Microsoft 365 Admin Monthly Digest

Welcome to the Microsoft 365 IT admin blog, your monthly source of tips, insights, and best practices for managing and optimizing your Microsoft 365 environment. Microsoft, review the latest enhancements to bring more insights to customers on their network connectivity, explore the benefits of the Monthly Enterprise Channel, and highlight a new blog where you can catch up on all things Copilot for Microsoft 365. Since early 2020, Microsoft has offered production updates to Microsoft 365 Apps through 3 primary channels: Current Channel, Monthly Enterprise Channel, and Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel. With over 150 sessions covering Copilot for Microsoft 365, Teams, Viva, SharePoint, Windows, and more, this event is ideal for anyone who wants to explore Microsoft's latest AI innovations, connect with product makers, experts, and the community, and deepen their Microsoft 365 and Copilot skills to advance their career in the era of AI. Register here: https://aka. With the speed of enhancements and releases, we're putting together a monthly What's New in Copilot article that will be published on the Copilot for Microsoft 365 Tech Community. As always, stay current with the latest updates on the Microsoft 365 admin center from the Microsoft 365 roadmap and the message center. To keep up with the latest on Copilot for Microsoft 365, consider joining our Copilot for Microsoft 365 Tech Community. -------------------- Read more at https://bit.ly/42YlLp2 Source: Microsoft Tech Community Microsoft 365 Blog

Copilot in OneDrive: A New Wave of File Interaction

Copilot in OneDrive will be accessible directly in OneDrive for web and in the file viewer in Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, and SharePoint. Copilot in OneDrive will transform the way you interact with files in Microsoft 365. Copilot in OneDrive will also be accessible from the file viewer in Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, and SharePoint. Copilot in OneDrive helps you do just this, offering you a quick and intuitive way to extract answers from your documents, presentations, spreadsheets, and other files. Simply give Copilot in OneDrive a prompt, and it will fetch what you need from your files, saving you time by giving you instant access to information contained deep within your files. As you can see, Copilot in OneDrive can help you extract information and find your files with unparalleled ease, so you're not working harder, you're working smarter. As we continue to innovate and push the boundaries of file interaction, Copilot in OneDrive stands out as a new leap forward in enhancing your productivity. -------------------- Read more at https://bit.ly/49zxMUf Source: Microsoft Tech Community OneDrive Blog

SharePoint Roadmap Pitstop: February 2024

Let's leap into everything that landed this past month: Copilot Dashboard for Viva Insights, SharePoint Premium; Translation, Sample: Custom copilot in SharePoint with SSO, Signaling Viva Topics retirement, Custom document library templates, Updated Lists apps: Sites/Teams/PWA, Copilot in Teams, Microsoft Clipchamp: Automatic captions, Teams: Hide General Channels, Initial Microsoft 365 apps on Apple visionOS, and more. All features listed below began rolling out to Targeted Release customers in Microsoft 365 as of February 2024. It's a great reason to become a SharePoint Premium customer, and one of many capabilities of advanced content management on top of the core of SharePoint in Microsoft 365. The SPFx component, embedded natively in SharePoint sites, acquires a token for the user, and exchanges the token with the copilot, allowing the copilot to access protected data sources, like SharePoint and OneDrive, on the user's behalf. The component included in the sample allows copilots created with Microsoft Copilot Studio to be wrapped and published to SharePoint sites as a floating widget. Viva Topics will be retired on February 22, 2025 and Microsoft won't invest in new feature development for Viva Topics going forward from February 22, 2024. Teamwork updates across SharePoint team sites, OneDrive, and Microsoft Teams. -------------------- Read more at https://bit.ly/3UVsi1F Source: Microsoft Tech Community SharePoint Blog

Microsoft 365 Lighthouse and Microsoft Power Platform Integration

We're excited to announce the launch of the Microsoft 365 Lighthouse and Microsoft Power Platform Integration Guide. This guide provides a clear, step-by-step approach to integrating Microsoft 365 Lighthouse and Microsoft Power Platform into your organization and addresses the unique aspects and specific nuances of Microsoft 365 Lighthouse. Power Platform is a suite of business application tools, including Power BI, Power Apps, Power Automate, Power Pages, and Copilot Studio. We'll not only show you how you can integrate Lighthouse with Power Platform, but we'll take it a step further and demonstrate how to develop your own Lighthouse copilot using Copilot Studio-built on the foundations of Power Virtual Agents and other Power Platform technologies. You'll learn to pull and analyze Lighthouse data in new ways, from crafting personalized reports to setting up smart automations, all enhanced with the savvy insights of AI. Microsoft 365 Lighthouse: A quick recapScreenshot of the Microsoft 365 Lighthouse home page. The Microsoft 365 Lighthouse API, currently in its beta phase and accessible through Microsoft Graph, is available via the OData subnamespace microsoft. With this connector, you'll have a multifactor-authenticated way to pull data from Lighthouse to use in Microsoft Power Automate, store in Dataverse, create Power BI reports, or create a Lighthouse copilot. -------------------- Read more at https://bit.ly/3uQYEQy Source: Microsoft Tech Community Microsoft 365 Business Blog

What's new in Microsoft Bookings: Updated homepage

Introducing the updated Microsoft Bookings homepage. Microsoft Bookings is a powerful tool that helps you schedule and manage appointments with your customers, clients, or colleagues. Whether you need to book time to meet people or set aside time for different meetings, Bookings makes it easy and convenient for both you and your attendees. You can create new meeting types or bookings pages, either for yourself or for your team, with minimal clicks. Shared bookings are booking pages that you create and manage for your team. For new users embarking on their Bookings journey, we've introduced an exciting onboarding process designed to familiarize them with the product. The latest update for Microsoft Bookings only brings a fresh perspective to appointment management, with no functional or feature updates. -------------------- Read more at https://bit.ly/3UWLqwh Source: Microsoft Tech Community Microsoft 365 Blog

New Figma web part components available and feedback requested

Examples of new webparts added to the SharePoint Web UI Kit in the Figma Community. Our SharePoint Web UI kit in Figma has been updated with some great new additions! This update includes more web parts so you have more options when designing your SharePoint sites and pages. We are currently seeking feedback from both 1) those who have used the SharePoint Web UI Kit and 2) those who have not yet had the opportunity but have a need for this toolkit. To get started with our updated UI kit, simply download the latest version from the Figma Microsoft Community website: SharePoint Web UI Kit - Figma. You should evaluate if Figma is the right solution for mocking up sites and pages for SharePoint. Figma gives you the flexibility of reviewing and sharing your designs without having to spend time and resources creating it in SharePoint. You can leave a comment on the Figma SharePoint Web UI kit page or by visiting the SharePoint Community. -------------------- Read more at https://bit.ly/3USgoph Source: Microsoft Tech Community SharePoint Blog

Visually group shapes in your diagrams with containers in Visio for the web

The Visio desktop app has long supported containers, and now Visio for the web does, too! Users with a Visio Plan 1 or Visio Plan 2 license use containers in Visio for the web to create diagrams that are better organized and easier to understand and navigate. A video of a flowchart in Visio for the web demonstrates how to add shapes to an underlying container. A video of a flowchart in Visio for the web demonstrates how to add the new Container stencil to the Shapes pane. Containers can be used to group related shapes in an architecture diagram. An image of an Azure architecture diagram in Visio for the web demonstrates how to use containers to group components in DevTest and Production subscriptions. Learn more about how to clarify the structure of diagrams by using containers in Visio for the web. We are listening! We look forward to hearing your feedback and learning more about how you use containers in Visio for the web. -------------------- Read more at https://bit.ly/3SI7BUt Source: Microsoft Tech Community Microsoft 365 Blog

Upcoming February 2024 Microsoft 365 Champion Community Call

‎Feb 13 2024 03:22 PM. Join our next community call on February 27 to dive into the immersive 3D world of Microsoft Mesh. We will be starting the call at 5 minutes past the hour for both of our sessions, and it will still end at the top of the hour. -------------------- Read more at https://bit.ly/42CPhAu Source: Microsoft Tech Community Driving Adoption Blog

Introducing a new community hub for Content Management

A new hub for content services across Microsoft 365. With the scope of content management solutions within our portfolio expanding, it is important to keep our communities connected and informed with a space that encompasses all of our solutions under one central hub. We are excited to introduce the new Content Management hub- bringing together our already thriving and enthusiastic SharePoint group, and adding a few new spaces to evolve our community and conversations. Content processing - better organize your content to maximize its value with AI-driven automation and intelligence to build, classify & tag documents and prepare content for Copilot. Content governance - maintain security and compliance by managing the content lifecycle and control access with simple yet powerful tools. With the addition of new spaces including SharePoint Embedded, Microsoft 365 Backup, and Microsoft 365 Archive, we are looking forward to growing the community to continue driving engaging conversations and rich content. With Microsoft 365's collection of AI-powered content management services you will add value to what you create and put the content to work for you. -------------------- Read more at https://bit.ly/49c2VNj Source: Microsoft Tech Community SharePoint Blog

FastTrack can help you get AI-ready for Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365

FastTrack assistance is available for customer tenants with 150 or more licenses from one of the eligible plans from the following Microsoft product families: Microsoft 365, Office 365, Microsoft Viva, Enterprise Mobility & Security, and Windows 10/11. FastTrack is a benefit that supports the readiness of customers to prepare for Copilot enablement. With FastTrack, you can confirm that you meet the minimum required prerequisites to enable Copilot across your users and find opportunities for optimizing the Copilot experience. As part of this process, FastTrack can also recommend best practices for driving healthy usage across your organization. Copilot also simplifies the creation of meeting summaries, making it easier to catch up and collaborate asynchronously. Don't miss out on the opportunity to unleash the power of generative AI at work with Copilot for Microsoft 365. Get started today with FastTrack and optimize your Copilot for Microsoft 365 experience. -------------------- Read more at https://bit.ly/3OILLiq Source: Microsoft Tech Community Driving Adoption Blog

Deep Dive of Microsoft-managed Conditional Access Policies in Microsoft Entra ID

This blog was originally published on the Entra ID blog on 2/6. In November 2023 at Microsoft Ignite, we announced Microsoft-managed policies and the auto-rollout of multifactor authentication-related Conditional Access policies in customer tenants. This policy targets Microsoft Entra ID P1 and P2 tenants, where security defaults aren't enabled. This policy targets licensed users with Entra ID P1 and P2, where the security defaults policy isn't enabled and there are less than 500 per-user MFA enabled enabled/enforced users. Microsoft-managed Conditional Access policies have been created in all eligible tenants in Report-only mode. These policies are suggestions from Microsoft that organizations can adapt and use for their own environment. Administrators can view and review these policies in the Conditional Access policies blade. Enable the Microsoft-managed Conditional Access policies now and/or customize the Microsoft-managed Conditional Access policies according to your organizational needs. -------------------- Read more at https://bit.ly/49v9H0q Source: Microsoft Tech Community Microsoft 365 Business Blog

Sync Up Podcast Engineering Excellence with Steven Bailey and John Selbie

Ms/SyncUp/RSS. As always, thank you for listening to the Sync Up Podcast! If you've got questions you'd like to see us tackle on the show, let us know in the comments below! -------------------- Read more at https://bit.ly/3HQsRSP Source: Microsoft Tech Community OneDrive Blog

Introducing the new Microsoft 365 Document Collaboration Partner Program

That's why we are excited to introduce the Microsoft 365 Document Collaboration Partner Program, a new opportunity for eligible platform providers to integrate Microsoft 365 apps into their platforms. Whether it's a presentation, a spreadsheet, or a document, the program can enable users to share, edit, and coauthor, without switching between apps or losing context. The Microsoft 365 Document Collaboration Partner Program allows eligible communication and collaboration ISVs to integrate Microsoft 365 experiences into their communication and collaboration platforms. There are two options of the program available - a web app and live app option. We're excited to announce that Zoom is one of the first organizations to explore the collaboration options of the MDCPP program. To be eligible for the program, your company must be a cloud communication and collaboration platform provider. If you want to learn more about the program and how to apply, please visit the application page and register your interest. -------------------- Read more at https://bit.ly/3uswDyw Source: Microsoft Tech Community Microsoft 365 Blog

Top 10 reasons to attend the Microsoft 365 Community Conference

Last year at the Microsoft 365 Community Conference, we unveiled our new vision for the SharePoint user experience - including Copilot in SharePoint. I'm currently deep in planning as the Co-Lead of the event's Steering Committee and I'm super excited to make it the best conference for anyone who works with Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Power Platform, Viva, Copilot and is interested in how AI is transforming the workplace. Skilling content about every nook and cranny of Microsoft 365. There is more depth here - form product makers at Microsoft and the community - than anywhere else. Numerous Microsoft MVPs will be on hand - people tried and tested in smart technical implementation and successful business outcomes. Learn how Microsoft employees approach AI product making. It's hard to describe that perfect magic that is the Microsoft 365 people. -------------------- Read more at https://bit.ly/3OPfsyr Source: Microsoft Tech Community SharePoint Blog

Announcing edit support for.vsd files in Visio for the web

Users with a Visio Plan 1 or Visio Plan 2 license can now edit. Microsoft Visio Drawing file format is the native format for Visio files created in the desktop app prior to version 2013. These files were not fully supported previously and could only be opened in view mode in Visio for the web; users would have to open a.vsd file in the desktop app to edit the file. Vsd files in Visio for the web-just like you would edit any other Visio file. An image of a diagram in view mode in Visio for the web demonstrating how to open and edit a file in the browser by selecting the Edit in Browser button in the Message Bar. An image of a diagram in view mode in Visio for the web demonstrating how to open and edit a file in the browser by selecting the Edit in Browser option from the Edit Diagram drop-down in the ribbon. If you have Visio in Microsoft 365, you will have to upgrade to either Visio Plan 1 or Visio Plan 2 to edit. -------------------- Read more at https://bit.ly/49ik3AJ Source: Microsoft Tech Community Microsoft 365 Blog

How Microsoft 365 Delivers Trustworthy AI Blog Post

How Microsoft 365 Delivers Trustworthy AI is a comprehensive document providing regulators, IT pros, risk officers, compliance professionals, security architects, and other interested parties with an overview of the many ways in which Microsoft mitigates risk within the artificial intelligence product lifecycle. The commitments and standards conveyed in this paper operate at the Microsoft cloud level - these promises and processes apply to AI activity across Microsoft. Where the paper becomes product specific, its sole focus is Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365. Please reach out to your Microsoft contacts if you have questions regarding this content; thank you for your continued support and utilization of Microsoft AI. Download the Whitepaper. We hope this whitepaper has provided you with valuable insights into how Microsoft delivers trustworthy AI across its products and services. You will also find detailed information on how Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 adheres to these principles and practices. Download the whitepaper today and discover how Microsoft can help you achieve your AI goals with confidence and trust. -------------------- Read more at https://bit.ly/3ugXYng Source: Microsoft Tech Community Microsoft 365 Blog

SharePoint Roadmap Pitstop: January 2024

All features listed below began rolling out to Targeted Release customers in Microsoft 365 as of January 2024. Teamwork updates across SharePoint team sites, OneDrive, and Microsoft Teams. SharePoint is the intelligent content service that powers teamwork - to better collaborate on proposals, projects, and campaigns throughout your organization - with integration across Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, Yammer, Stream, Planner and much more. Since the release of SharePoint Add-Ins in 2013, Microsoft has evolved SharePoint extensibility using the SharePoint Framework enabling you to write applications that can be used in Microsoft SharePoint, Viva Connections and Microsoft Teams. With our continued investment in SharePoint Framework, Microsoft is retiring SharePoint Add-Ins. At its core, SharePoint Premium enriches, organizes, and secures content to improve Copilot experiences through services like document tagging to extract metadata from images and documents, manage and secure SharePoint sites and libraries, and protect and archive information across Microsoft 365, and more. Microsoft published a compilation of new capabilities planned to be released between April 2024 and September 2024. -------------------- Read more at https://bit.ly/4827KHP Source: Microsoft Tech Community SharePoint Blog