Global technology companies are recognizing their responsibility to drive social impact through technology and innovation for consumers and all stakeholders. Microsoft, for instance, is focused on empowering individuals and organizations by building an intelligent cloud, reinventing productivity and business processes, and personalizing computing experiences. In its 2018 CSR Report, Microsoft outlines its efforts to fulfill its commitment to its mission.

Maintaining Privacy and Data Security

Microsoft emphasizes its commitment to upholding the enduring value of privacy and safeguarding users’ capacity to safeguard their data. The company’s product development and privacy practices revolve around six fundamental principles:

• User control: Offer user-friendly tools and transparent options that empower individuals to take charge of their privacy.
• Legal protection: Respect local privacy laws and advocate for the protection of users’ privacy as an essential human right.
• Transparency: Ensure transparency in data collection and usage, enabling users to make well-informed decisions.
• No content-based Targeting: Refrain from utilizing email, chat, files, or other personal content for targeted advertising purposes.
• Security: Ensure the protection of data so that users can trust that their personal information is safeguarded through robust security and encryption measures.
• User benefits: Ensure that the company utilizes data solely for the benefit of users and to enhance their experiences.

Increasing Accessibility

Microsoft pledges to persist in creating products and services that cater to the needs of over one billion individuals worldwide with disabilities. The company emphasizes the importance of inclusion in product design, workforce, and culture to ensure that its technologies empower people of all abilities.

Incorporating features like “Accessibility Checker” into its diverse software programs, Microsoft enables users to analyze their content and receive recommendations within the document, aiding individuals with disabilities in understanding how to rectify errors and generate content that is more accessible with time.

The “Alternative Text Tool” offers descriptions for images or objects, enabling individuals who are blind or visually impaired to comprehend the content. Through the use of the Microsoft Computer Vision Cognitive Service, the “Automatic Alternative Text” provides intelligent image analysis and suggests alt-text descriptions that can be understood by people with blindness.

Additional accessibility-enhancing features include the Edge Reading Mode, which allows adjustable text spacing and a read-aloud option. This feature is particularly beneficial for individuals who struggle with tightly spaced content or require text to be read aloud to enhance comprehension.

Supporting Digital Skills and Career Pathways

Microsoft is committed to providing learning opportunities for digital skills, ranging from basic digital literacy to advanced computer science technologies. Their goal is to equip people and communities without access to these skills for the jobs of the future.

To achieve this, Microsoft offers cash grants, technology, and resources to support in-school programs such as Technology Education and Literacy in Schools (TEALS), as well as nonprofits like Code.org. These initiatives aim to increase the number of young people with access to computer science education.

Additionally, Microsoft collaborates with Code.org and other partners to encourage US states to offer computer science education and count these courses toward math and science credits required for graduation.

On a global scale, the company works with over 150 nonprofits across 60 countries, engaging more than three million young people with valuable computer science learning experiences.

Human Rights

Microsoft emphasizes its commitment to upholding international standards and collaborates with human rights organizations to ensure respect for every individual, including its employees, suppliers, and communities globally.

To achieve this goal, the company conducts comprehensive human rights impact assessments, focusing on its salient human rights actions and keeping an eye on emerging trends in the intersection of business and human rights. Through these efforts, Microsoft strives to be a leader in promoting and safeguarding human rights worldwide.

Here at CourseMonster, we know how hard it may be to find the right time and funds for training. We provide effective training programs that enable you to select the training option that best meets the demands of your company.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our course advisers today or contact us at training@coursemonster.com

Having a Microsoft Certification can significantly increase your value and give you an advantage over those without such credentials. This article outlines various benefits of Microsoft certification, particularly from a career perspective. Additionally, preparing for Microsoft exams will also expand your knowledge base.

What is Microsoft Certificate?

Microsoft provides training resources for a wide range of its software products. By successfully passing the exams offered by Microsoft Partner companies based on these materials, individuals can obtain Microsoft certificates for specific products or product groups. These certificates are awarded by Microsoft as proof of passing the relevant exam.

Microsoft offers separate exams for its individual software products, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as a combined exam for Microsoft Office, which includes these three programs and other Office products like Outlook and OneNote. In addition to these exams, there are also more significant courses like MCSE and MCSA that are highly valued by employers, as they indicate that the certificate holder is an expert in the relevant subject area.

Individuals can study for these exams by using Microsoft’s own tutorials and books, or by receiving training at a computer training institute. Those who become certified by Microsoft form a community of professionals that centers around Microsoft, providing opportunities for networking and professional growth. This aspect of certification has proven to be even more valuable than previously thought. Microsoft recognizes that this community is an essential way to connect with its customer base.

Microsoft Certification Benefits

Upon successfully passing their online exams, Microsoft provides individuals with certificates for specific software products or a group of related products, as previously explained. In some instances, Microsoft may even offer certificates for entire office processes, such as Office Automation, which covers a broad range of skills, including knowledge of the Windows Operating System, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, and some understanding of Windows networking.

Obtaining a Microsoft certificate serves as evidence that you have acquired the skills associated with the certification, which can significantly increase your value when applying for jobs. Microsoft claims that having Office skills is five times more valuable than having experience with non-Microsoft equivalents.

Microsoft asserts that high-wage, high-growth industries of the future require expertise in Microsoft Office and that companies seek out the best candidates for these jobs. In fact, 86% of hiring managers surveyed by Microsoft indicate that they prefer job applicants to hold an IT certificate, with Microsoft certification being the preferred credential over certificates from lesser-known computer training institutes.

Furthermore, eight out of ten hiring managers wish to verify the certificates provided by job applicants, and it is relatively straightforward to authenticate Microsoft certificates, unlike those from unknown computer training institutions. As per Microsoft, 64% of IT managers prefer Microsoft certificates over other certificates.

When it comes to promotions and incentives, certification, training, and experience are the three essential areas that provide individuals with the most recognition.

Microsoft says:

“In high-growth industries, entry-level employees who hold a Microsoft Certified Solutions Associate (MCSA) certification or Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) certification can earn up to $16,000 more, annually, than their peers.”

In both the short and long term, holding Microsoft certifications can provide individuals with a significant advantage over their peers, colleagues, and fellow students. Microsoft certificates are recognized worldwide and hold far more weight than credentials from lesser-known computer training institutes. For instance, while DOEACC is an Indian government body that issues certificates and diplomas in various subjects, it is unlikely that DOEACC certifications will be as widely recognized outside of India as Microsoft certificates are.

Microsoft Certification is a globally recognized industry standard. Those who have earned a Microsoft Certification are granted access to numerous benefits available on the Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), or Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS) member websites.

Click on the image below to see the latest Microsoft Certification Roadmap.

A comprehensive look at the Value of Microsoft Certifications

In the past two decades, over four million professionals have obtained a Microsoft Certification. As a frontrunner in the certification industry, Microsoft provides insight into the value of certification, the appropriateness of its programs in meeting professionals’ needs, and the increasing demand for certification in the global market.

Microsoft Certification

Microsoft has made significant investments in certification and training because it recognizes, through both internal and external research, that the certification process enhances satisfaction, and enhancing customer satisfaction is a fundamental value for Microsoft. After a downturn, the rate of certification increased substantially. Over the last year, Microsoft alone has seen a 24% growth, indicating the increasing recognition and significance of certification in the learning process. Among IT professionals, Microsoft training and certification ranks second as a satisfaction driver, following eLearning.

Certification improves organizational performance

A research study conducted by IDC, which was sponsored by Microsoft, analyzed the performance of 1,200 IT teams and explored the correlation between team performance and the percentage of team members who were Microsoft certified in various technologies. The results showed that certification had a positive impact on organizational performance improvements. Certification had a measurable impact on general service excellence and specific task-level performance measures.

According to a survey conducted by IDC and sponsored by Microsoft, certification is viewed as important to team performance by 75% of managers. The same survey revealed that 66% of managers believe that certification helps improve the level of service and support provided to IT end users/customers. Additionally, team performance is seen to increase with every new member who becomes certified. Moreover, an increase in the number of Microsoft-certified members on a team is directly correlated with improved team performance. Finally, top-performing teams tend to have between 40 and 55% of members who are certified in relevant Microsoft technologies and processes.

• 75% of managers consider certification important for team performance.
• 66% of managers believe that certification improves the level of service and support provided to IT end users/customers.
• Team performance improves every time a new team member gets certified.
• Increasing the concentration of Microsoft-certified members on a team leads to a direct improvement in team performance.
• Top-performing teams have an average of 40-55% Microsoft-certified members trained on relevant Microsoft technologies and processes.

According to the IDC study, the research shows that organizational performance improves with every increase in team skills. Additionally, the study concludes that team performance increases with each new team member who becomes certified.

Certification increases business by 80%

“Having certified individuals within the company awards the organization with hard evidence which serves to outshine competitors.”- Joy Rathnayake, Senior Software Engineer, IronOne Technologies, Sri Lanka.

IronOne Technologies, a company that provides outsourced IT services for software design and development, has reported an 80% increase in their business due to their certifications. With certified employees in various areas of expertise, IronOne Technologies has become a preferred partner for projects involving Microsoft Global Services and Asia Consulting Services. According to Rathnayake, the leader of IronOne’s .NET team, having certified staff provides the company with tangible proof of their skill sets, which has resulted in more project wins and increased business.

A Myth of Certification

Contrary to popular belief, earning a certification in IT does not necessarily lead to employees leaving the organization for better jobs. In fact, it has been found that certification can actually result in higher job satisfaction and better employee retention rates. A web-based survey conducted by IDC found that 43 percent of hiring managers believe that investing in employee development reduces turnover as employees tend to experience increased job satisfaction and engagement.

Additionally, a study conducted by MSEmploy analyzed the resumes of 15,526 IT professionals in France and Germany and discovered that individuals with one or more MCPs were 15 percent more stable in their jobs, while those with full certifications were 24 percent more stable in their jobs than their non-certified peers.

Community: Networking, Personal growth, Exclusive resources

Microsoft Certified Professionals are part of a community with Microsoft as its center, offering networking and professional growth opportunities that are more valuable than previously thought. Microsoft recognizes this community’s importance in engaging with its customers and driving deeper engagement for improved customer satisfaction. This community allows individuals to communicate issues and new ideas to Microsoft, work with others to improve certification, and drive the certification’s value among industry professionals. As part of its commitment to improving customer satisfaction, Microsoft Learning aims to train more people on its technologies to increase the number of certified professionals.

Certification training is useful throughout an individual’s career, not just in the lead-up to their first IT job. Microsoft certification is relevant across all stages of an individual’s career and helps people stay current. It also provides clarity to professionals in planning their future career goals, and being certified by Microsoft increases their credibility. Microsoft certification ensures that partners can stay current on all Microsoft technologies to better serve customers.

Overall, Microsoft Certification validates real-world IT skills, provides access to unique resources, and offers a lifelong career path of IT skills development.

Here at CourseMonster, we know how hard it may be to find the right time and funds for training. We provide effective training programs that enable you to select the training option that best meets the demands of your company.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our course advisers today or contact us at training@coursemonster.com

An AI-driven expansion to the organization’s Dynamics 365 CRM and ERP system has the ability to generate responses to customer emails, recommend marketing and sales strategies, and condense Teams chat conversations and files.

Today, Microsoft introduced an AI-powered chatbot intended for business users that can compose email replies for customers, generate written recaps of Teams meetings, and create email marketing and sales campaigns.

Microsoft’s new Dynamics 365 Copilot is an expansion to its current CRM and ERP software, utilizing OpenAI’s GPT-3 technology to provide assistance with tasks such as answering inquiries, producing content, and condensing discussions and notes. This announcement highlights Microsoft’s continuing effort to integrate AI into its business-oriented applications.

“Today’s announcement builds on recent AI momentum across Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, and the Power Platform,” Charles Lamanna, Microsoft’s vice president of business applications and platform, said in a blog post.

Bot extensions with AI capabilities have been added to Microsoft Teams, Viva Sales, and Power Apps, allowing non-technical developers to use natural language to write code.

Microsoft initially unveiled the code builder powered by GPT-3 at its Build developers conference in May 2021, which was based on a pilot service on GitHub. The new Power Apps functionality has since been incorporated into Microsoft’s Dynamics 365 suite.

“Power Platform has worked in partnership with OpenAI’s GPT technologies since 2021, allowing everyday workers to develop their own apps and tools. In May of 2021, Microsoft launched the first-ever use of GPT in a commercially available product in Power Apps, ushering in a new AI-driven era for low code development,” a Microsoft spokesperson said.

Power Platform functionalities are now in preview in the United States, while Dynamics 365 Copilot features are also in preview, with varying regional availability and language support.

According to Jack Gold, the principal analyst at J. Gold Associates, chatbot technology can improve Dynamics 365’s capacity to handle the increasing volume of data that many sales representatives and customer support staff have to manage. This technology can be especially helpful in situations where information is dispersed or time is limited, such as rapidly obtaining information about a customer before engaging with them.

“So in that regard, being able to make inquiries in a natural language and get suggestions and analysis is of great value,” Gold said. “On the other hand, if you ask the wrong questions, you’ll get information that may be skewed or biased to your question and may not be all that useful. So, this doesn’t mean you can assume the AI assistance will create a situation where you don’t need expertise in the human using the tool.”

The Copilot chatbot is built on the Azure OpenAI Service and can be integrated with Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales and Viva Sales applications to assist in crafting email responses to customers and generating a condensed email summary of a Teams meeting within Outlook. The meeting summary incorporates data from the seller’s CRM, including product and pricing details, as well as insights gleaned from the Teams call recording.

Microsoft’s Copilot summarizing a Teams conversation.

“Sellers often spend hours each day on calls with prospects and customers, and nearly as much time recapping action items for follow-through. To help with that, conversation intelligence provides automated summaries of key topics, issues, and concerns discussed during the meeting,” Emily He, Microsoft’s vice president of business applications marketing.

In the previous month, Microsoft disclosed the limited release of an AI-driven chat functionality for Viva Sales, which can propose content ideas based on customer emails, such as a response to an inquiry or a proposal request.

The automated email response capability is now widely available, and Microsoft will introduce additional enhancements on March 15 that allow for customized emails. For instance, a seller can produce an email that suggests a meeting time with a customer, including a recommended date and time-based on the seller’s availability in their Outlook calendar.

Copilot making email response suggestions.

Using Copilot, Viva Sales can prompt sellers to follow up with a prospect or customer at the appropriate time, and then automatically generate a pre-formatted email response that includes personalized text and recommended next steps, as well as pertinent information like product descriptions, proposals, and deadlines.

In Dynamics 365 Customer Service, Copilot can assist agents in crafting contextually appropriate responses to inquiries in both chat and email formats, while also providing an interactive chat interface and a record of the customer’s previous interactions. Furthermore, marketers can use Copilot to obtain recommendations regarding customer segments that may not have been previously considered.

Dynamics 365 Customer Insights and Dynamics 365 Marketing can create tailored customer segments by conversing with their customer data platform in natural language.

“The new capability can handle complex calculations and match customers that fit a select profile,” Microsoft said in a blog post. “Marketers can describe their customer segment in their own words to create a target segment with the query assist feature. Marketers can also use Dynamics 365 Copilot to get inspiration for fresh email campaign content based on a question.”

Dynamics 365 Copilot making email reply suggestions Outlook.

In Dynamics 365 Business Central, Copilot can generate product listings for e-commerce and retrieve details such as color, material, and size to produce product descriptions for online storefronts in mere seconds. Users can refine these descriptions by selecting the tone, format, and length that best suits their needs. For example, Business Central customers who use Shopify can quickly publish products with customized descriptions to their Shopify store with just a few clicks.

Conclusion

Microsoft’s latest offering, the Dynamics 365 Copilot chatbot, is a powerful tool that leverages OpenAI’s GPT-3 technology to help businesses enhance their customer support, sales, and marketing efforts. With features that enable automated email responses, personalized follow-ups, and targeted product descriptions for e-commerce, the Copilot bot can help sales reps and customer support workers manage the increasing volume of data they must deal with on a daily basis. The new chatbot is a testament to Microsoft’s commitment to driving innovation in AI and business-centric apps and is sure to be a valuable asset for organizations seeking to streamline their operations and enhance their customer experience.

Here at CourseMonster, we know how hard it may be to find the right time and funds for training. We provide effective training programs that enable you to select the training option that best meets the demands of your company.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our course advisers today or contact us at training@coursemonster.com

Today, there is an announcement about the upcoming AI product updates for Microsoft’s entire business applications portfolio. This includes the introduction of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Copilot, an interactive and AI-driven assistant that can provide assistance across various business functions.

Microsoft’s recent business trends survey revealed that almost 90% of workers desire to leverage AI to decrease the number of repetitive tasks in their work. By using Dynamics 365 Copilot, companies can equip their workers with AI tools designed for sales, service, marketing, operations, and supply chain functions. These AI capabilities enable everyone to devote more time to the most fulfilling aspects of their jobs and less time to monotonous responsibilities.

For a long time, customer relationship management (CRM) and enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems have been vital sources of customer and business data. However, these systems often demand cumbersome duties such as manual data entry, note-taking, and content generation. By leveraging recent advancements in generative AI, Dynamics 365 Copilot can automate these laborious tasks and unleash the entire creative potential of the workforce. This allows CRM and ERP systems to support business users in accelerating their pace of innovation and enhancing business outcomes across all lines of business.

• Microsoft Dynamics 365 Sales and Viva Sales’ Copilot feature enables sellers to significantly decrease the amount of time they spend on administrative tasks. AI can assist in composing email replies to customers and generating an email summary of a Teams meeting in Outlook. The meeting summary incorporates data from the seller’s CRM, such as product and pricing information, as well as insights from the recorded Teams call. Given that sellers may spend up to 66% of their day managing emails, this offers a substantial business opportunity to grant them more time to interact with customers.
• Dynamics 365 Customer Service’s Copilot feature enables agents to provide exceptional customer care. With Dynamics 365 Copilot, agents can draft contextual responses to inquiries in both chat and email formats, as well as participate in an interactive chat experience over knowledge bases and case histories. This AI-powered expertise is always available to address any questions. We are also simplifying the process of creating virtual agents for customer service teams by introducing conversation boosters in Power Virtual Agents. This technology harnesses the capabilities of Azure OpenAI Service and Bing to provide answers from company websites and internal knowledge bases that you select, enabling you to build virtual agents within minutes.
• Dynamics 365 Customer Insights and Dynamics 365 Marketing’s Copilot feature enables marketers to streamline their workflow when it comes to data exploration, audience segmentation, and content creation.
  • Dynamics 365 Customer Insights’ Copilot feature empowers marketers to generate highly personalized and targeted customer segments by conversing with their customer data platform using natural language. Marketers can receive recommendations for additional segments that they may not have previously considered. This new capability can handle complex computations and identify customers that match specific profiles.
  • Dynamics 365 Marketing’s Copilot feature allows marketers to create a target segment using their own language through the query assist feature. Additionally, marketers can easily obtain ideas for new email campaign content by leveraging Dynamics 365 Copilot. Copilot provides suggestions based on specific topics entered by the marketer, the organization’s current marketing emails, and various internet sources to enhance the relevance of generated ideas.
• With Copilot, Dynamics 365 Business Central makes it easier to create product listings for online commerce by streamlining the process. This feature allows users to quickly generate product descriptions using various attributes like color, material, and size, resulting in more compelling and detailed online storefronts. Additionally, users can customize the descriptions further by selecting the tone, format, and length that best fits their needs. Customers using Shopify, they can effortlessly publish the products with their customized descriptions to their Shopify store with just a few clicks.
• Microsoft Supply Chain Center’s Copilot feature, available to Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Management customers, identifies external factors such as weather, financials, and geography that could potentially affect critical supply chain processes. This proactive approach allows users to predict potential issues and identify orders that may be impacted across different aspects such as materials, inventory, carriers, and distribution networks. Once identified, supply chain planners can automatically generate emails through Dynamics 365 Copilot to notify impacted partners and take action to prevent potential disruptions before they occur.

The future of business applications is evolving with the integration of generative AI. As a result, users are beginning to anticipate AI-powered capabilities in their CRM and ERP applications. Dynamics 365 Copilot aims to incorporate the latest AI advancements in all areas of the business to enhance the customer experience, employee satisfaction, and operational efficiency. While implementing these advanced technologies, we prioritize responsible AI by design through our framework to ensure the safe deployment of AI.

The recent announcement builds on Microsoft’s AI momentum across various platforms, including Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, and the Power Platform. This includes the next-gen AI capabilities in Microsoft Teams, a widely used collaboration platform with over 280 million monthly active users. Additionally, Viva Sales brings a sales copilot to the Microsoft 365 workflow, benefiting sellers by providing AI-powered assistance. Lastly, Power Apps allows citizen developers to write code using natural language, expanding the scope of application development with AI.

Here at CourseMonster, we know how hard it may be to find the right time and funds for training. We provide effective training programs that enable you to select the training option that best meets the demands of your company.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our course advisers today or contact us at training@coursemonster.com

What if we told you that your company could do away with on-premises servers for just $8 per employee, per month? That may be true for companies that already use Microsoft 365.

Depending on your requirements, renting a server will probably set you back some hundred dollars each month. A server may have cost thousands of dollars, but upkeep still costs hundreds.

The timing is now more than ever to completely move to the cloud.

That is, switching to the cloud will lead to monthly cost savings. Yet, those care costs fall short of fully recouping the actual cost of switching to the cloud.

Organizations can improve their cybersecurity using Microsoft Endpoint Management, enhance onboarding, and cut downtime for repetitive operations. Intune and Autopilot are two tools that help with this.

For companies adopting Microsoft 365, Microsoft Endpoint Manager is the first step toward a hybrid cloud. Ideally, your company will soon make a full transition to the cloud.

What is Microsoft Endpoint Manager?

Endpoint Manager, which combines Endpoint Configuration Manager and Microsoft Intune, is Microsoft’s unified device-management platform with a focus on endpoint security and “intelligent cloud actions.”

As a result of Intune’s success, Microsoft integrated it into a new platform. Endpoint Management aids businesses in securing and utilizing their cloud. Manage users, apps, and devices in a single location after deployment.

Configuration Manager and Intune are the two consoles that make up the platform. The former looks after clients and infrastructure that are on-site. The cloud-native management of software and devices is handled by Intune.

What is Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager?

The on-premises device management platform from Microsoft is called Endpoint Configuration Manager. Configuration Manager aids in the internal application, update, and full image deployment for on-premises devices and servers.

By automating boring activities, Configuration Manager enables businesses to maximize the use of their infrastructure and software. Active Directory is also used to improve organizational security through user management.

Configuration Manager abstracts hours of customization and restoration by producing a preset image to deploy to new devices. You are prepared to use a new device as soon as you set it up.

What is Microsoft Intune?

The mobile device management (MDM) and mobile application management (MAM) platform from Microsoft is called Intune. Unlike Configuration Manager’s emphasis on an on-premises deployment, Intune is a cloud-based management platform.

Access control for mobile devices like laptops and smartphones is made easier with the aid of Intune. This helps in limiting which personnel has access to what data. You can add additional security safeguards to non-company-owned devices using Intune.

Intune deploys full images to new devices, much like Configuration Manager does. Since it uses the cloud, devices may be accessed remotely and efficiently.

With identity and endpoint control through the cloud, Intune also adds more security. Businesses don’t need to employ an on-premises server because of its interaction with Azure Active Directory.

Organizations can combine their on-premises servers with the Azure cloud by using Azure sync. The ideal situation would result in a hybrid cloud.

What is Intune company portal?

Employees of companies that use Endpoint Management can securely access company resources through the Microsoft Intune company portal app.

Office apps, email, and OneDrive may all be accessed through the app by users whose company accounts have been enrolled in Intune. The enterprise portal can be used for single sign-on (SSO), which improves security across all apps.

How to enroll a device in Intune

Use a company account to go into the company portal and enroll a device in Intune. The portal will lead you through configuring your device and connecting to your company after you’ve signed in.

Co-Management with Endpoint Configuration Manager and Intune

Organizations may co-manage their environment with Configuration Manager and Intune to make the most of Endpoint Manager.

However, the only advantage of using simply Intune is the capacity for conventional operating system deployment. Wiping a device and loading the OS through a disk are both functions of Configuration Manager.

Organizations lose advanced security features like Advanced Threat Prevention and risk-based access management without Intune (ATP). Moreover, auto-provisioning through autopilot is impossible with Configuration Manager.

What are the benefits of Microsoft Endpoint Manager?

The use of Microsoft Endpoint Manager has many overall advantages. They will only discuss how it helps avoid the need for servers in this post.

Endpoint Security

First, Endpoint Manager helps with endpoint security all around the whole. Your most sensitive data or applications are only accessible to those who need them thanks to Conditional Access App Control via Azure Active Directory.

Conditional access controls can be configured for devices that access your cloud, as well as the apps that exist there.

Endpoint Manager can now enforce security policies, install your standard compliance standards, and impose access restrictions on vulnerable or non-corporately owned devices by registering devices with Azure AD.

Endpoint Manager products assist you in making sure that registered devices adhere to security standards. Only devices that are compliant, linked to your domain, and managed by Intune should be given access to the cloud.

When available, Intune will also roll out security upgrades to your devices. Your devices will instantly receive an update after a vulnerability has been fixed. There is no time to lose while fixes for known vulnerabilities are available.

Companies that purchase E3 licenses for access to Endpoint Manager also receive ATP.

Zero-Touch Deployment

With Intune and Autopilot, Endpoint Manager can automatically upload programs and settings to both new and existing devices. Zero-Touch Deployment is the term used for this.

As an example, let’s say your company hires a new remote worker. You are delivering a computer to their home office, but in order for it to be legal, your company regulations must be installed on it.

As soon as the device is registered with your cloud and Endpoint Manager, your settings using Intune and Autopilot go into effect. Even pre-shipment may be included in that.

As a result, there is no need to mail the device to your main office or IT team for configuration before sending it to the newly hired employee. All of the stuff is taken care of by Autopilot, so your new employee is prepared to work from day one.

Central Control Management

You can manage everything inside your cloud thanks to Endpoint Manager, which keeps everything in one location. Your wireless networks are managed.

Using Intune, you may add a profile to a group of users in your business, include settings that connect directly to your preferred Wi-Fi network, and then distribute built-in Wi-Fi settings to joined devices.

In this way, you can never be concerned about users connecting to a weak network. Only the ones you have created or selected.

How Endpoint Manager Takes You to the Cloud Exclusively

So, Endpoint Manager’s advantages are evident. But how can you access a magical, serverless place with those features?

Users who are already using Microsoft 365 for your business can access both your on-premises server and the cloud together.

User profiles that are managed by M365 are kept on Azure. These profiles are collected from the cloud and delivered to your server for your on-premise endpoints.

If you have distant users or individuals who are using personal devices, this could become a problem.

You are most likely using a virtual private network for remote user security (VPN). The cloud profile password will need to be updated if a remote user leaves for home and forgets it.

Unfortunately, they will also need to sign into the VPN with the same profile to sync it with the on-premises server they are trying to connect to.

The passwords for accessing the VPN and for changing the VPN password will not be the same, which means that if you forget the former, you’ll still need to remember it to update the latter. Additionally, changing your VPN password should only require an internet connection, not an internet connection and access to the VPN.

Endpoint Manager allows your devices to connect to your cloud environment through Azure AD, instead of requiring your profiles to first join M365 in the cloud and then sync with an on-premise server.

Because the device is registered in the cloud, any changes made to it are immediately updated and deployed back to the device. There’s no need for a separate server to serve information to the device since everything is already managed through Azure. As a result, there’s no need for a VPN to facilitate user-related changes.

By configuring policies in Endpoint Manager, information exchange is consistently secured, and the risk of data being sent to a compromised machine is eliminated.

For just $8 per user per month, you can shift your devices from the on-premises server to the cloud, leaving the server in the past where it belongs.

Here at CourseMonster, we know how hard it may be to find the right time and funds for training. We provide effective training programs that enable you to select the training option that best meets the demands of your company.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our course advisers today or contact us at training@coursemonster.com

It is important for your organization to license the first 300 users under the Business Premium plan if you plan to use Microsoft 365. This particular plan offers exceptional cybersecurity features that cannot be found in any other M365 license, providing significant cost savings and peace of mind.

The surge in remote work has resulted in various gaps in organizational cybersecurity. However, despite these challenges, the trend of remote work is anticipated to continue growing without any signs of slowing down.

In the current scenario, ensuring the security of your organization’s perimeter is no longer enough. You need to strengthen the security measures for every remote employee, including their endpoint devices, other devices they use, and the data stored on each device, as well as the employees themselves.

The most efficient way to ensure protection is to have a robust defense system as close to the data as possible. This involves having top-notch security measures at the application layer, which starts with your cloud.

It is highly probable that your cloud and its functions are the most heavily utilized technology in your organization. Therefore, it is crucial to acknowledge that it should also be the most secure and well-protected.

Microsoft 365 is a collection of applications that utilize the Azure cloud technology developed by Microsoft. This suite of applications is available in various plans tailored to meet the needs of home, business, and enterprise users, each offering different levels of pricing and features.

To illustrate, Microsoft 365 provides business plans such as Business Basic, Business Standard, and Business Premium, whereas enterprise plans include E1, E3, and E5. In addition, Microsoft has an Apps for a Business plan that offers its standard Office applications. These plans are available at different price points based on a per-user, per-month (user/month) fee structure with an annual subscription.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium Pricing

At the time of writing this post, Microsoft 365 Business Premium is priced at $22 per user per month. This fee has been recently increased from the previous rate of $20.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium Features

Microsoft 365 Business Premium offers excellent value for money, with several distinct features that set it apart. Although it may not have as many features as the high-end E5 plan, Business Premium is priced at only 39% of an E5 license.

Moreover, the features available in Business Premium are superior to those found in the lower-tier Business Standard plan and even outdo those in the higher-tier E3 plan, as we will delve into further.

To start with, Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes a comprehensive suite of productivity applications, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, SharePoint Online, Planner, and Teams, among others. One of the standout features in Business Premium is Microsoft Intune, which is also available in M365 E3 and is a personal favorite of ours.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium also offers a 50 GB mailbox storage limit in Outlook, along with a 1 TB storage limit in OneDrive. Additionally, it includes Azure Information Protection, which encompasses Microsoft Purview Email Encryption.

Above all, Microsoft 365 Business Premium stands out for its advanced built-in cybersecurity features, which are not available in the adjacent plans. Let’s take a closer look at them:

Microsoft 365 Business Premium Security Features

With Microsoft 365 Business Premium, users can benefit from enterprise-level protection for both their data and themselves. This level of protection is not available in most other M365 plans, including the E3 plan, which is specifically designed for enterprises.

The majority of these features are included in both Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 (previously known as Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection) and Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 (previously known as Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection). Both of these defenders are integrated into Microsoft 365 Business Premium.

To begin with, Microsoft 365 Business Premium incorporates additional anti-phishing measures, such as user and domain impersonation intelligence, along with unusual character and sender alerts.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium also includes Safe Links and Attachments, a feature that checks potentially malicious data by subjecting it to a virtual environment. These capabilities provide coverage for Outlook, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams under Defender for O365 Plan 1.

All of these alerts are consolidated into real-time reporting that enables you to monitor the security of your environment.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium vs. Business Standard

When compared to Business Premium, Microsoft 365 Business Standard is simply a standard offering. Although the applications are available for use, they lack the advanced protection that Business Premium offers.

Business Standard doesn’t offer the security features that are typically expected by businesses as a standard.

Business Standard will save you money but should cost you a lot of peace of mind because it costs $9.50 per user less per month than BP.

Keep in mind that it would take about 131 years to recoup the money you save with Business Standard at the average cost of a data breach ($4.24 million, per IBM).

Microsoft 365 Business Premium vs. E3

The seatbelts should function if you paid extra for a decent automobile, right?

Unfortunately, upgrading from Microsoft 365 Business Premium to Microsoft 365 E3 does not work like that (Not to be mistaken for Microsoft OFFICE 365 E3).

Only standard anti-phishing technologies, such as spoof intelligence, are included with E3. The remaining security measures are disregarded.

E3 license holders must acquire extra licenses for Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 ($2/mo) and Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 ($5/mo) in order to receive the same security capabilities as BP.

The price for a fully defended E3 license is just under twice as much as BP when combined with E3’s standard $36 per user/month fee.

As you can see, E3 offers some advantages, such as access to Azure Rights Management in the premium edition of Azure AD. The on-premises version of Intune, Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager, is also included in E3.

Defender for Endpoint Plan 1, which contains Block At First Sight, Endpoint Defender for Mac, Improved ASR, Tamper Protection, and Web Content Filtering, is included with E3 in terms of security. All are already included in Business Premium via Defender Antivirus, with the exception of Defender for Mac and Web Content Filtering.

Why is Business Premium the best option?

For small businesses with up to 300 employees, Microsoft 365 Business Premium is the best choice, to put it simply. Unfortunately, E3 and its required add-ons are the sole choices for every additional employee at 301 employees and above.

Business Premium offers the required security capabilities that are not present in either Business Standard or E3 for organizations with less than 300 users to license.

Businesses that need to license more than 300 users should do so by assigning Business Premium licenses to the first 300 users and additional enterprise licenses to those who want the extra capabilities.

Here at CourseMonster, we know how hard it may be to find the right time and funds for training. We provide effective training programs that enable you to select the training option that best meets the demands of your company.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our course advisers today or contact us at training@coursemonster.com

Operating a business demands persistence and sometimes a bold move. Each day presents fresh obstacles and at times the stress and unpredictability can become overwhelming. During those moments, it’s important to recall the reason behind taking the leap – the fulfillment of bringing your aspirations to life – and to keep pushing forward.

When you invest that level of dedication into your business, it can almost become a second home. And just as you safeguard your actual home with a secure security system and sturdy locks, it is essential to update cybersecurity for your business as well. Unfortunately, 43% of cyberattacks are now aimed at small businesses, and a disheartening 60% of those businesses will shut down permanently within half a year of the attack. These are staggering figures, which is why we’ve decided to include Microsoft Defender for Business with every subscription to Microsoft 365 Business Premium – because every business deserves access to enterprise-level comprehensive security.

It’s always our ambition to make technology an equalizer, to enable a small business to compete with a larger business with the power of technology and close that gap.

—Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President at Microsoft

As part of Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Brad Smith, President of Microsoft, had an intimate fireside chat with Isabella Casillas Guzman, Administrator of the United States Small Business Administration (SBA), at the first-ever Small Business Cyber Summit in October 2022. The two leaders discussed ways in which small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) can enhance their cybersecurity defenses with limited resources. With that objective in mind, I’d like to extend an invitation for a complimentary security evaluation consultation to assess where your business could potentially improve its protection. Furthermore, this blog post outlines five simple steps that any business can take to guard against cyberattacks – starting right now.

1. Monitor everything around the clock

During his conversation with Administrator Guzman, Brad Smith emphasized the advantage of transitioning to cloud-based security in terms of reducing worries about protection. “If everyone is trying to run their software on their own hardware within their own premises, it means you have to take care of all the hardware maintenance yourself,” Brad Smith explained. “However, if you move to the cloud, that becomes our responsibility.”

Microsoft Cloud currently monitors and analyzes 43 trillion threat signals on a daily basis. This includes tracking 35 families of ransomware and more than 250 distinct nation-states, cybercriminals, and other potential threat actors. The extensive scope and depth of protection offered by Microsoft 365 Business Premium provide enterprise-level security against viruses, spam, hazardous attachments, dubious links, and phishing attacks. You’ll also receive ongoing protection against ransomware and malware attacks on all your devices, as well as built-in antivirus and endpoint detection and response features. This way, you can concentrate on growing your business instead of constantly battling cyber threats.

2. Update the locks

Just like a neighborhood break-in can prompt us to upgrade our locks or install security lights, protecting your business from cyberattacks begins with a simple step – updating your current systems. Microsoft and other tech companies release updates on Patch Tuesday (the second Tuesday of each month starting at 10:00 AM PT), or whenever any vulnerabilities are detected. “These updates are available free of charge,” Brad Smith emphasized. “But it’s crucial to ensure that your computers are set up to automatically download these updates. That’s one of the most essential things that people can do to secure their systems.”

Additionally, ensure that your business has an updated IT inventory. With the shift towards remote and hybrid work, the practice of using personal devices (also known as “BYOD”) has become widespread. The use of multiple devices, particularly from personal networks, increases the attack surface and the number of potential vulnerabilities. Microsoft 365 Business Premium comes with built-in threat and vulnerability management in Defender for Business, enabling you to secure various devices using a single tool.

Businesses can enhance their protection by regularly backing up their data. In 2021, ransomware attacks increased by 300 percent. The prevalence of ransomware as a service (RaaS) demonstrates that malicious actors are now operating in a more commercial manner. However, attacks on your business data can be prevented by making frequent backups of your crucial files. Automating your backups using a set schedule can help your business optimize its resources and avoid potential human errors.

3. Hide your keys well

Most of us keep a spare house key hidden under a rock or potted plant, but everyone knows better than to put the key under the mat. It’s the same way with passwords: if it’s easy, someone will find it. “It shouldn’t be ABC123,” as Administrator Guzman summed it up. But a recent survey found that among the most common passwords still in use, “password” and “Qwerty” are at the top of the list. In every cybercriminal’s toolkit, today is a kind of brute force attack known as password spray. Simply put, an attacker acquires a list of accounts and runs through a long list of common passwords attempting to get a match. Since most businesses have a naming standard for employees (for example, firstname.lastname@company.com), adversaries can often get halfway in your door just by using the information found on your website.

Securing your business from cyberattacks can be simplified by using features like built-in password generators, biometrics or physical security keys, and multifactor authentication. Browsers like Microsoft Edge have password generators that will create strong passwords and remember them for you. Alternative options like Windows Hello and FIDO2 security keys eliminate the need for passwords entirely. If you choose to keep passwords, multifactor authentication is the best way to ensure secure access. This method requires users to verify their identity through an additional factor such as an OTP sent via email or text message, personal security questions, face recognition, or voice recognition.

4. Don’t open the door to just anyone

Just like it’s not wise to open your front door without knowing who is on the other side, it’s crucial for businesses to stay informed about the latest phishing scams and social engineering tactics used by cybercriminals to gain access. In 2022, the most frequent types of cyberattacks are still malware (22%) and phishing (20%). The majority of cyberattacks now involve human involvement, with 85% of breaches resulting from human error. Nonetheless, most phishing emails can be easily recognized due to common “hooks” that can be learned, such as:

• Request for user credentials or payment information: Avoid clicking on a suspicious link. Instead, manually enter the company’s website address into your browser to access your account directly.
• An unfamiliar tone or greeting: Phishing emails are often sent from abroad, so be aware of any odd or inconsistent syntax or tone, including language that is too formal or too informal, or a mixture of both.
• Grammar and spelling: Authentic companies take the time to edit their emails before distributing them.
• Inconsistent email address or “lookalike” domain name: A common tactic of phishing emails is to slightly alter the email address or domain, making it different from the legitimate one (e.g. using “microsotf.com” instead of “microsoft.com”).
• Threats or a sense of urgency: Scammers may try to prompt you to click the link by using alarmist headlines like “Update your account information immediately or risk losing access.” If you’re uncertain, it’s best to directly enter the URL into your browser instead.
• Unrequested attachments: If an email from an unexpected sender comes with an attachment, it is best to verify its authenticity by opening a new email and asking the sender, instead of clicking the attachment right away.

If you come across a phishing email, it’s important to report it. In Microsoft Outlook for business, simply select the suspicious message, click on “Report” from the top ribbon, and select “Phishing.” This will remove the message from your inbox and assist in blocking similar emails in the future. Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 provides protection against advanced phishing, malware, spam, and business email compromise, and comes with pre-configured policies for quick and easy set-up, including a simple wizard-based onboarding process for your Windows devices, servers, and apps.

5. Stay informed about how to prevent break-ins

Neighborhood watch organizations and local police usually collaborate to inform residents about break-ins and how they may better protect their houses. There are cybersecurity resources available to you regardless of the size of your company. The SBA provides best practices for averting cyberattacks, such as a cybersecurity planning tool and continuing online and local cybersecurity events. Cybersecurity training shouldn’t be viewed as a one-and-done exercise, even if you are the sole employee. Threat actors are always acquiring new knowledge and honing their craft, and so should we.

The Microsoft Small Business Resource Center and Microsoft’s virtual security training for SMBs assist SMBs in providing themselves with the information necessary to stop phishing attempts, secure remote devices, and guard against identity theft. Their SMB security training also includes how to collaborate more securely with coworkers while staying safe while working on-site and from home. At the end of the day, “[cybersecurity] becomes a little bit like a seatbelt: we know it saves lives, but you do have to put it on,” Brad Smith said during his conversation with Administrator Guzman.

Microsoft is here for you

In a few words, Microsoft has your back to summarize the main message of Brad Smith’s speech for SMBs. We’re all in this together because small businesses account for more than 99% of the American economy. Take advantage of Microsoft’s free security consultation, which offers data-driven, actionable insights into the security flaws in your environment.

Here at CourseMonster, we know how hard it may be to find the right time and funds for training. We provide effective training programs that enable you to select the training option that best meets the demands of your company.

For more information, please get in touch with one of our course advisers today or contact us at training@coursemonster.com