Category: Microsoft 365

CIA Brief 20260103

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Managing Microsoft Sentinel and Microsoft Defender XDR permissions in Microsoft Defender portal –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/MicrosoftSentinelBlog/managing-microsoft-sentinel-and-micr…

Microsoft Sentinel Platform: Audit Logs and Where to Find Them –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/MicrosoftSentinelBlog/microsoft-sentinel-platform-audit-lo…

Get ready for the new year with Microsoft 365 –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/get-ready-for-the-new-year-with-mi…

After hours

The Truth About the Moon Landings– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMHLvoWZfqQ

Editorial

If you found this valuable, the I’d appreciate a ‘like’ or perhaps a donation at https://ko-fi.com/ciaops. This helps me know that people enjoy what I have created and provides resources to allow me to create more content. If you have any feedback or suggestions around this, I’m all ears. You can also find me via email director@ciaops.com and on X (Twitter) at https://www.twitter.com/directorcia.

If you want to be part of a dedicated Microsoft Cloud community with information and interactions daily, then consider becoming a CIAOPS Patron – www.ciaopspatron.com.

Watch out for the next CIA Brief next week

My Stuff 2026

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.

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:

I maintain a GitHub repository that contains not only links to articles on best practices for services like Exchange Online but also contains configuration files and settings typically in JSON format that can be imported and used to configure your Microsoft 365 environment. You will find all that here:

https://github.com/directorcia/bp

With over 350 episodes and now in it’s 16th 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 Spotify. 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.

You can join my free Teams shared channel. To do so follow the instruction here:

here you’ll find a forum on the Microsoft Cloud along with up to date news and information.

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

I also have an email list you can join here:

You can get answers to Microsoft 365 questions via AI grounded on my knowledge by sending your question in the BODY of an email to:

Be patient, a response by return email will take a couple for minutes.

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

You can also just buy me a coffee and support what I do – https://ko-fi.com/ciaops, which I would very much appreciate.

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.

Being an Electrical Engineer by trade I enjoy building and solving problems with a variety of projects. This involves digging to electronics, IoT and 3D Printing amongst other things. I try and document all of those learnings over at CIAOPS Labs when I can.

In 2025 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.

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

Introduction to Copilot Notebooks

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Unlock the power of AI-driven productivity with Microsoft 365 Copilot Notebooks!
Are you ready to transform the way you organize, analyze, and create? This comprehensive beginner’s guide reveals how Copilot Notebooks—Microsoft’s revolutionary AI-enhanced workspace—can become your personal project brain, helping you work smarter, not harder.

Why This Guide Is a Must-Have for Every Microsoft 365 User

  • Supercharge Your Workflow:
    Learn how to gather content from Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDFs, emails, and more into a single, organized notebook. No more hunting for scattered files—Copilot Notebooks centralize everything you need for any project.

  • AI-Powered Insights at Your Fingertips:
    Discover how to ask Copilot questions about your collected materials and receive instant, context-aware answers. Whether you need a summary, trend analysis, or a draft report, Copilot delivers tailored results based on your actual content—not generic web searches.

  • Automate Tedious Tasks:
    Say goodbye to manual note-taking and repetitive documentation. Let Copilot turn meeting notes into action lists, summarize long email threads, or draft proposals in seconds, freeing you to focus on what matters most.

  • Boost Collaboration and Creativity:
    Share notebooks with colleagues, co-author in real time, and leverage AI to keep everyone aligned. Copilot Notebooks are designed for seamless teamwork and creative brainstorming.

  • Stay Ahead with Audio Overviews:
    Unique to Copilot Notebooks, generate AI-narrated audio summaries of your projects—perfect for reviewing information on the go or multitasking.

  • Step-by-Step, Beginner-Friendly:
    This guide walks you through setup, best practices, and real-world use cases (data analysis, task automation, documentation), making it easy for anyone to get started—no technical expertise required.

Empower yourself to work faster, smarter, and more creatively.

Get your copy of the “Microsoft 365 Copilot Notebooks: Beginner’s Guide” today and unlock a new era of productivity!

I would always appreciate you supporting my work by purchasing a copy (nominate your own price) here:

https://directorcia.gumroad.com/l/bgcn 

and don’t forget all my other publications can be found here:

https://directorcia.gumroad.com/

November Microsoft 365 Webinar resources

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The slides from this month’s webinar are available at:

https://github.com/directorcia/general/blob/master/Presentations/Need%20to%20Know%20Webinars/202512.pdf

If you are not a CIAOPS patron you want to view or download a full copy of the video from the session you can do so here:

http://www.ciaopsacademy.com.au/p/need-to-know-webinars

Watch out for next month’s webinar.

Unlock New Revenue with AI: The Ultimate Playbook for MSPs Serving SMBs

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Transform your MSP business and your clients’ success with “AI as a Revenue Stream for SMB-Focused MSPs: A Step-by-Step Playbook.”
My comprehensive guide reveals how Managed Service Providers (MSPs) can harness the power of AI—especially Microsoft 365 Copilot—to create profitable, recurring revenue streams while delivering real, measurable value to small and mid-sized business clients.

What’s Inside:

  • Proven Strategies: Learn how to build in-house AI expertise, develop marketable service offerings, and position your MSP as the go-to AI advisor for SMBs.
  • Actionable Playbooks: Step-by-step instructions for AI readiness assessments, Copilot pilot deployments, custom AI solution development, and ongoing managed AI services.
  • Real-World Examples: Discover practical use cases, pricing models, and packaging ideas that have driven success for forward-thinking MSPs.
  • Marketing & Sales Tactics: Get tips on educating your market, overcoming AI skepticism, and using demos and case studies to close deals.
  • ROI-Focused Guidance: Master value-based pricing, SaaS-style subscriptions, and how to clearly demonstrate the business impact of AI for your clients.

Why This Guide?

  • Written by industry experts with deep Microsoft 365 and AI experience.
  • Packed with checklists, templates, and ready-to-use service packages.
  • Designed for immediate action—whether you’re just starting with AI or looking to scale your offerings.

Perfect for:

  • MSPs and IT consultants serving small and mid-sized businesses.
  • Business owners seeking to future-proof their services and boost client retention.
  • Anyone looking to monetize AI and Microsoft Copilot in the real world.

Don’t let your MSP get left behind.
Download “AI as a Revenue Stream for SMB-Focused MSPs” and start building your next growth engine today!

As a Boxing Day sale, I’m offering this publication for free in exchange for your joining my email list. To get your copy just provide your details here:

https://forms.office.com/r/T4ZSWhquJ8

and will be emailed out to you. This offer is valid until 1/1/2026.

I would always appreciate you supporting my work by purchasing a copy (nominate your own price) here:

https://directorcia.gumroad.com/l/airevenue

and don’t forget all my other publications can be found here:

https://directorcia.gumroad.com/

All the best for the holidays.

M365 Business Premium Compliance Guide from CIAOPS

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Unlock Effortless Compliance for Australian Small Businesses with Microsoft 365 Business Premium!

Are you a small business owner navigating the complex world of Australian data privacy, security, and regulatory compliance? The “Microsoft 365 Business Premium Compliance Guide for Australian Small Businesses” is your essential resource for mastering the Privacy Act 1988, the Notifiable Data Breaches (NDB) scheme, and the ACSC Essential Eight cybersecurity framework—all with practical, step-by-step instructions.

What’s Inside:

  • Clear, actionable guidance on configuring Microsoft 365 Business Premium for compliance with Australian laws and standards.
  • Comprehensive coverage of key regulations, including the Privacy Act, NDB scheme, and Essential Eight, mapped directly to Microsoft 365 features.
  • Step-by-step setup instructions for multi-factor authentication, device management, data loss prevention, sensitivity labels, retention policies, secure collaboration, and more.
  • Quick start checklists and implementation roadmaps to accelerate your compliance journey.
  • Expert tips on overcoming licensing limitations and preparing for upcoming regulatory changes.

Perfect for:

  • Australian small businesses and health service providers
  • IT consultants and managed service providers
  • Business leaders seeking peace of mind on compliance and data protection

Why Choose This Guide?

  • Written specifically for the Australian regulatory landscape
  • Focused on practical, real-world solutions using Microsoft 365 Business Premium
  • Helps you achieve ACSC Essential Eight Maturity Level 2 and full compliance with the 13 Australian Privacy Principles

Stay ahead of regulatory changes and protect your business with confidence.

Get your copy of “Using M365BP for Compliance” today and turn Microsoft 365 Business Premium into your compliance powerhouse!

Get a copy today at – https://directorcia.gumroad.com/l/m365bbcg (nominate yoru own price).

Check out all the other CIAOPS Publications at – https://directorcia.gumroad.com/

CIA Brief 20251221

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Get clarity on complex presentations with Explainer in PowerPoint –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/Microsoft365InsiderBlog/get-clarity-on-complex-presentatio…

New Microsoft e-book: 3 reasons point solutions are holding you back –

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2025/12/18/new-microsoft-e-book-3-reasons-point-solut…

New capabilities for AI admins from Ignite 2025 –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/new-capabilities-for-ai-admins-fro…

Microsoft Defender Experts Disrupt Jasper Sleet’s Insider Access Campaign –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoftsecurityexperts/microsoft-defender-experts-disrup…

More control over proofing language in OneNote on Windows –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/more-control-over-proofing-languag…

Surfing the AI Wave: Manage, Govern, and Protect AI Agents with Microsoft Entra Agent ID –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft-entra-blog/surfing-the-ai-wave-manage-govern-and…

What’s New in Microsoft 365 Copilot | November & December 2025 –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/what%E2%80%99s-new-in-microsoft-36…

More control over proofing language in OneNote on Windows –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/more-control-over-proofing-languag…

Microsoft 365 Insider Round-Up: December 2025 –

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/microsoft-365-insider-round-up-december-2025-microsoft-365-insider-r…

Exchange Online ActiveSync Device Support Update –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/exchange/exchange-online-activesync-device-support-update/…

Meet Agents in OneDrive : Your AI assistant built with your own content –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/spblog/meet-agents-in-onedrive–your-ai-assistant-built-wi…

What’s new in Microsoft Copilot Studio: November 2025 –

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/blog/copilot-studio/whats-new-in-microsoft-copilo…

After hours

This AI Vending Machine Was Tricked Into Giving Away Everything

– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SpPhm7S9vsQ

Editorial

If you found this valuable, the I’d appreciate a ‘like’ or perhaps a donation at https://ko-fi.com/ciaops. This helps me know that people enjoy what I have created and provides resources to allow me to create more content. If you have any feedback or suggestions around this, I’m all ears. You can also find me via email director@ciaops.com and on X (Twitter) at https://www.twitter.com/directorcia.

If you want to be part of a dedicated Microsoft Cloud community with information and interactions daily, then consider becoming a CIAOPS Patron – www.ciaopspatron.com.

Watch out for the next CIA Brief next week

Incident Response Plan with M365BP Publication

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I’ve just finished off a new publication – Incident Response Plan with Microsoft 365 Business Premium. The details are:

Executive Summary

This playbook provides a comprehensive, step-by-step approach for responding to security incidents in Microsoft 365 Business Premium environments. It follows the NIST incident response lifecycle and integrates Microsoft’s best practices for cloud security. The plan is designed to help organizations minimize damage, protect sensitive data, restore operations quickly, and meet legal and regulatory requirements.

Key Components

Length = Over 90 pages

Quick Start Guide

  • Emergency Checklist: Immediate actions for newly discovered incidents, with a printable 1–2 page checklist for high-pressure situations.
  • Decision Tree: Rapid classification of incident severity (Critical, High, Medium, Low) to guide response urgency.

Notable Features

  • Checklists and Templates: Ready-to-use forms for incident logs, evidence collection, communications, and insurance claims.
  • Technical Guidance: PowerShell scripts and portal instructions for investigation and remediation.
  • Compliance Alignment: Guidance for GDPR, HIPAA, CCPA, and other regulatory notifications.
  • Continuous Improvement: Emphasis on regular drills, lessons learned, and updating the plan after incidents.

Intended Outcomes

  • Swift, organized response to security incidents.
  • Minimized business disruption and data loss.
  • Compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.
  • Improved cyber resilience through ongoing training and process refinement.

Like my last publication:

Implementing ACSC Essential Eight Maturity Level 3 with Microsoft 365 Business Premium publication

You can get your copy by heading over to my Ko-Fi at:

https://ko-fi.com/ciaops

and leaving me a one time tip for whatever you feel it is worth I’ll then email you a copy. Also ensure you include a message letting me know you want this particular publication

Note – All CIAOPS Patrons receive all my publications for free as part of their subscription. The benefits of membership.