Keeping Up with Microsoft

Keeping up with the dynamic world of Microsoft technologies and innovations is no small feat, given the vast array of products and the pace at which they evolve. Understandably, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to staying informed and proficient. The key lies in discovering the right mix of channels, types of content, and voices that resonate with your personal preferences and learning style. Whether you prefer deep-diving into official documentation, engaging with the community through forums, or keeping abreast of the latest trends through webinars and tech news sites, there’s a wealth of resources at your disposal. This guide aims to outline a variety of avenues you can explore to tailor your Microsoft learning journey to fit your unique needs, ensuring you’re always up-to-date with the tools and technologies that matter most to you.

Here are several strategies and resources:

1. Microsoft Blogs and Websites: These are primary sources of information directly from Microsoft, offering detailed updates, tutorials, and insights into their products and services.
   • The Microsoft 365 Blog focuses on productivity, collaboration tools, and workplace integration.
   • The Azure Blog provides updates on cloud services, security, and infrastructure advancements.
   • Microsoft Tech Community is a rich forum for discussions, blogs, and resources across Microsoft’s range of products.
   • The Windows Blog offers insights into the latest Windows updates, features, and developments.
   • Worklab is more of an online magazine, providing insights into the data and reasoning behind Microsoft products and strategies.
2. Microsoft Events: These events are invaluable for firsthand knowledge and networking. Microsoft Ignite, for example, is known for its in-depth sessions on Microsoft’s ecosystem, technology roadmap, and strategic direction with a largely IT Pro focus. For developers, there is Build, and for partners and salespeople, check out Inpire. All three annual events moved to online/hybrid during the pandemic, with online attendance now completely free. If you’re looking for in-depth guidance from Microsoft on a new release, browse through the on-demand archives from these events. Another option is to find a local event. Under the Envision brand, Microsoft is currently hosting regional AI Tours at Microsoft locations around the world.
3. Microsoft-sponsored 3rd Party Events. With Microsoft scaling back on their own events, much more investment and focus has shifted to the larger partner and vendor-led events. In the United States, there are the M365 Conference (this year in Orlando) and Power Platform Conference (Las Vegas), as well as the TechCon365 events covering both M365 and Power Platform in Seattle, Washington DC, and Dallas this year. In Europe, the largest events are ESPC (in Stockholm this year), the European Power Platform Conference (Belgium), and the community-organized European Collaboration Summit (Germany). There are many more for Dynamics, Windows, Azure, and beyond, but these are the events that I focus on in the M365 space.
4. Community Events. On the topic of community-led, there are dozens of events happening every week (day!) around the world. The hard part is finding all of them. Five locations that I keep tabs on for upcoming events are:
   1. Community Days website, which Microsoft hosts and supports for community events.
   2. CollabDays, which is supported by the ECS team and members of the community.
   3. Microsoft Tech Community events calendar, which combines Microsoft-led and community-submitted activities.
   4. Redmond Channel Partner‘s events, with more of a partner focus.
   5. Call for Speakers group on Facebook, which community members use to get the word out about local events they are hosting.
5. Official Microsoft Roadmap: Microsoft’s Roadmap site provides the latest updates on their productivity apps and intelligent cloud services. You can follow a specific product or features, and provide direct feedback to the product teams.
6. Microsoft Learning and Microsoft Certifications: Engaging with Microsoft Learn offers guided learning paths tailored to different roles and technologies, helping individuals stay current with free and paid training materials. Want to make a more serious commitment? Microsoft Certifications validate expertise in specific technologies, encouraging professional growth and recognition in the industry. The Learn site allows you to follow curated learning paths or create your own.
7. Microsoft Insider Programs: Insider programs like the Windows Insider Program offer a sneak peek into upcoming features and changes, allowing enthusiasts and professionals to test and provide feedback on early versions of Microsoft products. Also, check out the Microsoft 365 Insider program.
8. Third-Party Tech News Sites: Many tech news websites cover Microsoft-related news. Websites such as TechCrunch, The Verge, ZDNet, CMSWire, or CNET often have sections dedicated to Microsoft or enterprise software.
9. Microsoft Tech News and Thought-Leadership. Then there are the sites that focus entirely on Microsoft technology, such as WindowsCentral, MSPowerUser, Petri, HypervLab, Thurrott, and WinBuzzer. Of course, my personal favorite is TekkiGurus, which was launched early last year. These sites complement Microsoft’s own channels by offering broader industry context, comparisons, and analyses. They can be particularly useful for understanding how Microsoft’s offerings stack up against competitors and for catching news that might not be highlighted on Microsoft’s own platforms.
10. Social Media: Microsoft’s presence on platforms like Twitter, LinkedIn, and YouTube is not just about announcements; it also includes tips, educational content, and community engagement. Following these accounts can provide a more informal yet informative perspective on Microsoft’s activities.
11. Microsoft User Groups and Forums: There are many online communities where people share their experiences, insights, and latest news about Microsoft products. Examples include Stack Overflow, Reddit (r/microsoft, r/windows10, r/azure, etc.), and the Microsoft Tech Community forums. Participating in these communities allows for learning from real-world experiences, troubleshooting, and networking with peers. They can be particularly helpful for getting practical advice and solutions to common challenges.
12. Newsletters and RSS feeds: Subscribing to these feeds from preferred Microsoft blogs or third-party sites ensures you receive timely updates directly. This can help in filtering the information to your specific interests within the Microsoft ecosystem.
13. Partnerships and Reseller Networks: For businesses, leveraging relationships with Microsoft partners or resellers can provide tailored advice, training, and early insights into product developments, often with a focus on how they can be applied to your specific business needs. If your organization is a Microsoft partner or works with a reseller, they often provide training, resources, and updates to keep you informed about the latest from Microsoft.
14. YouTube Channels and Tech Influencers: Many experts and enthusiasts share insights, tutorials, and reviews of Microsoft products on platforms like YouTube. These can offer practical, visual guides to new features and products. How do you find them? Start by following the people who seem to have the answers to your questions. Channels you might want to consider include Microsoft Mechanics, SharePoint Maven, Modern Work Mentor, Kevin Stratvert, and buckleyPLANET.
15. Podcasts: There are several technology-focused podcasts that frequently cover Microsoft technologies and interviews with Microsoft leaders. These can provide deeper insights into strategy, technology trends, and more in an easily digestible format. There are so many to choose from, but here are some shows to explore: Microsoft Research Podcast, DotNetRocks, The Intrazone, 365 Message Center Show, UC Today, and, of course, the CollabTalk Podcast.

I hope this guide serves as a valuable starting point for curating your personal learning path. Your journey is unique, and the resources highlighted here are just the tip of the iceberg. I encourage you to share your experiences, suggest additional resources, or highlight any categories you think I may have missed. Your insights and discoveries could greatly benefit others in our community. Let’s continue to learn from each other and expand our collective knowledge. Please, feel free to comment below with your thoughts and contributions.