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Does your Microsoft Defender configuration still match what you deployed six months ago? If you manage endpoint security for a Windows environment, there is a reasonable chance the answer is no. And there is an even more uncomfortable chance that you have no reliable way to find out. This article examines why Microsoft Defender configurations…

Microsoft is investigating a newly discovered Windows bug that causes the Recycle Bin to display incorrect file names when users attempt to permanently delete files. The company has confirmed that this issue affects all supported versions of Windows 11. According to Microsoft, when users try to permanently delete a file, the confirmation prompt shows an…

Microsoft is urging IT administrators to prepare for the release of Windows 11 version 26H2. The upcoming version focuses on reducing disruption while making upgrades faster and easier to deploy across organizations. Typically, Windows 11 follows an annual update cycle, but Microsoft slightly deviated from this pattern with the release of version 26H1 earlier this…

As Exchange Web Services approaches its official phase‑out, Microsoft is rolling out new controls to help organizations manage this process. To ease the transition, the company has introduced a new control feature that lets organizations manage which apps can still access EWS before the shutdown begins. Exchange Web Services (EWS) is an API that allows…

In this episode of First Ring Daily, Brad Sams and Paul Thurrott discuss Microsoft’s refreshed Surface Pro and Surface Laptop models for consumers, which now use Qualcomm’s ARM-based X2 Series chips.

I recently sat down with Brian Alvey, CTO of WordPress VIP. We chatted about how WordPress has evolved from a blogging platform into a critical piece of enterprise infrastructure, powering some of the world’s most demanding, high-traffic websites. “We host the biggest and most important WordPress websites on earth… and we have to make sure…

A sophisticated cyber‑espionage group has quietly expanded its toolkit with new Windows versions of its SprySOCKS backdoor. This malware leverages kernel-level drivers to operate in stealth, allowing attackers to maintain persistent access, conduct covert surveillance, and evade many traditional security defenses. ESET researchers identified two previously unknown Windows versions of the SprySOCKS backdoor, which had…

As identity-based cyberattacks surge, IBM and Microsoft are joining forces to close the gap between detecting threats and taking governed action. This new collaboration blends Microsoft’s advanced security platform with IBM’s deep identity expertise to help organizations respond to threats faster, smarter, and at enterprise scale. Organizations are facing a growing challenge as identity-based attacks…

Gartner has warned that organizations are facing intensifying competition for AI talent in supply chain roles, as demand surges for professionals who can combine deep domain expertise with advanced AI capabilities. This growing imbalance is putting pressure on companies to rethink how they attract and develop the skills needed to stay competitive. According to a…

Tenant-to-tenant migration is one of those projects that looks straightforward on paper and reveals its complexity about three weeks in. Migrations are often driven by mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, or rebranding initiatives, but the underlying technical complexities remain largely the same. Permissions do not cross tenant boundaries. Sharing links breaks, and guest access disappears. Teams channels…

Microsoft is facing renewed legal pressure as investors accuse the company of presenting an overly optimistic view of its Azure cloud performance. The lawsuit raises concerns that Microsoft may have understated slowing growth and the financial impact of its aggressive expansion into AI infrastructure. This lawsuit was filed by a Michigan pension fund against several…

Microsoft has announced that dynamic thresholds for log search alerts are generally available in Azure Monitor. This new feature leverages machine learning to automatically determine normal behaviour from historical log data and identify anomalies without requiring manual threshold configuration. According to Microsoft, traditional monitoring systems rely on static thresholds, which must be manually set and…