Need to Know podcast–Episode 368

Latest news and updates from the Microsoft cloud from security, to copilot and beyond. I also share my thoughts on recent changes at Microsoft, Cowork costs, security challenges with agents and my experiences configuring local AI. Always keen to hear your thoughts and feedback on the content in this episode.

Brought to you by www.ciaopspatron.com

you can listen directly to this episode at:

https://ciaops.podbean.com/e/episode-367-goldilocks-gone/

Subscribe via iTunes at:

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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

director@ciaops.com

CIAOPS Blog

Join my Teams Shared Channel – CIAOPS

CIAOPS Merch store – CIAOPS

Become a CIAOPS Patron

CIAOPS AI Dojo

CIAOPS weekly news update – CIA Brief – CIAOPS

CIAOPS Labs – The Special Activities Division of the CIAOPS

Support CIAOPS

Get your M365 questions answered via email

Join my email list

A special thanks to the CIAOPS Patron community for making this podcast possible. You can find the benefits of a subscription to the community and become a member at https://www.ciaopspatron.com

Security & Threat Intelligence

Microsoft 365 Copilot & AI

SharePoint & Content Management

Microsoft Corporate News

Microsoft cuts 4,800 employees in new layoffs

Need to Know podcast–Episode 367

This episode ultimately reflects on how organisations must adapt to an environment where solutions are no longer neatly balanced between simplicity and capability. Instead, businesses need to reassess priorities, stay informed, and make deliberate choices about which innovations deliver real value. For SMBs, the challenge is not just keeping up—but identifying what’s truly “good enough” in an increasingly complex cloud-first world.

Brought to you by www.ciaopspatron.com

you can listen directly to this episode at:

https://ciaops.podbean.com/e/episode-367-goldilocks-gone/

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

director@ciaops.com

CIAOPS Blog

Join my Teams Shared Channel – CIAOPS

CIAOPS Merch store – CIAOPS

Become a CIAOPS Patron

CIAOPS AI Dojo

CIAOPS weekly news update – CIA Brief – CIAOPS

CIAOPS Labs – The Special Activities Division of the CIAOPS

Support CIAOPS

Get your M365 questions answered via email

Join my email list

A special thanks to the CIAOPS Patron community for making this podcast possible. You can find the benefits of a subscription to the community and become a member at https://www.ciaopspatron.com

AutoJack: How a single page can RCE the host running your AI agent

Azure Sets a New Performance Record for LLM Training Benchmark at Extreme Scale

Forrester names Microsoft a Leader in the 2026 Extended Detection and Response Platforms Wave report

Copilot Cowork is now generally available

Microsoft Defender email security benchmarking: Key insights from one year of data

Stay productive in new Outlook for Windows with these 5 features

What’s new in Power Platform: June 2026 feature update

What’s New in Notebooks | June 2026

Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team responds to the intensity of race weekends with Microsoft

AI brands as bait: How threat actors are using the AI hype in social engineering

Need to Know podcast–Episode 365

In this episode, we dig into Cowork Skills and why they represent a genuine shift from “AI as a novelty” to “AI as part of how work actually gets done.” Not more prompts. Not more tools. But fewer decisions, less friction, and more consistency across the business.
If you’ve ever thought “Copilot is interesting, but it’s not really embedded yet”, this episode is for you.

Brought to you by www.ciaopspatron.com

you can listen directly to this episode at:

https://ciaops.podbean.com/e/episode-365-skills-not-apps/

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

director@ciaops.com

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

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

CIAOPS Merch store – CIAOPS

Become a CIAOPS Patron – CIAOPS Patron

CIAOPS Brief – CIA Brief – CIAOPS

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

Support CIAOPS – Support CIAOPS

Get your M365 questions answered via email

Please fill out this form

A special thanks to the CIAOPS Patron community for making this podcast possible. You can find the benefits of a subscription to the community and become a member at https://www.ciaopspatron.com
CIAOPS MSP Skills

Microsoft Build

Choose how OneNote opens Microsoft 365 file links

How Storm-2949 turned a compromised identity into a cloud-wide breach

Disrupting Fox Tempest: A cybercrime service that turned “verified” software into a pathway for ransomware

Exposing Fox Tempest: A malware-signing service operation

A faster, more efficient Editor experience with Narrator in Word

Launched: Microsoft 365 Copilot Adoption Hub Redesign

Need to Know podcast–Episode 363

I reflect on the significance of the day before diving into the week’s major developments, including the arrival of the Microsoft AI Tour in Sydney. The episode covers both partner and public events, with a focus on enterprise-level AI advancements and networking opportunities.

The podcast features a comprehensive weekly news roundup:

The general availability of Copilot Agent capabilities in Microsoft 365 apps.
New data security tools for AI in Microsoft Purview.
Innovations in identity resilience and backup with Microsoft Entra.
Microsoft’s $25 billion investment in Australian AI infrastructure and training.
Practical security playbooks for tenant protection and device analytics.
Updates on decluttering promotional mail with Microsoft Defender.
Guidance on preventing oversharing in Copilot, deploying Defender, and enforcing data security with Purview.

I also share my workflow for automating podcast production using Copilot Cowork, including narration scripts and link management. I discuss experimenting with AI-driven voice narration and invites listener feedback on pacing and voice options.

The episode concludes with reflections on the Microsoft AI Tour’s enterprise focus, the importance of networking, and the challenges SMBs face in accessing relevant content. Listeners are encouraged to reach out with questions or feedback and to stay tuned for upcoming events like Microsoft Build and Ignite.

Brought to you by www.ciaopspatron.com

you can listen directly to this episode at:

https://ciaops.podbean.com/e/episode-363-hello-cowork/

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

director@ciaops.com

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

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

CIAOPS Merch store – CIAOPS

Become a CIAOPS Patron – CIAOPS Patron

CIAOPS Brief – CIA Brief – CIAOPS

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

Support CIAOPS – Support CIAOPS

Get your M365 questions answered via email

Join the CIAOPS Email list – Please fill out this form

A special thanks to the CIAOPS Patron community for making this podcast possible. You can find the benefits of a subscription to the community and become a member at https://www.ciaopspatron.com

Show notes

Microsoft 365 Insider Round-Up — April 2026

Declutter and Defend: Reducing Promotional Mail Noise with Microsoft Defender

Prevent Oversharing in Microsoft 365 Copilot

Microsoft Defender Deployment Tool

From Oversharing to Enforcement: A Practical Guide to AI Data Security with Microsoft Purview

Investing in Australia’s AI Future

Copilot’s Agentic Capabilities in Word, Excel and PowerPoint Are Generally Available

Predictive Shielding: Just-in-Time Tamper Protection

Threat Hunting Agent in Advanced Hunting

Bringing Transparency to AI-Generated Content with Watermarks in Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 Copilot Readiness and Resiliency with SharePoint and Microsoft 365 Backup

Introducing the Microsoft Sentinel Training Lab

A Practical Look at Device Analytics and Risk Signals with Microsoft Intune

Innovations in OneDrive for Collaboration, Intelligence and Control

Strengthening Identity Resilience: A Deep Dive Into Microsoft Entra Backup and Recovery

Detection Strategies for Cloud Identities Against Infiltrating IT Workers (Jasper Sleet)

Safeguarding Sensitive Data in Microsoft 365 Copilot Interactions: DLP for Microsoft 365 Copilot

Detecting Plain-Text Password Exposure Using Custom Regex in Microsoft Purview

Cross-Tenant Helpdesk Impersonation to Data Exfiltration: A Human-Operated Intrusion Playbook

Need to Know podcast–Episode 362

In this episode of the CIAOPS Need to Know podcast, we take an AI‑first look at what’s happening across the Microsoft Cloud and what it really means for small and medium businesses. Episode 362 cuts through the noise to focus on the practical, real‑world impact of artificial intelligence as Microsoft continues to embed AI across Microsoft 365, Azure, and everyday productivity tools.

We discuss how an AI‑first mindset is changing the way SMBs should think about security, productivity, and operational efficiency, along with what partners and IT professionals need to pay attention to right now. Expect clear explanations, informed opinions, and actionable insights designed to help you make sense of rapid change without the hype.

Brought to you by www.ciaopspatron.com

you can listen directly to this episode at:

https://ciaops.podbean.com/e/episode-362-ai-first/

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

Explore the tools, communities, and content mentioned in this episode:

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

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

director@ciaops.com

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

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

CIAOPS Merch store – CIAOPS

Become a CIAOPS Patron – CIAOPS Patron

CIAOPS Brief – CIA Brief – CIAOPS

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

Support CIAOPS – Support CIAOPS

Get your M365 questions answered via email

Please fill out this form

A special thanks to the CIAOPS Patron community for making this podcast possible. You can find the benefits of a subscription to the community and become a member at https://www.ciaopspatron.com

Microsoft 365 Copilot & AI in the Workplace

Product updates and new Copilot experiences

What’s new in Microsoft 365 Copilot – March 2026

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/what%E2%80%99s-new-in-microsoft-365-copilot–march-2026/4506322

Copilot Cowork now available in Frontier

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2026/03/30/copilot-cowork-now-available-in-frontier/

https://playground.microsoft.ai/chat

AI Security, Threats & Protection

How Microsoft is addressing AI as both a tool and an attack surface

Defending the AI era: New Microsoft capabilities to protect AI

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/MicrosoftDefenderCloudBlog/defending-the-ai-era-new-microsoft-capabilities-to-protect-ai/4503885

Threat actor abuse of AI accelerates from tool to cyberattack surface

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2026/04/02/threat-actor-abuse-of-ai-accelerates-from-tool-to-cyberattack-surface/

Endpoint & Device Management (Intune)

Modern management platform updates

What’s new in Microsoft Intune – March 2026

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoftintuneblog/what%E2%80%99s-new-in-microsoft-intune-%E2%80%93-march/4493136

Power Platform

Low‑code and automation platform updates

What’s new in Power Platform – March 2026 feature update

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/power-platform/blog/power-apps/whats-new-in-power-platform-march-2026-feature-update/

Microsoft 365 Data, Storage & Compliance

Archiving and information lifecycle management

File‑level archiving comes to Microsoft 365 Archive (Public Preview)

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft_365blog/file-level-archiving-comes-to-microsoft-365-archive-public-preview/4506886

Microsoft 365 Platform Milestones

Product anniversaries and platform evolution

Microsoft SharePoint turns 25

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365insiderblog/microsoft-sharepoint-turns-25/4505368

Celebrating 30 years of Microsoft Exchange

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/exchange/celebrating-30-years-of-microsoft-exchange/4503439

Need to Know podcast–Episode 359

I am joined by Andrew and Tim from Sherpatech to discuss updates and new challenges in the insurance market. If you missed last year’s episode you’ll find it here Episode 338 – Ensure to Insure. We discuss what impact AI is likely to have and how the insurance market is shaping up for 2026. I also have a few interesting updates and information from the Microsoft cloud for this first episode of 2026. So listen along and enjoy!

Brought to you by www.ciaopspatron.com

you can listen directly to this episode at:

https://ciaops.podbean.com/e/episode-359-reinsurance/

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

Explore the tools, communities, and content mentioned in this episode:

CIAOPS Need to Know Podcast: https://ciaops.podbean.com/
CIAOPS Blog: https://blog.ciaops.com/
CIAOPS Labs: https://blog.ciaopslabs.com/
CIAOPS Brief: https://blog.ciaops.com/tag/cia-brief/
Join the Teams Shared Channel: https://blog.ciaops.com/2022/07/29/join-my-teams-shared-channel/
CIAOPS Merch Store: https://my-store-c5d877-2.creator-spring.com/
CIAOPS Publications: https://directorcia.gumroad.com
Become a Patron: https://www.ciaopspatron.com/
Direct Support: https://ko-fi.com/ciaops
Get Your M365 Questions Answered: https://blog.ciaops.com/2025/06/11/get-your-m365-questions-answered-via-email-2/
Test Your Microsoft 365 Speed: https://blog.ciaops.com/2025/07/21/test-your-microsoft-365-speed-in-seconds-for-free/
CIAOPS Email list – https://bit.ly/cia-email

Show Notes

‘AI adoption is accelerating, but confidence is collapsing’: The more workers use AI, the less they trust it. Baby boomers show a 35% drop

Data Security Posture Management for AI | Microsoft Community Hub

GitHub Copilot CLI

Bringing work context to your code in GitHub Copilot – Microsoft for Developers

PowerShell script to extract M365 security data for your own AI analysis – CIAOPS

Essential 8 AI report via PowerShell – CIAOPS

Unlocking Microsoft 365 Security: How I Automated AI-Powered Risk Analysis with PowerShell

YouTube

Microsoft and Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team unite to drive innovation from factory to circuit – Source

Microsoft OneDrive, a year in review: AI-powered file management and smarter collaboration

Demystifying Exchange Online Mailbox Quotas | Microsoft Community Hub

SherpaTech

Insurance Health Check

MSP/ IT Professional Insurance Quote and Policy portal

Insurance Checklists

Need to Know podcast–Episode 357

Welcome to another podcast episode where I aim to bring you up to date with the latest in the Microsoft Cloud as well as share my knowledge and insights. In this episode I dig into how you need to focus and avoid distractions as well as building your knowledge with products and automations you already have.

Brought to you by www.ciaopspatron.com

you can listen directly to this episode at:

https://ciaops.podbean.com/e/episode-357-less-is-more/

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

Explore the tools, communities, and content mentioned in this episode:

CIAOPS Need to Know Podcast: https://ciaops.podbean.com/
CIAOPS Blog: https://blog.ciaops.com/
CIAOPS Labs: https://blog.ciaopslabs.com/
CIAOPS Brief: https://blog.ciaops.com/tag/cia-brief/
Join the Teams Shared Channel: https://blog.ciaops.com/2022/07/29/join-my-teams-shared-channel/
CIAOPS Merch Store: https://my-store-c5d877-2.creator-spring.com/
Become a Patron: https://www.ciaopspatron.com/
Direct Support: https://ko-fi.com/ciaops
Get Your M365 Questions Answered: https://blog.ciaops.com/2025/06/11/get-your-m365-questions-answered-via-email-2/
Test Your Microsoft 365 Speed: https://blog.ciaops.com/2025/07/21/test-your-microsoft-365-speed-in-seconds-for-free/
CIAOPS Email list – https://bit.ly/cia-email

Announcements

Flight School: Mastering Copilot for IT Pros
A new training resource for IT professionals to maximize Copilot capabilities.
https://blog.ciaops.com/2025/11/14/flight-school-mastering-copilot-for-it-pros/

ACSC Essential Eight Maturity Level 3
Guidance on implementing security best practices with Microsoft 365 Business Premium.
https://blog.ciaops.com/2025/12/08/implementing-acsc-essential-eight-maturity-level-3-with-microsoft-365-business-premium-publication/

Show Notes

Advancing Microsoft 365: New capabilities and pricing update | Microsoft 365 Blog

Available today: GPT-5.2 in Microsoft 365 Copilot | Microsoft 365 Blog

Meet Agents in OneDrive : Your AI assistant built with your own content | Microsoft Community Hub

What’s New in Copilot Studio: November 2025 Updates and Features

View or restore previous versions of Microsoft 365 Copilot Pages

Security and governance innovations for Microsoft 365 Copilot and agents from Ignite 2025 | Microsoft Community Hub

New! Centralized Agent Dashboard and Enhanced Reporting | Microsoft Community Hub

Security and governance innovations for Microsoft 365 Copilot and agents from Ignite 2025 | Microsoft Community Hub

What’s new in Microsoft Intune: December 2025 – Microsoft Intune Blog

Microsoft 365 adds advanced Microsoft Intune solutions at scale – Microsoft Intune Blog

What’s New in Microsoft Sentinel: December 2025 | Microsoft Community Hub

What’s new in Microsoft Entra – November 2025

Microsoft Ignite 2025: Top Security Innovations You Need to Know | Microsoft Community Huba

Need to Know podcast–Episode 356

I am joined once again by Phil Meyer to review the most important and relevant announcements from Microsoft Ignite. Plenty around AI but also a few other gems you may have overlooked, so sit back and listen in as we focus on what you should be paying attention to.

Brought to you by www.ciaopspatron.com

you can listen directly to this episode at:

https://ciaops.podbean.com/e/episode-356-philme-is-back/

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.