Category: Microsoft
Category Archives: Microsoft
Need to strict Teams on mobile devices
Hello all,
I am trying to put together a conditional access policy to only allow mobile Teams app access for certain users and restrict the rest of the users to the office location only.
Am looking at a block policy to block all network locations and only allow connection for users from the Office desktop.
However, when I go in to the included apps section of the policy, Teams is not listed. Only “Teams Service” and “Teams Shift” is listed.
If I were to block Teams Service/Shift in the selected apps, does that block Teams app itself?
If so, would that cause any functionality issues with other apps like Outlook?
TIA
Hello all,I am trying to put together a conditional access policy to only allow mobile Teams app access for certain users and restrict the rest of the users to the office location only. Am looking at a block policy to block all network locations and only allow connection for users from the Office desktop.However, when I go in to the included apps section of the policy, Teams is not listed. Only “Teams Service” and “Teams Shift” is listed. If I were to block Teams Service/Shift in the selected apps, does that block Teams app itself?If so, would that cause any functionality issues with other apps like Outlook? TIA Read More
Edge Workspaces sync BUG
Hello
First of all, I think that Workspaces in Edge is a very useful feature! Edge also has vertical tabs, which makes it the best tool for researchers using hundreds of tabs. I think other browsers can learn from this. With Workspaces, I can move windows I don’t currently use aside and open them again when needed without loading to RAM. Other browsers lack this feature, so I moved to Edge from Chrome. Edge is now my main tool for ongoing online research.
However, after some months of use, I see that there are bugs that make me frustrated. With Workspaces, Edge is slow, it freezes, fails to synchronize, and reverts changes.
It does not update tabs and moves new tabs to the end.
Let’s say that I have opened tabs: New Tab, facebook.com, A, B, C, D, E
Later, I open links in new tabs from New Tab, Facebook, and A and leave them open. The tabs are: New Tab, msn.com/F, facebook.com, G, A, A2, B, C, D, E
After some time, Workspaces synchronize, there is a short or longer Edge freeze. Then I see tabs are reorganized and F, G, H moved and changed addresses. The tabs are now: New Tab, facebook.com, A, B, C, D, E, New Tab, l.facebook.com/l.php?u=G, A2
It looks like Workspaces never update opened tabs when there was redirection through New Tab or l.facebook.com/l.php?u= or any other redirection on other websites. It only stores the first address it sees. When I refresh these tabs to see the description and go to the proper addresses, it still reverts it back! After I organize the order properly, it sometimes stays or is reverted back! This is frustrating when you need order and proper descriptions!
It is terribly slow, especially after opening another Workspace.
I also encountered long freezes of Edge when opening another Workspace window or at random, probably when it synchronizes (a red dot appears next to the workspace name). Sometimes I have to wait 5 minutes, sometimes 15 minutes, sometimes I’m losing patience! I have plenty of PC power (12-core Ryzen 3900X, 32GB RAM, Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 1TB) and when I check Process Hacker, I see that Edge isn’t using 100% of CPU, but still is frozen. I noticed that when it’s frozen, there are around 200 disk writes, fast changing, 9MB/s total:
C:UsersmeAppDataLocalMicrosoftEdgeUser DataDefaultSync DataLevelDB256443.ldb … ( edge_workspace_disk.xls )
When LevelDB writes stop, Edge is unfrozen.
I’ve given msedge.exe processes high priority, but it doesn’t solve anything.
I noticed this on previous versions starting from 122. I use Stable and Beta (to have two separate profiles) on PC and laptop. I waited hoping it will be solved, but nothing changed. It’s possible that developers only tested Workspaces with a limited number of tabs and not with power users like myself, who manage 10 workspaces with 200-600 tabs in each. The consistent unreliability suggests there may be unresolved bugs present in each version.
I examined the LOG.old file in the Sync Data>LevelDB folders of each browser and noticed that when a freeze occurs, there is a specific behavior logged:
2024/06/12-13:14:19.485 1a570 Generated table #365187@0: 40283 keys, 2109396 bytes
2024/06/12-13:14:19.485 1a570 Compacted 8@0 + 1@1 files => 2109396 bytes
2024/06/12-13:14:19.488 1a570 compacted to: files[ 4 6 7 0 0 0 0 ]
2024/06/12-13:14:19.489 1a570 Delete type=2 #365171
2024/06/12-13:14:19.489 1a570 Delete type=2 #365172
2024/06/12-13:14:19.489 1a570 Delete type=2 #365174
2024/06/12-13:14:19.489 1a570 Delete type=2 #365176
2024/06/12-13:14:19.489 1a570 Delete type=2 #365178
2024/06/12-13:14:19.489 1a570 Delete type=2 #365180
2024/06/12-13:14:19.489 1a570 Delete type=2 #365182
2024/06/12-13:14:19.489 1a570 Delete type=2 #365184
2024/06/12-13:14:19.489 1a570 Delete type=2 #365186
2024/06/12-13:14:19.491 179a0 Level-0 table #365197: started
2024/06/12-13:14:19.492 1a0a0 Current memtable full; waiting…
2024/06/12-13:14:19.500 179a0 Level-0 table #365197: 467718 bytes OK
2024/06/12-13:14:19.503 179a0 Delete type=0 #365194
2024/06/12-13:14:19.504 1a570 Level-0 table #365199: started
2024/06/12-13:14:19.505 1a0a0 Current memtable full; waiting…
2024/06/12-13:14:19.511 1a570 Level-0 table #365199: 467718 bytes OK
2024/06/12-13:14:19.514 1a570 Delete type=0 #365196
2024/06/12-13:14:19.515 179a0 Level-0 table #365201: started
2024/06/12-13:14:19.516 1a0a0 Current memtable full; waiting…
2024/06/12-13:14:19.524 179a0 Level-0 table #365201: 467718 bytes OK
2024/06/12-13:14:19.530 179a0 Delete type=0 #365198
2024/06/12-13:14:19.530 1a570 Level-0 table #365203: started
2024/06/12-13:14:19.531 1a0a0 Current memtable full; waiting…
2024/06/12-13:14:19.539 1a570 Level-0 table #365203: 467718 bytes OK
2024/06/12-13:14:19.542 1a570 Delete type=0 #365200
2024/06/12-13:14:19.542 179a0 Compacting 8@0 + 1@1 files
2024/06/12-13:14:19.556 179a0 Level-0 table #365206: started
2024/06/12-13:14:19.564 179a0 Level-0 table #365206: 467718 bytes OK
2024/06/12-13:14:19.568 179a0 Delete type=0 #365202
2024/06/12-13:14:19.572 179a0 Level-0 table #365208: started
2024/06/12-13:14:19.581 179a0 Level-0 table #365208: 467718 bytes OK
2024/06/12-13:14:19.584 179a0 Delete type=0 #365205
2024/06/12-13:14:19.588 179a0 Level-0 table #365210: started
2024/06/12-13:14:19.596 179a0 Level-0 table #365210: 467718 bytes OK
2024/06/12-13:14:19.600 179a0 Delete type=0 #365207
2024/06/12-13:14:19.604 179a0 Level-0 table #365212: started
2024/06/12-13:14:19.611 179a0 Level-0 table #365212: 467718 bytes OK
2024/06/12-13:14:19.615 179a0 Delete type=0 #365209
2024/06/12-13:14:19.620 1a0a0 Too many L0 files; waiting…
HelloFirst of all, I think that Workspaces in Edge is a very useful feature! Edge also has vertical tabs, which makes it the best tool for researchers using hundreds of tabs. I think other browsers can learn from this. With Workspaces, I can move windows I don’t currently use aside and open them again when needed without loading to RAM. Other browsers lack this feature, so I moved to Edge from Chrome. Edge is now my main tool for ongoing online research.However, after some months of use, I see that there are bugs that make me frustrated. With Workspaces, Edge is slow, it freezes, fails to synchronize, and reverts changes. It does not update tabs and moves new tabs to the end.Let’s say that I have opened tabs: New Tab, facebook.com, A, B, C, D, ELater, I open links in new tabs from New Tab, Facebook, and A and leave them open. The tabs are: New Tab, msn.com/F, facebook.com, G, A, A2, B, C, D, EAfter some time, Workspaces synchronize, there is a short or longer Edge freeze. Then I see tabs are reorganized and F, G, H moved and changed addresses. The tabs are now: New Tab, facebook.com, A, B, C, D, E, New Tab, l.facebook.com/l.php?u=G, A2It looks like Workspaces never update opened tabs when there was redirection through New Tab or l.facebook.com/l.php?u= or any other redirection on other websites. It only stores the first address it sees. When I refresh these tabs to see the description and go to the proper addresses, it still reverts it back! After I organize the order properly, it sometimes stays or is reverted back! This is frustrating when you need order and proper descriptions! It is terribly slow, especially after opening another Workspace.I also encountered long freezes of Edge when opening another Workspace window or at random, probably when it synchronizes (a red dot appears next to the workspace name). Sometimes I have to wait 5 minutes, sometimes 15 minutes, sometimes I’m losing patience! I have plenty of PC power (12-core Ryzen 3900X, 32GB RAM, Samsung SSD 970 EVO Plus 1TB) and when I check Process Hacker, I see that Edge isn’t using 100% of CPU, but still is frozen. I noticed that when it’s frozen, there are around 200 disk writes, fast changing, 9MB/s total:C:UsersmeAppDataLocalMicrosoftEdgeUser DataDefaultSync DataLevelDB256443.ldb … ( edge_workspace_disk.xls )When LevelDB writes stop, Edge is unfrozen.I’ve given msedge.exe processes high priority, but it doesn’t solve anything.I noticed this on previous versions starting from 122. I use Stable and Beta (to have two separate profiles) on PC and laptop. I waited hoping it will be solved, but nothing changed. It’s possible that developers only tested Workspaces with a limited number of tabs and not with power users like myself, who manage 10 workspaces with 200-600 tabs in each. The consistent unreliability suggests there may be unresolved bugs present in each version.I examined the LOG.old file in the Sync Data>LevelDB folders of each browser and noticed that when a freeze occurs, there is a specific behavior logged:2024/06/12-13:14:19.485 1a570 Generated table #365187@0: 40283 keys, 2109396 bytes2024/06/12-13:14:19.485 1a570 Compacted 8@0 + 1@1 files => 2109396 bytes2024/06/12-13:14:19.488 1a570 compacted to: files[ 4 6 7 0 0 0 0 ]2024/06/12-13:14:19.489 1a570 Delete type=2 #3651712024/06/12-13:14:19.489 1a570 Delete type=2 #3651722024/06/12-13:14:19.489 1a570 Delete type=2 #3651742024/06/12-13:14:19.489 1a570 Delete type=2 #3651762024/06/12-13:14:19.489 1a570 Delete type=2 #3651782024/06/12-13:14:19.489 1a570 Delete type=2 #3651802024/06/12-13:14:19.489 1a570 Delete type=2 #3651822024/06/12-13:14:19.489 1a570 Delete type=2 #3651842024/06/12-13:14:19.489 1a570 Delete type=2 #3651862024/06/12-13:14:19.491 179a0 Level-0 table #365197: started2024/06/12-13:14:19.492 1a0a0 Current memtable full; waiting…2024/06/12-13:14:19.500 179a0 Level-0 table #365197: 467718 bytes OK2024/06/12-13:14:19.503 179a0 Delete type=0 #3651942024/06/12-13:14:19.504 1a570 Level-0 table #365199: started2024/06/12-13:14:19.505 1a0a0 Current memtable full; waiting…2024/06/12-13:14:19.511 1a570 Level-0 table #365199: 467718 bytes OK2024/06/12-13:14:19.514 1a570 Delete type=0 #3651962024/06/12-13:14:19.515 179a0 Level-0 table #365201: started2024/06/12-13:14:19.516 1a0a0 Current memtable full; waiting…2024/06/12-13:14:19.524 179a0 Level-0 table #365201: 467718 bytes OK2024/06/12-13:14:19.530 179a0 Delete type=0 #3651982024/06/12-13:14:19.530 1a570 Level-0 table #365203: started2024/06/12-13:14:19.531 1a0a0 Current memtable full; waiting…2024/06/12-13:14:19.539 1a570 Level-0 table #365203: 467718 bytes OK2024/06/12-13:14:19.542 1a570 Delete type=0 #3652002024/06/12-13:14:19.542 179a0 Compacting 8@0 + 1@1 files2024/06/12-13:14:19.556 179a0 Level-0 table #365206: started2024/06/12-13:14:19.564 179a0 Level-0 table #365206: 467718 bytes OK2024/06/12-13:14:19.568 179a0 Delete type=0 #3652022024/06/12-13:14:19.572 179a0 Level-0 table #365208: started2024/06/12-13:14:19.581 179a0 Level-0 table #365208: 467718 bytes OK2024/06/12-13:14:19.584 179a0 Delete type=0 #3652052024/06/12-13:14:19.588 179a0 Level-0 table #365210: started2024/06/12-13:14:19.596 179a0 Level-0 table #365210: 467718 bytes OK2024/06/12-13:14:19.600 179a0 Delete type=0 #3652072024/06/12-13:14:19.604 179a0 Level-0 table #365212: started2024/06/12-13:14:19.611 179a0 Level-0 table #365212: 467718 bytes OK2024/06/12-13:14:19.615 179a0 Delete type=0 #3652092024/06/12-13:14:19.620 1a0a0 Too many L0 files; waiting… Read More
How to remove highlight on previously selected feature in geojson data on Azure Map polygon layer
I’ve been trying to fix the following code so that when a user clicks on a feature in the geojson data, the selected polygon is highlighted. And when user clicks on another polygon, the previously selected polygon/feature is no longer highlighted and the currently selected polygon is highlighted. Can anybody see what I’m doing wrong?
map.events.add(‘ready’, function () {
//Change the cursor of the mouse when it is over the map to be a pointer.
map.getCanvasContainer().style.cursor = ‘pointer’;
//Create a data source and add it to the map.
ds = new atlas.source.DataSource();
//Load jsonData file
fetch(jsonData)
.then(response => response.json())
.then(results => {
if (results.features[1].properties.CNTY == county_name) {
ds.add(results.features);
}
})//end then
.catch(error => console.error(‘Error loading GeoJSON:’, error));
//Add jsonData to sources
map.sources.add(ds);
//Add a layer for rendering a different color polygon when clicked
var polygonLayer = new atlas.layer.PolygonLayer(ds, null, {
fillColor: “rgba(176,48,96, 0.5)” //maroon
})
map.layers.add(polygonLayer, ‘labels’);
var selectedLine = new atlas.layer.LineLayer(ds, null, {
strokeColor: ‘black’,
strokeWidth: 1
});
map.layers.add(selectedLine, ‘labels’);
//Add click events to polygonLayer
map.events.add(‘click’, polygonLayer, function (e) {
selected = e.shapes[0];
//Add a layer for rendering a different color polygon when clicked
var polygonClickedLayer = new atlas.layer.PolygonLayer(ds, null, {
fillColor: ‘rgb(102, 255, 0)’, //green
//Only polygons with a “FUID” property with a value of selectedID will be rendered.
filter: [‘==’, [‘get’, ‘FUID’], selected.properties.FUID]
})
map.layers.add(polygonClickedLayer, ‘labels’);
//Add a layer for rendering a different polygon border color when clicked
var selectedLineLayer = new atlas.layer.LineLayer(ds, null, {
strokeColor: ‘orange’,
strokeWidth: 2,
//Only polygons with a “FUID” property with a value of selectedID will be rendered.
filter: [‘==’, [‘get’, ‘FUID’], selected.properties.FUID]
});
map.layers.add(selectedLineLayer, ‘labels’);
ftrCentroid = calculateFieldCentroid(selected);
map.setCamera({
zoom: 15,
center: ftrCentroid
});
});
});
I’ve been trying to fix the following code so that when a user clicks on a feature in the geojson data, the selected polygon is highlighted. And when user clicks on another polygon, the previously selected polygon/feature is no longer highlighted and the currently selected polygon is highlighted. Can anybody see what I’m doing wrong?map.events.add(‘ready’, function () {
//Change the cursor of the mouse when it is over the map to be a pointer.
map.getCanvasContainer().style.cursor = ‘pointer’;
//Create a data source and add it to the map.
ds = new atlas.source.DataSource();
//Load jsonData file
fetch(jsonData)
.then(response => response.json())
.then(results => {
if (results.features[1].properties.CNTY == county_name) {
ds.add(results.features);
}
})//end then
.catch(error => console.error(‘Error loading GeoJSON:’, error));
//Add jsonData to sources
map.sources.add(ds);
//Add a layer for rendering a different color polygon when clicked
var polygonLayer = new atlas.layer.PolygonLayer(ds, null, {
fillColor: “rgba(176,48,96, 0.5)” //maroon
})
map.layers.add(polygonLayer, ‘labels’);
var selectedLine = new atlas.layer.LineLayer(ds, null, {
strokeColor: ‘black’,
strokeWidth: 1
});
map.layers.add(selectedLine, ‘labels’);
//Add click events to polygonLayer
map.events.add(‘click’, polygonLayer, function (e) {
selected = e.shapes[0];
//Add a layer for rendering a different color polygon when clicked
var polygonClickedLayer = new atlas.layer.PolygonLayer(ds, null, {
fillColor: ‘rgb(102, 255, 0)’, //green
//Only polygons with a “FUID” property with a value of selectedID will be rendered.
filter: [‘==’, [‘get’, ‘FUID’], selected.properties.FUID]
})
map.layers.add(polygonClickedLayer, ‘labels’);
//Add a layer for rendering a different polygon border color when clicked
var selectedLineLayer = new atlas.layer.LineLayer(ds, null, {
strokeColor: ‘orange’,
strokeWidth: 2,
//Only polygons with a “FUID” property with a value of selectedID will be rendered.
filter: [‘==’, [‘get’, ‘FUID’], selected.properties.FUID]
});
map.layers.add(selectedLineLayer, ‘labels’);
ftrCentroid = calculateFieldCentroid(selected);
map.setCamera({
zoom: 15,
center: ftrCentroid
});
});
}); Read More
Azure Advisor with Troubleshooting Guides to improve your Azure Postgres Flexible Server performance
Azure Advisor provides a personalized approach to receiving recommendations for your server by analyzing its configuration and telemetry data. This service aims to enhance various aspects of your server, including reliability, cost efficiency, security, operational excellence, and performance. By leveraging Azure Advisor, you gain access to tailored, proactive, and actionable recommendations designed to help your server operate at its optimal level.
You can now receive new recommendations that include checks for long-running queries, orphaned prepared transactions, databases approaching the 1 billion transaction usage limit (to prevent potential transaction wraparound scenarios), and servers exceeding the 80% bloat ratio. These new recommendations are seamlessly integrated with the troubleshooting guides available on the Azure Portal: Troubleshooting guides – Azure Database for PostgreSQL – Flexible Server | Microsoft Learn.
You can use these troubleshooting guides to help implement the Azure Advisor Performance recommendations for your Azure Database for Postgres Flexible Server. When you receive a recommendation, you will be directed to the appropriate troubleshooting guides. Be sure to follow the prerequisites section to ensure that all necessary data is provided before proceeding with the troubleshooting steps.
Let us walk through an example of a long-running transaction recommendation and see how the integration of troubleshooting guides can assist you in resolving the issue:
1. For the recommendation on Long Running Transactions, Go to Help -> Troubleshooting guides -> High CPU Usage -> Long Running Transactions as shown in the visual. This visual highlights the troubleshooting guides available on the portal, illustrating the various scenarios they can help you identify and resolve any server issues.
2. This will provide you with PIDs for the long running transactions on the server.
3. There is a dropdown to pick a specific PID which shows you the details of the PID as below. You can go through each PID and understand what is causing the issue.
4. We also provide you with recommendations on what steps need to be taken to resolve the issue.
5. You may have to follow additional steps for all the PIDs identified as long running and resolve them based on the recommendation provided.
In conclusion, leveraging Azure Advisor and the integrated troubleshooting guides can significantly enhance the performance, reliability, and efficiency of your Azure Database for Postgres Flexible Server. By proactively addressing recommendations such as long-running queries, orphaned prepared transactions, transaction limits, and bloat ratios, you can ensure your server operates at its best.
We encourage you to explore the Azure Portal and utilize these tools to stay ahead of potential issues. Start implementing the Azure Advisor performance recommendations today and make use of the detailed troubleshooting guides to maintain a robust and high-performing database environment.
Acknowledgement: This post was co-authored by Guy Bowerman and Gayathri Paderla.
Microsoft Tech Community – Latest Blogs –Read More
Bluetooth Drivers on AVD Hostpool
Dear AVD Program team,
Does AVD hostpool based on pre-built images support Bluetooth drivers pre-installed and configured?Does AVD hostpool based on custom images allow and support Bluetooth drivers pre-installation?Does local bluetooth resources from AVD Windows client can be redirected via hostpool RDP properties or any other approaches?
If above options are not available, is there any roadmap to enable this feature on Bluetooth drivers on AVD hostppol, and by what timelines?
Dear AVD Program team,Does AVD hostpool based on pre-built images support Bluetooth drivers pre-installed and configured?Does AVD hostpool based on custom images allow and support Bluetooth drivers pre-installation?Does local bluetooth resources from AVD Windows client can be redirected via hostpool RDP properties or any other approaches?If above options are not available, is there any roadmap to enable this feature on Bluetooth drivers on AVD hostppol, and by what timelines? Read More
Problème de copilote dans PowerPoint Macbook
Bonjour,
J’ai acheté une licence Copilote en fin de semaine. Ça fonctionne très bien dans Word et Excel, par contre quand je l’active sur PowerPoint, il démarre puis tout disparait et il n’y a plus rien dans l’espace Copilot.
Je suis sur un Macbook Pro, toutes mes applications sont à jour.
Est-ce normale ? Suis-je le seul ? Que puis-je faire ?
Merci,
Bonjour, J’ai acheté une licence Copilote en fin de semaine. Ça fonctionne très bien dans Word et Excel, par contre quand je l’active sur PowerPoint, il démarre puis tout disparait et il n’y a plus rien dans l’espace Copilot. Je suis sur un Macbook Pro, toutes mes applications sont à jour. Est-ce normale ? Suis-je le seul ? Que puis-je faire ? Merci, Read More
Android MAM App configuration blocks MDM app settings
Hi everyone,
I am running into a problem with Android Outlook app configuration.
I set an app config profile for Outlook to block contact sync for managed apps and a BYOD MAM scenario. The profile can’t be set for specific device types. I just want to apply on unmanaged devices.
The Problem is, users with a managed device who also want to use managed apps on their personal device get the same Outlook config profile on both devices, what results in managed devices unable to sync contacts to the native contact app.
Apart from using only one device type, do you have any ideas how to solve this issue?
Thanks, Simon
Hi everyone, I am running into a problem with Android Outlook app configuration. I set an app config profile for Outlook to block contact sync for managed apps and a BYOD MAM scenario. The profile can’t be set for specific device types. I just want to apply on unmanaged devices. The Problem is, users with a managed device who also want to use managed apps on their personal device get the same Outlook config profile on both devices, what results in managed devices unable to sync contacts to the native contact app. Apart from using only one device type, do you have any ideas how to solve this issue? Thanks, Simon Read More
Windows service on local server needs to consume files from SharePoint folder
I have a Windows Service that needs to consume files from a cloud based SharePoint folder.
I’ve found lots of info on mapping drives or using sync to make it available in OneDrive but as best I can tell that would only work in the context of a user session.
Is there a way to map a SP folder to a drive in a way that it would be available to that service?
Should I use Power Automate to copy files down instead?
Using PA I would want to pull it down using PA running on the server to minimize firewall config
Thanks in advance!
I have a Windows Service that needs to consume files from a cloud based SharePoint folder.I’ve found lots of info on mapping drives or using sync to make it available in OneDrive but as best I can tell that would only work in the context of a user session.Is there a way to map a SP folder to a drive in a way that it would be available to that service?Should I use Power Automate to copy files down instead?Using PA I would want to pull it down using PA running on the server to minimize firewall config Thanks in advance! Read More
Calculating Daily Hours entered in Sprint
Hello,
We are assigned 3 weeks Sprints, with in those sprints we can have up to 20 stories. We log our time in 15 minutes under the Effort section of the Story. Is there a query or other mechanism which shows how much time you have logged for the day all stories combined? I need to log a minimum of 7 hours and would like to check total time documented throughout the day.
Thanks so much!
Jeffrey
Hello,We are assigned 3 weeks Sprints, with in those sprints we can have up to 20 stories. We log our time in 15 minutes under the Effort section of the Story. Is there a query or other mechanism which shows how much time you have logged for the day all stories combined? I need to log a minimum of 7 hours and would like to check total time documented throughout the day.Thanks so much!Jeffrey Read More
Navigating the Generative AI Landscape with Azure AI Services: Insights from Customer Round Table
Introduction
The adoption of Generative AI (GenAI) technologies is accelerating, driven by the transformative potential they offer across various sectors. Recently, we hosted a customer round table conference at Microsoft Build, focusing on the journeys and adoption of GenAI using Azure AI services. Industry leaders from diverse fields shared their experiences, challenges, and strategies, providing invaluable insights into the practical application of Generative AI.
Azure AI Services: A Pillar in Generative AI Use Cases
Azure AI services play a crucial role in enabling businesses to leverage Generative AI effectively. These services provide the necessary infrastructure and tools to build, deploy, and scale AI applications. With services and features like the Azure OpenAI, Assistants API and Co-pilot Studio, Azure AI empowers organizations to create interactive and responsive AI solutions tailored to their specific needs. Security and privacy are also integral components of Azure AI, ensuring that AI deployments are robust and compliant with industry standards. Below are some of the insights from customers across different industries.
Scaling and Maturing in Generative AI: Insights from Consulting
A consulting firm highlighted their success in building the AI applications and the pivotal role of upskilling and developing repeatable blueprints. These strategies not only accelerated their learning curve but also supported their advancement to a mature stage in their Large Language Models (LLMs) adoption. The firm now successfully scales their Generative AI applications to more than 150,000 users, showcasing the robust capability of Azure AI to handle large-scale user bases efficiently.
Challenges in Keeping Pace: An IT Company’s Story
An IT company discussed the challenges of keeping up with rapid advancements in Generative AI technology. They are currently enabling Generative AI co-pilots for developers but find it difficult to optimize these tools within their organizational framework. This reflects a common challenge across the industry: integrating cutting-edge technology in a way that complements existing workflows and systems. Azure AI and Azure Machine Learning offer pre-built models and services that can be easily integrated into existing applications. These services provide APIs and connectors that simplify the incorporation of AI and ML into current workflows.
Story Integrating Generative AI capabilities into traditional Software Development
Multiple customers expressed interest in understanding how Generative AI capabilities can be integrated into traditional software development life cycles and programming languages. There is a keen interest in exploring potential use cases that could revolutionize operations and customer service across the industries.
Operational Efficiency and DevOps: Device Manufacturer’s Experience
A device manufacturer shared their journey of embedding LLM applications within their DevOps workflows. They discussed the nuances of LLMOps and how it differs from traditional operations, highlighting the operational efficiencies gained through Generative AI integration.
Hospitality Industry Exploration
A hospitality company was eager to learn and explore embedding Generative AI into their business operations to enhance customer experience and streamline service delivery. This reflects a broader trend of industries seeking to leverage AI to add value to their customer interactions and internal processes.
Health Insurance Innovations
A health insurance provider discussed automating claims and Electronic Medical Records (EMR), which could significantly reduce processing times and errors. At Microsoft, we are dedicated to helping customers and partners leverage AI in healthcare by bridging data, AI, and trust. Our goal is to accelerate digital transformation through trusted, secure, and scalable platforms and tools that enable data management, analysis, sharing, and the development, deployment, and monitoring of AI solutions.
Multi-Agent Scenarios in Manufacturing and Office Supplies
AutoGen is a framework for simplifying the orchestration, optimization, and automation of LLM workflows. It offers customizable and conversable agents that leverage the strongest capabilities of the most advanced LLMs, like GPT-4, while addressing their limitations by integrating with humans and tools and having conversations between multiple agents via automated chat. Manufacturing and office supplies customers explored multi-agent scenarios using the framework, potentially enhancing customer interaction and operational automation.
AI COE in Oil and Gas
The AI Center of Excellence (COE) team from an Oil and Gas company has been instrumental in showcasing the transformative power of AI. They have shared valuable insights into their long-standing AI journey, emphasizing a well-established execution rhythm that has become a cornerstone of their operations. This rhythm allows for the continuous improvement and integration of AI technologies, ensuring they remain at the forefront of innovation.
Conclusion
The round table provided a panoramic view of how various industries are navigating their Generative AI adoption journeys. From operational integration to scaling user bases and addressing security concerns, the insights shared underscore the dynamic nature of AI technology and its impact across sectors.
Nick Brady, a seasoned program manager from the Azure OpenAI team, shared his expertise with customers on building AI products designed to accelerate AI development. He detailed the strategic approach and best practices employed by his team, focusing on creating scalable, secure, and user-friendly AI solutions. Kranthi Manchikanti and Marc Nehme from Azure specialized AI Tech strategy team also provided valuable guidance on overcoming common challenges and maximizing the potential of AI technologies in various industries. As Azure continues to evolve its AI services, these dialogues are invaluable for shaping a more informed, efficient, and innovative adoption path for businesses worldwide.
This conference has set the stage for ongoing collaboration and innovation in the Generative AI space, promising exciting developments ahead for Azure AI users and the broader tech community.
Microsoft Tech Community – Latest Blogs –Read More
combine information from 2 tabs in 1 file based on common information (EAN)
I could not download the info needed in 1 file so I have downloaded 2 files.
i combined the 2 in 1 file 2 tabs.
1 file has amongst other info: EAN and article name.
file 2 has among other, EAN and stock qtt
how can I now import the stock qtt from tab 2 in tab 1 based on the EAN
so: if EAN = 1234567891011 the stock should be …..
quess can be doe by formule
I could not download the info needed in 1 file so I have downloaded 2 files. i combined the 2 in 1 file 2 tabs.1 file has amongst other info: EAN and article name.file 2 has among other, EAN and stock qtthow can I now import the stock qtt from tab 2 in tab 1 based on the EANso: if EAN = 1234567891011 the stock should be …..quess can be doe by formule Read More
Managed Metadata in new MS List in SharePoint
Just noticed the new change to the SharePoint lists moving to MS List. Only some of my lists were updated and some were not so I attempted to recreate a simple list with 1 managed metadata column and a couple of people columns.
The first thing I noticed what that I couldn’t paste into the Managed Metadata column in grid edit mode. The hover over suggests that these fields can only be edited in the popup form.
Quite a limiting feature if you ask me.
Just noticed the new change to the SharePoint lists moving to MS List. Only some of my lists were updated and some were not so I attempted to recreate a simple list with 1 managed metadata column and a couple of people columns. The first thing I noticed what that I couldn’t paste into the Managed Metadata column in grid edit mode. The hover over suggests that these fields can only be edited in the popup form. Quite a limiting feature if you ask me. Read More
Il mio OneDrive è bloccato su iPhone e iPad.
Il mio OneDrive è bloccato su iPhone e su Ipad, non su computer. Microsoft non mi invia il codice necessario per resettare la password di accesso. Su OneDrive ho 244 giga di file
Il mio OneDrive è bloccato su iPhone e su Ipad, non su computer. Microsoft non mi invia il codice necessario per resettare la password di accesso. Su OneDrive ho 244 giga di file Read More
Value filters on multiple value columns in a Pivot Table
Greetings,
I know how to utilize the ‘Value Filters’ functionality in order to filter Pivot Table data. Is there a way to filter on the values in 2 separate columns? I need my Pivot table results to show rows that have a counts >1K AND an Index comparison value <1.00. Currently, I can only do one filter or the other, but not both – is there a way to do this?
Thank you!
Greetings, I know how to utilize the ‘Value Filters’ functionality in order to filter Pivot Table data. Is there a way to filter on the values in 2 separate columns? I need my Pivot table results to show rows that have a counts >1K AND an Index comparison value <1.00. Currently, I can only do one filter or the other, but not both – is there a way to do this? Thank you! Read More
Attachment confusion – .pdf/.crdownload
I’ve got a quandary with one user who is attaching a .pdf to an email, using the “Attach File” menu, but when the file is attached and sent/delivered, the attachment has been renamed with a .crdownload postpended (i.e., changing the file’s type). So, email now has “somefile.pdf.crdownload” attached rather than the original file of “somefile.pdf”.
Any idea what’s causing this oddity? The attached file was recently downloaded from another system, but clearly shows the filename as ending in .pdf. The impact is that recipients get the, perhaps unknown filetype, unless the .crdownload has been previously associated with an application (Acrobat Reader in our case).
Thanks for any guidance or suggestions!
Edited to clarify that this is Windows 10 environment with installed MS 365 apps.
I’ve got a quandary with one user who is attaching a .pdf to an email, using the “Attach File” menu, but when the file is attached and sent/delivered, the attachment has been renamed with a .crdownload postpended (i.e., changing the file’s type). So, email now has “somefile.pdf.crdownload” attached rather than the original file of “somefile.pdf”.Any idea what’s causing this oddity? The attached file was recently downloaded from another system, but clearly shows the filename as ending in .pdf. The impact is that recipients get the, perhaps unknown filetype, unless the .crdownload has been previously associated with an application (Acrobat Reader in our case). Thanks for any guidance or suggestions! Edited to clarify that this is Windows 10 environment with installed MS 365 apps. Read More
Announcing Windows Server Preview Build 26236
Announcing Windows Server Preview Build 26236
Hello Windows Server Insiders!
Today we are pleased to release a new build of the next Windows Server Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) Preview that contains both the Desktop Experience and Server Core installation options for Datacenter and Standard editions, Annual Channel for Container Host and Azure Edition (for VM evaluation only). Branding has been updated for the upcoming release, Windows Server 2025, in this preview – when reporting issues please refer to Windows Server 2025 preview. If you signed up for Server Flighting, you should receive this new build automatically.
What’s New
Delegated Managed Service Accounts (dMSA)
A new account type known as delegated Managed Service Account (dMSA) is now available that allows migration from a traditional service account to a machine account with managed and fully randomized keys, while disabling original service account passwords.
Authentication for dMSA is linked to the device identity, which means that only specified machine identities mapped in AD can access the account. Using dMSA helps to prevent harvesting credentials using a compromised account (kerberoasting), which is a common issue with traditional service accounts.
To learn more about dMSA, visit https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/security/delegated-managed-service-accounts/delegated-managed-service-accounts-overview.
Windows Server Flighting is here!!
If you signed up for Server Flighting, you should receive this new build automatically later today. For more information, see Welcome to Windows Insider flighting on Windows Server – Microsoft Community Hub.
The new Feedback Hub app is now available for Server Desktop users!
The app should automatically update with the latest version, but if it does not, simply Check for updates in the app’s settings tab.
Known Issues
[RESOLVED] Secure-boot Gen2 VMs created using ISO media may not boot: Some users may encounter boot issues when creating secure-boot Gen 2 VMs. Disabling secure-boot allows the Gen2 VM to boot successfully. This will be addressed in a future release.
Upgrade does not complete: Some users may experience an issue when upgrading where the download process does not progress beyond 0%. If you encounter this issue, please upgrade to this newer build using the ISO media download option. Download Windows Server Insider Preview (microsoft.com)
Access denied error when using Diskpart –> Clean Image on Winpe.vhdx VMs created using WinPE: Create bootable media | Microsoft Learn. We are working to resolve this issue and expect to have it fixed in the next preview release.
Download Windows Server Insider Preview (microsoft.com)
Flighting: The label for this flight may incorrectly reference Windows 11. However, when selected, the package installed is the Windows Server update. Please ignore the label and proceed with installing your flight. This issue will be addressed in a future release.
Setup: Some users may experience overlapping rectangle voids following mouse clicks during “OOBE” setup. This is a graphics rendering issue and will not prevent setup from completing. This issue will be addressed in a future release.
WinPE – Powershell Scripts: Applying the WinPE-Powershell optional component does not properly install Powershell in WinPE. As a result, Powershell cmdlets will fail. Customers who are dependent on Powershell in WinPE should not use this build.
If you are validating upgrades from Windows Server 2019 or 2022, we do not recommend that you use this build as intermittent upgrade failures have been identified for this build.
This build has an issue where archiving eventlogs with “wevetutil al” command causes the Windows Event Log service to crash, and the archive operation to fail. The service must be restarted by executing “Start-Service EventLog” from an administrative command line prompt.
If you have Secure Launch/DRTM code path enabled, we do not recommend that you install this build.
Available Downloads
Downloads to certain countries may not be available. See Microsoft suspends new sales in Russia – Microsoft On the Issues
Windows Server Long-Term Servicing Channel Preview in ISO format in 18 languages, and in VHDX format in English only.
Windows Server Datacenter Azure Edition Preview in ISO and VHDX format, English only.
Microsoft Server Languages and Optional Features Preview
Keys: Keys are valid for preview builds only
Server Standard: MFY9F-XBN2F-TYFMP-CCV49-RMYVH
Datacenter: 2KNJJ-33Y9H-2GXGX-KMQWH-G6H67
Azure Edition does not accept a key
Symbols: available on the public symbol server – see Using the Microsoft Symbol Server.
Expiration: This Windows Server Preview will expire September 15, 2024.
How to Download
Registered Insiders may navigate directly to the Windows Server Insider Preview download page. If you have not yet registered as an Insider, see GETTING STARTED WITH SERVER on the Windows Insiders for Business portal.
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. Beginning with Insider build 26063, 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.
Terms of Use
This is pre-release software – it is provided for use “as-is” and is not supported in production environments. Users are responsible for installing any updates that may be made available from Windows Update. All pre-release software made available to you via the Windows Server Insider program is governed by the Insider Terms of Use.
Announcing Windows Server Preview Build 26236
Hello Windows Server Insiders!
Today we are pleased to release a new build of the next Windows Server Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) Preview that contains both the Desktop Experience and Server Core installation options for Datacenter and Standard editions, Annual Channel for Container Host and Azure Edition (for VM evaluation only). Branding has been updated for the upcoming release, Windows Server 2025, in this preview – when reporting issues please refer to Windows Server 2025 preview. If you signed up for Server Flighting, you should receive this new build automatically.
What’s New
Delegated Managed Service Accounts (dMSA)
A new account type known as delegated Managed Service Account (dMSA) is now available that allows migration from a traditional service account to a machine account with managed and fully randomized keys, while disabling original service account passwords.
Authentication for dMSA is linked to the device identity, which means that only specified machine identities mapped in AD can access the account. Using dMSA helps to prevent harvesting credentials using a compromised account (kerberoasting), which is a common issue with traditional service accounts.
To learn more about dMSA, visit https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/security/delegated-managed-service-accounts/delegated-managed-service-accounts-overview.
Windows Server Flighting is here!!
If you signed up for Server Flighting, you should receive this new build automatically later today. For more information, see Welcome to Windows Insider flighting on Windows Server – Microsoft Community Hub.
The new Feedback Hub app is now available for Server Desktop users!
The app should automatically update with the latest version, but if it does not, simply Check for updates in the app’s settings tab.
Known Issues
[RESOLVED] Secure-boot Gen2 VMs created using ISO media may not boot: Some users may encounter boot issues when creating secure-boot Gen 2 VMs. Disabling secure-boot allows the Gen2 VM to boot successfully. This will be addressed in a future release.
Upgrade does not complete: Some users may experience an issue when upgrading where the download process does not progress beyond 0%. If you encounter this issue, please upgrade to this newer build using the ISO media download option. Download Windows Server Insider Preview (microsoft.com)
Access denied error when using Diskpart –> Clean Image on Winpe.vhdx VMs created using WinPE: Create bootable media | Microsoft Learn. We are working to resolve this issue and expect to have it fixed in the next preview release.
Download Windows Server Insider Preview (microsoft.com)
Flighting: The label for this flight may incorrectly reference Windows 11. However, when selected, the package installed is the Windows Server update. Please ignore the label and proceed with installing your flight. This issue will be addressed in a future release.
Setup: Some users may experience overlapping rectangle voids following mouse clicks during “OOBE” setup. This is a graphics rendering issue and will not prevent setup from completing. This issue will be addressed in a future release.
WinPE – Powershell Scripts: Applying the WinPE-Powershell optional component does not properly install Powershell in WinPE. As a result, Powershell cmdlets will fail. Customers who are dependent on Powershell in WinPE should not use this build.
If you are validating upgrades from Windows Server 2019 or 2022, we do not recommend that you use this build as intermittent upgrade failures have been identified for this build.
This build has an issue where archiving eventlogs with “wevetutil al” command causes the Windows Event Log service to crash, and the archive operation to fail. The service must be restarted by executing “Start-Service EventLog” from an administrative command line prompt.
If you have Secure Launch/DRTM code path enabled, we do not recommend that you install this build.
Available Downloads
Downloads to certain countries may not be available. See Microsoft suspends new sales in Russia – Microsoft On the Issues
Windows Server Long-Term Servicing Channel Preview in ISO format in 18 languages, and in VHDX format in English only.
Windows Server Datacenter Azure Edition Preview in ISO and VHDX format, English only.
Microsoft Server Languages and Optional Features Preview
Keys: Keys are valid for preview builds only
Server Standard: MFY9F-XBN2F-TYFMP-CCV49-RMYVH
Datacenter: 2KNJJ-33Y9H-2GXGX-KMQWH-G6H67
Azure Edition does not accept a key
Symbols: available on the public symbol server – see Using the Microsoft Symbol Server.
Expiration: This Windows Server Preview will expire September 15, 2024.
How to Download
Registered Insiders may navigate directly to the Windows Server Insider Preview download page. If you have not yet registered as an Insider, see GETTING STARTED WITH SERVER on the Windows Insiders for Business portal.
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. Beginning with Insider build 26063, 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.
Terms of Use
This is pre-release software – it is provided for use “as-is” and is not supported in production environments. Users are responsible for installing any updates that may be made available from Windows Update. All pre-release software made available to you via the Windows Server Insider program is governed by the Insider Terms of Use. Read More
Keeping your AI out of trouble
One thing is true for most AI Applications – it’s easy to get yourself in trouble if you’re not careful. AI is all about probability, and the probability of it being incorrect, or behaving unexpectedly for a new input is practically never zero. In the classic chatbot days, this often meant getting an answer about something you’re not asking about, or the good old “I did not understand” default answer we all “love” to see when we’re having an issue. But with Generative AI, mistakes are much more nuanced, and may take the appearance of plain misinformation and, even worse, harmful content!
In this article, we’ll cover some of the guidelines you can adopt to minimize risk on AI Apps. Each section is composed of a set of actions you can take, followed by good and bad examples to illustrate their role in keeping your users – and you! – safe from unexpected AI behavior.
1. User interface guidelines
Starting with UI tips – these are simple changes to the way your end-users engage with your AI application that can go a long way in preventing misuse.
Guideline
Description
Reasons
Include disclaimer text
In order to interact with the AI, end-users should acknowledge the rules and limitations of the tool. A good disclaimer should mention:
The information provided may be generated by AI
The information provided may be incorrect
The user is responsible for verifying the correctness of information against sources provided
Any additional industry specific disclaimers
Users expect to see correct information on the platforms you provide them. The concept of a tool that can provide incorrect information is new and needs to be explicitly called out.
Visually separate Generated and Retrieved content into sections
Generated content is the output of the language model, and as such can be incorrect
Retrieved content is directly extracted from trusted sources, and can be expected to be correct, but possibly not relevant
This distinction should be clear to the end user. The generated content can be grounded on retrieved content, but you should always provide an original source the user can read directly.
In addition, you may want to refrain from answering a question when no content was retrieved.
Once you establish some content must be verified by the user, you need to define a clear boundary of what information needs verification, and what can be trusted without doubt.
Providing both pieces of information side by side makes it easy for the user to check the information at a glance, without leaving the app.
Having that separation in the application also allows you to override the generated content. Even if the AI says something, you can choose not to display it through app logic if there are no sources to support it.
Add a feature to report issues and provide feedback
Users should be able to provide feedback whenever they face issues or receive unexpected responses.
If you decide to let users include chat history with their feedback, make sure to get confirmation that no personal or sensitive data was shared.
Feedback forms provide a simple way for users to tell you if the app is meeting expectations.
Establish user accountability
Inform the user that the content they submit may be subject to review when harmful content is detected.
Having users be accountable for exploiting the tool may dissuade them from repeatedly attempting to do so.
Good examples
Let’s start with the original ChatGPT interface – Notice all elements are present:
Disclaimer text at the bottom
Per-message feedback option
Clearly distinct Retrieval and Generation sections
Terms and Conditions – though hidden under the question mark on the bottom right.
All these elements are crucial to ensure the user is aware how things can go wrong, and sets the right expectations for how to use the tool.
Microsoft Copilot for M365 has its disclaimer and all links right below the logo. Straight to the point!
Don’t worry about writing a huge disclaimer that contains everything – you can link the full terms and keep a clean UI.
Bad examples
Common mistakes when setting up a UI include:
Not having the required disclaimers, sources or highlighting
Overstating the chatbot’s usefulness – e.g. “can help with anything about [topic]”
While some of these safeguards may seem like they are understating the chatbot’s usefulness, they are indispensable to setting the right expectations given the inherent limitations of the technology.
2. System message guidelines
Next, we have system message guidelines. These are instructions that are not visible to the user, but guide the chatbot to answer questions with the right focus or style. Keep in mind that these can be somewhat overridden by user prompts, and as such only prevent accidental or simple misuse.
Guideline
Description
Reasons
Define a clear scope of what the chatbot should assist with
The assistant should not attempt to help with all requests. Establish a clear boundary as to what conversations it should engage in.
For all other topics, it should politely decline to engage.
Failing to specify a scope will make the bot behave as a generic utility, like out-of-the-box ChatGPT. Users may take advantage of that fact to misuse the application or API.
Do not personify the chatbot
The chatbot should present itself as a tool to help the user navigate content, rather than a person.
Behaving as an employee or extension of the company should also be avoided.
When users make improper use a personified chatbot, it may give the impression of manipulation/gullibility, rather than simple misuse.
Good example
“You are a search engine for Contoso Technology. Your role is to assist customers in locating the right information from publicly available sources like the website. Politely decline to engage in conversations about any topic outside of Contoso Technology”
Bad example
“You are Contoso’s AI Assistant. You are a highly skilled customer service agent that can help users of the website with all their questions.”
3. Evaluation guidelines
Next, we have evaluation guidelines. These tools will help quantitatively measure the correctness of responses – and the possibility of manipulating the app into generating harmful content.
Guideline
Description
Reasons
Evaluate the chatbot’s accuracy, and other metrics for quality of information
Define a set of “critical” questions your chatbot should be able to answer reliably.
Regularly submit this dataset for inference and either manually or automatically evaluate its accuracy. Prefer a combination of manual and automatic validations to ensure best results.
As chatbots evolve to meet your customer’s expectations, it’s common to lose track of answers which it supposedly already knows. Updating the prompt or data sources may negatively impact those responses, and these regressions need to be properly tracked.
Evaluate the chatbot’s ability to avoid generating harmful content
Define a set of “red-team” requests that attempt to break the chatbot, force it to generate harmful content, or leave its scope.
As with accuracy, establish a regular re-submission of this dataset for inference.
Unfortunately, chatbots can always be misused by an ill-intended user. Keep track of the most common “jailbreaking” patterns and test your bot’s behavior against them.
Azure OpenAI comes with built-in content safety, but it’s not foolproof. Make sure you objectively measure harmful content generation.
Good examples
Leveraging Azure AI Studio to evaluate Groundedness, Relevance, Coherence, Fluency and Similarity. More information can be found in the docs!
Using Prompt Shields for Jailbreak and Harmful Content detection.
Bad examples
Trying to capture exact matches when evaluating accuracy.
Not considering evaluation as part of the release cycle.
4. Data privacy guidelines
Finally, we cover some data privacy guidelines. Data privacy is about how you receive, process, persist and discard end-user information through your applications. Be aware that this is an overview and does not cover every aspect of data privacy, but is a good place to start considering privacy concerns.
Guideline
Description
Reasons
Don’t audit all model inputs and outputs unless absolutely necessary
There is typically no need to log all user interactions. Even when instructed not to, users may submit personal information which is then at risk of exposure.
Debugging and monitoring tools should focus on response status codes and token counts, rather than actual text content.
Persisting messages often poses a more severe data privacy risk than simply not doing so.
Microsoft only ever persists messages which are suspected of breaking terms and conditions. They may be then viewed by Microsoft for the sole purpose of evaluating improper use. Review with your Data Privacy team if you require this feature to be turned off.
Good examples
Capturing HTTP response codes and error messages for debugging.
Logging token usage related metrics to Azure Application Insights.
Capturing user intent for continuous improvement.
Expiring user conversation logs and metrics once they are no longer relevant for the purpose of providing the experience, as disclosed in its Privacy Statement
Bad examples
Capturing verbatim prompt / completion pairs.
Persisting user information for longer than necessary.
Failing to adhere to the Privacy Statement.
Wrap up
Remember, AI misuse will happen in your applications. Your objective is to safeguard your legitimate users so they know what the applications can and cannot do, while giving ill-intended users an experience that gives less the impression of a failed / fragile tool, and more like a robust toolset being used incorrectly.
We hope this cheat sheet provides a good overview of the tools available in Azure to help bring safety and responsibility to the use of AI. Do you have other tips or tools to safeguard AI Applications? Let us know in the comments!
Microsoft Tech Community – Latest Blogs –Read More
Partner Blog | Join us on July 10 for MCAPS Start for Partners
Earlier this year, we shared that we are evolving the partner event formerly called Microsoft Inspire to align with our flagship customer event, Microsoft Ignite. For the first time ever, this year’s Microsoft Ignite event will have partners join key customers and leading industry executives for an in-person experience in Chicago, Illinois on November 18-22, 2024. Participants will also be able to join digitally.
In preparation for Ignite and the start of our fiscal year, we are inviting our partners to join us for a digital event starting July 10, 2024, called MCAPS Start for Partners. I’m pleased to share more details about this partner invitation in this blog.
Each fiscal year at Microsoft begins with an event called MCAPS Start, designed for sellers in the global Microsoft Customer and Partner Solutions (MCAPS) organization. Partners are essential to our overall market strategy and can amplify sales efforts in ways we could never achieve alone. This year, we’re expanding our annual meeting with Microsoft sellers to include a partner-focused digital readiness event that we are calling MCAPS Start for Partners. By involving our partners in our go-to-market strategy from the beginning of the fiscal year, we can create synergy and drive collective success.
We invite you to save the date and join us virtually on July 10, 2024, to hear about how we are empowering customers and partners through AI transformation, our strategic investments, new priorities, and key program changes, as well as to celebrate the Microsoft Partner of the Year Award winners.
Continue reading here
Microsoft Tech Community – Latest Blogs –Read More
New MS Teams Update Process
Hi,
I have a question about new MS Teams update process.
I have installed the new MS Teams on few computers in the test environment using teamsbootstrapper.exe (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/new-teams-bulk-install-client)
The app installed correctly for all users.
I noticed that every user on the computer can update the application and when that happens, the application is updated for all users on that computer, not just for the user who ran the update.
Since, the users don’t have administrative rights, I’m wondering what process is involved to elevate their permissions to be able to update the application?
I can’t seem to find any documentation about how that update process for new MS Teams work or in general how MSIX applications update process works.
Any clarification on this would be appreciated.
Thanks
Hi,I have a question about new MS Teams update process. I have installed the new MS Teams on few computers in the test environment using teamsbootstrapper.exe (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/new-teams-bulk-install-client) The app installed correctly for all users. I noticed that every user on the computer can update the application and when that happens, the application is updated for all users on that computer, not just for the user who ran the update.Since, the users don’t have administrative rights, I’m wondering what process is involved to elevate their permissions to be able to update the application? I can’t seem to find any documentation about how that update process for new MS Teams work or in general how MSIX applications update process works. Any clarification on this would be appreciated. Thanks Read More
Quick Way to Convert OST to PST Format
Want to Convert OST to PST? Download and intstall Advik OST to PST Converter. This software will help you to convert OST to PST format. The software will maintain folder hieraechy and email attributes as well. The software support OST file created from MS Outlook 2016, 2013, 2019.
Steps to Convert OST to PST file
Run Advik OST to PST Converter.Click Select Files and add OST file.Select mailbox folders and click Next.Select PST as saving option.Click convert button.
Done! This is how you can convert OST to PST Without Outlook.
Want to Convert OST to PST? Download and intstall Advik OST to PST Converter. This software will help you to convert OST to PST format. The software will maintain folder hieraechy and email attributes as well. The software support OST file created from MS Outlook 2016, 2013, 2019. Steps to Convert OST to PST fileRun Advik OST to PST Converter.Click Select Files and add OST file.Select mailbox folders and click Next.Select PST as saving option.Click convert button.Done! This is how you can convert OST to PST Without Outlook. Read More