[m365weekly] #128

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Issue #128

☁️What’s on my mind

I recently came across a company’s Santa wish list. I say Santa because I find their plans really optimistic if not amusing.

They had decided to consolidate all the fragmented services they currently rent from more than 20 providers under one Microsoft roof. There is nothing wrong with that, of course.

However, I do find it a bit amusing that, instead of hiring consultants and someone who would actually migrate and integrate all things, they expect someone to hold their hand and teach them how to carry out this rather complex project. Everything from migrating Zapier to Power Automate, to implementing Dynamics 365 as a replacement for HubSpot CRM.

This kind of work is the life-juice for IT companies and it is what they do best. With all the complexity of modern IT, Jacks of all trades are a thing of the past.

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


Intune is a device and app management solution that’s getting more and more useful, more powerful, and Microsoft is adding new capabilities every month. As we are used to, the formerly unified Intune has now been split into Intune Plan 1, the addition of Plan 2, and even Intune Suite, which includes Plan 2. But you can’t have just Intune Suite – you need Plan 1 first and Suite on top of that. Complicated? Just a tiny bit, of course.

Discover Microsoft Intune Plans and Pricing. Official Microsoft resource.

Intune Training Course 2023. An insane 12-hour in-depth course on Intune. Free on YouTube.


☁️Productivity & Modern Workplace

5 reasons to use a personal Microsoft Loop workspace. Some useful tips on how to best use Loop to improve your own productivity. Of course, it’s more than great for collaborating with colleagues, but it can also be extremely helpful when you need to get organized.

Using Collaborative Meeting Notes in Teams Meetings. Are you tired of losing track of your meeting notes? Learn how Teams simplifies note-taking and helps you stay organized during online meetings. This may skyrocket your productivity.

Where are files Stored in OneDrive – Best Practices and Tips. OneDrive explained in layman’s terms. This great video is for all who are wondering how OneDrive works and how to navigate around this cloud storage service.


☁️Sysadmin Stuff

How to Bulk Delete Azure AD (Entra ID) Accounts. Efficiently managing and deleting multiple Azure AD accounts can be a challenge. With practical examples and step-by-step guidance, you can master account management.

Microsoft 365 Admin Monthly Digest. Keeping up to date with the latest Microsoft 365 updates and features can be time-consuming, but this monthly overview will keep you up to date with everything important that’s happened recently.

AdminDroid Office 365 Reports for Effective Microsoft 365 Management. Staying on top of Office 365 administration and reporting can be a daunting task, but AdminDroid is here to make your life easier. This truly is a Swiss knife for your M365 management endeavors.


☁️Security & Data Governance

Five Things To Know About Microsoft 365 Auditing. The complexities of Microsoft 365 auditing can be navigated more effectively by understanding five key aspects, which are crucial in ensuring an organization’s security and compliance.

11 best practices for securing data in the cloud. The importance of securing data in cloud services cannot be overstated, and this comprehensive article on best practices is here to guide you. By embracing these essential strategies, the safety of your organization’s data in the cloud is effectively enhanced.

Microsoft 365 Backup for SharePoint Online and Exchange Online (Soon). Microsoft 365 backup is crucial for an organization’s data security. By exploring various backup solutions and their benefits, one can enhance their data protection strategy. Microsoft is entering a backup market for its own Microsoft 365 ecosystem. I think this move should worry some trusted 3rd party Backup providers.


☁️Noteworthy (long)reads

5 Strategic Areas to Maximize Your Microsoft 365 ROI. Maximizing Microsoft 365 ROI is important to every organization’s success. Focusing on five strategic areas will help you get the most from your investment. Delve into these essential aspects and strengthen your organization’s performance.

Solutions Partner: overview of the updates to designation requirements. Are you a Microsoft partner? Learn about the recent changes to partner programs and how they impact your organization, allowing you to adapt and thrive in the dynamic partnership landscape.


DATES TO KEEP IN MIND

August 15, 2023 – No more uploading to Stream (Classic). Part of Stream (Classic) retirement roadmap. Start migrating.

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

February 15, 2024 – Microsoft Stream (Classic) retirement. Final stage. You can use Stream on Sharepoint.


☁️Classifieds

AWS Graviton Weekly. Are you a cloud computing professional? Get immersed in the AWS Silicon world. Keep updated about the last blog posts, videos, tech talks, and use cases, all related to AWS Graviton, AWS Trainium, AWS Inferentia, and more. Weekly newsletter by fellow tech enthusiast Marcos Ortiz.

The Sample. A whole new way of discovering exciting email newsletters. Sign up and you will get sample newsletters based on the interests that you’ve tagged.


☁️On a Less Serious Note


☁️ Last but not least …

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