Category Free

Welcome to Thrive from Microsoft!

If you recall past posts about Microsoft and Social Responsibility, this is just another measure of ensuring that our technical future is secure, or if you’re looking for a career change that the resources are available to ensure you have a future in technology.

They have this broken up into several core areas

• Advance your career
• Career Development
• Get Started
• Explore Microsoft’s training overview
• Get your training with Microsoft Learning Plans
• Keep track of your learning plan with My Learning Tool
• Get Certified
• You may be a tech whiz…but ‘Are You Certifiable?!?’
• Find out the facts about certification
• Earn your Microsoft Certification!
• Hear what others have to say about Microsoft Learning and certifications
• Why Get Certified?
• Learn more about the value of certification
• Value of Certification: Team Certification and Organization Performance
• What are the industry’s 10 best IT certifications?
• Get a second chance to pass your Microsoft Certification exam—free offer!
• Career Guidance (Networking & Community)
• Learn more about the Microsoft Certification Membership
• Join Microsoft Technical Communities
• Career Change Management
• Industry Related
• Top 10 Jobs in Information Technology
• How to Job Search in 2009
• Unconventional Places to Expand your Network
• Stalled Career? 10 Tips
• Bulletproof Your Job: 4 Ways to Stay Employed
• Job Search Related
• Are You Using the Wrong Resume?
• 10 Interview Questions Decoded
• Body Language and the Interview
• Tools & Resources
• CareerPath Assessment Center
• CareerBuilder Salary Calculator
• cbResume
• Resume Direct
• Enhance your technical skills
• Virtualization
• Get Started
• Technical Competency Introduction Video With Tony Scott
• Windows Server Virtualization: Overview Video
• TechNet Radio: Managing a Virtualized Environment today and in the future
• Videos (5 – 15 min)
• Microsoft Virtualization
• Intro to Windows Server 2008 Virtualization
• Server Core Hyper-V Prerequisites
• Green IT and Virtualization
• Webcasts (30 – 90 min)
• TechNet Webcast: High Availability with Hyper-V (Level 200)
• TechNet Webcast: Presentation Virtualization with Terminal Services RemoteApp (Level 200)
• TechNet Webcast: Assess Your Server IT Infrastructure for Windows Server 2008 Migration and Virtualization (Level 300)
• Tools & Resources
• Virtualization TCO Calculator
• Hyper-Green Calculator
• Cutting Costs and Building Value with Microsoft Virtualization
• Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit
• Windows Server Virtualization and Licensing Calculator
• White Papers
• How Customers Are Cutting Costs and Building Value with Microsoft Virtualization
• Virtualization for Windows – A Technology Overview
• Microsoft.com Operations Virtualizes MSDN and TechNet on Hyper-V
• Case Studies
• Atlanta Journal Constitution: With Virtualization, Newspaper Reduces Costs, Gains Infrastructure Flexibility
• Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center: Medical Center Reduces Costs, Increases Application Availability with Virtualization
• Jackson Energy Authority: Public Utility Boosts Application Availability and Simplifies IT with Virtualization
• Continental Airlines: Leading Airline Moves to Virtual Environment, Sets Stage for Growth While Cutting Costs
• Desktop Optimization
• Get Started
• Technical Competency Introduction Video With Tony Scott
• TechNet Webcast: Agility Now: What Is Infrastructure Optimization, and Why Should You Care?
• National Aquarium in Baltimore: Aquarium Enhances Data Access, Security, and Productivity with New Operating System
• Video (5 – 15 min)
• Continental Airlines Bets on Operating System Upgrade for Reduced IT and Energy Costs
• Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack
• Webcasts (30 – 90 min)
• TechNet Webcast: Agile Desktops: Microsoft Application Virtualization and Intel vPro Technology (Level 200)
• TechNet Webcast: How Microsoft IT Uses the Automated Service Agent System to Deliver a Low-Cost, High-Value Service
• TechNet Webcast: Optimizing Desktop Management with System Center Configuration Manager and Microsoft SoftGrid Application Virtualization
• Tools & Resources
• Microsoft Infrastructure Optimization ROI Tool
• Microsoft Assessment and Planning Toolkit
• White Papers
• Reducing TCO with Windows Vista: Quantified Savings for Mobile PCs
• The Road to Desktop Optimization: Five Best practices for Optimizing the Desktop Infrastructure
• The Enterprise PC Lifecycle: Seeing the big picture for PC fleet management
• Case Studies
• CDW: Technology Professionals Enjoy Productivity, Enhanced Security with System Upgrade
• Cerner Corporation: IT Provider Enhances Security and Meets Customer Needs with New Operating System
• Hoover City Schools: School District Upgrades PCs to Keep Students Current on the Latest Technology
• Align IT with Business
• Cost Savings
• Get Started
• Business and IT Alignment Introduction Video With Tony Scott
• IT Manager Webcast: Introduction to Platform Solution Blueprints (Level 200)
• Videos & Webcasts (30 – 90 min)
• Windows Server Virtualization: Overview Video
• IT Manager Webcast: Platform Solution Blueprints: Virtualization and Infrastructure Management (Level 200)
• IT Manager Webcast: Protecting Legacy Assets Through Automated Conversion Reduces Licensing Costs and Increases Agility (Level 200)
• IT Manager Webcast: Infrastructure Optimization: Shifting Development from a Cost Center to a Strategic Business Asset
• Podcasts (30 – 90 min)
• IT Manager Dialog Series- Virtualization
• IT Manager Podcast: Introduction to Platform Solution Blueprints (Level 200)
• IT Manager Podcast: Platform Solution Blueprints: Virtualization and Infrastructure Management (Level 200)
• Analytics Reports / Whitepapers
• Information Week: Analytics Report – Unlocking Virtualization: Facing IT, Business Realities
• How Customers Are Cutting Costs and Building Value with Microsoft Virtualization
• Virtualization Strategy Provides Tools, Processes, and Compliance Capabilities to Enhance Business Support and Drive Adoption
• Tools & Resources
• Simple to Save: ROI Calculator
• Microsoft Infrastructure Optimization – ROI Tool
• You Already Own It!
• IT Manager: Platform Solution Blueprint by Advaiya
• IT Manager: Platform Solution Blueprint – Virtualization
• Connect with your peers on the TechNet IT Management Community Hub!
• Case Studies
• Stewart: Information Services Firm Enhances Compliance and Optimizes Data Center
• Compliance & Governance
• Get Started
• Business and IT Alignment Introduction Video With Tony Scott
• Microsoft Security Assessment Tool
• Webcasts (30 – 90 min)
• Microsoft Webcast: Better IT Management Through IT Governance (part 1)
• Microsoft Webcast: Better IT Management Through IT Governance (part 2)
• Tools & Resources
• Security Compliance Management Toolkit
• Security Intelligence Report
• Learning Path for Security
• FORUM: Configuration Manager – Desired Configuration Management
• Compliance Management Forum
• Connect with your peers on the TechNet IT Management Community Hub!
• White Papers
• White Paper-Branch Infrastructure
• Where Is My PII?
• IT Compliance Management Guide
• The Security Risk Management Guide
• Microsoft Operations Framework (MOF) 4.0

Why yes.. I did go through the entire site, reviewed a lot of the material and even INCLUDED ALMOST ALL OF IT HERE! Yea, I know sometimes people will look at the post, but never visit the site – So here are the goods, visit the site if you’d like, but this is exactly what you’ll see (at this point in time :))  Good luck on there – whether you’re job hunting or retaining your job!

Yea, you heard it right! Microsoft unveils program after program to help get people jobs, keep you in jobs and ofcourse increase education and awareness, which certainly helps in the whole job scenario!

So, let me show you just what DreamSpeak has in store for you!

Well, free training and education, vouchers! books and videos!

The MCTS Free Voucher program is tied to education and being within the schooling system, so do account for that in the account you login with in order to be able to access and obtain your free voucher!  If you choose any of the various schools, it will show you what the expected address type is to look like (looks like a security risk/flaw to me.. but what’s a free voucher amongst friends! ;))

I know some of you have been waiting patiently for MBRAlign after finding out that your ESX Virtual Machines have been out of alignment all this time (A common trend which affects nearly everyone who uses ESX!)

Well, the wait is over! Now you can actually go and download MBRAlign directly from the NetApp toolchest, without having to wait for someone (like me;)) to give you a copy to download! (I do appreciate you asking, and am more than happy to provide you the tools in any event :))

If you’ve used the MBRScan tool before, in order to determine if your machines are aligned or not, that is still available as part of the VMware ESX Host Utilities Kit (v5)

And now you can download MBRAlign directly from the NetApp Toolchest! Hoorah!  I implore you to please read the mbralign.pdf first before you do anything!

For some additional information on this, I encourage you to check out the NetApp community article which echos a number of these statements.

UPDATE – mbralign is available from the ToolChest on the now.netapp.com website

So, check it out, let me know if you run into any problems or issues and I’ll see what I can do about em! ;)

Here’s a consolidated list of a number of the resources I regularly put up here, so you can find them easier!

Free Training

5 Free Virtualization Training Courses for the Holidays! (HyperV)

I’m not sure how long this is going to last, so I highly encourage you to sign up, get your class registered in and taken!

This course is highly recommended and valuable!

How much does Free Microsoft Learning Cost? (Hint: Free!)

A whole series of Free E-Learning which used to cost a substantial amount of monies, but is Freeeee! Thanks Microsoft! :)

Free Books!

Sign up for the Microsoft Press Book Connection Newsletter now

Just go there, sign up and monthly you’ll receive an email which has the latest free E-books from the MS Press Team! Caveat: the books are typically only available for 5-7 days at a time – so you should act as soon as you get the emails!

More Free Training?!

Microsoft Elevates America with Social Responsibility

More Free Training at the High and Low level, in addition to some kinds of assistance for furthering education!

Microsoft Virtual Labs

Every wanted to try out a product you’ve never installed, or even downloaded.  Or you want to learn a new application, or even Programming language.  The Microsoft Virtual Labs are the perfect solution there.   They include not only immediately available applications for you to test in a real lab environment, but they also have ‘training labs’ so you can go through an educational process in order to learn the material.   The best part is, you’re not bound by the material either – So if you want to think outside the box of training you can, but if you’re not sure what to learn they provide guidance there!

We’re still waiting for the launch of more Beta Certification exams and other/more free stuff, but definitely take advantage of the resources above as they’re infinitely useful!

Psst, did you know we’re in a recession?  Yea, can you imagine that? Now is the time to take every dollar we can from every person just to snake on by, right? Err, no.

No, this is a time to band together, and raise the bar together not only as individuals but more importantly as a community.   The Technology community is a particularly strong one, where we reach out and help each other, even in cut-throat situations where we’re against each other, we want to help.

Enter the newest innovation in this from Microsoft.

This is just one in a series of Community Investment opportunities which will be announced in the market (and by announced, I mean I will search and track them down and tell you about them :))

This is particularly cool as in the “Basics” section, it has just that – the basics to get someone to be digitally literate.  Perfect for those with no current knowledge or minimal knowledge and skill-set in the digital age.  An excellent starting point.

I also particularly like this offer, for those trying to be employed or want to remain more relevant in their current positions:

I encourage you to check out all of the resources, whether you’re looking for work, currently employed or interested in pursuing a career in technology.

Truly, do yourself a favor and elevate yourself, the free parts certainly hit the right price point!:)