The Practical 365 Podcast

Steve and Paul dissect Microsoft's latest financial report, explore Viva Engage's future, and discuss the role of AI in project management. Adam Banks shares insights on cybersecurity, accountability, and the mindset shifts needed for IT leadership.Want to stay up to date on all things Practical 365? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin to stay up to date on all things Microsoft!

Janice Ricketts, a Product Manager for Global Secure Access at Microsoft, shares insights into implementing zero trust security frameworks. She delves into the significance of micro-segmentation and communication audits in enhancing remote work security. The discussion also highlights the challenges of rising on-premises licensing costs and the persistence of legacy systems like Skype. Additionally, Janice explores the role of customer collaboration in refining products and the impact of modern innovations like Copilot Studio on development practices.

Louis Mastelinck, a Microsoft MVP in identity and access management, joins the discussion to help navigate the complexities of security and Access policies. The talk dives into the new limits on Exchange Online, shedding light on the need-to-know info amidst countless Message Center notifications. Mastelinck also emphasizes the importance of practical workshops for understanding conditional access, highlighting how tailored policies can improve both security and user experience. Insights into AI in coding and the latest features for Teams add an innovative twist to the conversation.

Paul Robichaux and Steve Goodman discuss Exchange Server's 2025 H1 update and cut through the hype around AI agents, questioning whether they're living up to the marketing. Then, cybersecurity expert Paula Januszkiewicz shares fascinating red team stories, including modifying a water cooler to gain network access, and offers practical security advice for organizations of all sizes. Paula explains how AI is transforming both sides of the cybersecurity battlefield, warns about "productive script kiddies," and emphasizes why even small businesses need basic security measures like MFA. A must-listen for IT pros concerned about modern security threats.Want to stay up to date on all things Practical 365? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin to stay up to date on all things Microsoft!

It's the last Practical 365 podcast starring Rich Dean, as he departs for pastures new in the next chapter of his career, but we aren't ending with a damp squid of an episode - on the show this week, we do a bit of a lessons learnt: We chat about some of the top guests we've had on the show, and what interesting nuggets of information are still relevant today, and in some cases what has changed.Rich  also introduces Steve to our new co-host, Bastiaan Verdonk, and on the show you'll get to know Bastiaan a little better. Thankfully Steve got all manner of Bastiaan Host cybersecurity jokes out of the way prior to recording, so you can look forward to another enjoyable episode free from terrible jokes, and remaining as informative as ever.Want to stay up to date on all things Practical 365? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin to stay up to date on all things Microsoft!

Steve and Paul discuss Microsoft's decision to make Copilot Chat free for all Microsoft 365 users. They also delve into the upcoming changes to Exchange Online audit logging and the new Outlook's deployment via Windows Update. The hosts explore advancements in chat-based AI, document summarization, and the implications for enterprise efficiency. Additionally, they analyze Microsoft's AI reorganization and its effects on workflows and software development. Lastly, they touch on improving MFA resilience and transitioning to WhatsApp for notifications.

Microsoft's latest announcements shake up the cloud landscape, including the retirement of Viva Goals. The hosts dive into the implications of these changes for IT professionals. They express skepticism about the updates to Microsoft 365 Copilot and discuss the upcoming Outlook overhaul, raising concerns about user experience. Additionally, they explore the challenges organizations face with adopting Viva Goals and highlight innovations in security, from phishing protection to ethical tech responsibilities. The episode wraps up with insights on the future of AI.

In this week's show, Paul and Steve discuss the latest Microsoft Places announcements, debate whether Teams tries to be too many things at once, and examine the sometimes confusing world of Copilot integration across Microsoft 365 services. Plus, we share our thoughts on Microsoft Ignite logistics and what we hope for the future of the conference.Want to stay up to date on all things Practical 365? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin to stay up to date on all things Microsoft!

Meryl Fernando, Principal Product Manager at Microsoft, delves into the world of identity management and community innovation. She shares exciting insights about Microsoft's upcoming Global Secure Access solution and discusses the importance of community engagement in tech. The conversation highlights an open-source PowerShell security framework, Maester.dev, and addresses challenges in managing Microsoft 365 environments. Meryl emphasizes user contributions and the significance of security tools tailored to unique business needs.

In our first of two Practical 365 Podcasts before Ignite begins, Steve Goodman and Paul Robichaux dive deep into what was best in Microsoft's Wave 2 release and chat about Copilot Pages - is it a good move from Microsoft?In other crucial news, we address the approaching end of support for Exchange Server 2016 and 2019, and what organizations need to consider as they plan their migration strategy. Plus, we look at the latest Teams meeting features, including new Copilot controls, meeting recap integrations with Outlook and new device support.Want to stay up to date on all things Practical 365? Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Linkedin to stay up to date on all things Microsoft!