Event: Macedonian IT Pro User Group Meet up - September 2017

On 13.09.2017, we held the September Macedonian IT Pro User Group meeting where our colleagues and enthusiast from IT world got together, shared thoughts and ideas on Microsoft technologies. The turnout was 20+ people, which means we have chosen the right topics for the event.

The first half of the meeting was dedicated to some of the past and future conferences in the region and world-wide, wich was presented by Gorana Konevska, and Vladimir Meloski.

In the second part of the event, I did an overview of Microsoft Azure core services, such as

Resource Groups, Storage and Network, Virtual Machines, connectivity and security aspect, while providing real life examples and tips&trick while implementing cloud technologies within the organization.

We had a great discussion and chalk talk session fora little bit more than 2 hours. Looking forward for our next meeting in October. :)

Event: Macedonian IT Pro User Group Meet up (Announcement)

As part of our monthly Community Events, on September 13th, I will conduct an Azure session titled "Scenarios for implementation of Microsoft azure within Your organization". The session will cover the fundamentals of Azure, steering towards few scenarios of how you can integrate your infrastructure with the cloud, or even completely migrate to it.

Event info: Macedonian IT Pro Meet up
Date: September 13th, 2017
Location: Microsoft Macedonia office

Workshop: Microsoft Azure Expert Technical Training (3 days)

Wrapped up the 3 days training on Azure (Sept 5th - Sept 7th), in Microsoft Croatia office, organised by Ingram Micro Croatia. I got excellent mix of IT Pros and Sales people attending this course. Primary focus is on Infrastructure-as-a-Service model, with demos and hands on labs focusing on predefined scenarios in operating, planning, creating and configuring the infrastructure and services.

 Day 1 was focused on Azure Fundamentals: Welcome and introduction, Azure Portal, Resource Groups, Storage Accounts, Virtual networks and Network Interfaces (incl PIP, VPN, Gateways and Peering)), Network Security Groups, Virtual Machines, VM Extensions, Scale and Availability Sets, Load Balancer, Traffic Manager.

We finished strong with deploying WordPress Multi-tier app and Acronis Backup Blueprints.

Day 2 was reserved for more Blueprints - Remote Desktop Services(Small Business Server Replacement) and CheckPoint Blueprints.

Day 3 was focused more on Business Development Managers Track, focused on the business side of partner transformation, driving business transformation and its impact on the partners, pricing model and how to calculate the cost (Azure Pricing Calculator), as well as comparison with other licensing programs.

Workshop: Microsoft Azure Expert Technical Training (Day 1)

Wrapped up Day 1 of the three days training on Azure, in Microsoft Croatia Office, organised by Ingram Micro Croatia. I got excellent mix of IT pros and Sales people attending this course. Primary focus is on IaaS model, with demos and hands on labs focusing on predefined scenarios in operating, planning, creating and configuring the infrastructure and services.

Today's Agenda was focused on Azure Fundamentals: Welcome and introduction, Azure Portal, Resource Groups, Storage Accounts, Virtual networks and Network Interfaces (incl PIP, VPN, Gateways and Peering)), Network Security Groups, Virtual Machines, VM Extensions, Scale and Availability Sets, Load Balancer, Traffic Manager.

We finished strong with deploying WordPress Multi-tier app and Acronis Backup Blueprints.

Day 2 is reserved for more Blueprints - RDS (SBS Replacement) and CheckPoint Blueprints.

Workshop: Overview of Microsoft Azure

On Monday, August 28th, in cooperation with Microsoft Albania, I had a chance to do an Microsoft Azure Workshop for IT Pros (SI, VAR, local resellers) - overview of the platform and services with demos of major IaaS components.

Slide deck can be viewed on the following link

Olddie, but still valid - Microsoft FREE book giveaway

Once again, its that time of the year.  Microsoft isgiving away a bunch of free eBooks, reference guides, Step-By-Step Guides, and other informational resources to our customers and partners around the world.

Complete list can be found here.

Webinar: Office 365, 365 days of sucess

If you missed the webinar "Office 365 - 365 days of success", the on-demand recording is available now.

On-Demand URL: Office 365 - 365 days of success

Thank's to the people that attended, as well as the people that will watv the recording.

Awaiting comments, and/or suggestions.

Office 365 webinar

In cooperation with Microsoft Albania, on June 28th (Wednesday), starting from 10 o'clock, I will be conducting an webinar on Office 365 titled: "Office 365 - 365 days of success".

This webinar is about what Office 365 is, how it is structured and how it provides a highly scalable, highly available, cloud platform and how it supports daily business and technology operations. You will also learn about different scenarios of migration and/or coexistence with your customers infrastructure.

It's aimed towards BDM's, TDM's, system integrator's and implementators.

Title: Office 365 - 365 days of success

Date/Time: Wednesday, June 28th, 10:00-11:00

Presentation language: English

Registration URL: https://info.microsoft.com/CE-NoGEP-WBNR-FY17-05May-31-Office365325643_02OnDemandRegistration.html

Build the business of the future event

On May 30th, in cooperation with Microsoft Albania, BNT Electronics, Fujitsu and Ingram Micro, we held and event titled Build the business of the future. During the day, our 70+ attendees had a chance to hear and discuss on ways how to implement cloud technologies in a hybrid scenario thus enabling new ways of conducting business and optimizing business and technology processes. 

I had two sessions on the event, Microsoft Azure – secure, extend and scale your business and Office 365 – new way to do business and collaborate (focused on Microsoft Teams).

Cloud Marketplace launch event

On May 24th, we did a Cloud Marketplace launch event, aimed towards potential cloud resellers. On the half-day event, more than 20 people attended, where they had chance to hear about the capabilities of Ingram Micro Cloud Marketplace portal with specific focus on Microsoft Azure and Office 365. The event was done in Microsoft Croatia offices, as part of their continuous support to CSP Partners.

I had a session on partner business transformation, aiming their way on how to restructure, expand their services portfolio, and revise their cost/profitability model. An specific emphasis was done on Microsoft Azure and potential ways on how to develop their business and target SMB and mid-size companies with different packaged services.

The session material can be found on the following link.

Microsoft on Trust, Privacy and the GDPR

As we see increased focus in every indistry on data privacy and data protection, and in light of the recent talks and commitment from all major cloud vendors on the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), Microsoft (as usual) si stteping up and this webcast will provide additional information on this topic.

the focus will be on Microsoft's commitment and approach to privacy in the digital world, as well as whta will GDPR mean for its cloud services.

Event date/time: May 24th, 15:00 (GMT+1)

Speakers:
Brad Smith

Microsoft President & Chief Legal Officer

Brendon Lynch

Microsoft Chief Privacy Officer

Registration link: https://info.microsoft.com/TrustPrivacyandGDPR-Registration.html