Blog

Microsoft has announced that the Organization Explorer feature in Outlook will soon be available to all Microsoft 365 commercial customers. Starting in January, users will no longer need a Viva Premium license to use the Org Explorer app. What is Organization Explorer? Microsoft first introduced the Organization Explorer app in Outlook back in July 2021….

This guide aims to help you understand how to navigate and use the Windows Local Group Policy Editor (LGPE) to enhance your Windows desktop environment’s security, performance, and usability. What is the Local Group Policy Editor? The Windows Local Group Policy Editor is a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) snap-in that allows you to manage and…

Microsoft has outlined enhancements to the Copilot key experience in Windows 11, tailored to better meet the needs of commercial customers based on their feedback. The company suggests that organizations reconfigure the Copilot key to launch the Microsoft 365 app. Microsoft announced the Copilot key for new Windows 11 PCs back in January. The Copilot…

In this episode of First Ring Daily, Brad Sams and Paul Thurrott discuss Microsoft deprecating suggested actions in Windows 11 and all the different flavors of Copilot that probably confuse customers.

Microsoft has addressed a bug that disrupted connections for USB scanners and other devices on Windows 11. The company has lifted the compatibility hold, allowing users to install the Windows 11 version 24H2 update on affected PCs. Last month, many users reported that USB scanners and other scanning devices stopped working after updating to Windows…

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, there’s no denying the extent to which AI has permeated organizations—35% of businesses have already developed AI-based workflows if not completely automating aspects of their business. However, IT infrastructures are a different beast. Even though it promises transformative capabilities, AI can also be deemed a Pandora’s box, of…

Cybersecurity researchers have warned about a critical flaw in Microsoft’s multifactor authentication system. This vulnerability could allow hackers to infiltrate accounts, compromising sensitive data across Microsoft Teams chats, OneDrive files, Outlook emails, and Azure Cloud. Researchers at Oasis Security first identified the critical vulnerability in Microsoft’s MFA system. The issue stemmed from a lack of…

Microsoft has announced plans to retire Client Access Rules (CARs) in Exchange Online for all tenants by September 2025. The company urges organizations to transition to Conditional Access with Continuous Access Evaluation (CAE) for improved security and compliance. Client Access Rules in Exchange Online allow organizations to control access to their email services based on…

Microsoft is preparing to transition Microsoft 365 Enterprise users from the classic Outlook to the new Outlook for Windows client. Starting in April 2026, the company will begin auto-migrating customers to the updated platform while providing the option to switch back to the classic version if needed. “Our goal with this change is to give…

Hotpatching is a powerful feature in Windows Server 2025 that allows administrators to apply security updates and patches without requiring a system reboot, minimizing downtime and ensuring continuous operation. This article provides an overview of how to enable Windows Server 2025 Hotpatching. We’ll cover prerequisites, step-by-step instructions, best practices, and troubleshooting tips. What is Windows…

Microsoft has released the December 2024 Patch Tuesday Updates for all supported versions of Windows 11 and Windows 10. This month, the company rolled out 72 patches to address several vulnerabilities in Windows, SharePoint Server, Hyper-V, Defender for Endpoint, and System Center Operations Manager, and other components. Microsoft addressed more vulnerabilities in December 2024 than…

Microsoft has postponed the release of the final Cumulative Update for Exchange Server 2019. This update, known as Exchange Server 2019 CU15 (or H2 2024 CU), will be delivered to commercial customers next year. In 2022, Microsoft announced that it would be moving to a biannual update scheme for Exchange Server products, which typically receive…