Azure Data and AI Architect Handbook

In this technical handbook, learn to build commercially successful AI-powered solutions and applications on Azure, apply Azure AI tools for advanced analytics, and establish strong data governance to drive innovation, sales, and business growth.

Read the Azure Data and AI Architect Handbook for technical guidance on:

• Identifying key roles in data science, governance, and compliance that are essential to scaling AI on Azure.
• Designing AI solutions by assessing data quality, selecting pre-trained or custom models, and meeting performance standards.
• Implementing robust data governance frameworks to maintain security, compliance, and data integrity.
• Evaluating AI investment opportunities, managing evolving data architectures, and navigating industry regulations to stay competitive.

Access the Ebook here: Azure Data and AI Architect Handbook: Adopt a structured approach to designing data and AI solutions

Do I Extend or Build my Own Copilot ?

Most Organizations that had adopted Copilot for Microsoft 365 has this dilemma on when to extend and when to build Custom Copilots, both options provide benefits and choosing the right approach provides enhanced productivity features as desired.

Having the fundamental understanding of each of the available options will help you decide the suitable option and you have related guidance from Microsoft with various options to extend or build your Custom Copilots.

Microsoft have updated their guidance to reflect the recent updates, which can be accessed here to know more: Extending Microsoft Copilot versus building your own copilot

Recently Microsoft team added a new MS Learn module to help you understand how you can extend Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 with Copilot Studio.

You can access the learning path here: Extend Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365 with Copilot Studio

Also register for the Upcoming Microsoft Adoption - Customer Hub Sessions on Copilot for Microsoft 365 Extensibility scheduled in coming Months and on demand to know more.

Register here:  Copilot for Microsoft 365 extensibility

Copilot for Microsoft 365 Risk Assessment QuickStart Guide Now Available !

As Organizations started to adopt Copilot for Microsoft 365, Microsoft team has recently published the Quick start guide to assist organizations in performing a comprehensive risk assessment of Copilot for Microsoft 365. The document serves as an initial reference for risk identification, mitigation exploration, and stakeholder discussions.

You can download guide from Service Trust portal here: Microsoft 365 - Copilot for Microsoft 365 Risk Assessment QuickStart (Aug 2024)

Review the official blog post to know more: Now Available: the Copilot for Microsoft 365 Risk Assessment QuickStart Guide

Generative AI for Beginners New Course Now Available !

Microsoft recently published a new Course on Generative AI for Beginners; in this course you have 18 lessons developed by Microsoft Cloud advocates and gives you a comprehensive understanding on Generative AI that would help you to start your AI learning.

Here is the complete lesson list:

• Introduction to Generative AI and LLMs
• Exploring and comparing different LLMs
• Using Generative AI Responsibly
• Understanding Prompt Engineering Fundamentals
• Creating Advanced Prompts
• Building Text Generation Applications
• Building Chat Applications
• Building Search Apps Vector Databases
• Building Image Generation Applications
• Building Low Code AI Applications
• Integrating External Applications with Function Calling
• Designing UX for AI Applications
• Securing Your Generative AI Applications
• The Generative AI Application Lifecycle
• Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) and Vector Databases
• Open Source Models and Hugging Face
• AI Agents
• Fine-Tuning LLMs

You can access the course here: Generative AI for Beginners (Version 2) - A Course

Get to know how Microsoft deployed Copilot for Microsoft 365

Copilot for Microsoft is being widely adopted by multiple Organizations and Microsoft has provided lot of guidance on how to learn, adopt and deploy Copilot for Microsoft 365, and as a part of this journey they have published detailed write up, deployment and adoption guide on how Microsoft deployed Copilot for Microsoft 365 internally, this will serve as a good starting point to understand how Organizations can adopt the service efficiently through their first hand experience.

Access the Blog post here: Deploying Copilot for Microsoft 365 internally at Microsoft

You can download the Ebook versions below

Download here: Deploying Copilot for Microsoft 365 at Microsoft

Download here: Executive Adoption Guide: Copilot for Microsoft 365

Also read the detailed series below

Deploying Copilot for Microsoft 365 in four chapters

Copilot for Microsoft 365 for executives: Sharing our internal deployment and adoption journey at Microsoft

New Whitepaper: GDPR & Generative AI – A Guide for Customers

 Microsoft team recently published a Whitepaper on GDPR Compliance in the context of using Generative AI services. This is an essential guide for Organizations adopting Microsoft AI technologies.

You can download the Whitepaper here: GDPR & Generative AI – A Guide for Customers

More details is available in the official blog post here: Introducing Our New Whitepaper: GDPR & Generative AI – A Guide for Customers

Microsoft Modern Collaboration Architecture (MOCA)

Microsoft has diversified products when it comes to Collaboration and Productivity, and we could see new products being launched very often in this space and there is alway a  dilemma in understanding which tool to use when, and in today's Modern world with various types of work cultures and organizational structure utilizing the right tool is essential for work efficiency and to enhance productivity. 

Microsoft team has designed Modern Collaboration Architecture (MOCA) to address the aforesaid challenge and provide guidance on how the Collaboration products of Microsoft 365 suite are aligned and when to use which tool for efficient Personal productivity and Organizational productivity.

With the latest advancement of new Tools like Microsoft Copilot for Microsoft 365, Microsoft Loop etc. Microsoft team has updated the MOCA guidance to include these tools and you have dedicated guidance available for Larger Enterprise Organization and Small Business Organization.

Access the Official MOCA site to know more: Modern Collaboration Architecture (MOCA)

Microsoft Azure Connected Learning Experience (CLX)

Microsoft Azure Connected Learning Experience (CLX) is an experiential training program that sets a trajectory for aspiring learners and working professionals to be Azure experts. The CLX program offers a personalized journey that aims to optimize learning experience while maximizing return on time invested. 

The journey is divided into four steps to facilitate effective learning:

Access here to know more and register soon: Microsoft Azure Connected Learning Experience (CLX) 

This is a great resource to prepare for few of the Azure Certifications and you can review the Azure Certification guide below and utilize the learning resources to support your Certification Journey

Download here: Microsoft Azure training and certifications

Follow @MicrosoftLearn for latest updates.

Skilling Snack Series

Microsoft team has recently started a new blog series to provide you with essential resources improve your Windows security, deployment, and management skills.

Below are the available Skilling Snacks published till date in the Series

• Skilling snack: Windows security fundamentals
• Skilling snack: Windows feature update management
• Skilling snack: Windows end-user readiness
• Skilling snack: From on premises to the cloud
• Skilling snack: Intro to Azure Active Directory
• Skilling snack: Windows Autopilot
• Skilling snack: Windows 365 or Azure Virtual Desktop

You can access the detailed post and view the latest collection here: Windows skilling snacks: bite-sized learning for IT pros

Follow Windows IT Pro Blog for more updates.

Data Loss Prevention: From on-premises to cloud E-book

Data protection plays a major role in today's World for any Organization and each Organization has various strategies to protect their data from today's cyber attacks. Having a clear understanding on the data landscape and properly planning and implementing Data loss protection can secure your Organization.

Microsoft Security team has published a great write-up on the Data Loss Prevention strategy and how we can secure the environment in the evolving landscape.

Download here: Data Loss Prevention: From on-premises to cloud E-book 

PowerShell Notes for Professionals E-Book

PowerShell is a very strong scripting tool and it has evolved a lot in the recent years and I came across an excellent E-Book for IT professionals thats suitable for both beginners and advanced professionals working with PowerShell

You can download the latest e-book version from here : PowerShell Notes for Professionals

Navigate to the PowerShell Gallery for more resources : https://www.powershellgallery.com/

Microsoft 365 Defender & Microsoft Sentinal

Microsoft 365 Defender is one of the key Security suite which is now being adopted by multiple Organizations, Microsoft 365 Defender has multiple products and solutions and each play a vital role in your Organizational security.

To get a Quick overview you of Microsoft 365 Defender you can access the Interactive guide below 

Access here: Microsoft 365 Defender interactive guide

Access the complete product documentation and resource references here: Microsoft 365 Defender

To know more you can access the Virtual Ninja trainings from @HeikeRitter MSFT

Access here : Microsoft 365 Defender Virtual Ninja Training

Microsoft Sentinel

Microsoft Sentinel plays a vital role in your Security Infrastructure delivering intelligent security analytics and threat intelligence across the enterprise. 

Access the documentation and resource references here : Microsoft Sentinel documentation

Also review the Microsoft Sentinel Best practices e-book and documentation below

Download E-book here: Azure Sentinel Deployment Best practices 

Technical Documentation here: Best practices for Microsoft Sentinel

Register for the upcoming Microsoft Sentinel Unveiled Series 

Register here: Microsoft Sentinel Unveiled 1/2: Maximizing your Budget, Unlocking Cost Optimization and Log Management Best Practices for Microsoft Sentinel!

Register here: Microsoft Sentinel Unveiled 2/2: A Complete Guide to Onboarding, Migration, and Architectural Best Practices with Azure Lighthouse & GDAP for MSSPs

Additionally, I came across an excellent Notes from the field article using Microsoft Security and Microsoft 365 Defender from David Caddick MSFT which provides great walkthrough of the Microsoft Defender products in action and show cases how you can get the best out of it.

Access here : Get Security Done (GSD) - Microsoft Security & M365 Defender

You can get more updates and support from Microsoft Tech community Security, Compliance, and Identity space,  Microsoft 365 Defender and Microsoft Sentinel Blogs.

Join the Security Community email list to be notified about the upcoming webinars, events, and other announcements.

The Comprehensive Playbook for Implementing Zero Trust Security

In the current IT world everyday we come across multiple modern threats and to mitigate the risk and protect the environment, multiple Organizations are adapting various Security frameworks and one of the key approach is "Zero Trust Security".

Microsoft Security team has recently published a comprehensive playbook outlining six key areas for implementing Zero Trust Security.

Download the ebook here: The ComprehensivePlaybook for ImplementingZero Trust Security

Access the "Zero Trust Guidance Center" to know more  on the model and deployment options.

Microsoft Inspire: Modern Work & Security

"Microsoft Inspire" Largest Microsoft Partner event completed last Month with lot of exciting announcements and Microsoft team published the Book of News to know all of these great announcement under one roof. 

This whereto post is written specific to the resources made available for Modern Work & Security available under Microsoft Inspire Hub covering key sessions on demand.

Access here: Modern Work & Security at Microsoft Inspire

Would recommend all of you to watch these sessions today to know more on the Future of Technology.

Securing Azure environments with Azure Active Directory - Architecture and Design Guide

Microsoft team has recently published a design and architecture guide for Securing Azure environments with Azure Active Directory, this is an essential guide for all Organization adopting Microsoft Azure.

You can review Access here for more details and download the guide : Securing Azure environments with Azure Active Directory

In addition to this, if you are new and want to know more about Azure Active Directory you can download the below Crash course e-book.

Download here: Crash course in Azure Active Directory

Enabling Remote Work with Microsoft

Due to the current "Covid - 19" Crisis, Organizations has put forth plans to secure employees and providing them required support. As technology plays a vital role in today's world, Organizations are also required to continue to provide required services to their Customers and Clients and for which they are working towards building a strong remote working strategy and getting it implemented.

This blog post is a whereto post to provide you with some latest resources provided by Microsoft to support this Remote working strategy for Organizations.

Below is the new e-Book published by Microsoft on Enabling Remote work, This document provides initial guidance for enabling a remote workforce to have secure access to the organizational information, tools, and resources they need. 

Download the e-book here: Enabling Remote Work

Next is the new Webcast Series presented by Microsoft on Enabling remote work with Microsoft 365

Access here for the Webcast series: Enabling remote work with Microsoft 365

Join the "Enabling Remote Work" Space on Microsoft Tech  Community to access the latest content, discussions and share your experience.

Microsoft Ignite 2019 - Book of News

Microsoft Ignite 2019 is on, This year we have lot of exciting announcements from Microsoft on their wide range of technologies, to get to know all these announcements Microsoft team has published the Book of News.

Download the Book of News here: Microsoft Ignite - Book of News

You can access the Live Streaming and On demand sessions here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/ignite

If you are unable to attend this event in person, you have another opportunity to attend the Ignite Tour starting early 2020.

Access here to know more and Register to the event in a city near you: Microsoft Ignite the Tour 

Microsoft 365 Adoption Planning Workbook and Adoption Guide

If your Organization is in the progress of adopting Microsoft 365, download the Adoption planning workbook and Adoption guide with best practices for essential planning and successful adoption of Microsoft 365 services.

Download the Planning work book here: Microsoft 365 Adoption Planning Workbook

Download the Adoption guide here: Microsoft 365 Adoption Guide

Practical Microsoft Azure IaaS E-book

Microsoft team announced a new hands-on guide that has a focused and practical approach to IaaS Migration and helps you in migrating your On-premises legacy systems to Azure IaaS.

Access here to download the E-book: Practical Microsoft Azure IaaS

Azure Strategy and Implementation Guide

If you are new to Microsoft Azure or in the beginning stages of planning a cloud migration, this new e-Book from Microsoft is an essential resource to begin your Journey.

Download here: Azure Strategy and Implementation Guide