Tag: Cloud

Oct222020October 22, 2020October 22, 20200Commentby Thomas Maurer
Video Recording Azure Architecture Best Practices

Video Recording: Azure Architecture Best Practices

Posted in Certification, Cloud, Cloud Advocate, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Speaking, Thomas Maurer, Webinar

The video recording from the free online event where I was presenting together with Microsoft Cloud Solution Architect, Dominik Zemp, about Azure Architecture Best Practices is now available. In this session, you will learn about proven guidance that’s designed to help you, architect, create and implement the business and technology strategies necessary for your organization to succeed in the cloud. It provides best practices, documentation, and tools that cloud architects, IT professionals, and business decision-makers need to successfully achieve their short- and long-term objectives. We will be focusing on topics like the Cloud Adoption Framework and the new Enterprise-Scale landing zone architecture.

Azure Architecture Best Practices Virtual Event Agenda:

  • Introduction
  • Why Azure Architecture?
  • Introduction to the Cloud Adoption Framework
  • What is Enterprise-Scale?
    • Build landing zones with Enterprise-Scale
    • Critical design areas
    • Deployment using AzOps
    • Demo
  • Build on top of Enterprise-Scale – Well-Architected Framework for workloads and apps
  • Q&A

Azure Architecture Best Practices Virtual Event Video Recording

Important Links:

You can find some of the links mentioned in the video here:

About the Speakers

Dominik Zemp (Microsoft Cloud Solution Architect)

Dominik Zemp is a Cloud Solution Architect working with Global Swiss financial customers and has been working at Microsoft since 2008. Before Dominik changed role in late 2015, he worked as a Security and Identity Consultant in the Microsoft Services organization. Dominik’s focus areas are applications and infrastructure, including cloud-native applications, networking, and security. Dominik holds a Bachelor’s degree in IT with a Specialization in software systems.

Thomas Maurer (Microsoft Senior Cloud Advocate)

Thomas works as a Senior Cloud Advocate at Microsoft. He engages with the community and customers around the world to share his knowledge and collect feedback to improve the Azure cloud platform. Prior to joining the Azure engineering team (Cloud + AI), Thomas was a Lead Architect and Microsoft MVP, to help architect, implement and promote Microsoft cloud technology. If you want to know more about Thomas, check out his blog: www.thomasmaurer.ch and Twitter: www.twitter.com/thomasmaurer

Azure Solutions Architect Certification

AZ-304 Study Guide Azure Architect Design Exam Study Guide

AZ-304 Study Guide Azure Architect Design Exam Study Guide

Also, check out my exam study guides to achieve the Microsoft Azure Solutions Architect Certification:

I hope you enjoyed the video recording of our Azure Best Practices virtual event. If you want to learn more about Azure, check out my blog post How to learn Microsoft Azure in 2020, and if you have any questions feel free to leave a comment.


Oct202020October 20, 2020October 19, 20200Commentby Thomas Maurer
Azure Hybrid Cloud Architectures

How to create Azure Hybrid Cloud Architectures

Posted in Azure Arc, Azure Stack HCI, Cloud, Cloud Advocate, Containers, Hybrid Cloud, Kubernetes, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Azure Stack, SQL Server, Virtualization, Windows Admin Center, Windows Server, Windows Server 2019

Hybrid Cloud is important for many companies out there since hybrid cloud will be an end state for many customers and not just an in-between state until they have moved everything into the cloud. But how do we leverage all the hybrid cloud offerings of Microsoft Azure, and how do we build Azure hybrid cloud architectures? That is what we addressed with many new hybrid cloud architectures in the Azure Architecture Center. There you can find Architecture diagrams, reference architectures, example scenarios, and solutions for common hybrid cloud workloads.

These architectures focus on my different topics like:

Azure Hybrid Cloud Architectures

Here are some of the examples we have added to the Azure Architecture Center. You can find more Azure hybrid cloud architectures here.

Hybrid Security Monitoring using Azure Security Center and Azure Sentinel

This reference architecture illustrates how to use Azure Security Center and Azure Sentinel to monitor the security configuration and telemetry of on-premises and Azure operating system workloads. This includes Azure Stack.

Hybrid Security Monitoring using Azure Security Center and Azure Sentinel

Hybrid Security Monitoring using Azure Security Center and Azure Sentinel

You can find the full Hybrid Security Monitoring using Azure Security Center and Azure Sentinel architecture here.

Read More

Oct132020October 13, 2020October 13, 20201Commentby Thomas Maurer
Automanage for Azure virtual machines

Automanage for Azure virtual machines

Posted in Cloud, Cloud Advocate, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Windows Server, Windows Server 2016, Windows Server 2019

For me, one of the most impressive announcements at Microsoft Ignite, next to many of the Azure Arc and Azure Stack announcements, was the announcement of the Azure Automanage for virtual machines (VMs) public preview. As you know, Microsoft Azure offers many management services for Azure virtual machines (VMs). However, finding and configured these services can be some work. Azure Automanage for virtual machines helps to address precisely that. Azure Automanage for virtual machines is a service that eliminates the need to discover, know how to onboard, and how to configure certain services in Azure that would benefit your virtual machine.

In summary, Azure Automanage provides the following features to reduced cost by automating Windows Server management, improved workload uptime with optimized operations, and implementation of security best practices.

  • Intelligently onboards virtual machines to select best practices Azure services
  • Automatically configures each service per Azure best practices.
  • Monitors for drift and corrects for it when detected.
  • Provides a simple experience (point, click, set, forget)

You can find more information on Microsoft Docs.

Read More

Oct052020October 5, 2020October 8, 20200Commentby Thomas Maurer
Microsoft Azure Hybrid Cloud Virtual Event

Join the Free Microsoft Azure Hybrid Cloud Virtual Event

Posted in Azure Arc, Azure Stack HCI, Cloud, Cloud Advocate, Hybrid Cloud, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Azure Stack, Speaking, Thomas Maurer, Virtualization, Webinar

I am happy to let you know about another free online event where I am presenting with Microsoft Senior Azure Product Marketing Manager, Dave Kurth, about Azure Hybrid Cloud solutions. This free virtual event will be on October 7 from 4:00 pm-6:00 pm (CEST). In this session, you will learn about the unique approach from Microsoft about Azure hybrid cloud. David Kurth will share with you Microsoft’s Hybrid Cloud strategy. I will be joining him to showcase the outlined strategies in powerful demos. We will also share use cases and customer stories and how our approach is different from our competitors.

Microsoft Azure Hybrid Cloud Virtual Event Topics

Since the event is over, you can watch the recording here:

About the Speakers:

Dave Kurth (Senior Azure Product Marketing Manager)

David is a Senior Azure Product Marketing Manager. He is focused on Azure Hybrid, specifically Azure Stack Hub and Azure Stack Edge. Before that, he successfully led the Cloud + AI business Switzerland. Apart from his professional endeavors, he has lent his skills to causes involving humanitarian actions and economic empowerment.

Thomas Maurer (Microsoft Senior Cloud Advocate)

Thomas works as a Senior Cloud Advocate at Microsoft. He engages with the community and customers worldwide to share his knowledge and collect feedback to improve the Azure cloud platform. Before joining the Azure engineering team (Cloud + AI), Thomas was a Lead Architect and Microsoft MVP to help architect, implement, and promote Microsoft cloud technology. If you want to know more about Thomas, check out his blog: www.thomasmaurer.ch and Twitter: www.twitter.com/thomasmaurer

I am really looking forward to the Microsoft Azure Hybrid Cloud virtual event, and I hope to see you there!


Sep222020September 22, 2020September 22, 20200Commentby Thomas Maurer
Azure Stack Hardware Augmented Reality AR Experience

Azure Stack Hardware Augmented Reality AR Experience App

Posted in Azure Stack HCI, Cloud, Hardware, Hybrid Cloud, Lenovo, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Microsoft Azure Stack, Software, Virtualization

As you know, Microsoft Ignite 2020 has gone virtual this year. We have some great sessions, engagement options, the Cloud Skills Challenge, and much more for you. However, one part I would have missed this year would have been the expo hall, where I could look at all the new Azure Stack hardware. That is why the Azure Stack team created a mobile app that allows you to look at Azure Stack hardware and new form factors through augmented reality (AR) in the comfort of your environment.

This app allows you to look at some of our Azure Stack hardware portfolio, including Azure Stack Hub, Azure Stack HCI, and the all-new Azure Stack Edge and Azure Stack Edge pro devices, running at the edge in your Hybrid Cloud environment.

Azure Stack Hub Lenovo Augmented Reality

Azure Stack Hub Lenovo Augmented Reality

If you want to learn more about the Azure Stack portfolio, check out my blog post and the following links.

  • Azure Stack Hub – Azure Stack Hub broadens Azure to let you run apps in an on-premises environment and deliver Azure services in your datacenter.
  • Azure Stack Edge – Azure Stack Edge brings the compute power, storage, and intelligence of Azure right to where you need it—whether that’s your corporate data center, your branch office, or your remote field asset.
  • Azure Stack HCI – Azure Stack HCI is a new hyper-converged infrastructure operating system delivered as an Azure service providing the latest and up to date security, performance, and feature updates.
Azure Stack Edge Pro

Azure Stack Edge Pro

You can download it for your iOS or Android device. I hope you enjoy the Azure Stack Hardware AR Experience! Let me know what you think! Also, check out the team’s Microsoft Ignite 2020 session about the IT Pro in the Cloud era!


Sep222020September 22, 2020September 21, 20200Commentby Thomas Maurer
Speaking at Microsoft Ignite 2020 about IT Pros in a Cloud World

Speaking at Microsoft Ignite 2020 about IT Pros in a Cloud World

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

I am happy to let you know that I will be speaking at Microsoft Ignite 2020. Microsoft Ignite 2020, will be a free digital event experience on September 22-24. In the session IT Operations in a Cloud world, Sarah Lean and I will be covering the work of IT Pros and IT Operations in the Cloud World. Join us for IT Operations in a Cloud World:

IT Operations in a Cloud World

Thursday, September 24 12:30 PM – 1:00 PM CEST (Duration 30 minutes) 📆
With the rise of the cloud, is the IT department no longer needed? What do IT Pros do anyway? Learn about IT Operations in the cloud era, the skills you need and the career opportunities.

Not the right time zone for you? The session will be recorded and will be available on demand after the event. However, you can also join our colleagues in other times zones:

  • IT Operations in a Cloud World – APAC Edition
    with Sonia Cuff and Orin Thomas
  • IT Operations in a Cloud World – America Edition
    with Anthony Bartolo and Pierre Roman

I am really looking forward to speaking at Microsoft Ignite 2020! I hope to see you there! Also make sure you check out the Microsoft Ignite Cloud Skills Challenge 2020, to get a free Microsoft Certification exam!


Sep212020September 21, 2020September 21, 20202Commentsby Thomas Maurer
Microsoft Ignite Cloud Skills Challenge 2020

Join the Microsoft Ignite Cloud Skills Challenge 2020

Posted in Certification, Cloud, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, Web, Windows 10, Windows Server, Work

You can join the Microsoft Ignite Cloud Skills Challenge 2020 and get a free Microsoft Certification exam voucher! Were you looking to take a Microsoft Certification Exam? All participants of Microsoft Ignite 2020 who complete at least one collection in the Microsoft Ignite Cloud Skills Challenge are eligible for a free certification exam (subject to Terms and Conditions). Microsoft certifications can help you continue skilling up and prove your technical expertise to employers and peers. Check out my blog post on why you should become Microsoft certified.

Choose up to six different challenges to complete on Microsoft Learn. After you’ve completed your first challenge, you’ll earn a free Microsoft Certification exam. For each challenge you complete, you’ll earn five entries into a sweepstakes. One grand prize winner will receive a chance to meet with a Microsoft leader and invite up to four friends.

Join the Microsoft Ignite Cloud Skills Challenge 2020

You can join the Microsoft Ignite Cloud Skills Challenge 2020 by registering for Microsoft Ignite and sinning up for the Cloud Skills Challenge in the Learning Zone. The free certification exam is available for redemption starting October 12, 2020 and is valid until March 31, 2021. If you do not schedule and take your eligible exam within that timeframe, you will not be able to redeem your offer. Details and instructions on how to redeem your free certification exam will be available starting October 12, 2020.

You can take the exam at an authorized Pearson Vue testing center or through a Pearson Vue online proctoring site.

Available Microsoft Certification Exams

Check out the list of Microsoft Exams here:

Azure

Dynamics 365 and Power Platform

Microsoft 365

Conclusion

The Microsoft Ignite Cloud Skills Challenge 2020 is a great chance to learn more and get a free Microsoft Certification. Happy Learning!



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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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