Texas

Special Topics Track

Monday 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM · Room 1

Establishing SharePoint Online Admin Rockstar Status

Brian Alderman

Brian Alderman

Six-year MVP Alumni, 28-year MCT, Author, Speaker, Consultant

SharePoint Online (SPO) integrates with many services that you need to be familiar with to successfully manage your collaboration content. In this full day workshop, we are going to learn about these different services and how to manage the integration with them by exploring and discussing SharePoint Online best practices for configuring, securing, optimizing, and implementing redundancy.

We will begin by discussing and creating a new Microsoft 365 tenant, followed by exploring how to customize both the M365 and SharePoint administrator dashboards so they only display information related to the Microsoft 365 services and SPO-related components like SharePoint Online and OneDrive.

We will also explore how to create and assign users to access SharePoint Online as both an end user and as administrators.

Being most scenarios require the migration of content, we will discuss several options for migrating content from many different sources to SharePoint Online and OneDrive.

Most migrations require at least an interim hybrid configuration, so we will introduce and explore the components that can be configured for a hybrid environment as an interim solution, or as a long-term solution.

We will then roll up our sleeves and explore the configuration of several components of SharePoint Online using both the GUI and PowerShell. These SPO components and configurations include;

Creating, configuring, and managing site collections

Configuring the user profile service (UPS) to ensure your Active Directory data is included in your search index

Exploring several search service configuration options, to ensure your users are able to quickly find the information they need, along with how to access some search-related reports, as well as some suggestions on how to help your users submit better search queries for more accurate search results

Discussing both SharePoint Online and OneDrive configuration options for managing and securing your collaboration content

Create and implementing a structured taxonomy to provide consistent and reliable data in SPO by using published tenant-level content types and managed metadata fields via the term store, as well as other custom column types, that can all be managed by information architects.

As we discuss these topics throughout the day, I’ll be sharing best practices, as well as tips and tricks that every SPO admin should know about while working with SPO.

When you leave the workshop, you’ll have all the skills and best practices to migrate to, configure, manage, and secure SharePoint Online and OneDrive components using the SharePoint Online Admin center, OneDrive admin Center, and PowerShell.

Tuesday 9:00 AM - 12:30 PM · Room C

Share, Protect, & Govern Your Data in Teams, SharePoint, & OneDrive

Drew Madelung

Drew Madelung

MS Solutions Architect | Microsoft MVP

Collaboration lives at the core of a modern workplace and collaboration is built around the ability to access and share information. Not all information is the same and the ability to get content securely to the right people, both internal and external, at the right time keeps work moving. But how do you easily and securely your data in Microsoft 365? What are your options to ensure you retain control of your data?

The ability to safeguard your data is possible! In this workshop, we will show you:

  • The elements of the Microsoft data security landscape
  • How to secure you data with Microsoft Information Protection and sensitivity labels
  • Control & manage sharing in your tenant
  • Prevent exfiltration with data loss prevention
  • How to detect, investigate, and take action using insider risk management

By the end of this workshop you will know what you can do to secure your data and allow your company to collaborate better and achieve more.

Tuesday 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM · Room 8

From Assessment to Action: Building a Stronger Microsoft 365 Governance Framework

Christian Buckley

Christian Buckley

RD+MVP | Award-Winning Product Marketer & Tech Evangelist | Board @TekkiGurus | #CollabTalk podcast + tweetjam

In today's digital landscape, effective governance is essential for maintaining the security, compliance, and operational efficiency of your Microsoft 365 environment. This full-day workshop is designed to equip IT professionals, business leaders, and administrators with the skills and knowledge necessary to conduct comprehensive governance assessments and transform findings into actionable improvement plans.

Participants will learn a step-by-step approach to evaluating their current governance practices, identifying gaps, and benchmarking against industry standards. The workshop will provide practical insights into developing a robust governance framework that addresses security, compliance, and efficiency needs, and the ongoing feedback loops needed to better engage with and meet the needs of your end users.

Through interactive sessions, hands-on exercises, and real-world case studies, attendees will gain a deep understanding of how to:

  • Conduct thorough assessments of their Microsoft 365 systems and processes.
  • Identify and prioritize areas for improvement.
  • Develop and implement actionable plans to enhance their governance strategies.
  • Optimize existing settings across SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive, Viva Engage, and Azure.
  • Prepare for the integration of AI tools, ensuring seamless adoption and maximizing benefits.

By the end of the workshop, participants will leave with a documented plan and the confidence to take the next steps in strengthening their Microsoft 365 governance framework, ensuring your organization is well-equipped to navigate the complexities of the modern digital workplace.

Wednesday 11:40 AM - 12:50 PM · Room 8

Top tips for self-service management using Microsoft Entra

Martina Grom

Martina Grom

CEO atwork, MVP Azure and Microsoft 365, Microsoft RD

Microsoft Entra offers self-service solutions while staying secure and compliant. In this demo session, Martina shows how you can implement governance, use out-of-box functionality for identity governance and / or create a self-service approach for lifecycle management. We will dive into the Governance section of Microsoft Entra Id. Covering: Lifecycle Management Self-Service Access Reviews Entitlement Management

Wednesday 11:40 AM - 12:50 PM · Room 3

Women in Tech and Allies Meet Up

Danielle Moon

Danielle Moon

Power Platform Enthusiast

Emily Mancini

Emily Mancini

Founder & Executive Director, Left Uncharted

Michelle Caldwell

Michelle Caldwell

Michelle is a workplace experience leader with over 25 years of experience delivering transformative solutions to diverse organizations powered by Ethical AI

Miranda Jones

Miranda Jones

Director of CX PM, Microsoft

All individuals, regardless of gender, are invited to join us to celebrate, talk about our progress, and focus on how we can continue to make the Microsoft ecosystem the best in the world for welcoming, mentoring and supporting women. Additionally, we aim to promote allyship and foster inclusiveness within our industry.

Wednesday 2:20 PM - 3:30 PM · Room 9

Healthcare data solutions in Microsoft Fabric

Jim Novak

Jim Novak

Principal Technical PM at Microsoft

Microsoft recently announced the preview of healthcare data solutions in Microsoft Fabric as part of Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare.

In this session we will review the overall architecture built on Microsoft Fabric Lakehouse, Healthcare industry standards for data, common use case scenarios, and a demo of the solution in action.

Wednesday 4:20 PM - 5:30 PM · Room A

Empowering corporate communications with Microsoft 365

Susan Hanley

Susan Hanley

Information Architect/Business Analyst

Creating and delivering compelling and consistent corporate communications messages across multiple channels can be challenging, especially in the fast-paced and dynamic business environment. In this session, you will learn tips and best practices to improve internal communications. We will talk about new and emerging capabilities in SharePoint News and Viva Engage along with premium capabilities available with Viva Amplify and Copilot. Whether you’re a seasoned communicator or a curious novice, this session promises actionable insights, practical tips, and a dash of innovation.

Wednesday 4:20 PM - 5:30 PM · Room 8

Self-Care in a Digital Age: Navigating Well-Being Amidst Screens and Algorithms

Michelle Caldwell

Michelle Caldwell

Michelle is a workplace experience leader with over 25 years of experience delivering transformative solutions to diverse organizations powered by Ethical AI

In our increasingly digital world, where screens and algorithms shape our daily lives, self-care has become more critical than ever. As we engage with technology, we must also prioritize our well-being. This lightning talk explores the intersection of digital life and self-care, offering insights into how we can cultivate healthier relationships with our devices.

Thursday 10:50 AM - 12:00 PM · Room 2

Engineering Effective Feedback Systems in the AI-Enhanced Workplace

Christian Buckley

Christian Buckley

RD+MVP | Award-Winning Product Marketer & Tech Evangelist | Board @TekkiGurus | #CollabTalk podcast + tweetjam

Transformation in the workplace, spurred by Artificial Intelligence, presents unique challenges and opportunities for feedback collection and analysis. This session will focus on the pivotal role of AI in crafting feedback mechanisms that are not only scalable and repeatable but are also crucial in driving meaningful change and improving user interaction. We will dissect various feedback methodologies including surveys, polls, and forums, aligned with Microsoft and industry-leading practices, to achieve comprehensive insights into user behavior, engagement, and return on investment. The session will also cover the importance of internal training solutions such as Adoption.Microsoft, Viva Academy, and M365 Learning Pathways, for fostering an environment conducive to continuous learning and adaptation.

The session is designed to empower those in leadership, user engagement, and tech-readiness roles with the strategic knowledge required to implement and maintain feedback systems that propel both user satisfaction and organizational growth in an ecosystem increasingly dominated by AI.

Thursday 10:50 AM - 12:00 PM · Room C

Best Practices for Securing your Microsoft 365 Tenant

Brian Culver

Brian Culver

Sr. Software Engineer @ Microsoft

In today’s interconnected digital landscape, safeguarding your organization’s data is paramount. As CIOs, CISOs, and IT leaders, you understand that Microsoft 365 is more than just a suite of productivity tools - it’s the backbone of collaboration, communication, and business continuity. But with great power comes great responsibility. How can you ensure that your Microsoft 365 environment remains resilient against evolving threats? In this presentation, I deep dive into a list of best practices for securing your Microsoft 365 tenant. I’ll explore practical steps to fortify your defenses, protecting sensitive information, and empower your workforce. From multi-factor authentication to advanced threat protection, we’ll equip you with actionable insights that transcend theory and translate directly into robust security practices. Join us at the conference to discover how to thwart phishing attacks, secure your SharePoint and OneDrive assets, and elevate your organization’s security posture. Let’s turn theory into action and build a resilient fortress around your digital workplace.

In this presentation, you will: Learn the latest best practices around securing M365 Improve your security posture with Microsoft Entra ID Tiering Model See what an attack looks like and use alerting to flag suspicious activity

Thursday 10:50 AM - 12:00 PM · Room D

Knowledge Management Strategies for Microsoft 365 in the Copilot World

Susan Hanley

Susan Hanley

Information Architect/Business Analyst

With the deprecation of Viva Topics in February 2025, Microsoft is losing the “hero” application for Knowledge Management in Microsoft 365. But Viva Topics alone was never enough and certainly not the only app in your Knowledge Management toolkit.

In this session, we will discuss strategies for leveraging Microsoft 365 to achieve your KM goals – from both manual and automatic metadata classification in SharePoint to enhance explicit knowledge to AI-assisted tacit knowledge and expertise location experiences with Viva Engage and Answers in Viva to Copilot-assisted knowledge experiences grounded in your organizational content.

You will take away practical strategies for achieving your KM goals and a deeper understanding of how Microsoft 365 and Copilot can help you in your journey.

Thursday 12:50 PM - 1:20 PM · Room 1

Revolutionizing Knowledge Work with Automation and Microsoft Copilot

Rick Scanlan

Rick Scanlan

Manager, Americas Sales Engineering M-Files

Want to supercharge your team's productivity with cutting-edge AI? Join us for an exclusive demo of how an AI functionality, and seamless Microsoft Copilot integration, is transforming the way knowledge work is done.

See firsthand how your organization can accelerate day-to-day tasks like automated meeting minutes, email summaries, and document drafting. With Knowledge Work Automation powered with GenAi your team can focus on high-value work while AI takes care of the tedious details.

In this session, you'll discover: • AI-Powered Summaries: How to generate smart, concise document summaries, making it faster to grasp key insights. • Language-Independent Queries: Effortlessly ask questions and get answers across languages with AI-driven search capabilities. • Streamlined Information Discovery: Cut through the data clutter and find what you need in seconds, saving valuable time. • Uncompromised Compliance and Security: Ensure your AI solutions are secure, while adhering to industry regulations. • Enhanced Collaboration with M365 Copilot: Seamlessly publish and share information with Copilot ensuring your team sees only what they need.

Thursday 12:50 PM - 1:20 PM · Room C

Veeam Data Cloud for Microsoft 365

Karinne Bessette

Karinne Bessette

Technologist, PS @Veeam

The industry's leading Microsoft 365 backup solution-Veeam Backup for Microsoft 365- is now delivered as a service.

18M+ Microsoft 365 users protected Over a decade of continuous innovation Key Microsoft 365 Back partner

Thursday 1:30 PM - 2:40 PM · Room 9

Unlocking Career Advancement: Mentorship Strategies and Allyship

Miranda Jones

Miranda Jones

Director of CX PM, Microsoft

This session explores the pivotal role of mentorship in career advancement. It delves into effective strategies for establishing and nurturing mentor-mentee relationships, highlighting how these connections can drive professional growth. Additionally, the session emphasizes the importance of active participation in these relationships to support personal development and career progression. Participants will gain actionable insights into leveraging mentorship to unlock new opportunities and achieve their career goals

Thursday 1:30 PM - 2:40 PM · Room C

Labelling in Microsoft 365: Retention & Sensitivity

Drew Madelung

Drew Madelung

MS Solutions Architect | Microsoft MVP

Are you classifying your data in Microsoft 365? You can add data classifications using sensitivity and retention labels but they do two very different things. In this session I will break down what the label options are, how you can use them, and why you should deploy them in your organization to keep your content compliant and secure.

Thursday 1:30 PM - 2:40 PM · Room D

Keeping up with change in Microsoft 365 in the AI Era

Daniel Glenn

Daniel Glenn

Microsoft MVP, Owner and Microsoft 365 Consultant at CollabFront

Every month there are dozens of changes made throughout the services in Microsoft 365. The changes can bring brand new features, but also change aspects on which your business solutions are based.

How do you stay informed about the changes and prepare your environment for all the updates? How can you keep your users up-to-date with the features that are available and manage the process of change? How does Ai and Copilot help (or not)?

During this session, we will discuss how IT Pros and collaboration enablers can keep up with all the changes, promote adoption with your users, and help your organization stay focused on what you do best. Real-world examples of how you can manage all the data available to you will be shared. You will leave with the tools you need to be proactive in managing cloud changes in your organization.

Friday 9:00 AM - 10:10 AM · Room 5

Introduction to JSON to master customizing SharePoint

Mark Rackley

Mark Rackley

Director, Microsoft Practice @ Protiviti

JSON is EVERYWHERE in SharePoint Online and your ability to take your SharePoint deployments to the next level depend on your ability to understand and create complicated JSON objects. In this densely demo-packed session, attendees will learn:

  • What is JSON and how to understand the structure
  • Tips for creating JSON objects and starting with community content as a starting point

Attendees will also learn how to use JSON Objects in SharePoint Online to:

  • Customize list columns and list views
  • Create Site Designs for creating custom site templates
  • Create stunning Quick Views for Viva Connections ACE's
  • Post messages in teams as Adaptive Cards
  • Process SharePoint REST queries in Power Automate
  • and more!!
Friday 12:30 PM - 1:40 PM · Room 8

Knowledge Management within Microsoft 365 without Viva Topics

Daniel Glenn

Daniel Glenn

Microsoft MVP, Owner and Microsoft 365 Consultant at CollabFront

Viva Topics has been a valuable asset for knowledge management. However, as Viva Topics approaches its retirement in 2025, enterprises must strategically pivot toward more robust solutions. In this session, we will walk through how you can transition away from Viva Topics, help your employees adapt to the change, and build knowledge management into your organization’s everyday work. We will build out your organization’s roadmap to: • Assess the impact of losing Viva Topics, even if you haven’t started using it organization-wide yet. • Ensure you know how migration will work. • The setup of your alternative solutions to keep your knowledge management running. • How to train and ensure proper adoption to make the most out of your ‘institutional knowledge’. • Establish governance with guidelines for content creation, moderation, and quality control.

As Viva Topics bows out, SharePoint and Microsoft Viva Engage emerge as powerful Copilot allies. Come learn how organizations that proactively embrace this transition will thrive in the new era of knowledge management.

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