[m365weekly] #142

M365 Newsletter title logo M365 Weekly Newsletter

Issue #142

☁️What’s on my mind

We’re all used to the quick marketing moves of global companies, aren’t we? Microsoft is not the only one, of course, but it is the focus of this newsletter.

There are a lot of questions along the lines of ‘When can I test this?’. Or “I have Apps for Business – when can I test Copilot in Excel?” Or, “Do they seriously think I will pay USD 30 per user for this?”

And that’s what I get asked by serious Microsoft partners. Obviously, a lot gets lost in the information overload we are exposed to daily.

Of course, it doesn’t stop there … but some of the confusion is best articulated by others who know things better than I do.

How to Identify Copilot Bullsh*t – Loryan Strant, Microsoft 365 MVP. This article received a viral reach. A must-read!

Practical Protection: Get Ready to Be Copiloted. Another rant(ish) piece.

Have a nice rest of the week,
Matic Z.


Are you looking for IT talent?

Maybe she or he is hidden among the readers of this newsletter. Many cyber security experts and outstanding sysadmins read it.

Post your job listing here on M365 Weekly Newsletter and get noticed!

☁️Productivity & Modern Workplace

Inviting Google (Gmail) Users To Collaborate In Your Teams Channels. Microsoft Teams now offers a seamless collaboration experience with Google Gmail users. By adding a Gmail user as a guest, they can participate in your Teams channels, engage in conversations, and access shared files.

Preserve Declined Meetings with Outlook. Manage your declined Outlook meetings more effectively with the new “Preserve declined meetings” feature in Microsoft 365. It retains declined meeting invitations in your calendar, allowing you to view the details and track responses from attendees. See how you do it in the article.

Excel’s NEW Checkboxes Are Incredibly Cool! Here’s why. Checkboxes are not new in Excel. But they’ve become much more useful with the last updates.


☁️Sysadmin Stuff

How to Schedule Windows Reboot using Intune. Effortlessly schedule a Windows reboot using Microsoft Intune by following this comprehensive step-by-step guide. The process involves creating a PowerShell script, adding it to Intune, and assigning the script to a group of devices. Say goodbye to manual intervention.

How to use Logical Operators in PowerShell. Master the use of logical operators in PowerShell to simplify your scripting tasks and enhance control flow. This guide covers AND, OR, and NOT operators, along with practical examples and tips for efficient scripting.


☁️Security & Data Governance

5 Critical Steps to Prepare for AI-Powered Malware in Your Connected Asset Ecosystem. AI-powered malware is an emerging threat to connected ecosystems. To protect your organization, ensure a thorough understanding of your ecosystem, invest in threat intelligence, and adopt a proactive approach to security.

Conditional Access Policies and Breakglass Account Exclusion. Breakglass accounts, also known as emergency access accounts, are crucial for maintaining access in case of compromised or locked-out administrative accounts. To avoid misconfigurations in Conditional Access policies that may lock everyone out, consider using automation through PowerShell to check and update policies with necessary exclusions.


☁️Noteworthy (long)reads

NIS2: Compliance or Opportunity? Your One-Year Strategy! With just one year left before the Network and Information Security Directive 2 (NIS2) comes into effect, businesses have a unique opportunity to enhance their cybersecurity measures. NIS2 will require organizations to report cyber incidents within 72 hours and improve their information security systems.

AI and Trust. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into our lives, it’s crucial to establish trust in these systems. 

ChatGPT is one year old. Here’s how it changed the tech world. How did it change the tech world?


DATES TO KEEP IN MIND

January 2024, Wiki page in Teams retiring. More info here. (Thanks Teresa for providing the reminder!)

March 31, 2024 – Classic Teams retirement.

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

By September 30, 2024 – Business Connectivity Services (BCS) retirement in Microsoft 365. (Timeline and alternative solution)


☁️Classifieds

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 …

Here are a few things you can do if you enjoyed reading this newsletter:

Did someone forward this email? Sign up for the weekly newsletter here.