What is OpenHack?

Microsoft OpenHack is a developer-focused engagement that connects development teams (Open) with experts to tackle a series of real-world challenges through hands-on experimentation (Hack) in person or online (Virtual).

OpenHack provides a unique and fun upskilling experience for Microsoft employees, customers and partners. Participants work together in teams to complete challenges that increase in complexity and are actively engaged, requiring deep collaboration, as they learn together.

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Topics

AI-Powered Knowledge Mining

Overview

Prerequisites

Technologies

AI-Powered Knowledge Mining OpenHack enables developers to add intelligent search capabilities to their applications and services, leveraging artificial intelligence to extract meaningful results from data. Participants will explore ways in which Azure Search can be used as the core of a search solution, and how to enrich search through integration with Cognitive Services, the Language Understanding Intelligence Service, Azure Machine Learning, and custom code.

To be successful and get the most out of this OpenHack, participants should have existing knowledge of programing languages including C#, JavaScript, Node.JS or Java.

Microsoft Azure Search, Cognitive Services, Azure Functions, Microsoft QnA Maker, Language Understanding Intelligent Service (LUIS), Microsoft Form Recognizer, Azure Machine Learning

App Modernization with NoSQL

Overview

Prerequisites

Technologies

NoSQL OpenHack challenges developers and data professionals to migrate a legacy database application to a cloud-based NoSQL environment. Participants will scale the NoSQL solution for global availability and develop new functionality to provide additional insights to the business and value to customers.

To be successful and get the most out of this OpenHack, participants should have familiarity with database concepts such as data modeling, partitioning, denormalization, and indexing. Prior experience with NoSQL databases and familiarity with relational data structures is helpful, but not required.

Required knowledge of Azure fundamentals. 

Attendees will have the option to leverage several services available in Azure, such as Cosmos DB, Azure SQL Database, Azure Data Factory, Azure Functions, Azure Event Hubs, Azure Stream Analytics, Power BI, and Azure Cognitive Search

Containers

Overview

Prerequisites

Technologies

Containers OpenHack focuses on containerizing an application and moving it to the cloud using Azure Kubernetes Service. Participants will explore what it means to make a cluster ready for production by addressing security, observability, and more.

To be successful and get the most out of this OpenHack, it is highly recommended that participants have previous experience with:

• Container basics

• Command line interface

• Web applications

Recommended that participants have previous experience with knowledge of programing languages including C#, JavaScript, Node.JS or Java.

Linux and Windows Containers, Azure Kubernetes Service, Azure Container Registry, Virtual Machine, Networking, Storage, Azure Monitor, Key Vault, Service Mesh

DevOps

Overview

Prerequisites

Technologies

DevOps OpenHack enables sound DevOps fundamental upskilling and developing Zero-downtime deployment strategies, which translates to reduced friction in production deployments, ensures that deployments of new features can occur more frequently and safely without requiring system downtime.

To be successful and get the most out of this OpenHack, participants should have existing knowledge of the benefits of adopting DevOps practices as well as Azure App Service and have good conceptual knowledge of DevOps.

Recommended that participants have previous experience with knowledge of programing languages including C#, JavaScript, Node.JS or Java.

GitHub, Azure DevOps or Jenkins (team choice), Azure App Service, Log Analytics, Application Insights, Azure Monitor, Azure SQL Database, Azure Container Registry, Azure Container Instances

Migrating Microsoft workloads to Azure

Overview

Prerequisites

Technologies

Migrating Microsoft Workloads to Azure OpenHack is focused on migrating an enterprise environment with collection of apps and datastores from on-prem to the cloud.

To be successful and get the most out of this OpenHack, it is highly recommended that participants have previous experience with:

• Azure Compute

• Azure Networking

• Azure Storage

• Windows Server

Be prepared to roll up your sleeves, learn, and participate in an interactive team environment.

Azure Migrate, Azure Database Migration Service, Data Migration Assistant, Azure Active Directory, Azure Active Directory Connect (AAD Connect), Azure Site Recovery, Azure Monitor/Log Analytics, Azure Networking, Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Storage, Azure DNS, Azure Traffic Manager, Azure Bastion, Azure Load Balancer, Azure Application Gateway

Serverless

Overview

Prerequisites

Technologies

During the Serverless OpenHack developers will explore how to quickly build and deploy Azure Serverless (Functions, Logic Apps, Event Grid & Cosmos DB) solutions.

To be successful and get the most out of this OpenHack, it is highly recommended that participants have previous experience with C#, node.js, Java, or Python. Be prepared to roll up your sleeves, learn, and participate in an interactive team environment.

Azure Functions, Logic Apps, Event Grid, Cosmos DB, API Management, Event Hubs, Azure Dev Ops or GitHub (team choice), Application Insights, Dynamics 365/Office 365, Cognitive APIs, Service Bus

Modern Data Warehousing

Overview

Prerequisites

Technologies

The Modern Data Warehousing OpenHack allows developers to learn how to develop, implement, and operationalize a multisource data warehouse solution on Microsoft Azure, leveraging technologies such as Azure Data Lake Storage, Azure Data Factory, Azure Databricks, Azure DevOps, and Azure Synapse Analytics.

To be successful and get the most out of this OpenHack, participants should have existing knowledge of relational database structures and concepts (e.g. tables, joins, SQL) and experience with either SSIS or programing languages like Scala or Python. Previous experience creating ETL pipelines, source control management, automated testing, and build and release automation will help you advance more quickly

Azure Data Lake Storage, Azure Data Factory, Azure Databricks, Azure DevOps, and Azure Synapse Analytics

Security, Compliance, and Identity

Overview

Prerequisites

Technologies

The SCI OpenHack enables participants to establish and defend baseline security and compliance configurations for organizations using Microsoft cloud services. This will be done with Microsoft Security and Compliance tools and recommended security best-practices by working through challenges inspired from real-world scenarios.

To be successful and get the most out of this OpenHack, it is highly recommended that participants have previous experience with Azure Active Directory, Microsoft 365 Security and Compliance, and Azure Security Center.

Microsoft Defender for Office 365, Compliance Manager, Microsoft 365 Defender, Microsoft Secure Score, Secure score in Azure Security Center, Azure Regulator compliance, Azure Defender, Azure policy, Azure Security Center, Azure Identity protection, Microsoft Cloud App Security, Microsoft Defender for Identity, Data loss prevention, Azure Sentinel

What attendees are saying

Attendee at Serverless, London

“The event has definitely convinced me that Azure is the way to go as the primary cloud host”

MSFT Engineer at Containers, Sydney

“The amount of feedback and customer understanding leads me to believe that participation in these types of events is worth the engineering time and money needed to participate.”

Attendee at Enterprise Developer and Business Apps, London

“It’s been really epic. I loved meeting so many engineers from Microsoft. I think this is a right way to get professionals/companies on board with Microsoft technologies”

Attendee at IoT and Data, Singapore

“I came with the expectation that this event would be just another training event. But this OpenHack format is unlike the others. It’s challenging, it’s fun, it’s really a new way of learning”

MSFT Azure Specialist (GBB) at Zurich IOT + Data

"Challenges were not too easy and not too complex. OpenHack gives you the opportunity to take time with customers. We think OpenHack really helps build customer intimacy”

Attendee at Machine Learning, Las Vegas

“This was an enjoyable experience that taught me tenfold what I knew before about machine learning. It is not nearly as 'frightening' as I had previously thought - now it is much more inviting. Thank you!”

Attendee at Machine Learning Sydney

“I have participated in a few data science / ML events and this was by far the best run – and most challenging”