2013. Get a rundown of the changes and find out how to get the update.
Edge Show: Using the MAP toolkit to assess and plan your VM migration to Microsoft Azure
Program Manager Mike Switzer explains how you can use the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) toolkit to evaluate your VMs and servers before migrating your systems to Microsoft Azure.
Training and Books
Free ebook: Microsoft System Center Integrated Cloud Platform
Free from Microsoft Press, this System Center ebook is organized by cloud type. It begins with a short overview of the Cloud OS strategy from Microsoft and a high-level hybrid cloud architecture. It also covers the design and deployment of private cloud solutions using Windows and System Center to deliver the software-defined datacenter where storage, network, compute, and management are all virtualized and delivered by the Microsoft platform.
Events
Register now: A guide to DevOps for IT pros
May 7, 2014, 9:00 A.M. Pacific Time
Want to accelerate the delivery of software and updates in your company? Join Microsoft experts to explore on-premises and public cloud scenarios and learn more about DevOps for IT pros. Register now for this free training from MVA.
Register for free training on Windows 8.1 security
May 8, 2014, 9:00 A.M. Pacific Time
Learn to protect your data in the real world in this demo-filled Jump Start course from Microsoft Premier Field Engineer Milad Aslaner and Certified Ethical Hacker Erdal Ozkaya. Learn how Windows 8.1 addresses security as a whole system, and find out how to stop hackers and harden your enterprise architecture.
The best of both worlds: Moving to a hybrid cloud with Microsoft Azure
May 21–22, 2014, 9:00 A.M. Pacific Time
With Microsoft Azure and System Center 2012 R2, IT professionals can extend on-premises networks to embrace the power of the cloud – securely and seamlessly. This free event from MVA will help you understand how you can use hybrid cloud solutions to solve pressing IT issues.