Global Prairie recently published their account of our partnership: a generous, thoughtful piece that described what it felt like to finally have a technology partner they could rely on. It meant a great deal to our team. This is our side of that same story.

When Global Prairie came to Virtuas in 2025, they were ready for a fresh start. After years with a managed services provider that had changed ownership multiple times, they needed a partner who would treat their team with the same care and intentionality they extend to their own clients. As fellow Certified B Corporations, we understood exactly what they were looking for. What followed was not a standard onboarding. It was the beginning of a partnership built on transparency, shared purpose, and a mutual commitment to getting things right.

Client Experience: A Partnership That Feels In-Person

Global Prairie is a team that takes exceptional care of their people, and they expected the same from their technology partner. From day one, the Virtuas client experience team focused on one thing: making sure nothing fell through the cracks. No unanswered requests, no dropped items, no surprises. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive and has continued to be.

What made the difference was not just speed, but trust. As two organizations that operate without hidden agendas, kickback arrangements, or vendor lock-in, the relationship moved faster than most. Global Prairie owns their environment completely: credentials, software and hardware platforms, and all documentation belongs to them. That transparency is not a value statement; it is an operational standard, and it created the conditions for a partnership that feels in-person—even though it is conducted almost entirely virtually.

Within months, Global Prairie began requesting our advice on external vendor decisions. They lean on our team for compliance with questions their clients raise, and for technical guidance before contracts are signed. This is an adviser relationship: not just executing requests but helping a great organization make better decisions at every turn. It is a level of trust that typically takes years to build, and it reflects what becomes possible when two organizations share the same foundational commitment to doing business the right way.

Technical Infrastructure: Modernizing the Foundation for a Scalable, Secure Infrastructure

As Virtuas began its infrastructure assessment, our focus was to establish a clear and accurate understanding of Global Prairie’s existing technical environment. The goal was simple: identify the current state of the network, document its configuration across all locations, and provide a transparent baseline from which to plan meaningful improvements. Global Prairie’s leadership approached this process with openness and collaboration, setting the stage for a forward looking partnership centered on building a modern, reliable, and scalable infrastructure.

Remediation touched all four of Global Prairie’s primary locations: Denver, Kansas City, Washington D.C., and Cleveland. Each site received a new enterprise-grade firewall deployment, replacing outdated equipment. The locations are now connected by a standardized, self-healing mesh VPN that automatically restores connectivity if any link is interrupted. The contrast with the previous environment is significant in that it eliminated many of the location-by-location inconsistencies. Their core network is now a cohesive, enterprise-standard platform built to support a growing, distributed team.

One of the standout elements during the rollout was Virtuas’ proprietary Customer Premise Equipment. The CPE is custom hardware and software developed in-house and pre-configured for each client environment before it is shipped or delivered. These units are purpose-built devices designed as a cohesive platform. The CPE provides real-time network data and reporting, maintaining always-on alerts and proactive notifications. The CPEs were installed at each location during the firewall upgrades.

When a legacy compatibility issue threatened to stall the Cleveland data center integration after days of intensive on-site work, the Virtuas team responded exactly as a high-functioning technical team should: they swarmed the problem. While one engineer was wrapping up on-site work, two others were collaborating remotely testing configurations, working through edge cases, and refusing to accept a multi-day delay. The issue was resolved in under three hours.

As Global Prairie expands its Denver and D.C. offices, Virtuas is engaged at the design stage. From reviewing floor plans to evaluating third-party vendor quotes, extra planning ensures the new spaces are built to support future infrastructure expansions. The roadmap ahead includes AI-driven networking capabilities for proactive performance monitoring across all sites.

• Enterprise-grade firewall deployment across all four primary locations with a self-healing mesh VPN.
• Proprietary Virtuas CPE hardware deployed on-site across multiple cities in a single coordinated rollout.
• Active involvement in office expansion planning, including independent review of third-party infrastructure proposals.
• Microsoft Copilot deployed company-wide, empowering Global Prairie’s team to work more efficiently and deliver greater impact for their clients.

Technical Support: Consistency, Transparency, and Advocacy

Global Prairie’s operations team is sharp, organized, and deeply invested in how their people are supported. When Virtuas took over day-to-day IT support, we matched that standard with one of our own: consistency. Every onboarding and offboarding scenario has its own step-by-step documented workflow. Secondary and tertiary engineers were trained against those same playbooks, ensuring that every member of the Global Prairie team receives an identical experience, with a knowledgeable response to their request.

The result speaks for itself: zero onboarding issues since the new processes went live. Global Prairie’s leadership called that out specifically in a recent team meeting, describing the difference from their previous experience as night and day. That outcome is not luck, it is the direct product of replacing institutional memory with codified, transferable process.

Virtuas also manages Global Prairie’s application ecosystem across more than twenty platforms spanning creative, project management, and collaboration tools that scope well beyond what most managed services engagements include. What we inherited was an unstructured credential inventory with no clear ownership and no documented workflows. What we built was a governed knowledge base: every platform with its own documented vendor contacts, procurement procedures, and a mandatory approval loop before any account change or license purchase is executed. Global Prairie has trusted Virtuas with primary ownership of these accounts, and we honor that trust through rigorous change management at every step.

“Their success is our success. That’s not a tagline. It’s our operating model.”

That principle was clearly displayed when a third-party vendor integration introduced an unexpected security risk for Global Prairie employees. Rather than complete the configuration as requested, our engineer flagged the risk, explained the implications in plain terms, and presented the concern on Global Prairie’s behalf. Global Prairie has a partner who saw the problem, understood what it meant for their people, and petitioned for a better solution. That is the standard we hold ourselves to on every engagement: not just closing tickets but looking out for the business behind them.

Shared Values, Shared Future

Global Prairie wrote that because our values align, the partnership is stronger, the outcomes improve, and the work is more meaningful. We feel exactly the same way. Working alongside an organization as purposeful, people-first, and trust-oriented as Global Prairie makes every part of this work better: from the first support ticket to the long-term strategic roadmap.

As we celebrate B Corp Month alongside them, we are reminded of why this certification matters beyond the designation itself. It changes how business gets done. It changes what a vendor relationship can become. And in Global Prairie’s case, it helped turn a technology engagement into something neither of us would describe as a vendor relationship at all.

We are proud to be their technology partner, proud to be a fellow B Corp, and genuinely excited about everything we will continue to build together.

Here’s what every organization running Microsoft 365 needs to know.

The New Suite: Microsoft 365 E7

Microsoft is calling E7 the “Frontier Suite,” and it represents the first new enterprise licensing tier since E5 launched back in 2015. The premise is straightforward: as AI agents proliferate across the enterprise, organizations need more than productivity software and security tools. They need a unified layer that can govern, observe, and secure both human users and AI agents operating on their behalf.

E7 bundles four components into one license:

• Microsoft 365 E5: Full Office suite, Teams, Exchange, SharePoint, Defender, Intune, Purview, Power BI Pro ($60/user/mo from July 1)
• Microsoft 365 Copilot: AI embedded in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams ($30/user/mo)
• Agent 365: Unified control plane to govern, observe, and secure AI agents across the organization ($15/user/mo)
• Microsoft Entra Suite: Full identity and Zero Trust network access stack ($12/user/mo)

Purchased separately, these components add up to roughly $117 per user per month. E7 is priced at $99 per user per month, saving approximately $18 per user per month — or about $216 per user annually. At 100 users, that’s $21,600 back per year compared to buying everything à la carte.

The component that deserves the most attention is Agent 365, because it’s brand new. As AI agents become more common inside organizations, managing them through the same governance and security tooling used for human employees becomes a genuine operational requirement.

E7 makes the most sense for organizations already on E5 that were planning to add Copilot anyway, or those looking to move from E3 to a fully AI-capable, enterprise-grade stack in a single step.

The Price Increases: Effective July 1, 2026

Independent of E7, Microsoft is raising prices across its entire commercial Microsoft 365 portfolio. Every major plan sees an increase, and the increases are not trivial.

One additional change that often gets overlooked: Microsoft has also increased the price of Annual Paid Monthly plans by 5% above the standard annual commitment rate. This means organizations paying on a month‑to‑month cadence under an annual subscription are now paying a premium for that flexibility.

The Window Between May and July

The timing here matters. E7 launches May 1, and the price hikes land July 1. That window is an opportunity.

For eligible licenses, it’s possible to commit to 1‑year or 3‑year subscriptions before July 1 and lock in current pricing for the full duration of that term. An organization on Microsoft 365 Business Standard that commits to a 3‑year annual agreement before July 1 pays $12.50 per user per month for the life of that term, not $14.00.

How Virtuas Helps Companies Save More

As a Microsoft partner transacting through the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program, Virtuas provides additional discounts on Microsoft 365 licensing beyond what Microsoft publishes as standard list pricing.

This means organizations can stack multiple forms of savings:

• Lock in pre‑July pricing before increases take effect
• Pay annually upfront to avoid Microsoft’s new 5% surcharge
• Access Virtuas partner‑level CSP discounts

Combined, these represent meaningful reductions compared to what the same licenses will cost at post‑July pricing.

Where to Start

The right next step depends on where an organization is in its Microsoft 365 journey. We’re recommending a licensing review before July 1 to understand which plans are currently in use, what renewal dates look like, and where a longer commitment term makes financial sense.

For environments already on E5 where Copilot has been under evaluation, the E7 bundle math is worth running seriously. At $18 per user per month in savings versus à la carte, the numbers work for any organization planning to deploy AI across its workforce.

Anyone interested in a licensing review or in discussing E7 ahead of the May 1 launch date is welcome to reach out to the Virtuas account team directly.

How to Save ~10% on Microsoft Licensing Before Your 2026 Budget Locks In

For many organizations, Microsoft 365 licensing is one of the largest recurring IT expenses — but also one of the easiest places to overspend without realizing it. As we move into the 2026 budget cycle, this is the perfect time to review how your licensing is structured, what terms you’re on, and whether you’re missing out on meaningful savings.

The good news? Most companies are.

At Virtuas, we routinely help organizations uncover 10–25% savings simply by restructuring how their licenses are billed — with zero impact on productivity or operations.

Monthly vs. Annual Licensing: The Hidden Cost Difference

Most businesses start Microsoft 365 on monthly terms because it’s the default Microsoft recommends. But monthly licensing carries a built‑in premium.

Switching to annual terms typically saves organizations around 10% on their Microsoft 365 spend — a gap that becomes even more meaningful once Microsoft’s July pricing adjustments land.

Annual licensing also simplifies operations:

• Fewer billing cycles
• More predictable budgeting
• Cleaner reconciliation for finance teams

Why Companies Leave Money on the Table

Across almost every new client, we see the same pattern:

• Finance teams rarely see detailed licensing data
• IT teams seldom revisit license structures after initial setup
• Unused or overlapping licenses quietly accumulate
• Price increases go unnoticed until after renewal

A short review often unlocks thousands in annual savings — without cutting tools or reducing capability.

A Quick Licensing Audit Clears Everything Up

Our team performs a fast, transparent audit that includes:

• A breakdown of your current SKUs
• A quantity‑versus‑usage review
• A monthly vs. annual cost comparison
• Estimated savings projections
• Clear optimization recommendations

If you’re preparing your 2026-2027 budget, now is the best time to evaluate your Microsoft licensing before the next renewal cycle locks in your cost structure.

Microsoft 365 Copilot is a powerful tool that can help users write faster and better by providing suggestions and insights based on the context and content of their documents. Copilot uses artificial intelligence to learn from the data that users have access to, such as files, emails, chats, and web pages, and generates relevant and coherent texts that can improve productivity and creativity.

However, Copilot also poses some challenges and risks for businesses that lack appropriate governance for their data, especially when it comes to sensitive information. Without proper data classification, protection, and monitoring, Copilot can potentially expose confidential or regulated data to unauthorized users or leak it to external parties. This can result in legal, reputational, and financial damage, as well as loss of trust and compliance.

What are sensitivity labels and why are they important?

Sensitivity labels are a feature of Microsoft 365 that allow companies to classify and protect their data based on its level of sensitivity. Sensitivity labels can be applied to documents, emails, and other types of data, either manually by users or automatically by policies. Sensitivity labels can also enforce encryption, access restrictions, watermarks, and other protection actions on the data, regardless of where it is stored or shared.

Sensitivity labels are important for several reasons. First, they help organizations comply with data protection regulations, such as GDPR, HIPAA, or PCI DSS, by ensuring that sensitive data is handled appropriately and securely. Second, they help prevent data loss or leakage, by preventing unauthorized access, copying, or sharing of sensitive data. Third, they help maintain data quality and integrity, by preventing accidental or malicious modification or deletion of sensitive data.

By applying sensitivity labels to their data, companies can benefit from Microsoft 365 Copilot without compromising their data security or privacy. Copilot will respect the sensitivity labels and will not suggest or generate texts that contain sensitive information that the user is not authorized to access or share. Copilot will also not learn from or store sensitive data that is encrypted or protected by sensitivity labels. This way, organizations can leverage Copilot’s capabilities while minimizing the risks of data exposure or misuse.

What are the risks of not having sensitivity labels applied before enabling Copilot?

If companies do not apply sensitivity labels to their data before enabling Copilot, they may face several risks and challenges. Some of these are:

Copilot may ingest and learn from sensitive data that is not protected by sensitivity labels, such as personal information, financial data, health records, trade secrets, or intellectual property. This may result in Copilot suggesting or generating texts that contain sensitive information that the user or the recipient is not authorized to access or share. For example, Copilot may suggest a customer’s name, address, or credit card number in an email, or a company’s confidential strategy or financial report in a document. This may violate data protection regulations, breach confidentiality agreements, or expose competitive advantages.

Copilot may not respect the traditional SharePoint permissions that companies rely on to control access to their data. SharePoint permissions are based on the location of the data and the role of the user, and they do not apply to the content or the context of the data. Copilot, on the other hand, is based on the content and the context of the data. This may result in Copilot suggesting or generating texts that contain information that the user or the recipient is not supposed to see or know. For example, Copilot may suggest a project status, a budget, or a feedback item that is only meant for a specific team or manager, or a sensitive issue or problem that is only known to a few people.

Copilot may enable users to access sensitive information that they do not have access to in SharePoint, through prompt engineering. Prompt engineering is the technique of crafting specific queries or prompts that can elicit specific responses from Copilot. For example, a user may ask Copilot to write a summary of a document, a list of key points, or a question-and-answer session. If Copilot has learned from sensitive data that is not protected by sensitivity labels, it may reveal that information in its responses, even if the user does not have access to the folder in SharePoint. This may allow users to bypass SharePoint permissions and access sensitive information that they are not supposed to see or know.

How can Microsoft Purview and overall data governance help?

Microsoft Purview is a unified data governance service that helps companies discover, catalog, map, and classify their data across Microsoft 365 and other sources. Purview can help organizations apply sensitivity labels and other data protection policies to their data, as well as monitor and audit their data usage and compliance.

Purview can help avoid the risks of not having sensitivity labels applied before enabling Copilot, by providing the following benefits:

Purview can help discover and catalog data across Microsoft 365 and other sources, such as Azure, Power BI, SQL Server, or third-party cloud services. Purview can also help users understand the lineage, relationships, and quality of their data, as well as the business terms and definitions associated with their data. This can help identify and prioritize the data that needs to be classified and protected by sensitivity labels, as well as the data that can be safely used by Copilot.

Purview can help map and classify data based on its level of sensitivity, using predefined or custom sensitivity labels. Purview can also help apply sensitivity labels and other data protection policies to their data, either manually or automatically, using rules, conditions, or machine learning. This can help ensure that data is consistently and accurately labeled and protected, regardless of where it is stored or shared, and that Copilot respects the sensitivity labels and does not expose or misuse sensitive data.

Purview can help monitor and audit data usage and compliance, by providing insights and reports on how their data is accessed, shared, and protected across Microsoft 365 and other sources. Purview can also help detect and respond to data incidents, such as data breaches, leaks, or violations, by providing alerts and notifications, as well as remediation actions and recommendations. This can help maintain visibility and control over data and ensure that Copilot is used in a responsible and compliant manner.

Overall data governance is an essential prerequisite for implementing Microsoft 365 Copilot, as it can help maximize the benefits and minimize the risks of using Copilot. By applying sensitivity labels and other data protection policies to their data, companies can ensure that Copilot respects data security and privacy and does not suggest or generate texts that contain sensitive information that the user or the recipient is not authorized to access or share. By using Microsoft Purview and other data governance tools, organizations can discover, catalog, map, classify, monitor, and audit their data across Microsoft 365 and other sources, and ensure that their data is consistently and accurately labeled and protected.

Conclusion

Microsoft 365 Copilot is a powerful tool that can help write faster and better by providing suggestions and insights based on the context and content of company data. However, Copilot also poses some challenges and risks for businesses that lack appropriate governance for their data, especially when it comes to sensitive information. Without proper data classification, protection, and monitoring, Copilot can potentially expose confidential or regulated data to unauthorized users or leak it to external parties.

To avoid these risks, companies need to apply sensitivity labels and other data protection policies to their data before enabling Copilot. Sensitivity labels can help classify and protect data based on its level of sensitivity and ensure that Copilot respects the sensitivity labels and does not suggest or generate texts that contain sensitive information that the user or the recipient is not authorized to access or share. Companies also need to use Microsoft Purview and other data governance tools to discover, catalog, map, classify, monitor, and audit data across Microsoft 365 and other sources, and ensure that data is consistently and accurately labeled and protected.

By following these best practices, organizations can benefit from Microsoft 365 Copilot without compromising data security or privacy. Copilot can help improve productivity and creativity, while data governance can help maintain compliance and trust.

Should your business require assistance with integrating Copilot into your systems, please feel free to contact us.

Navigating the Intersection of AI and Cybersecurity: Risks and Opportunities

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought about a paradigm shift in various sectors, including cybersecurity. While AI can significantly enhance threat detection and response, it also introduces new vulnerabilities and attack vectors. The potential risks and challenges of AI attacks stem from their sophistication and speed, which can outpace traditional security measures. AI-powered attacks can exploit data, manipulate algorithms, and even autonomously conduct operations that blend in with regular activity, making them particularly difficult to detect and mitigate.

Examples of AI attacks include:

• Prompt Injection
• Evasion Attacks
• Training Data Poisoning
• Weaponized Models
• Data Privacy Attacks
• Model Denial of Service
• Model Theft

Strengthening AI Security: Best Practices for Businesses

Businesses must be vigilant and proactive in protecting themselves against these threats. Implementing defensive AI is crucial; it can analyze patterns and anomalies in data to identify potential threats in real-time. Additionally, businesses should ensure that their AI systems are transparent and have robust oversight mechanisms to prevent exploitation. Regular security audits and system assessments can help identify and address vulnerabilities. Employee training is also essential, as human error can often be the weakest link in security.

Moreover, businesses should adopt multi-factor authentication (MFA) to regulate access to AI-based tools and systems. Filtration and moderation techniques can prevent the dissemination of malicious content generated by AI-powered tools. It is also advisable to stay updated on the latest threats and to leverage “temperature flags” that can indicate suspicious activity. Building out in-depth defense measures, securing AI-based applications, and following AI application security best practices are all steps that can be taken to fortify a company’s defenses against AI attacks.

The Ultimate Defense

Virtuas employs a multi-layered approach to safeguard its clients’ networks against AI-driven cyber threats. At the forefront, Palo Alto firewalls serve as the initial line of defense. Renowned for their robustness and advanced threat detection capabilities, these firewalls effectively filter incoming and outgoing traffic, preventing unauthorized access and malicious activities.

In addition, Virtuas leverages Microsoft Defender for Business and Defender for Endpoint. These Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions provide real-time monitoring, threat intelligence, and incident response. By analyzing endpoint behavior, they swiftly identify and mitigate any suspicious activities, ensuring comprehensive protection for client devices.

Recognizing that email remains a prime vector for cyberattacks, Virtuas recommends Proofpoint as an essential layer of defense. This email security solution employs advanced threat detection algorithms, sandboxing, and URL rewriting to prevent phishing attempts, malware distribution, and other email-based threats. By combining these defenses, Virtuas fortifies its clients’ digital infrastructure, safeguarding critical data and maintaining business continuity.

Palo Alto firewalls, Microsoft Defender, and Proofpoint can leverage AI to be more effective in fighting against cyber-attacks.

To prevent human error, Virtuas has a proven track record of providing phishing awareness training to numerous clients. Our proactive and transparent approach involves close communication with client users. Whenever we identify practices that deviate from industry best practices, we promptly offer advice to ensure robust cybersecurity. Are you worried about AI attacks affecting your business? Contact Us.

Securing the AI Frontier

While AI presents significant opportunities for advancement, it also necessitates an innovative approach to cybersecurity. Businesses must balance the benefits of AI with the risks it poses and develop comprehensive strategies to protect against AI-powered cyber threats. Utilizing Palo Alto’s firewalls, Microsoft’s Defender, and Proofpoint, are just a few ways businesses can protect themselves from these cyber-attacks. By leveraging AI for defense, ensuring transparency and oversight, conducting regular audits, training employees, and implementing robust security measures, businesses can mitigate the risks associated with AI attacks.

In the ever-evolving landscape of AI technology, Microsoft Copilot is here to upgrade your business workflow. Copilot seamlessly integrates into Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams to assist in all aspects of your workflow. Incorporating data from various Microsoft applications, Copilot turns simple ideas into robust assets, fostering creativity, productivity and efficiency.

A Study on Copilot Impact

A recent study conducted at Microsoft involved 80 individuals from Communications and Marketing teams exploring the everyday benefits of Copilot for Microsoft 365, now tailored for enterprises. The findings pointed to shared pain points, including meeting fatigue, lack of focus, and information overload. Copilot emerged as a transformative solution to address these pain points, significantly increasing productivity, expediting task completion, and providing the creative space necessary for high-quality work.

Pre-Assessment

• 70% of employees suffer from meeting overload.
• 86% of employees experience information overload daily.
• 80% struggle with having enough focus time each day.

The Copilot Impact

• 86% acknowledge it makes them more productive.
• 81% credit the AI for helping them complete tasks faster.
• 89% find it beneficial in jump-starting the creative process.
• 78% believe it significantly improves the quality of their work.
• 70% report that it reduces time spent on tasks they don’t enjoy.
• 76% specifically note its role in reducing mental effort on mundane tasks.
• 71% appreciate it for reducing time spent searching for information.

Copilot Helps Meeting Recall and Organization

Copilot plays a pivotal role in Teams, where it aids in extracting crucial and contextual information from calls. If you were unable to attend a meeting, you can ask the AI assistant to help articulate the takeaways from the session.

What were the main points from the meeting – Was there an overall decision? Were there any disagreements? Were any tasks assigned to me?

This feature proves invaluable in extracting important nuggets of information, ensuring that key points are not lost amid the conversational flow. Within Teams, Copilot also excels at efficiently scheduling meetings and organizing schedules, avoiding double-booking or conflicts. By prioritizing important meetings, summarizing key points, and aiding in recall, Copilot will alleviate the challenges of meeting-centric workdays.

Copilot Boosts Creative Processes

Within Microsoft Word, Copilot becomes an indispensable ally for writers, assisting in drafting all communications, sparking ideas for blogs, building outlines, and helping break any creative rift. The AI can assist in every stage providing refinement and clarity, and can even suggest opposing perspectives, turning a tedious task into a creative and efficient workflow. The work can then seamlessly be transferred across channels into a PowerPoint or Excel Sheet, transforming simple ideas into powerful tables or engaging presentations.

Within Business Chat, Copilot can access information scattered across emails, calendars, and documents. By formulating a holistic understanding, Copilot acts as a valuable source of feedback, offering a fresh perspective, identifying potential blind spots, and refining the clarity of messages. This collaborative environment allows for the refinement of ideas before they mature into final deliverables.  

Prerequisites to Consider

Before embarking on the Copilot journey, it’s crucial to understand the requirements. Copilot is an add-on license with the following license types being required as a prerequisite:

• Microsoft 365 Business Standard
• Microsoft 365 Business Premium
• Microsoft 365 E3
• Microsoft 365 E5
• Office 365 E3
• Office 365 E5

Copilot currently requires an annual commitment of $360 per user per year. While recognizing Copilot’s transformative potential, it’s essential to ensure alignment with your unique business requirements.

Conclusion

Embrace Copilot as more than just an AI tool; it’s your strategic ally in navigating modern business complexities. From foundational skills like creating, summarizing, and analyzing to continuous evolution and adaptability, Copilot enables a future marked by efficiency, creativity, and unparalleled service delivery. Businesses interested in learning more about Microsoft 365 Copilot can contact Virtuas to learn more.

Windows 23H2 Copilot Find Files with Ease

Searching for files or information online can be time-consuming and frustrating. With Windows 23H2 Copilot, businesses can save time and hassle by simply asking it to find what users need by using natural language commands and queries. For example, if users need to find the latest sales report in Excel, they can say, “Find the latest sales report in Excel,” and Copilot will do the rest. It will understand requests and give users relevant results in a pop-up window. Organizations can also refine their search by adding more details or filters to the query.

Documents Are Created Effortlessly

Writing can be challenging and time-consuming, especially when users have a deadline or a complex topic. AI technology can help overcome writer’s block and generate content based on needs and preferences. For example, employees needing to create a PowerPoint presentation about the Windows 23H2 update could ask Copilot to do it. It will use advanced language models and organizational data to help create a professional and engaging presentation in minutes. Businesses can also customize documents’ content, style, and tone according to the audience and purpose.

Edits Are Made Professionally

Editing photos, videos, or audio files can be daunting and tedious. With Copilot, users can enjoy a smooth and easy editing experience. Copilot offers AI-powered tools that apply filters, adjust colors and lighting, crop and erase unwanted elements, and more. Users can also use voice commands to edit media files. For example, if a user wanted to edit a company photo and add some filters, they could ask Copilot to do it. It will use advanced image processing techniques to create stunning visuals for projects. Users can also preview and modify the results as they wish.

Issues Are Fixed Efficiently

Copilot is not only a productivity tool; it’s also a problem-solving tool. It can help businesses fix issues or errors on their PC or network without contacting support and waiting for their response. It can diagnose the issue, provide suggestions and tips, and guide users through the steps to resolve it. For example, if the internet connection is slow on a user’s PC, they can ask Copilot to fix it. Copilot will analyze the network status, check the router settings, optimize the browser performance, and more.

Users Can Learn New Skills

Organizations can acquire new knowledge or abilities by providing relevant information, resources, tutorials, and feedback with Copilot. It can also quiz employees on what they have learned and track progress. Users can use voice commands to learn a variety of lessons and topics. For example, if employees want to learn Photoshop or understand nuclear fusion, they can ask Copilot to provide an in-depth lesson. It will use advanced learning models and organizational data to help organizations learn at their own pace and level. Businesses can also customize learning goals, preferences, and feedback options.

Conclusion

The new Windows 23H2 update with its AI Assistant Copilot is designed to simplify and enhance the user PC experience by providing various features that can assist with tasks, projects, and learning goals. Contact us at Virtuas to learn more about these new features and discover how AI can transform PC performance.

What is Inbound SMTP DANE with DNSSEC?

DANE stands for DNS-based Authentication of Named Entities, and DNSSEC stands for Domain Name System Security Extensions. These are two standards that work together to prevent spoofing, phishing, and man-in-the-middle attacks that can compromise email communication.

DANE allows email servers to publish their identity and encryption information in their DNS records, which are then secured by DNSSEC. DNSSEC is a protocol that adds cryptographic signatures to DNS records, which are then verified by recursive resolvers. This way, email servers can prove their identity and encryption capabilities to each other and avoid any tampering or interception by malicious actors.

How Does Inbound SMTP DANE with DNSSEC Work?

When Inbound SMTP DANE with DNSSEC is enabled for Exchange Online, it tells the world that it only accepts email from servers that have valid DANE records in their DNS. This means that the sending server has to prove its identity by presenting a certificate that matches the DANE record. If the certificate is invalid or missing, the message will be rejected.

What Are The Benefits of Inbound SMTP DANE With DNSSEC For Organizations?

Inbound SMTP DANE with DNSSEC provides several benefits for organizations, such as:

1. Improved security: Organizations can reduce the risk of receiving malicious or fraudulent emails from attackers who try to impersonate legitimate senders or domains. By verifying the identity and encryption of the sending server, users can ensure that the emails received from the intended source have not been altered or compromised in transit.
2. Enhanced reputation: Businesses can demonstrate to customers, partners, and regulators that they care about the security and integrity of email communication. By enabling Inbound SMTP DANE with DNSSEC, you can show that you are following the best practices and standards for email security and reliability.
3. Increased deliverability: Organizations can avoid potential issues with spam filters or blacklists that may affect email delivery. By rejecting invalid or unauthenticated messages, users can reduce the amount of spam and phishing emails that reach inboxes, and improve sender reputation.

When Will Inbound SMTP DANE With DNSSEC Be Available For Exchange Online?

The Public Preview for Inbound SMTP DANE with DNSSEC for Exchange Online will start in March 2024. This means that organizations will be able to test this feature and provide feedback to Microsoft before it becomes generally available. To opt-in to the Public Preview, businesses will need to have a valid DNSSEC-enabled domain and follow the steps described in the Public Preview notice.

Why Do We Recommend Inbound SMTP DANE With DNSSEC For Exchange Online?

At Virtuas, we are always looking for ways to help our clients improve their IT infrastructure and security posture. We believe that Inbound SMTP DANE with DNSSEC is a valuable addition to businesses’ Exchange Online environment that will provide them with more confidence and control over email communications. By enabling this feature, users can protect their organization from email-based threats and enhance their reputation as a secure and reliable sender.

How Can Virtuas Help Organizations With Inbound SMTP DANE With DNSSEC?

Organizations that need any assistance with enabling Inbound SMTP DANE with DNSSEC for their Exchange Online tenant, or if they have any questions or feedback about this feature, please do not hesitate to contact Virtuas. We are here to support businesses and help them get the most out of their Microsoft solutions.

What is The End-Of-Servicing Plan for Third-Party Printer Drivers on Windows?

The end-of-servicing plan for third-party printer drivers on Windows is a new policy that will gradually phase out the support for printer drivers that are not provided by Microsoft or the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the printer. This means that starting from October 2021, Microsoft will no longer distribute third-party printer drivers through Windows Update or other channels. Instead, users will have to obtain and install these drivers directly from the third-party vendor’s website or other sources.

Why is Microsoft Implementing This Policy?

Microsoft states that the main reason for this policy change is to improve the security, reliability, and performance of Windows devices. By reducing the number of third-party printer drivers that are distributed through Windows Update, Microsoft aims to minimize the potential risks of malware infection, driver compatibility issues, and system instability that may arise from these drivers. Additionally, Microsoft claims that this policy will also reduce the size and frequency of Windows updates, which will benefit users with limited bandwidth or storage space.

Some Of the Benefits of This Policy Change Are:

1.Security: Third-party printer drivers can be a source of malware infection, as they may contain malicious code or vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers. Requiring users to download and install these drivers directly from the vendor’s website or other sources will prevent the spread of malware through Windows Update. Users will also have more control over the drivers they install on their devices, and they can verify the authenticity and integrity of the drivers before installing them.

2. Reliability: Third-party printer drivers can also cause driver compatibility issues, as they may not work well with the latest version of Windows or other software. This can result in printing errors, crashes, or performance degradation. By eliminating the need for third-party printer drivers, the number of compatibility issues will be reduced.

3. Performance: Third-party printer drivers can also consume disk space and system resources, as they may include unnecessary or outdated components. By removing these drivers from Windows Update, Microsoft intends to free up disk space and system resources for users. Businesses will also benefit from smaller and less frequent Windows updates, as they will no longer need to download and install third-party printer drivers along with other updates. This will save bandwidth and storage space for users, especially those with limited internet connection or device capacity.

How Will This Policy Affect Businesses?

Businesses still using a printer that requires a third-party driver may need to take some actions to ensure that their printer continues to function properly after the policy takes effect. Here are some steps that businesses can take:

1. Check if the printer model is supported by a Microsoft or OEM driver. Businesses can use the Printer Compatibility Database to find out if their printer has a compatible driver that is provided by Microsoft or the OEM. If the printer is supported by a Microsoft or OEM driver, businesses do not need to do anything else. The printer will continue to receive updates and security patches from Windows Update as usual.
2. If the printer model is not supported by a Microsoft or OEM driver, businesses will need to obtain and install the latest third-party driver from the vendor’s website or other sources. Organizations will also need to keep track of any updates or patches that the vendor may release for the driver. Businesses will be responsible for installing these updates manually, as they will not be delivered through Windows Update anymore.
3. Alternatively, organizations may consider upgrading your printer to a newer model that is supported by a Microsoft or OEM driver. This way, businesses can avoid the hassle of managing third-party drivers and enjoy the benefits of enhanced security, reliability, and performance that come with Microsoft or OEM drivers.

How Can Virtuas Help Businesses?

Organizations that have any questions or concerns about the end-of-servicing plan for third-party printer drivers on Windows, please do not hesitate to contact Virtuas.

Microsoft 365 Backup is a service that will allow businesses to backup and restore OneDrive, SharePoint, and Exchange Online data at unprecedented speeds and with a restore service level agreement (SLA). Microsoft 365 Backup will keep data within the Microsoft 365 security boundary, so organizations do not have to worry about data leakage or compliance risks. This blog post will explore how Microsoft 365 Backup can benefit businesses in three ways:

1. Protect Data From Ransomware and Security Breaches

Once released, Microsoft 365 Backup will be able to help organizations protect their data from ransomware and security breaches by providing a reliable and fast recovery solution. With Microsoft 365 Backup, organizations will be able to:

1. Back up all or selected SharePoint sites, OneDrive accounts, and Exchange mailboxes in the tenant
2. Restore files, sites, and mailbox items in the tenant in parallel to a previous point-in-time in a granular or massive scale
3. Search or filter content for backups using key metadata such as item or site names, owners, or event types within specific restore point date ranges

2. Meet Regulatory Requirements and Compliance Standards

Many industries and regions have specific regulatory requirements and compliance standards for data retention and protection. For example, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union requires organizations to respect the rights of data subjects, such as the right to access, rectify, erase, or port their personal data. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) in the United States requires healthcare providers to protect the privacy and security of patients’ health information.

Microsoft 365 Backup will be able to help organizations meet regulatory requirements and compliance standards by providing a secure and compliant backup solution for data. With Microsoft 365 Backup, organizations will be able to:

1. Keep data within the Microsoft 365 security boundary, which is compliant with various standards such as ISO 27001, SOC 2, FedRAMP, HIPAA, GDPR, and more
2. Apply retention policies to backups based on business needs and legal obligations
3. Use encryption at rest and in transit to protect backups from unauthorized access or modification
4. Audit backup activities and events using logs and reports

3. Reduce Costs and Complexity of Backup Management

Managing backups for Microsoft 365 data will be able to be costly and complex if organizations use third-party solutions or manual processes. Businesses may have to deal with issues such as:

1. Data fragmentation across multiple backup locations
2. Data duplication across multiple backup copies
3. Data inconsistency across different backup versions
4. Data migration across different backup formats
5. Data governance across different backup providers

Microsoft 365 Backup will help businesses reduce the costs and complexity of backup management by providing a unified and integrated backup solution for data. With Microsoft 365 Backup, organizations will be able to:

1. Access Microsoft 365 Backup directly in the Microsoft 365 admin center
2.  Use the same credentials and permissions as the Microsoft 365 account
3. Use the same interface and experience as the Microsoft 365 services
4. Use the same APIs and SDKs as the Microsoft 365 development tools

Conclusion

Microsoft 365 Backup is a service that will provide a comprehensive backup solution for OneDrive, SharePoint, and Exchange Online data. Microsoft 365 Backup will be available in public preview in Q4 of 2023. Microsoft 365 Backup will help businesses protect their data from ransomware and security breaches, meet regulatory requirements and compliance standards, and reduce costs and complexity of backup management.

Businesses interested in learning more about Microsoft 365 Backup can contact Virtuas to learn more.

Microsoft Purview Audit Standard Provides the Following Benefits:

1. It is enabled by default, so there is no need to turn it on or configure it.
2. It supports thousands of searchable audit events, covering various workloads such as Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, Teams, Power Platform, Power BI, and more.
3. It retains audit records for 90 days, which is sufficient for most forensic and compliance investigations.
4. It can be accessed by graphical user interface (GUI), PowerShell cmdlet, or Office 365 Management Activity API.

Microsoft Purview Audit Premium: An Advanced Option for Forensic and Compliance Investigations

While Microsoft Purview Audit Standard is a great feature for all Microsoft 365 customers, some organizations may have more complex or specific needs for auditing and investigation. For those organizations, Microsoft offers Microsoft Purview Audit Premium, an advanced option that provides additional capabilities and flexibility.

Microsoft Purview Audit Premium Provides the Following Features:

1. It allows organizations to create customized audit log retention policies based on the service, activity, or user. For example, an organization can retain audit records of SharePoint Online activities for one year, while retaining audit records of Teams activities for six months.
2. It extends the default retention period of audit records from 90 days to one year, with the option to retain them for up to 10 years. This is useful for meeting regulatory requirements or conducting long-term investigations.
3. It includes high-value and crucial events that are not available in Microsoft Purview Audit Standard. These events include mailbox access by non-owners, password reset attempts, malware detection, and more.
4. It provides higher bandwidth to the Office 365 Management Activity API, which enables faster and more efficient access to audit data.

How to Take Advantage of Microsoft Purview Audit Standard

Customers can start using Microsoft Purview Audit Standard right away. To search the audit log using the GUI, one of the following roles is required: global administrator, compliance administrator, security administrator, security reader, or audit log reader. To search the audit log using PowerShell or API, one needs to have the global administrator or audit log reader role.

To Search the Audit Log Using the GUI:

1. Go to https://protection.office.com/auditlogsearch
2. Specify the date range, activities, users, and file or folder names that you want to search for
3. Click Search
4. Review the results and export them if needed

To Search the Audit Log Using PowerShell:

1. Install the Exchange Online PowerShell module
2. Connect to Exchange Online PowerShell
3. Use the Search-UnifiedAuditLog cmdlet with the appropriate parameters
4. Review the results and export them if needed

To Search the Audit Log Using API:

1. Register an application in Azure Active Directory
2. Obtain an access token from Azure AD
3. Use the Office 365 Management Activity API with the appropriate parameters
4. Review the results and export them if needed

For more details on how to search the audit log using different methods, or to better understand the benefits of Purview Audit, contact us at Virtuas.

Conclusion

Microsoft Purview Audit Standard is a new security feature that allows all Microsoft 365 customers to search for audit records of user and admin activities across Microsoft 365 services. It is enabled by default and supports thousands of searchable audit events. It can help organizations monitor and investigate potential breaches, data leaks, unauthorized access, and other incidents. Microsoft Purview Audit Premium is an advanced option that provides additional capabilities and flexibility for forensic and compliance investigations. It allows organizations to create customized audit log retention policies, extend the retention period of audit records up to 10 years, include high-value and crucial events, and access audit data faster and more efficiently. Both options can be accessed by GUI, PowerShell cmdlet, or Office 365 Management Activity API.