Ignite Is Around The Corner!

Yeah, I keep calling it TechEd.  Old habits die hard, I guess, but I'm looking forward to being there next week.  However, I haven't had time to really look at the schedule, since I will be spending a lot of time hanging out in the Windows Client area on the expo floor.  Stop by to visit!

If you happen to be in the Chicago area early on Sunday and want to get a jump on some Azure and Hybrid Cloud learning, sign up for the Ignite version of our IT Camp!  We want it to be huge and it even comes with $100 voucher to the Microsoft Store!  It starts at noon, so you can still sleep in.

Register at http://aka.ms/monsteritcamp

But seriously, I need to nail down my schedule. If you've got a sessions you think can't be missed, let me know in the comments!

More IT Camps Coming Your Way this Week!

Extend your datacenter with Microsoft Azure - Learn how to get your organization hybrid-ready at a FREE IT Camp near you, particularly if you are in the midwest or on the east coast!

In just one day of hands-on training, you’ll learn how to move your IT workloads from on-premises to the cloud and back again. After all, who wants to choose between your datacenter and the public cloud? With Microsoft Azure, you get the best of all possible scenarios – plus, powerful virtualization, on-demand application scaling, complete data control and much more. 

Expect lively demos and hands-on labs from IT experts who will get you fired up and ready to apply what you’ve learned. Here are just some of the topics we’ll cover:

• Migration of on-premises virtualization to Azure Virtual Machines, Apps, and Storage
• ADFS on Microsoft Azure and Office 365 Integration, including  Multi-Factor authentication
• Microsoft Azure for Test and Development (IaaS)
• Application migration to Microsoft Azure (IaaS & PaaS)
• SQL BI, Media, Backup, DR and much more

Regardless of whether you’re new to the cloud or you currently use an on-premises, hybrid or fully cloud-based solution, you’ll learn valuable new ways to extend your datacenter and expand your IT options. Don’t miss this free event in your local area. 

This week events are upcoming in  Jacksonville (4/29),  Hartford (4/30), Miami (4/30) and Des Moines (4/30)!

SITPUG Meets Again on May 13th

If you are a Seattle local, the May SITPUG meeting has been scheduled!

Due to Microsoft Ignite conference in Chicago the week of May 4^th, the meeting has been moved to the following Wednesday. SITPUG will meet on Wednesday, May 13, 2015 from 6pm-8pm at the Microsoft Civica Office in Bellevue.

Presentation - Extending your Datacenter to Azure with Virtual Networks and PowerShell:

You might love your on-premises datacenter and the GUI tools Microsoft has provided since the NT 4.0 days but the cloud is here to stay and it’s sometimes easier to manage the cloud if you leave the GUI behind. Learn how you can use a VPN to connect your datacenter to Azure, or how to create your own test lab in the cloud, then use PowerShell to create and manage Virtual Machines (VMs) from your desktop.

RSVP Here!

Upcoming Online Events in April and May

Because you don't have enough on your calendars yet, right?

April 23rd - Microsoft Intune Core Skills Jump Start 
Doesn't it seem like there's a shiny new mobile device released every other day? And another story about someone losing one of those devices (along with 100,000 customer records)? As the IT superhero you are, you do everything you can to enable mobility, but it often comes down to a tradeoff between flexibility and security. We can help, as we look at the latest mobility features in Microsoft Intune, a born-in-the-cloud device management solution, including how you can integrate with the existing market leader in endpoint management, Microsoft System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), and manage mobile devices with Office 365. 

May 5th - Exploring Microservices in Docker and Microsoft Azure 
Get a look at the future of application architecture, and put it into practice now. Update your site in milliseconds with microservices, which are supported by Microsoft Azure and offered as a service. Self-contained for fit and purpose, they are a key part of the world of continuous delivery and DevOps. Investigate the benefits and challenges of microservices. learn from real-life examples and demos, and get lots of practical guidance.

May 14th and 15th - It's not an MVA course, but join Microsoft MVPs and Developer Experience CVP Steven Guggenheimer for a free 2-day virtual conference. Register today to learn about the latest tech trends. 

Need some Hands-On with Azure to learn more about Hybrid Cloud?

Get hybrid-ready at a free IT Camps in San Francisco and Sacramento next week!

Join us for this interactive, full-day training session and learn how to move your workloads from on-premises to the cloud and back again. You'll see how Microsoft Azure supports powerful virtualization, on-demand application scaling, complete data control, and the fastest customer response times around.

Get the scoop from a technical evangelist who can show you how to expand your IT options without adding complexity – or giving yourself a headache in the process. Here are just a few of the topics we'll cover:

• Extending your network with Microsoft Azure Virtual Machines 
• Tackling workload migration, networking and other key scenarios 
• Microsoft Azure for Test and Development (IaaS) 
• Application migration to Microsoft Azure (IaaS & PaaS) 
• SQL BI, Media, Backup, DR and much more 

Don't miss one of these valuable, free events in the bay area – regardless of whether you're new to the cloud, or you currently use an on-premises, hybrid or fully cloud-based solution. All IT Pros are welcome! Sessions run from 9:00am - 4:00pm. Attendance is limited, so save your seat today.

Tuesday, April 14th in San Francisco. Thursday, April 16th in Sacramento!

Join Microsoft DX for After Hours @Build - April 29 - San Francisco

The Microsoft Developer Experience & Evangelism (DX) team and the .NET Foundation have partnered together to bring to you After Hours @Build – a special event on April 29th designed for developers, startups, and technology leaders. Come join us to hear the latest news and innovations from Build 2015 during an exclusive evening at San Francisco's stylish Terra Gallery. You do NOT have to be a Build attendee.

Get the inside scoop from the .NET product teams, .NET Foundation, and GitHub on the innovations in .NET and the journey into open source. We'll also show you what's new and what we're building, including ASP.NET 5, C# 6, .NET compiler platform (Roslyn), and how we're taking .NET cross-platform in the open on GitHub.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29, 2015 | 6:00PM - 11:00PM
Terra Gallery
511 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94105 | 415.896.1234
*Must be 21 years of age, with identification, to attend

AGENDA

• 6:00PM - 6:45PM - Registration 
• 6:45PM - 7:00PM - Welcome & Announcements
  Featuring Matt Thompson (General Manager, US DX, Microsoft) 
• 7:00PM - 8:00PM - Keynote
  Featuring Scott Hanselman and Phil Haack (Github) 
• 8:15PM - 8:30PM - Closing Remarks & Event Drawing
• Featuring Martin Woodward (Executive Director, .NET Foundation) 
• 8:30PM - 11:00PM - After Hours @ Build Reception

Doors open at 6:00PM and the speakers will begin at 6:45PM. Enjoy lively presentations, delicious food and drinks, and lots of time to chat and sip with your peers. Space is limited, so register now!