Category: Business

My Gear 2024

You can take a look back at last year’s gear here:

My Gear 2023

there were/are some major changes happening with my assortment.

Surface Duo 2 – My ‘Google’ phone. This as a ‘secondary’ or backup phone. It has all the Microsoft apps installed on it and is connected to my Microsoft 365 production account. Most importantly, it has the Microsoft Authenticator app for MFA access for certain apps.  I also have the latest Microsoft Surface pen which I really like. It is probably the best ‘electronic scribing’ device I have used.

i have to admit that I haven’t used this device that much since I bought it. Some of the reasons for that were that I planned to use it as a writing device (i.e. notepad) but storing the pen with the device has proved problematic. Yes, it does have a magnetic area to hold the pen but you can’t just throw the device in a bag and expect the pen to be still connected. The pen really needs some form of pouch in which the pen lives so it can always be with the device. The other thing is the large camera bump prevents the device from laying completely flat. This makes it very hard to use as a replacement notebook on a desk. I’d really like to use this device more but not being my primary device (aka phone) and not having a screen as large as my iPad mini kind of relegates this to something I rarely use unfortunately. Too many gadgets I suppose. However, it will remain important as my Android device for testing.

iPhone 12 Pro Max – Is my main mobile device. Unfortunately, there are growing cracks on the screen that I believe was initiated by the Surface Duo 2 camera bump, when the devices where in my laptop bag together. The phone still works and the crack is off to one side of the screen but I can see the crack growing and full expect one day to have to replace the device. I want to delay this as long as possible since I have invested in a Quad Lock case and multiple holders (car, desktop, etc) for this case. A new phone will mean a new case, which isn’t the end of the world, just additional hassle. However, an upgrade to the latest iPhone will mean using a USB C connector for charging and connection to my PC, and that would be a good thing. However, the cost of the latest iPhone 15 Pro Max at $2,200 is a lot to pay for a phone.

One thing that I have configured my iPhone for is default grey scale display. I do this for two major reasons, firstly to prevent the phone from grabbing and holding my attention and secondly to save power. With the colours disabled on your phone it is amazing at how les tempting it is to play with it and use it as a crux when you are bored.

The great thing I will say about about iDevices is their battery life. My experience is that this allows them to work for years and years, providing great value.

Surface Pro 9 – This is my travelling and demo machine and replaces the Surface Pro 6. Having a dedicated travel machine makes it easy to grab and also to only have the software on it that I need. By that I mean I’m not installing random stuff on it to test.

I like the size and also the fact that it comes with with a Surface pen, which is handy as I discovered that the Surface Pen also works on Surface Hubs! (Great when the Surface Hub pens don’t work).

I do most of my demos on this machine as well as Teams webinar work as it is nice and quick. This machine runs Windows 11 Enterprise. 

Surface Pro 7 – This is my main desktop machine. Being the same form factor as the Surface Pro 6, it just slotted directly into my Kensington SD7000 Surface Pro Docking Station I already have in place. This machine runs Windows 11 Enterprise.

A problem has developed with this device where the screen goes blank below where the mouse cursor is. That makes using the device really, really annoying. I have multiple monitors connected to this device but being unable to use one screen intermittently is a productivity killer. It doesn’t happen all the time but it happens often enough that I think I really should replace it.

The downside of going to another Surface device is that it won’t fit in my Kensington SD7000 Surface Pro Docking Station which I really love. So if I upgrade this machine, I need to do away with the docking station as well.

Surface Pro 6 – My backup machine. I use it pretty much every day as an adjunct to my main machine. It lives on my secondary Kensington SD3500v docking station connected to a full screen and acts as my backup in case my main machine fails or is unavailable for some reason. This machine run Windows 10 but could run Windows 11. I haven’t upgraded as yet because I want to maintain at least one production machine on Windows 10.

This machine is becoming noticeably slower to work with and takes much longer to boot up and run applications. Once these are all ‘fired up’ it is fine, but it is noticeably slower than the more modern Surface machines I have.

Surface Pro X – I use this machine as a ‘lite’ travelling desktop as well as a whiteboarding machine for demos and training. Give that it comes with the Surface Pen and has a nice large screen and will lie flat it makes the prefect device for scribing. I also use this device for writing note into places like OneNote. Perhaps not the most effective use of the device but it beats the iPad when it comes to scribing hands down in my books. This machine runs Windows 11.

This is another machine that I haven’t used as much as I want to, however it is fit for purpose in the role that it plays for me now.

Surface Pro 3 – Continues to work fine and function as a test machine in my production environment. This machine has now been removed from my production network and operates stand alone. It does this so it can run my IoT project work. I found that with the security I have on my production network that I could not easily operate the IoT software I needed so the simple solution was to remove it from the production network and use it stand alone. This machine is slow and clunky, but for now it is doing the job it needs to. This machine is not suitable for Windows 11 and thus still happily runs Windows 10.

Surface – I have had an original Surface version 1 for many years now. The keyboard has long since broken by the system still works fine, although somewhat under powered with only 4GB of RAM. This machine is now a dedicated device on a separate test tenant. This allows me to test Autopilot and other settings on it regularly. This machine is not suitable for Windows 11.

iPad mini 5th Gen – I decided I wanted a smaller ‘notebook’ size table to use like a paper diary, amoungst other things, so I went out and bought an iPad mini.

I also now use this iPad mini with the Apple pencil, which generally works well, although the Apple pencil battery is pretty much knackered. The secret is to get a good case for both the iPad mini and the pencil. My choice was:

Finite Case with Pencil holder

which I’d certainly recommend as it is flexible, tough and cheap.

The only major downside of the iPad mini is that battery life is a lot less than the full size iPad, which is understandable. I have however never run out of juice but you do notice the power levels fall away quickly when compared to the full size version. I like that the iPad mini comfortable fits on my desk, works will with the Apple pencil and is much more transportable than the larger version. I was a little concerned that the screen size would be too small to enjoy movies and read web pages, etc but that hasn’t proved to be the case. I happy use it lying back on the couch to watch a variety of programs and read web sites.

After a number of years the Apple Pencil doesn’t really hold a charge any more. That is disappointing, although I appreciate it doesn’t have a huge battery. This has again increased the friction with me finding a suitable replacement for a paper notebook because every time I want to write something down, I need to charge the pencil up which takes ages. I may look at getting a new and updated Apple pencil but unsure as to whether I can really justify that in line with the plan to use the Surface Duo more.

D-Link Wireless N300 Model Router DSLG225 – to allow connect to the NBN broadband network.

Ubiquiti – I have a variety of Ubiquiti equipment in place including a  Security Gateway. All these have worked flawlessly and I can’t recommend this gear highly enough.

Docking station – I still love my Kensington SD7000 Surface Pro Docking Station. It is a really neat device, that suits most modern Surface Pro devices. It is slim, compact and now allows me to have 3 external monitors off the one Surface devices (as you can never have enough screen now can you eh?). I can plug in all my devices, microphones, phones, etc to it and all the cables are hidden at the back. I also like that you can adjust the screen up and down, a bit like a Surface Studio.

The original Kensington SD3500v has now moved to work with the Surface Pro 6 and that is also working well

Amazon Kindle – Still have this but it has now largely been superseded by the iPad mini for reading books. I still love my Kindle but if I can have one less device then I’m going to take that option. so for now, the Kindle has been relegated as a backup.

Xbox One S – Still use it to watch YouTube, Netflix and Amazon video but now playing more games thanks to Minecraft Dungeons and Call of Duty game.

The new item from last year was the Surface Pro 9 as my new travelling and demo laptop. I can see the day in the not to distant future where my iPhone 12’s screen will finally break and the Surface Pro 7 screen will give up the ghost. Both of these will mean a significant outlay for new devices and at the moment I don’t see the value in upgrading either unless I have to.

My other major hardware investment was a Snapmaker Artisan 3 in 1 printer but information about that now lives with CIAOPSLabs.

CIAOPSLabs is open for business

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After some careful consideration, I’ve decided to start a new blog over at:

https://blog.ciaopslabs.com

Over time you may have seen me post articles like IoT here, which aren’t probably strictly on topic for this blog. I also now have a growing business around design and solving problems using tools like 3D printers and CAD design. Lumping all of that in here with the existing content I feel would be a distraction I’ve decided, and thus, all of that is better in its own unique area.

The stuff in the CIAOPSLabs is going to be more about me working through ideas, design, and decision processes, rather than showing what the end results is, which is what I kind of do more here in this blog. So the topics in CIAOPSLabs are going to be far more random as I see it as a ‘catch all’ for everything that doesn’t make sense in this blog.

My approach to any blog has always been primarily about creating a location for me to document things I might need to remember as well as creating an audit trail of what I did when. I’ve already started posting things up there and you’ll also find an account on X as well as YouTube. I like to make my experiences public so that they in turn help someone else. I also see it as a kind of ‘pay it forward’ to all those who have created content that I have consumed in my journey.

Please note that the content across the CIAOPSLabs resources is still a work in progress and will expand out overtime. It simply comes down to the time available for me, but at least I now have somewhere to document a range of topics I have been holding off on for a while. It needs a lot more polish I’ll admit, but at east now it has started!

If you are interested in problem solving and things like 3D printing, IoT, creating real world stuff and generally trying to be more productive then add the CIAOPSLabs to your follows. If you are mainly focused on the Microsoft Cloud, Microsoft 365, Azure, Defender, Power Platform and so on, then you are already in the right place and I thank you for following my content here.

Thanks again to everyone who takes the time to subscribe to this blog and I hope to see some of you over at CIAOPSLabs as well as the journey there begins.

My Stuff 2024

This post is my annual post aimed at bringing the links to everything I have out there on the Internet together into a single place. Here we go.

About me

Social Media

Free Stuff

Regular technical and business information, tutorials, walk throughs, learnings, upcoming courses and more.

Here you’ll find currently almost 200 videos full of tutorials on SharePoint, Office 365, Azure and technology.

Presentations and whitepapers for free download.

Documentation for older versions of SharePoint on premises, especially the free versions and those that came with SBS.

Cloud lecture series is a set of free tutorials, training session and so on that I have provided over the years:

I have number of free GitHub repositories that include things like PowerShell scripts, pricing calculators, reference documents, helpful links and more. You will find all these at:

With over 300 episodes and now in it’s 14th year my podcast focuses on providing you news and updates from the Microsoft Cloud around Microsoft 365 and Azure.

You can subscribe using iTunes or Google. If you’d like to be a guest or know someone who would, please let me know.

Need to Know webinars are held monthly and announced on my blog. These are conducted using Microsoft Teams on a topic around the Microsoft Cloud.

and subscribe to previous and upcoming webinar recordings and resources here:

My free Teams shared channel you are welcome to join. To do so follow the instruction here:

here you’ll find a forum on the Microsoft Cloud.

I publish a weekly round up of Microsoft Cloud news in my CIA Brief:

Commercial stuff

This stuff helps pay for free stuff above so I appreciate your support for my paid work.

Access to the CIAOPS community for technical support, product discounts and access to the best Office 365 and Azure information

General Interest

I’m a big believer in supporting those who want to build their own business but just need a leg up to get started. Kiva is simply and easy way to provide this and I recommend this to everyone.

In 2023 I read over 30 books. That means I do a lot of reading on a variety of topics and with Goodreads you can follow along with the books I’m reading as well as those that I add to my bookshelf. I’ll have an upcoming post on my recommended reads, so watch out for that post coming soon.

  • Xbox gamer tag = director cia

I don’t play a whole lot these days, but when I do I typically play:

– Minecraft Dungeons

– Call of Duty

– Minecraft

If you ever need to send me stuff you can do so via the following address:

PO Box 5
Beecroft NSW 2119
Australia

My Bitcoin address is – bitcoin:bc1qwgcr296c7rtjvlpkv9yy5033qjgwwrvttxhtm7

My Ethereum address is – ethereum:0xD7cc991E1f84B625C3723D2965C9948238F5DFe8

Don’t over look a good naming convention

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If there is one piece of advice I can given when it comes to setting up policies in Microsoft 365, it is to have a good and consistent naming convention.

Microsoft 365 is full of policies, from Conditional Access, to Exchange Online to Intune and more. Having a naming convention worked about before you start creating policies is going to save you a lot of time down the track when you need to modify or troubleshoot your policies.

If you using something like Microsoft 365 Lighthouse to manage multiple tenants, then some additional thought will also need to be invested because if every tenant you manage has identically named policies then when these are rolled up into Microsoft 365 Lighthouse it is going to get confusing.

Although there is no agreed upon standard for naming conventions I’d give you these tips as general guidance:

– Short is better. i.e. ‘HR’ is far better than ‘Human Resources’

– Have the business name as a 3 letter acronym (i.e. ‘ABC’) at the beginning of the policy name if you are using Microsoft 365 Lighthouse

– Avoid special characters like @#$%, etc as well as spaces if you can. Use a ‘-‘ instead of a space and avoid using underscores (‘_’)

– Avoid upper case as well. My experience using the Microsoft Graph is that it can be very case sensitive at times. Having everything in lower case makes it much easier when you come to automating policies and the like with code such as PowerShell.

– Don’t state the obvious like starting every Microsoft Team with the full name of the business or words like ‘Project’. The shorter the name the easier it is to read and display.

– Be mindful of the names used on things like mobile devices

– Remove unnecessary policies to avoid confusion

– Avoid using names like ‘Test’, ‘Temp’, etc. if you do, remove these items when the test is complete to again avoid confusion.

– Try and make it easy for yourself and others in the future to understand and work with the names you have chosen.

The secret is to come up with a naming convention, document it and then use it everywhere. Consistency matters, because in the end it is going to be your time that gets chewed up by trying to work out what randomly named policies actually do. Take some time up front to have a convention and you’ll be rewarded with less pain later on.

AI is simply another IT tool

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It is always interesting to see technology go through a familiar boom and bust hype cycle. The older you get, I suppose, the more you see of these. Unfortunately, I have learnt from history that when a transformational technology does appear it goes through this familiar initial hype cycle until it settles down into the background and becomes so helpful and common that we never think about it anymore.

I remember what a revelation getting hold of my first spreadsheet program and then adding a WYSIWYG editor (Lotus 1-2-3 back then). Since then, spreadsheets have become a standard tool for many things from planning to databases, to automation and even charting. They are pretty much indispensable not only for me but also to just anyone who uses any form of computer these days. Spreadsheets have truly become an integral part of most businesses today.

The challenge currently is to decipher the impact AI will have and separate reality and potential from hype. This is the confusing part for most people, even those who are in IT. Today’s landscape is dominated by fast headlines largely designed to grab attention but provide little substance or meaningful analysis. Gone are the days when something new like a spreadsheet would cause no more than a ripple in the media.

I have said previously that I don’t particularly like the way the term AI is being applied to just about everything under the sun these days. Unfortunately, that is the generic term it has been branded with and we will no doubt be stuck with. So, for now, let’s stick that. I would suggest that largely lost in all the hype today is the fact that AI is merely the latest in a long line of tools that technology has provided us. It isn’t some magical cure all product, it is simply something that needs to be wielded to reach its potential and benefit.

I think another misnomer currently doing the rounds is that AI is for everyone and that if you don’t use it regularly, you are somehow not ‘modern’. I would suggest that, yes, AI will, and actually probably already is, used by most people, but they are not even aware of that fact. It is becoming more and more baked into the services they use everyday. I think is different and more akin to people using cars without necessarily fully understanding how they operate. For most, a car is simply a transportation tool that allows them to conveniently get from one location to another. 

The current AI services that we seeing reaching market today are, I believe, largely benefit those that ‘create’ something. That is not to say those who ‘process’ information may also benefit but I believe that greater beneficiaries are those who ‘create’.

Without doubt, technology has already enabled a far greater army of ‘creators’ already. Just look to YouTube as enabler of careers that people have created just using the mechanism of video. Perhaps this is why AI is appealing to a greater audience that ever before. If you however look inside a business, AI is probably more going to benefit people who create financial report than those who do the account entry as an example.

I say all this in mind of Microsoft 365 Copilot and the recent price announcement from Microsoft of US$30 (probably AU$45) for the service. Many were surprised with that price point but I think they believed that this type of AI would be for ‘everyone’ in a business as conventional wisdom is suggesting. Instead, I would suggest, that, at least initially, Microsoft 365 Copilot is aimed at a much small population inside businesses.

This means that you should only think about Microsoft 365 Copilot as a tool for those who can benefit most from it, that is those who are largely creating information as I suggested. From my own experience as a creator, I can tell you that ChatGPT (I don’t have Microsoft 365 Copilot yet) make me far more productive. It allows me to create code. It allows me to generate content from course outlines to descriptions and marketing material. There is so many tasks that I have put it to that have saved me hours and hours. That is where the real benefit I believe lies in the here an now.

When Microsoft 365 Copilot becomes available, I will be investing in a license for myself in my business but I won’t be, at least initially, investing in it for others. Thanks to ChatGPT, I can already see the huge productivity benefits it provides as well as the ability to leverage resources that make my business more competitive and allows me to do more with less. However, AI, Microsoft 365 Copilot, ChatGPT, etc is no a panacea by any means. Can a screwdriver be used as a hammer? Sure, but it really isn’t the best tool for the job? To benefit from a car not only do you have to invest in one, you need to invest in learning how to drive it. It is the same any tool, technology based or not. Maximum benefit is only derived in learning how to use it.

I have found that, unsurprisingly, most people and businesses have heard about AI but are yet to experiment with it. They don’t know where to start. Even when Microsoft 365 Copilot becomes available, that won’t change as many won’t investment initially being sceptical and seeing price as a barrier. My suggestion is that if you look at your business and can easily identify those that ‘create’ then they should be priority candidates for AI. If enhancing their productivity by saving them at least one hour a day in their work, then they are again a good candidate for AI. These people can get started today by using ChatGPT and then look a Microsoft 365 Copilot when it becomes available broadly.

As with any technology, there will be a learning curve. Likewise, there will be a first mover advantage for those that adopt early, which is the payoff for their early investment. The secret is looking beyond the hype and recognising that AI is simply another tool, like many that have come before and like than that will come in the future. In there here and now its benefits largely get over hyped by those who probably only have cursory experience with the technology. The good news here is that taking you can start using this latest tech tool for your business today. It won’t be for everyone in your business just yet, but I’d be pretty certain that it would benefit at least one person in your business right now. If AI can indeed save even a few hours every week for that person and make them more productive, then it is worth the investment.

In short, judge the benefits of AI as any other business tool. It is something for your business, just not everyone in your business right now.

Techwerks 20

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CIAOPS Techwerks returns to Melbourne CBD on Friday the 11th of August.

The course is limited to 20 people and you can sign up and reserve your place now! You reserve a place by completing this form:

http://bit.ly/ciaopsroi

or by sending me an email (director@ciaops.com) expressing your interest.

The content of these all day face to face workshops is driven by the attendees. That means we cover exactly what people want to see and focus on doing hands on, real world scenarios. Attendees can vote on topics they’d like to see covered prior to the day and we continue to target exactly what the small group of attendees wants to see. Thus, this is an excellent way to get really deep into the technology and have all the questions you’ve been dying to know answered. Typically, the event produces a number of best practice take aways for each attendee. So far, the greatest votes are for deeper dives into the Microsoft Cloud including Microsoft 365, Azure, Intune, Defender for Endpoint, security such as Azure Sentinel and PowerShell configuration and scripts, with a focus on enabling the technology in SMB businesses.

Recent testimonial – “I just wanted to say a big thank you to Robert for the Brisbane Techworks day. It is such a good format with each attendee asking what matters them and the whole interactive nature of the day. So much better than death by PowerPoint.” – Mike H.

The cost to attend is:

Gold Enterprise Patron = Free

Gold Patron = $33 inc GST

Silver Patron = $99 inc GST

Bronze Patron = $176 inc GST

Non Patron = $399 inc GST

I hope to see you there.

Microsoft 365 incident response training now on demand

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I have now made available in the CIAOPS Academy:

Microsoft 365 Incident Response

on demand training course. The aim of this training is to help you better prepare for a security incident inside the Microsoft 365 environment. You’ll learn what settings you should enable and what processes you should have in place before an incident occurs. The sessions will also take you through common examples of incidents and help you understand what needs to be done when they occur and how to minimise risk and impact to a business. The sessions will also take your through the post-incident process to build confidence with what information needs to be maintained and how to prevent similar incidents re-occurring. The final session will be a group hands on lab and discussion so you can put all the skills you have learned to the test.

A course quiz and certification of completion are also available as part of this course. Inside the course you’ll find over 8 hours of video content plus a host of resources and scripts for you to use.

Normally, this course is AU$399 but for a very limited time and for a limited number of people I am offering 33% off if you use this direct link:

https://www.ciaopsacademy.com/p/microsoft-365-incident-response?coupon_code=FIREMEUP&product_id=4576434

or use the code

FIREMEUP

at checkout.

My Tech Books – 2023

Tech is as much a lifestyle choice these days as it is a career. The geeks and nerds have risen to rule the world. Don’t believe me? Ask Bill Gates and Elon Musk! Sometimes it is good to step back and take a wide look at how technology has changed the world we live in – for better and worse.

To see my list from last year visit – My Tech Books 2022

My selections below, both fiction and non fiction, I have found to be enjoyable and thought provoking in many different ways and I recommend them to everyone who is interested in tech.

Mentions from 2022

The Metaverse: And How It Will Revolutionize Everything – Matthew L. Ball

After Steve: How Apple Became a Trillion-Dollar Company and Lost Its Soul – Tripp Mickle

Scary Smart: The Future of Artificial Intelligence and How You Can Save Our World – Mo Gawdat

You can follow all the books, tech, business, non-fiction, etc that I read over at Goodreads. You can view my activity here:

https://www.goodreads.com/director_cia

1. Daemon – Daniel Suarez [Fiction]

A glimpse into the future of where drones and augmented reality may take us. That may not necessarily be a good place either.

2. Freedom TM – Daniel Suarez [Fiction]

A follow up to Daemon. What happens when technology dominates the world? Who benefits?

3. Ready Player One – Ernest Cline [Fiction]

Much like the Matrix. What is life like if you live inside the machine? You can be just about anyone you choose. I also love this book for all the retro technology that was part of my life. TRS-80 anyone? This book has become so popular that there is now a movie. Believe me, the book is better.

4. Sandworm: A New Era of Cyberwar and the Hunt for the Kremlin’s Most Dangerous Hackers – Andy Greenberg [Non-Fiction]

This is a great book if you are interested in IT security. It is also a very current book which makes it even more engrossing. It is easy to read and quite comprehensive in its approach, not only dealing with the technology of security attack but also the geopolitical reasons and consequences.

It reveals that shadow world of nation state cyber attacks and illustrates how they are happening today and likely to increase in the future. The connected world of the Internet has brought us many benefits but it is now increasing risks as our dependencies increase to the point that there are few manual backups that don’t depend on technology.

I think this book is a real glimpse into the future and what we may be in store for in the even of rising global conflicts. If you like tech, you’ll love this!

5. Future Crimes: Inside the Digital Underground and the Battle for our Connected World – Marc Goodman [Non-fiction]

Technology will ultimately doom us all I believe because we are building our world on stuff that unfortunately places a low regard for security and privacy. This book will show you why that is a road to ruination.

6. Countdown to Zero Day: Stuxnet and the Launch of the World’s First Digital Weapon – Kim Zetter [Non-Fiction]

If you don’t believe cyber warfare is real then read this book to understand how software is now a weapon as potentially devastating as any nuclear device.

7. Beyond Fear: Thinking Sensibly about Security in an Uncertain World – Bruce Schneier [Non-Fiction]

Security is important but it is important in context. We need to be rational when we consider our security not emotional. A great level headed approach to how we need to be secure.

8. American Kingpin: The Epic Hunt or the Criminal Mastermind Behind the Silk Road – Nick Bilton [Non-Fiction]

An amazingly detailed book on the rise and fall of Ross Ulbricht, the creator of the Silk Road web site. In here are asked to think about whether technology plays something more than a neutral role in today’s world.

9. The Cuckoos Egg – Clifford Stoll [Non-Fiction]

Before the Internet was in the public sphere it existed in the world of academia. This is the story of how one man’s search for the source of an accounting error uncovered something are more sinister.

10. This how they tell me the world ends: The cyberweapons arms race – Nicole Perlroth [Non-Fiction]

Highlights the challenges that society has created, mainly from its’ own doing and questions of how we go about fixing this so we don’t end causing infinite harm to both intended targets and unintended victims.