M365 Weekly Newsletter
Issue #161
☁️What’s on my mind
I’ve been reminded a lot lately how the whole tech world, just before the AI craze broke out, was betting on some dehumanized metaverse.
The experience of some virtual blackboard in front of which my avatar would stand legless. And I could finally be what I want to be (and not what I actually am). Somehow I didn’t buy into all of that.
Well, now we are in AI frenzy.
While I’m downright blown away by what Copilot can do and how it can help me with my tasks, not to mention all that’s yet to come, I am, on the other hand, also skeptical.
A colleague repeatedly points out that he deliberately does not use GPS navigation. Why? To train his own sense of navigation.
I think I will continue to write the texts that are important to me without the help of an AI. Why? To preserve my own creativity.
Have a nice weekend,
Matic Z.
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☁️Productivity & Modern Workplace
How Word pastes into your document. Microsoft Word offers five pasting modes to suit your needs: Use Destination Theme, Merge Formatting, Keep Source Formatting, Paste as Picture, and Keep Text Only. Utilize Live Preview to see how the pasted content will look before adding it to your document and use Undo (Ctrl + Z) to reverse if needed.
How to Delay Sending Email in Outlook. Delaying email sends in Outlook can help you reach recipients at a more suitable time, increasing the chances of a prompt response. Not only that: If you live in France, emailing employees outside work hours may be illegal.
12 Tips to Get More Done Using Microsoft Outlook. Outlook is a great productivity tool. Watch this video to squeeze even more out of it. Declutter your inbox by archiving emails efficiently and organizing them with categories, boost your email management by scheduling dedicated time blocks and utilizing advanced search options, snooze emails, etc.
☁️Copilot & AI
Deploying Copilot for Microsoft 365 with the help of—you guessed it—Copilot. Microsoft’s Copilot is a game-changer for productivity. It streamlines tasks, minimizes meeting time, and accelerates the creative process.
Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption Errors to Dodge. Businesses often make common mistakes, such as not fully understanding how Copilot works with their data, overlooking app-specific skills, and over-relying on the technology. To maximize Copilot’s benefits, it’s crucial to seek independent advice, educate yourself, and maintain a balanced approach.
Copilot in Microsoft 365 Getting Agents, Extensions and Team (Not Teams) Support. Microsoft is introducing new features to its Copilot AI assistant for improved business collaboration in Microsoft 365. Updates include Custom SharePoint Copilots for personalized assistance, Copilot Agents for complex tasks, Copilot Extensions for customizations, and Team Copilot for group-based AI assistance in administrative tasks and project management.
Can SMB’s afford Microsoft 365 Copilot? | ROI breakdown. Microsoft 365 Copilot can greatly impact small and medium-sized businesses with its $360 annual per-user cost by potentially achieving over 100% ROI. By saving just two hours per month for each employee, Copilot can boost productivity and efficiency.
☁️Sysadmin Stuff
External Authentication Methods in Microsoft Entra. Microsoft’s public preview of external authentication methods (EAM) for Entra ID allows integration of third-party multi-factor authentication (MFA) solutions. This offers enhanced flexibility and security, as MFA prevents 99.2% of account compromises.
Microsoft 365 Tenant-to-Tenant Migration Assessment Version 2. The updated Microsoft 365 Tenant-to-Tenant Migration Assessment offers enhanced features, including a Power BI template and additional output areas for better migration planning. This tool helps admins gather data and insights for efficient migration processes and minimizes potential issues.
☁️Security & Data Governance
The strongest form of MFA? | Why your MFA may need an upgrade. MFA methods have advanced, but some remain vulnerable to interception and social engineering. FIDO/FIDO2 passkeys provide a more secure solution, utilizing cryptographic credentials and device-bound context for authentication.
Microsoft Teams governance best practices. To optimize Microsoft Teams, adopt an agile approach, tailor guidelines for diverse workflows, and manage guest access. Restrict third-party apps, establish naming conventions, and regularly archive or delete inactive teams for a more organized and efficient digital workspace.
How the new Microsoft Recall feature fundamentally undermines Windows security. Microsoft’s new Recall feature in Copilot+ PCs is a potential security nightmare, as it records and stores users’ sensitive information, making it a prime target for hackers. It’s crucial for users to reconsider using this feature until significant security enhancements are implemented.
☁️Noteworthy (long)reads
What runs GPT-4o and Microsoft Copilot? Microsoft’s cloud-based AI supercomputer can train and infer large language models on Azure, while compact models like Phi-3 can run offline on mobile devices. Azure’s infrastructure supports a diverse range of sophisticated AI models, optimizing performance and accessibility for various applications.
Highlights: Satya Nadellas Microsoft Build 2024 Keynote. Microsoft’s Build Conference introduced Team Copilot, an AI assistant for Microsoft 365 users to streamline workflow with smart features. Additionally, new AI hardware like the Cobalt 100 processor and AMD’s MI300X AI accelerator chip were announced, emphasizing Microsoft’s commitment to AI innovation.
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☁️On a Less Serious Note
☁️ Last but not least …
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