Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast

Welcome to Episode 384 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode, we tackle a wide range of essential topics to help you monitor, secure, and streamline operations across your Azure estate. From access control strategies to virtual machine agents and everything in between, this episode gives you a high-level overview of Microsoft Defender for Cloud and the suite of Azure services it protects. Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes Episode 382 – Securing the Modern Workplace: Exploring Microsoft Entra ID Security Defaults, Conditional Access Policies, and Microsoft Secure Score Episode 383 – Securing Azure: Monitoring and observing your Azure estate What is Microsoft Defender for Cloud? Common questions about Defender for Cloud? Common questions about data collection, agents, and workspaces About Azure Update Manager Align responsibilities across teams About the sponsors Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!

Welcome to Episode 383 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode we continue our discussion on security, transitioning from Microsoft 365 to Azure (Episode 382 – Securing the Modern Workplace: Exploring Microsoft Entra ID Security Defaults, Conditional Access Policies, and Microsoft Secure Score) to Microsoft Azure. We begin with Azure security logging and auditing, discussing the importance of capturing and analyzing security logs to detect and respond to potential threats. Next, we delve into Azure Monitor data sources and data collection methods. Azure Monitor provides a comprehensive set of tools to collect, analyze, and act on telemetry data from your cloud and on-premises environments. Finally, we discuss how the components of Azure Monitor can be used for managing and analyzing the vast amounts of data generated in your Azure environment. We’ll explore how this platform supports advanced analytics, helps you identify trends and anomalies, and enables proactive threat detection. Whether you’re a cloud architect, security professional, or IT admin, this episode offers practical advice and strategies for leveraging observability to enhance your security posture in Azure. Tune in to discover how you can better protect your organization by implementing effective observability practices. Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes Announcing mandatory multi-factor authentication for Azure sign-in Azure security logging and auditing Azure Monitor data sources and data collection methods Azure Monitor data platform Extend Azure with Azure Native ISV Services About the sponsors Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!

Welcome to Episode 382 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode, we dive into three essential tools for safeguarding your organization in the cloud-first world: Security Defaults in Microsoft Entra ID, Conditional Access Policies, and Microsoft Secure Score. Join us as we talk through and rationalize each solution, including when and why you might want to use each depending on your maturity with the Microsoft Cloud. Whether you’re an IT administrator, security professional, or just someone keen on understanding how to secure your digital workspace, this episode is packed with valuable insights and practical tips to help you leverage these security tools. Tune in to stay ahead of the curve and ensure your organization is protected against the evolving threat landscape! Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes Security defaults in Microsoft Entra ID Microsoft Secure Future Initiative Every Microsoft employee is now being judged on their security work What is Conditional Access? Conditional Access policy templates Episode 256 – Conditional Access All The Things? Microsoft security portals and admin centers Track your Microsoft Secure Score history and meet goals Assess your security posture with Microsoft Secure Score About the sponsors Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!

Welcome to Episode 381 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode we discuss Microsoft Graph Data Connect, a service that allows organizations to access and manage data from Microsoft 365 in a secure, scalable, and efficient manner. Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes Elgato's New Stream Deck POWER-UPS make streaming even easier USB Hub - Multiport adapter for Stream Deck + Helping our customers through the CrowdStrike outage Azure status history Update on the SharePoint Files dataset Datasets, regions, and sinks supported by Microsoft Graph Data Connect microsoftgraph / dataconnect-solutions MGDC for SharePoint: New, Updated and Upcoming Datasets Step-by-step: Gather a detailed dataset on SharePoint Sites using the Microsoft Graph Data Connect About the sponsors Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!

Welcome to Episode 380 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode we discuss some of the latest security breaches that you should be on the lookout for and then we get into AD FS migrations and if you should consider it. Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes AT&T says criminals stole phone records of ‘nearly all’ customers in new data breach Largest password database leak exposes nearly 10M credentials Post-Breach Fixes: Snowflake Adds Mandatory MFA What Is Identity Theft Insurance? Move to cloud authentication with the AD FS migration tool! Use AD FS application migration to move AD FS apps to Microsoft Entra ID Migrate from AD FS to Microsoft Entra ID for identity management https://setup.cloud.microsoft/ Microsoft ordered employees in China to only use iPhones due to security threats About the sponsors Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!

Welcome to Episode 379 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode, Ben and Scott take a look at Azure Verified Modules, a new initiative from Microsoft to consolidate and set the standards for what a good Bicep and/or Terraform module looks like. Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes Ember Temperature Control Smart Mug 2, 14 Oz, App-Controlled Heated Coffee Mug with 80 Min Battery Life and Improved Design, Black Azure Verified Modules What, Why, How  Module Indexes Module Support Terraform Modules Community Calls John Savill - Azure Verified Modules Overview About the sponsors Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!

Welcome to Episode 378 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode we discuss Azure Compute Fleet, a new Preview service announced at Microsoft Build 2024. Azure Compute Fleet is a new Azure infrastructure service that lets you deploy Azure compute capacity across different virtual machine SKUs, availability zones, and pricing models. It's all about acquiring VM capacity at scale. If you're familiar with AWS EC2 and Spot fleet, this is effectively the equivalent in Azure. Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes GoveeLife WiFi Freezer Thermometer Alarm, Remote App Alert with Anti-False, Wireless Smart Temperature Monitor Sensor, 2 Years Free Data Storage Export, Digital Thermometer for Refrigerator Pool Tub EC2 Fleet – Manage Thousands of On-Demand and Spot Instances with One Request Azure Compute Fleet PREVIEW Announcing the Public Preview of Azure Compute Fleet Build 2024: Microsoft Announces New Azure Virtual Machines for AI and Cloud-Native Workloads What is Azure Compute Fleet? (Preview) FAQ for Azure Compute Fleet Deploying Azure Compute Fleet virtual machines - YouTube About the sponsors Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!

Welcome to Episode 377 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode, Ben and Scott talk about a recent incident at Google Cloud where one of their customer accounts was completely wiped out without notice. Then they dive into Microsoft Copilot for Security. Ben has been getting hands on with it and it is expensive. They discuss pricing for Copilot for Security, how to think about approaching the multiple embedded experiences in it, and how to think about building a corpus of knowledge and truly leveraging it as an assistant and accelerator for upping your security game in your Microsoft cloud. Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes “Unprecedented” Google Cloud event wipes out customer account and its backups A joint statement from UniSuper CEO Peter Chun, and Google Cloud CEO, Thomas Kurian What was the recent outage caused by? Microsoft Copilot for Security Microsoft Security Copilot to be available April 1 as a capacity-based service Microsoft Copilot for Security - Pricing Manage usage of security compute units in Copilot for Security What is Microsoft Copilot for Security? Microsoft Copilot for Security experiences Copilot for Security prompting tips - Create effective prompts About the sponsors Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!

Welcome to Episode 376 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode. Ben and Scott discuss some of the announcements from the Microsoft 365 Community Conference. Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes Microsoft 365 Community Conference Microsoft launches SharePoint eSignature integration with Adobe and Docusign SharePoint eSignature Set up SharePoint eSignature Securely digitize document workflows with eSignature in Microsoft 365 | OD17 Unveiling the Newest OneDrive Capabilities OneDrive Adds New Offline Capabilities Work with OneDrive web app when offline The Intrazone - Add to OneDrive About the sponsors Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!

Welcome to Episode 375 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast, where we discuss Microsoft's Global Secure Access offering. We explain how Global Secure Access brings identity, network, and endpoint access together under one service and how it combines with Defender for Cloud Apps and is built around the capacity of the Microsoft WAN. Join us as we take a deep dive into the world of digital security and learn how Global Secure Access can help you secure your digital world. Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes What is Global Secure Access (preview)? Global Secure Access clients Global Secure Access client for Windows (preview) Global Secure Access (preview) traffic forwarding profiles Learn about Microsoft Entra Private Access Learn about Microsoft Entra Internet Access for all apps How to use the Global Secure Access (preview) enriched Microsoft 365 logs About the sponsors Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!

Welcome to Episode 374 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast where Ben and Scott break down Azure Trusted launch virtual machines - what they are, how they're different from Gen 1 Azure VMs, and how you can enable them for your new and existing workloads. Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes Trusted launch for Azure virtual machines Supported SKUs Enable Trusted launch on existing Azure VMs Deploy a VM with trusted launch enabled Enable Trusted launch on existing Azure VMs Trusted Launch FAQ About the sponsors Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!

Welcome to Episode 373 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast where Ben and Scott close out their review of Microsoft Intune and its third pillar - Endpoint security. They discuss the core components of Endpoint security, including antivirus, disk encryption, and firewall configuration. Ben also takes Scott on a tour of some more hidden gems in Endpoint security, including managed installers along with endpoint detection and response policies. Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes Microsoft Intune troubleshooting Manage endpoint security in Microsoft Intune Manage BitLocker policy for Windows devices with Intune Use FileVault disk encryption for macOS with Intune Monitor device encryption with Intune Endpoint security firewall rule migration tool overview Enforce compliance for Microsoft Defender for Endpoint with Conditional Access in Intune Endpoint detection and response policy for endpoint security in Intune Manage approved apps for Windows devices with App Control for Business policy and Managed Installers for Microsoft Intune About the sponsors Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!

Welcome to Episode 372 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast, where we'll be discussing more of Microsoft Intune, one of the most powerful tools for managing your organization's devices, apps, and endpoint security. In this episode, we continue our discussion on the three pillars of Intune - Devices, Apps, and Endpoint Security - with Apps. We'll cover App protection policies, touch on the management experience, how MDM and MAM come into play, and how App protection policies protect your corporate data. Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes Overview of Windows Autopilot App protection policies overview App configuration policies for Microsoft Intune Policies for Office apps About the sponsors Intelligink utilizes their skill and passion for the Microsoft cloud to empower their customers with the freedom to focus on their core business. They partner with them to implement and administer their cloud technology deployments and solutions. Visit Intelligink.com for more info.

Welcome to Episode 371 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast, where we'll be discussing Microsoft Intune, one of the most powerful tools for managing your organization's devices, apps, and endpoint security. In this episode, we'll start exploring the three pillars of Intune: Devices, Apps, and Endpoint Security. We'll cover what devices you can enroll, how to onboard them, and what configurations are available. Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes Washington's Dream - SNL - YouTube Microsoft Intune plans and pricing Microsoft Intune licensing Device-only licenses Microsoft Intune planning guide Get started with your Microsoft Intune deployment Supported operating systems and browsers in Intune Manage endpoint security policies on devices onboarded to Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Import custom ADMX and ADML administrative templates into Microsoft Intune (public preview) Create a Settings Catalog policy using your imported GPOs in Microsoft Intune (public preview) Password and account lockout policies on Microsoft Entra Domain Services managed domains About the sponsors Intelligink utilizes their skill and passion for the Microsoft cloud to empower their customers with the freedom to focus on their core business. They partner with them to implement and administer their cloud technology deployments and solutions. Visit Intelligink.com for more info.

The restrictions have been lifted for Microsoft 365 Copilot licensing and you can now purchase licenses in tenants with less than 300 users. With the flood gates open, Ben and Scott revisit Microsoft 365 Copilot now that they both have access to it in their own tenants. Is it just a summarization tool? Is it any good for helping out Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and Microsoft Teams? Listen in and find out! Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes Microsoft 365 Copilot 'generally available' – if you can afford 300 seats Expanding availability of Copilot for Microsoft 365 Where can I get Microsoft Copilot? Microsoft Copilot help & learning Copilot in Microsoft Teams help & learning Email coaching with Copilot in Outlook Copilot in OneNote help & learning Copilot Pro plans & licensing About the sponsors Intelligink utilizes their skill and passion for the Microsoft cloud to empower their customers with the freedom to focus on their core business. They partner with them to implement and administer their cloud technology deployments and solutions. Visit Intelligink.com for more info.

In Episode 369, Ben and Scott explore the new Backup and Archive options for Microsoft 365 and Office 365 workloads - Microsoft 365 Archive and Microsoft 365 Backup. These two features may sound similar, but they have different functionalities. Microsoft 365 Archive provides coverage for SharePoint, while Microsoft 365 Backup provides coverage across SharePoint, OneDrive, and Exchange. We will be discussing why you should use these features, how to set them up, and their options. Additionally, we'll cover the differences between the two features, such as the fact that Microsoft 365 Backup does not require an Azure subscription, unlike Microsoft 365 Archive. We'll also delve into the policies, frequency and retention, and recovery options for each service. Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes Microsoft 365 Backup Microsoft 365 Backup - Microsoft Adoption Overview of Microsoft 365 Backup (Preview) Set up Microsoft 365 Backup (Preview) Pricing model for Microsoft 365 Backup (Preview) Microsoft 365 Roadmap - Feature ID 188799 Microsoft 365 Archive Microsoft 365 Archive - Microsoft Adoption Overview of Microsoft 365 Archive (Preview) Set up Microsoft 365 Archive (Preview) Pricing model for Microsoft 365 Archive (Preview) Microsoft 365 Roadmap - Feature ID 171100 About the sponsors Intelligink utilizes their skill and passion for the Microsoft cloud to empower their customers with the freedom to focus on their core business. They partner with them to implement and administer their cloud technology deployments and solutions. Visit Intelligink.com for more info.

In Episode 368, Ben and Scott talk through the differences between Notion and Microsoft Loop with a sprinkling of Confluence. Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes Microsoft officially launches Loop, its Notion competitor Loop vs. Notion: Microsoft’s new document app is a promising mess Is Microsoft Loop A Notion Alternative? Microsoft Loop - A Smarter Way to OneNote? Get started with Microsoft Loop Loop components in Whiteboard Get started with Copilot for Microsoft 365 in Loop Loop app Public Preview limits Guides and Tutorials - How to use Notion Confluence vs Notion Comparison Notion vs Confluence - Switch from Confluence Why Choose Microsoft Loop as Your Wiki About the sponsors Intelligink utilizes their skill and passion for the Microsoft cloud to empower their customers with the freedom to focus on their core business. They partner with them to implement and administer their cloud technology deployments and solutions. Visit Intelligink.com for more info.

In Episode 367, Ben and Scott kick off 2024 with a discussion of Azure Files. They start out reviewing a customer scenario Ben encountered and how they would approach it, breaking down the options available with Azure Files, hosting traditional SMB shares in Azure, and how a hybrid deployment can be the best of both worlds. Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes Planning for an Azure Files deployment Replace or extend Windows file servers with Azure Files and Azure File Sync Authentication & Identity Overview of Azure Files identity-based authentication options for SMB access Data protection What are the benefits of Microsoft Defender for Storage? Prevent accidental deletion of Azure file shares Accidental delete protection for Azure file shares using Azure Backup Azure Files data redundancy Costing Optimize costs for Azure Files with Reservations Understand Azure Files billing Performance and scale Azure Files scalability and performance targets Azure Files networking considerations NFS file shares in Azure Files Robocopy sees Cloud Tiered files in Azure File Sync as "modified" even though they are not, how to fix? About the sponsors Intelligink utilizes their skill and passion for the Microsoft cloud to empower their customers with the freedom to focus on their core business. They partner with them to implement and administer their cloud technology deployments and solutions. Visit Intelligink.com for more info.

In this episode, Ben and Scott touched on some updates on their social media presence due to some recent happenings in the social media services space. As they transition into the Microsoft cloud world, they discuss updates to cloud computing software and user experience design. They also provided some insight into conditional access policies and break-glass accounts and examined strategies for managing these elements for optimal efficiency. They wrapped up their conversation on a contemplative note about the future of native apps versus progressive web apps (PWAs), and some frustrations about the increasing trend towards PWAs. It's also the season of giving, and we're raising money for Girls Who Code. Donate today at https://give.girlswhocode.com/msclouditpro! Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes @mattnavarra on Threads Emergency Pod: Sam Altman is Out at Open AI Show declined events on the calendar The new Forms app is here! Exclude Breakglass Accounts from Conditional Access Policies with PowerShell Update-BreakGlassUsersCAPolicies.PS1 Minimize the number of Conditional Access policies About the sponsors Intelligink utilizes their skill and passion for the Microsoft cloud to empower their customers with the freedom to focus on their core business. They partner with them to implement and administer their cloud technology deployments and solutions. Visit Intelligink.com for more info.

In Episode 365, Ben and Scott break away from tech news to talk about some of their favorite gadget purchases in the past year. If you (or a geek in your life) are looking for ways to spend those Christmas gift cards or you need some last-minute ideas, give them a listen. It's also the season of giving and we're raising money for Girls Who Code. Donate today at https://give.girlswhocode.com/msclouditpro! Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes Aqara Smart Lock U100, Fingerprint Keyless Entry Door Lock with Apple Home Key, Touchscreen Keypad, Bluetooth Electronic Deadbolt, IP65 Weatherproof, Supports Apple HomeKit, Alexa, Google, IFTTT, Gray I tried every Apple Home Key Lock, here’s the best Kwikset 916 Traditional Touchscreen SmartCode Electronic Deadbolt Smart Lock featuring SmartKey Security and ZigBee 3.0 Technology in Venetian Bronze, 1.19 x 2.81 x 5.06 inches, Metal OBSBOT Tail AIR AI-Powered PTZ Camera 4K Webcam,1.8" CMOS,f/1.8 Aperture,AI Auto Track, Gesture & Remote Controls,TOF Sensor, Support NDI,Wired&Wireless Connection,LiveStream for Churches/Music Live OBSBOT Tiny 2 Webcam 4K Voice Control PTZ, AI Tracking Multi-Mode & Auto Focus, Web Camera with 1/1.5" Sensor, Gesture Control, 60 FPS, HDR Light Correction, Webcam for PC, Streaming, Meeting, etc. This is a 4k Webcam You Should Know About- The OBSBOT Tiny 2 ODISTAR Desktop Vacuum Cleaner,Mini Table dust Sweeper Energy Saving with auto Power-Off Function,High Endurance up to 400 mins,Cordless&360º Rotatable for Keyboard/Home/Office (White Charging) USBC to Lightning adapter ALTI Wireless Charging Desk Mat BESTEK 150W Power Inverter DC 12V to 110V AC Converter 4.2A Dual USB Car Plug Adapter Outlet Converter (Blue) TRPPV375 - Tripp Lite PowerVerter 375-Watt Ultra-Compact Inverter Anker Prime 6-in-1 USB C Charging Station, 140W Compact Power Strip for Work and Travel, 5 ft Detachable Extension Cord with 6 Ports, for iPhone 15/15 Plus/15 Pro/15 Pro Max(Non-Battery, Non-Wireless) G.E.T. 6632-1-CL Heavy-Duty Plastic Restaurant Tumblers, 32 Ounce, Clear (Set of 12) About the sponsors Intelligink utilizes their skill and passion for the Microsoft cloud to empower their customers with the freedom to focus on their core business. They partner with them to implement and administer their cloud technology deployments and solutions. Visit Intelligink.com for more info.