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Dear Subscriber,
Let us know what interests you and we'll customize your TechNet Newsletter with additional technical details on topics such as desktop operating systems, server technologies, or security. And please let us know what you think of of theTechNet Newsletter.
From the Editor
Since we launched the beta programmes for Exchange, Office and Vista we have a lot of new readers so I wanted to highlight that I do write this introduction myself and it does come from a real person. I welcome all feedback, preferably positive or constructive, but all feedback is useful. As one of our event attendees pointed out when we met face to face, "You look a lot younger in your photograph!".
We've seen the momentum starting to grow in some of our user groups so if you're interested in SharePoint or Messaging I highly recommend getting involved and talking to other people who are using these technologies right now. I will be talking about our user group launch event for Exchange, Office and Vista soon but you might want to put Wednesday 24 January in your diaries already.
We try to provide content and forums around the topics that interest you, so if there's an area you'd like to see get more attention, please let us know.
Thanks for reading, and I hope to meet some of you at our technical events. Just one last point: you asked us for more events outside of London and Reading, however these events don't get as many participants as the "southern" ones. Is it the content, location or timings? Please let me know so we can organize events the right way for you.
Phil Cross
TechNet Newsletter Editor philcr@microsoft.com
+44 (0) 118 909 3306
Beta Updates
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Register now if you want to be the first to hear about the public beta for Microsoft Forefront Client Security, which provides virus and spyware protection for desktops, laptops, and server operating systems. Through simplified administration and integration with existing infrastructure, Forefront Client Security helps you protect your business. Find out more about the product and watch the demo to see it in action.
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Helpful Resources for Using the 2007 Office System Beta:
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We are developing a centralised and agent-less tool - Windows Vista Readiness Assessment - to help business customers and partners better assess their PCs' readiness for Windows Vista upgrades. Come and join our Windows Vista Readiness Assessment Beta Programme today.
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Top Stories and Featured Content
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The new architecture of the 2007 Microsoft Office system makes the update process much simpler. In the 2007 release you create a network installation point that you never have to update, so client computers never become out of sync with the installation source.
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You can deploy the 2007 Microsoft Office system and other software products at the same time to all users by capturing and distributing an image of the hard disk to users' computers.
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Find out more about how Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2006 makes the Exchange Server and SharePoint Server experience for remote users by using link translation. ISA Server 2006 includes a built-in web filter named Link Translation Filter, which uses mappings to translate internal names in links on web pages to publicly resolvable names.
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Are you thinking about infrastructure migration but simply do not have time to create a network inventory? Do you need to assess your network and create a network diagram in no time at all? Check out the Microsoft Assessment and Deployment Solution, a no-cost resource, and be surprised.
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In this Flash demo, we cover important features that help you optimize your desktop infrastructure, achieve greater security and compliance, easily enable your mobile workforce, and effectively find and share information across the organization. So, if you are still wondering what all the buzz is about, take 10 minutes to learn a bit more about Windows Vista, the next-generation Microsoft operating system.
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Solution Accelerators
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We've put together a package of resources tailored to the needs of IT professionals in midsize businesses. It includes a focused collection of the best IT solutions and tools for organizations with 25-500 PCs.
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Featured Article
RSS - Just how popular is it?
I tend to forget about how much I use technology. Sometimes I'm surprised that everyone else isn't using the latest and greatest features / widgets / applications / tools too. Whenever I present at TechNet sessions, I usually ask people how they heard about the session. In most cases, more than 90% have had the TechNet newsletter forwarded to them by a friend. Only a small number look at our web site (where the events are advertised) and usually only one or two people got the information from a blog like mine. It seems from my very unscientific poll that people prefer to have information "pushed" to them. So I started to think about RSS feeds.
Whenever I ask about RSS I get polarised responses. Fifty per cent of people have never heard of it (even people who work for Microsoft). Some have pressed the orange XML button on a web page, received a screen of gibberish (XML), panicked and backed off, never to return. RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication and, put simply, allows you to have a web page delivered to your local RSS reader. With the availability of IE7, things have become so much easier. In IE7 all you have to do is push the orange icon on the right of the toolbar, elect to syndicate the site and your content is pushed down to your browser whenever an update occurs. Really Simply.
So that got me thinking: if 90% of attendees at TechNet events hear about the event via information sent to them, we could put an RSS button on the TechNet events page and you could elect to receive alerts whenever we post a new event to the site. The information would still be pushed to you, you'd be automatically notified of any new events, your friends could stop forwarding you mail and you'd always be up-to-date. Let me know what you think of the idea, and if there's enough interest I will hassle Phil and get the RSS button onto the TechNet page.
Eileen Brown eileenb@microsoft.com
Events
Licensing
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Licensing can be confusing - but it needn't be. Attend this course to understand Microsoft Licensing and how to best apply it in your company. This session is aimed at IT professionals who want a better understanding of Microsoft's software licensing. It assumes no previous in-depth or technical licensing experience.
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Management
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Find out more about the future of Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM). Most of the session will cover the qualities of the next major release, MOM version 3. The session is ideal either for current MOM customers and anyone considering a MOM deployment.
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Office 2007
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Have you heard of Groove? It's a new tool in the Microsoft Office 2007 suite that enables teams to work together dynamically and effectively using collaborative workspaces. That's Groove! Come along and find out how it can work for you.
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Security
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If you're responsible for security in your organisation and find the current systems difficult to deploy and manage, this is a great opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the Microsoft Forefront Security portfolio. At this event we'll examine the finer technical details of the portfolio of business security products ISA, Antigen and Client Security, discuss interoperability and discuss how Microsoft itself deals with security.
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If you are responsible for security for your business and find the current systems difficult to deploy and manage this is a great opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the Microsoft Forefront Security portfolio. At the event we will drill down into the finer technical details of the portfolio of business security products ISA, Antigen, & Client Security, discuss interoperability and talk through how Microsoft as an organisation deals with security.
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SharePoint
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At this TechNet regional event we'll take you through the key steps in planning and deploying SharePoint Server 2007. We'll look at the architecture and the concepts of topology and network conditions as well as the three-tier administration model. As always, there will be demonstrations to bring the subject to life.
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Find out what SharePoint Server 2007 has to offer. At this session we will present the concepts of topology, server roles and network conditions. We'll also provide an overview of administration features, introduce the three tier administration model and explain various security topics.
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SQL Server
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This TechNet Event will take you to the next level of SQL reporting. See advanced techniques for building reports with Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services and the Microsoft Visual Studio-based Report Designer.
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SQL Server 2005 has a wealth of reporting services that can provide true business intelligence. This session will show you just how capable this technology is and how easy it is to set up, manage and deliver reports that will give the insights your company is looking for. This is a re-run of the event held in Reading on 6 September, so if you missed that or want to see those demos, please do attend this event.
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Learn about the advanced techniques for building reports with Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Reporting Services and the Microsoft Visual Studio-based Report Designer. Other topics at this event include using the built-in expression language, report parameterisation and supporting multiple data sources. Receive a walk-through of sample reports and discover tips and tricks for using the Report Definition Language (RDL).
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Virtualisation
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This interactive session will focus on how you can use Microsoft's virtualisation products to solve real-life problems. We'll explore the capabilities and scenarios surrounding these products and demonstrate how they can work for you. Virtual machine technology enables multiple operating systems to run concurrently on a single host, and the new features in the latest release give you more opportunities than ever.
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Windows Vista
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Windows Vista will ship with several new system integrity technologies including code integrity, secure start-up, service hardening, mandatory integrity control and Internet Explorer protected mode. In this session, Steve Lamb explores how these technologies work to thwart malware's attempts to take over your computer.
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Find out how to deploy Windows Vista at this TechNet event. We will look at the new installation processes and tools provided by Windows Vista. We will also show how to capture an image and how to modify and deploy it on client computers. Come along and find out just how easy it is to deploy Vista.
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This security-focused TechNet event will have two distinct parts, the first covering security in Vista and the second covering data encryption. It will be demo-led and give you the opportunity to learn how to prevent against attacks while still giving your organisation the agility it demands.
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Historically, operating systems have lived in their own little bubbles of trust. Every part of an operating system assumed that every other part was exactly what it claimed to be and performed only what it claimed it could do. Recent attacks, though, have shown that such implicit trust is no longer suitable for computers that connect to hostile environments. In this session, Steve Lamb introduces the security features in Windows Vista and shows how they help to prevent these environments taking over your computer.
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Security
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Read this report for an in-depth view of the malware landscape based on the data collected by the Malicious Software Removal Tool (MSRT), and the effect that the MSRT has had in reducing the effect of malware on Windows users.
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Find out how Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2006 Standard Edition and Enterprise Edition help provide access protection with intrusion detection, flood mitigation, spoof detection and more.
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Building on the focus of Data Protection Manager 2006 disk-to-disk protection of file servers, Service Pack 1 broadens its protection capabilities with support for protecting file server clusters and support for single-instance storage-enabled servers, and support for 64-bit Windows Servers. Download Service Pack 1.
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Ensuring end-user security can be an administrator's biggest challenge. Use these resources to find malware protection solutions. Unify your network resources to help guard against emerging threats like spyware and rootkits, as well as against traditional threats such as viruses, worms and Trojan horses. Plus, find out how Microsoft Forefront Client Security can help centralise management and provide critical visibility into threats and vulnerabilities.
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Organizations must have some method to enable secure, fast, and reliable connections from the branch office to the main office. Use these resources on Learning Paths for Security to learn about how you can help increase your efficiency, reliability and security when connecting to remote-site branch offices.
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See how the Microsoft Forefront line of business-security products provides protection for the client operating system, server applications and network edge.
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Support and Troubleshooting
How-to Articles
Hotfixes
Knowledge Base Articles
See a selection of new Knowledge Base articles on the TechNet web site. Knowledge Base articles feature an Article Translations box in the right-hand column. Select a language from the drop-down list and read the article in the selected language.
Also available via RSS.
Featured Downloads
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Final-release trial versions of both Microsoft Internet Security and Acceleration (ISA) Server 2006 Standard Edition and Enterprise Edition are now available in 11 languages. Try out this integrated security gateway and see how you can protect your IT environment from Internet-based threats while providing your users with fast and secure remote access to applications and data.
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What's New in TechNet Plus Subscription
ISA Server 2006 Enterprise Edition Now Available
ISA Server 2006 is an integrated edge security gateway that helps protect your IT environment from Internet-based threats while providing your users fast and secure remote access to applications and data. It provides integrated security, efficient management, and fast, secure access for all types of networks. ISA Server 2006 Enterprise Edition is now available for evaluation without time limits through TechNet Plus Subscription. Sign in to get your product keys, and download ISA Server 2006 and other software. TechNet Plus Library Highlights for November:
"Secure Application Publishing"
"Enterprise Management in ISA Server 2006"
"Remote Management Concepts in ISA Server 2006"
"ISA Server Network Protection: Protecting Against Floods and Attacks"
"Best Practices Firewall Policy for ISA Server 2006"
Upcoming Webcasts
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Download this 2 November 2006 webcast from 7:00 p.m GMT.
Join this session to see relevant demonstrations illustrating the powerful capabilities of the Microsoft Office system that can help you manage your IT environment and address your business needs.
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Download this 3 November, 2006 webcast from 5:30 p.m. GMT.
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Download this 7 November, 2006 webcast from 5:30 p.m. GMT.
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Download this 8 November, 2006 webcast from at 4:00 p.m. GMT.
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Join this webcast 10November , 2006 at 5:30 p.m. GMT.
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Join this webcast November 13, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. GMT.
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Join this webcast November 14, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. GMT.
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Join this webcast November 15, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. GMT.
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On Demand
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Chris Avis talks with Manu Namboodiri about how Windows Imaging Format (WIM) & Modularisation technologies will significantly reduce the number of images you'll need to maintain, using ImageX in the WinPE environment and other types of deployment tools. Also in this episode we air a new segment: ‘Did you know?'. Angus Drummond tells us how Microsoft IT manages SAN storage remotely with one person per 750 terabytes.
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Listen to Microsoft webcasts and media content whenever and wherever you want. You can stream or download these audio podcasts in your favorite podcast software or mobile device, and quickly and easily access content with RSS feeds. Microsoft podcasts are free and do not require registration -just click and listen.
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In this webcast, you will find out how to implement a centralised and secure data management solution that reduces the costs associated not only with owning and preserving the data, but also with recovering the data from a simple document deletion, all the way up to a major site failure.
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Virtual Labs
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Try out all the cool new features of ISA Server 2006 such as single sign on, automatic link translation, HTTP compression, flood resiliency and more. This series of labs will walk you through how ISA Server 2006 can secure your server computers running Exchange Server and SharePoint Server act as your branch office gateway, and secure access to the Internet from within your company.
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The Microsoft Forefront comprehensive line of security products for business provides greater protection and control through integration with your existing IT infrastructure and through simplified deployment, management and analysis.
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Find out how multiple layers of security can help protect your information and control access. Try this self-paced virtual lab that can help you determine the ideal solution for your environment.
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In this 30-minute Virtual Lab Express, you'll familiarize yourself with the Exchange Management Console and Microsoft Office Outlook Web Access, and work with compliance and records management rules.
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In these labs, you'll experiment with the new user interface improvements in Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, including enhanced views and menus that simplify navigation within and among SharePoint sites. Integration with familiar productivity tools, including programs in the 2007 Microsoft Office system, makes it easy for you to get up to speed quickly.
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Received a TechNet Newsletter from a Friend?
The TechNet Newsletter is full of pointers to in-depth technical information that we encourage people to forward to friends and co-workers. If you've received this issue from someone via e-mail and would like to receive the free TechNet Newsletter biweekly, all you have to do is register.
Scripting for IT Pros
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6-10 November, 2006
Tune in for a week of daily webcasts where the Scripting Guys walk you through the basics of Windows PowerShell, showing you everything from downloading and installing the application to using Cmdlets to writing scripts. It's Windows PowerShell as only the Scripting Guys can present it.
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Hey, Scripting Guy!
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Volume 9, Issue 30  November 8, 2006 |
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Tell Us Your IT Interests and Get News to Match
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How Microsoft Does IT
64-Bit Microsoft Exchange Server 2007
Almost two years prior to the Microsoft Exchange Server product group's decision to support Microsoft Exchange Server 2007 only on the 64-bit platform, the Microsoft Information Technology (Microsoft IT) group began to migrate from 32-bit to 64-bit server hardware.
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Events
2006 PASS Community Summit Microsoft SQL Server Users Conference & Expo
November 14-17, 2006, Seattle, Washington
Join PASS for 100-plus technical sessions presented by more than 80 user-experts, MVPs and members of the Microsoft development team. Speak directly to more than 200 Microsoft SQL Server product managers, developers, testers, and members of the support team.
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Training/Books
Microsoft Office 2007
Learn the basics of the Microsoft Office 2007 Enterprise Content Management server and client components. Free for a limited time.
Find Training for SQL Server 2005
Work towards certification or update your skills with these great deals on SQL Server 2005 training from Learning Solutions Partners.
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