11Jul2022
30Jun2020
Troubleshooting weird Azure AD Join issues
If you are starting to do more Azure AD Join (or disjoin/rejoin) operations, you may run into some issues at times where the computer reports an error. These can take several forms, but generally the message is, "Sorry dude, but you can't join/register this device." Here are a few scenarios that...
11Feb2020
Boost your security with Hybrid Azure AD Join: From Zero to Conditional Access in one afternoon
"Alex, I work at a non-profit and I would love to take advantage of the better security in Microsoft 365 Business (we have Business Premium now), but it sounds like it is for "cloud-only" customers? Is that right?? We are using Office 365 for Exchange, but we can't go cloud-only...
24Sep2019
Azure AD Device States, revisited
I have an older article on Azure AD Device States already, but I wanted to quickly return to this topic. I have a few in the audience who are still confused about this. Notice the "Join type" column corresponding to the device state Azure AD Registered - A machine that shows...
04Sep2019
Windows Hello for Business: Azure AD Join vs. Hybrid Join
Windows Hello for Business replaces a traditional password when signing into your workstation, with a stronger two-factor authentication. One factor being some kind of local gesture such as a PIN, fingerprint or facial recognition, and the other being a key or certificate that is bound to the device itself. When you...
14Apr2019
Updated: How to migrate email to Office 365 Exchange Online with zero downtime (the easy way)
Some people will tell you that Hybrid is not a good idea for small business networks, since it is "too complex" or "too messy." Don't listen to the naysayers. They are just not aware yet of how stupidly simple it has become, with options like minimal hybrid and the brand...
11Apr2019
The evolution of small business networks
I believe there are only three basic types of networks alive in the small and mid-sized business market today.* Legacy, Hybrid and Modern. Now the labeling on these categories is purposeful--the language represents a progression in time, but it is important to remember that there still exist "legacy" environments, just...
08Apr2019
Managing Hybrid Exchange environments: a Cheat Sheet
Office 365 Exchange Online is pretty simple to manage if you are a "cloud-only" organization. Especially now that many edits can be made easily via the Microsoft 365 admin center, without even going into the Exchange Online admin area, separately. But, for those of us who are still tethered to a...
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...
12Dec2018