This is it! Your guide to all things Windows & Devices at Microsoft Ignite, March 2-4--now complete with links to all the great, in-depth and on demand sessions!
Jump to: Core sessions | Ask the experts | Depth on demand | Office hours | Additional resources
This past year has underscored the critical importance of Windows – the Windows PC has become more essential than ever, serving as a connector for people and organizations all around the world. And at the center of it all is IT. Our goal at Microsoft Ignite in March is to quickly get you to speed on how you can use the latest capabilities, services, and devices to support your end users and your organization—and prepare you for what's to come.
Here's a recap of the announcements and capabilities we're unveiling at Microsoft Ignite:
- The Windows Update for Business deployment service
- A new deployment service for driver and firmware updates
- Optimized cloud-managed downloads with Delivery Optimization and Configuration Manager
- Expediting updates with Microsoft Intune in the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center
- Known Issue Rollback: helping you keep Windows devices protected and productive
- Using Microsoft Intune and Update Compliance for update monitoring and reporting
- Windows release health coming to the Microsoft 365 admin center
- Universal Print reaches general availability
- Microsoft Power Automate Desktop is now available for all Windows 10 users at no cost
From sessions with the top leaders and engineers at Microsoft supporting Windows to an awesome catalog of in-depth videos that you can watch on demand at any time, Microsoft Ignite is your chance to get up to speed on Windows, Surface, and Microsoft Edge. We'll have Ask the Experts sessions so you can engage directly with those building the capabilities that will support you as IT pros and developers today and in the future—and we'll extend the time available for you to engage with our experts through Windows Office Hours here on Tech Community.
Now is a great time to be a part of the big, wide world of Windows. If you haven't already, register at https://ignite.microsoft.com and start building your schedule. Click on the session names below to add them to your schedule (or digital "backpack")—then bookmark this post as we'll be updating it each day with links to all our announcements, depth learning on demand, and post-conference activities.
There is a lot happening around Windows at Microsoft Ignite so let's dive in!
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Core sessions
Windows fireside chat with Panos Panay & Roanne Sones
Kicking off our Windows experience at Microsoft Ignite at 11:30 AM PST on Tuesday, March 2nd is none other than Microsoft Chief Product Officer Panos Panay! In a fun, informative chat, Panos and Azure Edge + Platform CVP Roanne Sones will talk about why Windows matters, using examples of recent innovations in security, devices, browsing, and the cloud. We'll have our product and engineering experts standing by in the chat to answer your questions as well!
- The heartbeat of modern work: A Windows fireside chat with Panos Panay & Roanne Sones
Tuesday, March 2 | 11:30 AM PST*
Can't make it at 11:30 AM PST? Not to worry! We'll replay this session in the main channel around 9:30 PM PST.
Engineer to engineer: Let's talk Windows!
One of our goals for this Microsoft Ignite is to show and tell you how your feedback inspires our innovations! On Wednesday, Windows CVP Aidan Marcuss is sitting down with pivotal members of our Windows (Gabe Frost), security (David Weston), and endpoint management (Ramya Chitrakar) engineering teams for a lively discussion about the features and capabilities we've developed over the past year based on your ideas and suggestions—and how we're taking those further to help prepare your and your organization for the future.
We'll have live Q&A throughout this session too so pick the time that works best for you and add it to your schedule!
- Let's Talk Windows! - Wednesday, March 3 | 4:00-4:30 PM PST*
- Let's Talk Windows! - Thursday, March 4 | 1:30-2:00 AM PST*
On demand: Microsoft Edge, Surface, and Microsoft Endpoint Manager
After the keynotes, make sure to check out our featured on demand sessions:
- Microsoft Surface | Delivering the Best in Modern End Point Security from Microsoft
- Top reasons why customers love Microsoft Edge
- Thirty minutes of reasons to stay excited about Microsoft Endpoint Manager
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Ask the experts
Windows & Devices
While we'll offer live Q&A during the fireside chat and the Let's Talk Windows! panel session, you'll have an opportunity to ask additional questions and get answers from a diverse group of engineering, support, and product experts with our Ask the Expert sessions. These sessions are conducted in Teams Live Events so there's sure to be some lively banter as they answer your questions. Space is limited so click your desired day and time to RSVP!
- Ask the Experts: Windows & Devices - Wednesday, March 3 | 5:00-5:30 PM PST*
- Ask the Experts: Windows & Devices - Wednesday, March 3 | 11:30-11:59 PM PST*
Microsoft Edge
If you have specific questions around deploying and managing Microsoft Edge, we've got a special Microsoft Edge edition of Ask the Experts on Tuesday, March 2 from 11:30-11:59 PM PST*.
Microsoft Endpoint Manager
Or, if you are looking for advice on endpoint security, on monitoring and analysis or discovering vulnerabilities and potential compliance issues in real time, check out Ask the Experts: Securing your endpoints with Defender and Microsoft Endpoint Manager on Wednesday, March 3 from 2:30 AM to 3:00 AM PST*.
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Depth on demand
We know you come to Microsoft Ignite to build your technical skills and knowledge. That's why we're offering deep dives, demos, and more in the Video Hub on Tech Community—direct from our engineering and product teams!
- What’s new in Windows servicing – Joe Lurie, Namrata Bachwani
- Known Issue Rollback: supporting monthly patch compliance - Vatsan Madhavan, Eric Vernon
- The how-to guide for managing Windows updates – Aria Carley, Kay Toma
- The key to rolling out Windows updates with confidence – Aria Carley, Blair Glennon, Kevin Scharpenberg
- A simple recipe to accelerate Windows 10 patch compliance – David Guyer
- Windows 10 update monitoring and reporting – Charles Inglis
- Delivery Optimization + ConfigMgr = cloud content made easy – Narkis Engler, Carmen Forsmann
- Modernize application validation with Test Base for Microsoft 365 – Maitreyee Agashe Wagh
- 10 tips to make the Windows update experience fast and easy – Steve DiAcetis
- This is Windows security! – Katharine Holdsworth, David Weston, Ron Aquino
- What's new in MSIX – John Vintzel
- Driver and firmware servicing in the enterprise – Nir Froimovici, Bryan Keller, Thad Martin
- Enterprise development futures: Project Reunion – Thomas Fennel
- Windows 10 in cloud configuration: endpoint management simplified – Ravi Ashok, Joe Lurie
- Automate your desktop processes with Power Automate in Windows 10 - Ashvini Sharma
Note: Links to these great sessions will be available after the keynotes conclude on day one.
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Windows office hours on Tech Community
We want to ensure you have plenty of time to get answers to your questions at Microsoft Ignite. That's why we are holding four special editions of Windows office hours on Tech Community! Select any and all of the desired times below to save the slot and join us to get answers and tips to help you more easily manage Windows 10 updates and your Windows device estate.
- Windows Office Hours - Tuesday, March 2 – 1:00-2:00 PM PST
- Windows Office Hours - Wednesday, March 3 – 8:00-9:00 AM PST
- Windows Office Hours - Wednesday, March 3 – 5:00-6:00 PM PST
- Windows Office Hours - Thursday, March 4 – 8:00-9:00 AM PST
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Additional resources
If a prescriptive learning path is what you're looking for, we've got a good one for you. Stay current with Windows 10 and Microsoft 365 Apps is designed to help you integrate a prescriptive, process-based model into the way you deploy Windows and manage updates.
- Plan to deploy and manage updates for Windows 10 and Office
- Prepare to deploy and manage updates for Windows 10 and Office
- Deploy and manage updates for Windows 10 and Office
- Best practices for managing Windows 10 and Office updates for remote devices
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Learn more
Windows is a universe, not an island. Here are some additional guides to the breadth of experiences open to you at Microsoft Ignite 2021: March edition.
Stay informed
Follow us at @MSWindowsITPro for announcements and updates throughout Microsoft Ignite—and to stay up-to-date with the latest resources, tips, and information for IT pros working in the Windows ecosystem.
* Timing subject to change Refer to the MyIgnite session catalog for the latest times and updates.