09Mar
01Feb
Unboxing Defender for Business, Part 2: Threat & Vulnerability Management
Last time we looked at how to get started with Microsoft Defender for Business and the so-called "Simplified configuration process," which helped us onboard our first Windows devices and apply basic policies to manage antivirus and firewall settings across the organization. In this blog post, we will ask the question:...
18Nov
More details on Microsoft Defender for Business (MDB)
Perhaps the biggest Microsoft product announcement this year for SMB customers was Microsoft Defender for Business, an Enterprise-grade endpoint security solution which is based on the wildly successful Microsoft Defender for Endpoint product. As previously noted on this blog, MDB will be included with Microsoft 365 Business Premium, which we...
01Nov
Announcing the Microsoft 365 SMB Data Protection Toolkit
Update March 2023: This product has been updated significantly, and renamed too. It is now called The SMB Guide to Data Protection and Microsoft Purview in Microsoft 365 Business Premium Plans. It still contains the written guide as well as supporting materials such as scripts and templates to help you...
15Oct
Automating third-party software deployments and updates with Intune and Scappman
Hey folks! For those of you in my audience who work at Managed Services Providers (MSP's), I wanted to introduce you to a product called Scappman that I am really excited about. Rarely do I come across something like this, which solves such an important problem in just the way I...
06Jan
Announcing the Practice Development Community and Monthly Educational Series
Today is a big day here at ITProMentor.com. We are entering a new year, and we have a big agenda to go along with it! In my recent surveys many of you indicated interest in gathering together and forming a community. As well, more than a few have asked...
16Nov
How much security is ‘enough’ security? Looking at Microsoft 365 Defender vs. Azure Sentinel
How much security is 'enough' security? This is in fact a trick question, I just threw it in there to get your attention. When it comes to security, one can never be 'safe,' but only 'safer' (even with the most expensive of cybersecurity tools and talented, dedicated humans to back...
18Sep
Managed Services Providers Are Doing IT All Wrong
As a Microsoft MVP and frequent community contributor, I have been invited to participate as a “subject matter expert” in several groups and online communities. Since I also work for an IT Managed Services Provider, some of these invites have brought me into peer groups comprised of folks who own...
18May
Free Microsoft 365 Security Assessment Tool based on CIS Controls
Note: I have updated this workbook to reflect changes in v8 of the CIS Controls framework. Please see this post for more details. Especially in the small and mid-sized enterprise space, it can be very difficult to persuade customers to spend additional money on their technology investments "because security." Therefore,...
09May