Finally on my way this morning to join friends and colleagues on the annual pilgrimage to the Microsoft tech-fest on Australia’s premier convention location, the sunny Gold Coast. My colleague Carol will be presenting both of the sessions listed against the Forefront Identity Manager technology stream, with her “Identity Jigsaw Puzzle” topic proving the most popular so get in early for that one. It’s not hard to understand why …

Don’t be fooled by the latest biometrics hype – there’s definitely nothing sexy about Identity Management – at least in my experience. This is always reinforced at events like this, where the focus is always on the latest glittering release of Windows Server or Azure technology. Yet when the buzz has died down and you’re faced with pulling it all together, you find you’re faced with the same old challenges we always have – they’ve just morphed into a few new forms.

Get along to Carol’s session to make your own connections between the pieces in your own puzzle, and come and have a chat to either of us. You will find me at our joint OptimalIdM/UNIFY booth this year, so come and introduce yourself and we will no doubt find some common ground on what is often a complex and challenging topic. See how the “Microsoft Stack” has extended well beyond the shrink-wrapped FIM 2010 R2 software.

See you there!