M365 Weekly Newsletter
Issue #194
☁️Productivity & Modern Workplace
Outlook Classic – Get It While You Can. Microsoft is pushing its new Outlook for Windows, but you can still opt for the classic version if needed. While new installs default to the new Outlook, the classic version remains available by request and can coexist with the new one on your system. Despite Microsoft’s push, the new version’s offline support remains underdeveloped.
Microsoft brings the ability to link to slides to PowerPoint on the web. PowerPoint on the web now lets you link directly to another slide within the same presentation, enhancing interactivity and navigation. It’s available to all web users and syncs seamlessly with links created on Windows or Mac. Handy shortcuts make linking quick and straightforward.
☁️Copilot & AI
Microsoft 365 Copilot Explained: Features, Limitations and your choices. Navigating Microsoft 365’s Copilot AI can feel overwhelming with its frequent updates and varied features. Copilot, an AI feature, assists with tasks like summarizing emails, creating documents, and analyzing data in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Its availability and capabilities vary by subscription plan, with some plans requiring additional payments for full access. You can choose to disable it if needed.
How I use Microsoft Copilot – Discovering the power of writing documents with my voice. Using voice transcription powered by large language models, like Microsoft’s “Co-Scribe,” can transform your writing process. You can quickly capture ideas, even while on the move, without focusing on typing. This approach enhances productivity and flexibility, letting you focus more on content creation than mechanics. You might find it a valuable addition to your workflow for creating documents efficiently.
☁️Sysadmin Stuff
Microsoft Sender Requirements: Avoid 550; 5.7.15 Access Denied Error. Starting May 5, 2025, Microsoft is strictly rejecting emails from senders dispatching over 5,000 emails daily to its consumer services like Outlook.com if they lack proper authentication. Ensure you have SPF, DKIM, and DMARC correctly configured to avoid the “550 5.7.15 Access denied” error.
How to Allow Access to Microsoft 365 Only from Selected Countries. To enhance your Microsoft 365 security, it’s crucial to limit access to trusted countries. Set up Conditional Access policies in Microsoft Entra ID by creating named locations for selected countries and configuring policies to block sign-ins from elsewhere. For users traveling abroad, temporarily adjust these settings to allow access from specific countries, ensuring secure and flexible management.
☁️Security & Data Governance
Storage limits for Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Microsoft 365 Enterprise E5. When you compare Microsoft 365 Business Premium to Enterprise E5, the key differences revolve around storage. E5 offers a path to potentially unlimited OneDrive storage and significantly larger Exchange mailboxes. While both have similar SharePoint storage limits, E5’s increased user count often means more total storage. Business Premium suits smaller businesses, while E5 caters to larger storage needs and offers auto-expanding email archiving.
A Guide to Microsoft Entra Private Access for On-Premise Servers. Microsoft Entra Private Access simplifies secure connectivity to your on-premise applications without needing traditional VPNs. It uses identity-based access controls as part of Microsoft’s Global Secure Access services. Setting it up involves configuring connectors on Windows servers, enabling traffic forwarding, and deploying a client on user devices, all while leveraging Conditional Access for enhanced security.
☁️Noteworthy (long)reads
A Cybersecurity Paradox: Even Resilient Organizations Are Blind to AI Threats. Organizations are increasingly adopting AI, but might not fully recognize its risks to the software supply chain. Even cyber-resilient companies can overlook these threats. Prioritizing supply chain security, threat detection, and leadership engagement is essential. A proactive approach is key, integrating incident response, business continuity, and fostering shared security responsibility across leadership to effectively manage these challenges.
EU Set to Accept Microsoft’s Proposal to Resolve Teams Bundle Dispute. The EU is addressing Microsoft’s practice of bundling Teams with Office, after complaints from Slack and alfaview citing unfair competition. While Microsoft has unbundled Teams and proposed better interoperability and pricing options, the EU demands more to ensure fair competition. Resolving this could free up EU resources for other tech investigations and possibly improve US-EU relations.
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☁️On a Less Serious Note
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