Kurt Shintaku's Blog

Microsoft Ignite 2025 is upon us and for those people joining us in San Francisco this year, (to make your evenings a little easier to coordinate) I’ve listed out all the upcoming off-menu lunches, cocktail hours & after hours parties.  Remember most of these require registration or requests for invites so plan ahead.  (There’s unfortunately no strings I can pull, if a reg list is full – even for the Microsoft events.)

(Can’t attend in person? Be sure to register for FREE for the ‘virtual conference’ (aka Online Digital Pass), so you can remotely see the sessions live when they’re broadcast & also on-demand when the conference is over!)

• Tuesday, November 18, 2025
  
  • Microsoft Ignite 2025 Lunch & Learn – Strim
    Tuesday, November 18, 2025 – 12-1:30PM
    Fogo de Chão Brazilian Steakhouse – 201 3rd St. Suite 10
    Invite req/RSVP: https://go2.striim.com/microsoft-ignite-ai-roundtable
    
  • Microsoft & CyberProof – Lunch & Learn Session at The Harlequin
    Tuesday, November 18, 2025 – 12–2:30PM
    The Harlequin Restaurant – 68 4th St
    Invite req/RSVP: https://www.cyberproof.com/microsoft-ignite-2025-lunch-and-learn/
    
  • Time Capsule Club: A VIP Happy Hour – Eon & Soma Capital
    Tuesday, November 18, 2025 – 5:30–7:30PM
    The Harlequin Restaurant – 68 4th St
    Invite req/RSVP: https://www.eon.io/event/happy-hour-microsoft-ignite-2025
    
  • The Ignite Mixer at Novela – Honeycomb, Catchpoint & Liatrio
    Tuesday, November 18, 2025 – 6:30–9:30PM
    NOVELA – 662 Mission St
    Invite req/RSVP: https://events.honeycomb.io/IgniteHHNovela-Honeycomb
    
  • Data After Dark Happy Hour – Cyera & Cohesity
    Tuesday, November 18, 2025 – 7:30–9:30PM
    The Grove – Yerba Buena – 690 Mission St
    Invite req/RSVP: https://events.cyera.io/thegrovehappyhour
    
  • Microsoft Ignite: FinOps Community Celebration! – ProsperOps
    Tuesday, November 18, 2025 – 6:30-9:30pm PT
    Tropisueno – 75 Yerba Buena Ln, San Francisco, CA 94103
    Invite req/RSVP: https://www.prosperops.com/event/microsoft-ignite-finops-community-celebration/?utm_source=conferenceparties
    
  • Zetta Bites, Brews, Billiards & More – Numecent        
    Ignite Your Night with Numecent
    Tuesday, November 18, 2025 – 7:30–10:30PM
    Hotel Zetta – Playroom – 55 5th St
    Invite req/RSVP: https://info.numecent.com/ignite-party
    
  • #AvePointRED Party – AvePoint        
    Tuesday, November 18, 2025 – 8–11PM
    San Francisco Museum of Modern Art – 151 3rd St, San Francisco, CA 94103
    Invite req/RSVP: https://www.avepoint.com/events/avepoint-red-party
    
  • Microsoft Security Experiences SF – Microsoft Security
    Tuesday, November 18, 2025 6:00PM-10:00PM
    Security is a team sport—and Microsoft Ignite is your chance to connect with the best in the business. There will be multiple community events throughout the week. Don’t miss the Secure the Night party—our signature celebration with customers and partners on Tuesday, November 18, 2025. Register here (please note, the party requires a separate registration from the main conference).
    Invite req/RSVP: https://aka.ms/MSIgnite_SecurityExperiencesSF
    (To learn more about connecting with Microsoft Security while at Microsoft Ignite 2025, visit Connect with the security community at Microsoft Ignite 2025.)
    • Note: Identification as public sector
      Attendees from the public sector (defined as employees of the US federal government, state and local government, non-US international government, State Owned Entity, and education employees) should consult their internal compliance requirements and obtain approval from the appropriate ethics or compliance official prior to accepting an invitation to any event offering gratuitous items such as meals and other business courtesies. If you have any questions about this event, you may reach out to securityevents@microsoft.com.
       
  • Microsoft Security Leaders Dinner – Microsoft Security
    Tuesday, November 18, 2025 at 6:00 PM-8:30PM
    Join Microsoft Security leaders on Tuesday, November 18, 2025, at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco for an evening of good food and great conversation. Network with peers from across the industry, share ideas, and build new connections. After dinner, join us for Secure the Night—a casual evening of music, drinks, and continued networking.
    Invite req/RSVP: http://microsoftsecurityevents.eventbuilder.com/events/11f05b4923c44190971bb1ab5e8aabf3/
    (To learn more about connecting with Microsoft Security while at Microsoft Ignite 2025, visit Connect with the security community at Microsoft Ignite 2025.)
    • Note: Identification as public sector
      Attendees from the public sector (defined as employees of the US federal government, state and local government, non-US international government, State Owned Entity, and education employees) should consult their internal compliance requirements and obtain approval from the appropriate ethics or compliance official prior to accepting an invitation to any event offering gratuitous items such as meals and other business courtesies. If you have any questions about this event, you may reach out to securityevents@microsoft.com.
       
  • Evening events in the Hub at Microsoft Ignite
    On November 18 and 19, after the day’s sessions end, the Hub transforms into a social destination. Join us for two exciting evenings of connection, conversation, and celebration, complete with curated bites and drinks, live music, interactive activities, and plenty to explore.
    • Microsoft Ignite and AMD Neon Night on Tuesday, November 18
      Join peers and experts for an electrifying after-hours experience that’s fresh, festive, and forward-looking.
    • Microsoft Ignite and AMD Block Party on Wednesday, November 19
      Mix and mingle in a neighborhood-like atmosphere with lively beats and local Bay Area bites.
      
• Wednesday, November 19, 2025
  • Microsoft Ignite 2025 Celebration – Invoke
    Wednesday, November 19, 2025 – 5–7PM
    Location unspecified (Contact listed individuals for invite)
    Invite req/RSVP: https://www.linkedin.com/posts/sleuthold_msignite-copilot-m365copilot-activity-7389662412444114944-GRX3/
     
  • AI After Hours at Microsoft Ignite – Strim, Dagster+, Microsoft
    Wednesday, November 19, 2025 – 5–7PM        
    ZOË Cocktail Bar & Bites – 579 Howard St, San Francisco, CA
    Invite req/RSVP: https://go2.striim.com/ignite-ai-after-hours
     
  • FinOps After Dark @ Microsoft Ignite 2025! – Finout
    Wednesday, November 19 – 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
    Novela, San Francisco, California – 662 Mission St
    https://luma.com/ytqbwii3
     
  • Join Lucidity for Happy Hour – Lucidity
    Wednesday, November 19, 2025 – 6:00 – 10:00 PM Pacific Time
    Novela, San Francisco, California – 662 Mission St
    Invite req/RSVP: https://get.lucidity.cloud/events/microsoft-ignite-2025/happy-hour/
    
  • Cybersecurity Leader Networking Dinner – CISO Ventures
    Wednesday, November 19, 2025 –  6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
    Location unspecified – Register for access
    Invite req/RSVP: https://luma.com/svfnppwm
    
  • Cocktail Reception – C-Vision International, Teradata & Microsoft
    Wednesday, November 19, 2025 –  7–10PM
    Location unspecified – Register for access
    Invite req/RSVP: https://www.cvisionintl.com/events/cocktail-reception/2025-nov-19-teradata-cocktail-reception-microsoft-ignite-san-francisco/
    
  • Ignite the Night: The Grove After Party – Cyera & Cohesity        
    Wednesday, November 19, 2025 – 7:30–10PM
    The Grove – Yerba Buena – 690 Mission St
    Invite req/RSVP: https://events.cyera.io/thegroveafterparty

The M365 Copilot Message Center Agent allows you to search the Microsoft 365 Admin Center messages with Copilot chat using natural language prompts. Includes details regarding related features in the Microsoft 365 Roadmap.

Not only can admins and ‘Message Center Readers’ search for messages, but you can also use the power of generative AI to summarize them and draft internal communications. Here are some examples of what you can do:

• Search for messages: Find specific messages in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center message center. Search by keywords, date ranges, and message types. Search is case-insensitive. Search by message Title (default) or message body.
• Summarize messages: Get a summary of the latest messages in the message center.
• Draft internal communications: Generate draft emails or messages to share information about updates with your team.
• Get insights: Gain insights regarding impact of updates for your organization.
• Get alternatives Get suggested alternatives for deprecated features.
• Get suggested actions: Get suggested actions for updates that require your attention.
• Roadmap Detail Included: Results include related Microsoft 365 Roadmap details to provide additional context about upcoming features and changes.

Visit the following for more details:

• Microsoft 365 Copilot: Message Center Agent
  https://github.com/mjfusa/Message-Center-Agent

The Microsoft 365 Community Conference is the premier event for professionals who want to maximize their investment in Microsoft 365, Copilot, and related technologies.

Attend the 2026 conference & take advantage of what M365Con has to offer:

1. Exclusive Access to Microsoft Experts

• Hear directly from Microsoft engineers, product managers, and thought leaders shaping the future of Microsoft 365.
• Get insider updates on Copilot, SharePoint, Teams, Viva, and Power Platform innovations.
• Participate in Ask Me Anything (AMA) sessions with Microsoft MVPs and technical specialists.

2. Hands-On Learning and Deep-Dive Workshops

• Attend technical labs, scenario-based workshops, and certification prep sessions.
• Learn best practices for Copilot adoption, security and compliance, and governance frameworks.
• Gain practical skills to accelerate cloud migration, AI integration, and employee experience initiatives.

3. Networking with the Global Microsoft 365 Community

• Connect with thousands of IT leaders, developers, and business decision-makers.
• Share strategies and success stories with peers from government, enterprise, and SMB sectors.
• Build relationships that extend beyond the conference through community meetups and social events.

4. Future-Ready Insights

• Discover how AI-powered productivity will transform work in 2026 and beyond.
• Explore roadmaps, new features, and partner solutions that drive innovation.
• Learn how organizations are leveraging Copilot for Teams, SharePoint Premium, and Microsoft Fabric for data-driven decision-making.

5. Unmatched Value

• Access hundreds of breakout sessions, keynotes, and hands-on demos in one place.
• Take home actionable strategies to improve efficiency, security, and employee engagement.
• Enjoy Orlando’s vibrant setting while investing in your professional growth.

Register today & book your reservation for one of the limited, discounted hotel blocks for the conference before they fill up!

• Date:
  April 21 – 23, 2026
• Location:
  Orlando, FL – Loews Sapphire Falls and Loews Royal Pacific Resorts
• Registration:
  Microsoft 365 Community Conference
  https://m365conf.com/

We’re excited to announce that SQLCon 2026 is coming as part of the Microsoft Fabric Community Conference, March 16-20, 2026!

We’ve created a premier level conference for data professionals, featuring 50 breakout sessions and 4 expert-led workshops covering SQL Server, Azure SQL, SQL in Fabric, SQL Tools, migration & modernization, optimization, database security, AI Apps with SQL and much more.

• Same expo hall, same registration desk, same conference app as FabCon. 
• Registering for one gets you full access to the other. 
• Attend any of the sessions you want, hang out in the same community lounge. 
• Attend both keynotes in the State Farm Arena. 
• You’re invited to the same attendee party at the Georgia Aquarium.

This is going to be a BIG event so register for the conference & get into one of the hotel blocks NOW before it’s too late!

• Dates:
  March 16-20, 2026
• Location:
  Georgia World Congress Center
  285 Andrew Young International Blvd NW, Atlanta, GA 30313
  Building C
• Registration:
  http://aka.ms/sqlcon
  (Early Access Pricing Extended to November 14th and save $200 with the code SQLCMTY200)

Experts at the 2025 Power Platform Community Conference agree: Microsoft Power Platform and Microsoft Copilot Studio can help your organization move from legacy systems to modern, AI-powered solutions faster and with less risk.  

Dive deeper into the strategic insights and key takeaways from this year’s conference and discover how to uplevel your organization’s operations through new low-code or no-code solutions. Whether you plan to attend the Power Platform Community Conference and want to review the major updates or can’t make it and want to discover what was discussed, we invite you to attend this engaging post-conference webinar. You’ll get the opportunity to learn from featured speakers as they review important themes, announcements, and Power Platform success stories

You will also uncover: 

• How to accelerate development, reduce manual effort, and deliver automation without requiring deep data expertise
• Steps you can take to unify workflows across departments to help your teams implement AI collaboratively
• Practical tips for adopting low-code and no-code strategies at scale across departments 

Join today and explore how to drive innovation, modernize legacy systems, and implement AI for more powerful processes.  

• Date/Time:
  November 6, 2025 – 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM | (GMT-08:00) Pacific Time
• Registration:
  https://msevents.microsoft.com/event?id=3219314248

As organizations embrace the transformative power of AI, securing and governing its use becomes mission-critical. Join us for deep dive into how Microsoft empowers IT decision-makers, security leaders, and CISOs to confidently deploy Microsoft 365 Copilot and Agents within their organizations.

In this session, we’ll explore:

• Microsoft’s commitments to data privacy, security, and compliance—including encryption, tenant isolation, and regulatory certifications like ISO 27001, GDPR, and HIPAA.
• The Copilot Control System: a comprehensive framework for managing data security, agent lifecycle, and measuring business impact.
• How to address top concerns such as data oversharing, insider risk, and AI misuse using Microsoft Purview and built-in governance tools.
• Real-world customer scenarios and outcomes, including how companies are achieving measurable ROI with Copilot.
• Strategies to mitigate Shadow AI risks and enforce lifecycle policies, legal holds, and ethical AI use.

Whether you’re just starting your Copilot journey or scaling enterprise-wide adoption, this session will equip you with the tools and insights to secure your data, govern AI usage, and drive responsible innovation.

• Date/Time:
  Tuesday, October 28, 2025, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Pacific Time
• Registration:
  https://msevents.microsoft.com/event?id=4133191796
• Microsoft Build 2025 Breakout (May 23, 2025):
  “Secure and govern your enterprise-scale agents with Copilot Studio | BRK159”
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1v4cSWpUiKg

Datacenters are the critical backbone behind modern computing – that help make cloud, AI, gaming, more accessible than ever before.

Microsoft operates secure datacenter facilities spread across the world, creating a distributed infrastructure that supports thousands of online services. This globally distributed infrastructure is designed with sustainability in mind to bring applications closer to users, preserve data residency, offer comprehensive compliance, and resiliency options for customers. In this event:

• Go behind the scenes on how Microsoft designs, builds, plans and operates these datacenter facilities around the world
• Learn about Microsoft’s approach to ensuring the cloud infrastructure for Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, and new AI workloads help meet the varied needs of businesses, while increasing focus on sustainability.
• Understand what it takes for Microsoft to constantly improve the performance, efficiency, power consumption, in order to reduce cost of your cloud workloads.

We will also share some of the most promising R&D areas that we are pursuing that will help shape the future of cloud computing, AI and business technology in the years ahead.

• Date/Time:
  Tuesday, October 21, 2025, 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM Pacific Time
• Event Registration:
  https://msevents.microsoft.com/event?id=2250939603
• Self-guided Microsoft Datacenter Virtual Tour:
  https://datacenters.microsoft.com/globe/explore/datacenter/