What to Expect from Microsoft Ignite 2019
Next week, tens of thousands of technology professionals will descend on Orlando, Fla., for the annual Microsoft Ignite conference. It will be a week packed with hands-on workshops, certifications in Microsoft products and plenty of networking opportunities. From Nov. 4-8, the event will showcase the latest from the company and its partners. BizTech will be reporting from Orlando, and you can expect coverage on the following topics.
Cloud Services Will Take Center Stage
Cloud services is set to drive the conversation at Ignite, particularly around hybrid cloud computing. With Microsoft winning the Defense Department’s coveted Joint Enterprise Defense Infrastructure contract earlier this week, expect Azure and the cloud to be talked about even more.
Expect updates on Azure Stack and cloud analytics to be at the fore, along with sessions on the best ways to deploy cloud computing to align with business goals.
Cybersecurity Will Grab Attention at Microsoft Ignite
Cybersecurity continues to be front of mind for IT professionals, and Ignite will cover the topic extensively. In an earnings call for the first quarter of 2020, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella reportedly said that the company would be announcing “expanding opportunities in the cybersecurity market” at the conference. That announcement could come as early as Monday morning, when Nadella will give the keynote address.
A recent survey by the Enterprise Strategy Group found that, when looking for cybersecurity vendors, what’s most important to IT professionals is reliability across their portfolios and alignment with their IT initiatives. Expect any announcements to cater to these concerns.
Modernizing IT Infrastructure Will Be a Focus at Microsoft Ignite
Many of the conference’s panels and workshops center on how businesses can utilize products to modernize IT infrastructure. There are sessions covering everything from hyperconverged infrastructure to securing Infrastructure as a Service, and companies like Veeam will be talking about what solutions may be coming next.
MORE FROM BIZTECH: Read how small businesses can protect themselves from an internal cyber attack.
Diversity in IT on the Agenda at Microsoft Ignite 2019
In addition to the tech announcements, workshops and certifications, this year’s conference will also have a focus on diversity in the industry. A Diversity and Inclusion track encourages attendees to “discover how you can support and promote greater inclusion in the tech industry.” Those interested can attend one of several sessions about how building a diverse workforce can help businesses grow and ignite innovation.
For those who didn’t get a pass to this year’s event, Microsoft will be streaming the sessions live. The videos will also be uploaded after the conference wraps up, when they can be watched on demand through the Microsoft Ignite website.
