Technical Tracks

Sessions in the Architecture track are designed to help architects, as well as developers and IT pros who practice architecture in their respective roles, to make better architecture choices-whether it's researching and evaluating new technology and platforms, choosing or creating patterns, guidelines and practices, or influencing and educating the business team. Learn about potential processes which you can use to translate business vision, intent, and strategy into effective technological change in the Enterprise.

Build your toolkit as an architect by learning how to bring predictability and repeatable success to projects by employing frameworks, methodologies, patterns, and best practices; and how to take a vendor-neutral approach when creating architectures.

Hear industry leaders share their best practices around the skills of creating, communicating, and improving the key tenets, principles, and models that describe the Enterprise's future state and enable its transformation, evolution, or migration.

Watch Rocky Heckman, Architecture Evangelist talk about this track.

Software-plus-services is the next logical step in the evolution of computing. It represents an industry shift toward software design that is neither exclusively PC- nor browser-centric and blends traditional client-server architecture with cloud-based software delivery.

The Cloud Computing and Online Services track provides information about Microsoft technology and innovation in software-plus-services. Learn about enterprise-ready software services from Microsoft Online Services, such as Microsoft Exchange Online, Microsoft SharePoint Online, Microsoft Office Communications Online, and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online.

This track also provides information about the Azure Services Platform, where developers can take advantage of an Internet-scale cloud services platform hosted in Microsoft data centres to build new applications in the cloud or extend existing applications.

Watch Johann Kruse, Solutions Specialist talk about this track.

Gain insights into industry's most complete and integrated data platform spanning the datacenter to the cloud. Innovations in SQL Server 2008 R2 have converged with Microsoft Office 2010, and SharePoint 2010 to enable powerful new self-service business intelligence capabilities, improve organisational effectiveness and increase IT efficiency.

One of the most popular features of the recent release is PowerPivot, an application that puts Business Intelligence in the hands of more business users while maintaining the insight and oversight of IT.

Donald Farmer, who was a leader in its development and principal program manager of the SQL Serve BI management team, will be keynoting this track. Deep dive discussions in this track will give you the knowledge to maximise your SQL server investments in a mission critical environment and take advantage of the product innovations in the new R2 release.

Your knowledge of development languages and proficiency with the tools you use to create software are the core of your skill set. The Developer Tools, Language & Frameworks track is packed with deep technical training focused on Visual Studio and the Microsoft.NET Framework.

Get in-depth information on building mission-critical software using native and managed languages. Amplify your application development impact with Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) best practices using Visual Studio, Visual Studio Test Elements, and Team Foundation Server.

Acquire the skills that you need to make an immediate impact in your organisation while preparing for adoption of the latest version of Visual Studio.

Watch Ibrahim Hamza, Developer Tools Product Manager talk about this track.

Microsoft Dynamics CRM provides a comprehensive framework for developing and deploying applications that cover customer facing business processes across a broad range of industries. Its strength is the focus on Office-based productivity, an industry-leading .NET architecture, and the use of a single code base to deliver solutions in the cloud (CRM Online and partner-hosted) and on-premise.

Come and learn about the tools and information needed to create a 360-degree view of customers, using a highly flexible relationship management solution that can adapt, grow, and scale with changing business needs.

How people work is evolving all the time and, as an IT professional, you want to be an enabler of this. In this track you will learn how to use the power of the Microsoft Unified Communications platform to transform interactions with colleagues, customers and partners to a collaborative, engaging and effective experience, whether it's at work, home or on the road.

Explore the value of streamlining your organisation's communication and collaboration system—whether on-premise, online hosted or a hybrid combination thereof, while staying in control of end-user permissions and policies and cutting infrastructure costs.

Learn the latest developments in these collaboration technologies and strengthen your knowledge of the platform and technologies, including Microsoft Exchange Server 2010, Microsoft Lync Server 2010, Microsoft Exchange Online, and Microsoft Lync Online.

This year, the Middleware and Integration track is a 'Virtual Track' meaning that you'll find the topic scattered across a number of other tracks such as Architecture, Developer Tools and Cloud Computing. And that makes sense because Middleware and Integration covers the capabilities you need to build and manage service-oriented, distributed applications – as well as how to connect systems and create the processes that link applications together—both on-premises and in/through the Cloud.

Sessions tagged as 'Middleware and Integration' focus on products such as Microsoft BizTalk Server, Windows Server AppFabric, Windows Azure AppFabric, Windows Workflow Foundation (WF), and Windows Communication Foundation (WCF). Expect a balance between technology details (the "what") and practical guidance (the "how"). A number of sessions focus on the capabilities that are being delivered as part of Microsoft's new middleware platform, AppFabric.

These services are released or in CTP on Windows Azure right now and will form the foundation of how Microsoft delivers the same capabilities in the Azure appliance and on-premises on Windows Server.

Office 365 is the next generation in Microsoft's Online productivity suite, bringing together cloud versions of our most trusted email, communication and collaboration software, SharePoint Online, Exchange Online and Lync Online with our familiar Office Professional Plus desktop suite in an always-up-to-date cloud service.

The Office 365 track will address key topics such as migration both from on premises environments and existing Business Productivity Online Suite (BPOS) Deployments to Office 365, security and compliance, identity and access solutions, and how to make the most of your SharePoint Online tenant.

Deepen your technical skills for designing, deploying, and managing solutions based on the Microsoft Office and SharePoint technologies. The Office and SharePoint track covers topics including: governance, deployment, management, and end user adoption for IT professionals; and customisation, integration and testing for developers.

Technologies covered include: Microsoft Office client, Office Web Apps, Office 365, Microsoft SharePoint Server, SharePoint Online, Microsoft Project Server, and Microsoft Visio.

In order to drive growth, businesses are looking to increase collaboration and access to information, while protecting assets and infrastructure. Security continues to be a major concern for IT professionals who are always looking for ways to better secure their organisations and reduce costs without compromising on business productivity.

Microsoft brings unique capabilities together to deliver business ready security through protection, access and management solutions all built around user identity and integrated with a highly secure, interoperable platform. This broad identity-centric approach to security helps companies achieve their business goals while managing risk and empowering people.

The Security, Identity and Access track provides guidance and technical detail on Microsoft Forefront products, identity-based access technologies, Windows security technologies, and more!

Watch Frederique Dennison, Core Infrastructure Product Manager talk about this track.

The Virtualisation track covers all aspects of virtualisation to address the current demands on IT professionals looking to virtualise their environment. Understand the overall Microsoft Virtualisation strategy and where the future of virtualisation is heading.

Learn about Microsoft products in this space, including Windows Server Hyper-V, Application Virtualisation (App-V), Enterprise Desktop Virtualisation (MED-V), Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager, and Terminal Services (Remote Desktop Services).

Beyond just understanding the current product capabilities, you also learn about future directions and plans, and what we think the market and the other platforms will do over the next few years.

In this track you will hear genuine examples from customers, often with the help of partners, realising the potential of their technology investments solving real issues to meet their business objectives.

Track content will not be 'technology' specific - so they tend to cover business issues in the widest range of technologies. Customers will be providing insights into how different technologies work together to meet their business objectives.

Presentations will be from both public and private sector customers as well as a range of vertical market customers, and highlight a variety of business problems.

We also have examples of customers who have tackled similar issues using very different approaches - here's your chance to compare those different approaches and consider how they would work in your organisation or how they would work for your customers if you are a Microsoft partner.

The Web Platforms track brings you all the latest information on cutting-edge Web technologies and provides you with the latest in developing great user experiences, from the Windows desktop to mobile devices to cross-browser and cross-platform on the Web.

Get the latest information on Windows Presentation Foundation, XAML, Microsoft Expression Studio, and Microsoft Silverlight as well as all the in-depth coverage of Internet Information Services (IIS), Microsoft ASP.NET, ASP.NET AJAX, Windows Internet Explorer Windows Live Platform, and Commerce Server.

Whether you are interested in taking your ASP.NET development to the next level, or finding out how you can use your .NET development skills to build rich experiences, the Web Platforms track is for you.

Watch Michael Kordahi, Developer Evangelist & Delicate Genius talk about this track.

The Windows Client track will offer attendees in-depth knowledge about the adoption, deployment, virtualisation and development for the Optimised Desktop and Windows7 Platform. Key focus areas include a technical dive into Windows 7, Microsoft Desktop Optimisation Pack (MDOP) including Client Side Virtualisation technologies, and Internet Explorer9.

Proposed content will improve organisational readiness to assess, implement, support, and drive deployment of Windows and the Optimised Desktop technologies.

The track will also focus on migration and upgrade scenarios from Windows XP and Windows Vista to Windows 7, providing best practices and tools for application compatibility and guidance for the right deployment tools.

Organisations define the value of smart phones almost exclusively by their ability to enhance workplace productivity. People value technology that helps them be productive, connected, entertained and informed, all on a single smart phone. Windows Phone 7 addresses the shift in expectations of smart phone users; it is the next generation in phones, with a smart design that brings it all together for people.

The Windows Phone track gives you the knowledge to develop applications for Windows Phones 7, as well as integrate Windows Phones with a Microsoft server infrastructure, such as Microsoft Exchange Server and Microsoft SharePoint Server.

These sessions cover development, deployment, collaboration, communications, and the use of cloud-based services with Windows Phones. They offer in-depth technical coverage of Windows Phone 7 architecture; technologies, and usage scenarios plus, help you understand Microsoft Marketplace and Windows Live Services for Windows Phones.

Sessions dive deep into the code for an under-the-hood look at cool mobile technologies, such as location, mapping, sensors and cloud services. Get ready for the future in the Windows Phone track.

The Windows Server family of products provides you with the best solution to build your IT infrastructure. The Windows Server track shows you the solutions and set of technologies that can be used to deliver success and new efficiency for every company.

In each session we will focus on a core Windows Server scenario, covering all technical levels and company sizes, making it easy for you to follow the sessions and activities which are important for you and your organisation.

Sessions will include topics such as Networking, Direct Access, Web, Virtualisation, High Availability, Server Management, Branch Cache, File Services, and Security.

Watch Rosemary Stark, Windows Server Track Owner talk about this track.