RunAs Radio

Learn about the future of Windows Server with Jeff Woolsey as he discusses customer feedback, cloud hybrid capabilities, and Active Directory enhancements. Dive into hot patching in Windows Server 2022, Xbox services, and advancements in data analytics with Microsoft Fabric. Explore the upcoming features and scalability improvements in Windows Server vNext.

Learn how metadata in SharePoint can improve search efficiency and data visibility, even if you're using Teams. Explore tools like M365 Copilot for managing surprises and protecting sensitive data. Emily Mancini shares insights on building metadata, setting clear goals, and structuring data in SharePoint for organizational success.

Brendan Burns discusses challenges of building apps with Kubernetes and how tools like Radius and Dapr address them. They talk about Azure Arc, preferred orchestration engines, managing cloud-native applications, and using consistent metrics and naming conventions for shared dashboards.

Is there a strategy for buying software licenses? Richard talks with Mary Jo Foley about her new role at Directions on Microsoft, including her experiences around the multi-day workshops on effectively buying software licenses today. Mary Jo talks about understanding the entire landscape of software licenses your organization needs, how they are used, and how you can build a strategy to negotiate a better licensing cost for your organization. You already do much of the work for this, but bringing everything together is a challenge - but worth it!Links:Directions on MicrosoftDynamics 365Copilot for Microsoft 365Microsoft PurviewMicrosoft PrivaMicrosoft Security CopilotLicensing Boot CampRecorded December 14, 2023

Gil Pekelman, developer of smart instrumentation for IT and extensive monitoring of machines and networks, discusses AI for IT. They explore the capabilities of Azure OpenAI in resolving tickets and autonomous IT issue fixes. They also touch on the role of AI in password solutions, interactions with bots, prioritizing preventative work in IT, and AI-driven IT monitoring and problem-solving.

April Dunnam, expert in the Power Platform and Large Language Models, discusses the emergence of Copilots in Power Apps, Power BI, and Power Automate. She explains how writing prompts can aid in automation and how Copilots can provide UX and feature-building assistance. The conversation covers topics such as responsive layouts, multi-language apps, and the benefits of Co-Pilot Studio. They also touch on the simplicity of connecting Power Apps through connectors and the importance of security measures.

Jerry Devore, expert on hardening Active Directory, discusses the importance of good credential hygiene, the impact of NTLM2 on compatibility level in Active Directory, and addressing security gaps in Active Directory. He also highlights the challenges of Active Directory consolidation and upgrade after mergers and acquisitions, emphasizing the need for AD cleanup and application modernization.

Erin Chapple, Azure Infrastructure expert, discusses the challenges of managing the cloud, improving utilization, and broadening monitoring. They also introduce Azure Copilot to understand Azure tenant and optimize utilization. The podcast explores the importance of IT professionals showcasing their value, simplifying policies in the cloud, and prioritizing design and business decisions. Additionally, it covers optimizing resilience, managing hybrid environments, and the benefits of abstracting services.

Looking back at 2023 and speculating about 2024, the podcast discusses economic concerns, the role of large language models in sysadmin life, and the importance of expertise in security. They explore the lasting impacts of the pandemic, the potential for Microsoft's security copilot tool, the significance of patching servers, and the different options for upgrading to Windows 11. They also tease a future episode about a third-party product called Terra and discuss the possibility of a future Windows 12 release.

Jodi Boone, an expert in Azure Arc Guest Configuration, talks about customizing machine configurations using policy templates and Desired State Configuration. They discuss the challenges of configuration drift, considerations in VM migration to the cloud, and the platform level approach of Azure Arc Guest Configuration. The podcast also covers the increasing availability of Azure interfaces and the relevance of PowerShell in product launches.