Category: Microsoft
Category Archives: Microsoft
Hide SPO site details
Hello,
I’m new to SPO IT administration. I would like to share a specific content with different external users(with no Azure AD accounts) . I need to hide any detail about who viewed, modified …the documents/content.
I would like to know if this is possible please? How to apply it.
Thank you in advance 🙂
Hello,I’m new to SPO IT administration. I would like to share a specific content with different external users(with no Azure AD accounts) . I need to hide any detail about who viewed, modified …the documents/content. I would like to know if this is possible please? How to apply it. Thank you in advance 🙂 Read More
Google Calendars ist “empty” after synching with Outook
I just integrated five different calendars into Outlook by embedding the pvivate iCal Code into Outlook.
All five appear in Outlook, but one doesn’t synch and looks “empty”. I have deleted it and redone the process several times, also waited (some days) if the synch would happen later. But no success.
The calendar which doesn’t show ist the “biggest” of the five, meaning goes back to the year 2010. Could this be the problem??
Thank you for your help and support
I just integrated five different calendars into Outlook by embedding the pvivate iCal Code into Outlook.All five appear in Outlook, but one doesn’t synch and looks “empty”. I have deleted it and redone the process several times, also waited (some days) if the synch would happen later. But no success.The calendar which doesn’t show ist the “biggest” of the five, meaning goes back to the year 2010. Could this be the problem??Thank you for your help and support Read More
VBA Copy cells fill down on another sheet with last row
Greetings,
I have a spreadsheet with a tab called Clerk. It has names listed under column A. I can’t use A2:A5 because the list could grow. I need all the names pasted and filled down on another tab in the same workbook called Sheet3 in column P.
I need column P below to have the names fill down in order until the last row recorded on column A in that spreadsheet. For example: Jane, Jon, Doe, John, Jane, Jon, Doe etc. until it reaches the end of Sheet3.
Can anyone help me with this VBA macro?
Thank you!
Greetings,I have a spreadsheet with a tab called Clerk. It has names listed under column A. I can’t use A2:A5 because the list could grow. I need all the names pasted and filled down on another tab in the same workbook called Sheet3 in column P.I need column P below to have the names fill down in order until the last row recorded on column A in that spreadsheet. For example: Jane, Jon, Doe, John, Jane, Jon, Doe etc. until it reaches the end of Sheet3.Can anyone help me with this VBA macro?Thank you! Read More
Windows Server 2025 Public Preview
Windows Server 2025 Public Preview
Today we are pleased to announce the availability of Windows Server 2025 public preview to the Microsoft Eval Center and VSS developer/IT communities. This preview contains both the Desktop Experience and Server Core installation options for Datacenter and Standard editions.
Visit the Microsoft Eval Center to download the Windows Server 2025 preview and try out the new features and experiences that Windows Server has to offer.
Visual Studio Subscriptions customers can access the Windows Server 2025 preview software through Subscriber Downloads to begin software and LOB application development and deployment validations to support customers and businesses in adopting and deploying Windows Server 2025.
See What’s new in Windows Server 2025 for more information on what is coming later this Fall.
We value your feedback!
The most important part of the release cycle is to hear what’s working and what needs to be improved, so your feedback is extremely valued. Please use the new Feedback Hub app for Windows Server if you are running a Desktop version of Server. If you are using a Core edition, or if you are unable to use the Feedback Hub app, you can use your registered Windows 10 or Windows 11 Insider device and use the Feedback Hub application. In the app, choose the Windows Server category and then the appropriate subcategory for your feedback. In the title of the Feedback, please indicate the build number you are providing feedback on as shown below to ensure that your issue is attributed to the right version:
[Server #####] Title of my feedback
See Give Feedback on Windows Server via Feedback Hub for specifics. The Windows Server Insiders space on the Microsoft Tech Communities supports preview builds of the next version of Windows Server. Use the forum to collaborate, share and learn from experts. For versions that have been released to general availability in market, try the Windows Server for IT Pro forum or contact Support for Business.
Diagnostic and Usage Information
Microsoft collects this information over the internet to help keep Windows secure and up to date, troubleshoot problems, and make product improvements. Microsoft server operating systems can be configured to turn diagnostic data off, send Required diagnostic data, or send Optional diagnostic data. During previews, Microsoft asks that you change the default setting to Optional to provide the best automatic feedback and help us improve the final product.
Administrators can change the level of information collection through Settings. For details, see http://aka.ms/winserverdata. Also see the Microsoft Privacy Statement.
Windows Server 2025 Public Preview
Today we are pleased to announce the availability of Windows Server 2025 public preview to the Microsoft Eval Center and VSS developer/IT communities. This preview contains both the Desktop Experience and Server Core installation options for Datacenter and Standard editions.
Visit the Microsoft Eval Center to download the Windows Server 2025 preview and try out the new features and experiences that Windows Server has to offer.
Visual Studio Subscriptions customers can access the Windows Server 2025 preview software through Subscriber Downloads to begin software and LOB application development and deployment validations to support customers and businesses in adopting and deploying Windows Server 2025.
See What’s new in Windows Server 2025 for more information on what is coming later this Fall.
We value your feedback!
The most important part of the release cycle is to hear what’s working and what needs to be improved, so your feedback is extremely valued. Please use the new Feedback Hub app for Windows Server if you are running a Desktop version of Server. If you are using a Core edition, or if you are unable to use the Feedback Hub app, you can use your registered Windows 10 or Windows 11 Insider device and use the Feedback Hub application. In the app, choose the Windows Server category and then the appropriate subcategory for your feedback. In the title of the Feedback, please indicate the build number you are providing feedback on as shown below to ensure that your issue is attributed to the right version:
[Server #####] Title of my feedback
See Give Feedback on Windows Server via Feedback Hub for specifics. The Windows Server Insiders space on the Microsoft Tech Communities supports preview builds of the next version of Windows Server. Use the forum to collaborate, share and learn from experts. For versions that have been released to general availability in market, try the Windows Server for IT Pro forum or contact Support for Business.
Diagnostic and Usage Information
Microsoft collects this information over the internet to help keep Windows secure and up to date, troubleshoot problems, and make product improvements. Microsoft server operating systems can be configured to turn diagnostic data off, send Required diagnostic data, or send Optional diagnostic data. During previews, Microsoft asks that you change the default setting to Optional to provide the best automatic feedback and help us improve the final product.
Administrators can change the level of information collection through Settings. For details, see http://aka.ms/winserverdata. Also see the Microsoft Privacy Statement. Read More
Document Sets – Default Content
Is there a way to designate a specific filename when a user adds default content item to a document set?
For example, I have a letter template set up as a piece of default content available to my users. When they click the Add button from inside the document set, the option is clearly labeled, Letter Template. However, when they click on it, make their edits, and save the file, the filename that shows up in the document set is document.docx. Can I change this automatically to something else more meaningful, like LetterTemplate.docx?
Is there a way to designate a specific filename when a user adds default content item to a document set?For example, I have a letter template set up as a piece of default content available to my users. When they click the Add button from inside the document set, the option is clearly labeled, Letter Template. However, when they click on it, make their edits, and save the file, the filename that shows up in the document set is document.docx. Can I change this automatically to something else more meaningful, like LetterTemplate.docx? Read More
Evolving Copilot in Windows for your workforce
This week, we introduced the Copilot+ PC in addition to updating Microsoft Copilot in Windows, your everyday AI companion. By changing Copilot in Windows, we’re addressing one of the top pieces of feedback we have received from commercial organizations, which is to provide a more flexible, app-like experience. In this blog, we’ll share some of the updates we’ve made to AI in Windows and how we’re providing choice and control for commercial organizations and the IT professionals that support them.
Introducing Copilot+ PCs
This week, ahead of Build 2024, we announced Copilot+ PCs, the fastest, most intelligent Windows PCs ever built. These business-ready devices utilize powerful new silicon with a neural processing unit (NPU) capable of more than 40 trillion operations per second, making them ideal for hybrid AI computing by providing efficiency, privacy, and security on the edge. As Secured-core PCs that come with the Microsoft Pluton security processor, Copilot+ PCs enable organizations of all sizes to benefit from advanced AI and hardware-based security. Like all new Windows 11 devices, Copilot+ PCs are easy to deploy and manage, compatible with your existing technology, and designed to be secure by default.
Copilot+ PCs unlock productivity with features like Recall, live captions with translation, and Windows Studio Effects. And we are still at the beginning of this journey. We’re committed to exploring new avenues to integrate AI and build AI-powered Windows experiences through Copilot that will deliver additional value for your organization.
Copilot updates at a glance
To integrate more seamlessly into everyday workflows and deliver AI-powered assistance in a more convenient manner, we are evolving Copilot in Windows into a standalone application. With this change, users of Copilot will get the benefits of a traditional app experience such as resizing, snapping, and moving the window. This change unlocks new potential for Copilot. It opens up the ability for more immersive experiences and enables users to more seamlessly engage with generative AI in Windows.
In addition, Copilot will now appear at the center of the Windows taskbar, making it easier and more natural for everyone to access.
Copilot with commercial data protection is now conveniently located at the center of the Windows taskbar, featuring a familiar chat interface (Note: The image shown may be substantially modified. Microsoft makes no warranties, express or implied, with respect to this image.)
Those using Copilot+ PCs will be able to access Copilot with a single click on the Copilot key on their keyboard.
Copilot will maintain support for the “web” and “work” tabs for those also using Copilot for Microsoft 365, offering commercial data protection within compatible web browsers like Microsoft Edge. For organizations with eligible Microsoft 365 licenses, this means that chat data is not saved and is not used to train the AI model when users are authenticated with Entra ID.
Managing the Copilot experience in Windows
Copilot innovations are designed to help everyone. We know that commercial organizations need a stable environment and the ability to manage the rollout of features.
If you enabled Copilot in Windows (in preview) for devices running Windows 11, version 22H2 using the temporary enterprise feature control, Copilot will simply shift from the system tray to the taskbar. If you did not enable Copilot using this control for devices running Windows 11, version 22H2, it will remain disabled by default. For devices running Windows 11, version 23H2, if your organization opted to disable Copilot in Windows (in preview), it will remain disabled. If you want the Copilot app later, you can simply acquire it from the Microsoft Store and use your standard app management process to deploy it in your organization.
The Copilot app can be managed using the same, familiar tools you use to manage modern apps more broadly in your organization, such as Microsoft Intune. As a result, we intend to remove the current policies that manage Copilot in Windows (in preview) in the coming months. This includes group policies (GPOs) and configuration service providers (CSPs).
What’s next
We are taking a phased and measured approach to the rollout of this Copilot update. We will keep you posted on the timeline so that you can plan the next steps for your organization.
With Windows 10 end of support right around the corner (October 2025), now is a great time to explore Copilot+ PCs as part of your journey to Windows 11—or when planning your next hardware refresh. For more details on these powerful new devices, see Accelerating innovation: A new era of AI at work begins.
Thank you for coming on this journey with us! Want to stay up to date on Windows AI innovations? Stay tuned here on the Windows IT Pro Blog
Microsoft Tech Community – Latest Blogs –Read More
Certificação GitHub Foundations gratuita
De 5 a 26 de junho, junte-se a nós em quatro aulas ao vivo com especialistas da Microsoft e do GitHub, onde você explorará ferramentas essenciais como o GitHub Copilot e o GitHub Codespaces. Você também terá a chance de ganhar um voucher gratuito para a Certificação GitHub Foundations*.
INSCREVA-SE AQUI: aka.ms/GetCertifiedwithGitHub
* No final de cada sessão, você pode até receber um voucher de certificação GitHub gratuito, no formato first-come, first-served basis (ordem de chegada).
Oferta válida apenas enquanto durarem os estoques. Limite de um voucher do GitHub por pessoa. Esta oferta não é transferível e não pode ser combinada com qualquer outra oferta. Esta oferta termina em 27 de junho de 2024 ou enquanto durarem os estoques, e não é resgatável por dinheiro. Impostos, se houver, são de responsabilidade exclusiva do destinatário. A Microsoft reserva-se o direito de cancelar, alterar ou suspender esta oferta a qualquer momento sem aviso prévio.
Conseguir uma certificação do GitHub é uma ótima maneira de mostrar minhas habilidades, reputação, confiança e entendimento das ferramentas e tecnologias usadas por mais de 100 milhões de desenvolvedores em todo o mundo.
Essas sessões estarão cheias de dicas, truques e exercícios práticos para me ajudar a construir uma base sólida para esta certificação. Se estou apenas começando ou buscando melhorar minhas habilidades, este é um evento imperdível para mim, que estou interessado em expandir minha carreira na área de tecnologia.
Agenda de conteúdos (as sessões serão ministradas em inglês) | INSCREVA-SE AQUI: aka.ms/GetCertifiedwithGitHub
Sessão
Descrição
Automação Predial com GitHub
5 de junho – 15h (Horário Brasília)
Descubra como você pode criar automação poderosa em qualquer projeto de software usando a plataforma do GitHub. Esta sessão abordará as Ações do GitHub, o Copiloto do GitHub e os Codespaces do GitHub.
Protegendo projetos no GitHub
12 de junho – 15h (Horário Brasília)
Descubra como aplicar os recursos de segurança do GitHub Advanced Security aos seus próprios projetos e protegê-lo contra ameaças e vulnerabilidades de segurança.
Desenvolvimento mais rápido com o GitHub Copilot
19 de junho – 15h (Horário Brasília)
Saiba como aproveitar o GitHub Copilot para automatizar tarefas repetitivas e aumentar seus ciclos de desenvolvimento. Passaremos pelo uso básico, bem como por recursos mais recentes, como prompts interativos e sugestões embutidas
Gerencie seu projeto com a plataforma GitHub
26 de junho – 15h (Horário Brasília)
Use os poderosos recursos de projeto do GitHub para gerenciar seu processo de desenvolvimento de software. Abordaremos o gerenciamento de projetos com problemas, solicitações pull e controle de alterações.
Além da série, temos uma edição do Cloud Skills Challenge especial do Microsoft Build 2024 e com foco em GitHub. As inscrições para o desafio estão abertas – inscreva-se AGORA! (aka.ms/GitHubChallengeBuild).
Este desafio termina no dia 21 de junho 2024 e ao concluir a maratona de aprendizado no prazo, você receberá um selo digital especial para destacar em seu perfil do Microsoft Learn para concluir essa experiência de aprendizado.
Microsoft Tech Community – Latest Blogs –Read More
How to hide the site content in the Library setting
Hello all,
Could you do me a favor?
For some reason, I can see the site content in the Library setting on the left side. I don’t know how to hide and unhide.
Also the setting looks different.
Hello all, Could you do me a favor?For some reason, I can see the site content in the Library setting on the left side. I don’t know how to hide and unhide. Also the setting looks different. Read More
How can we prevent double bookings from individual users?
We have a service configured at 15 minute intervals with a limit of 5 attendees per 15 minute slot. It is also for a one-day event, so the date range is 6/5 – 6/5. Is there a way that we can lock it down in a way where if one user already booked an appointment, the system wouldn’t allow for them to book another?
We have a service configured at 15 minute intervals with a limit of 5 attendees per 15 minute slot. It is also for a one-day event, so the date range is 6/5 – 6/5. Is there a way that we can lock it down in a way where if one user already booked an appointment, the system wouldn’t allow for them to book another? Read More
Why I am getting new invoice issues In QuickBooks Desktop
When I am trying to send invoice get a message “Unable to send invoices in QuickBooks” What to do..?
When I am trying to send invoice get a message “Unable to send invoices in QuickBooks” What to do..? Read More
How to block a sender on new Outlook
I went to the official Microsoft help website to see how I can block a sender on new Outlook. For some reason, the settings displayed on the help website are not the same settings I see in my Outlook app.
I went to the official Microsoft help website to see how I can block a sender on new Outlook. For some reason, the settings displayed on the help website are not the same settings I see in my Outlook app. Read More
Powershell Compare-Object
I have 2 lists – List1 contains names from a query; List2 contains names from directory. Trying to cleanup the directories that students are no longer with the college. So, I need names on List2 that are not on List1.
I’m using Compare-Object with PassThru; but, I’m getting the differences not just what’s on List2.
Is there a different way to achieve that?
Thank you
I have 2 lists – List1 contains names from a query; List2 contains names from directory. Trying to cleanup the directories that students are no longer with the college. So, I need names on List2 that are not on List1.I’m using Compare-Object with PassThru; but, I’m getting the differences not just what’s on List2. Is there a different way to achieve that? Thank you Read More
Conditional format rule to highlight cell in array based on containing text from another worksheet
Hi,
I am looking for a conditional format rule which I can highlight specific cells in an array based on a cell in another worksheet that does NOT contain “google.com” in the FQDN.
I’ve attached a workbook, which contains a dashboard view of the application names which are in a wave. I want to highlight these names ONLY if their domain does NOT contain “google.com” at the end of the FQDN Column in the “Dataset” sheet.
You can see I manually highlight red w/ white text to show what I mean. However, the conditional format rule only has to apply to the dashboard.
Thanks!
Hi, I am looking for a conditional format rule which I can highlight specific cells in an array based on a cell in another worksheet that does NOT contain “google.com” in the FQDN. I’ve attached a workbook, which contains a dashboard view of the application names which are in a wave. I want to highlight these names ONLY if their domain does NOT contain “google.com” at the end of the FQDN Column in the “Dataset” sheet. You can see I manually highlight red w/ white text to show what I mean. However, the conditional format rule only has to apply to the dashboard. Thanks! Read More
“Portfolio” view of Multiple Planners?
We heard at the Microsoft Community Conference that “Portfolio” views of Multiple planners would be coming soon – we really need this soon!
I want to be able to see across multiple plans from a “Manager” view and reassign tasks based on capacity without having to go into every single plan. I’m working with multiple small – medium projects at a time at my org, so this is key!
If we don’t have a way to view across planner soon, are there any Power Automate / Power Apps workarounds for this?
We heard at the Microsoft Community Conference that “Portfolio” views of Multiple planners would be coming soon – we really need this soon! I want to be able to see across multiple plans from a “Manager” view and reassign tasks based on capacity without having to go into every single plan. I’m working with multiple small – medium projects at a time at my org, so this is key! If we don’t have a way to view across planner soon, are there any Power Automate / Power Apps workarounds for this? Read More
Accelerate growth with partner benefits packages
Microsoft is committed to continually providing partners with more ways to grow. As part of this ongoing effort, we have released three new partner benefits packages that unlock product, support, and advisory benefits to help you strengthen your business with Microsoft.
Beyond the three new packages, partners can continue to pursue Solutions Partner designations and specializations to differentiate their organization in the commercial marketplace and access additional product and support benefits, including packages for partners developing software. Partners who provide software can also tap into ISV Success, a collection of resources that help accelerate software solution development and amplify sales.
The three partner benefits packages—Partner Launch Benefits, Partner Success Core Benefits, and Partner Success Expanded Benefits— are available for purchase in major markets and most other geographies now.
Partner benefits packages provide you with the resources you need to build your cloud and AI practice through our latest benefits and support. Explore the benefits of each offering and select the best fit for your business needs.
With partner benefits packages, you can:
Strengthen your solutions for customers through benefits that build your cloud and AI practice. Tap into exclusive product, support, and advisory benefits to drive success for your business. Partner benefits packages offer the in-demand product licenses, Microsoft Azure credits, and support you need to collaborate, develop offerings, and deliver high-performing solutions for your customers.
Scale your business with cost-saving packages designed to help you achieve more. Each partner benefits package provides you with a portfolio of key Microsoft benefits at a significant discount. Partner benefits packages are a cost-efficient way to access the tools you need to grow your business.
Deepen your partnership with Microsoft and drive long-term profitability. No matter your stage of growth, there is a partner benefits package for you. With several increasingly robust options to choose from, you can select the package that best serves your current needs, then expand your benefits as you continue to grow with Microsoft.
Each partner benefits package is purpose-built to solve for a range of partner needs and drive business growth. Depending on your needs*, you can purchase one or more of the new benefits packages. Explore the three packages—as well as Solutions Partner designations and specializations—to determine the best fit for your business.
Explore Microsoft offerings with Partner Launch Benefits.
Strengthen your cloud and AI practice with Partner Success Core Benefits.
Scale your business with Partner Success Expanded Benefits.
Pursue Solutions Partner designations and specializations to differentiate your organization and receive additional product, go-to-market, enablement, and support benefits.
To power your AI practice, each partner benefits package includes Microsoft Sales Copilot—designed to maximize efficiency for sales teams and improve customer interactions—and Copilot (formerly Bing Chat or Bing Chat Enterprise), which boosts productivity through access to powerful AI models.
*Partners can continue to purchase Action Pack in addition to one or more of the partner benefits packages.
———————————————————————————-
For a comparative view of the benefits available for each of the new partner benefits packages, as well as information on pricing, review the table on our Compare Offers page. Note that this list of benefits is not exhaustive. Please reference the Microsoft AI Cloud Partner Program Benefits Guide for a full list of benefits, as well as to review the benefits for Solutions Partner designations and specializations.
To purchase a partner benefits package, your organization’s MPN Admin can access the Membership Offers page in Partner Center.
Can purchase one of each package if they choose. If you have an existing set of benefits (such as an Action Pack, legacy silver or legacy gold benefits, a solution area Solutions Partner designation, or a specialization) and want to purchase a partner benefits package, you do not need to wait for your current benefits’ renewal period—you can purchase the new offering on top of your current benefits and receive the benefits for both offers.
Microsoft will assess pricing in local currency as part of a regular twice-a-year cadence, taking into consideration currency fluctuations relative to the USD.
Microsoft Tech Community – Latest Blogs –Read More
Microsoft Copilot in Azure – Unlock the benefits of Azure Database for MySQL with your AI companion
Microsoft Copilot in Azure (Public Preview) is an AI-powered tool to help you do more with Azure. Copilot in Azure extends capabilities to Azure Database for MySQL, allowing users to gain new insights, unlock untapped Azure functionality, and troubleshoot with ease. Copilot in Azure leverages Large Language Models (LLMs) and the Azure control plane, all of this is carried out within the framework of Azure’s steadfast commitment to safeguarding the customer’s data security and privacy.
The experience now supports adding Azure Database for MySQL self- help skills into Copilot in Azure, empowering you with self-guided assistance and the ability to solve issues independently.
You can access Copilot in Azure right from the top menu bar in the Azure portal. Throughout a conversation, Copilot in Azure answers questions, suggests follow-up prompts, and makes high-quality recommendations, all while respecting your organization’s policy and privacy.
For a short demo of this new capability, watch the following video!
Discover new Azure Database for MySQL features with Microsoft Copilot in Azure
Explore when to enable new features to supplement real-life scenarios
Learn from summarized tutorials to enable features on-the-go
Troubleshoot your Azure Database for MySQL issues and get expert tips
Join the preview
To enable access to Microsoft Copilot in Azure for your organization, complete the registration form. You only need to complete the application process one time per tenant. Check with your administrator if you have questions about joining the preview.
For more information about the preview, see Limited access. Also be sure to review our Responsible AI FAQ for Microsoft Copilot in Azure.
Thank you!
Microsoft Tech Community – Latest Blogs –Read More
Announcing Oracle Database@Azure in France Central
Microsoft and Oracle are excited to announce that we are expanding the general availability for the Azure France Central region in Paris. With Oracle Database@Azure now available in the France Central, UK South, Germany West Central, and US East regions with two Azure availability zones, businesses in the US and Europe can meet the performance, compliance, and business continuity needs of their critical enterprise workloads in a region near them. We have 11 more regions planned for general availability this year. Oracle Database@Azure enables organizations to run Oracle databases seamlessly within Microsoft Azure, providing low latency for high-performance apps, data, and services.
As part of the continued expansion of Oracle services on Azure, Oracle Autonomous Database is available on Oracle Database@Azure. Oracle Autonomous Database is a robust, cloud native, managed database service for running workloads with enhanced efficiency, security, and performance. It automatically monitors, analyzes, and optimizes the performance of your database. With Oracle Autonomous Database on Oracle Database@Azure, customers now have a fully managed Oracle database offering on Azure to migrate Oracle-based applications.
Visit our sessions below at Microsoft Build to learn more and engage with our product experts.
BRKFP297: Discover Oracle Database@Azure, a new opportunity for developers
DEM716: Modernize Oracle databases and applications with Oracle Database@Azure
Learn more: https://aka.ms/oracle
Technical documentation: Overview – Oracle Database@Azure | Microsoft Learn
Get skilled: https://aka.ms/ODAA_Learn
Microsoft Tech Community – Latest Blogs –Read More
Announcing Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024: Empowering Edge Innovation!
I am thrilled to announce that Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 is here! – the next evolution in Microsoft’s innovative IoT platform designed to empower device makers with unparalleled intelligence, security, and flexibility at the edge. With the culmination of feature sets from previous releases and added innovation, Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 brings exciting capabilities to the next generation of fixed-purpose devices and ensures a stable and secure platform, as with previous LTSC releases.
New Features Spotlight
With the new release comes access to highly anticipated Windows 11 feature developments. We are bringing more flexibility to device makers with updated IoT hardware requirements, enabling more device types that allow us to light up a broader market. Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 expands the number of removable packages to 36, further empowering device makers to customize the OS to create the perfect platform for even resource constrained devices. For a complete list and details on these features please refer to What’s New on the release page here.
Enhanced Security and Compliance
Security is paramount for us at Microsoft and with the onset of new cybersecurity regulations across the globe has become increasingly important for the IoT ecosystem. Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 benefits from the latest Windows security investments and adopts a secure-by-default approach.
By leveraging hardware features such as Trusted Platform Modules (TPM) and Virtualization-Based Security, Windows delivers security enhancements such as protecting credentials even against privileged system processes, secure and measured boot to detect and prevent rootkits, and Windows Defender Application Control for limiting execution to only specific signed apps.
Enhanced with Windows Defender Antivirus, as well as authentication improvements (including web and federated sign-in), the platform ensures protection against malware, zero-day exploits, and unauthorized access. A full list of security features can be found here.
The Edge Secured-Core program empowers customers to confidently source highly-secured Windows IoT devices by enabling hardware partners to certify that their devices are secure-by-design and take advantage of the Windows’ leading security capabilities. If you are building devices with Windows 11 IoT, we encourage you to learn more about the program requirements and get your applicable devices certified.
Efficient Management and Servicing
Simplified deployment and management are key to maximizing operational efficiency and minimizing downtime. Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 offers seamless integration with Microsoft Intune, enabling organizations to streamline device provisioning, configuration, and monitoring the same way they would with Windows 10/11.
Windows Update delivery optimization helps reduce the bandwidth required to take quality updates and provides policies to configure optimization settings for a custom solution. Update controls also allow admins to control update notifications, such as turning them off during business hours.
Streamlined User Experience and Accessibility
Windows 11 introduced a brand new, but familiar UI with design principles and user flows focused on making users more productive and making the OS accessible to all. Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 brings new components like the taskbar overflow menu and File Explorer tabs to streamline tasks and maximize productivity. It also improves accessibility by introducing system-wide live captions and voice access. In addition, braille displays now work seamlessly across multiple screen readers, and Narrator supports new braille input and output languages to simplify the end user experience.
Improved Performance and Compatibility
Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 delivers enhanced performance and compatibility, enabling organizations to leverage existing investments in hardware and software. It preserves the application promise made with Windows operating systems and doesn’t require changes to existing support processes or tooling to build, deploy or keep your applications up to date. It also adds support for running x64 applications without modification on processors, streamlining the development experience and reducing time to market on Arm64 platforms.
IoT Ready!
As industries continue to embrace the power of IoT, Windows 11 IoT Enterprise LTSC 2024 stands ready to meet the evolving demands of the modern world, offering enhanced security, streamlined deployment and management, advanced edge computing capabilities, improved performance, and compatibility. With its comprehensive suite of features and seamless integration with management services, Windows 11 IoT Enterprise empowers organizations to unlock new levels of innovation and intelligence at the edge, driving digital transformation and fueling growth in the IoT ecosystem.
Microsoft Tech Community – Latest Blogs –Read More
Update Policy for Azure SQL Managed Instance
We’re thrilled to announce general availability of the Update Policy feature for Azure SQL Managed Instance. This new configuration option brings you more flexibility in getting access to the latest SQL engine features with no additional cost or extra downtime.
With the new feature, you can choose between two update policies:
Always-up to date is a more agile policy, with cloud-native way of delivering new SQL engine features as soon as they are ready in Azure. It enables you to always be at the forefront – to quickly adopt new engine features, benefit from them in everyday operations and keep a competitive edge without waiting for the next major release of SQL Server.
SQL Server 2022 policy offers a more traditional approach to updates, following the Cumulative Update (CU) releases of SQL Server 2022. Your managed instance gets security patches, fixes, and functional improvements of the existing comprehensive set of SQL engine features through regular service updates.
Regardless of the update policy chosen, you continue to benefit from Azure SQL platform innovation. Improvements and new features not related to the SQL engine such as zone redundancy, instance stop/start capability, networking and connectivity improvements, business continuity, new hardware generations and the like – everything that makes Azure SQL Managed Instance a true PaaS service – will continue to be delivered to your Azure SQL Managed Instance resources, bringing it to new heights of efficiency, resilience, performance, security, and control.
Configuring update policy for an existing managed instance
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s dive into the specifics of each update policy.
Always-up-to-date policy
It’s a fast lane – unique to Azure – for getting access to new SQL engine features without waiting for the next major release of SQL Server. Quality assurance process and safe deployment practices of Azure are strictly followed, making new features ready for production use as soon as they reach general availability. Regular service updates bring smaller or larger new features, but also security patches, fixes, and functional improvements of the existing features. Azure SQL Database inherently applies Always-up-to-date policy since the inception of the service more than a decade ago.
The underlying database format evolves with some of the new features introduced, making it gradually diverge from the database format used by the latest major release of SQL Server. Due to the database format mismatch some means of copying a database from managed instance with Always-up-to-date policy configured to a SQL Server instance are not available, while the same operations in the opposite direction remain available. This applies to restore of a database backup and to database replication using managed instance link feature based on the Always On technology. Alternative means of copying a managed instance database to SQL Server remain available, like data export/import, transactional replication, or using Azure Data Factory service.
You can configure Always-up-date policy during instance creation, or you can change the policy of your existing managed instance to Always-up-to-date as long as the instance is enabled for November 2022 feature wave. Once Always-up-to-date policy is configured for a managed instance, it cannot be changed since database format cannot be downgraded.
As an illustration of a new SQL engine feature exclusive to instances with Always-up-to-date policy configured, check External REST Endpoint Invocation. More features are coming soon.
SQL Server 2022 policy
As its name suggests, the SQL Server 2022 update policy follows the mainstream servicing lifecycle of SQL Server 2022. Regular service updates bring cumulative update (CU) payload consisting of security patches, fixes, and functional improvements of the existing features. No new SQL engine features get delivered.
Thanks to the database format alignment, instances with this update policy configured enjoy easier database mobility to SQL Server 2022 instances. Restoring a database backup and database replication using the link feature are available in both directions between managed instance with SQL Server 2022 update policy configured and SQL Server 2022 instance.
All existing managed instances have this policy configured. It’s also the default update policy for newly created instances. It can be changed to Always-up-to-date policy during creation of the instance, or for existing instances with November 2022 feature wave enabled. The update policy cannot be changed back from Always-up-to-date to SQL Server 2022 because database format cannot be downgraded, just like database from SQL Server 2017 cannot be restored or Always On replicated to SQL Server 2016. That’s why SQL Server 2022 is configured as the default update policy.
The policy remains available until the end of mainstream support for SQL Server 2022. Upon expiry of the mainstream support period, instances with SQL Server 2022 update policy configured will be automatically upgraded to update policy corresponding to the latest SQL Server major release at that time, colloquially referred to as “SQL Server vNext”. With the new update policy configured, instances will also get access to the entire set of SQL engine features introduced with vNext. The database compatibility level remains unchanged, protecting you from unwanted behavior changes of the existing features.
Which update policy is the right choice for me?
If you don’t care about restoring database backups from your instance to SQL Server, or establishing near real-time database replication to SQL Server, then Always-up-to-date policy is the right choice for you. You will keep getting access to new SQL engine features. While you may have no interest in or have no time for adopting some of those features in your solutions, some other features will automatically bring benefits. As an example, think of potential future features improving resiliency or performance, like accelerated database recovery or optimized locking did in the past.
If you have regulatory compliance, contractual, or other reasons important to you for copying databases from managed instance to SQL Server, consider using SQL Server 2022 update policy and staying with the current set of SQL engine features. You can still achieve it with Always-up-to-date policy configured using alternative features like database export/import or transactional replication, or services like Azure Data Factory.
If you are not sure what are all the requirements for your solution – take your time and start with SQL Server 2022 update policy. You can switch to Always-up-to-date policy later if that turns out to be the right choice and you identify new features that you’d like to adopt as soon as possible.
You can also use both update policies based on the requirements for each of your solutions and respective sets of managed instances. You may decide to configure Always-up-to-date policy in your development environment to have new features at hand and stay current with the new opportunities, and still use SQL Server 2022 update policy for the other environments if required.
If you plan to use both update policies within the same solution, check the limitations of cross-instance features used between instances with different update policies configured. They are typically related to point-in-time restore between two instances, or Always On based features like geo-replication using failover groups or database copying.
Best practices
Make sure to add update policy configuration to your deployment templates, so that you don’t rely on system defaults.
Be aware that using some of the newly introduced features may require changing the database compatibility level.
To stay up-to-date with the latest feature additions to Azure SQL Managed Instance, subscribe to the Azure SQL video channel, subscribe to the Azure SQL Blog feed, or bookmark What’s new in Azure SQL Managed Instance article with regular updates.
Conclusion
Whether you’re all about staying ahead of the curve with brand new engine features, or happy with the existing comprehensive set of SQL engine features available in SQL Server 2022 and need easy database portability, we’ve got you covered with the Update Policy choice for managed instance. Regardless of the update policy chosen, you keep getting benefits from all the innovations in Azure SQL platform.
For more details visit Update policy documentation and stay tuned for the announcements of new SQL engine features coming to instances with Always-up-to-date policy configured.
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