Now on demand! Windows at Microsoft Ignite: November 2021

[Heather Poulsen]

Welcome to your guide to all things Windows at Microsoft Ignite, November 2021 edition!
Updated 2021.11.04 with the latest on demand links and information.

Short on time? Jump straight to:  Core sessions | Interactive experiences | Foundational skills | Depth on demand | Related sessions | Windows Office Hours | Additional resources

Whether you are preparing to roll out Windows 11 across your organization or looking for proven tips to help you more easily manage all your Windows devices, there is a lot in store for you at Microsoft Ignite! Let's start with a quick recap of the announcements:

• Must read! Windows 11: Streamlined for business, predictable for IT
• New additions to the Windows Update for Business deployment service
• Deployment service for driver updates public preview coming soon
• Test Base for Microsoft 365 has reached general availability
• Update on support for Azure AD joined Cloud PCs in Windows 365 Enterprise
• Newest capabilities available for Windows 365 Enterprise edition
• Windows 365 Business will offer Windows 11 and admin capabilities
• There is more to Universal Print

Now the heart of Microsoft Ignite—the sessions! 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 with links to on demand sessions and post-conference activities.

Core sessions

Now on demand

Agile, collaborative, secure: Why adopt Windows 11 today
Windows CVP Aidan Marcuss and Microsoft 365 GM Wangui McKelvey take you on a tour of the value Windows 11 offers commercial organizations today—and a peek at upcoming investments. This is a great chance to get a primer on Windows 11 before you jump into more in-depth content!

Watched the main channel? Between all the keynotes and breakouts, we offered two very special segments featuring Chief Product Officer Panos Panay. One was a fun, fast-paced conversation on Windows 11 and hybrid work with Wangui McKelvey. The other was a thoughtful, enthusiastic discussion about designing an inclusive Windows 11 for a hybrid world with Chief Accessibility Officer Jennie Lay-Flurrie. These were a great way to hear directly from important leaders at Microsoft! 

Windows 11: The 11 things every organization should know
John Cable, Namrata Bachwani, Adi Hariharan, Aria Carley, Alice Tang, Mabel Gomes, Navnith Ramkrishnan, Joe Lurie, Zach Dvorak, Rachelle Cheung, Alec Oot, Aleks Lopez

The engineers who convert your feedback into real-world features take you on an energetic, fast-paced run through the critical elements in Windows 11 for IT pros and the commercial organizations they support. Let's keep building the next generation of Windows together!

Windows 365: Windows in the cloud for hybrid work
Scott Manchester, Melissa Grant

Explore Windows 365 and see the latest enhancements since general availability in August. From supporting Windows 11 adoption to integrations with Microsoft Endpoint Manager, we're talking about features, use cases, and everything else we can fit in 30 minutes!

Reducing security risks in the hybrid workplace with Windows 11 and Surface
Chitra Gopalakrishnan, David Weston, Mark Schreffler, Ramya Chitrakar

Discover how Windows-enhanced, out-of-box security settings pre-installed on Surface devices enable you to reduce security risks by 60% without having to change a single setting.

Interactive experiences

Ask the Experts

Adopting Windows 11. Supporting Windows 10. Rolling out Windows 365 Cloud PCs. Deploying updates. Moving from on-premises to cloud attach. Migrating to Microsoft Edge and supporting legacy apps. We've got a wide range of experts to answer questions!

• Ask the Experts: Deploying and managing Windows
• Ask the Experts: What’s new with Surface management, deployment, and security?
• Ask the Experts: Microsoft Edge - moving to a modern, secure browser with backward compatibility
• Ask the Experts: Managing Windows updates

Product roundtables

While we miss all the side meetings and booth discussions of an in-person event, we are excited to be able to offer smaller, one-hour interactive sessions that give you the floor. Tell us about your experiences. What’s working well? What’s not? Let's have a real discussion and join together to make the products and services you use work better for your needs and environments! (Note: These are live, interactive experiences and are not available on demand.)

• Cloud native Windows endpoints
• Windows patch management and release health information
• Delivering apps in the enterprise
• Endpoint management for hybrid work

New this year! Conversations in AltspaceVR

We're also taking virtual "event booths" to an immersive experience in AltspaceVR! Meet with Microsoft MVPs and other peers to engage in conversations about Windows update management, setting up and repurposing managed devices, and security and compliance. Mix and mingle as you share your challenges, successes, and best practices with Windows. 

• Managing Windows devices in a hybrid world
  (live, interactive experience; not available on demand)

Foundational skills

If you're new to Windows device and update management, we've organized some skill-building sessions to help you feel knowledgeable and comfortable with your newfound powers. :smiling_face_with_smiling_eyes:

Intro to Tech Skills: Manage Windows updates in the cloud
Get the knowledge you need to simplify update deployment by leveraging the cloud to manage Windows feature updates and monthly quality updates across your organization. Managing which updates are offered, using compliance deadlines, ensuring a good end-user experience—we’ll help you update like a pro!

The Blueprint Files: Managing Windows updates in the cloud
Take a look at the big picture, dig into what role the client plays in both Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) and cloud update management, then explore key differences in how you manage Windows updates on-premises and in the cloud.

Windows on Microsoft Learn
If prescriptive learning and exam preparation is what you're looking for, bookmark these topics to get you up-to-speed:

• Manage Windows updates for cloud-connected devices by using the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK
• Stay current with Windows devices and Microsoft 365 Apps
• Manage Windows updates in the cloud

Depth on demand

To help you further build your technical skills and knowledge, we have a strong selection of deep dives and demos in the Video Hub on Tech Community—direct from our engineering and product teams! Watch and share your comments and questions!

• Understanding Windows 11 deployment, management, servicing, and lifecycle 
• Getting to Windows 11 with Windows Update for Business
• Cloud attach today, cloud manage now
• Commercial driver and firmware servicing with the Windows Update for Business deployment service 
• Windows 11 cumulative update overview 
• Windows 11 application confidence with Test Base and App Assure
• Analyzing Windows upgrade failures and blocks
• Sustaining Windows in Microsoft Government clouds
• Enable your hybrid work scenarios with Windows 365 Enterprise
• Windows 365 Business: Hybrid work for your small business
• Experience new, fast end-user updates with Windows 365 and Windows 11
• Getting started with Windows 365 Enterprise
• How Microsoft Partners are adding value and extending the reach of Windows 365
• What’s new with Universal Print in Windows 11
• Universal Print integration with Microsoft 365
• Update to Azure Stack HCI, version 21H2 using a new update experience
• Automation from the desktop in Windows 11 with Power Automate
• Coming soon! Windows 11: Powerful commercial security from chip to cloud

Related sessions

The world of Windows is broader than just Windows. Check out these additional Microsoft Ignite sessions, now available on demand, to get up to speed on the latest with Microsoft Endpoint Manager, Microsoft Edge, and Surface!

• Power hybrid work and strengthen your security posture with Microsoft Endpoint Manager 
• Microsoft Edge - moving to a modern, secure browser with backward compatibility 
• Accelerate the Windows 11 journey with Microsoft Managed Desktop 
• Endpoint security management with Microsoft Endpoint Manager 

Windows Office Hours

After Microsoft Ignite is over—and you've had a chance to catch up on demand—you may have questions. You're in luck! Many of the speakers and experts supporting Windows at Ignite also support our monthly Windows Office Hours every third Thursday on the Tech Community. We'd love for you to join us!

Additional resources

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.