Microsoft Teams and Exchange Server On-Prem Calendars

This is actually a really interesting three part blog series on how to configure Microsoft Teams (in the cloud), with Exchange Server on-prem.  Microsoft Teams can only be delivered in the cloud and draws huge dependencies on Exchange Online and SharePoint Online.  However there are still organizations that for various reasons still have Exchange Server on-premises.  This article focuses specifically on how you can integrate your Exchange Server on-prem Calendar with Microsoft Teams.

Part 1 - https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-teams-community-blog/microsoft-teams-and-on-premises-mailboxes-part-1-how-do-teams/ba-p/2229851 

Part 2 - https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-teams-community-blog/microsoft-teams-and-on-premises-mailboxes-part-2-teams-calendar/ba-p/2232602

Part 3 - https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-teams-community-blog/microsoft-teams-and-on-premises-mailboxes-part-3-calendar-based/ba-p/2235211 

Microsoft Teams and the DoD CVR Project

This is about one of the coolest projects I have ever been apart of.  This is a great case study written by the DoD about how Microsoft Teams was used to keep their entire business going during COVID.

https://www.c4isrnet.com/it-networks/2021/01/11/pentagon-shattered-speed-record-to-give-1-million-people-remote-work-tools/

Microsoft Viva

I think everyone was surprised by the recent announcement of the new Viva capability.  The announcements state “Today we are announcing Microsoft Viva, the first Employee Experience Platform (EXP) built for the digital era. Viva brings together communications, knowledge, learning, resources, and insights into an integrated employee experience that builds on Microsoft Teams to empower people to be their best, from anywhere.”

When I started to dig into what Viva really is, in Office 365 terms I was super impressed with the vision.  When Microsoft Teams went to market a few years ago, it was solution that brought together many users experiences inside of Office 365.  Previously SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business and Skype for Business Online were horizonal solutions with level of integration, yet Microsoft Teams brought them together into a single immersive user experience.  I see the same thing with Viva.

Viva is bringing together Microsoft Workplace Analytics and Microsoft MyAnalytics into an immersive experience within Microsoft Teams.  Viva Insights is the next revolution of these capabilities which I would say are being highly under utilized by customers and users.  This brings these capabilities to the forefront.

Additionally solutions like Microsoft AI is being used to create a solution called Viva Topics which will help users share knowledge and connect people with each other in their everyday jobs.

All of these capabilities will be critical in supporting workforces that are transitioning out of offices and into remote work scenarios.  I see tons of potential, and cannot wait to watch this evolve.

References:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-viva/overview

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2021/02/04/microsoft-viva-empowering-every-employee-for-the-new-digital-age/

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-teams-blog/introducing-microsoft-viva-the-employee-experience-platform-in/ba-p/2111481

Teams Approval App now GA

The Microsoft Approvals App has now gone GA in Microsoft Teams.  This is a simple application that will allow you seek approvals from peers or managers activities and files.  It is totally integrated withing the Teams user experience really need for everyday type of work you do.  Consider giving it a try.

Reference

Approvals in Microsoft Teams, Now Generally Available - Microsoft Tech Community

Microsoft Search and Exchange Online

This week, I had to go into Microsoft Outlook to find an old HR benefit email I had gotten some time ago.  This case, as Microsoft employee get a benefit of free Xbox Game Pass subscription.  I had some old emails on it, and wanted to find the link.  When I found the old emails, none of the links worked because there old.

Then all of a sudden a message came up saying, “Link from your organization”, here is the correct link.  I clicked it, it took me straight to the internal benefit site.  This was awesome and I was totally surprised I did not even know about this feature.

I then did some additional investigation.  I put in some other Microsoft corporate terms into Outlook search and got back tons of other result “Link from your organization” section which gave me links within the Microsoft intranet to webpages that had the information for me.

Well, there was a simple reason for this.  Many folks may not have seen this but Outlook and Office are now integrated with Microsoft Search.  This all started about a year ago.  Basically, whenever you put in a search in Outlook, there is a search in your email however additional resources available to you will be searched.  If you organization has set up Microsoft Search appropriately, you will get items in your mailbox plus items across the organization that you have access to. 

Resources

Microsoft Search | Microsoft Docs

Search in Outlook puts your results on top - Microsoft Tech Community

Enhanced performance, designed for simplicity – the new Outlook for Mac - Microsoft Tech Community

Microsoft Search—cohesive search that intelligently helps you find, discover, command, and navigate - Microsoft 365 Blog

Important Office 365 Security Recommendations

To mitigate threats consistent with the recent security incidents, here are some really good recommendations organizations should consider with regards to Office 365.  Go here - Protecting Microsoft 365 from on-premises attacks - Microsoft Tech Community

There are strongly recommended configurations that customers should be doing moving forward.

Teams Breakout Rooms GA

 This week Teams made a GA release of a new feature called Breakout Rooms.

This new capability gives meeting organizers the ability to create up to 50 breakout rooms.  Meeting participants then transition to the breakout rooms and participants can move between the breakout rooms.  Announcements can be made to each breakout room, and participants can be brought back to the main room.

I see some really interesting tele-work and tele-education scenarios where Teams Breakout Rooms can really help out.  

Announcement

Breakout rooms generally available today in Microsoft Teams - Microsoft Tech Community