Kurt Shintaku's Blog

This is one of the cooler acquisitions I’ve seen us make.

Y’know how 1000s of end users that watch a company meeting/townhall all use the company’s Internet connection to get the audio/video stream?  This obviously creates congestion for company Internet access & can kill the proxy.

Well, Microsoft recently acquired Peer5 to help Microsoft Teams scale the delivery or secure, high-quality, large-scale live video streaming with optimized network performance.  It uses peer-to-peer technology between viewers to minimize proxy bandwidth consumption.

The kicker?  It requires no additional infrastructure for customers:  The peer-to-peer acceleration is all done within your user’s browsers and can offload 95% of the traffic from your company’s Internet connection.

Peer5 offers a WebRTC-based eCDN solution that runs in-browser to optimize bandwidth usage helping mitigate impacts to network and line of business (LOB) applications. Its mesh networks are self-balancing and automatically scale as the number of viewers increase. The technology does not require additional installation on user endpoints or changes to the physical network infrastructure. Additionally, the Peer5 solution will allow Microsoft to provide a first-party offering to help customers streamline purchase process and customer support, improving their enterprise IT management experience.

Read more here:

• Microsoft Acquires Peer5 to Enhance Live Video Streaming in Microsoft Teams
  https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-teams-blog/microsoft-acquires-peer5-to-enhance-live-video-streaming-in/ba-p/2628950
• Peer5 Joins Microsoft
  https://blog.peer5.com/peer5-joins-microsoft/?ref=ms-banner

Register now for the Windows Server Summit—your first in-depth look at Windows Server 2022. You’ll come away from this free digital event with a thorough understanding of how to use the newest Windows Server innovations to modernize your IT environment and simplify management.

Join us for this free digital event to:

• Get the latest news and announcements about Windows Server 2022.
• See hybrid infrastructure solutions in action with product demos.
• Learn how to maximize your existing investments with Azure—the trusted cloud for Windows Server.
• Get answers to your questions from product experts during the live Q&A.

Date/Time:
September 16, 2021
10:00 AM Pacific Time

Registration:
https://info.microsoft.com/ww-landing-windows-server-summit.html?wt.mc_id=AID3038907_QSG_PD_SCL_546476

The “decentralized identity” solution we’ve announced (preview) is one of the most fascinating & exciting things I’ve seen in a long time coming from Microsoft.

Imagine being able to:

• identify yourself & verify who you are to multiple organizations & services
• align your benefits, subscriptions, & memberships to your identity across different organizations
• verify your identity to an organization using your phone, an authenticator app, and your camera + a QR code from the services
• create your own identity store & participate in decentralized identity verification, independent from any other organization

Decentralized identity is the restructuring of the currently centralized physical and digital identity ecosystem into a decentralized and democratized architecture.

Leveraging Open Standards, Microsoft’s approach to decentralized identity includes blockchain-connected decentralized system groups that include:

• Identity sources: Identity hubs, resolvers & attestation catalogs
• Identity authenticators: Identity identifiers & authentications

User agents – usually authenticator apps such as Microsoft Authenticator or other agent providers such as Google Authenticator, etc. – provide both enrollment as well as authentication approvals using QR codes.

For more information.

• Decentralized Identity, Blockchain, and Privacy
  https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/business/identity-access-management/decentralized-identity-blockchain

I often get asked what to do about end user training when folks are just getting their Microsoft 365 deployments rolled out.

There are two really great resources available from Microsoft to provide Enterprise customers with end user training to help users adopt the products & services in their Microsoft 365 E3/G3 or E5/G5 subscriptions.

MODERN WORKPLACE TRAINING – ON-DEMAND, ONLINE/DOWNLOADABLE
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/training

1. “Per-App Training”
   We have training videos & help content for over 30+ apps & services including all the Microsoft Office apps, Forms, Delve, Lists, Teams, OneDrive, Planner, Project, Publisher, Sharepoint, Stream, Todo, Visio, Whiteboard, etc.
   https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/office-apps-help-and-training-8b9042aa-7507-477b-b294-1b178b47c8e5
2. Quick Start Videos/Walkthroughs
   We have videos and walkthroughs on how to use most products.
   https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/office-quick-starts-25f909da-3e76-443d-94f4-6cdf7dedc51e?wt.mc_id=otc_home
3. Downloadable Guides & Cheat Sheets
   We have downloadable “printable” guides for many of the products – in .PDF format
   https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/office-cheat-sheets-61abfe7b-1c43-483c-b82b-3806d80e027e

CUSTOMER SUCCESS TRAININGS – INSTRUCTOR-LED, VIRTUAL TRAININGS
https://kurtsh.com/2021/03/15/training-microsoft-store-customer-success-training-sessions/
We provide – at no cost to your organization – instructor-led trainings for END USERS on the following products:
(Bold are the most popular)

1. Microsoft Bookings
2. Microsoft OneDrive for Business
3. Microsoft Planner
4. Microsoft SharePoint Online
5. Microsoft To Do
6. Microsoft Lists
7. Microsoft Yammer
8. Microsoft Accessibility
9. Windows 10
10. Power Apps
11. Power BI
12. Power Automate
13. Microsoft Teams – Level 100, 200
14. Microsoft Teams Meetings
15. Microsoft Teams Calling
16. Microsoft Teams as a Platform: Integrating Apps – Level 200
17. Microsoft Teams Live Events (Attendee)
18. Microsoft Teams Live Events (Organizer)
19. Word Level 100 & 200
20. Excel Level 100 & 200
21. Microsoft OneNote – Level 100 & 200
22. Outlook (Desktop & Mobile) – Level 100 & 200
23. Forms
24. Project for the Web
25. Tasks

To take advantage of Customer Success Trainings, you’ll need to talk to your Microsoft Account Team and have them put you in touch with your Customer Success Manager, one of your Account Team’s members.  They can help orchestrate the scheduling of the course for your organization.

Did you know that there are dozens of FREE downloadable applications that you can host in Microsoft Teams to extend the value & utility of your Teams implementation?  This includes the source code as well as instructions on deploying & installing the app for your organization.

Key benefits

• Deploy directly to the cloud: All app templates include deployment scripts that allows you to host all required services in Microsoft Azure or the Power Platform.
• Recommended sample code: The app templates conform to recommended best practices around security and infrastructure. All community submitted changes to the app templates are reviewed to ensure conformance.
• Customizable and extensible: While all app templates are deployed with minimal configuration, the entire code base and deployment scripts are provided, so that you can easily customize or extend them to fit your unique needs.
• Detailed documentation: All app templates are accompanied by end-to-end documentation on solution architecture, deployment, and configuration steps.

Here’s a quick list of some of the applications available, in the form of App Templates:

• Adoption Bot
• Adoption Tool- Champion Management Platform ☆
• Adoption Tool- Microsoft 365 Learning Pathways (Get Started) ☆
• Appointment Manager
• Ask Away
• Associate Insights
• Attendance
• Book-a-room
• Building Access
• Celebrations
• Checklist
• Classroom Drop-in
• Company Communicator
• Contact Group Lookup
• Co-worker Appreciation
• CrowdSourcer
• Custom Stickers
• Employee Ideas
• E-Prescriptions
• Employee Training
• Expert Finder
• FAQ Plus
• Get Support App
• Goal Tracker
• Great Ideas
• Group Activities
• Group Connect ☆
• Grow Your Skills
• HR Support
• Icebreaker
• Incentives
• Incident Reporter
• Inspection
• Issue Reporting
• New Employee Onboarding
• Open Badges
• Poll
• Quick Responses
• Quiz ☆
• Rapid Assist
• Reflect
• Remote Support
• Request-a-team
• Scrums for Channels
• Scrums for Group Chat
• Share Now
• SharePoint List Search
• Staff Check-ins
• Survey
• Time Tally
• Training ☆
• Virtual Rounding
• Visitor Management
• Water Cooler ☆
• Workplace Awards

For more, check out the App Template page on our Docs:

• DOWNLOAD: App Templates for Microsoft Teams
  https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/platform/samples/app-templates

Black Hat USA 2021 is about understanding the needs of security professionals and meeting you where you are. With last year’s pandemic-related firefighting still fresh in our minds, this year’s event will provide a welcome respite to learn about cutting-edge security solutions, build our skillsets, and network with peers.

Microsoft Security is committed to helping you secure your entire digital estate with integrated, comprehensive protection—bridging the gaps to catch what others miss. We provide the leading AI, automation, and expertise that help you detect threats quickly, respond effectively, and fortify your security posture.​ As the world enters a new normal where seasoned security professionals are more needed than ever, we’re proud to share our experience and learn from you at the virtual Black Hat USA 2021.

Read more at:

• BlackHat 2021: The rapid rise of ransomware, new crisis prevention/ mitigation strategies, & the latest Microsoft Security product news
  https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2021/07/29/microsoft-at-black-hat-2021-sessions-bug-bounty-updates-product-news-and-more/

View Microsoft-sponsored BlackHat 2021 Sessions here:

• The Emerging Cyber Threat Landscape
• Evolving Red Teaming at Microsoft
• Preventing a Hostage Situation: Defusing the Pervasive Threat of Human-Operated Ransomware
• Inside the Most Impactful Nation-State Attack in History

MITRE Engenuity’s inaugural ATT&CK® Evaluations for Industry Control Systems (ICS) showed that Microsoft successfully detected malicious activity for 100% of major attack steps — plus industry-leading visibility for 96% of all adversary sub-steps (i.e., fewest missed detections of any other vendor).

This was accomplished through Azure Defender for IoT, an agentless, network-layer monitoring solution with the industry’s only patented, ICS/OT-aware behavioral analytics by providing more accurate detection with a faster learning period — and a deep understanding of legacy and proprietary industrial protocols, applications, and ICS/OT devices.

Read more here:

• Microsoft scores highest in threat visibility coverage for MITRE ATT&CK for ICS
  https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/azure-defender-for-iot/microsoft-scores-highest-in-threat-visibility-coverage-for-mitre/ba-p/2577072?ocid=usoc_TWITTER_M365_spl100002357172551

The retirement of Skype for Business Online does not impact Skype for Business Server (on-prem) functionality itself.  Per our documentation:

• Skype for Business Online retirement
  “The Skype consumer service and Skype for Business Server are not affected by the retirement of Skype for Business Online.”
  https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/skype-for-business-online-retirement#what-does-this-mean-for-skype-for-business-customers 
• FAQ — Upgrading from Skype for Business to Microsoft Teams
  “The retirement of Skype for Business Online doesn’t impact users homed on-premises.”
  https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/MicrosoftTeams/faq-journey#do-on-premises-skype-for-business-server-customers-need-to-upgrade-to-microsoft-teams-when-skype-for-business-online-retires

IMPACT ON TANGENTIAL RESOURCES
Skype for Business Online’s retirement however will have the following impact to resources often used by Skype for Business Server:

1. Skype Meeting Broadcast retires
   Skype Meeting Broadcast retires at the same time as Skype for Business online, so this service will no longer be available to Skype for Business Server users.
   https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/MicrosoftTeams/faq-journey#is-skype-meeting-broadcast-going-to-retire-at-the-same-time-as-skype-for-business-online
2. Skype for Business Online PowerShell module/Connection point retired
   The Skype for Business Online PowerShell module & connection point are retired and will fail.  If used, the Teams PowerShell Module instead needs to be installed on your Skype for Business Server Front End servers.
   https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-teams/skype-for-business-online-connector-retires-in-february-2021/m-p/2005963

We’ve been running a preview of co-authoring on MIP-Encrypted/Information Protected documents.

As a follow up to the current ongoing preview, we have good news to share!

Co-authoring on MIP Encrypted Documents is now available in Current Channel builds of Office:

• Version 2105: June 18 Update or higher for Windows
• Version 16.50 or higher for Mac

While the feature is still in Preview, we are revising our guidance and customers are now welcome to deploy the feature on their production tenants.

Make sure to familiarize yourself with the metadata changes introduced as a part of the feature and ensure that all pre-requisites are met before enabling.

Microsoft analyzed the major challenges that IT organizations face when managing current mission-critical infrastructures. Security issues, high costs, and difficulties in updating their environments were top of mind. Conversely, the move to the cloud has been helpful in addressing many of these hurdles. In fact, customers who completed the transition often cite the following benefits:

• Improved security and compliance.
• Better performance and lower latency of mission-critical systems.
• Faster infrastructure implementation times.
• Greater agility (due to the opportunity to modernize existing systems while developing new capabilities).

Additionally, when organizations rely on the cloud to run their core business processes, they can capitalize on significant operational advantages while increasing compliance & improving their security posture. This is particularly true in a climate of uncertainty. That is also why the rate at which organizations continue to migrate their applications to the cloud is not slowing down, and that includes business-critical applications.

Join this three-part Azure webinar miniseries to:

• Hear from Forrester Consulting about the critical success factors you should consider when building your cloud migration strategy for business-critical applications.
• Discover how to continuously improve the resiliency of business-critical applications at scale with the latest innovation on Azure.
• Hear real-world examples and learn best practices from ISV partners Riversand, Teradata, and Unit4 as they share their experiences on how to simplify the journey to Azure.

Register now to attend the webinar series, rich in unique insights and authentic discussions with members of our growing Azure community.

• WEBINAR SERIES: Insights and best practices to run business-critical applications on Azure
  https://info.microsoft.com/ww-ondemand-insights-and-practices-to-run-business-critical-apps-on-azure.html?lcid=en-us