[m365weekly] #143

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Issue #143

☁️What’s on my mind

I bought my dad a new computer 10 years ago. For the last two years, I have been convincing him it is time to invest in a new one. And just before Christmas, he gave in.

Of course, he has extraordinary ideas. He needs a computer with a DVD burner. My son asked me what a DVD writer even is. I couldn’t hold back my laughter at this question, because I remembered a similar question he had asked me recently. What is IBM?

Where the hell am I going to get a computer with such outdated technology at the turn of 2024? He will get an external unit instead.

Amazing how much we have leaped forward. Back in 1985, my father was one of the first in the neighborhood to buy a music CD player, today he is one of the last few who still use optical discs.

Meanwhile, my kids live in the era of subscriptions.

Have a nice rest of the year,
Matic Z.

P.S.: Here we go, another year is coming to an end. Thank you for being a subscriber to this newsletter, for reading the content, and I wish you all the best for 2024. Drop me a line, especially if you have any suggestions for improvement.


Power Platform is one of the more important pieces of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem.

The idea is that more resourceful employees can develop the applications they need to do their jobs themselves, with little or no programming knowledge.

Where to start? Below you have a start to a great series of articles on how to develop your first app in this environment.


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

Easy PowerPoint Presentation Idea. A neat PowerPoint trick.

Emoji Panel Windows 11: Everything You Need to Know. The Windows 11 Emoji Panel allows users to easily insert emojis, symbols, emoticons, kaomoji, and animated GIFs into any Windows app or text entry box.

Microsoft Loop – Better Meeting Notes than OneNote. Elevate your note-taking game with Microsoft Loop, the perfect tool for collaboration within Microsoft Teams. This comprehensive video breaks down Loop’s features, teaching you how to use it across Teams, Outlook, and as a standalone application.


☁️Sysadmin Stuff

How to troubleshoot Exchange Online Transport Rules using the Test-Message cmdlet. Exchange Online PowerShell recently updated the Test-Message cmdlet to help tenant administrators investigate Mail Flow Rule (ETR) processing issues. This cmdlet sends test emails into the Exchange Online ETR pipeline, simulating real behavior and generating an immediate evaluation report for every rule, condition, and exception.

10 Most Popular PowerShell Tips and Tricks in 2023. Boost your PowerShell skills with these top 10 tips and tricks from ITPro Today, including accessing Azure AD, tracking Windows Group Policy changes, and installing PowerShell Copilot. 

Naming convention suggestion. Naming conventions are vital in IT management, as they promote organization, clarity, collaboration, and ease of maintenance. Consistent naming conventions contribute to a more effective and secure IT environment.


☁️Security & Data Governance

How Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Protects Organizations Against QR Code Phishing Attacks. Microsoft has reported a rise in QR code phishing attacks, where hackers embed malicious codes in emails to deceive users into downloading malware. To combat this, Microsoft Defender for Office 365 employs advanced technologies such as image extraction, sender intelligence, and machine learning models to detect and block these phishing campaigns.

Top 10 Cybersecurity Stories of 2023. In 2023, cybersecurity has taken center stage with rising cyberattacks, industry developments, and increased government involvement. In this article, you’ll find the top stories that ITPro covered in 2023.

How to block Top-Level Domain (TLD) in Microsoft 365. Block spammy Top-Level Domains (TLDs) by creating a mail flow rule in the Exchange admin center. This helps prevent unwanted emails from reaching your organization.


☁️Noteworthy (long)reads

From toy to tool: DALL-E 3 is a wake-up call for visual artists—and the rest of us. DALL-E 3 demonstrates impressive media generation capabilities. This advancement has the potential to reshape the future of media creation. However, the technology raises concerns about plagiarism and its impact on artists, as it relies on scraped copyrighted works, blurring the line between human creativity and machine-generated art.

The ticking time bomb of Microsoft Exchange Server 2013. Ransomware groups are increasingly targeting organizations still using Microsoft Exchange Server 2013, which reached its end of life in April 2023.


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)

December 16, 2024Retiring of Delve application.


☁️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

This time something a little bit more serious.

☁️ Last but not least …

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

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