If you’re not already familiar with the Microsoft Learning web site, you might be missing out on many different training courses and resources.  The site provides access to hundreds of resources, ranging from books to exams to online training courses.  Content is organized both by the role of an IT pro (systems administration, development, etc.) and by technology.

If you want to get started with content related to security, development, and related topics, see the list of free courses.  Often, these courses cover new technologies or methods that Microsoft wants developers and IT pros to learn about.  Current examples include:

I have completed somewhere around a dozen of these courses over the last few years, and I have found most of them to be pretty useful for quickly getting up to speed on new technologies.  And, they’re a good chance of pace from reading books, blogs, and other online materials.