Orlando – September 25th 2017 – Orange County Convention Center – Satya Nadella
Technical deep-dives, the latest innovation tools, and networking with the tech community: That’s the goal of Microsoft Ignite. The annual technical community event of Microsoft. This year in Orlando. Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, urges everyone to click on ‘refresh’. It’s time to find yourself – whether you’re an individual or an organization – again and strive for a better future for everyone. The technology is there. To us to get the most out of it.
Traditionally, Satya Nadella starts the keynote with the mission and vision of Microsoft. He shares that people, organizations and communities can change and should change – “Hit Refresh” – in their ongoing search for new energy, new ideas and ongoing relevance and renewal. This digital transformation gives Microsoft more practical relevance with the Intelligent Cloud and Intelligent Edge. A flexible hybrid cloud platform as a fundament with intelligent services like Azure Machine Learning and Microsoft Cognitive Services. And of course, the connection with different (Microsoft) cloud services like LinkedIn, Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365. Microsoft Graph is also mentioned a number of times as a strategic choice.
SQL Server 2017: the newest service for hybrid cloud
Data has to be saved somewhere. In Microsoft’s view, this could be done on-premises and in the public cloud. So hybrid, with Azure and Azure Stack. A number of services are specifically built here such as (announcement of) SQL Server 2017. This version is available as an on-premises version and in Azure (SQL DB). SQL Server 2017 also seamlessly seeks to be “open” in Microsoft’s strategy – instead of technology that can only be used as a Microsoft-only stack. SQL Server 2017 can also be installed on Linux.
Virtualization speeds up collaboration
The Ignite keynote contains an extensive demo of augmented, mixed and virtual reality in the form of Hololens and the development process of a passenger car. This integrates Hololens functionality with Microsoft Teams. Which is part of Microsoft 365. Colleagues could work together more efficiently and effectively. By associating virtualization with Microsofts’ main product for collaboration (Teams), she shows her faith in the power of virtual, mixed and augmented reality. In addition to integrating the HoloLens functionality, it is also possible to work in Teams with external users now.
Practice what you preach
The Intelligent Edge of Microsoft includes all kinds of devices like laptops, smartphones, smart IoT devices and mixed reality lenses. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is an important technology within the Intelligent Edge. This is really central to the keynote. It is nice to see that AI is not only spoken but also applied. For example, the keynote is translated in real-time using Microsoft Cognitive Services. This is shown at the top of the screen (see photo). It is also possible to follow the keynote in different languages. This translation is also done in real time by AI technology. And that is applied for all the Breakout sessions of Ignite.
Focus on specific branches
Industry-specific solutions are becoming increasingly central. Satya Nadella gives various examples of this. Consider, for example, the impact of Blockchain applications on the financial industry. Microsoft focuses on six branches – as announced in July 2017 at Microsoft Inspire: Education, Healthcare, Government, Financial Services, Manufacturing and Retail.
Quantum Computing is hot
Microsoft gives a lot of attention about the developments in quantum computing during the keynote. There is a Q & A between Satya and four academic experts on this topic. One of them is the Dutchman Leo Kouwenhoven. The power of quantum computers is that they can perform calculations quickly. The applications are therefore limited to calculations in science that last for thousands of years with normal computers. This makes them suitable for searching large databases and studying complex systems such as the functioning of drugs in the body, properties of molecules and weather.
The role of the IT Pro changes
The role of the IT Pro changes: the gap between him and a developer is getting smaller. At Ignite, much attention is paid to this. Not only the developer but both IT profiles have to deal with code. Think of PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC) or Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates. DevOps and Microsoft Visual Studio Team Services (VSTS) get a lot of attention. DevOps is about Microsoft’s modern process of getting software and applications in production and change continuously. Microsoft VSTS is the tooling for this.
Agile, agile and agile
Everything goes faster and more agile. Making mistakes is an option. But do it quickly. In this way you learn as an organization. Fail fast, learn quick. The IT Pro must deliver more added value to the core business of the organization. Commodity business, on the other hand, must be purchased efficiently or outsourced. In the words of Jeffrey Snover: “Build what differentiates you, buy what does not“.
Microsoft long term investments: Artificial Intelligence, Mixed Reality and Quantum Computing. “But most important, it’s about the change coming in every life as we witness the most transformative ware of technology yet – one that will include artificial intelligence, mixed reality, and quantum computing.” (Nadella, Hit Refresh, 2017)