MSDN Belux webcasts on SQL Server self-service BI, FAST Search Server 2010 and Windows Azure

May 10, 2011: SQL Server self-service BI

Abstract
In this fast paced and ever changing world, insight in your company’s data becomes more and more crucial to stay ahead. Power users need this insight in data now, not in the next week or month. Due to this trend, BI has to evolve into a more mobile, quick and personal approach. Microsoft addresses this need for self-service BI for Power Users with Report Builder 3.0 and PowerPivot. This session gives you a quick overview of the SQL Server BI stack and introduces you to the concepts of self-service BI.

Speaker

Luc Lemaire is a Senior Architect at Ordina Belgium. During his 20 year career in IT he advised and assisted many companies with the introduction and optimization of new technology. As an MCT, MCSE and certified MCDBA since SQL Server 6.5 Luc knows the ins and outs of IT infrastructure and IT projects. He currently focuses on the Microsoft SQL Server stack and managing the life cycle of reporting and BI projects.

Timing
14:00 – 15:30

Attend this webcast and get a FREE "I have IT in my DNA" T-shirt!

May 24, 2011: FAST Search Server 2010 for SharePoint: a developers walkthrough

Abstract
Microsoft FAST Search Server 2010 for SharePoint extends the SharePoint search functionality and provides an exceptional search experience by incorporating features such as an extensible content processing pipeline, contextual search, extensible relevance models and an advanced query language. This session will introduce the FAST search platform from a developers perspective and will explore the different functionalities as well as talk about common developer tasks around Fast Search 2010 for SharePoint 2010 such as:
- Configuration and extension of the FAST search webpart
- Extending the content processing pipeline
- Building search applications using the SharePoint object model combined with the capabilities of the FAST Query Language (FQL).

Speaker
Joris Poelmans works as ECM unit manager and SharePoint principal architect at RealDolmen (www.realdolmen.com), a leading Belgian IT services company and Microsoft Gold Partner. His main competence area is Information Worker solutions, where he currently focuses on the SharePoint 2010 Products and Technologies platform. In October 2005, he was given the Microsoft MVP award for Windows SharePoint Services. He is also president of the Belgian Information Worker User Group (www.biwug.be) which regularly organizes sessions about the SharePoint platform in general. He can be contacted through his blog at https://jopx.blogspot.com.

Timing
14:00 – 15:30

Attend this webcast and get a FREE "Cloud Continuum" T-shirt!

June 7, 2011: Integration as a service - Creating hybrid solutions with the Windows Azure Platform

Abstract
There are plenty of business drivers for enterprises to consider a move the cloud, but at the same time there are plenty of reasons as well why these enterprises will not be able to move their entire stack in the short term. At least for the next ten years hybrid systems will be the defacto standard way of implementing cloud based systems in the corporate world. In this session I will show you around the different services, offered by the Windows Azure Platform, that ensure a seamless integration between cloud and on-premises resources.

Speaker
Yves Goeleven is a Windows Azure MVP and Solution Architect for Capgemini Belgium. His main focus is on the implementation of enterprise grade solutions on the Microsoft’s platform in corporate environments, based on both custom software development practices as well as platform services offered by Microsoft, including for example the Windows Azure Platform and xRM.

Timing
14:00 – 15:30

Attend this webcast and get a FREE Windows Azure hat!