Category: Speaking

May212020May 21, 2020May 21, 20200Commentby Thomas Maurer
Webinar Modern Azure Cloud Operations for IT Ops

Webinar: Modern Azure Cloud Operations for IT Ops

Posted in Cloud, Cloud Advocate, Events, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Speaking, Thomas Maurer, Work

The team around the European SharePoint, Office 365 & Azure conference, but together another Azure Week with free learning webinars. I will be delivering the first webinar on Monday (May 25) focusing on Modern Azure Cloud Operations for IT Ops. I will be speaking about things like Azure IaaS VM Management, Automation, Governance, and much more. You can register for free here.

Modern Azure Cloud Operations for IT Ops

Monday, May 25 – 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM CEST 

While services, virtual machines, and applications are shifting to the cloud, IT Operations need to keep track of managing resources in Azure and implementing governance. In this session, Thomas Maurer gives you a short view of Azure Operations, advanced IaaS Management, and Governance + Ops.

In this online Webinar session, I will be there to talk about Azure IaaS VM Management, Automation, Governance, and more. Join me on topics like:

I hope you join my webinar on Modern Azure Cloud Operations for IT Ops at this year’s Azure Week online! If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment.

If you want to try out Azure, you can create your free Azure account today.


May192020May 19, 2020May 19, 20202Commentsby Thomas Maurer
Microsoft Learn TV

Check out Microsoft Learn TV Now!

Posted in Azure Unblogged, Cloud, Cloud Advocate, Events, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, PowerShell, Speaking, Thomas Maurer, Web, Windows 10, Windows Server, Work

Today at Microsoft Build 2020, Jeff Sandquist announced Microsoft Learn TV. Microsoft Learn TV is offering daily live, pre-recorded, and on-demand video programming for developers, IT Pros, and technologists within the Microsoft Learn platform. Microsoft Learn provides hundreds of free self-paced learning modules, and Learn TV expands on this to bring together live streams, shows, and instructional videos from Microsoft Cloud Advocates, Product Group leaders, and communities, making the Learn platform a one-stop-shop to learn and grow.

Watch Microsoft Learn TV 📺

You can watch it right here. 📺

Microsoft Learn TV Logo

It is will build on on-demand content from Microsoft Channel 9 and other popular video series as well live shows and content from first-party events and hackathons, with casual developer conversations and instructor-led sessions from advocates and engineers. 

Learn TV extends the existing Microsoft Learn platform with a 24/7 program, and with content for IT Pros, cloud developers, or business analysts, you’ll find things in the schedule for you.

I am personally looking forward to many great shows and videos. It will be the place to find the latest digital content so you can always keep updated on the latest announcements, features, and products from Microsoft. You might spot episodes from Azure Friday or Azure Unblogged and more.

Additional Tips and Resources

I also recommend that you open a free Azure account if you don’t have one yet. You can create your free Azure account here. Also, check out my blog posts about Microsoft Azure Certification:

I hope you enjoy watching Microsoft Learn TV. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave a comment on this post, or message me on Twitter.


May192020May 19, 2020May 18, 20200Commentby Thomas Maurer
Microsoft Build 2020

Microsoft Build 2020 Expert Q&A Azure Hybrid Cloud Management

Posted in Cloud, Cloud Advocate, Events, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Azure Stack, Speaking, Thomas Maurer, Webinar, Windows Admin Center, Windows Server 2019, Work

This year, the Microsoft Build 2020 (May 19-20) will be a global digital experience with a non-stop, 48-hour interactive livestream experience straight to your screen. In the digital event session catalog, you find out more about the learning content at the for Microsoft developers but also IT Pros. I am happy to let you know that I will be part of a Microsoft Build 2020 Expert Q&A session on Azure Hybrid Cloud Management together with Sarah Lean (Microsoft Cloud Advocate).

Expert Q&A: Azure Hybrid Cloud and Management

Wednesday, May 20 – 11:45 AM – 12:15 PM CEST 

Community Connections experience – Connect with experts to discuss Azure Hybrid Cloud and Management Technologies like Azure Arc, Azure Stack, Azure Stack HCI, Azure Management, Azure Governance, Azure Migrate, and Azure File Sync.

In this Microsoft Build Q&A session, we will be there to answer questions about Azure Hybrid Cloud and Management. Join us on topics like:

I hope you join us at this year’s Microsoft Build 2020 conference online! If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment.


May112020May 11, 2020May 18, 20200Commentby Thomas Maurer
Livestream Hybrid Cloud Server Management with Azure Arc

Livestream on Hybrid Cloud Server Management with Azure Arc

Posted in Cloud, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, PowerShell, Speaking, Thomas Maurer, Windows Admin Center, Windows Server, Windows Server 2019

On Wednesday, May 27, I plan to do a Livestream on how to govern and manage servers in a hybrid cloud environment with Azure Arc. In the live stream, we will set up my Azure environment and add on-premises Windows and Linux servers to Azure Arc, so I can start managing them using the Azure Resource Manager.

Azure Arc allows you to onboard physical and virtual servers in your hybrid environment (on-premises, edge, and multi-cloud). By joining serves to Azure Arc, you get the benefits you are used from native Azure resources, like tags, RBAC, and many more. In the preview, you can now use Azure Management services like Azure Log Analytics and Azure Policy to make sure your servers are compliant across your hybrid environment.

Livestream Azure Arc for Servers – Hybrid Cloud Server Management

YouTube Livestream will be starting on Wednesday, May 27 at 16:00 (CEST): Make sure you set a reminder!

 ▶ Download the calendar ICS file here. 📅✔

You can also subscribe to my YouTube channel to get a notification.

Manage and govern your hybrid servers using Azure Arc

Thomas Maurer shows you how you can manage and govern your Windows and Linux machines hosted outside of Azure on your corporate network or other cloud providers, similar to how you manage native Azure virtual machines. When a hybrid machine is connected to Azure, it becomes a connected machine and is treated as a resource in Azure. Azure Arc provides you with the familiar cloud-native Azure management experience, like RBAC, Tags, Azure Policy, Log Analytics, and more.

If you are interested in these topics, join me and check out the following links:

Join us on the YouTube Livestream

If you are interested, join us on May 27 online. I am really looking forward to chatting with you in the Livestream about hybrid cloud server management with Azure Arc. You can find the live stream here on YouTube.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment.


May102020May 10, 2020May 18, 20200Commentby Thomas Maurer
Cloud with Chris Podcast

Cloud with Chris – Podcast on Hybrid Cloud

Posted in Azure Stack HCI, Cloud, Cloud Advocate, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Azure Stack, Speaking, Thomas Maurer, Webinar, Windows Server

I was on the Cloud with Chris podcast to talk about Hybrid Cloud and especially what Microsoft Azure has to offer with the Azure Hybrid services. Cloud with Chris is a great podcast if you want to learn more about different cloud computing technologies and concepts. You can listen to the podcast right here.

Cloud with Chris

Exploring Cloud concepts with Chris Reddington (Welsh Tech Geek, Cloud Advocate, Musical Theatre Enthusiast and Improving Improviser!). We will regularly invite guests to talk about their experiences with the cloud and hear about some of the lessons learned around their cloud journey.

In episode 6, we focused on Hybrid Cloud and how Microsoft Azure can really provide value. Microsoft Azure is designed to be hybrid and helps our customers to run their services where ever they need them, connect existing services to the cloud, and make their on-premises environment even better. In the podcast, we are talking about how you can connect existing systems to Azure Hybrid services, the new Azure Stack portfolio, Azure Arc, and much more.

Joining me in this episode is Thomas Maurer, a Senior Cloud Advocate at Microsoft who engages with the community and customers around the world! Most of the focus so far in Cloud with Chris has been on Public Cloud, so Thomas and I adjust course slightly, and talk about Hybrid Cloud, and the new and upcoming features of the Microsoft Azure platform. Get ready to be introduced to a wide variety of Azure Technologies, and how they may be able to strengthen your on-premises, public cloud or multi-cloud deployments. Let’s listen in…

You can check out his podcast site and listen to it on the platform of your choice. You can learn more about Azure Hybrid here:

I hope you will enjoy the Cloud with Chris podcast on Hybrid Cloud, and if you have any questions please let me know in the comments.


Apr302020April 30, 2020April 29, 20200Commentby Thomas Maurer
Speaking at Microsoft Virtual Training Week Germany 2020

Speaking at the Microsoft Virtual Training Week Germany 2020

Posted in Cloud, Cloud Advocate, Events, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Speaking, Thomas Maurer, Virtualization, Webinar, Windows Admin Center, Windows Server 2019

I am happy to let you know that I will be speaking virtually at the Microsoft Virtual Training Week Germany 2020 from May 11-14. This is a free four-day online event, where you can learn in different learning paths and tracks about the latest and greatest Microsoft technologies like Microsoft Azure, Dynamics 365, Microsoft 365, and many more. I will be speaking on Wednesday, May 13, and Thursday, May 14. The event will have a mix from sessions in German as well as sessions in English. My session will be in English and I will be talking in the Migrating Server Infrastructure and the Modern Cloud Operations track.

Migrating Server Infrastructure (Wednesday, May 13 – 13:30-17:30 CEST)

  • Migrating to Windows Server 2019 (Thomas Maurer – English)
    Tailwind Traders has acquired Northwind, a large subsidiary company. Northwind currently has 1500 servers running Windows Server 2008 R2 – either directly or virtually – on hardware at the midpoint of its operational lifespan. While Tailwind Traders will eventually move many of these workloads to Azure, Windows Server 2008 R2 end of life is quickly approaching. In this session, learn how Tailwind Traders’ used Azure hybrid management technologies to migrate servers, and the roles that they host, to Windows Server 2019.
  • Integrated Cloud Technologies – Hybrid Management Technologies (Thomas Maurer – English)
    Tailwind Traders has now migrated the majority of their server hosts from Windows Server 2008 R2 to Windows Server 2019. Now, they are interested in the Azure hybrid technologies that are readily available to them. In this session, learn how Tailwind Traders began using Windows Admin Center to manage its fleet of Windows Server computers and integrated hybrid technologies, such as Azure File Sync, Azure Arc, Azure Azure Site Recovery, and Azure Update Management to improve deployment performance and manageability.
  • Migrating IaaS Workloads to Azure (Markus Klein – German)
    Now that the migration of their server hosts from Windows Server 2008 R2 to Windows Server 2019 is complete, Tailwind Traders wants to begin the process of “lift and shift”: migrating some of their on-premises VMs they’ve been running in their datacenter. In this session, learn about how Tailwind Traders began the process of migrating some of their existing VM workloads to Azure and how this allowed them to retire aging server hardware and close datacenter and server rooms that were costing the organization a substantial amount of money.

You can find more information and register for free here.

Azure: Managing Cloud Operations (Thursday, May 14 – 13:30-17:30 CEST)

  • IaaS VM Operations (Thomas Maurer – English)
    In recent months, Tailwind Traders has been having issues with keeping their sprawling IaaS VM deployment under control, leading to mismanaged resources and inefficient processes. In this session, look into how Tailwind Traders can ensure their VMs are properly managed and maintained with the same care in Azure as they were in Tailwind Trader’s on-premises data centers.
  • Azure Governance and Management (Thomas Maurer – English)
    Tailwind Traders’ deployments are ocuring in an ad hoc manner, primarily driven by lack of protocol and unapproved decisions by various operators or employees. Some deployments even violate the organization’s compliance obligations, such as being deployed in a manner that violates PCI DSS rules. After bringing their existing IaaS VM fleet under control, Tailwind Traders wants to ensure that future deployments comply with policy and organizational requirements. In this session, walk through the processes and technologies that will keep Tailwind Trader’s deployments in good standing with the help of Azure Blueprints, Azure Policy, Locks, and more.

You can find more information and register for free here.

I hope you join us at the Microsoft Virtual Training Week Germany 2020. If you have any questions feel free to leave a comment. I also summarized some of the links to documentation which will help you with the topics above.

If you want to watch some videos on demand, check out my YouTube channel.


Apr262020April 26, 2020April 26, 20200Commentby Thomas Maurer
Speaking at Deploy by ShareGate Online Event

Speaking at Deploy by ShareGate Online Event

Posted in Cloud, Cloud Advocate, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Speaking, Thomas Maurer, Webinar, Windows Server, Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019

I am happy to let you know that I will be speaking online at Deploy by ShareGate. Deploy is an expert-led online event focused on Microsoft Azure Governance. On May 7th, at Deploy, I’ll be talking about Manage and govern your hybrid servers using Azure Arc, to help you stay on top of your Azure hybrid environment. This full-day virtual event, led by me and seven other Azure experts, is all about helping you implement Azure governance best practices.

Join for Free

Manage and govern your hybrid servers using Azure Arc

Thomas Maurer shows you how you can manage and govern your Windows and Linux machines hosted outside of Azure on your corporate network or other cloud provider, similarly to how you manage native Azure virtual machines. When a hybrid machine is connected to Azure, it becomes a connected machine and is treated as a resource in Azure. Azure Arc provides you with the familiar cloud-native Azure management experience, like RBAC, Tags, Azure Policy, Log Analytics and more.

If you’re interested in learning how to implement Azure governance best practices, join me (virtually) at Deploy by ShareGate on May 7! Save your free seat now and join me (virtually) at Deploy. I hope to see you there!



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    Thomas Maurer

    My name is Thomas Maurer. I am a Senior Cloud Advocate at Microsoft. I am part of the Azure engineering team (Cloud + AI) and engage with the community and customers around the world. I am located in Switzerland. I am focusing on Microsoft technologies, especially cloud and datacenter solutions based on Microsoft Azure, Azure Stack and Windows Server. Opinions are my own.

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