Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast

By Ben Stegink, Scott HoagNews Technology Education How To Tech News

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Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast episodes

April 24, 2025Episode 400 – Microsoft 365 Copilot Declarative Agents and Copilot Studio Agent Builder
Welcome to Episode 400 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode, Ben and Scott explore how IT professionals and developers can leverage Microsoft 365 Copilot’s declarative agents and the Copilot Studio Agent Builder to enhance productivity and streamline workflows within their organizations. Declarative agents allow you to define specific tasks and workflows, enabling Copilot to assist users more effectively. With the Copilot Studio Agent Builder, creating these agents becomes a streamlined process, even for those with minimal coding experience. Listen and learn how to build, deploy, and manage these agents, licensing considerations, and best practices to maximize their impact in your organization.
Show Notes
Use the Copilot Studio Agent Builder to Build Agents
Copilot Studio Agent Builder Templates
Publish and Manage Copilot Studio Agent Builder Agents
Build and Install the Declarative Agent in Copilot Studio
Copilot Studio Licensing Information
About the sponsors
Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!
37 min
April 10, 2025Episode 399 – Azure Infrastructure as Code with Greg Suttie
Welcome to Episode 399 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode, we bring you another interview from the MVP Summit. In this episode, we were able to meet up with long time listener Greg Suttie and talk about his path to becoming an MVP as well as some of what he’s been working on in Azure. We cover everything he been doing with Infrastructure as code around Bicep, Azure Verified Modules, Azure Bicep Configuration files and more!
**Greg Suttie Greg is an Azure MVP and Microsoft Certified Trainer.
He also a passionate developer with 25 years experience, mainly with Microsoft Technologies and background is a .NET developer since the start of .NET. – He was one of the first 50 people in the world to become an MCSD developer back in the day. Recently awarded the Outstanding contribution to the Microsoft Community UK Winner and then the Outstanding contribution to the Microsoft Community Global Winner both for 2023.
Show Notes
Greg Suttie – MVP Profile
Greg Suttie’s blog
Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT)
What is IaC
What is Bicep?
Comparing JSON and Bicep for templates
Quickstart: Integrate Bicep with Azure Pipelines
Azure Verified Modules
Azure Verified Modules
What is the Azure Well-Architected Framework?
Azure Quick Review Docs
Azure Quick Review Github
Azure Bicep Parameters
Bicep Configuration Files
Export a resource from the Azure Portal
Visual Studio Code
GitHub Copilot
About the sponsors
Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource** for your organization? Let us know!
32 min
March 27, 2025Episode 398 – PowerShell and Intune with Harm Veenstra
Welcome to Episode 398 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode Ben meets up with Harm Veenstra at the annual Microsoft MVP Summit. They chat a bit about Harm experience as an MVP and his path to becoming an MVP. Then the move into a few technologies near and dear to Harm, PowerShell and Microsoft Intune. They start off talking about some of the ways Harm uses PowerShell and some of his favorite scripts. They talk about how he uses PowerShell with Intune, in particular using it with remediation scripts.
Harm Veenstra
Harm started working at 18, from a ServiceDesk employee to a workspace and system engineer at a large insurance firm in the Netherlands. 1996, those were the days! After working there for almost 11 years, Harm had different system engineer jobs and learned much about Citrix, Cisco, VMWare, storage, and Microsoft. Currently, He’s employed at NEXXT (https://www.nexxt.one) as a Consultant, mainly in Endpoint Management, but He does anything Microsoft 😉 (Client, Server, 365, and Azure).
And… He became a Microsoft MVP in March 2024 in PowerShell!
Show Notes
PowerShell is fun w/ Harm
Connect with Harm on LinkedIn
Harm’s MVP Profile
Microsoft PowerShell documentation
Microsoft Intune documentation
Intune Remediations
Microsoft Graph PowerShell
About the sponsors
Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!
32 min
March 13, 2025Episode 397 – Local LLMs: Why Every Microsoft 365 & Azure Pro Should Explore Them
Welcome to Episode 397 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode, Scott and Ben dive into the world of local LLMs—large language models that run entirely on your device. We’re going to explore why more IT pros and developers are experimenting with them, the kinds of models you can run, and how you can integrate them directly into your workflow, including in Visual Studio Code for AI-assisted coding.
Show Notes
Ollama
Running LLMs Locally: A Beginner’s Guide to Using Ollama
open-webui/open-webui
LM Studio
LM. Studio Model Catalog
Why do people like Ollama more than LM Studio?
A Starter Guide for Playing with Your Own Local AI!
host ALL your AI locally
Run your own AI (but private)
About the sponsors
Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!
45 min
February 27, 2025Episode 396 – Lessons from a real-life ransomware attack
Welcome to Episode 396 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode, Ben walks Scott through a ransomware attack on an on-premises VMware environment. As they discuss the attack and the results of it, they also talk through some lessons and considerations that could have helped mitigate such an attack.
Show Notes
How Long Does It Take for a Hacker to Crack a Password?
Default Accounts in VMware vSphere
How To Prevent Ransomware Attackers From Taking Over Your ESXi 8.0 Hosts
Zero-Day Security Bug Likely Fueling Fortinet Firewall Attacks
What is the 3-2-1 backup rule?
Ransomware Payment: What Happens if You Pay the Ransom?
About the sponsors
Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!
37 min
February 13, 2025Episode 395 – Getting Started with VDI in Azure with Azure Virtual Desktop
Welcome to Episode 395 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode, we dive into Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) and how it enables organizations to deliver secure, scalable Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) in the cloud. Whether you’re looking to modernize remote work, enhance security, or optimize IT costs, AVD provides a flexible solution for accessing virtualized Windows desktops and applications from anywhere.Topics covered include:
What is Azure Virtual Desktop? A breakdown of AVD’s features, benefits, and common use cases.
Deployment essentials – Setting up host pools, session hosts, and assigning users.
Configuration best practices – Managing user profiles with FSLogix and securing AVD with Microsoft Intune.
Cost estimation – Key factors affecting pricing and how to optimize expenses.
Getting started – Steps to connect via the Remote Desktop client on multiple platforms.
Whether you’re an IT admin or just exploring VDI in Azure, this episode is packed with insights to help you get started. Tune in and take your remote desktop strategy to the next level!
Show Notes
Azure Virtual Desktop documentation
Understand and estimate costs for Azure Virtual Desktop
Azure Virtual Desktop
Azure Virtual Desktop documentation for users
Get started with the Remote Desktop client
FSLogix for user profiles
Managing with Intune
Manage the operation system of sessions hosts (with Intune)
About the sponsors
Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!
44 min
January 30, 2025Episode 394 – Prepare your Microsoft 365 Tenant for Copilot Success
Welcome to Episode 394 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode, we explore everything you need to know to get your Microsoft 365 tenant ready for Copilot. From licensing requirements to deployment best practices, we break down the steps to ensure a seamless setup.Key topics include:
Understanding Copilot licensing, including E3, E5, and Business Premium options.
Ensuring compatibility with Microsoft 365 Apps, OneDrive, Teams, and Outlook.
Exploring Copilot’s data protection and auditing architecture to safeguard sensitive information and prevent oversharing.
Integrating SharePoint Advanced Management (SAM), now included with Copilot, to enhance collaboration and control.
Leveraging Microsoft’s Copilot Control System for managing prompts, sensitivity labels, and security posture.
We also cover the newly announced Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat initiative and the evolving role of AI-driven collaboration tools in business workflows. Whether you’re an IT admin or a decision-maker, this episode provides the insights you need to deploy Copilot successfully and harness its full potential.Don’t miss this comprehensive guide to preparing your organization for the future of AI-powered productivity!
Show Notes
Copilot for all: Introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat
Microsoft 365 Copilot admin guide for E3 + SAM licenses
Microsoft 365 Copilot admin guide for E5 + SAM licenses
Microsoft 365 Copilot with SharePoint
Get ready for Microsoft 365 Copilot with SharePoint Advanced Management
Copilot Control System explained
AI security posture management
Microsoft 365 Copilot data protection and auditing architecture
Address oversharing concerns in Microsoft 365 Copilot deployment blueprint
About the sponsors
Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!
43 min
January 17, 2025Episode 393 – Microsoft Teams Meeting Room Solutions with Alex Mooney
Welcome to Episode 393 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode, Ben is joined on the show by Alex Mooney from Logitech. The two of them discuss the integration of technology into meetings. They start out discussion AI for transcribing in-person meetings, highlighting some of their benefits and then shift into discussion various meeting room systems for Microsoft Teams. They discuss some of the offerings from Logitech including the Rally Bar Huddle, Rally Bar Mini, and Rally Bar and how they are certified for both Android and Windows to work in different scenarios for building out your Microsoft Teams Room system.
Show Notes
Microsoft Teams Room
Microsoft Teams Room Documentation
[Plan Microsoft Teams Rooms](https://learn.microsoft.com/microsoftteams/rooms/rooms-plan?WT.mc_id=5005104 target=)
Microsoft Teams Room Devices
Logitech
Conference Room Systems
Request Logitech Demo
About Alex
With a leadership role at Logitech, Alex has had the exciting opportunity to shape the future of digital workspaces. He’s directed major collaborations, including the impactful partnership between Logitech and Microsoft that’s driving billions in revenue. These aren’t just business deals, they’re transformations—helping companies worldwide navigate the ever-changing terrain of technology.
Creating and implementing innovative solutions is part of Alex’s DNA. Project Ghost, an immersive video conferencing experience, is just one of the many successful initiatives that he’s been proud to lead.
He’s often invited to share my insights on industry trends and strategies at key events and in publications. It’s a role he relishes — helping others grasp the opportunities that this rapid era of technological change brings. His focus is always forward, on the potential of what can be achieved together in the fields of collaboration and efficiency.
Alex on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexm00ney/
About the sponsors
Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!
31 min
January 03, 2025Episode 392 – Building Confidence In Your Microsoft Copilot Deployment with AvePoint CTO John Peluso
Welcome to Episode 392 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode, Ben interviews AvePoint CTO John Peluso. Listen in as they discuss Copilot in Microsoft 365 and how to govern and gain insights on your Copilot usage in your organization.
Copilot in Microsoft 365 is becoming a critical tool to supporting modern work. As Microsoft continues to iterate and improve on Microsoft Copilot, partners such as AvePoint help to augment the administration and analytics of Copilot adoption in your organization. While Copilot enables your workforce with the tools to their jobs, Microsoft and AvePoint also provide the tools for administrators to empower their workforce quickly in a safe way. Another part of the puzzle of administering Copilot is how do you measure AI adoption in your organization, benchmark your organization against similar organizations, and understand the activity levels and adoption of Copilot?
Listen in to hear about how AI tools like Copilot and AI in general can be governed in Microsoft 365 and how you can gain insights into how to approach analyzing Copilot adoption in your organization.
Show Notes
AvePoint Introduces First-to-Market Benchmarking Data for Microsoft 365 Copilot
IT Strategies for Copilot Administration
Ignite 2024 – What’s new for Microsoft 365 and Copilot admins
Ignite 2024: Why nearly 70% of the Fortune 500 now use Microsoft 365 Copilot
Microsoft Ignite 2024: Top Microsoft 365 Copilot Updates
About the sponsors
Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!
32 min
December 19, 2024Episode 391 – Remote Desktop and Application Delivery with Kamal Srinivasan from Parallels
Welcome to Episode 391 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode, Scott sits down with Kamal Srinivasan from Parallels to talk how you can think about delivering applications and desktops to your users in post-Citrix world. As the traditional “Citrix” model faces disruption, we explore how remote work, hybrid scenarios, and cloud-based computing are redefining how organizations deliver applications and desktops to end users.
Key topics include:
The shift away from static, on-prem desktops to dynamic, cloud-based compute.
How to optimize app delivery by building on top of Microsoft’s Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) platform.
Bridging the gap between legacy systems and cloud-based solutions, enabling businesses to roll out remote desktop solutions like AVD and Parallels RAS gradually while scaling down on-prem infrastructure.
The changing role of IT admins in supporting a workforce that operates anywhere, anytime.
Listen in and learn how your organization can streamline operations and empower your workforce with flexible, efficient application and desktop delivery.
Show Notes
Parallels
Parallels RAS
Parallels RAS Resources
Parallels Secure Workspace
Enhance your Azure Virtual Desktop experience with Parallels RAS
Windows 365 Link
Episode 390: Microsoft Ignite 2024: Windows 365 Link
About the sponsors
Would you like to become the irreplaceable Microsoft 365 resource for your organization? Let us know!
25 min