01Mar2019
21Feb2019
What are the benefits of using Autopilot in Microsoft 365? And, how to configure it.
Autopilot is a "low touch" or "no touch" deployment method that can be leveraged by IT departments to enable self-service computer deployments. Users can basically pick up a new Windows 10 device, sign in, and have all of their applications and data come to them (no profile migration, etc. required). But...
18Feb2019
YES!!! The Encrypt button is coming to Outlook on the Web!!!
I am so happy to see in my tenant the new Encrypt button (replaces the "Protect" button). I am not on the standard release in my tenant, so you might not see this right away if you're just following standard. Any tenant with AIP (e.g. E3, E5, Microsoft 365 Business) should...
15Feb2019
Managing Microsoft Teams: More to it than meets the eye
There have been some pretty good improvements over the last year with Teams, and there is only more good news on the way. Check out the backlog of requested features with updates at UserVoice. Great stuff like Private channels and Outlook group calendars are on the near horizon. But a lot...
06Feb2019
We have to talk about Intune
There was a time, not long ago, when I would have conversations with others like me, who work for other managed service providers around the US--we would all say the same thing: "We don't want any part of Intune--we have our own RMM tools..." Let me be clear--I still do not...
01Feb2019
How (and why) to leverage Microsoft 365 Business to manage third-party applications
One capability of Azure Active Directory which is included in your Microsoft 365 Business subscription (but which hardly anyone is taking advantage of in the SMB space) is the ability to bring third-party SaaS applications under management, and assign them to end-users--publishing them centrally via an application portal (myapps.microsoft.com), and...
21Jan2019
Password write-back is now supported on Microsoft 365 Business Premium! (And how to setup SSPR for hybrid accounts)
Well, well. Isn't this a pleasant surprise? Microsoft recently granted another one of my wishes, which I have previously blogged about, here. (1) Self-service password reset (SSPR) is now supported for hybrid synced accounts on the Microsoft 365 Business Premium subscription. The welcome announcement made on Microsoft's tech community blog did...
15Jan2019
Differences between Azure Information Protection labels and Office 365 Sensitivity labels
In the previous two posts, we looked at two capabilities of Azure Information Protection (AIP) P1, which is one of the many subscriptions bundled into Microsoft 365 Business: Email encryption & customizationLabels for classifying messages and documents Recent announcements have shifted the sands a bit here with so-called "Unified labeling"--which...
14Jan2019
Protect messages and documents in Microsoft 365 Business with AIP, part 2: AIP labels
Azure Information Protection (AIP) uses “labels” to classify and protect data. Labels are published to end users for eventual consumption and use through a “policy.” In the olden days, applying permissions and restricting access to files was more rudimentary—again, it was based on the concept of the “four walls.” We would erect...
10Jan2019