Microsoft Teams Reaches GA !

Microsoft Teams is the chat-based workspace in Office 365 that helps teams achieve more together. Access Official Announcement here and in depth look here  Microsoft Teams preview received much positive feedback across the globe,  finally on March 14 2017,  Microsoft Teams reached General Availability.

Access the Official Blog post here: Microsoft Teams rolls out to Office 365 customers worldwide

To get started with Microsoft Teams Access the Success with Teams website: Get Started with Microsoft Teams

Make sure you utilize all the resources in the site, including the New Bandwidth Calculator released recently.

Additionally, review the Microsoft Teams Survival Guide, Your one stop resource to know more and do more with Microsoft teams: Microsoft Teams Survival Guide

Access Microsoft Teams Space in Microsoft Tech Community site to know the latest announcements.

New Interactive Demo for you to experience Teams: Microsoft Teams Interactive Demo

Review Excellent Blog posts from "Matt Soseman's "The Productive Cloud" Blog" to know more on Microsoft Teams here: Microsoft Teams Useful Blog Posts

Access the latest Microsoft Teams update in my new blog post here: Skype for Business is now Microsoft Teams ?

Additionally, access this new blog post from Matt Soseman MSFT on Microsoft Teams: Overview and Demonstration

Share your Feedback through UserVoice Forums

Stay tuned for more updates...

Get started guide for Azure IT operators

This guide introduces core concepts related to the deployment and management of a Microsoft Azure infrastructure. If you are new to cloud computing, or Azure itself, this guide will help get you quickly started with concepts, deployment, and management details. Many sections of this guide discuss an operation such as deploying a virtual machine, and then provide a link for in-depth technical detail.

Download here: Get started guide for Azure IT operators

Intune Groups Migrating to Azure AD Groups !

Organisation's using Microsoft Intune via Enterprise Mobility & Security (EMS) or Standalone Service should have now received update from Microsoft team that over the next few months, Intune is migrating all Intune groups over to Azure AD groups.

Below is the extract from the Communication mailer:

What does this mean to you? As an Azure AD admin, you’ll start to see Intune groups in your Azure AD infrastructure. Please do not delete these groups; they’ll pop in there in preparation for migration, then will be populated by our migration engine.

We’re excited to bring Intune groups over to Azure AD groups as this will provide an improved experience for our Intune service admins. Migration will also allow Intune admins to use the new Intune on Azure experience currently in preview at portal.azure.com.

Ensure that your Intune Administrators are having right access to the Azure Portal and also getting familiar with the Interface.

Read the documentation here: Introduction to Microsoft Intune in the Azure portal preview

Also if your Organization is using Microsoft Azure AD Privileged Identity Management then make sure Intune Service Administrator Role management is on its way.

Review the below EMS Blog post Published recently to know more: Perspectives on the New Intune Console

Additionally check out Intune 2016 year in review to see a list of features, innovations, and product news that was released in 2016.

Add-on Read:

If you are still in the phase of Migrating to Intune from a Third party MDM provider this below guide will be your prime resource.

Access the Guide here: Intune migration guide

Update:

Get to know the Latest Updates to Microsoft Intune on Microsoft Azure as of April 2017

Access here: Latest Updates to Microsoft Intune on Microsoft Azure

Update:

Intune Admin experience is now Generally available in Azure Portal

The New Intune and Conditional Access Admin Consoles are GA

Also Read: Better together: Intune and Azure Active Directory team up to improve user access

Stay tuned for more updates...

New Skype for Business Online Training Videos !

Microsoft Skype Academy team partnered with the Office 365 Center of Excellence (CoE) of Microsoft Consulting Service, to create the following trainings' to help all customers and partners leverage Skype for Business Online.

We have 8 training videos Available now.

• Hybrid Configuration  
• Upgrading Server 
• Meetings
• Skype Meeting Broadcast
• Maintaining Health 
• Cloud PBX Introduction 
• Cloud PBX with PSTN Calling
• Cloud PBX with on premises PSTN connectivity via existing pool
• Cloud PBX with on premises PSTN calling via Cloud Connector Edition

Review this full Announcement in the following Microsoft Tech Community Post, Register soon to start your learning :  Training extravaganza: New training sessions about E5 workloads

Join Microsoft Tech Community today if you have not yet Joined for more exciting opportunities and be a part of the Elite community and stay updated.

Identity and Device Protection for Office 365 Poster !

Microsoft provides many protection capabilities across the cloud services. It can be challenging to choose the right set of capabilities for your organization.

This document / Poster recommends the most common capabilities to help you secure your data, identities, and devices.

Capabilities are recommended in three tiers:

• Baseline protection
• Sensitive protection
• Protection for environments with highly regulated or classified data. 

Download here to know more: Identity and Device Protection for Office 365 

Access Microsoft Cloud IT architecture resources site for more resources. 

New Office 365 ProPlus deployment guide for IT pros

Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus deployment team recently released a new guide with Preferred Practices for Office 365 ProPlus Deployment.

The guide is available for download in the Office 365 onboarding resources at fasttrack.microsoft.com and features actionable guidance and real-world scenarios, including:

• Recommended guidance for discovery of applications.
• Preferred deployment scenarios and practices.
• Recommended approaches for channel management.
• Reporting capabilities for licensing and usage.

Access the Guide here: Preferred Practices for Office 365 ProPlus Deployment

Official Blog post here: New Office 365 ProPlus deployment guide for IT pros now available

Update: 

Get to know the latest significant Office 365 ProPlus updates as of April 2017

Access the Microsoft Tech Community site to know more: Office 365 system requirements changes for Office client connectivity

Stay tuned for more updates...

AzureAD Pass-Through Authentication and Seamless Single Sign-on Public Preview

When Organization plan to make their move to Office 365, they need to decide on the right Identity model they are going to adopt and make proper planning for Integrating their existing infrastructure with the Cloud.

Currently we can choose from three main identity models in Office 365,

Cloud identity: Manage your user accounts in Office 365 only. No on-premises servers are required to manage users; it's all done in the cloud.

Synchronized identity: Synchronize on-premises directory objects with Office 365 and manage your users on-premises. You can also synchronize passwords so that the users have the same password on-premises and in the cloud, but they will have to sign in again to use Office 365.

Federated identity: Synchronize on-premises directory objects with Office 365 and manage your users on-premises. The users have the same password on-premises and in the cloud, and they do not have to sign in again to use Office 365. This is often referred to as single sign-on.

Read in-detail here: Understanding Office 365 identity and Azure Active Directory

Read the below article to know how to Integrate Office 365 with your existing directory services 

Office 365 integration with on-premises environments

Most Large Enterprise Customers have adopted the federated Identity Model for SSO and also to meet their complex business requirements, and for other customers who need to have SSO with Office 365 and also want their passwords to stay on-premises, we now have a good news from Microsoft, you have the new "Azure AD Pass-Through Authentication and Seamless Single Sign-on" available and now both are in public preview.

Pass-Through Authentication and Seamless Single Sign-on features are added to Azure AD Connect, These new capabilities allow customers to securely and simply integrate their on-premises identity infrastructure with Azure AD. You are no longer required to have a complex Setup like AD FS to achieve SSO.

Read the Official Announcement here:  Introducing AzureAD Pass-Through Authentication and Seamless Single Sign-on

Access Product documentation articles directly below

What is Azure AD Pass-through Authentication

What is Single Sign On (SSO) (preview)

Update:

Latest enhancements for Azure AD Pass Through Authentication Preview are now available

New Enhancements to the Azure AD Pass Through Authentication Preview are live!

Update:

Upgrade your preview Authentication Agents 

Azure Active Directory Pass-through Authentication: Upgrade preview Authentication Agents

Also review the excellent blog post from Veteran MVP Jeff Guillet on this topic below for more understanding.

Microsoft Releases Azure AD Pass-Through Authentication and Seamless Single Sign-on

Explaining Conditional Access and Azure Pass-Through Authentication

Add-on Read:

Take a look at the below session from Microsoft Ignite conference 2016 to  know the new enhancements for Identity and Access management with AD FS and Windows Server V Next.

View here: Discover what’s new in Active Directory Federation and domain services in Windows Server 2016

Stay tuned for more updates...

Get ready for Microsoft Tech Summit 2016-17

Get ready for the upcoming Microsoft Tech Summit 2016-17, Free, two-day technical training for IT professionals and developers with experts who build the cloud services across Microsoft Azure, Office 365, and Windows 10.

This is a event scheduled to occur in different parts of the world, similar to last years' Microsoft Cloud Roadshow.

Access the Official site here and Register for the event today: Microsoft Tech Summit 2016-17

Also Access Microsoft Tech Summit Spaces here:  https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Microsoft-Tech-Summit/ct-p/MicrosoftTechSummit

Stay tuned for more updates...

Azure Onboarding Guide for IT Organizations

Microsoft has published this document to provide an overview, guidance, and best practices for enterprise IT departments to introduce, consume, and manage Microsoft Azure-based services within their organization. The target audience is enterprise architects, cloud architects, system architects, and IT managers.

It covers the following Topics:

• Moving to the Cloud
• Managing security, compliance, and data privacy
• Azure enterprise administration
• Integrating Azure into the corporate network
• Extending Active Directory to Azure
• Operating Azure IaaS Services
• Migrating existing services to Azure
• Offering management for cloud-based services

Download here: Azure Onboarding Guide for IT Organizations

Office Training Center Bill of Materials

The Office Training Center Bill of Materials provides a searchable list of all learning assets for Office 365 and Office 2016. Search on the list by title, product, asset types, or work place scenarios.

Download here: Office Training Center Bill of Materials

The Office Training Center BOM is not yet updated to reflect the resources for new "Microsoft Teams" the chat-based workspace in Office 365, you can know more about Microsoft Teams here and take an in-depth look here 

Stay tuned for more updates...

Azure Active Directory V2 PowerShell module GA

Earlier this Month Microsoft announced the General Availability of Azure Active Directory PowerShell 2.0 module, To maintain equivalent capabilities between Microsoft Graph API and PowerShell cmdlets, all these new cmdlets are built on top of the Graph API.

Two important notes from Product Team below to keep in mind:

• The new Azure AD PowerShell v2.0 module don’t provide full functional parity with the older MSOL module yet. We’re working hard to make that happen in the coming months and will keep you updated on our progress.

• We are not planning to publish new functionality in the MSOL PowerShell module. Over time we will implement all the functionality of the old MSOL cmdlets in the new module, and this new module contains quite a few new cmdlets that haven’t been available before.

Access the Official Blog post here: AzureAD PowerShell V2.0 is now GA

You can Check the release notes and download the Module from PowerShell Gallery here: Azure Active Directory V2 PowerShell Module - General Availability Release 2.0.0.33

Follow the instructions to install the module according to your Operating System.

Make sure you review all the new cmdlets here : Azure Active Directory V2 PowerShell module

Access the release history here: Microsoft Azure Active Directory PowerShell Module Version Release History

Also read: Updates for the new Azure Active Directory V2 PowerShell module

You can install the new PS Module in your pre-production or Test environment and see how the new V2 cmdlets work in comparison with V1 cmdlets, and once V2 cmdlets have equivalent capabilities as V1 cmdlets you can start update your existing scripts accordingly.

Advance your Azure skills from today!

Whether you’re new to Azure or already a cloud professional, training is one of the best investments you can make in your career. Microsoft is offering a free online training option and great deals on certification.

A new addition to the list of existing variety of technical training, tools and resources from Microsoft, This new Free Online training is based on a modern learning model called a Massively Open Online Course, or MOOC. MOOCs are so much more than online videos and demos – they incorporate videos, labs, graded assessments, office hours, and more.

You can access the growing catalog of MOOCs right now, for free. Finishing each MOOC includes a digital certificate of completion ready to share on professional networking sites like LinkedIn.

Access the Official Blog post here: New cloud trainings for next-generation tech professionals

Why to wait, choose the best option for you, your Organization and your Customer, begin your Azure Learning today and level up your skills.

Start here: Advance your Azure skills

Currently Available Modules in this MOOC are below and active till June 2017.

Register for these courses today and advance your Azure skills.

Update:

To sharpen your Azure Skills access the "Azure Skills Training" today, and by Completing any course from the below catalog will earn you a digital certificate of completion, ready to share on your professional networking sites.

Access here: Sharpen Your Azure Skills

Add-on Resources:

Your One stop for all Azure Resources

Access here: Azure Architecture Center

Practice with the latest cloud products and services in a live environment and advance your cloud skills for free using the Hands-on-Labs

Get hands-on with cloud technologies from Microsoft

Join the Azure Master Program today to build and prove your expertise, advance your career and expand your organization’s technology footprint with hands-on Azure trainings and certifications. And in the process, get recognized as Azure Masters.

Know more and Join here: Azure Master Program

Stay tuned for more updates...

Learn How global organization can adopt the Microsoft cloud

Adopting Cloud in a Global Organization is an evergreen process, Choosing the Right Cloud Platform and also having the right knowledge and skill set in that platform becomes essential when it comes to planning, deployment and Managing the new Cloud IT Infrastructure.

Microsoft Cloud Advisory Board team published the new Contoso in the Microsoft Cloud poster shows how the Contoso Corporation, a fictional but representative global organization, is embracing a cloud-inclusive IT infrastructure that includes all of Microsoft’s cloud offerings (Office 365, Microsoft Azure, Dynamics 365, and Microsoft Intune).

These resources gives you the right confidence to embrace your Journey to the Cloud.

Access the Resource here: Contoso in the Microsoft Cloud

Source Blog post here: "Contoso in the Microsoft Cloud” poster describes how a global organization is adopting the Microsoft cloud

Be sure to read the additional Content provided in the Blog post

Want to Know more, Access the below essential Video Series from Microsoft Virtual Academy 

How Microsoft does IT” with regard to the cloud? - Cloud at Microsoft

Why wait start your Journey to the Cloud!!!

Go to Microsoft Fasttrack Center or contact a Microsoft CSP to begin, Stay tuned for more updates..

Enterprise Organizations and Office 365 Content Set

Microsoft team published a One stop Resource for IT Admins to learn and to plan, deploy and manage Office 365 and hybrid environments, Office client deployment and Office 365 services (including Exchange Online, Skype for Business Online, SharePoint Online and more) all in one place.

Access Enterprise Organizations and Office 365 Content here: aka.ms/O365ITPro

OneDrive for Business key features and Roadmap

Learn about the latest key Microsoft OneDrive for Business innovations and a detailed update of Microsoft's strategy and roadmap through this below Microsoft Ignite Session,  Watching this On-demand session is essential if you are using OneDrive for business in your Organization to enhance Collaboration and productivity.

Access here: BRK2118 - Explore OneDrive for Business key features and roadmap

Review the Official Office Blogs post here: Major OneDrive updates at Ignite 2016 include SharePoint Online sync preview

If you are an Office 365 customer and planning to migrate your existing data to OneDrive, you can utilize the Data Migration benefit with the help of Microsoft Fasttrack Center provided you have an eligible plan with 150 or more seats as outlined.

Add-on Read:

Access the following Microsoft Ignite On demand sessions to know the future road-map of SharePoint and Office 365 Groups

BRK1025 - Learn how SharePoint is reinventing content collaboration: vision and roadmap updates 

BRK2033 - Discover Office 365 Groups - overview, what's new and roadmap (Microsoft Ignite 2016)

Here is the new Office Blogs post for Office 365 Groups update at Ignite : Office 365 Groups update at Ignite 2016

Update:

Access the below post to know the New Enhancements to OneDrive Sync

Announcement: OneDrive Sync Updates

Here comes the Announcement for the New OneDrive Admin Center preview

Announcement: New OneDrive Admin Center Preview

Update:

Below is the OneDrive Roadmap for 2017 available as of today.

Update:

Microsoft announced the  availability of several new capabilities in OneDrive for Business that make it easier than ever to sync, share and collaborate on all your files in Office 365.

Announcement includes,

Sync all your files anywhere, anytime across PC and Mac

• Syncing SharePoint sites and OneDrive for Business shared folders
• Standalone Mac client
• Activity center

Simplified file sharing in and outside your organization

• A new onboarding experience
• Simplified sharing options
• Streamlined guest access

Empowering administrators to manage with confidence - New OneDrive Admin Center Roll-out.

Review the FAQs and also share your thoughts and ideas through UserVoice and the Microsoft Technical Community. Also, be sure to attend “Ask Microsoft Anything” (AMA) session on OneDrive for Business in the OneDrive AMA group on Wednesday, February 1, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m. PST / 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. GMT.

Access Official Post here: OneDrive brings new file collaboration and management features to the enterprise

Latest updates for OneDrive for Business as of May 2017

• See all your files in File Explorer with OneDrive Files On-Demand
• Share files directly from File Explorer on Windows and Finder on Mac

Introducing OneDrive Files On-Demand and other features making it easy to access files

New SharePoint and OneDrive capabilities accelerate your digital transformation

Stay tuned for more updates...