May 2015 – Page 4

One of the major challenges of ANY online backup is the initial backup where all the data needs to be sent to the cloud. For most businesses there is so much data and so little bandwidth.

Like other cloud backup solutions Azure Backup also had a similar challenge when it came to the initial backup. However, if you update to the latest client you will find a new option as shown above, Offline Backup. This will allow you to take a local copy of the Azure Backup that you can then ship to the data center to be uploaded.

Once the initial offline backup has been uploaded to your Azure tenant any backup you now perform of the same data will only be the changes in the data, which is generally small. This is known as seeding the backup.

This will basically means you can now make a local copy of your data, ship that data to Microsoft and they’ll upload it to Azure for you so you avoid any bandwidth limitations when you do that first backup.

This option uses the Azure Import/Export service which you read about here:

http://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/articles/storage-import-export-service/

At the moment the Australian data centers are not listed as an option to ship data to, but I know that this option is not very far away at all, so all you folks here down under, don’t worry it won’t be long before you to can ship drives to import into Azure.

If you want to read more about the new features that are also included in this update Azure Backup Client have a look at:

http://azure.microsoft.com/blog/2015/02/16/new-features-in-azure-backup-long-term-retention-offline-backup-seeding-and-more

If you want to download the latest Azure Backup client you can do that here;

https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/kb/3033794

I use Azure Backup to backup both workstations and servers, so if you haven’t taken a look yet, I strongly suggest you do as it is a great option and really easy to configure.

I was fiddling around in my Office 365 tenant and saw that the Mobile Device Management now appears as a license for the user as shown above.

I then headed to the Office 365 Admin portal and sure enough on the menu on the left hand side I see Mobile Devices.

When I select this I get some information on the right and a Get Started button which I press eagerly.

Office 365 starts settings things up for me and says it may take a few hours (!). Actually, it took the whole of about 5 minutes.

Now I see the above. I select the Manage settings in the top right.

From the window that appears I select Set up from Configure an APNs Certificate for iOS devices.

At the next screen I select Download your CSR file link and store it on my C: drive.

I then select Next to continue.

Here I select the link for Apple APNS Portal.

I login with a company Apple ID.

Once logged in I select the Create Certificate button.

I Accept the Terms of Use

I now upload the CSR file that I downloaded previously.

I receive confirmation that all is good. I select Download to get a copy of this Apple Certificate and store it on my local hard disk.

I return to the Office 365 Admin portal and upload the Apple Certificate I just downloaded into Office 365.

I now get the message that the Certificate Uploaded Successfully.

In the top right corner of the windows I now have a green check indicating that my Apple Certificate is uploaded and valid.

Select the link Manage device security policies and access rules near the top of the page.

I’m now taken to the Office 365 Compliance center and the option Device Management as shown above.

I select the option to create a new policy by selecting the + (plus) icon. I then given the policy a name and select Next.

Now I can select all the device security options I want.

When complete, I press Next to continue.

I now get the option to select more configuration options as shown above.

When complete, I press Next to continue.

I now elect whether I wish the policy to be applied to my users. At stage stage I will leave the option set to No and press Next.

I now get a summary to review and when complete I select finish.

You should now see your policy listed as shown above.

If I now want to apply that policy to a user I select the pencil icon to edit it.

I select the Deployment option on the left and then Yes. I then select the + (plus) icon that appears to add the desired user(s) to whom the policy should apply.

Unfortunately, at this stage I get the above error that doesn’t allow me to apply the mobile device policy to a user for some reason.

I suspect I have stuffed up somewhere so I’ll do some research and post an update soon.

Till then, if you see Mobile Device Management appear in your Office 365 tenant, have a play and let me know how you go.

Month: May 2015

Offline Azure backup

Mobile Device Management has arrived!