Podcast
Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast
Hosted by Ben Stegink, Scott Hoag · EN
Your Microsoft Cloud News from a couple of IT Pros
25episodes
Episodes
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Episode 418 – An Anti-AI Adventure with Cat Schneider: SharePoint, Power Automate, and Conference Shenanigans
Jan 100:38:20Tap to summarizeWelcome to Episode 418 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode, Ben sits down with Cat Schneider during a lively conference to discuss a variety of topics, focusing on the theme of “anti-AI.” They reflect on life and technology before AI became prominent, sharing tales of conferences, hackathons, and explorations of older tech solutions. They also discuss some of Cat’s adventures in SharePoint and Power Platform, including managing SharePoint permissions with flows, the challenges of migrating file shares to SharePoint, syncing issues with OneDrive, and practical uses of Power BI for troubleshooting and managing SharePoint data. Additionally, they dive into humorous conference anecdotes from the inaugural Workplace Ninjas US, including accidental late-night adventures. Cat Schneider is an experienced data specialist and Power Platform, SharePoint, and Teams enthusiast with a demonstrated history of innovation for almost 15 years in the public sector. Cat is skilled in Microsoft-based applications, quality assurance, and databases. She is a strong community and social services professional with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biology from Florida State University. In addition to being a self-taught coder with a never-ending thirst for learning more—and helping others learn and improve their coding skills—she is also co-leader of the Power Platform UX/UI and Accessibility (A11y) Global User Group. Your support makes this show possible! Please consider becoming a premium member for access to live shows and more. Check out our membership options. Show Notes Cat Schneider on LinkedIn Yer a wizard, Cat! Cat on GitHub About the sponsors Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!
Transcribe →Episode 417 – Workplace Ninjas US, Zero Trust, and Conditional Access!
Dec 1800:29:37Tap to summarizeWelcome to Episode 417 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast, Jay Leask joins Ben once more as the two of them recap their experience at Workplace Ninjas US in Dallas, Texas. They discuss conference highlights, the unique hackathon, engaging sessions, the Clippy Bucks system, and the importance of community and inclusion. The conversation also covers upcoming events, memorable attendee interactions, and new traditions for future conferences. Your support makes this show possible! Please consider becoming a premium member for access to live shows and more. Check out our membership options. Show Notes Jay Leask on LinkedIn Workplace Ninja’s US Follow Workplace Ninjas US on LinkedIn Workplace Ninja’s US Microsoft Zero Trust Guidance Center Microsoft Zero Trust Assessment Tool Conditional Access Ben’s YouTube video on Authentication Context and Conditional Access About the sponsors Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!
Transcribe →Episode 416 – Microsoft Sentinel, Security, and Ignite with Henrik Wojcik
Dec 400:32:38Tap to summarizeWelcome to Episode 416 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this week’s episode, Ben finally has a chance to sit down with Henrik Wojcik. Henrik has been a long-time listener as well as a fellow Microsoft MVP in Security and we finally had the chance to sit down and record an episode together, something we’ve talked about doing for years. As they sit down and enjoy a sunny afternoon in at Microsoft Ignite in San Francisco they discuss security in the financial sector, EU regulations (N2 and DORA), integrating Data Lake with Sentinel, optimizing log analytics, and the latest on Security Copilot and E5 licensing. They also spend some time chatting about some of their conference highlights, assisting as proctors in the hands-on labs, and the unique experience of Ignite in San Francisco. Your support makes this show possible! Please consider becoming a premium member for access to live shows and more. Check out our membership options. Show Notes Microsoft Ignite (with sessions on demand) Microsoft Ignite Book of News Catch up on Microsoft Security sessions and announcements from Ignite 2025 Microsoft Sentinel benefit for Microsoft 365 E5, A5, F5, and G5 customers Learn about Security Copilot inclusion in Microsoft 365 E5 subscription Microsoft Sentinel data lake: Unify signals, cut costs, and power agentic AI What is Microsoft Sentinel data lake? KQL and the Microsoft Sentinel data lake Henrik F. Wojcik Henrik has worked in the IT industry since 2003. He’s always had a passion for learning new technologies and expanding his knowledge through various means such as online courses, webinars, and reading up on the latest developments in the industry. Throughout his career, he’s gained experience in various areas of IT, making him a true jack of all trades. However, his latest interests lie in the security space, modern workplace and management in Azure, with a particular focus on cyber security. He has experience working with products such as Defender for Endpoint, Defender for Identity, Defender for Cloud Apps, Defender for Office 365, Conditional Access, Microsoft Sentinel, and Microsof t Entra ID. His primary focus is on security on Azure workloads and identity (Entra ID). He prioritizes security awareness and believe that learning never stops, which is why He’s always eager to expand my knowledge and skillset. In the past, He’s also worked with various tools and technologies such as Cisco, Citrix, Dynamics AX, Exchange, ITIL, Azure, SCCM & SCOM, Scrum & Kanban, VMware, Windows Servers, and Windows Desktops. About the sponsors Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!
Transcribe →Episode 415 – Diving Into Ignite 2025 for IT Pros and AI Agent Management
Nov 2000:30:05Tap to summarizeWelcome to Episode 415 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. Ben and Scott discuss the major announcements from Microsoft Ignite 2025, focusing on the dominant themes of AI agents and security. The conversation centers on three key areas: Security Copilot updates, Agent 365 for governance, and the broader security and management implications for IT professionals. Key Discussion Topics Security Copilot Expansion to E5 Customers 12 new Security Copilot agents coming to Defender, Entra, Intune, and Purview 30+ partner agents being added to the ecosystem Major announcement: Security Copilot will now be available to all Microsoft 365 E5 customers Rollout begins with Frontier program (Microsoft’s insider ring for Copilot) Expanding in coming months to all E5 customers Security Copilot spans four pillars: Security Operations (Defender + Sentinel) Data Security (Purview) Identity & Access (Entra) Endpoint Management (Intune) Microsoft Agent 365 – The Control Plane for Agents Addresses the critical problem of agent sprawl and governance Think of it as “Entra ID for AI agents” Core capabilities: Registry: Complete inventory of all agents (registered, unregistered, and shadow agents Access Control: Conditional access policies and risk-based policies for agents Monitoring: Real-time visibility into agent behavior, performance, and organizational impact Security Integration: Defender protection, Purview data governance Key governance features: Approve pending agent requests Identify ownerless agents Apply DLP policies to agents Conditional access for agents Secure score for agents Available now through Frontier program in Microsoft 365 admin center Overarching Themes Agent security is the new frontier: All major product announcements (Purview, Entra, Defender) are focused on agent governance 100 trillion daily signals inform Microsoft’s threat intelligence Ignite’s evolution: Less about big product launches, more about storytelling and connecting features released throughout the year IT Pro focus: Understanding, managing, and securing AI agents is becoming a core competency Key Observations Ignite 2025 is heavily focused on AI and security – limited announcements for traditional products like SharePoint, Teams, or Loop The shift reflects Microsoft’s rapid release cadence in the cloud era Agent sprawl is real and Microsoft is proactively addressing governance needs IT professionals need to embrace this change: “The only way out is through” Your support makes this show possible! Please consider becoming a premium member for access to live shows and more. Check out our membership options. Show Notes About the sponsors Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!
Transcribe →Episode 414 – When the Cloud Falls: Understanding the AWS and Azure Outages of October 2025
Nov 600:28:40Tap to summarizeWelcome to Episode 414 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast.This episode covers the major cloud service disruptions that impacted both AWS and Azure in October 2025. Even the biggest cloud providers face operational challenges. Learn what happened, how it was resolved, and what IT pros should keep in mind for future resilience planning. Your support makes this show possible! Please consider becoming a premium member for access to live shows and more. Check out our membership options. Show Notes Back to the Future: 40th Anniversary in IMAX [RESOLVED] Increased Error Rates and Latencies Azure Status History All Changes to Azure Frondoor Configuration are blocked currently. About the sponsors Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!
Transcribe →Episode 391 – Remote Desktop and Application Delivery with Kamal Srinivasan from Parallels
Dec 19, 202400:24:12Tap to summarizeWelcome to Episode 391 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode, Scott sits down with Kamal Srinivasan from Parallels to talk how you can think about delivering applications and desktops to your users in post-Citrix world. As the traditional “Citrix” model faces disruption, we explore how remote work, hybrid scenarios, and cloud-based computing are redefining how organizations deliver applications and desktops to end users. Key topics include: The shift away from static, on-prem desktops to dynamic, cloud-based compute. How to optimize app delivery by building on top of Microsoft’s Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) platform. Bridging the gap between legacy systems and cloud-based solutions, enabling businesses to roll out remote desktop solutions like AVD and Parallels RAS gradually while scaling down on-prem infrastructure. The changing role of IT admins in supporting a workforce that operates anywhere, anytime. Listen in and learn how your organization can streamline operations and empower your workforce with flexible, efficient application and desktop delivery. Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes Parallels Parallels RAS Parallels RAS Resources Parallels Secure Workspace Enhance your Azure Virtual Desktop experience with Parallels RAS Windows 365 Link Episode 390: Microsoft Ignite 2024: Windows 365 Link About the sponsors Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!
Transcribe →Episode 390: Microsoft Ignite 2024: Windows 365 Link
Dec 5, 202400:18:13Tap to summarizeWelcome to Episode 390 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast, live from Microsoft Ignite 2024! In this episode Ben sits down for a chat with Melissa Grant, head of product marketing for Windows 11 Enterprise, Windows 365, and Azure Virtual Desktop at Microsoft. Melissa discusses her tenure at Microsoft and the evolution of cloud-based Windows offerings, starting with the launch of Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) five years ago and transitioning into Windows 365. They also discuss Windows 365 Link, Microsoft’s new dedicated endpoint device, designed for seamless, secure connections Windows 365 Cloud PCs. This device reduces the need for extensive IT management and resources by simplifying deployment process, and providing security benefits based on feedback from some of Microsoft’s customers. Melissa Grant Melissa Grant leads product marketing for Windows Enterprise, Windows 365 and Azure Virtual Desktop within Microsoft Modern Work. She and her team are dedicated to delivering secure, productive and efficient commercial solutions so customers can do their best work with Windows. – Melissa on LinkedIn Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes Windows in the Cloud leadership spotlight: Melissa Grant, Windows Marketing Windows 365 Link—the first Cloud PC device for Windows 365 Windows 365 Link Preview Demo: Introducing Windows 365 Link Windows 365 Link Documentation What is Windows 365 Link? About the sponsors Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!
Transcribe →Episode 389: Microsoft Ignite 2024: Redefining AI, Productivity, and Edge Computing
Nov 21, 202400:35:59Tap to summarizeWelcome to Episode 389 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this special episode, we recap the game-changing announcements from Microsoft Ignite, Microsoft’s premier conference unveiling innovations across Microsoft 365 and Azure.We explore advancements in Agentic AI and multi-modal models that seamlessly accept and produce text, voice, and graphics. Discover how Copilot is evolving with features like reasoning over on-screen content (coming to Teams in CY25) and enhanced capabilities in tools like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel—bringing automated summaries, dynamic graphics, and effortless data analysis to the forefront. Learn how Copilot Pages enable collaborative editing, while Copilot Extensibility and Agents allow businesses to create customized AI-powered helpers with ease. Imagine every SharePoint site having a built-in agent by default, making tasks more intuitive than ever. We also cover new updates in edge AI—a “distributed computing fabric” blending Azure Local bare-metal solutions and Windows 365 Link thin clients. Innovations in AI-ready silicon underpin these transformative changes. Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes Microsoft Ignite 2024 Book of News Introducing Copilot Actions, new agents, and tools to empower IT teams Redefine development: AI-first innovation with agents and Microsoft Copilot in Power Platform What’s new in Microsoft 365 Copilot in PowerPoint at Ignite 2024 Copilot in Excel: Transforming Data Analysis What’s new and coming to Microsoft Outlook – Ignite 2024 Microsoft Ignite 2024 | Microsoft 365 Copilot Innovation in Your Go-To Apps Ignite 2024 – What’s new for Microsoft 365 and Copilot admins Introducing Copilot Analytics to measure AI impact on your business New Copilot Prompt Gallery helps you discover, save, and share your favorite prompts Introducing the AI-Powered Workplace: Technology solutions for flexible work About the sponsors Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!
Transcribe →Episode 388 – Getting Started with Azure Bicep: Infrastructure as Code with a Domain Specific Language
Nov 7, 202400:34:06Tap to summarizeWelcome to Episode 388 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode, we dive into Azure Bicep, Microsoft’s streamlined language for defining cloud infrastructure. If you’re new to Infrastructure as Code (IaC) or looking to simplify your Azure deployments, listen in to learn how easy it is to get started with Azure Bicep. We walk through the essentials, from setting up the necessary tools such as Visual Studio Code and the Azure Bicep extension, to exploring the intuitive features that make Bicep so powerful. Discover how Bicep’s functions, objects, and simplified syntax improve your workflow, offering a more readable and maintainable alternative to traditional ARM templates. Whether you’re an Azure admin or a developer, this episode provides a clear path to building and managing Azure resources effectively with Bicep. Tune in and start coding your infrastructure with confidence! Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes Microsoft Ignite What is Bicep? Bicep functions Quickstart: Create Bicep files with Visual Studio Code Azure/azure-quickstart-templates ˚Decompiling ARM template JSON to Bicep Learn modules for Bicep About the sponsors Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!
Transcribe →Episode 387 – Windows on ARM: Physical Hardware vs Virtual Machines, App Compatibility, and Other Considerations
Oct 25, 202400:36:57Tap to summarizeWelcome to Episode 387 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode, Scott and Ben dive into a discussion around Ben’s newly purchased Surface Pro 11th Edition – a Copilot Plus PC running on an ARM processor. Ben gives his takes on the state of the hardware and how Windows 11 runs on a native ARM processor. Scott also gives his experience running Windows 11 daily for work on Parallels Desktop on Apple Silicon. Scott’s hot take – virtualizing Windows 11 on a Mac is better than running it on native hardware. Listen in as Ben and Scott talk through Windows on ARM, whether a virtual machine might be best for you to try out Windows on ARM, pitfalls of application compatibility, and when you might just want to consider a remote desktop session instead to get your Windows work done from a Mac. Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes Meet the Surface Pro 11th Edition Microsoft announces Copilot Plus PCs with built-in AI hardware The Ultimate Solution: Windows 11 in a virtual machine + Parallels Desktop + Mac Computers with Apple silicon Azure Cobalt 100-based Virtual Machines are now generally available Unified inbox in Outlook for Mac MMR Call Redirection for Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365 now available How emulation works on Arm Exploring Windows on ARM: The Future of Computing About the sponsors Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!
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