All posts tagged conference

Live! 360 Event Orlando, Florida 2026

I’m excited to announce that I’ll be attending the upcoming Live! 360 Event, November 15-20, 2026, at Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando, Florida. I’ll be in attendance all week and will be delivering a few talks at the event this year.

Sessions

I’ll be presenting two sessions at this year’s event. They are:

Join Me!

If you are planning to attend the event, please join my sessions! I will be at the conference center all week, so don’t hesitate to reach out and contact me while you are there. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone soon!

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by Richard M. Hicks on September 17, 2026  •  Permalink
Posted in Always On VPN, Certificate-Based Authentication, Cloud PKI, Entra Global Secure Access, Entra Private Access, PKI, Training and Events, Windows Server, Zero Trust and SSE
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Posted by Richard M. Hicks on September 17, 2026

https://directaccess.richardhicks.com/2026/09/17/live-360-event-orlando-florida-2026/

Techmentor Event Microsoft HQ 2026

I’m pleased to announce I’ll be attending the Techmentor Event at Microsoft Headquarters in Redmond, WA, August 3-7, 2026. Register now and save $500.00 with the discount code HICKS.

Sessions

I’ll be delivering three sessions at this year’s event.

Join Me

The event is shaping up to be one of the best, with industry experts from around the world presenting on many important topics. Be sure to join me! Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity to learn from the best in the industry. Register today. Hope to see you there!

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by Richard M. Hicks on May 9, 2026  •  Permalink
Posted in Always On VPN, Certificate-Based Authentication, Entra Global Secure Access, Entra ID, Entra Private Access, PKI, TLS, Training and Events, Zero Trust and SSE
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Posted by Richard M. Hicks on May 9, 2026

https://directaccess.richardhicks.com/2026/05/09/techmentor-event-microsoft-hq-2026/

Midwest Management Summit (MMSMOA) 2026

I’m excited to be presenting two sessions at the upcoming Midwest Management Summit at Mall of America (MMSMOA), taking place May 3-7, 2026, at the Radisson Blu in Bloomington, MN. This is the premier systems management event in the U.S., offering unrivaled access to Microsoft and industry professionals from around the world.

Cloud PKI for Intune

My first session, Zero to Certificates in 5 Minutes with Cloud PKI for Microsoft Intune, covers how to quickly configure and deploy certificates using Cloud PKI for Microsoft Intune. This session is ideal for anyone looking to streamline certificate management without the traditional heavy infrastructure burden.

Entra Private Access

My second session, Moving to Zero Trust: Entra Private Access for Always On VPN Administrators, explores the transition from traditional Always On VPN to Microsoft’s Entra Private Access, highlighting practical steps, architectural differences, and the benefits of maintaining secure access in a modern Zero Trust environment. I will also share important migration tips, tricks, and best practices.

Let’s Connect!

Looking forward to diving into these topics with everyone there. I hope to see some familiar faces and meet new ones, too! If you are attending the event, be sure to say hello!

Additional Information

Midwest Management Summit at Mall of America (MMSMOA)

Cloud PKI for Microsoft Intune on RunAs Radio

Microsoft Entra Private Access on RunAs Radio

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by Richard M. Hicks on March 13, 2026  •  Permalink
Posted in Certificate-Based Authentication, Cloud PKI, Entra Global Secure Access, Entra ID, Entra Private Access, PKI, Training and Events, Windows Server
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Posted by Richard M. Hicks on March 13, 2026

https://directaccess.richardhicks.com/2026/03/13/midwest-management-summit-mmsmoa-2026/

Workplace Ninjas Conference U.S. 2025

I’m excited to announce I’ll be presenting at the inaugural U.S. Workplace Ninjas Conference! This two-day event takes place December 9-10, 2025, in Dallas, Texas. Much like the popular Workplace Ninjas Conference held in Switzerland, this event focuses on systems management and endpoint security with Microsoft technologies. It features an impressive lineup of speakers from around the world.

Session Topics

The conference will feature more than 50 deep-dive sessions on a variety of topics, including:

  • Microsoft Intune
  • Microsoft Entra
  • Microsoft Security
  • Windows 11
  • Cloud Security
  • Automation

Why You Should Attend

The Workplace Ninja Conference is a must-attend event for IT pros to dive into endpoint management, cybersecurity, and Microsoft innovations through expert sessions and networking. Attendees will benefit from the following:

  • Practical Learning: Engage in over 50 expert-led sessions, hands-on labs, and real-world demos focused on Microsoft Intune, Entra, Windows 11, and more.
  • Networking Opportunities: Connect with Microsoft MVPs, peers, and top vendors in a collaborative environment, including the Expo Hall.
  • Specialized Tracks: Benefit from dedicated sessions on Women-In-Tech and Neurodiversity-In-Tech, alongside core topics like cybersecurity and automation.

Register Now

Registration for this two-day event is open now. Be sure to reserve your spot today. I look forward to seeing you there!

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by Richard M. Hicks on September 11, 2025  •  Permalink
Posted in Entra ID, Microsoft Intune, Training and Events
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Posted by Richard M. Hicks on September 11, 2025

https://directaccess.richardhicks.com/2025/09/11/workplace-ninjas-conference-u-s-2025/

Techmentor Conference at Microsoft HQ 2025

I’m very excited to announce that I will be attending the annual Techmentor Conference at the Microsoft HQ campus in Redmond, Washington, this year. The event takes place August 11-15, 2025. The Techmentor Conference is one of my favorite IT pro conferences because it offers unparalleled access to experts worldwide. I will deliver two presentations at this year’s event. I hope you’ll join me!

Entra Private Access

On Tuesday, August 12, 2025, I will be presenting a session on Zero Trust Network Access with Microsoft Entra Private Access. ZTNA is the future of remote access and provides many security and operational benefits over traditional client-based VPN technologies.

T11 – Zero Trust Network Access with Entra Private Access

Cloud PKI for Intune

On Wednesday, August 13, 2025, I’ll discuss Simplified Certificate Management with Microsoft Cloud PKI for Intune. As organizations integrate cloud-native devices in their environments, administrators must solve the problem of issuing and managing certificates for users and devices that are not domain-joined. Cloud PKI for Intune is an excellent solution that provides deployment flexibility to address these unique and specific requirements.

W10 – Simplified Certificate Management with Cloud PKI for Intune

Register Now

Registration for the event is open now. Use the promo code HICKS and receive $500.00 off the price of admission. Don’t miss this excellent opportunity to learn from the best. Register today!

Additional Information

Techmentor Conference at Microsoft HQ 2025

Techmentor Conference at Microsoft HQ 2025 – Session List

Microsoft Entra Private Access

Microsoft Cloud PKI for Intune

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by Richard M. Hicks on June 25, 2025  •  Permalink
Posted in Authentication and MFA, Certificate-Based Authentication, Cloud PKI, Conditional Access, Entra Global Secure Access, Entra ID, Entra Private Access, Intune Certificate Connector, Microsoft Intune, PKI, Training and Events, Zero Trust and SSE
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Posted by Richard M. Hicks on June 25, 2025

https://directaccess.richardhicks.com/2025/06/25/techmentor-conference-at-microsoft-hq-2025/

Arizona Systems Management User Group March 2025

I’m excited to announce that I’ll be speaking at the Arizona Systems Management User Group (AZSMUG) at their next user group meeting on Friday, March 7, at 9:00 AM MST. I am presenting on the topic of Certificate Deployment Strategies with Microsoft Intune.

Intune and Certificates

My session at AZSMUG will provide an overview of issuing and managing certificates with Microsoft Intune. We’ll begin by examining common scenarios for certificate authentication and explore various delivery methods, including PKCS and SCEP. Additionally, we’ll discuss supporting technologies such as the Network Device Enrollment Service (NDES) and review deployment strategies and high availability options for the Intune Certificate Connector. The session will also cover Cloud PKI for Intune, integration with on-premises Active Directory, and best practices for securing certificate lifecycles and key management in enterprise environments.

Register Now

If you are in the Phoenix area and would like to attend the user group meeting on Friday, March 7, you will find the registration link here. Hope to see you there!

Additional Information

Arizona Systems Management User Group

Intune and Certificates Masterclass

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by Richard M. Hicks on February 14, 2025  •  Permalink
Posted in Authentication and MFA, Certificate-Based Authentication, Cloud PKI, Entra ID, Intune Certificate Connector, Microsoft Intune, NDES and SCEP, NPS and EAP, PKI, Training and Events, Windows Server
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Posted by Richard M. Hicks on February 14, 2025

https://directaccess.richardhicks.com/2025/02/14/arizona-systems-management-user-group-march-2025/

Microsoft Ignite 2024

The Microsoft Ignite conference will be held November 19-22, 2024, at the McCormick Place Conference Center in Chicago, IL. Ignite is the premier Microsoft event of the year and will be packed with many announcements about new products and technologies. Ignite is also a fantastic learning event with experts worldwide in attendance.

Meet Up

I’m excited to announce that Microsoft has invited me to participate in the event as part of their Expert Meet-Up program. I will spend time at the Windows Server station in the Azure Infrastructure section of the Hub. Below are the days and times I’ll be available.

  • Tuesday, November 19 – 3:30 PM to 7:30 PM CST
  • Wednesday, November 20 – 2:30 PM to 6:00 PM CST
  • Thursday, November 21 – 2:30 PM to 6:00 PM CST

Let’s Connect

Be sure to drop by and say hello! We can chat about Windows Server and Azure Infrastructure. Of course, we can also discuss all the technologies I usually work with, including Entra Private Access, Always On VPN, Intune and Cloud PKI, and certificates in general. I will also attend many social gatherings during the week, so look for me at those as well.

I look forward to seeing you at the event!

Additional Information

Microsoft Ignite 2024

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by Richard M. Hicks on October 31, 2024  •  Permalink
Posted in Always On VPN, Authentication and MFA, Cloud PKI, Entra Global Secure Access, Entra Private Access, Microsoft Intune, PKI, Training and Events, Windows Server
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Posted by Richard M. Hicks on October 31, 2024

https://directaccess.richardhicks.com/2024/10/31/microsoft-ignite-2024/

Workplace Ninja Summit Switzerland 2024

I’m excited to announce that I’ll be presenting at the upcoming Workplace Ninja Summit in beautiful Lucerne, Switzerland. The event takes place from September 16-19, 2024, and covers topics such as Microsoft Intune, System Center Configuration Manager (SCCM), Entra, PowerShell, Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD), Windows 365, and more.

My Sessions

I will be delivering two talks at this year’s conference.

  • Simplified Certificate Management with Cloud PKI for Microsoft Intune
  • Strong Authentication with Entra Certificate-Based Authentication

I will provide links to the sessions with dates and times when they are available.

Let’s Connect!

Will you be attending the conference? Let’s get together! Drop me a note on X or LinkedIn, or fill out the form below, and we’ll discuss anything you’d like. Hope to see you there!

Contact Me

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by Richard M. Hicks on August 1, 2024  •  Permalink
Posted in Authentication and MFA, Certificate-Based Authentication, Cloud PKI, Entra ID, Intune Certificate Connector, Microsoft Intune, NDES and SCEP, PKI
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Posted by Richard M. Hicks on August 1, 2024

https://directaccess.richardhicks.com/2024/08/01/workplace-ninja-summit-switzerland-2024/

Always On VPN at TechMentor 2023

I’m excited to announce that I’ll be presenting at this year’s TechMentor IT training conference! The event takes place July 17-21, 2023, at the Microsoft headquarters in Redmond, Washington.

My Sessions

I will be delivering two talks at this year’s event.

TT04 – Deploying On-premises Certificates using Intune

In this talk, I’ll describe in detail how to deliver on-premises enterprise PKI certificates using Intune. We’ll cover all aspects of certificate delivery, including the Intune Certificate Connector configuration, device configuration profile options, advantages of PKCS over SCEP, and certificate template security best practices.

TT07 – Windows Always On VPN: Notes from the Field

During this session, I’ll share many tips, tricks, and best practices for deploying and managing Always On VPN client configuration settings using Intune. I’ll explain the limitations of the Intune VPN profile template and how to work around them using custom XML. I will also describe how to use Intune Proactive Remediation to optimize Always On VPN client configuration settings post deployment.

Discount Code

Use the discount code Hicks and receive $400.00 off the standard pricing for the event. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to learn from some of the best IT pros in the business. Register today!

Let’s Connect!

If you’re attending TechMentor 2023 this year, let’s connect! I’ll be at the conference all week. Attend one of my sessions, join me on Thursday for a Table Topic lunch, or let’s grab a beer somewhere. Reach out to me and arrange some time!

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by Richard M. Hicks on May 8, 2023  •  Permalink
Posted in Always On VPN, Intune Certificate Connector, Microsoft Intune, NDES and SCEP, PKI, Training and Events, Windows Server
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Posted by Richard M. Hicks on May 8, 2023

https://directaccess.richardhicks.com/2023/05/08/always-on-vpn-at-techmentor-2023/

Always On VPN at MMSMOA 2023

I’m excited to share that I’ve been invited to present at the popular Midwest Management Summit at Mall of America (MMSMOA) this year! The event takes place Monday, May 2, through Thursday, May 4, 2023.

Sessions

I will be delivering two talks at the event this year. One on Microsoft Always On VPN and Intune, the other on deploying certificate using Intune.

Always On VPN and Intune: Notes from the Field – Tuesday, May 2 at 10:00 AM CDT

This session will cover all aspects of deploying and managing Always On VPN client configuration settings using Microsoft Intune.

Intune Certificate Management – Wednesday, May 3 at 10:00 AM CDT

This session will provide detailed configuration guidance and best practice recommendations for issuing on-premises enterprise PKI certificate using Microsoft Intune.

Attending MMS?

Will you be attending MMSMOA? Let’s connect! Drop in on my sessions, of course, but let’s plan to hang out! I will have copies of my book to give away too, so don’t miss out. Send me a note here or on Twitter, or just find me at the conference. Looking forward to seeing all of you soon!

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by Richard M. Hicks on April 11, 2023  •  Permalink
Posted in Always On VPN, Cryptography, Intune Certificate Connector, Microsoft Intune, NDES and SCEP, PKI, PowerShell, Training and Events, Windows Server
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Posted by Richard M. Hicks on April 11, 2023

https://directaccess.richardhicks.com/2023/04/11/always-on-vpn-at-mmsmoa-2023/

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