Welcome to an insider's view of the Microsoft enterprise IT environment. Here you'll find our latest content on Microsoft IT's best practices and lessons learned as we plan for, develop, deploy, and manage Microsoft products in our own global enterprise. Content is added regularly, so be sure to check back often to see what's new, or subscribe to our RSS feed to receive alerts when new content is posted.

• Centralizing and Sharing Business Intelligence
  Centralizing and sharing business intelligence helps Microsoft lower costs, streamline business processes, share business information securely across the entire company, and establish closer relationships with business partners.
  Added: Wednesday, 28 October 2009

• Work Smart Guides Deliver Key Software and Services Productivity Scenarios
  Microsoft IT (MS IT) created Work Smart Guides to provide employees with scenario-based, re-usable, best-use productivity aids on Microsoft products and IT technologies. The goal of the Work Smart Guides project is to enable more consistent, productive, and cost-effective use of software and service offerings across the company.
  Added: Friday, 23 October 2009

• Streamlined PC Procurement Improves Productivity While Controlling Costs
  Do you manage a PC procurement system? Learn how Microsoft IT closely manages the PC configurations available to its employees. Specific computer procurement guidelines allow Microsoft employees to easily purchase supported PCs. In turn, providing a limited set of supported PC configurations enables the corporation to improve application compatibility, hardware compatibility and provide an improved user experience.
  Added: Tuesday, 20 October 2009

• Maturing Deployment Methodology Yields Streamlined Windows 7 Deployment
  Windows 7 deployment goals have been exceeded and Helpdesk call volume is below anticipated levels. Microsoft IT delivered on a Windows 7 deployment plan that minimized end user disruption. Investments in communications and productivity materials support a prepared end user population.
  Added: Tuesday, 20 October 2009

• Improving the Wireless Network Infrastructure at Microsoft
  In this article you will learn how Microsoft IT defines Enterprise Data Protection for Intellectual Property (IP). Brokering IP between employees, vendors, and partners requires nuance. The usefulness of data is directly proportional to its range of movement. At the same time, portable computing devices with significant storage capacities enable users to distribute corporate data. Balancing these realities at Microsoft has resulted in four Strategy Stages. They include Current Strategy, Short Term Solutions, Long Term Solutions, and Realizing the Vision.
  Added: Tuesday, 20 October 2009

• Leveraging Software to Reduce Energy Consumption
  Faced with data center capacity limitations, soaring server use and increased energy consumption, Microsoft IT (MS IT) organized for and developed an Environmental Sustainability (ES) plan. Aimed at reducing the environmental impact of Microsoft, the ES plan includes the strategy of using software to reduce the energy consumption of software-driven devices.
  Added: Thursday, 8 October 2009

• Physical Security at Microsoft
  Through the strategic deployment of security systems, the Global Security team is improving the way it protects Microsoft assets, information, and employees. By aligning physical security drivers and IT delivery mechanisms, the team can produce an environment where physical security and IT complement each other rather than compete with each other.
  Added: Friday, 9 October 2009

• Building Windows 7 installation images for multiple audiences
  Do you have limited resources to deploy Windows 7 in your organization? Learn how Microsoft IT (MSIT) optimized its enterprise Windows 7 image to maximize end user productivity and provide a seamless client experience. The Windows 7 installation image was configured to meet corporate hardware and software standards. If the installation encountered non-standard hardware or software, the image directly re-routed the user to Windows Update so that they could quickly and easily be up and running.
  Added: Friday, 2 October 2009

• Virtualization Moves Datacenter Functionality to the Branch Office
  Does WAN access cost keep you from providing the datacenter services in branch offices that benefit your corporate users? Learn how Microsoft IT uses Windows Server 2008 R2 to improved performance and availability to branch offices. Services at the branch office level include file and print management, offline folder redirection, operating systems and application distribution, and patch management. This has significantly improved service availability, lowered management costs, and reduced servers.
  Added: Friday, 2 October 2009

• Windows 7 End User Experience Reduces Support Costs
  At Microsoft, the deployment of Windows 7 led to an improved end user support experience, resulting in decreased Helpdesk costs. New diagnostic features, improved software and hardware compatibility, and an investment in self service support content supported an accelerated adoption rate.
  Added: Friday, 2 October 2009

• Centralized Server Virtualization Drives IT Cost Reduction
  Are you faced with the competing demands of server growth and cost control? Learn how server and application growth at Microsoft has matured to a model where technologies such as virtualization power a centralized and consolidated server and application management system. In addition to reducing costs associated with physical space and power demands, the model improves server and application manageability.
  Added: Friday, 2 October 2009