Administrator's Companion | | Experienced IT implementers primarily in medium and large organizations. | Comprehensive coverage of product capabilities and administration. | Essential, single-volume reference for IT administrators, with mission-critical insights, practical procedures, workarounds, and troubleshooting tactics. | Administrator's Companion books |
Best Practices | | Software engineers, development managers, and others. | Proven software engineering practices from leading industry practitioners. | Emphasis on methodology rather than specific development tools. Pragmatic approaches to real-world challenges. | Best Practices books |
Best Practices for IT Professionals | | Experienced IT professionals, including administrators, engineers, architects, and support professionals. | Pragmatic solutions and real-world advice from expert practitioners. | Full IT lifecycle coverage, from planning, design, and deployment, through operations. Features “Notes from the Field” from industry experts and Microsoft product teams. | Best Practices for IT Professionals books |
Business Skills | | Experienced users who want to sharpen their professional skills (e.g., giving presentations, project management, and collaboration). | Training that increases effectiveness and impact on the job and focuses on soft skills, where technology is a means, not the end. | Emphasis on practical, real-world methodology and business scenarios, not software features. | Business Skills books |
Developer Reference | | Intermediate- to advanced-level developers responsible for writing, debugging, testing, deploying, and maintaining code. | Core topics and essential techniques for professional developers. | Essential “working developer” reference. Broad coverage. Peer-to-peer approach. Practical coding insights. | Developer Reference books |
Developer Step by Step | | Experienced programmers new to a particular technology, version, or topic. Not for beginners. | Hands-on, step-by-step guide to fundamental tools and techniques. | Learning methodology is sequential; lessons and chapters build on each other. Hands-on exercises with ready-made practice files. Companion e-book. | Developer Step by Step books |
Exam Ref | | IT professionals and developers preparing for Microsoft Certification exams. | Official Microsoft exam reference focusing on the critical skills and knowledge measured by a certification exam. | Organized by exam objectives. Features full objective overviews, exam tips, notes, and a thought experiment on strategic, “what if” scenarios. Exam discount voucher. | Exam Ref books |
Inside Out | | Intermediate to advanced users who want to dig deep and take their expertise to the next level. | Beyond the basics information that dives right into higher level topics and tasks—in depth. | Ultimate in-depth reference, supremely organized, and packed with timesaving solutions, troubleshooting tips, and expert advice. Companion e-book. | Inside Out books |
Plain & Simple | | Ideal for beginners and others seeking an easy, visual approach to everyday tasks. | Broad coverage of core topics and everyday tasks. | Full color, with easy-to-follow steps and screenshots that show users what to do. | Plain & Simple books |
Pocket Consultant | | General to intermediate level skills and experience. | Concise how-to and problem-solving information, with a focus on tasks, not concepts. | Portable, “pocket-size,” and organized for quick reference. Features easy-scan tables, lists, and instructions to help you get the job done. | Pocket Consultant books |
Rapid Review | | IT professionals and developers seeking a professional certification. | Streamlined review of the skills and knowledge tested by the exams. | Practical, streamlined guide that quickly identifies where to focus and practice. Features "need-to-know" checklists, review questions, tips, and links to other resources. | Rapid Review books |
Start Here! | | Beginning programmers and students. | Hands-on, introductory level guide to programming tools/technologies. | Introduces foundational, must-know concepts and techniques in a tutorial style. Features code samples. | Start Here! books |
Step by Step | | Beginning and intermediate users who like to learn through lessons and exercises. | Practical, fundamental skills for core software features. | Tutorial. Builds skills hands-on by following easy numbered steps and using ready-made practice files. Companion e-book. | Step by Step books |
Training Guide | | IT professionals and developers. | Comprehensive hands-on training to develop real-world, job-specific skills. | Builds hands-on expertise through a series of lessons, exercises, and suggested practices—and helps maximize performance on the job. Can be used to supplement cert-exam prep. | Training Guide books |
Training Kit | | Experienced technology professionals preparing for a Microsoft Certification exam. | Guide that focuses on the skills and knowledge measured by the certification exams—and on the job. | Two-in-one exam prep: Official Microsoft Study Guide + Practice Tests. Full coverage of exam objectives. Case scenarios, best practices, exercises, exam discount voucher, and e-book. | Training Kit books |
