About this event
South Coast User Group β March 3rd 2026, Evening Meetup
π Time: 7:00 PM β 9:00 PM π Location: Hilton Hotel, Utilita Bowl (Ageas Bowl), Southampton, In-person π Food & Drinks: Provided π Cost: Free
Why attend this meetup This in-person, community-driven session gathers Microsoft professionals, developers, architects and IT leaders from the South Coast for practical talks, live demos, and peer-to-peer networking. The lineup blends real-world IT scenarios with AI-inspired insights relevant to cloud, security and data, offering actionable takeaways you can apply in your day-to-day work.
Agenda and sessions
- 7:00 β 7:15: Arrival & Networking
- 7:15 β 8:45: Community Talks & Demos β’ Session 1: "The state of the threat landscape" β Jon Carter, Microsoft UK Healthcare Executive Lead. A practical look at current cyber threats, what security really means in the Microsoft ecosystem, and what you can do to better protect your organisation. β’ Session 2: "Storage is the foundation. Everything else is scaffolding" β Anthony Mashford, Cloud Solutions Architect at NetApp. Why data storage foundations matter for migration and modernisation, with Azure-native, firstβparty storage services and guidance for enterprise workloads. β’ Session 3: "ERA of Unified Cloud Control: How AI is reshaping IT in 2026" β Ed O'Brien, Cloud Practice Director, Sopra Steria. An exploration of AI-driven cloud governance and autonomous operations, and what it means for leaders responsible for cloud strategy and execution.
- 8:45 β 9:00: Open Networking & Wrap-Up
Who should attend
- Microsoft professionals & practitioners
- Developers, architects, consultants, and IT leaders
- Anyone interested in Microsoft technologies and the local community
Why this is valuable
- Learn from local speakers with practical, real-world insights
- Gain actionable tips for security, storage and cloud management in a world increasingly guided by AI
- Network in a friendly, informal setting and enjoy complimentary food and drinks while you learn
Event specifics
- Type: In-person meetup
- Organiser: South Coast User Group
- Target audience: Microsoft professionals, developers, IT leaders
- Location: Hilton Hotel, Utilita Bowl (Ageas Bowl), Southampton
- Date and time: 2026-03-03, 19:00β21:00 (local time)
Registration & where to find more
- Registration and details on the Meetup page: https://www.meetup.com/mcscug/events/312953946
- This is a free event with live talks and networking opportunities. If you
