Kurt Shintaku's Blog

Join us LIVE on April 19 – 20, 2022 for the second Azure Cosmos DB Conf on Learn TV. Azure Cosmos DB Conf is a free, virtual developer event organized in collaboration with the Azure Cosmos DB community and Microsoft.

The event will be streamed in three, 3-hour live segments with 25-minute sessions. Each livestream will have its own unique content, so feel free to attend more than one stream or view the content on-demand after the event ends.

Register at:

• Azure Cosmos DB Conf April 2022
  https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/events/learntv/azure-cosmos-db-april-2022/

Today I learned that we have the entire Power BI "Release Plan" available visually… in Power BI!

To check out the PowerBI Release Plan report & play with it, go to:

• INFO: Power BI Release Plan
  https://community.powerbi.com/t5/Data-Stories-Gallery/Power-BI-Release-Plan/td-p/930557

Microsoft Ability Summit is free community event on May 10-11, bringing together people with disabilities, allies, and industry professionals to imagine and build an inclusive future!  ASL, CC, and AD provided

2022 Microsoft Ability Summit will feature:

• Keynotes from Microsoft executives, accessibility, industry and disability community experts.
• Expert panels featuring exciting projects and innovations, and debates on hot topics impacting our community.
• Product announcements! Learn about the latest in accessibility and disability inclusive products, services and experiences from Microsoft and across industry.

More to know:

• All sessions will be recorded and available post-event so you can access the content at a time that works for you.
• All sessions will include real time captions, transcripts, and American Sign Language (ASL).

Register here:

https://abilitysummit2022.eventcore.com/

We’ve got 4 new learning sessions coming your way: 

• Intro and Azure AD Security
• Microsoft security story
• Why security should be part of all your projects
• Securing Azure AD Connect in your hybrid Azure AD deployment
• Securing Authentication with MFA and Conditional Access
• Securing Application access with SSO and Application Registration
• Secure administration using entitlements and Privileged Identity Management
• Securing your Azure deployments
• Deploying VM’s in a default secure configuration
• Managing on-premises and 3rd party clouds with Azure Security Center
• Understanding Networking Security components in Azure
• Securing your infrastructure with Azure Defender for….
• Data security for Azure Storage and Databases
• Operationalizing security with Microsoft Sentinel
• Protecting Microsoft 365
• Managing security in Microsoft 365
• Secure deployment of Exchange Online
• Protection from attacks against SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business
• Securing your Microsoft Teams and M365 Groups deployments
• Managing Microsoft Defender in SMB with Lighthouse
• Mobile device and BYOD security with Microsoft Endpoint Manager
• Securing Dynamics and Power Platform
• The Need to Secure Your Dynamics 365 Information
• Securing the Dynamics 365 Platform
• Protecting data fields and tables in Dynamics 365
• Identity Security in Power Platform
• Securing Your Environments against Data Loss
• Data governance policies in Power Platform

Join us on April 11-14:

• EVENT: Secure All the Things!
  https://www.microsoftevents.com/profile/web/index.cfm?PKwebID=0x2210784abcd

How cool is this! A framework for implementing Zero Trust principles by using Conditional Access to control access to cloud services.

The articles in this section provide a design and framework for implementing Zero Trust principles by using Conditional Access to control access to cloud services. The guidance is based on years of experience with helping customers control access to their resources.

The framework presented here represents a structured approach that you can use to get a good balance between security and usability while ensuring that user access is controlled.

The guidance suggests a structured approach for helping to secure access that’s based on personas. It also includes a breakdown of suggested personas and defines the Conditional Access policies for each persona.

Read the article here:

• INFO: "Conditional Access for Zero Trust” – Azure Architecture Center
  https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/guide/security/conditional-access-zero-trust

Learn how Microsoft’s project management tools help you run projects more efficiently for successful delivery. Choose your own experience by attending breakout sessions that meet your needs from among twelve options.

Join us for this digital event to:

• Learn how to stay organized and deliver results across projects of varying complexity with Microsoft’s connected project experiences.
• Hear about the latest product features and roadmap.
• Explore when to use Microsoft Planner, Microsoft Project, or Dynamics 365 Project Operations to meet your goals.
• Get your questions answered by product experts throughout all the sessions.

Register here:

• Date/Time:
  Wednesday, April 20, 2022 9:00 AM–11:00 AM Pacific Time
• Registration:
  Project Management for a Connected World
  https://info.microsoft.com/ww-project-management-for-a-connected-world.html

Microsoft has several great resources for Public Sector customers including those in State & Local Government.

• Microsoft Public Sector
• Blog
  https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/public-sector-blog/bg-p/PublicSectorBlog
• RSS Feed
  https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/plugins/custom/microsoft/o365/custom-blog-rss?tid=8914833594477496387&board=PublicSectorBlog&label=&messages=&size=10
• Microsoft US Government
• Blog
  https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/industry-blog/microsoft-in-business/government/
• RSS Feed
  https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/industry-blog/microsoft-in-business/government/feed/
• Azure
• Azure Government Blog
• Blog
  https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/topics/government/
• RSS Feed
  https://azurecomcdn.azureedge.net/en-us/blog/topics/government/feed/
• Developer Blog for Azure Government
• Blog
  https://devblogs.microsoft.com/azuregov/
• RSS Feed
  https://devblogs.microsoft.com/azuregov/feed/
• YouTube Video Channel – Azure Government
• Subscription
  https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLasX02E8BPA5IgCPjqWms5ne5h4briK7
• State and Local Government Collaboration and Cybersecurity Summit
• https://adoption.microsoft.com/state-and-local-government-collaboration-and-cybersecurity-summit/    

Melissa Coates, a Power BI professional & trainer, created the diagram to the right.  It’s a nice illustration of the different ways Power BI can be used – outside of simple reporting.

This is the fourth major revision over the last few years. Why do I produce this diagram?

Mostly I produce this diagram to help with awareness that Power BI can be used a lot of ways. Although the diagram doesn’t include every single possible item, I try to include the most important items — when you’re focused on a cloud-based deployment.

You might use the diagram to:

• Notice some aspects that you may not be aware of, and inspire you to learn more about them.

• Talk with coworkers about what’s involved with the Power BI ecosystem.

• Dispel the notion that Power BI is “just” a reporting tool.

• Consider if you’re planning and managing the Power BI ecosystem sufficiently.

Download the .PDF here:

• Power BI End-To-End Diagram
  Diagrams — Coates Data Strategies
  https://www.coatesdatastrategies.com/diagrams

Deliver business applications fast and pay for only what you use with the Microsoft Power Apps pay-as-you-go plan.

By configuring your Azure subscription to automatically provision Power Apps per app licenses for active users of your apps, you can now explore the value of low code with Power Apps more easily. Whether you’re looking to better understand your usage of the platform or build solutions to be used at scale throughout your organization, the pay-as-you-go plan makes it easier and low risk to scale investments over time based on your usage patterns.

Join us for this webinar to learn how you can use an Azure subscription to cover your Power Apps using the new pay-as-you-go licensing for Microsoft Power Apps.

You can also check out our full library of upcoming live events, or watch the recorded sessions on-demand, just follow this link.

Register & view here:

• A More Flexible Way to Pay for Power Apps Webinar
  https://info.microsoft.com/ww-ondemand-a-more-flexible-way-to-pay-for-power-apps.html?lcid=en-us

Are you using the government cloud? 
Are you interested in the government cloud? 
Do you know what a “government cloud” is?

You’re in for a treat.  Microsoft Government Cloud expert Richard Wakeman just published his latest review of Microsoft’s government cloud and our point of view on regulatory compliance.

Anyone in State & Local Government or Federal Government should read this as a primer on why “government clouds” exist & how Microsoft addresses their need in Microsoft 365 & Azure.

This is a genuinely educational, current & LONOG blog post that I consider required reading for anyone dealing with the cloud in State & Local Government.

• Understanding Compliance Between Commercial, Government and DoD Offerings – March 2022 Update
  https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/public-sector-blog/understanding-compliance-between-commercial-government-and-dod/ba-p/3258326