Mary Robbins

6 September 2017

Discover database DevOps at Microsoft Ignite

We’re excited to be part of Microsoft Ignite this year, in sunny Orlando, Florida. In Microsoft’s own words, this is the event where ‘The community of IT professionals comes together to transform your businesses’. It’s the perfect opportunity to learn about breaking announcements and plans, see the latest technology in action, and ask questions directly to the people who write the code.

Here are my top tips for Microsoft Ignite 2017.

Learn about database DevOps

Join Redgate’s Tom Austin to learn how to implement a complete DevOps approach across an organization by including the database. He’ll be hosting the session twice, so choose the one that best suits your event calendar:

• Thursday 28 Sept, 2.10pm, Theatre #1
• Friday 29 Sept, 9.35am, Building Theatre just outside the Expo

The presentation will explore how you can include the database in continuous integration and automated release management. This is becoming increasingly important because, as software teams face increasing pressure to speed up the delivery cycle, the DevOps approach is gaining momentum. The database is commonly a bottleneck, however, requiring additional safeguards when dealing with business-critical data.

See how you can apply DevOps processes to SQL Server databases using Redgate’s database DevOps solution alongside the tools you already have in place for the application, so you can ship application and database changes as one. Sharing best practices from high-performing IT organizations, Tom will discuss how including the database in your DevOps practices will increase productivity and agility, and optimize performance.

Build your schedule now and get ahead of the game

As always, Microsoft have a packed program planned, with nearly 1,400 sessions on a broad range of topics including Security & Compliance, Productivity, Deployment, Data and Machine Learning. So, log in to MyIgnite to build your schedule ahead of time and keep those coffee breaks for networking and refuelling.

Find Redgate in the expo hall and meet the team

Redgate are exhibiting at Ignite, and you’ll find us in the expo hall at booth 1563. This year’s team includes Product Managers, Developers, and Pre-Sales Engineers, so they’ll be able to help you with any question you have on database DevOps. Stop by to chat with the team about what’s new, and see demos of the latest tools:

• Learn more about our database DevOps solution. We’ll show you which tools will suit your current processes best. This includes Redgate Data Tools, which are included in Visual Studio Enterprise, and the SQL Toolbelt, Redgate’s complete database DevOps solution.
• See our newest tool, SQL Clone,in action. SQL Clone is a database provisioning tool that allows you to clone SQL Server databases in seconds and save up to 99% disk space. With a Visual Studio Team Services extension, you can now include realistic test environments in your build, test, and release pipelines automatically in VSTS.

Make the most of networking and personal development

A conference like Ignite provides a fantastic opportunity to dust off your networking skills and develop your professional network.

Whether it’s sharing session feedback with the person next to you in line for coffee, grabbing the chance to speak to your tech idol at a meet & greet over cocktails, or exchanging ideas and challenges with the person in the seat next to you at a keynote, start that conversation – you never know who might be your next customer or colleague.

Make the most of the social program as well as the sessions themselves, and I guarantee you’ll boost your confidence and learn something new.

Keep up to date during the event

Follow @redgate and #MSIgnite on Twitter to keep up to date and follow what’s happening at Ignite.

Ignite is set to be bigger than ever this year, with over 25,000 delegates expected. If you weren’t fortunate enough to get a ticket, don’t worry – there are still day passes and expo hall passes up for grabs. The keynotes and selected sessions will also be streamed live from 8:30AM EDT on Monday, September 25, and you can find out more about Redgate’s database DevOps solution online.

Check out Orlando

We’ve all done it – got really excited about the location for a conference, and then spent the week in the conference center and hotel, grabbing some ‘local gifts’ from the airport shops on the way home. With such a packed schedule at Ignite this year, you’ll have to be a savvy planner if you’re going to see anything else that Orlando has to offer. Here are my suggestions for squeezing in some time to soak up the atmosphere:

• Theme parks: there are lots of them, so check some out if theme parks are your thing.
• Lake Eola Park: 43 acres to explore, with fountains, lakeside walks, food stalls, gondolas and more.
• Thornton Park: tree-lined cobbled streets packed with small boutique shops, restaurants and cafes.
• Kennedy Space Centre: Learn about past and present NASA space missions where you can “get an up-close, hands-on feel for the story of humans in space”.

We look forward to seeing you in Orlando this month.