(I apoligize if this is not the right place to post this question, just looking for some guidance) Our company just upgraded from MIIS 2003 to FIM 2010, sychronization service only. We are just starting our FIM 2010 Portal project (no password reset yet). I have a team of Engineers and Developers that will be learning the newer aspects of FIM (Portal, Workflow, etc), and it wil take some time to get trained, etc. I also wanted to hire a software developer who already has skills in these newer areas of FIM. Our HR department posted a job for this and I listed Forefront Identity Manager, but thus far, we are getting no submissions with existing FIM experience. Where do I go to find seasoned FIM professionals and or what skillsets should I look for (Sharepoint, .NET, WWF, etc? in someone that I could send to FIM training?

Hi Todd, Given the 'newness' of the technology, and the fact that you're an early adopter (the Portal aspect is really only Generation-1), there's just not a lot of people out there at the moment that have the skillset you're after. My recommendation is that you find a Microsoft Partner in your region that specialises in Identity Management, particularly one who has the background experience of MIIS 2003 or ILM 2007 and who has made the move to FIM Portal 2010. You should be able to track one of these down through https://partner.microsoft.com/ My experience is that partners who specialise in IdM have that extra depth of knowledge that you just won't find within a partner that deals within a multitude of Microsoft platforms. FIM, ILM and MIIS are literally all they do. But of course, I might be a little biased since I work for one. In terms of training, the partner page will probably also list those. You really have two options fir training: 1) A MIIS/ILM to FIM Upgrade course. This course assumes that you have a certain level of knowledge of how ILM/MIIS works and goes more in depth with the newer aspects that the portal introduces. See the link for a sample course guideline. 2) A FIM Foundation course. This covers not only the new FIM Portal, but also basic FIM Synchronisation Service concepts such as Management Agents, Metaverses and so forth. See the link for a sample course guideline. The company I work for is located in Australia and generally caters to APAC, and since google says you're in Tennasee, you'd probably be best off finding a local partner. That said, if you want to come do some training down under, we have great beaches. Alternatively, I'm always up for a trip stateside if you're after some expertise, and our trainer basically lives out of his suitcase. - Ross Currie

David Lundell teaches a FIM training course; he wrote the ILM Best Practices Vol 1 book (http://www.ilmbestpractices.com/). He's located out of Arizona as well, so that maybe closer to your location.ex-MSFT developer, now FIM/MIIS/ILM/WPF/Silverlight consultant | http://blog.aesthetixsoftware.com/

Ross hit the nail on the head IMO. I usually tell folks to find a smart .NET developer that's either in-house (preferably) or a new hire, and ramp them up on the product. They'llbe able to pick up the various customization entry points (inside sync and workflow) and be able to apply that to business requirements.You're unlikely to find a FIM hire on the street given how specialized it is. You'll want to make sure you work to retain the person once you build the skillset as chances are they could be making quite a bit more as a FIM consultant if they get good at it. State-side, Ensynch down in Phoenix which Ikrima mentions is very good at this, Edgile is another company that has expertise here, the company I work for out of Chicago...My Book - Active Directory, 4th Edition My Blog - www.briandesmond.com

Really good FIM resources are a somewhat rare right now, but we are training new ones as fast as we can! FIM is an unusal product that touches many technologies; it is also a dev and an infrastructure product, so it requires some knowledge and experience in a lot of areas. Sounds like you are looking specifically for a FIM Portal Developer - so you need to focus on .NET and WWF (Sharepoint is not important) - but then that person needs to understand how FIM works overall, because there are usually many ways of achieveing a result, and only a few good ones. Oxford Computer Group wrote the offical courses, but also have a more advanced course not available elsewhere. These courses can be done by attending a class in person, by joining such a class live via the web, or as on-demand self-study supported by a remote tutor - see http://www.oxfordcomputergroup.com/t-c-1 - oh, and OCG have probably done many more actual implementations of ILM and FIM that anyone else, so they know what they are talking about. Good luck!

Really good FIM resources are a somewhat rare right now, but we are training new ones as fast as we can! FIM is an unusal product that touches many technologies; it is also a dev and an infrastructure product, so it requires some knowledge and experience in a lot of areas. Sounds like you are looking specifically for a FIM Portal Developer - so you need to focus on .NET and WWF (Sharepoint is not important) - but then that person needs to understand how FIM works overall, because there are usually many ways of achieveing a result, and only a few good ones. Oxford Computer Group wrote the offical courses, but also have a more advanced course not available elsewhere. These courses can be done by attending a class in person, by joining such a class live via the web, or as on-demand self-study supported by a remote tutor - see http://www.oxfordcomputergroup.com/t-c-1 - oh, and OCG have probably done many more actual implementations of ILM and FIM that anyone else, so they know what they are talking about. Good luck!