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Microsoft is adding fundamental Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME) support for primary accounts to the new Outlook for Windows. This feature will allow users to securely send and receive digitally signed and encrypted emails. What is S/MIME? Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME) is a popular protocol that is used to enhance the security of email…

Active Directory groups are essential tools for managing and organizing users, computers, and other resources within a Windows domain. This article will provide an in-depth exploration of Active Directory (AD) groups, including their types, purposes, and best management practices. Whether you’re a seasoned IT professional or just beginning your journey with Active Directory, this guide…

Microsoft Teams is getting a Live chat feature that will enable small businesses to interact directly with customers on their websites. The company has announced on the Microsoft 365 admin center that this new tool will initially be available later this month for U.S.-based customers with Microsoft 365 Business subscriptions. With this new live chat…

Microsoft published a comprehensive roundup of the enhancements made to its SharePoint service in December 2024. The company mentioned that some of these new features are currently being rolled out to Targeted Release Microsoft 365 customers. SharePoint: Microsoft Syntex update Microsoft has released a new simple document processing prebuilt model for its Syntex pay-as-you-go service….

Last year, Microsoft announced plans to begin archiving OneDrive for Business accounts that remain unlicensed for over 90 days. The archiving process is set to kick off on January 27, and data in these accounts could become inaccessible or even permanently deleted. An unlicensed account is one that isn’t linked to a Microsoft 365 or…

Microsoft has officially declared 2025 the “year of Windows 11 PC refresh.” The company is urging customers to prepare to upgrade as Windows 10 approaches its end-of-support deadline in October 2025. “We believe that Windows 11 is available at a time when the world needs it most – providing advanced AI capabilities and modern security…

Microsoft Global Secure Access (GSA) offers an integrated, identity-driven approach to securing remote access to applications, file shares and resources, regardless of location, device, or user identity. I didn’t expect we’d see the beginning of the end of traditional VPNs for at least a decade. The ever-present need for on-premises applications, file shares, and resources to…

Microsoft Teams is set to roll out new recording policies specifically for town halls and webinars. This feature will be available across the Microsoft Teams desktop app for Windows, the Teams web client, and mobile apps next month. Microsoft Teams introduced support for town halls in October 2023. This feature allows organizations to host large,…

Cybersecurity researchers have warned about a critical vulnerability in Windows Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), posing a significant threat to unpatched Windows Servers. This flaw could be exploited to trigger server crashes or enable unauthorized remote access. What is LDAP? LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is a popular protocol for accessing and managing directory services…

In this first episode of First Ring Daily of the new year, Brad Sams and Paul Thurrott discuss what to expect from the CES 2025 trade show that will officially kick off next week.

This article explores Microsoft Defender for Cloud features, benefits, integration capabilities, and best practices, offering actionable insights for IT professionals managing multicloud environments. Modern cloud environments demand robust security solutions to tackle ever-evolving cyber threats. Microsoft Defender for Cloud answers this call with a unified security platform that protects resources across Microsoft Azure, Amazon Web…

Microsoft has published a recap of all the enhancements made to its Teams collaboration platform in December 2024. This time around, the company highlighted enhanced screen-sharing controls, improvements for webinars and town halls, as well as new Teams-certified devices. Updates to meetings, webinars, and town halls Microsoft has released a new update that allows meeting…