Tech Ed New Zealand 2007 Track Information

This year the sessions have been organised into 11 Technical Tracks that allow you to focus on the information, products and solutions most relevant to you.

The 11 tracks are:

Architecture

You already know a lot about different products and technologies, but how do you make them work together? How can you create applications and infrastructures that solve today's challenges? If you've been asking these questions, the Architecture track is for you.

Here you'll discover broad architectural perspectives that span many products, technologies and solutions. This track covers Service-Oriented Architecture, Service-Oriented Infrastructure and Composite Applications plus Software as a Service, Web 2.0, Domain-Specific Languages and Service-Oriented Data Services.

Comprising a combination of patterns, case studies and practical guidance, the Architecture track helps you solve tomorrow's architectural problems today, giving you the power to really make your mark.

Key products and technologies covered

• Business Capabilities
• Office Business Applications
• Industry Architecture (Retail, Manufacturing, Financial Services)
• SOA (includes identity and access, user experience, data, business processes, messages and services, modeling and tools, and management)
• Patterns and Practices
• Software+Services
• Software as a Service
• Software Factories

Business Intelligence & Database

Broaden your knowledge on the development, support and implementation of Microsoft Business Intelligence solutions. Learn how to easily integrate, analyse and report on all your corporate data using Microsoft's BI platform alongside end-user tools and analytics applications.

Developers and IT professionals alike will discover how to build custom, robust Business Intelligence Solutions and learn how to easily manage them. This track provides the rare opportunity to take your skills to the next level by learning from the experts about their experience implementing Business Intelligence Solutions and their predictions for the future.

Also learn how to deliver breakthrough performance whilst maintaining the highest level of availability and security using SQL Server 2005. Make the most of its features that go beyond the traditional database and can significantly enhance both developer and database administrator productivity.

Scope, deliver and manage mission-critical data management systems which will equip you to deploy SQL Server's Analysis and Integration and Reporting Services. See real-world examples of SQL Server 2005 in the most demanding production environments. You'll even get an in-depth preview of innovations planned for 'Katmai', the SQL Server of the future.

Key products and technologies covered

• 2007 Office system
• ADO.NET 2.0
• Business Scorecard Manager 2005
• Excel for Business Intelligence
• LINQ
• Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007
• ProClarity 6.3
• SharePoint Portal Server 2007
• SQLCLR
• SQL Server 2005
• SQL Server 2005 Standard Edition
• SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition
• SQL Server 2005 Workgroup Edition
• SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition
• SQL Server Always On Technologies
• SQL Server code-named 'Katmai'

Unified Communications & Mobility

In today's world, there's ever-increasing demand to introduce a seamless communication experience by combining e-mail, instant messaging, voice and video into a single intuitive system. This allows you to replace conflicting systems with a simple unified communications platform that leverages existing data and telecommunications infrastructure.

The Unified Communications Track gives you in-depth training on architecture and design plus deployment, administration and high availability and disaster recovery. It also covers security and hygiene, compliance advances, script-ability and programmability.

You'll learn how to keep your communications secure with practical solutions to protect your messaging infrastructure from spam, viruses and hackers. Discover new telephony and video-conference capabilities plus advanced presence, Web Conferencing and Unified Messaging integration of Office Communications Server 2007. Best of all, you'll get practical advice on architecture considerations to prepare you for successful deployments and migrations in your workplace.

With New Zealand’s workforce becoming more and more mobile, it makes sense to ensure your organisaton caters to these changing needs. Find out how Windows Mobile® 6 solutions can deliver increased productivity and collaboration between staff. Get in-depth training on Microsoft's mobility platform, featuring deployment and administration of Windows Mobile powered devices along with security and device management.

Plus, you'll learn about integration with other technologies like Exchange Server 2007, SQL Server Compact Edition, .NET Compact Framework and Visual Studio. Discover how Windows Mobile and other Microsoft products work together to provide robust mobile messaging solutions.

This track also features the Windows Embedded Operating System and .NET Micro Framework that can deliver enhanced flexibility and enable fast time-to-market. Get the guidance and insights you need to choose the right Windows Mobile or Windows Embedded devices for your organisation.

Key products and technologies covered

• .NET Micro Framework
• .NET Compact Framework 2.0
• Forefront Security for Exchange Server
• Exchange Hosted Services
• Exchange Server 2003/2007
• Exchange Server 2007 Unified Messaging
• Live Communications Server 2005/Office Communications Server 2007
• Live Services Integration
• Office Communicator 2007
• Office Communicator Mobile 2007
• Office Communicator Web Access 2007
• Office Live Meeting 2007
• Office Outlook 2007
• Outlook Web Access
• SQL Server 2005 Compact Edition
• Visual Studio 2005
• Windows Embedded CE 6.0
• Windows Mobile 6
• Windows XP Embedded

Connected Systems

Building modern applications can be a challenge. To reduce risks and ensure faster release to market, it's important to use tools that maintain the parameters of existing systems along with visual model-driven development for composition of services. Providing a standard way to exchange digital identities across federated systems is also vital for providing a safe and user-friendly experience.

If your job is to design, develop or deploy these applications, the Connected Systems track is for you. Find out how you can apply real-world best practices and get a holistic up-to-date view of the entire spectrum of Microsoft's application messaging, integration and workflow technologies. Learn how to build and manage the entire lifecycle of your composite applications and you'll have the power to really make your mark.

Key products and technologies covered

• Host Integration Server
• Microsoft BizTalk Adapters
• Microsoft BizTalk Server 2006
• Windows CardSpace
• Windows Communication Foundation
• Windows Workflow Foundation

Developer Tools & Technology

Packed with advanced technical training covering Visual Studio® 2005, Windows Vista™ development and the .NET Framework, the Developer Tools and Technologies track is the ultimate learning experience for anyone involved in developing.

Get in-depth information on building mission-critical software with Visual C++®, Visual Basic® and Visual C#®. Amplify your application development impact with Software Development Lifecycle best practices using Visual Studio Team System. Learn how to create a rich user experience with the .NET Framework 3.0 and Windows Presentation Foundation. This track also gives you the skills to prepare you for future versions of Visual Studio and the groundbreaking Windows Vista platform.

Also find out how Microsoft Dynamics can drive productivity to new levels with applications designed with real people in mind. Discover how the latest technologies automate and streamline financial, customer relationship and supply chain management with great success. Working in the same way – and alongside Microsoft software, Microsoft Dynamics helps encourage early adoption and reduces risks that can arise when implementing a new solution.

Microsoft Dynamics can empower you to make more profitable decisions by bringing together information from every corner of your business. Discover how you can share accurate information right across your company, and in turn speed up operations and reduce errors simply by entering data in one place. But the collaboration doesn't stop there. Processes can be securely extended to your entire business community, to help you maximise efficiency even more.

This technical track also covers the latest releases of Microsoft Dynamics Financial Management, Supply Chain and CRM. Plus, you'll learn how they integrate with applications like Microsoft Office, Microsoft Servers and the Microsoft .NET Framework. This is sure to be one dynamic learning experience!

Key products and technologies covered

• .NET Framework
• CLR
• CRM and ERP
• Debugging
• LINQ
• Microsoft Dynamics GP
• Microsoft Dynamics NAV
• Microsoft Dynamics AX
• Microsoft Dynamics CRM
• Microsoft Office Development
• Visual Basic
• Visual C#
• Visual C++
• Visual Studio
• Visual Studio 'Orcas'
• Visual Studio Team System
• Windows Forms
• Windows Presentation Foundation
• Windows Vista

Office System

Throw yourself into the most exciting release of Microsoft Office ever! This track is packed with deep technical content covering the Office server and client applications, including Microsoft Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 and Office SharePoint Server 2007.

You'll also learn about security, deployment, customisation and administration including exciting new features and functionality available in Office 2007. You'll even discover new technologies to create 'Office Business Applications' on top of the 2007 Office system platform. These include Visual Studio Tools for Office 2005 Second Edition (VSTO 2005 SE), Visual Studio 2005 Extensions for SharePoint, plus a sneak preview of VSTO 'v3'.

What's more, you'll go home with a clear understanding of the tools and techniques for building everything from managed client add-ins to extending and customising the 2007 Office Ribbon, to building complex business system integration applications. The Office system track gives you the best insight to the 2007 Office system leaving you fully prepared to hit the ground running and make your mark.

Key products and technologies covered

• Microsoft Office client suites and applications
• Microsoft Office Project Server 2007
• Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007
• Open XML File Formats
• Visual Studio Tools for Office STO SE
• Visual Studio 2005 Extensions for SharePoint
• Visual Studio 'Orcas'
• Workflow

Security

These days, security threats are increasingly sophisticated while networks have become more complex. Here you'll learn how to safeguard your enterprise with tips from the experts on how to architect and manage a more secure integrated infrastructure.

Discover security features in the Windows platform and learn about Microsoft security products that can help you protect your network. Get in-depth information and advice that you can implement in your workplace from some of the best Microsoft and third-party security specialists in the country. You'll be challenged to go beyond simple lockdown measures and learn how to be more proactive in safeguarding your organisation from attacks.

Also, by delving into products that make up the Identity and Access platform, you'll learn from the experts how to solve key infrastructure challenges. In-depth sessions on practical solutions will show you how to deploy, configure, secure and operate more efficiently within your infrastructure. We'll also cover solutions such as Identity Lifecycle Management, Information Protection, Federated Identity, Strong Authentication and Directory Services.

Key products and technologies covered

• Active Directory Domain Services
• Active Directory Federated Services
• Certificate Lifecycle Manager (LCM)
• Forefront Client Security
• Exchange Server 2003
• Forefront Server for Exchange and SharePoint
• Information on the latest security resources and technologies
• Microsoft management technologies
• MIIS
• Rights Management Services
• SQL Server 2005
• Windows CardSpace
• Windows Server 2003
• Windows Server codename 'Longhorn'
• Windows Vista

Server Infrastructure

If you're an IT operator or administrator, there's a good chance you're faced with the responsibility of increasing the security, availability and manageability of your environment. Now you have the perfect opportunity to learn how to do just that.

Discover how to address and solve these critical IT infrastructure challenges by delving into Windows Server code-named 'Longhorn', the next major release of the Window Server operating system. You'll also get in-depth training on Virtualisation Solutions and identity management plus storage solutions and high-performance computing.

Learn how the Windows Server System can radically simplify your IT infrastructure to help you develop, deploy and operate your IT environment with confidence.

Key products and technologies covered

• Active Directory Certificate Services
• Active Directory Services and Active Directory Federation Services
• Branch Office Solutions
• Microsoft Virtual Server R2 SP1
• Networking
• Server Clustering
• Terminal Services
• Windows PowerShell
• Windows Server code-named 'Longhorn'
• Windows Server Update Services
• Windows Server Virtualisation
• Windows Storage Server

Voice of the Customer

We are excited about the introduction of the Voice of the Customer track this year. Attendee feedback from past events has indicated that many attendees want ‘real life’ examples of technologies being applied – so here they are!

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.

The presentations in this track will be from both public and private sector customers as well as a range of vertical market customers, all highlighting a variety of business problems that they have addressed and solved.

We also have examples of customers who have approached 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.

Key products and technologies covered

These tracks are business issue and business driver specific not ‘technology’ specific - so they tend to cover the widest range of technologies. We fully expect them to provide insights into how different technologies work together to meet business objectives.

Web Development & Infrastructure

If you're looking to develop and deploy mission-critical Web applications with the latest generation of Web technologies, you're in the right place.

Here you'll learn everything you need to know about ASP.NET, ASP.NET AJAX, Internet Information Server (IIS), Internet Explorer® 7 and more. Discover how to leverage design tools as you learn how Silverlight will transform the way companies interact with their customers. Learn from the experts how to use Microsoft's Web platform to create the next generation Web experience.

Whether you're a Web designer, developer, administrator or all of the above, you won't want to miss the opportunity to learn about Microsoft's powerful new releases.

Key products and technologies covered

• IIS 6.0/7.0
• ASP.NET 2.0
• ASP.NET AJAX Control Toolkit
• ASP.NET 2.0 AJAX Extensions
• ASP.NET AJAX Library
• Commerce Server 2007
• Expression
• IE7
• RSS
• Windows Live™ Platform

Windows Client & Management

As IT infrastructures become more complex, more sophisticated solutions are needed to keep costs down while ensuring minimal disruption. Managing change during the planning, deployment and maintenance of new IT services is critical within IT departments, which are often measured on uptime and responsiveness.

In this track you'll learn how to increase your operational efficiency straight away using existing products like Microsoft Operations Manager and Systems Management Server, plus new releases like Operations Manager 2007, Configuration Manager 2007 and System Centre Essentials 2007. Windows management technologies such as Windows Update Services, WMI and WS-Management will also be covered including how they're evolving with the latest Windows platform releases.

Key products and technologies covered

• Group Policy
• Microsoft Operations Framework
• Microsoft Operations Manager 2007
• Microsoft Systems Center
• Microsoft Update Services
• Microsoft Virtual Server
• Scripting
• System Center Capacity Planner
• Systems Center Configuration Manager (SMS V4)
• System Center Data Protection Manager (V2)
• System Center Essentials
• System Center Operations Manager (MOM V3)
• System Center 'Service Desk'
• System Center Virtual Machine Manager
• System Center Reporting Manager
• Windows Event & Task Subsystem
• Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)
• Windows Server® Update Services
• WS-Management/WinRM