Need to Know podcast–Episode 352

In this episode of the CIAOPS “Need to Know” podcast, we dive into the latest updates across Microsoft 365, GitHub Copilot, and SMB-focused strategies for scaling IT services. From new Teams features to deep dives into DLP alerts and co-partnering models for MSPs, this episode is packed with insights for IT professionals and small business tech leaders looking to stay ahead of the curve. I also take a look at building an agent to help you work with frameworks like the ASD Blueprint for Secure Cloud.

Brought to you by www.ciaopspatron.com

you can listen directly to this episode at:

https://ciaops.podbean.com/e/episode-352-agents-to-the-rescue/

Subscribe via iTunes at:

https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/ciaops-need-to-know-podcasts/id406891445?mt=2

or Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/7ejj00cOuw8977GnnE2lPb

Don’t forget to give the show a rating as well as send me any feedback or suggestions you may have for the show.

Resources

CIAOPS Need to Know podcast – CIAOPS – Need to Know podcasts | CIAOPS

X – https://www.twitter.com/directorcia

Join my Teams shared channel – Join my Teams Shared Channel – CIAOPS

CIAOPS Merch store – CIAOPS

Become a CIAOPS Patron – CIAOPS Patron

CIAOPS Blog – CIAOPS – Information about SharePoint, Microsoft 365, Azure, Mobility and Productivity from the Computer Information Agency

CIAOPS Brief – CIA Brief – CIAOPS

CIAOPS Labs – CIAOPS Labs – The Special Activities Division of the CIAOPS

Support CIAOPS – https://ko-fi.com/ciaops

Get your M365 questions answered via email

Microsoft 365 & GitHub Copilot Updates
GPT-5 in Microsoft 365 Copilot: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/08/07/available-today-gpt-5-in-microsoft-365-copilot/

GPT-5 Public Preview for GitHub Copilot: https://github.blog/changelog/2025-08-07-openai-gpt-5-is-now-in-public-preview-for-github-copilot/

Microsoft Teams & UX Enhancements

Mic Volume Indicator in Teams: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/Microsoft365InsiderBlog/new-microphone-volume-indicator-in-teams/4442879

Pull Print in Universal Print: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/windows-itpro-blog/pull-print-is-now-available-in-universal-print/4441608

Audio Overview in Word via Copilot: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/Microsoft365InsiderBlog/listen-to-an-audio-overview-of-a-document-with-microsoft-365-copilot-in-word/4439362

Hidden OneDrive Features: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/get-the-most-out-of-onedrive-with-these-little-known-features/4435197

SharePoint Header/Footer Enhancements: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/spblog/introducing-new-sharepoint-site-header–footer-enhancements/4444261

Security & Compliance

DLP Alerts Deep Dive (Part 1 & 2): https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft-security-blog/deep-dive-dlp-incidents-alerts–events—part-1/4443691

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft-security-blog/deep-dive-dlp-incidents-alerts–events—part-2/4443700

Security Exposure Management Ninja Training: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/securityexposuremanagement/microsoft-security-exposure-management-ninja-training/4444285

Microsoft Entra Internet Access & Shadow AI Protection: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft-entra-blog/uncover-shadow-ai-block-threats-and-protect-data-with-microsoft-entra-internet-a/4440787

ASD Blueprint for Secure Cloud – https://blueprint.asd.gov.au/

CIA Brief 20250817

Microsoft Security Exposure Management Ninja Training –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/securityexposuremanagement/microsoft-security-exposure-management-ninja-training/4444285

New pen tools and Draw tab customization in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for Windows –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/new-pen-tools-and-draw-tab-customization-in-word-excel-and-powerpoint-for-window/4433543

Improved margins in OneNote for Android and iOS –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/Microsoft365InsiderBlog/improved-margins-in-onenote-for-android-and-ios/4441604

New microphone volume indicator in Teams –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/Microsoft365InsiderBlog/new-microphone-volume-indicator-in-teams/4442879

Get the most out of OneDrive with these little-known features! –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/get-the-most-out-of-onedrive-with-these-little-known-features/4435197

Dow’s 125-year legacy: Innovating with AI to secure a long future –

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2025/08/12/dows-125-year-legacy-innovating-with-ai-to-secure-a-long-future/

Pull print is now available in Universal Print –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/windows-itpro-blog/pull-print-is-now-available-in-universal-print/4441608

Paste text only in OneNote on Windows, for Mac, and for the web –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/paste-text-only-in-onenote-on-windows-for-mac-and-for-the-web/4441132

Microsoft Teams – Manage meeting access with confidence –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fGvVREwX33E

New pen tools and Draw tab customization in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for Windows –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/new-pen-tools-and-draw-tab-customization-in-word-excel-and-powerpoint-for-window/4433543

How Fulton County Schools use Copilot Chat to empower student innovation –

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/education/blog/2025/08/how-fulton-county-schools-use-copilot-chat-to-empower-student-innovation/

After hours

AI Is About to Get Physical– https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WZNxNr7kS8

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

CIA Brief 20250809

Listen to an audio overview of a document with Microsoft 365 Copilot in Word –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/Microsoft365InsiderBlog/listen-to-an-audio-overview-of-a-document-with-microsoft-365-copilot-in-word/4439362

Microsoft recognized as a Leader in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Enterprise Low-Code Application Platforms –

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/blog/power-apps/microsoft-recognized-as-a-leader-in-the-2025-gartner-magic-quadrant-for-enterprise-low-code-application-platforms/

Uncover shadow AI, block threats, and protect data with Microsoft Entra Internet Access –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft-entra-blog/uncover-shadow-ai-block-threats-and-protect-data-with-microsoft-entra-internet-a/4440787

OpenAI GPT-5 is now in public preview for GitHub Copilot –

https://github.blog/changelog/2025-08-07-openai-gpt-5-is-now-in-public-preview-for-github-copilot/

Multi-tenant endpoint security policies distribution is now in Public Preview –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoftdefenderatpblog/multi-tenant-endpoint-security-policies-distribution-is-now-in-public-preview/4439929

Microsoft incorporates OpenAI’s GPT-5 into consumer, developer and enterprise offerings –

https://news.microsoft.com/source/features/ai/openai-gpt-5

Available today: GPT-5 in Microsoft 365 Copilot –

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/08/07/available-today-gpt-5-in-microsoft-365-copilot/

Empowering teen students to achieve more with Copilot Chat and Microsoft 365 Copilot –

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/education/blog/2025/05/empowering-teen-students-to-achieve-more-with-copilot-chat-and-microsoft-365-copilot/

Breaking down silos: A unified approach to identity and network access security –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft-entra-blog/breaking-down-silos-a-unified-approach-to-identity-and-network-access-security/4400196

Announcing Public Preview: Phishing Triage Agent in Microsoft Defender –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoftthreatprotectionblog/announcing-public-preview-phishing-triage-agent-in-microsoft-defender/4438301

Request more access in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for the web –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/Microsoft365InsiderBlog/request-more-access-in-word-excel-and-powerpoint-for-the-web/4429019

Elevate your protection with expanded Microsoft Defender Experts coverage –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoftsecurityexperts/elevate-your-protection-with-expanded-microsoft-defender-experts-coverage/4439134

Self-adaptive reasoning for science –

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/self-adaptive-reasoning-for-science/

Table Talk: Sentinel’s New ThreatIntel Tables Explained –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoftsentinelblog/table-talk-sentinel%E2%80%99s-new-threatintel-tables-explained/4440273

Hacking Made Easy, Patching Made Optional: A Modern Cyber Tragedy –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft-security-blog/hacking-made-easy-patching-made-optional-a-modern-cyber-tragedy/4440267

Security leadership in the age of constant disruption –

https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2025/08/05/security-leadership-in-the-age-of-constant-disruption/

Project Ire autonomously identifies malware at scale –

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/project-ire-autonomously-identifies-malware-at-scale/

What’s New in Microsoft Teams | July 2025 –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoftteamsblog/what%E2%80%99s-new-in-microsoft-teams–july-2025/4438302

Microsoft Entra Suite delivers 131% ROI by unifying identity and network access –

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2025/08/04/microsoft-entra-suite-delivers-131-roi-by-unifying-identity-and-network-access/

New governance tools for hybrid access and identity verification –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft-entra-blog/new-governance-tools-for-hybrid-access-and-identity-verification/4422534

After hours

GPT-5: Our best model for work – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2jqS7JD0hrY

Editorial

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

CIAOPS AI Dojo 003–Copilot Chat Agent Builder

What’s the session about?

Empower attendees to design, build, and deploy intelligent chat agents using Copilot Studio’s Agent Builder, with a focus on real-world automation, integration, and user experience

What you’ll learn

Understand the architecture and capabilities of Copilot Chat Agents
Build and customise agents using triggers, topics, and actions
Deploy agents across Teams, websites, and other channels
Monitor performance and continuously improve user experience
Apply governance and security best practices for enterprise-grade bots

Who should attend?

This session is perfect for:

IT administrators and support staff
Business owners
People looking to get more done with Microsoft 365
Anyone looking to automate their daily grind

Save the Date

Date: Friday the 29th of August

Time: 9:30 AM Sydney AU time

Location: Online (link will be provided upon registration)

Cost: $80 per attendee (free for Dojo subscribers)

1. Welcome & Context

Intro to the Copilot AI Dojo series
News and updates
Why chat agents matter in modern workflows
Overview of Copilot Studio and its evolution

2. Foundations of Chat Agent Design

What is a Copilot Chat Agent?
Key components: triggers, topics, actions, and responses
Understanding user intent and conversation flow

3. Live Demo: Building Your First Agent

Step-by-step walkthrough in Copilot Studio
Creating a simple agent that answers FAQs
Using Power Automate to extend functionality

4. Deploying and Monitoring Your Agent

Publishing to Teams, websites, and other channels
Analytics and feedback loops
Continuous improvement strategies

5. Q&A and Community Showcase

Open floor for questions
Highlighting community-built agents
Resources for further learning

Need to Know podcast–Episode 351

In Episode 351 of the CIAOPS “Need to Know” podcast, we explore how small MSPs can scale through shared knowledge. From peer collaboration and co-partnering strategies to AI-driven security frameworks and Microsoft 365 innovations, this episode delivers actionable insights for SMB IT professionals looking to grow smarter, not harder.

Brought to you by www.ciaopspatron.com

you can listen directly to this episode at:

https://ciaops.podbean.com/e/episode-351-learning-is-a-superpower/

Subscribe via iTunes at:

https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/ciaops-need-to-know-podcasts/id406891445?mt=2

or Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/7ejj00cOuw8977GnnE2lPb

Don’t forget to give the show a rating as well as send me any feedback or suggestions you may have for the show.

Resources

CIAOPS Need to Know podcast – CIAOPS – Need to Know podcasts | CIAOPS

X – https://www.twitter.com/directorcia

Join my Teams shared channel – Join my Teams Shared Channel – CIAOPS

CIAOPS Merch store – CIAOPS

Become a CIAOPS Patron – CIAOPS Patron

CIAOPS Blog – CIAOPS – Information about SharePoint, Microsoft 365, Azure, Mobility and Productivity from the Computer Information Agency

CIAOPS Brief – CIA Brief – CIAOPS

CIAOPS Labs – CIAOPS Labs – The Special Activities Division of the CIAOPS

Support CIAOPS – https://ko-fi.com/ciaops

Get your M365 questions answered via email

Show Notes

Security & Threat Intelligence

Secret Blizzard AiTM Campaign: Microsoft uncovers a phishing campaign targeting diplomats. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2025/07/31/frozen-in-transit-secret-blizzards-aitm-campaign-against-diplomats

Multi-modal Threat Protection: Defender’s advanced capabilities against complex threats. https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoftdefenderforoffice365blog/protection-against-multi-modal-attacks-with-microsoft-defender/4438786

AI Security Essentials: Microsoft’s approach to AI-related security concerns. https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft-security-blog/ai-security-essentials-what-companies-worry-about-and-how-microsoft-helps/4436639

macOS TCC Vulnerability: Spotlight-based flaw analysis. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2025/07/28/sploitlight-analyzing-a-spotlight-based-macos-tcc-vulnerability/

Copilot Security Assessment: Microsoft’s framework for secure AI deployments. https://security-for-ai-assessment.microsoft.com/

Identity & Access Management

Modern Identity Defense: New threat detection tools from Microsoft. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2025/07/31/modernize-your-identity-defense-with-microsoft-identity-threat-detection-and-response/

AI Agents & Identity: How AI is reshaping identity management. https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft-entra-blog/ai-agents-and-the-future-of-identity-what%E2%80%99s-on-the-minds-of-your-peers/4436815

Token Protection in Entra: Preview of enhanced conditional access. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/identity/conditional-access/concept-token-protection

Microsoft Earnings & Business Updates

FY25 Q4 Earnings: Strong growth in cloud and AI revenue. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/Investor/earnings/FY-2025-Q4/press-release-webcast

Copilot & AI Enhancements

Copilot Without Recording: Use Copilot in Teams without meeting recordings. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/use-copilot-without-recording-a-teams-meeting-a59cb88c-0f6b-4a20-a47a-3a1c9a818bd9

Copilot Search Features: Acronyms and bookmarks walkthrough. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nftEC73Cjxo

Copilot Search Launch: General availability announcement. https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/announcing-microsoft-365-copilot-search-general-availability-a-new-era-of-search/4435537

Productivity & Power Platform

PowerPoint Tips: 7 hidden features to elevate your presentations. https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/take-your-presentation-skills-to-the-next-level-with-these-7-lesser-known-powerp/4433700

New Power Apps: Generative AI meets enterprise-grade trust. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/blog/power-apps/introducing-the-new-power-apps-generative-power-meets-enterprise-grade-trust/

CIA Brief 20250803

Protection against multi-modal attacks with Microsoft Defender –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoftdefenderforoffice365blog/protection-against-multi-modal-attacks-with-microsoft-defender/4438786

Copilot Search: Acronyms and bookmarks –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nftEC73Cjxo

Modernize your identity defense with Microsoft Identity Threat Detection and Response –

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2025/07/31/modernize-your-identity-defense-with-microsoft-identity-threat-detection-and-response/

Frozen in transit: Secret Blizzard’s AiTM campaign against diplomats –

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2025/07/31/frozen-in-transit-secret-blizzards-aitm-campaign-against-diplomats/

AI agents and the future of identity: What’s on the minds of your peers? –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft-entra-blog/ai-agents-and-the-future-of-identity-what%E2%80%99s-on-the-minds-of-your-peers/4436815

Enhance your LMS with the power of Microsoft 365 –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/educationblog/preview-the-new-microsoft-365-lti%C2%AE-for-your-lms/4434606

Earnings Release FY25 Q4 –

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/Investor/earnings/FY-2025-Q4/press-release-webcast

Use Copilot without recording a Teams meeting –

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/use-copilot-without-recording-a-teams-meeting-a59cb88c-0f6b-4a20-a47a-3a1c9a818bd9

How Microsoft’s customers and partners accelerated AI Transformation in FY25 to innovate with purpose and shape their future success –

https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2025/07/28/how-microsofts-customers-and-partners-accelerated-ai-transformation-in-fy25-to-innovate-with-purpose-and-shape-their-future-success/

AI Security Essentials: What Companies Worry About and How Microsoft Helps –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft-security-blog/ai-security-essentials-what-companies-worry-about-and-how-microsoft-helps/4436639

Sploitlight: Analyzing a Spotlight-based macOS TCC vulnerability –

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2025/07/28/sploitlight-analyzing-a-spotlight-based-macos-tcc-vulnerability/

Security for AI Assessment | Microsoft 365 Copilot –

https://security-for-ai-assessment.microsoft.com/

After hours

Team Water – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRhofr57Na8

Editorial

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

CIA Brief 20250727

Bring Auxiliary Logs to the next level –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/azureobservabilityblog/bring-auxiliary-logs-to-the-next-level/4433395

Microsoft 365 Backup for Small Businesses –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3C0aEsdQSA

Microsoft AI Security Story: Protection Across the Platform –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoftdefendercloudblog/microsoft-ai-security-story-protection-across-the-platform/4435485

Microsoft Entra Conditional Access: Token protection (Preview) now available with Entra ID P1 –

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/identity/conditional-access/concept-token-protection

Windows 11 is the home for AI on the PC, with even more experiences available today –

https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2025/07/22/windows-11-is-the-home-for-ai-on-the-pc-with-even-more-experiences-available-today/

Announcing Microsoft 365 Copilot Search General Availability: A new era of search with Copilot –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/announcing-microsoft-365-copilot-search-general-availability-a-new-era-of-search/4435537

Always-On Diagnostics for Endpoint DLP –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft-security-blog/always-on-diagnostics-for-endpoint-dlp/4435551

Take your presentation skills to the next level with these 7 lesser-known PowerPoint features –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/take-your-presentation-skills-to-the-next-level-with-these-7-lesser-known-powerp/4433700

Microsoft Sentinel data lake pricing (preview) –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft-security-blog/microsoft-sentinel-data-lake-pricing-preview/4433919

Introducing Microsoft Sentinel data lake –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIlQfgiyUz8

MDTI is Converging into Microsoft Sentinel and Defender XDR –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/defenderthreatintelligence/mdti-is-converging-into-microsoft-sentinel-and-defender-xdr/4427991

Take your presentation skills to the next level with these 7 lesser-known PowerPoint features –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/take-your-presentation-skills-to-the-next-level-with-these-7-lesser-known-powerp/4433700

Microsoft Defender: the end-to-end integrated unified SecOps solution –

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy7Ah6voC1Y

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE) Live Response and Performance Script. –

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/coreinfrastructureandsecurityblog/microsoft-defender-for-endpoint-mde-live-response-and-performance-script-/4434879

Introducing the new Power Apps: Generative power meets enterprise-grade trust –

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/blog/power-apps/introducing-the-new-power-apps-generative-power-meets-enterprise-grade-trust/

After hours

Valtteri Bottas and Jack Whitehall team up to road test a Silverstone itinerary – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uOlnuH8ZBvc

Editorial

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

Need to Know podcast–Episode 350

In Episode 350 of the CIAOPS “Need to Know” podcast, along with the latest news from the Microsoft Cloud, we explore how Microsoft Power Pages is revolutionising web development for SMBs. Learn how this low-code platform enables businesses to build secure, scalable portals—without needing full-stack developers. From customer support portals to partner onboarding, discover real-world use cases, a step-by-step guide to building your first portal, and how Managed Service Providers (MSPs) can offer Power Pages as a service. This episode is a must-listen for IT professionals, MSPs, and business leaders driving digital transformation.

Brought to you by www.ciaopspatron.com

you can listen directly to this episode at:

https://ciaops.podbean.com/e/episode-350-power-up/

Subscribe via iTunes at:

https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/ciaops-need-to-know-podcasts/id406891445?mt=2

or Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/show/7ejj00cOuw8977GnnE2lPb

Don’t forget to give the show a rating as well as send me any feedback or suggestions you may have for the show.

Resources

CIAOPS Need to Know podcast – CIAOPS – Need to Know podcasts | CIAOPS

X – https://www.twitter.com/directorcia

Join my Teams shared channel – Join my Teams Shared Channel – CIAOPS