Kurt Shintaku's Blog

We often asked the question:

“Why’d we call it Cloud PC? Why not just call it VDI?”

The reason is simple: There are some amazing new features that differentiate Windows 365 Cloud PCs from legacy VDI solutions:

Windows 365 is now in a category of its own with:

• Windows 365 app, providing a direct path to Windows 365 from the Task Bar or Start menu with a personal, customized experience that can be tailored to each individual.
• Windows 365 Switch providing the ability to easily move between the Cloud PC and the local desktop using familiar keyboard commands, as well as a mouse-click or a swipe gesture
• Windows 365 Boot enabling you to log directly into your Cloud PC and designate it as the primary Windows experience on the device. This is a great solution for shared devices, where logging in with a unique user identity takes you to your own personal and secure Cloud PC
• Windows 365 Offline, which will enable work in Windows 365 even when disconnected. When connectivity is restored, the Cloud PC will automatically resync with the service without data loss, so your experience and workflow are persistent.

Read more here:

• What’s next in Windows 365 for hybrid work
  https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/what-s-next-in-windows-365-for-hybrid-work/ba-p/3276122

Learn how to build modern chatbot services using Microsoft Power Virtual Agents.

Register for a free event:

https://events.microsoft.com/en-us/allevents/?search=Power%20Virtual%20Agents%20in%20a%20Day&language=English&clientTimeZone=1&startTime=08:00&endTime=17:00

For individuals looking to bring back many aspects of the Windows 10 user interface that were removed in Windows 11, ExplorerPatcher is a 3rd party project designed to do that just that.

One of the features that ExplorerPatcher brings back is the classic TaskBar.  People that preferred things like:

• Individual (uncompressed) program icons
• Right mouse click to access Task Manager

…will find it returned with ExplorerPatcher.

• ExplorerPatcher: This project aims to bring back a productive working environment on Windows 11
  https://github.com/valinet/ExplorerPatcher

Enterprise Agreement customers now have a great way to run their development and testing workloads on Azure, with numerous advantages:

• Ideal for teams, multiple subscriptions allowed
• Access to Dev/Test images in the Gallery, including Windows 8.1 and Windows 10
• Special lower Dev/Test rates on Windows Virtual Machines, Cloud Services, SQL Database, SQL Managed Instance, HDInsight, App Service (Basic, Standard, Premium v2, Premium v3) and Logic Apps
• Additional savings with Reservations for one-year or three-year commitment on VMs, Azure SQL Database and Azure SQL Managed Instance
• Same great EA rates on other Azure services
• Centralized management via the Azure Enterprise Portal
• No separate payment—just use the funds already on your Enterprise Agreement

Only active Visual Studio subscribers with standard subscriptions can use the Azure resources running within an Enterprise Dev/Test subscription, though end users can also access the application to provide feedback or perform acceptance tests. Use of resources within this subscription is restricted to developing and testing applications, and no uptime guarantee is offered.

• Enterprise Dev/Test | Microsoft Azure
  https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/offers/ms-azr-0148p/ 
• Creating Enterprise Azure Dev/Test subscriptions
  https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devtest/offer/quickstart-create-enterprise-devtest-subscriptions

The annual SQL Server conference, “PASS Summit” is back in Seattle!

This year’s PASS Data Community Summit is more than a conference – it’s a homecoming. Reconnect with old friends, build new relationships, gain new skills, and get the world-class training you need to take that next step in your data career.

Summit will be taking place online and in-person in Seattle from November 15-18, 2022, so register today and get inspired by your global data community!

Register here!

• PASS Data Community Summit November 15-18 2022
  https://passdatacommunitysummit.com/

A question I get asked a lot from CISSPs and CCSPs is:

• Can I use Azure training classes or certifications toward CPE credit?

For certifications, according to the ISC2 CPE FAQ:

Q: If I earn another certification, can I get credit for passing the examination?

A: For obtaining a new credential, you may submit up to 30 CPEs under the self-study category for the time you spent preparing to obtain the new certification.

Additionally, for training courses that relate to your ISC certification, according to the “ISC2 Continuing Professional Education (CPE) handbook” page 14, there is a uniform cap of 40 hours per training.  Regarding documentation required for ISC2 audits:

Proof of CPE credits earned may be in the form of course transcripts, awarded diplomas, certificates or receipts of attendance, copies of official meeting minutes, or rosters or documentation of registration materials.

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