It is amazing to think that SQL Nexus is just days around the corner after all these months of discussion and preparation by the excellent SQL Nexus team. This year is looking like it will be even better than ever and we are really excited by our pre-conference and main conference speakers and sessions, and if you are coming we hope you enjoy them.

Since today is realistically your last day to book if you are coming via your company purse, I thought it might be helpful to discuss some of my favorite pre-con picks -if you are still struggling to make up your mind.

Microsoft Western Europe Blackbelt (Technical Solution Processional) – Anders Lybecker
This pre-con session title is perhaps a little misleading, and you really have to read through the abstract to see what is being delivered, but when you do, you will see that this is a really interesting IoT session. Most IoT sessions are a bit like a doughnut – a little sickly sweet and with a big hole in the middle, but this session really is “Jam filled!” and with lots of hands-on-labs, streaming analytics and cross platform focus, could well be one of those sessions you look back on and be grateful you attended.

The Complete Primer to SQL Server Virtualization by David Klee
I first met David early last year in Chicago and after a discussion with him about SQL Server virtualization it was clear he was the go to man on this subject (especially in VMware environments). I have heard lots of great feedback about this session from many attendees so it could be one not to miss!

Design & Implement SQL Server HA/DR Hybrid Solutions with Microsoft Azure – Edwin Sarmiento
Edwin’s enthusiasm is infectious and he is perhaps one of the most fastidious and hard working people I know. If you are looking to learn more about HADR in both on-premises and in the Cloud, then you cannot go wrong by attending this session!

Enterprise Data Integration with Biml by Reeves Smith
While every single one of the pre-cons look awesome, I am currently doing a lot of work with SSIS, and therefore Biml is very much on my list of things I need to get good at. I have known Reeves for many years and he is perhaps one of the funniest people I know (as well as being a subject matter expert in Biml), so this is probably my favorite of the bunch for those reasons.

If none of these appeal, you should check out the others, and don’t forget to check out the main agenda which is also super awesome.

Hope to see you there!