Tony Redmond
@office365itpros.com
Commentator and writer about #Microsoft365. Always looking for insight about how things work... Articles posted at https://office365itpros.com and https://practical365.com. And the Office 365 for IT Pros eBook at https://gum.co/O365IT/
If you've been a #Microsoft365 admin for a while, you've probably used a content search to find some information. Purview is changing how content searches work in Feb 2026. Here's how: office365itpros.com/2026/01/15/c...
Purview eDiscovery Simplifies Content Searches in Feb 2026
As part of the modernization of the Purview eDiscovery solution, Microsoft will simplify the content searches UX in February 2026.
office365itpros.com
January 15, 2026 at 10:21 AM
If you've been a #Microsoft365 admin for a while, you've probably used a content search to find some information. Purview is changing how content searches work in Feb 2026. Here's how: office365itpros.com/2026/01/15/c...
A new #EntraID role is coming to manage #MicrosoftTeams external collaboration. I wonder how much use the role will get in an average #Microsoft365 tenant, but in any case, it's a useful reminder to review role assignments.
office365itpros.com/2026/01/14/n...
office365itpros.com/2026/01/14/n...
Entra ID Role for Teams External Collaboration Administrator
A new Entra ID role is coming. The Teams External Collaboration administrator role allows users to manage external collaboration settings.
office365itpros.com
January 14, 2026 at 10:21 AM
A new #EntraID role is coming to manage #MicrosoftTeams external collaboration. I wonder how much use the role will get in an average #Microsoft365 tenant, but in any case, it's a useful reminder to review role assignments.
office365itpros.com/2026/01/14/n...
office365itpros.com/2026/01/14/n...
If your #Microsoft365 tenant uses #Copilot, you should use RCD to stop sensitive SharePoint information leaking into prompt responses. Now, site admins can enable or disable RCD for their sites, which is how it should be. More at office365itpros.com/2026/01/13/r...
Site Administrators Can Enable RCD to Block Copilot Access
Restricted Content Discovery (RCD) is a feature that blocks access by Microsoft 365 Copilot to site content. Site administrators can now control RCD.
office365itpros.com
January 13, 2026 at 9:43 AM
If your #Microsoft365 tenant uses #Copilot, you should use RCD to stop sensitive SharePoint information leaking into prompt responses. Now, site admins can enable or disable RCD for their sites, which is how it should be. More at office365itpros.com/2026/01/13/r...
#MicrosoftTeams is rolling out a channel agent that does a similar job for channel conversations as the Facilitator agent does for chats. All good, except that the agent doesn't support channels with external members...
office365itpros.com/2026/01/12/t...
#Microsoft365
office365itpros.com/2026/01/12/t...
#Microsoft365
The Channel Agent Brings AI Interactions to Teams Channels
Chat and meetings have their agents, and now the Teams channel agent is available to help members understand what happens in channels.
office365itpros.com
January 12, 2026 at 9:08 AM
#MicrosoftTeams is rolling out a channel agent that does a similar job for channel conversations as the Facilitator agent does for chats. All good, except that the agent doesn't support channels with external members...
office365itpros.com/2026/01/12/t...
#Microsoft365
office365itpros.com/2026/01/12/t...
#Microsoft365
In a Friday rambling, I contemplate the #EntraID effort to rationalize revoke user session buttons and explain why a #PowerShell script is a better option to secure a user account in case of trouble.
office365itpros.com/2026/01/09/r...
#Microsoft365
office365itpros.com/2026/01/09/r...
#Microsoft365
Entra ID Rationalizes Revoke Sessions for User Accounts
Microsoft is rationalizing the options to revoke sessions for a user account in the Entra admin center by removing an old revoke MFA sessions button.
office365itpros.com
January 9, 2026 at 11:05 AM
In a Friday rambling, I contemplate the #EntraID effort to rationalize revoke user session buttons and explain why a #PowerShell script is a better option to secure a user account in case of trouble.
office365itpros.com/2026/01/09/r...
#Microsoft365
office365itpros.com/2026/01/09/r...
#Microsoft365
In the dull days of January, what else would you do but conduct a #Microsoft365 licensing audit? Act now before Microsoft puts up prices in July. No point in paying any more than you should...
practical365.com/microsoft-36...
practical365.com/microsoft-36...
January is a Great Time for a Microsoft 365 Licensing Audit
Keeping track of licenses in a Microsoft 365 tenant can be tiresome. However, an annual licensing audit is a great way to make sure that you pay Microsoft what it's due and no more. Knowing the detail...
practical365.com
January 8, 2026 at 11:36 AM
In the dull days of January, what else would you do but conduct a #Microsoft365 licensing audit? Act now before Microsoft puts up prices in July. No point in paying any more than you should...
practical365.com/microsoft-36...
practical365.com/microsoft-36...
Purview Priority Cleanup is a way of removing #Microsoft365 while ignoring retention holds. #SharePoint and #OneDrive are now supported. Here's how cleanup works: practical365.com/priority-cle...
Priority Cleanup for SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business Is Generally Available
Priority cleanup is a Microsoft Purview solution that allows tenants to remove items even when the items are subject to retention hold. That sounds like Priority cleanup goes against the nature of dat...
practical365.com
January 8, 2026 at 11:23 AM
Purview Priority Cleanup is a way of removing #Microsoft365 while ignoring retention holds. #SharePoint and #OneDrive are now supported. Here's how cleanup works: practical365.com/priority-cle...
After customer feedback, Microsoft decided to cancel the proposed mailbox external recipient rate limit for #Exchange Online. Too much friction & no zero-cost alternative created the potential for a car crash. More at office365itpros.com/2026/01/08/m...
#Microsoft365
#Microsoft365
Exchange Mailbox External Recipient Rate Limit Cancelled
After considering customer feedback, Microsoft cancelled the idea of implementing a mailbox external recipient rate limit for Exchange Online.
office365itpros.com
January 8, 2026 at 11:16 AM
After customer feedback, Microsoft decided to cancel the proposed mailbox external recipient rate limit for #Exchange Online. Too much friction & no zero-cost alternative created the potential for a car crash. More at office365itpros.com/2026/01/08/m...
#Microsoft365
#Microsoft365
Slack apparently has 79 million monthly active users... which must be the reason why #MicrosoftTeams is introducing a new Slack to Teams migration solution in the #Microsoft365 admin center. More here: office365itpros.com/2026/01/07/s...
Microsoft 365's Slack to Teams Migration Tool
MC1213779 announces the availability of a Slack to Teams migration tool in the Microsoft 365 admin center.
office365itpros.com
January 7, 2026 at 10:44 AM
Slack apparently has 79 million monthly active users... which must be the reason why #MicrosoftTeams is introducing a new Slack to Teams migration solution in the #Microsoft365 admin center. More here: office365itpros.com/2026/01/07/s...
Purview has a new Data Security Investigations (DSI) solution. I tested DSI as much as I could without real data (for a security incident) and found that the costs involved were surprising...
office365itpros.com/2026/01/06/d...
#Microsoft365
office365itpros.com/2026/01/06/d...
#Microsoft365
A Quick Look at Purview Data Security Investigations
During the quiet holiday period, I looked at the new Purview Data Security Investigations solution, which seems to be put together from bits of Microsoft 365.
office365itpros.com
January 6, 2026 at 10:41 AM
Purview has a new Data Security Investigations (DSI) solution. I tested DSI as much as I could without real data (for a security incident) and found that the costs involved were surprising...
office365itpros.com/2026/01/06/d...
#Microsoft365
office365itpros.com/2026/01/06/d...
#Microsoft365
#SharePoint Online is dumping four legacy compliance features it inherited from on-premises. It makes sense to concentrate on Purview instead, but some #Microsoft365 tenants might have to invest in additional licenses:
office365itpros.com/2026/01/05/s...
office365itpros.com/2026/01/05/s...
SharePoint Compliance Drops Legacy Features
MC1211579 (3 January 2026) announces the retirement of four legacy SharePoint compliance features in favor of Purview Data Lifecycle management.
office365itpros.com
January 5, 2026 at 10:22 AM
#SharePoint Online is dumping four legacy compliance features it inherited from on-premises. It makes sense to concentrate on Purview instead, but some #Microsoft365 tenants might have to invest in additional licenses:
office365itpros.com/2026/01/05/s...
office365itpros.com/2026/01/05/s...
#MicrosoftTeams can be criticized because of the sometimes comfusing set of policies and settings required to manage the app. Here's an example where the Teams admin center is making it easier to manage settings (external collaboration): office365itpros.com/2026/01/02/e...
#Microsoft365
#Microsoft365
Teams Admin Center Simplifies External Collaboration
Microsoft is rolling out a UX update for the Teams admin center to make it easier to manage external collaboration settings.
office365itpros.com
January 2, 2026 at 10:56 AM
#MicrosoftTeams can be criticized because of the sometimes comfusing set of policies and settings required to manage the app. Here's an example where the Teams admin center is making it easier to manage settings (external collaboration): office365itpros.com/2026/01/02/e...
#Microsoft365
#Microsoft365
Happy New Year to all. We've just released monthly update #127 for the #Office365 for IT Pros eBook. Current subscribers can download the new EPUB and PDF files now. Have fun and success with #Microsoft365 in 2026!
office365itpros.com/2026/01/01/o...
office365itpros.com/2026/01/01/o...
January 2026 Update for Office 365 for IT Pros
Monthly Update #127 for the Office 365 for IT Pros eBook (2026 edition) is now available for current subscribers to download from Gumroad.com.
office365itpros.com
January 1, 2026 at 10:38 AM
Happy New Year to all. We've just released monthly update #127 for the #Office365 for IT Pros eBook. Current subscribers can download the new EPUB and PDF files now. Have fun and success with #Microsoft365 in 2026!
office365itpros.com/2026/01/01/o...
office365itpros.com/2026/01/01/o...
I don't normally seek IT advice from tax authorities, but some information about training people to use #Microsoft365 #Copilot from the UK authority seemed pretty good: office365itpros.com/2025/12/31/m...
Training People to Use Microsoft 365 Copilot Effectively
A LinkedIn post explained how the UK Revenue and Customs authority train 30,000 people to use Microsoft 365 Copilot effectively.
office365itpros.com
December 31, 2025 at 11:13 AM
I don't normally seek IT advice from tax authorities, but some information about training people to use #Microsoft365 #Copilot from the UK authority seemed pretty good: office365itpros.com/2025/12/31/m...
In the dull days between Xmas and New Year, what else would you do but investigate an undocumented Exchange Online mailbox property that's linked to compliance: office365itpros.com/2025/12/30/e...
#Microsoft365
#Microsoft365
The Exchange EnforcedTimestamps Mailbox Property
While examining mailbox properties, I noticed that the EnforcedTimeStamps property held some information that I just couldn't explain.
office365itpros.com
December 30, 2025 at 9:58 AM
In the dull days between Xmas and New Year, what else would you do but investigate an undocumented Exchange Online mailbox property that's linked to compliance: office365itpros.com/2025/12/30/e...
#Microsoft365
#Microsoft365
How to report DLP Alerts (usually violations of DLP policy rules) with #PowerShell. You never know when this might be important...
office365itpros.com/2025/12/29/d...
#Microsoft365
office365itpros.com/2025/12/29/d...
#Microsoft365
How to Report DLP Alerts - Office 365 for IT Pros
MC1169572 announces that administrators can add classifications to DLP alerts to help with reporting. But how do you report DLP alerts?
office365itpros.com
December 29, 2025 at 11:13 AM
How to report DLP Alerts (usually violations of DLP policy rules) with #PowerShell. You never know when this might be important...
office365itpros.com/2025/12/29/d...
#Microsoft365
office365itpros.com/2025/12/29/d...
#Microsoft365
With an important security-related update, Microsoft released V2.34 of the Microsoft Graph #PowerShell SDK 12 days after V2.33. Web Account Manager (WAM) is now the default. Update to V2.34 rather than to V2.33. More at office365itpros.com/2025/12/23/w...
#Microsoft365
#Microsoft365
Web Account Manager the Default for Graph SDK Connections
The Web Account Manager (WAM) authentication broker becomes the default method for handling interaction Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK connections from V2.34.
office365itpros.com
December 23, 2025 at 10:54 AM
With an important security-related update, Microsoft released V2.34 of the Microsoft Graph #PowerShell SDK 12 days after V2.33. Web Account Manager (WAM) is now the default. Update to V2.34 rather than to V2.33. More at office365itpros.com/2025/12/23/w...
#Microsoft365
#Microsoft365
Monthly update #19 for the Automating #Microsoft365 with #PowerShell eBook is available for subscribers to download. In this post, we discuss the update, the new SharePoint create Site API, and V2.33 of the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK
office365itpros.com/2025/12/22/a...
office365itpros.com/2025/12/22/a...
Automating Microsoft 365 with PowerShell Update 19
Update #19 of the Automating Microsoft 365 with PowerShell eBook is now available for subscribers to download. A paperback version is also available.
office365itpros.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Monthly update #19 for the Automating #Microsoft365 with #PowerShell eBook is available for subscribers to download. In this post, we discuss the update, the new SharePoint create Site API, and V2.33 of the Microsoft Graph PowerShell SDK
office365itpros.com/2025/12/22/a...
office365itpros.com/2025/12/22/a...
After faffing round for years, Microsoft launches a #Microsoft365 Migration Orchestrator solution in preview for T2T migration of mailboxes, Teams chat, and OneDrive between tenants. ISVs have been doing this for a long time... Just saying.
office365itpros.com/2025/12/19/t...
office365itpros.com/2025/12/19/t...
Microsoft Tenant-to-Tenant Migration Orchestrator
Microsoft has launched a tenant-to-tenant migration orchestrator in public preview to migrate mailboxes, OneDrive, and Teams chat between tenants.
office365itpros.com
December 19, 2025 at 9:25 AM
After faffing round for years, Microsoft launches a #Microsoft365 Migration Orchestrator solution in preview for T2T migration of mailboxes, Teams chat, and OneDrive between tenants. ISVs have been doing this for a long time... Just saying.
office365itpros.com/2025/12/19/t...
office365itpros.com/2025/12/19/t...
A new #ExchangeOnline #PowerShell cmdlet can remove retention holds from inactive and active mailboxes. It's a good way of cleaning up old inactive mailboxes that are hanging around. More here: office365itpros.com/2025/12/18/r...
#Microsoft365
#Microsoft365
Removing Retention Holds from Exchange Mailboxes
A new Exchange Online feature allows administrators to remove multiple types of holds (like retention holds) from mailboxes (usually inactive mailboxes).
office365itpros.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:36 AM
A new #ExchangeOnline #PowerShell cmdlet can remove retention holds from inactive and active mailboxes. It's a good way of cleaning up old inactive mailboxes that are hanging around. More here: office365itpros.com/2025/12/18/r...
#Microsoft365
#Microsoft365
#SharePoint introduces new version expiration policies for audio and video files to help #Microsoft365 tenants save some expensive storage. If you use Clipchamp, this is something to investigate...
office365itpros.com/2025/12/17/v...
office365itpros.com/2025/12/17/v...
SharePoint Online Version Expiration for Video and Audio
Microsoft is launching version expiration policies in SharePoint Online for audio and video files. The approach is the same as intelligent versioning.
office365itpros.com
December 17, 2025 at 9:25 AM
#SharePoint introduces new version expiration policies for audio and video files to help #Microsoft365 tenants save some expensive storage. If you use Clipchamp, this is something to investigate...
office365itpros.com/2025/12/17/v...
office365itpros.com/2025/12/17/v...
After March 1, 2026, older Exchange ActiveSync clients (pre 16.1) will stop synchronizing email with Exchange Online. Major clients like Apple, Google, and Samsung should be OK, but this is definitely something to check.
office365itpros.com/2025/12/16/e...
#Microsoft365
office365itpros.com/2025/12/16/e...
#Microsoft365
Exchange ActiveSync V16.1 Required by Exchange Online
Exchange Online will require email clients to use Exchange ActiveSync (EAS) V16.1 to connect from March 1, 2026. Older versions will stop synchronizing.
office365itpros.com
December 16, 2025 at 9:22 AM
After March 1, 2026, older Exchange ActiveSync clients (pre 16.1) will stop synchronizing email with Exchange Online. Major clients like Apple, Google, and Samsung should be OK, but this is definitely something to check.
office365itpros.com/2025/12/16/e...
#Microsoft365
office365itpros.com/2025/12/16/e...
#Microsoft365
Microsoft is rolling out baseline security recommendations to #Microsoft365 tenants. Like any set of recommendations, it's wise to review settings before putting them into practice.
office365itpros.com/2025/12/15/b...
office365itpros.com/2025/12/15/b...
Microsoft Baseline Security Mode Rolls Out
Microsoft has released a set of security benchmark recommendations that it calls baseline security mode for Microsoft 365 tenants.
office365itpros.com
December 15, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Microsoft is rolling out baseline security recommendations to #Microsoft365 tenants. Like any set of recommendations, it's wise to review settings before putting them into practice.
office365itpros.com/2025/12/15/b...
office365itpros.com/2025/12/15/b...
Microsoft will enable the Anthrophic models by default for #Microsoft365 #Copilot in January 2026 (apart from EU/EFTA/UK). That's fine, but the original announcement in September might have created less fuss had it been explained better. office365itpros.com/2025/12/12/a...
Microsoft to Enable Anthrophic Models by Default
After the fuss about the initial introduction of the Anthrophic models into Microsoft 365 in September, Microsoft will enable access for all in January 2026.
office365itpros.com
December 12, 2025 at 9:31 AM
Microsoft will enable the Anthrophic models by default for #Microsoft365 #Copilot in January 2026 (apart from EU/EFTA/UK). That's fine, but the original announcement in September might have created less fuss had it been explained better. office365itpros.com/2025/12/12/a...
A bunch of (preview) MCP servers are available to work with #Microsoft365. I tested the MCP Server for Enterprise and found it can handle simple tasks, but don't ask it to do anything too complex. office365itpros.com/2025/12/11/m...
Testing the MCP Server for Enterprise
The MCP Server for Enterprise is one of a set of preview servers released by Microsoft to show how MCP servers can help Microsoft 365 tenants.
office365itpros.com
December 11, 2025 at 10:09 AM
A bunch of (preview) MCP servers are available to work with #Microsoft365. I tested the MCP Server for Enterprise and found it can handle simple tasks, but don't ask it to do anything too complex. office365itpros.com/2025/12/11/m...