On August 12, 2025, Microsoft has a significant change to its Enterprise Agreement (EA) licensing structure — effective November 1, 2025, automatic price level discounts for Online Services (Levels B–D) under EA, OSPA, and MPSA agreements will be eliminated. All eligible customers will pay the Level A list price, regardless of size or prior spend….
Written with the help of AI Research Assistants: Claude.ai, Perplexity.ai and Google Gemini The Global PC Market In today’s digital age, personal computers have become the backbone of modern productivity, creativity, and connectivity. But just how many PCs are there in the world, and who’s making them? Let’s dive into the fascinating numbers that define…
Written with the help of AI Research Assistants: Claude.ai, Perplexity.ai and Google Gemini Part of a series: Windows 10 end-of-life As we approach the end of support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025 (see also extending support into 2026 blog post) the global tech landscape faces a unique and daunting scenario: hundreds of millions of…
Summary originally generated with Microsoft Copilot As AI agents become more common in the workplace, especially within Microsoft 365, it’s crucial to manage them securely and effectively. AI agents are transforming how we work—automating tasks, improving decision-making, and enhancing collaboration. But with great power comes great responsibility. The recently published (last week) Microsoft’s Agent Governance…
Written with the help of AI Research Assistants: Claude.ai, Perplexity.ai and Google Gemini Part of a series: Windows 10 end-of-life Windows 10 lives beyond End of Support! At this time, it is estimated that there are 700 million devices on Windows 10 still in operation world-wide (and probably out in space too!) Out of those, it…
This is part of the Unofficial Working with Dell APIs Series. Please consult the official documentation for latest updates and instructions This is an informational overview example use case of the use Dell Technologies’ Application Programming Interface (API) specifically to retrive information from the Dell Premier Support Order information PLEASE refer to the official Dell…
This is getting a lot of attention in the news cycle and it seems to be pretty significant for some customers. Summary Microsoft has disclosed several critical vulnerabilities affecting on-premises SharePoint Server environments. These flaws are being actively exploited by advanced threat actors to gain unauthorized access, execute remote code, and bypass security controls. Affected…
This is part of the Unofficial Working with Dell API Series. This guide is an example that will walk you through the essential steps to tap into Dell’s Warranty Management API. See also Guide to: Using Dell Premier APIs to Retrieve the Items Ordered Unlock Dell Warranty Data: A How-To Guide for API Access Managing…
This is part of the Unofficial Working with Dell APIs Series. Please consult the official documentation for latest updates and instructions This is an informational overview document This document provides an overview of Dell Technologies’ extensive Application Programming Interface (API) offerings, designed to help customers and partners automate IT operations and enhance digital experiences. It…
As the world moves away from Windows 10, and enter the Windows 11 as a standard PC operating system, Microsoft continues to move forwards improving the platform in the name of security. the last set of announced update include: 1) Microsoft has announced Windows 11, version 25H2, now available in preview for Windows Insiders, with a…
In May of 2025 Microsoft released a BUNCH of enhancements to their Copilot family of products. Absolutely amazing. I have been keeping track of this and the last time I wrote an update was in November 2024 under the blog The World of Microsoft Copilot Products – Update Nov 2024. You can also see all…
I still have one computer on Windows 10 and funny enough I had to reboot it today. When I logged in the following full screen message: Windows 10 will reach its end of support on October 14, 2025. After October 2025, users will have to settle with the final version of Windows 10 without any…
Microsoft is enhancing its Copilot AI to function more like virtual employees, capable of proactive task automation. This includes monitoring emails, automating data entry, and performing a series of tasks autonomously, showcasing a shift from reactive to proactive AI assistance. Please view the updated blog post I wrote early this month The World of Microsoft…
In today’s fast-paced world, productivity and efficiency are more important than ever. Microsoft has developed a suite of Copilot products, each designed to help you get the most out of your workday. Let’s take a closer look at these offerings. This is an update to the blog post I wrote about a year ago: Making…
Dell Management Portal within the Microsoft Intune admin center which provides IT administrators with streamlined access to Dell-specific Windows device management capabilities. Key features include the ability to recover BIOS passwords and BitLocker keys, access detailed hardware and OS information, and deploy Dell enterprise applications securely. The portal also offers real-time device reporting every 30…
Microsoft Copilot continues to stand out as a powerful assistant designed to enhance productivity and collaboration. I am loving the speed, accuracy and how well it integrated with the M365 suite of applications it is. It has saves me TONS of time and I am especially thankful for meeting summaries! One can say I am…
IN a post about a year ago, Windows Autopilot Deployment Scenarios I mentioned the Windows Autopilot self-deployment mode. for Kiosks deployments. Let’s explore that in more detail… Unlocking the Power of Intune Kiosk Mode: Secure, Streamlined, and Purpose-Driven Windows Devices In today’s fast-paced digital environments, organizations often need to deploy Windows devices for very specific…
Modern Devices Management and Unified Endpoint Management has been on the fast lane given the remote work / work from home initiatives forced by the pandemic worldwide.
On July 19, 2024 I posted on X: Massive GLOBAl IT outage on Windows devices traced back to a BAD PATCH issued by Crowdstrike which caused a domino effect… NOT a cybersecurity event) Crowdstrike holds 24%of the market – that is why some businesses were affected and others were not… The primary reason is that…
Microsoft has separated Teams into its own standalone licensed product, Teams Enterprise, ending its previous inclusion with the Office 365/Microsoft 365 suite of productivity tools. Microsoft made this change in response to concerns raised by the European Commission about the bundling of Teams with Microsoft 365 and Office 365. Microsoft has unbundled Teams from its enterprise Microsoft…
Although it has been out for about 2 weeks now, interesting news I heard this week: Press Release: April 25.2024: Introducing Omnissa, the former VMware End-User Computing business I’m thrilled to introduce you to Omnissa — the future name of EUC. While we remain part of Broadcom until the KKR acquisition closes later this year, we are…
Note: Some of the research on this page has been done using Microsoft Copilot and Claude Cybersecurity breaches in government cities are a critical concern, and they can have significant consequences. See also a searchable list of reported cybersecurity Breaches A cyber incident will directly consume a company’s resources, leading to an increased cost of…
More articles on Microsoft Intune | Windows Autopilot Managing device naming conventions is a critical aspect of IT administration, especially when deploying devices at scale through Windows Autopilot. Whether you’re looking to implement a standardized naming scheme or need to rename devices after deployment, this comprehensive guide covers all the methods available to IT administrators….
While modern device management practices are indisputably (see blog post: MDM/UEM Tools in 2024 and beyond) replacing the deployment of “fat” Windows images, many organizations still rely on this approach. “Fat” images that contain not only the operating systems, but also applications can cause an unnecessary proliferation of images that need to be maintained over…
The transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 offers organizations several compelling advantages that can lead to significant cost savings. Windows 11 introduces improved security features, better performance, a modern user interface, enhanced multitasking capabilities, and futureproofing through extended support and compatibility. These advancements can contribute to cost savings in various areas, including reduced risk…
There is a lot of conversations about how Artificial Intelligence will be affecting many fields out there. The future has changed already ( Love that saying!) and we are all learning ways to adapt to it. Two trends of note: With so much change and transformation in the air, for those of us in the…
See also Blogs: The Cost of a Security Breach (Government) and Cybersecurity ( Extract from Original Data Source: MOVEit hack victim list | KonBriefing.com ) See also a great database of Security Attacks at: https://www.halcyon.ai/attacks
There is confusion about the licensing requirement associated with Microsoft Defender XDR The following is a collection of related items placed in the order to make licensing requirement clear to the reader. Microsoft Defender XDR (formerly Microsoft 365 Defender) Source <https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/business/siem-and-xdr/microsoft-defender-xdr> Microsoft Defender XDR is a unified pre- and post-breach enterprise defense suite that natively…
Unix and Linux are foundational operating systems that have significantly shaped modern computing, including desktop environments. Unix, developed in the 1960s, is a multi-user, multitasking operating system renowned for its simplicity, flexibility, and robust design. It was originally created for mainframes and servers but has influenced many contemporary systems. Linux, on the other hand, is a Unix-like,…
This is a follow-up to the blog post I wrote back in 2023: ServiceNow and Its Growing Significance What Is ServiceNow? ServiceNow (commonly referred as SNOW) is a powerful cloud-based platform that offers a wide range of services and solutions to streamline and automate various business processes. It is primarily known for its robust IT…
Broadcom STRIKES again! A couple of days ago, VMware announced that the free version of VMware’s vSphere Hypervisor, also known as ESXi, is being discontinued. This product was not really used many organizations, but it will be a significant impact to hobbyist and tech tinkers, and folks with home labs who were not already migrated to…
As if this writing this is the list of items included with Microsoft Intune Suite which is an add-on to the Microsoft Intune Core product. ( Cost is $18/user/month = $8 core + $10 Microsoft Intune Suite) Resources: Microsoft Intune Plans and Pricing
Very interesting changes coming to Microsoft Stream platform… Microsoft Stream Classic will retire on February 15, 2024 My FAVORITE: Virtual teleprompter The teleprompter feature is a new addition to Microsoft Stream that allows you to add a scrolling script to your screen recording or video. This can be helpful if you need to read…
Last week Microsoft announced OneDrive 3.0 Lots of excellent updated to an already great product. they are calling it The Future of File Management and it includes AI capabilities! ( OneDrive with Copilot ) to help quickly search, organize and extract information from your files. Although not every featured mentioned is there, some are already…
New Microsoft Teams version GA: Much faster and uses 50% less memory ! Much faster, and it uses 50% less memory! Announcing general availability of the new Microsoft Teams app for Windows and Mac – Microsoft Community Hub Switch to the new Microsoft Teams – Microsoft Support A great video on this topic published by:…
Now that we are less than 25 months away from the end of Windows 10, and the 3rd release of Windows 11 (23H2) is starting to roll out this week, many organizations are starting to plan their Windows 11 rollouts. Windows 10 Home / ProOctober 14, 2025 Windows 10 Enterprise & educationOctober 14, 2025 Windows…
Window 10 is expiring. The hardware you have on those devices may be very good so what options do you have to continue to use the HARDWARE?
For other ServiceNow posts here The ServiceNow platform has long held a prominent position in the IT service management domain, often associated with terms like “ticketing tool” or “support tool.” However, a significant shift occurred several years ago when ServiceNow recognized the potential to extend its platform beyond IT service management, adapting it for diverse…
With less than 26 months to the end of life for Windows 10, many organizations are now looking into their plans to upgrade to Windows 11.
Microsoft’s App-V Mainstream Support ended back in January 2008, the original end-of-extended support for App-V was January 10, 2023, which fortunately for many of us it was extended to April 14, 2026. Are you ready for this transition yet? App-V has been the app packaging format of choice for many organizations. ( I have been…
Note: Written with the help of Microsoft Copilot A container is a standard unit of software that packages up code and all its dependencies. The goal is to ensure that an application runs quickly and reliably across different computing environments. The Key benefit of a container is that it allows developers and IT professionals to…
I have been looking into having a cloud-based Windows virtual machine for a few weeks now, and in looking at the alternatives and possibilities, I was surprised how expensive they can be. My need is simple. I need a stable and reliable machine, with good bandwidth, which is outsized my home /office, that I can…
A very timely tweet by Ruben Spruijt pointed me to an article by Gartner in which they forecast a Worldwide Public Cloudn End-user spending to reach nearly $600 Billion in 2023 an $724Billion in 2024. The DaaS line item of this is about $3B with the big whale being SaaS with $197M Source: https://twitter.com/rspruijt/status/1651871105034997766 An…
When meeting customers, I am often ask if there is a quick chart that shows what is included in the differnent Microsoft 365 plans, The following table is from Microsoft and lists the major features available for easy reference. I place the graphic here for easy reference, but you should check the full Microsoft documentation…
There are plenty of excellent guides and tutorials available on what to do when a Microsoft Intune-managed device is lost or stolen. Some of these resources are listed in the resource section below. However, this article focuses on a different angle: what happens to the device after it is lost or stolen? Scenario: Two Sides…
On March 1, 2023 Microsoft announced Microsoft Intune Suite which consolidates its endpoint management and security solutions to streamline protection for cloud-connected and on-premises endpoints. It includes: The new Intune Suite can be added all Microsoft Intune subscribers (including Microsoft 365 E3 and E5) which already include core Intune (now called Intune Plan 1) for an additional…
Exchange Server 2013 will reach its end of support on April 11, 2023. Although Exchange 2013 installations will continue to work, it is hightly recommended for you to migrate to to Microsoft 365, Office 365 , or, if you must, Exchange 2019 as Microsoft will no longer provide: Microsoft has listed a particular requirement regarding Active…
On the day before Valentine’s day 2023 Microsoft confirmed that Microsoft will remove Yammer from its product set and it will replace it with Viva ENGAGE In a Microsoft Community Hub blog post, Viva and Yammer chief vice president Murali Sitaram explains: “Over the last several months we’ve heard your feedback that having two apps…
We all know that the security landscape is complex and very fragmented and this is especially true in the endpoint side of the house. I ran across a post from Francis Odum from Contrary Research on my Linkedin feed, which did a great job at detailing the current state of the ecosystem market. I must…
A lot of things came out of the last Microsoft Ignite 2022 sessions regarding Microsoft Intune, Microsoft Endpoint Management, Windows 365, Windows, and so much more. First, I should note the name changes: Microsoft Intune is now a family of its own! Today, we’re announcing that Microsoft Intune will be the name of the growing…
What is the impact of of long-term storage of Windows Autopilot registered devices? A colleague of mine, Daniel Davilla, recently posted a very good explanation this common question we get ask all of the time. Very much appreciated and worth the read here. I will not tell here all of the details but a couple…
After years of “challenges” , Microsoft has decided to focus on OneNote and it is consolidating the couple of aopps out there into a single application and refreshing it look and features so it will work with modern hardware and a better interface
Wow — That is a massive attack Incredible that the ability to execute this at this level exists. Hackers Launched Record DDoS Attack with 25.3 Billion Requests in 4 Hours (gbhackers.com)
For those of you that need a quick and simple way to calculate cost savings of moving forward with the adaption of Modern Device Management principles and techniques vs the traditional imaging and PC deployment process here is a calculator than can help. When I talk about the traditional model I’m using the standard Windows…
Windows Autopilot is a collection of technologies used to set up and pre-configure new devices, getting them ready for productive use. It is designed to simplify the process of deploying Windows devices for organizations of all sizes. Windows Autopilot supports a growing list of scenarios that organizations commonly need. These needs vary based on organization…
As a first step in your jorney to Windows 11, you’ll need to know which of your current devices meet the Windows 11 hardware requirements. Most devices purchased in the last 18-24 months will be compatible with Windows 11. Verify that your device meets or exceeds Windows 11 requirements to ensure it’s compatible. Microsoft released the PC…
If you have not seen it watch it 100% relevant for all of us in the cybersecurity space. Drones, hackers and mercenaries – The future of war | DW Documentary
Microsoft has been working hard in consolidating their security messaging and in the past 6- 12 months there has been a number changes to their product lines and names which has caused some confusion to customers and partners
In early May 2022, Microsoft announced the launch of their Microsoft Security Experts Services Security Experts is a new managed service category that combines expert-trained technology and product innovation with human-led services. Right now Microsoft is doing a lot of the work directly, but soon they will have multiple certified security expert partners Video introducing the…
I was doing a bit o research for a session I am doing later this week and came across a great video from a Wayne Chapin that explains in great detail why is Microsoft 365 (M365) is vital for IT Security Modernization…. His audience, IT managers provides an explanation of security concepts and maps it…
This blog post is not about deploying the OS using traditional management systems but instead it is about rapidly deploying the same image to many machines. This might be useful in deployments in school scenarios or call centers where every device is configured the same way and there is no user or configuration data to…
A a few weeks ago Microsoft announced a new service called Windows Autopatch for business customers that provides the ability to keep Windows, Office, Teams and Microsoft Edge software on devices enrolled and managed by Microsoft Intune up to date automatically. The service is now on public beta and scheduled to be GA sometime at…
Windows 11 (21H2 / Original Release) has been available since October 5, 2021. Microsoft is working on version 22H2 (Sun Valley 2) and although as of this writing, it has not been released yet, it is expected soon, very soon. Windows 11 is coming and is here to stay. Windows 11 21H2 entered the broad…
No one is immune to critical patches… happens in the best of family trees – This time it hit VMware and it is specific to Workspace One family of products : On May 18, 2022 VMware released a critical security advisory, VMSA-2022-0014 This is a pretty broad vulnerability and has a very high high priority —…
I need to stay up to date with the cybersecurity topics and aside from several news sources i check on a daily / weekly bases I also listen to the following podcasts: I found a lot more at this site Other News Resources / Sites: https://cybersecuritynews.com/ https://thehackernews.com/ https://cisoseries.com/ https://www.cnbc.com/cybersecurity/ https://www.wired.com/tag/cybersecurity/
The Microsoft Cloud Acquisitions Team of Technical Specialists have has a new YouTube channel around the Modern Work stack and their first set of webinars is a high-level overview of the Security Features available with M365. I particularly liked the Advanced Identity Concepts AD Premium Plan 2 one — very well presented and good content! Loved this Worth…
A lot of changes to the Microsoft Security products line up . Looks like they are finally consolidating all of the products into some sort of logic sense… This is very good news, but it has created some confusion in the field — I am sure there will be more, so I will attempt to…
As more and more customers move to modern device management and modern provisioning the question becomes how to can organizations support their remote workers. Also many organizations are paying 3rd party companies to provide tools to enable this across the board when you are able to do it with Microsoft native tools! Remote help is…
We are just getting to know the amazing amount of work Microsoft focused on better securing their latest Windows 11 operating system.
Azure Active Directory (Azure AD or AAD) is Microsoft’s enterprise cloud-based identity and access management (IAM) solution. Azure AD (AAD) is the backbone of Microsoft 365 and Office 365 platforms. AAD is a core service of the Microsoft cloud platform. A quick refresher: Microsoft released Active Directory in Windows 2000 server, and it became a…
The last couple of years (2020 & 2021) were particularly hard years for many organizations as it relate to cybersecurity. So many attacks in so many forms ranging from internal ones focused on getting specific data / information to highly organized ones focused on disrupting operations all the way to state sponsored ones focus on…
ModernEUC InfoBits newsletter. contains a few items of interest that have caught my eye in the Modern EUC, Modern Device Management and Workforce Transformation space.
A good question popped this week in my email. How do I prevent users from saving files to local drives, while still allow them to save to OneDrive folders? I think a lot of organizations would like ( or are doing it already) to do this, but the answer may have some complexity to it…
Multiple Desktops feature in Windows 11 I is super helpful and it is becoming one of those essential pieces in my workflows.
Let’s face it, for many customers, the road to modern device management is a journey. Moving from 30+ years of legacy / traditional device management is not only a technical challenge but a cultural one. I have been talking to customers since the introduction to Windows 10 back in August 2012 (10 years ago as…
Microsoft Ignite Fall 2021 is coming next week (Nov 2 – 4) and this year is a virtual and free again ! It is loaded with Windows 11 (35 sessions) and Endpoint Management ( 86 sessions) topics this time around! Should a feast of information for most of us in the Modern EUC Management space…
The value of the platform is not really fully realized until a certain level of feature adoption is obtained, and that is always a moving target BECAUSE new and improved features are always being introduced. I’ve said it many times before, and it is hard for users to keep up with the constant changes in…
ModernEUC InfoBits newsletter. contains a few items of interest that have caught my eye in the Modern EUC, Modern Device Management and Workforce Transformation space.
Yes! Windows 11 is out and about! Microsoft released released on Oct 5, 2021 and it has been interesting to read / listen to all of the reviews and comments out there. Introducing Windows 11 – A new Windows experience bringing you closer to the people and things you love. Explore Windows 11 OS, Computers, Apps,…
Aside from the many spelling errors ( English UK !! ) I just read this GREAT new article on ZDNet that talks about the significant change that Digital Transformation has undergone in the past couple of years. I ** LOVE ** this quote from the Bob Parket Senior VP at IDC: “… digital transformation is…
In the last few months Microsoft has released a number of updates to its entire suite, and in this blog post I will cover just *some* of the ones in Microsoft Teams, based on his videos.
ted and surprising blog post in the Microsoft Skype Blog yesterday, the Microsoft Skype Team said that “Skype is getting new features”
On June 24, 2021 Microsoft announced WIndows 11. Last week during their Partner conference, Ignite, Microsoft announced Windows 365. It will be launched on August 2, 2021. Securely stream your Windows experience—including your personalized apps, content, and settings—from the Microsoft cloud to any device with your Windows 365 Cloud PC. Windows 365 is a cloud…
ModernEUC InfoBits newsletter. contains a few items of interest that have caught my eye in the Modern EUC, Modern Device Management and Workforce Transformation space.
Had sometime and decided to check out Windows 11. I used a virtual machine using Microsoft’s Hyper-V manager on my Windows 10 device.
Ransomware is rampant these days. The latest in the long list of of attacks is the one on Kaseya, an PC management service provider, and it is notable because the incident not only affects Kaseya’s IT management customers, but also those companies’ corporate clients that have outsourced IT management to them. The attack is reminiscent…
Update 7/10/2021 Minimum hardware requirements further explained – A challenge for many! To run Windows 11, devices must have an Intel Core processor from at least 2017, or AMD Zen 2 processors from 2019 onward. Video of installation on a Hyper-V virtual Machine (my own test) Microsoft releases second public review – with ONLY minor…
With all of the ransomware news as of late, companies are asking what kind of protection and what to do in case the protection fails and the need presents to recover from a cyber attack. Many of the organizations I interface are using Microsoft 365 and / or Office 365 already. So the natural question…
I think it is fair to say that this is very – VERY – different than any other Windows OS launch than in the past. Microsoft has kept a very tight lip on what the announcements contain, and details (or leaks) have not surfaced yet.
Today, cybercriminals have released over 8.4 billion passwords on the dark web. The largest collection of stolen passwords of all time. The 100GB text file includes usernames, email addresses and passwords. #cybersecurity #passwords #leaks #securitynews More info at: https://cybernews.com/security/rockyou2021-alltime-largest-password-compilation-leaked/
The uptick of recent cybersecurity incidents reported in the news as of late is up. The list is long and it has affected business of all sizes and in all industries. The sophistication of the attacks, and vulnerabilities they uncovered are only one side of the coin. Many of them are now truly affecting many lives, and livelihoods.
Session with a great introduction, of what industry verticalcization of SaaS apps means and why this matters to all of us was Build differentiated SaaS apps with the Microsoft Cloud with Charles Lamanna.
ModernEUC InfoBits newsletter. contains a few items of interest that have caught my eye in the Modern EUC, Modern Device Management and Workforce Transformation space.
ModernEUC InfoBits newsletter. contains a few items of interest that have caught my eye in the Modern EUC, Modern Device Management and Workforce Transformation space.
I wrote about this product shortly after it changed names back in November 2020, but it is worth writing about it again. First let me say that I think Microsoft 365 is an incredible value to organizations. It not only contains not the Operating System, Productivity Tools and endpoint management tools but also, embedded by…
Microsoft 365 is the current name for the suite of productivity services and applications (Microsoft rebranded Office 365 to Microsoft 365 in April 2020). Please see Microsoft 365 Plans Microsoft 365 Office 365 Both services include the core Office applications, now called Microsoft 365 Apps (See Updates here), but Microsoft 365 represents Microsoft’s broader vision…
I am so very happy I work at Dell Technologies! — Not only is a great company to work for, but the talent and focus within it keeps surprising me! This is specially true for my team in the services line of business. We hear from customers challenges a lot, and lately we have been…
BIOS and driver updates are a very big challenge facing many organizations today. In fact, so many of them do not patch anything after initial deployment, and only if the device fails, they think of applying patches. This has never been a best practice, but with the introduction of Windows 10 and Windows as a…
With the much needed renewed emphasis on security, and in combination with the always present topic of modern device management, I have been having lots of conversations about how to best secure customer’s environment. This is where the concepts and architecture of Zero Trust security fits so well. Zero Trust security is not a new…
Enabling Windows Autopilot allows devices to be pre-registered to your organization in Microsoft servers. As of this writing, there is very little risk in enabling Windows Autopilot within an organization. The most recommended security concept to fight against malware for years has been to remove admin rights from end users. When Microsoft introduced Windows 10…
