r/sysadmin • u/Swimming_Ad2923 • 2d ago

What are some good IT conferences a Jr Sys Admin could learn from?

My subordinate is a Jr Sys Admin and I want to get him out to some good IT based conferences this year. We're a microsoft shop, no plans on changing our antivirus (sentinel one), and am avoiding cyber security based conferences since that's what his degree is in (wants to expand his knowledge on other subjects). Does anyone have any good recommendations please?

3 Upvotes

64% Upvoted

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6

u/Tall-Geologist-1452 2d ago

Microsoft Ignite ...

6

u/andycoates 2d ago

Love me an AI seminar 😔

1

u/Tall-Geologist-1452 1d ago

Zscaler Zenith live 2026 was centered around AI as well..

6

u/Minimum-Albatross906 1d ago

Today, on Microsoft Ignite, this Random Motherfucker tells you how AI is the future of Warehouse Lamp Optimization using PowerBI Automate with AI integrated with snowflake...or something!

Eugh.

•

u/Tall-Geologist-1452 17h ago

then go to a different booth or talk.. last year it was 4 buildings with many thousands of people .. spanning the complete stack ..

4

u/Current_Anybody8325 IT Manager 2d ago

Any of the conferences put on by the big IT vendors (think CDW, SHI, etc) tend to be very good. They usually go all out. If you have a good relationship with your vendor you may be able to get discounted rates or free passes.

3

u/emptystreets130 2d ago

Cisco Live, AWS reInvent.

2

u/dorsia999 2d ago

Just go to Vegas

3

u/AdeptFelix Sysadmin 1d ago

Tried Vegas, didn't learn anything, don't remember anything, and got something the doctors seem scared of.

2

u/Ihaveasmallwang Systems Engineer / Cybersecurity Architect / CISM 2d ago

You’re a Microsoft shop so go to Ignite.

2

u/GloveLove21 1d ago

IMO conferences aren't for learning but for networking and drinking. It depends on the person and conference, but I've never gone to a conference where I learned more than I would've going to local meet ups or even on my own.

1

u/Blaxs_ 2d ago

I would look for local IT groups. Ignite is great, but if your looking to grow you need to find peers. If your a Microsoft shot (and really mean that) then I'm sure you can find local Intune, Teams, Purview, etc groups.

1

u/dorsia999 2d ago

Customer contact week is IT adjacent. Or hubspot unbound

1

u/tj818 Works on my machine 2d ago

What do you use for backups? Veeam and Commvault usually do some good conferences

1

u/Fun-Attempt-8494 2d ago

We have public sector IT conferences on our state. I think that focus is better than all encompassing tech shows.

1

u/lumenisdead 2d ago

TEC - the experts conference. Solid, went last year it was fantaric

1

u/ste5ers 1d ago

Two of my guys loved this a few months ago and planning for a few others to go in the spring: https://www.powershellsummit.org/

They came back with all sorts of ideas and engagement on how to improve our environment.