[m365weekly] #122

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Issue #122

☁️What’s on my mind

In mid-2017, sales of Microsoft 365 (well, it was still Office 365 at the time) exceeded sales of regular “Office boxes” in value for the first time.

But while the trend continues, somehow there’s no end in sight for sales of Office Home & Business licenses, for example.

People still want it.

This is despite the fact that the 365 versions of the apps offer so much more.

I’ve been using my Word for audio transcriptions for a while now. And that’s just one example of functionality that doesn’t exist in non-cloud versions of Office apps.

Have a really nice rest of the week,
Matic Z.


Quite often I see complaints from users all over the Internet who can’t get used to the new Outlook toolbar, which has landed on the far left in the new versions. Previously, they were used to accessing their calendar and contacts elsewhere.
It’s only going to get worse for them. The new Outlook is coming, and sooner or later it will replace the one we are more or less used to now. Outlook will become much more like the Outlook experience on the web.


☁️Productivity & Modern Workplace

Top 10 limitations in Microsoft Teams. Don’t let these obstacles slow you down – learn what to watch out for and how to navigate them for a smoother Microsoft Teams experience.

OneDrive for Business – How it Really Works! OneDrive for Business from the viewpoints of both users and administrators. Explore its functionalities and the mechanisms behind them. Beyond showcasing features for end users, this video reveals valuable admin advice and clever techniques. If you aim to understand how to utilize OneDrive for Business in your professional life or manage it for your team, this insightful video session is designed to be as helpful as possible.

4 Apps I use in Microsoft Teams. Looking for the best Teams apps to boost your productivity? Discover the author’s top four go-to Microsoft Teams apps out of the 1000+ available!

How to lower all hands in Microsoft Teams. Not all know the trick of how to do just that. Ok, students … too many hands in the air for me to handle.


☁️Sysadmin Stuff

Automate MS Administration with PowerShell Scripts. If you’re tired of those repetitive tasks in Microsoft 365 taking up all your sysadmin time, you’ve gotta try automating them. You have five awesome PowerShell scripts in this article that’ll totally change the game for your IT team. Give them a try, you probably won’t look back.

Robocopy examples. For most sysadmins, Robocopy is a blast from the past. Many were using it before Microsoft included it in Windows Server 2008. And it’s still very useful today, in fact, essential for the productivity of IT teams.

Intune Design Decisions Free Training. If you’re an IT admin looking to up your game with Intune, you have to read this. The HTMD community has put together a fantastic series of 13 Free Intune Design Decisions Training Videos for you to dive into. These videos cover everything from UEM (Unified Endpoint Management) to Intune-supported enrollment methods and security policies. So, whether you’re new to Intune or just looking to brush up on your skills, these training videos are an invaluable resource.


☁️Security & Data Governance

Securely Reduce MFA Prompts in Azure AD.  Are your users tired of constantly being prompted for MFA? While security is a top priority, so is user experience, and over-prompting can be counterproductive. In this article, you’ll learn how to securely reduce MFA prompts in Azure AD without compromising on security. Learn what NOT to do, how to analyze authentication prompts, and discover effective ways to enhance the user experience with Windows Hello for Business, Windows 10 Accounts Chrome extension, and Enterprise SSO for Apple devices.

Microsoft Teams Security Best Practices. Microsoft Teams has become the go-to platform for communication and collaboration for many organizations, but with its growing popularity comes increased attention from hackers and cybercriminals. To help keep your Microsoft Teams environment safe and secure, here’s a list of best practices for you to consider.

Report on Microsoft 365 mailbox forwarding (all methods) via PowerShell. An updated PowerShell script generates reports for Microsoft 365 mailboxes with configured forwarding. The script covers mailbox-level forwarding, inbox rules, calendar-level forwarding, and transport rules. Use this handy script to efficiently monitor and manage email forwarding within your organization.


☁️Noteworthy (long)reads

Use Azure OpenAI to filter support requests based on the language/tone of the email. Azure OpenAI’s ability to understand text tones can be utilized to sort incoming support emails based on their language tone. By using an API key from Azure OpenAI and creating folders for Positive, Negative, and Neutral tones in Outlook, a flow can be set up on flow.microsoft.com. The configured flow automatically sorts emails into respective folders based on the detected language tone, showcasing the potential applications of Azure OpenAI text generation for streamlining customer support processes.

New Microsoft Intune Suite For Endpoint Management. The new Microsoft Intune Suite, a comprehensive bundle offering advanced endpoint management and security solutions, has been introduced by Microsoft. The suite, which simplifies endpoint management and enhances security measures, integrates Microsoft Security and Microsoft 365, empowering IT and security teams to proactively tackle challenges.


DATES TO KEEP IN MIND

July 18-19, 2023Microsoft Inspire 2023

August 31, 2023 – Microsoft will retire Kaizala. After the retirement date, access to and support for Kaizala will be discontinued. 

October 10, 2023 – Office 2016 and Office 2019 will no longer be supported when connecting to Microsoft 365. While these versions may still be able to connect to Microsoft 365, their connections will not be supported and may experience performance or reliability issues in the future. Official documentation here.

November 15-16, 2023Microsoft Ignite 2023


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☁️On a Less Serious Note


☁️ Last but not least …

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