Using Azure Functions to secure data access for SharePoint solutions

Level 200. While SharePoint Framework (SPFx) components can easily inherit permissions to data using the available page context , getting secure access to data outside of that scenario can be challenging. In this session, we'll explore how Azure provides a simple, yet powerful solution to data access using Azure Functions.

Azure Functions can provide a middle layer web service that protect your sensitive data while giving access to SPFx components and beyond. We'll look at how Azure Functions can be built using a variety of programming languages and configured to run on a schedule or on-demand. Azure Functions also provide easy access to other Azure services that you can leverage in your solution, like key vaults, queues, tables, file storage and more, all secured through Azure Active Directory.

Workshop: Modern Development using the SharePoint Framework (SPFx)

Level 200-300. SPFx is now a mature Framework for building solutions for Office 365, Microsoft Teams and the newest product, Microsoft Viva. This workshop will cover how to get started in SPFx by configuring a very flexible development environment and creating our first SPFx solution.
We will then expand our sample solution to interact with data in SharePoint. Our solution will use the latest development acceleration tools from the Microsoft 365 & Power Platform Community. You will leave this workshop with a firm grasp of best practices to build modern solutions in webparts, extensions, and adaptive cards for SharePoint, Teams and Viva.

The workshop has been updated to include the latest versions available of SPFx, PnPJS, React, Microsoft Graph Toolkit, and Adaptive Card Extensions.

The M365 Community Advantage: Learn Faster, Build Better, Connect Deeper

Level 100. The M365 and Power Platform Community is where the real innovation happens. As the largest open community in the Microsoft ecosystem, it's your direct connection to MVPs, Microsoft engineers, and developers who are pushing the boundaries of what's possible with SPFx, Power Platform, and AI integration.

You'll discover the keys of community in this session:
- Consume: Tap into battle-tested samples, toolkits, and production-ready solutions from the best developers in the world
- Learn: Find the exact guidance you need for your current projects—from SPFx migrations to Power Platform automation
- Contribute: Transform from consumer to creator by shaping documentation, building sample apps, or contributing to game-changing tools like PnP PowerShell, Microsoft 365 CLI, and the SPFx Toolkit

I'll show you how to immediately leverage community resources to solve today's challenges, and why your first contribution might be easier (and more rewarding) than you think. With hands-on support from the PnP Team and a thriving contributor network, you'll see how community involvement doesn't just help others—it accelerates your own expertise faster than any training course could.

Ready to level up? The community is waiting.

This covers the various areas of the Community program and will include demos on how to become a contributor.

SharePoint List Formatting Unleashed: Building Without Code

SharePoint list formatting is the secret weapon you've been overlooking. With JSON formatting, you can build interactive dashboards, dynamic forms, and stunning visual experiences that look like custom development—without touching SPFx, without deployment pipelines, and without writing traditional code.

In this session, you'll go from basics to "wait, you can do THAT with a list?" moments:
- Quick Wins: Transform boring lists into polished interfaces with conditional formatting, icons, and smart styling
- Power Moves: Build clickable buttons, progress trackers, and custom layouts that make users think you hired a developer
- Pro Techniques: Master expressions, create reusable patterns, and trigger Power Automate flows directly from your views
- Real-World Impact: See production solutions that replaced expensive custom development and saved months of work

I'll show you the JSON patterns that work in the real world, the gotchas that will save you hours of troubleshooting, and how to push list formatting further than most people think possible. You'll see examples that make stakeholders say "we can do that in SharePoint?"

The best part? Business users can understand it. IT can support it. And you can build it today.

No code compilation. No version conflicts. Just powerful, maintainable solutions that deliver immediate value.

This session will include simple tweaks transitioning to complete replacement of the list rendering template.

Nail Your SPFx Data Layer: Battle-Tested Patterns That Deliver

Level 300. Your SPFx solutions are only as good as the data they access. Whether you're building solutions for SharePoint, Teams apps, or Viva extensions, mastering data connectivity is what separates basic demos from production-ready solutions.

In this session, you'll learn four essential approaches for connecting SPFx to data:
- SharePoint REST API: Query lists, libraries, and site data with direct HTTP calls and batch operations
- Microsoft Graph API: Access M365 data across tenants—users, groups, Teams, OneDrive, and beyond
- Anonymous APIs: Integrate external data sources and third-party services without M365 authentication
- PnPjs Library: Simplify all of the above with the most popular SPFx data framework—cleaner code, built-in retry logic, and powerful helper methods

You'll see working code for each approach, understand when to use which method, and learn the patterns that prevent common pitfalls. Whether you're converting Classic web parts or building new experiences, you'll leave with battle-tested patterns you can implement immediately.

Stop wrestling with API documentation and start building solutions that perform at scale.

The goal of this session is to expose the attendees to several ways to connect thier projects to the data in SPFx. We'll start with basic REST API calls to build a good foundation on how modern data interaction works and then show how to simply development while improving performance by leveraging existing advanced solutions.

React Hooks for SPFx: Build Cleaner, Faster, Better

Level 200. React hooks have become the standard for modern SPFx development, but if you learned React with class components, the shift to functional components and hooks can feel like learning a new language. Understanding hooks isn't just about modernizing your code—it's about unlocking simpler, more powerful patterns for building SPFx solutions.

In this session, you'll master the essential hooks every SPFx developer needs:
- Making the Switch: See a class component transform into a functional component step-by-step
- Core Hooks Deep Dive: Master useState for state management and useEffect for lifecycle events
- Power Hooks: Leverage useContext, useRef, useMemo, useCallback and custom hooks to solve real SPFx scenarios
- Practical Examples: See hooks in action with data fetching, form handling, and performance optimization

You'll learn how hooks simplify complex patterns like managing multiple states, handling side effects, and optimizing re-renders. Each hook comes with working SPFx examples that show exactly when and why to use them. No theory overload—just practical patterns you can apply immediately in your web parts.

Whether you're new to hooks or ready to go beyond useState, you'll leave with the confidence to build modern SPFx solutions using the patterns that today's React developers rely on.

New session for 2025!

Master SPFx from Day One: Setup Smart, Build Fast, Deploy Confidently

Level 200. SharePoint Framework (SPFx) is Microsoft's standard for building custom experiences across SharePoint, Teams, Viva, and Outlook. If you're ready to move beyond out-of-the-box configurations and start building real solutions, this session will show you everything you need to get from zero to deployed.

In this session, you'll learn the complete SPFx development workflow:
- The SPFx Landscape: Where SPFx fits—web parts, extensions, Teams apps, ACEs, and Viva Connections
- Dev Environment Done Right: What you need for Node.js, tooling, and IDE setup for smooth SPFx development
- Your First Web Part: Watch a complete solution get built, debugged locally, and deployed step-by-step
- SPFx Toolkit Advantage: See how VS Code's SPFx Toolkit streamlines creation, debugging, and deployment

Through live demonstrations, you'll see the entire development lifecycle, learn the gotchas that trip up new developers, and understand how to structure your workspace for long-term productivity. Whether you're transitioning from Classic SharePoint customizations or starting fresh with modern development, you'll leave with a clear roadmap for building your own solutions.

No theory overload. No outdated patterns. Just the practical foundation you need to start building production-ready SPFx solutions.

Demos will cover NodeJS and how to manage with Node Version Manager. We will use the latest version of SPFx to build, debug and deploy a webpart. We'll also show how SPFx Toolkit allows you to skip a lot of manual processes for debugging and deploying solutions.