Office 365 – MicroTechPoint

Microsoft 365 Administrator Certification

March 20, 2025March 20, 2025Brian Alderman

Microsoft announced an update to the Microsoft 365 administration certification. Let’s begin with the fact that Microsoft has renamed the certification from “Microsoft 365 Certified: Enterprise Administrator Expert” to “Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert”. They dropped enterprise from the name. To obtain the previous Microsoft 365 certification, you had to pass both the MS-100 and the MS-101 exams. The new exam that has replaced the MS-100 and MS-101 is called the Microsoft 365 Administrator, MS-102 exam, which you need to pass to obtain the new Microsoft 365 Certified: Administrator Expert. However, before you study and take the MS-102 exam, you need to pass one of the prerequisite Microsoft exams. Below… Read More

Using SMAT to assess migration from SharePoint Server to SharePoint Online

March 5, 2025March 20, 2025Brian Alderman

The SharePoint Migration Assessment Tool (SMAT) is a command-line utility designed to help organizations evaluate their current on-premises SharePoint environment and prepare for migration to SharePoint Online. SMAT assists in identifying potential issues that could arise during the migration process and provides recommendations to address these issues. It’s essentially a tool to ensure a smoother migration experience. Note: For information about the free SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT), which assists in the migration process from SharePoint sites to SharePoint Online, OneDrive, and Teams, see Using the SharePoint Migration Tool (SPMT) to Migrate SharePoint Sites to Microsoft 365. SMAT Tasks Scans and Analyzes: The tool scans your existing SharePoint environment to collect information about the… Read More

Administering M365 Governance using Rencore’s Governance Tool

September 18, 2024November 5, 2024Brian Alderman

You can’t become an advanced M365 administrator without understanding the importance of governance and how it affects and protects your information. Governance is necessary to ensure you are protecting your critical M365 information assets, while also minimizing risks associated with those assets. Microsoft 365 includes a minimal level of governance, but there are many more capabilities necessary to protect your assets stored in SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams, Exchange, Loop, Entra ID, Viva Engage, Power Apps, Power Platform, and Copilot. With that in mind, I’d like to strongly suggest that you take some time to research a powerful, dynamic, and full-featured governance tool available by Rencore. The seamless integration of this product… Read More

Introduction to Microsoft 365 Archive and Backup Functionality

June 10, 2024November 5, 2024Brian Alderman

Microsoft has finally introduced a Microsoft 365 built-in backup feature, as well as archiving capabilities. I will begin by explaining the difference between the two features, so you understand why there are two different features, when sometimes the names are used interchangeably. Important: Both new features are currently in Preview mode and are expected to be in General Availability (GA) sometime in 2024. Only tenant-level admins can create and manage your Microsoft 365 backups using Microsoft 365 Backup. End users won’t have the ability to enable backup or restores for their user account, mailboxes, distribution lists, or SharePoint sites. Currently, the admin roles determine which products you can manage with… Read More

Microsoft Renaming Azure AD (AAD) to Entra ID

August 12, 2023July 30, 2024Brian Alderman

Microsoft announced that they will rename Azure AD (AAD) to Entra ID in their attempt to reflect the progression of modern multicloud identity security, eventually simplify secure access for all Microsoft 365 users, and to provide naming consistency for identity and access solutions. Some experts in the industry likely wonder why? Why rename Azure AD (AAD) if Microsoft isn’t providing any enhancements, new features, or even deprecating features in Azure AD. It appears the reason is to integrate the Entra ID product name into the already existing Microsoft Entra product family, which includes: Microsoft Entra ID Microsoft Entra ID Protection Microsoft Entra ID Governance Microsoft Entra External ID Microsoft Entra… Read More

What’s Changed or Missing in the Preview Release of Microsoft Teams

May 15, 2023July 30, 2024Brian Alderman

With any preview release of software, the product is often not yet fully functional. I look at preview mode like half-baked brownies: the recipe calls for you to bake them at 350 degrees for 30 minutes for them to be edible, but instead you bake them at 200 degrees for 20 minutes, producing something that resembles brownies, but they’re not fully baked or ready to consume. The preview of the new Microsoft Teams is no different; it is missing some features that were in classic Teams, and not everything announced has been fully implemented. With this in mind, it is important to balance what you’re gaining versus what you’re losing… Read More

Microsoft new Teams Desktop app now available in Preview

May 1, 2023July 30, 2024Brian Alderman

Microsoft has announced the preview release of a new and improved Microsoft Teams desktop app for Windows that has already been rolled out in preview mode effective March 27th. The 280 million users, over 1900 third-party apps, as well as over 100,000 custom apps will all benefit from the new Teams desktop app that is faster, simpler, smarter, and even more flexible. In addition, for the IT pros managing the deployment and updates to the app, they will also be nicely surprised with the additional deployment and security options available in the new Teams. Faster and Less Resource Intensive One of the biggest changes made in the new Teams is… Read More

What’s New in Microsoft Teams Q1 – 2023

April 10, 2023July 30, 2024Brian Alderman

Microsoft Teams is an ever-evolving service that has become the primary desktop application for users to collaborate and communicate in throughout the day. With that in mind, Microsoft is investing a lot of resources, both financially and physically, to ensure the product continues to evolve. With so many changes, it is important to keep abreast of the updates and new features to ensure your organization is taking full advantage of this powerful service. This quarterly post on Microsoft Teams will be useful for understanding the highlights of the new features and updates, specific to the Microsoft Teams desktop app and Teams on the web. Teams Premium A new AI-powered offering… Read More

Introducing Microsoft 365 AI Copilot

March 24, 2023March 29, 2023Brian Alderman

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has taken the technology industry by storm lately, and Microsoft who is always on the cutting edge of new technology is certainly dipping their feet in the AI water, with their announcement of Microsoft 365 Copilot. Copilot integrates Large Language Models (LLMs) with data in Microsoft Graph, and Microsoft apps. At this point this integration is two-fold; Embedded in Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, etc.) Business Chat (calendar, emails, chats, documents, meetings, and contacts) By saying a command similar to ‘tell me about today’s meetings topics’, it will generate outcome based on your days meetings, emails, and chat threads. After it presents its findings,… Read More

TekkiGurus Announces Website Launch for the Microsoft Community

March 15, 2023July 8, 2023Brian Alderman

Community site for experts, users and solution providers using Microsoft technology Las Vegas, NV — March 15, 2023 — TekkiGurus.com, the online platform for Microsoft technology enthusiasts, has launched today to over 300,000 members of the Microsoft community. The website aims to provide a comprehensive resource for tech enthusiasts of all levels, from beginners to advanced users, with information, insights and the latest news on all things Microsoft tech. TekkiGurus.com will feature an extensive library of technology-related articles, tutorials, product reviews and how-to guides contributed from an extensive network of Microsoft MVPs, Microsoft Certified Trainers and other industry experts and thought leaders who make their living helping companies understand and… Read More