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Microsoft announced this week that all Office 365 commercial customers are now getting access to basic mobile device management (MDM) functionality without having to pay for separate services like Intune, which is a core component of Microsoft’s Enterprise Mobility Suite. The functionality is free, but it can also be integrated with existing Intune and Azure…

Learn when to spot different scenarios where you need to connect multiple networks in Microsoft Azure, along with step-by-step instructions on how to do this.

Learn how to use startup scripts to manage local Active Directory groups in this step-by-step tutorial by Daniel Petri.

Discover the most important events to monitor in the Windows Event logs that might indicate a security breach.

Microsoft today announced Surface 3, a cost-reduced version of Surface Pro 3 that eschews the compatibility and performance issues of previous Windows RT-based Surface tablets. Based on the brand-spanking-new Intel “Cherry Trail” platform, Surface 3 is, in Microsoft’s words, “a full Windows and Office machine” that can fulfill the needs of individuals and businesses alike….

Jeff Hicks shows us how to easily query Excel workbooks as a database with some help from PowerShell.

The powerful Chef automation tool is becoming one of the more popular IT automation and management offerings. Michael Simmons takes a look and explains what all the fuss is about.

Microsoft has pinned its hopes for the future on cross-platform office productivity solutions. And while the software giant has made tremendous progress getting new and existing productivity apps on popular mobile platforms, it’s not stopping there. Over the past several months, Microsoft has been busy gobbling up related businesses that make productivity apps and services….

In this Lansweeper 5.2 review, Jeff Hicks shows us the benefits of using the asset management and network inventory tool for your SQL Server, VMware, and Active Directory environments.

Petri Contributing Editor Aidan Finn walks us through how to use Azure Backup to protect Microsoft Azure IaaS virtual machines.

Because the wheels on the bus go ’round and ’round, this week’s other news includes a new Microsoft paid leave program for contract employees, Microsoft is still looking at running Android apps on Windows Phone, fake Apple Store employees, overpaid tech industry leaders, more Secure Boot non-concerns for Linux users, and the return of Blackberry…

Daniel Petri shows us how to manage local Active Directory groups with Group Policy Preferences, which lets us create, delete, update, and rename local groups.