Whether you're just getting started with SAP Enterprise Portal or looking to expand, optimize, or upgrade an existing implementation, a comprehensive and sustainable strategy is critical. This session explores the leading indicators of a successful SAP Enterprise Portal deployment and new considerations to: 

• Leverage the right methods and procedures for your portal's implementation, security, maintenance, and governance.
• Compress the time it takes to capture, interpret, and address business, infrastructure, and accessibility requirements.
• Minimize barriers to access and usage.
• Prepare for the increased security challenges of distributed portal environments.
• Develop and deliver higher impact and more timely end-user training.
• Assemble sufficient skill sets to brand, personalize, and customize your portal content.
• Implement load balancing and high-availability strategies to guarantee performance and reliability for enterprise-scale portal solutions.
• Reduce the cost and complexity of portal integration tasks.
• Ensure highly efficient change management activities.
• Discover how to plan your infrastructure to account for future growth.
• TAKE HOME a template to measure and track the ROI of your portal project.

Releases covered: SAP NetWeaver 7.0
Session presented by: Rizwan  Uqaili, Rapidigm

Whether you're just getting started with SAP Enterprise Portal or looking to expand, optimize, or upgrade an existing implementation, a comprehensive and sustainable strategy is critical. This session explores the leading indicators of a successful SAP Enterprise Portal deployment and new considerations to:

• Leverage the right methods and procedures for your portal's implementation, security, maintenance, and governance. 
• Compress the time it takes to capture, interpret, and address business, infrastructure, and accessibility requirements. 
• Minimize barriers to access and usage. 
• Prepare for the increased security challenges of distributed portal environments. 
• Develop and deliver higher impact and more timely end-user training. 
• Assemble sufficient skill sets to brand, personalize, and customize your portal content. 
• Implement load balancing and high-availability strategies to guarantee performance and reliability for enterprise-scale portal solutions. 
• Reduce the cost and complexity of portal integration tasks. 
• Ensure highly efficient change management activities. 
• Discover how to plan your infrastructure to account for future growth. 
• TAKE HOME a template to measure and track the ROI of your portal project.

Releases covered: SAP NetWeaver 7.0
Session presented by: Payal Jain, Deloitte Consulting

This two-part session delivers infrastructure lessons from portal implementations across the SAP customer base.

• Gain insights that save you time, bolster the quality of your infrastructure, and help you steer clear of the most common and costly mistakes.
• Navigate key landscape decisions: stand-alone vs. integrated Internet Transaction Server (ITS), OS choices, reverse proxy, high availability, and backup planning.
• Learn proven techniques to accelerate your time-to-implementation.
• Discover the most common causes and symptoms of performance problems and get best practices to avoid and correct them.
• Get expert tips to properly size your portal and account for peak load times and future growth.
• Examine when, why, and how to leverage Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP).
• Get updates and guidelines on the key decisions (and tradeoffs) you have to make regarding layout standards, folder structures, and naming conventions.
• Learn which tests and tools are most effective at ensuring your portal is properly sized for.
• See how to avoid user identity conflicts.
• Discover why some service packs don't work and what you can do about it.
• Learn when to utilize SAP NetWeaver Rapid Installer and whether the fully functional, preconfigured portal and integration with R/3, SAP BW, and mySAP CRM systems would be adequate for your purposes.
• TAKE HOME a list of scenarios, configuration, and content that can streamline your own SAP Enterprise Portal implementation.
• TAKE HOME an example of a portal folder structure to jumpstart your portal content development and configuration and a description of roles and responsibilities on a typical portal team.

Releases covered: SAP NetWeaver 7.0
Session presented by: Payal Jain, Deloitte Consulting

• Examine the leading tools and techniques for delivering the following types of content in your portal: SAP solutions, third-party applications, legacy systems, databases, unstructured documents, internal and external Web content, and collaboration tools.
• Review the unique integration challenges posed by each and the best ways to address them.
• Drill down into the business packages, tools, and customization utilities for integrating content from SAP BW.
• Discover what it takes to integrate non-SAP content through the Application Integrator.
• Explore the capabilities, limitations, and requirements for integrating content with SAP's Portal Server, Knowledge Management, and Enterprise Unification technology.
• Understand the dos and don'ts for setting up portal roles and Portal Content Directory (PCD) structures.
• Unearth best practices for leveraging eventing and Drag and Relate technology to dynamically integrate content from other SAP sources.
• Get insight into various challenges and methods of integrating mySAP CRM content and People-Centric UI functionality.
• Find out why integrating business packages isn't as simple as installing the software and what additional integration steps you must take.
• Learn how to leverage tools such as the standard out-of-the-box SQL Server Connector to integrate database content.
• TAKE HOME a comparison of various methods to integrate non-SAP content.

Releases covered: SAP NetWeaver 7.0
Session presented by: Patrick Dixon, Deloitte Consulting

Manager Self-Service (MSS) is another SAP Business Package with a very large (and growing) customer base. This session provides an updated look at MSS capabilities and offers advice on MSS setup, configuration, and training based on MSS customer feedback.

• See demos and review the types of predefined reports, transactions, and data MSS makes available to managers.
• Discover how to use the standard report workset that comes with MSS to call any R/3 report and how to work around its limitations.
• Learn about MSS's standard reporting features and receive guidance on configuring back-end reports.
• Discover the steps required to implement MSS's Personnel Change Requests (PCRs) workset.
• Contrast non-Web Dynpro versions with the new Web Dynpro versions of MSS.
• Explore MSS system requirements and prerequisites.
• Examine key criteria for preparing R/3 for MSS, including organization structure design, dotted-line and proxy relationships, and required HR infotype data.
• Learn about the latest upgrade issues to watch out for including how to utilize the newest MSS content.
• Walk away with an overview of common enhancements, configuration process, and pitfalls.
• Walk through the critical implementation and design considerations for approaching an MSS project.
• TAKE HOME an R/3 preparation checklist outlining the steps needed before implementing MSS.

Releases covered: SAP NetWeaver 7.0
Session presented by: Josh Werner, EPI-USE America

The Portal Development Kit (PDK), NetWeaver Developer Studio, Business Server Pages (BSPs) and Web Dynpro are the leading programming development tools for customizing your portal interface and content. This session delivers a comprehensive overview of these tools, the options each offers, their respective requirements, and when to use one development tool over another.

• Get an updated look at when, where, and why custom development is needed and which SAP development tools are best suited for each activity.
• Understand the implications your team's choice of development tools has on end users. Explore the performance implications of each development tool.
• Step through the challenges, tradeoffs, and requirements of using the PDK for Java and Microsoft .NET to integrate content from non-SAP sources.
• Get an introduction to Web Dynpro, complete with demos and advice for leveraging this technology to more efficiently customize screens and process flows.
• Learn what it really takes to access and customize function modules from your portal environment.
• Gain an understanding of Visual Composer, complete with demos and dos and don'ts for getting started with this tool.
• Learn how Business Server Pages (BSPs) enable ABAP programmers to quickly and easily develop dynamic Web pages.
• Delve into the benefits and challenges of the specific tools that comprise NetWeaver Developer Studio.
• TAKE HOME a sample code and a comprehensive matrix of key features, prerequisites, and decision points to help you determine when and where to use each portal development tool.

Releases covered: SAP NetWeaver 7.0
Session presented by: Patrick Dixon, Deloitte Consulting

This session delivers implementation, management, and ROI lessons learned from the growing number of customers who have deployed SAP Business Packages such as Employee Self-Service (ESS). This session also offers a critical look at the benefits, requirements, options, and tradeoffs of leveraging SAP Business Packages.

• Take an up-to-date look at the type of information employees can create, display, and change with ESS.
• Explore the most common barriers to adoption and different approaches for addressing them.
• Unearth expert tips for implementing and configuring ESS.
• Get expert tips on SAP Business Package location, installation, and maintenance.
• Discover the top implementation and configuration mistakes and get practical advice to avoid and correct them.
• Gain a comprehensive understanding of core ESS system requirements, including newer infrastructure requirements related to mySAP ERP.
• Get practical, time-saving tips to configure and integrate ESS to work with your back-end HR system(s).
• Discover hidden dependencies (such as ESS content requiring the ITS server, ESS screen enhancements requiring changes to R/3 Web templates).
• Contrast non-Web Dynpro versions with the new Web Dynpro versions of ESS.
• Walk through the configuration steps to set up both the Web server and the R/3 instance, and learn how they communicate and integrate with each other.
• Avoid typical problems, such as authorization errors for ESS-only users.
• TAKE HOME sample communication materials designed to encourage employees to use SAP ESS enrollment including a stand-alone guide that points out where to get business packages, which ones are available, and how to install them.

Releases covered: SAP NetWeaver 7.0
Session presented by: Josh Werner, EPI-USE America

The choice you make with regard to portal development options has a huge impact on the way users perceive applications, programmer productivity, and the speed and ease with which you can change customized elements of your portal. This session arms you with insights into Web Dynpro and Business Server Pages (BSPs) so that you can optimize your development choices, activities, and ROI.

• Review the most popular uses for Web Dynpro and BSPs.
• Drill down into the capabilities, limitations, and requirements of each tool.
• Explore the different ways BSPs and Web Dynpro deal with event handling, validation, and calls to function modules.
• Outline the development environments and the skill sets needed to effectively utilize Web Dynpro and BSPs.
• Walk through key steps to set up Web Dynpro, including guidelines for configuration, setting up passwords, using the systems landscape director, and dealing with metadata.
• Identify Web Dynpro system requirements, including a working knowledge of ABAP, Web Application Server 6.40, and SP9 (also known as NetWeaver ‘04 of SAP Enterprise Portal 6.0).
• Pinpoint key BSP advantages, including seamless integration with existing R/3 code and data and the flexibility to run your application through the portal or via the Web.
• TAKE HOME a detailed diagram and matrix comparing these key portal development technologies, sample demos, and code to help you get started with these tools.

Releases covered: SAP NetWeaver 7.0
Session presented by: Josh Werner, EPI-USE America

This session offers tips for keeping up with portal functionality via service pack applications and for planning and executing your next upgrade.

• Identify issues and action items to consider when planning an upgrade including business benefits, technical performance, hardware/architecture impact, plus user interface and training requirements.
• Consider the impact of new functionality, stability, and performance on your portal upgrade decision.
• Walk through the four key steps involved in transporting content, including how to set up the Portal Content Directory (PCD).
• Smooth your portal upgrade with tips for backing up your system, regression testing, and upgrading your portal hardware.
• Understand and exploit the unique functionality of the portal Transport Management System to migrate existing functionality and custom code.
• Tips on evaluating new service packs/patches.
• Learn how to best structure your development and production landscapes to minimize the risk of disruption during application of a support package.
• TAKE HOME a list of the key resources to tackle core upgrade challenges including upgrade notes and known patch issues.

Releases covered: SAP NetWeaver 7.0
Session presented by: Payal Jain, Deloitte Consulting

Gather updates and insights that enable you to develop a practical, yet sound security strategy and exercise tight controls across your portal. This session examines SAP Enterprise Portal security options, strategies, and best practices.

• Examine options, challenges, and best practices for the three key areas of portal security for which you need to develop strategies (authentication, authorization and log on).
• Compare and contrast your options for enforcing single sign-on (SSO) (user mapping versus Logon Tickets).
• Get beginner and advanced tips for leveraging utilities that help you manage user access and authentication for password management, transporting of users and roles, and addition of new groups of users.
• Get expert recommendations for securing external portals utilizing reverse proxies and the Web Dispatcher.
• Learn how authorizations, active control lists, and default security settings impact your security strategy.
• Walk through configuration recommendations, pitfalls, and customization requirements for SSO, including user mapping and Logon Tickets.
• Get tips for securing the communications and back-end portal elements that are most vulnerable.
• Walk away with valuable advice on user administration, including guidelines for adding and discontinuing users, key parameter and password management tips, and more.
• TAKE HOME a compilation of SSO, including what method to use, when, and how.

Releases covered: SAP NetWeaver 7.0
Session presented by: Patrick Dixon, Deloitte Consulting

Get expert advice for establishing and maintaining a compelling portal design that reflects your company, business, or department branding in a consistent and effective manner.

• Discover new techniques to ensure that your portal remains in sync with changing company branding and with changing business, user, and content requirements.
• Explore the very first elements of your portal that you should brand (e.g., the log on page, menus, graphics, and navigation), and the leading tools and approaches for branding them.
• Find out how to set up and utilize core SAP and third-party branding tools including the SAP Theme Editor.
• Personalize portal branding for different users, groups, customers, and partners by utilizing SAP ruleset.
• See what it takes to enable regional branding in a global portal and achieve a unified corporate look, yet cater locally to the specific languages, cultures, and even artwork of numerous regions.
• Avoid the most common branding pitfalls — over-branding and inconsistency of content and color schemes.
• Improve your usability and consistency of navigation with eventing.
• Get undocumented tips such as how to utilize Service Pack 14 to correct branding inconsistencies caused by browser behavior.
• Discover how to set up vertical menus and improve the look and feel of branding through rich internet applications such as Macromedia Flash.
• TAKE HOME a branding cheat sheet that shows you how to brand your portal in a day.

Releases covered: SAP NetWeaver 7.0
Session presented by: Patrick Dixon, Deloitte Consulting

SAP's portal technology comes with a number of tools for linking remote teams and workgroups, including eRooms, collaboration rooms, content management, instant messaging, notification, and workflow.

• Examine the capabilities and requirements of each tool and what it takes to implement and leverage them to meet the needs of a distributed project team.
• Learn the best ways to control and customize workflows.
• Gain a comprehensive understanding of the TREX architecture and the steps you must take to ensure proper operation.
• Identify and work around core portal collaboration challenges — knowing how to turn the tools on, setting up your own templates for collaboration, and establishing and enforcing security.
• Learn how to exploit the collaboration benefits of SAP Enterprise Portal's instant messaging technology.
• Navigate your options for configuring and integrating email communications with your portal collaboration efforts.
• Identify and address security vulnerabilities that are unique to collaboration.
• Learn how to set up your portal to support both synchronous and asynchronous collaboration.

Releases covered: SAP NetWeaver 7.0
Session presented by: Patrick Dixon, Deloitte Consulting

This session outlines key considerations to look for as you enhance and expand your SAP Enterprise Portal environment to meet future business, technology, and regulatory requirements.

• Explore key development options to keep your eye on, including Visual Composer and the ABAP and Java versions of Web Dynpro.
• Learn how composite applications and xApps can be integrated into the portal and what the advantages are.
• See why the portal has become the de facto interface for specific SAP applications including SAP BW and mySAP CRM.
• Understand how the portal integrates with other SAP NetWeaver solutions such as SAP Mobile Infrastructure.
• Discover what Enterprise Services Architecture (ESA) is and how the portal plays a role in building your own ESA.
• Grasp the keys to creating a flexible portal infrastructure that can adapt to your changing business and technical requirements.
• Discover key capabilities such as syndicated and federated portals that help you expand your portal globally.
• Hear about major new developments and features that have a huge impact on the future of your portal.

Releases covered: SAP NetWeaver 7.0
Session presented by: Rizwan Uqaili, Rapidigm