Kurt Shintaku's Blog

Many of our customers are faced with regulatory compliance challenges, particularly when it comes to spreadsheets data that is sprawled across file servers and intranet sites within their organizations.

Microsoft Partner, Prodiance, presented a webcast that addresses this very challenge, entitled “Fraud Prevention & Detection for Mission Critical Spreadsheets” that was recorded for playback:

• Fraud Prevention & Detection for Mission Critical Spreadsheets
  View Recording
  (https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/mspp/view?id=MBQ96R&pw=wm*W%26m8%2BH)

  Subject: Fraud Prevention & Detection for Mission Critical Spreadsheets
  Recording URL: https://www.livemeeting.com/cc/mspp/view
  Recording ID: MBQ96R
  Attendee Key: wm*W&m8+H

Steve Rosso, QuickStart’s lead SharePoint development instructor, will be demonstrating workflow for Information Workers, Administrators and Developers. Steve has taught hundreds of students, from end users to high end developers, how to use and develop in SharePoint. We expect this meeting to fill up, so please register early if you would like to guarantee a seat!
Topics Include:

1. Information Workers
   • Using workflow
   • Show workflow history
2. Administrators
   • Explain SharePoint Designer workflows (Conditions and Actions) and also appropriate uses.
   • Create a new workflow using SharePoint Designer 2007 that sends out an email with a hyperlink to a document in a document library.
3. Developers
   • Highlight the use of XML Web Services called from a workflow.
   • How to create and use a State-Machine workflow.

Date: Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Time: 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Location: QuickStart Irvine – 16815 Von Karman Ave, Suite 100, Irvine, CA 92606 (www.quickstart.com/locations/irvine.aspx)

RSVP at www.quickstart.com/socalmoss
Food and drink will be provided.

Notice that Windows Mobile’s sales share is 12% worldwide, still larger than iPhone.

For more info and coverage of these figures:
http://www.engadget.com/2009/03/13/gartner-posts-worldwide-mobile-os-numbers-for-2008/

…Concerned about regulatory compliance around corporate files that contain important data?
…Interested in putting a technology into place that helps facilitate the classification of that data to ensure security & privacy restrictions are upheld?
…Wouldn’t it be great to be able to implicitly find sensitive data on your file servers and know about it immediately?
…Would you like to manage your file-based data based on business value instead by container?

We’ve introduced a completely new technology in Windows Server 2008 R2 called “File Classification Infrastructure” which enables organizations to classify their files (assign properties to files) and then use capabilities within the Windows operating system to apply actions to files based on the file classification.

Out of the box, FCI in Windows Server 2008 R2 provides the ability to:

• define classification properties
• automatically classify files based on location & content
• apply file management tasks such as file expiration & custom commands based on classification
• produce reports that show the distribution of a classification property on the file server

For more information on this new & exciting technology, check out the Storage Blog’s post on this topic:

• Classifying files based on location and content using the File Classification Infrastructure (FCI) in Windows Server 2008 R2
  http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/archive/2009/05/11/classifying-files-based-on-location-and-content-using-the-file-classification-infrastructure-fci-in-windows-server-2008-r2.aspx
• Windows Server 2008 R2 File Classification Infrastructure – Managing data based on business value
  http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/archive/2009/05/11/windows-server-2008-r2-file-classification-infrastructure-managing-data-based-on-business-value.aspx

LINK:
http://blogs.technet.com/filecab/default.aspx

One of my customers – you know who you are – is being rapidly introduced to Office Communicator 2007.  (Welcome to the world of interoperable instant messaging guys!)  In the spirit of this, I thought I’d write something up, summarizing some of the add-ins/plug-ins I know of for Office Communicator that may make it more useful for you.

• Communicator Add In for Outlook 2007
  This is an Add-In for Outlook 2007 which allows you to view and interact with your entire contact list from Office Communicator 2007. Business users spend a majority of thier day in Outlook, why should they have to toggle back and forth from Outlook & Communicator? This Add-In allows those business users to keep working in Outlook as well as view presence, call or instant message thier contacts.
  http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/Communicator4Outlook
  
• Office Communicator 2007 Windows Vista Gadget
  This gadget that’s installable into your Windows Vista sidebar enables you to see all the current conversation threads you have going within your sidebar, instead of having each conversation clutter up your taskbar at the bottom of your screen.  It also provides easy access to the people you IM the most.
  http://www.codeplex.com/MOCVistaGadget
  
• Communicator Plus!
  Eventure Communicator Plus! is one essential add-on for Microsoft Office Communicator 2007. It guarantees to improve your Communicator experience by leaps and bounds. You won’t just get a couple of new options, what you’ll get is a whole new dimension for Microsoft Office Communicator 2007 software.
  http://www.eventure.biz/site/Products/Complus.aspx

Here are some additional resources specific to Microsoft Office Communicator:

• Online Discussions & Communities:
  http://www.microsoft.com/communities/newsgroups/list/en-us/default.aspx?dg=microsoft.public.office.communicator&cat=en_us_E37143D4-FB1E-EDD3-A60C-25E8C22ADB05&lang=en&cr=us 
• Online Training Courses:
  http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/training/CR102533351033.aspx
• Product Group Blog:
  http://communicatorteam.com/

The Microsoft IT Academy Student Pass is a special no-cost online learning opportunity for students. IT Academy Student Pass provides free e-learning courses to verified students who are interested in extending their technical skills with Microsoft technologies.

The IT Academy Student Pass offers 12 to 22 hours of FREE e-learning courses, aligned to the first set of topics you need to master for the first Microsoft certification exam within the track. Each track is unique, and most will require you to take additional e-learning courses to complete all of the topics you need to succeed on the certification exam.

The goal of the IT Academy Student Pass is to give you a head start by providing hours and hours of rich, award-winning e-learning content that sets the stage for the learning to come.

Students may also want to explore Microsoft technical certifications, and the IT Academy Student Pass is a perfect entry point to five different certification paths. Learn about Microsoft Certifications

The IT Academy Student Pass will be available initially in English, but additional languages are being considered for future releases.

LINK:
http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9663125

For those that are interested in how Microsoft deploys its virtualization, security, and database products within Microsoft itself, you’ll be interested in knowing about Microsoft’s IT Showcase announcements for this month.  It’s loaded with documentation on how we deployed Application Virtualization, Hyper-V, SQL Server, and various other topics.

Here’s some of the latest editions for this month:

• Deploying Application Virtualization at Microsoft
  Article | IT Pro Webcast
• Deploying a 10-Terabyte Enterprise Data Warehouse using SQL Server 2008
  Business Case Study
• Upgrading a 6.5-Terabyte SAP ERP SQL Server Database to Support Microsoft Worldwide Operations
  Business Case Study
• SQL Server Consolidation at Microsoft
  Technical White Paper | Presentation | IT Pro Webcast
• Delivering a Premier Windows Vista Experience: Computer-Replacement Project
  Technical Case Study

IT Pro & IT Manager Videos
Brand new series from Microsoft IT Showcase on TechNet Edge!

• Securing Customer and Partner Data with Windows Vista BitLocker
• Protecting Removable Storage Devices at Microsoft
• Streamlined PC Procurement Improves Productivity While Controlling Costs
• Leveraging Software to Reduce Energy Consumption

IT Pro Webcasts & Podcasts
How Microsoft Does IT Webcast Series

• How Microsoft does IT: Deploying Windows 7 Using System Center Configuration Manager 2007 and OSD
  Tuesday, May 19, 2009
• How Microsoft does IT: Using Virtualization with Hyper-V to Deploy System Center Configuration Manager
  Tuesday, May 19, 2009
• How Microsoft does IT: Delivering Internet-based Client Management
  Tuesday, May 26, 2009
• How Microsoft IT Deploys Application Virtualization
  Tuesday, May 26, 2009
• How Microsoft is Architecting the Virtual Application Infrastructure
  Tuesday, June 2, 2009
• How Microsoft IT Secures Business Workflows and Networks for Partners
  Tuesday, June 16, 2009
• How Microsoft does IT: Improving the Sustainability and Use of SQL Server at Microsoft
  Watch any time on demand

IT Manager Webcasts & Podcasts
IT Manager Connection Webcast Series

• Security Monitoring and Investigations on the Microsoft Corporate Network
  Watch any time on demand

TechNet Radio Discussions from Microsoft IT

• How Microsoft IT Manages Physical Security through Strategic IT Convergence
  Listen any time on demand

We recently released the Microsoft Learning Content Development System v2.3.
(a.k.a.  How to create your own eLearning course… for free.)

———————

What is the LCDS?

The LCDS is a free tool that enables the Microsoft Learning community to create high-quality, interactive, online courses. The LCDS allows anyone in the Microsoft Learning community to publish e-learning courses by completing the easy-to-use LCDS forms that seamlessly generate highly customized content, interactive activities, quizzes, games, assessments, animations, demos, and other multimedia.

• Register to download the free LCDS tool (59MB)

What does the LCDS offer?

With the LCDS, the Microsoft Learning community can:

• Develop and deliver content quickly, while it is timely and relevant.
• Distribute content via the Web or in a learning management system.
• Deliver Web content that conforms to Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) 1.2, and which can be hosted in a learning management system.
• Upload or attach existing content. (LCDS supports multiple file formats.)
• Choose from a wide variety of forms for authoring rich e-learning content and Silverlight-based interactive components.
• Develop course structure and easily rearrange it at any time.
• Once you have installed LCDS, you can download sample courses New
  (In order to view these, you must have already installed the LCDS tool)

What’s New in Windows Vista
This course demonstrates some of the new features in Windows Vista. It uses the Click Table template to lay out different feature areas, and demonstrations to show users how to accomplish certain tasks.  Templates used in this course: Click Table, Drag and Drop, Tile Game, and Demonstration
Windows Vista:  Download (.exe file, 12.6 MB)
Windows XP:  Download (.exe file, 12.6 MB)

New Features Of SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services
This course introduces key features of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Reporting Services. It uses interactive templates like the Sort Game and the Tile Flip to test users’ knowledge, and then uses a series of demonstrations to illustrate reporting in action.  Templates used in this course: Sort Game, Tile Game, Click Table, Demonstration, Multiple Choice, and Drag and Drop
Windows Vista:  Download (.exe file, 9.35 MB)
Windows XP:  Download (.exe file, 9.35 MB)

What’s new in LCDS version 2.3?

The new features of LCDS version 2.3 include the following:

• Spell check for topics
• Indexing for course search
• Output to an Office Word document
• New templates: Show/Hide and Click Table Animations
• Compatibility with Internet Explorer 8 and Silverlight 2.0

For more information:

• DOWNLOAD: 
  http://www.microsoft.com/learning/tools/lcds/default.mspx
• FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
  http://www.microsoft.com/learning/tools/lcds/faq/default.mspx
• BUGS, DISCUSSION, & FEEDBACK:
  http://social.microsoft.com/forums/en/LCDS/threads/
• SAMPLE COURSES:
  http://www.microsoft.com/learning/tools/lcds/samples/default.mspx
• SHAREPOINT LEARNING KIT
  (A great way to publish LCDS content to your Enterprise)
  http://www.microsoft.com/education/slk.mspx

The Infrastructure Planning and Design team is working on a new guide: SharePoint Online—Evaluating Software-plus-Services. Get the beta by visiting the Connect Web site at:  https://connect.microsoft.com/InvitationUse.aspx?ProgramID=1587&InvitationID=IRSS-MRP9-7QCT&SiteID=14

Considering an online solution for your organization’s collaboration services? The SharePoint Online—Evaluating Software-plus-Services guide provides a clear comparison of SharePoint collaboration technologies across on-premises, standard hosting, and dedicated hosting scenarios. The guide can be used as a framework for evaluating the technical feasibility of Microsoft SharePoint Online and determining which SharePoint delivery model best suits the organization’s needs. Key steps guide you through the evaluation of the end user, SharePoint workload, and business considerations in a logical, sequential order. An overall scoring assessment provided for each option identifies key SharePoint workloads and requirements for the organization.

The Infrastructure Planning and Design Series streamlines the planning process by:

• Defining the technical decision flow through the planning process.
• Listing the decisions to be made and the commonly available options and considerations.
• Relating the decisions and options to the business in terms of cost, complexity, and other characteristics.
• Framing decisions in terms of additional questions to the business to ensure a comprehensive alignment with the appropriate business landscape.

Tell us what you think! Download the IPD for SharePoint Online Beta Guide and send us your valuable feedback!

Are you getting ready for or evaluating a Windows 7 or Windows Server 2008 R2 migration?

Join this beta program and test out the Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit 4.0 that will help you with hardware inventory, OS compatibility assessment for Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 and R2.  This free tool also helps you with virtualization assessment of potential candidates and PC security checks and assessments of your desktop enviornment.

The Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit is an integrated platform with tools and guidance that make it easier for you to assess your current IT infrastructure and determine the right Microsoft technologies for your IT needs. It offers quick inventory, powerful assessment and actionable recommendations for many major Microsoft products so you can save time and cost to plan your deployment projects:

• Windows 7 (NEW!)
• Windows Server 2008 R2 (NEW!)
• Hyper-V for Windows Server 2008 R2 (NEW!)
• Windows Vista
• Windows Server 2008
• Hyper-V for Windows Server 2008
• SQL Server 2008
• 2007 Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Application Virtualization
• Microsoft Online Services (e.g. Exchange Online)
• Forefront Client Security and more

Join the Beta Now!

• Click here to join the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit 4.0 Beta Program
  
• Download the latest MAP 4.0 sneak-peak overview PowerPoint deck
• Coming soon:  MAP 4.0 Toolkit is current in private beta.  Public beta will be released in early June 
• Learn more about the Microsoft Assessment and Planning (MAP) Toolkit on TechNet (get MAP 3.2 released bits here!)

<taken from the MAP blog>