Microsoft Belux Solution Architect Forum at TechDays 2009 (March)

TechDays 2009 registration is open: this year’s event will take place on March 10th, 11th and 12th in Metropolis in Antwerp. The concept is somewhat different from last year as we will have a full day pre-conference on the 10th and then two normal conference days on 11th and 12th March. Registration is open at www.techdays.be – Early Bird until January 16!!

While the full agenda is to be finalized in the coming weeks, I wanted to take the opportunity of giving you some information on the content that we are planning for the conference, in particular the content for Solution Architects.

Solution Architect Pre-Conference – March 10

 

Theme

The theme of the pre-conference is “Software + Services: the convergence of SOA, SaaS, Cloud Computing and Web 2.0”. 

Speakers

We will again have an exceptional line-up of international top speakers such as:

Miha Kralj - senior architect Platform Architecture Team - Microsoft Corporation

As a senior architect on the Platform Architecture Team, Miha Kralj is responsible for leading architectural communities, helping the architectural profession to mature and grow, and coordinating activities within professional architectural organizations and bodies. Miha has had a varied career at Microsoft. In 1998, he joined Microsoft Consulting Services (MCS) as a senior consultant based in Ljubljana, Slovenia, where he specialized in networking, identity, and Windows Server workload solutions. He later became principal consultant for the Balkan region and then transferred to the Microsoft subsidiary in New Zealand. While in the Asia-Pacific region, his responsibilities included that of subject matter expert for the project management profession, leading a community of regional architects in Southeast Asia, and designing and delivery of managed intellectual property solutions for the global market. Before Miha joined Microsoft, he worked for IBM Corporation in Central and Eastern Europe as a technician, trainer, and sales support engineer, specializing in OS/2, Notes, and Domino. Miha is a Microsoft Certified Architect (MCA), Project Management Professional (PMP), and Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP).

Beat Schwegler - Architect - Microsoft EMEA

Beat Schwegler is the Enterprise Lead for early adoption projects in Western Europe. He provides advice and consulting to enterprise companies on software strategy and architecture and he really loves to share his thoughts and ideas and is therefore a frequent speaker at international conferences. Beat has many years of experience in professional software development and architecture and has been involved in a wide variety of projects, ranging from real-time building control systems, best selling shrink-wrapped products to large scale CRM and ERP systems. Recently, his prime focus belonged to the area of Collaboration, Enterprise Search and Software plus Services.

 

Vittorio Bertocci - Technical Evangelist - Microsoft Corporation

Vittorio Bertocci has over 13 years experience in the industry and has worked in various fields, being recognized as a breakthrough visionary of digital identities. With his work in the SOA (Service-Oriented Architecture) he received the Circle of Excellence award, an award that is presented to the highest standards of quality and technology, providing a model and goal for all businesses. He works with major G100 enterprises worldwide, facilitating the early adoption of technologies such as Identity and Access Management. The book he has co-authored, "Understanding Windows CardSpace", will be published in January 2008. The book focuses mainly on the introduction to the concepts and challenges of Digital Identities.

Shy Cohen – Senior Program Manager – Microsoft Corporation

Shy has been with MS for over 12 years. In the last year and a half, he has been working on Oslo as a Customer Experience PM, and for 5 years before that he worked on WCF as a Feature PM (part of the original design team). Shy is a  seasoned presenter, and has presented in numerous MS and other US and international conferences. This year at TechEd Israel, TechEd US, TechEd Africa, TR6, TR7, all with great feedback.

Agenda

09:00 - 10:15; Miha Kralj; Architectures: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Abstract: This session is designed to help architects develop critical thinking skills around the process and tools they use to develop their architectures. This will be accomplished by taking examples of failed solutions and mapping them to the anti-patterns that could have been avoided to improve the delivery. The session will also offer several architectural insights into the thinking required for next-generation solutions.

10:30 - 11:45; Vittorio Bertocci; Identity & Cloud Services

Abstract: The shift towards cloud computing is one of the major trends in today's IT industry. As resources are increasingly hosted off-premise, traditional strategies for access control and identity management are proving incapable of handling distributed scenarios and cross-boundary communication. This presentation puts the cloud computing trend in perspective, considers its effects on identity management and explores architectures & patterns addressing cloud computing scenarios with the same ease with which they can handle traditional ones. The .NET Access Control service will be used for demonstrating some practical application of the proposed practices.

12:30 - 13:45; Beat Schwegler; Software + Services: The convergence of SaaS, SOA and Web 2.0.

Abstract: In a nutshell, Software + Services is about combining and enhancing on-premise software with hosted and cloud based services. This session explores the concept of S+S based solutions from a consumer and provider perspective. We look at the solutions and services from a delivery, experience and economical standpoint and discuss some prominent service offerings in more detail

14:00 - 15:15; Shy Cohen; Lap around Oslo

Abstract: “Oslo” is a family of new technologies that enable data-driven development and execution of services and applications. Come and learn what “Oslo” is, how it can be used to model all the relevant aspects of your application and environment, how “Oslo” can be used to drive the execution of deployed applications, and how you can start preparing for “Oslo” today.

15:30 - 16:30; Miha Kralj; How IT will change in the next decade

Abstract: Just what are the most disruptive trends that will shake the IT industry in next 10 years or so? We will look into the commoditization of IT, industrialization through virtualization, and cloud computing and the effects of off-shoring IT workforces. We'll also examine the possible impact of social networks to next-generation employees and finally we'll investigate the most probable developments in ubiquitous computing and software engineering. Come to this session prepared for a fascinating and strategic tour of the changing face of the IT industry in our immediate future.

TechDays 2009 - March 11 and 12

During TechDays 2009, on March 11 and 12, there will be sessions with content targeting Solution Architects.  Registering for the Architect Pre-Conference gives you a discount for next 2 days of TechDays 2009. The details about those architect sessions will be  released soon

REGISTER HERE!!