Kevin Remde

Great question! For those of you who are not familiar with these things called Managed Service Accounts, let’s first talk about the problem that the solve.  But let’s first set the stage with a couple of assumptions: You have some domain accounts being used as the identity for some services. For the sake of good security, you change the passwords for those domain accounts on a regular basis. Right? “Um.. Kevin.. Yes to the first one.. but definitely not the second one.” Why not? “Because then the services won’t start.” Bingo.  And even worse, it doesn’t show up as a problem until days or weeks later when for some reason (an update, perhaps?) you have to restart a server.  Suddenly things are broken, and you’re not sure why… until you find that the service that Exchange or IIS was depending on didn’t start.  So unless you’re really good at also going to each and eve... (more)

Reducing Touchscreen Latency

I thought this was pretty interesting.. so for a lighter, geeky-cool post on a Friday afternoon, as I’m busy waiting for large file copies in my home office lab to complete, I thought I’d share it with you. Microsoft Research recorded a demonstration of how responsive a typical touchscreen operating system is, and how much better the experience could be if the latency (the time between the screen sensing the finger move and the visual feedback of something moving on the screen) could be reduced. Check it out: (Credit: @TechCrunch’s tweet about Chris Velazco’s article on Tech Crun... (more)

Are You Abandoning 32-bit in Windows 8?

Yes, I’m back (finally) with another in my series of expanded-answers to questions I have received during TechNet Events and IT Camps I’ve facilitated.  But for these next blog posts I’m going to have a little fun by actually showing you the written question. Our question today comes from Timi, who asked me: Great question.  Windows 8 – the consumer and professional desktop product – will still be available for 32-bit and 64-bit platforms.  So we’re not yet ready to abandon 32-bit desktops.  It’s not going away.  Certainly there are still a lot of you out there running or suppor... (more)

New Microsoft Certs Align to Cloud –The MCSE is Back!

Yesterday Microsoft announced some changes to the certification program for IT Professionals, in order to address the growing need for people being able to prove their expertise in all things cloud-related. That’s right.  What was the well-known “Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer” acronym MCSE has been re-purposed.  It now stands for “Microsoft Certified Solution Expert” “Wait.. you said that “the MCSE is back’.  Huh?!” From the press release… Because cloud computing talent is in short supply, Microsoft has reinvented its flagship credential, Microsoft Certified Systems Engin... (more)

And Now for a Little Shameless Bragging…

Good morning, all.  I interrupt the normal cadence of this blog to bring to you just a little bit of bragging.  And a challenge. “Oh great.. what did you do now, Kevin?” This week I’m in Seattle, Washington, attending Microsoft’s bi-annual internal technical training event, “TechReady” (TechReady 14 to be specific.)  One of the benefits of being a Microsoft employee is that we can take certification exams for no cost.  And at these events, Microsoft brings in Prometric to facilitate a testing center for people attending the conference.  So this year as in years past, my teammates... (more)