Your quick fix of all things Microsoft Cloud
Today’s #MicrosoftCloudQuickFix is #MSIgnite may have wrapping up, but all the announcements can be found in one place in the 𝗠𝗶𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁 𝗜𝗴𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗲 𝗕𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗼𝗳 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 2025 found here:
Microsoft Ignite 2025 Book of News
Another #MSIgnite in the books! Thank-you #Microsoft for an inspiring event!
#MSIgnite #MicrosoftAzure #Microsoft365 #MicrosoftCloudQuickFix
Today’s #MicrosoftCloudQuickFix is that registration is still open for tomorrow’s #Microsoft premium immersion event called Microsoft Ignite!
Microsoft Ignite is an annual conference organized by Microsoft for IT Professionals and Developers to learn about the latest Microsoft technologies and solutions.
The event offers attendees the opportunity to engage in networking, attend keynote presentations, participate in breakout sessions, and explore the latest innovations and technologies showcased by Microsoft.
At Microsoft Ignite, attendees can gain valuable knowledge about Microsoft’s latest products, services, and solutions. I would suspect this years will be heavily focused on the various new Copilot offerings.
Though IT Professional / Developer centric Microsoft Ignite can be a valuable source of information for customers and I would highly recommend they attend to gain visibility into Microsoft’s vision and product roadmap!
For registration information please see:
#MicrosoftCloudQuickFix #Microsoft #Microsoft365 #MicrosoftAzure #MicrosoftIgnite2025 #MSIgnite
Managing remote Exchange Online hosted mailboxes post migration has been a pain for some time. Some attributes are managed in the cloud, others on premises, and to do it right you needed to keep an Exchange Server around… Well Microsoft has a new feature which allows admins to manage the Exchange properties of directory-synchronized users with remote mailboxes directly from the cloud and THIS jaw dropper is today’s #MicrosoftCloudQuickFix !!!
A new capability in preview for Exchange Online allows administrators to manage Exchange attributes for directory-synchronized users with mailboxes hosted in Exchange Online. With the update, the Source of Authority (SOA) for Exchange-specific attributes can be transferred to the cloud, while the SOA for identity-related attributes remains under the control of Windows Active Directory.
After moving the SOA for Exchange-specific attributes to Exchange Online / Entra ID, these attributes can be managed using EXO PowerShell, the Microsoft 365 Admin Centre, or the Exchange Admin Centre with future support for write-back support of designated attributes via Entra Cloud Sync.
Microsoft is providing this feature in two phases:
Phase 1 (Preview): allows admins to enable cloud management of Exchange attributes per mailbox by setting IsExchangeCloudManaged to true. Mailboxes can be reverted to on-premises management by resetting IsExchangeCloudManaged to false.
Phase 2: will include write-back support for specified attributes and Entra Cloud Sync integration. During this phase, updates to key Exchange properties made in Entra ID will be automatically synchronized with the on-premises Windows Active Directory. This process keeps the on-premises AD current; for example, changes to a proxy address in Exchange Online will be updated in Active Directory. To access write-back functionality, customers must implement Entra Cloud Sync.
The new cloud-managed mailbox capability allows organizations that use on-premises Windows Active Directory for identity to manage their Exchange Online mailbox attributes in the cloud. As a result, it is no longer necessary to maintain an Exchange server or management tools on-premises for routine Exchange administration tasks!
For more information see:
#MicrosoftCloudQuickFix #Microsoft365 #MicrosoftCloudSecurity #MicrosoftEntra #MicrosoftEntraID #WindowsActiveDirectory #ActiveDirectory #SecurityGroups #IdentityAccessManagement #IdentityGovernance #ExchangeOnline #ExchangeServer
Microsoft Teams users will soon have enhanced Private Channel and Compliance capabilities. Responding to feedback #Microsoft has announced that they are making change to Microsoft Teams Private Channels which will increase their scalability, flexibility, and streamline compliance management. That is today’s #MicrosoftCloudQuickFix !
Private channels in Microsoft Teams provide a controlled space for structured, sensitive discussions. The changes will be accomplished by transitioning the Private Channel backend storage mailbox to a group mailbox instead of a using individual mailboxes of private channel members to store messages.
After the updates to private channels in your tenant private channels will be capable of:
| Feature | Current | New |
| Max private channels per team | 30 | 1000 |
| Max members per private channel | 250 | 5000 |
| Meeting scheduling | ❌ | ✅ Supported |
| Simplified Compliance | At a user level | Group |
Aligning private channels with group mailbox storage allows compliance policies, like retention, legal hold, DLP, and/or eDiscovery, to be set at the Team (M365 Group) level. This reduces complexity since a single policy can cover both standard and private channels within a Team.
These enhancements are in General Availability and will begin rolling out in late-September 2025 with a completion by mid-December 205 Worldwide!
During this timeframe, private channel data will gradually migrate from user mailboxes to the Team’s group mailbox. Private channels can be used throughout the migration normally. Microsoft will be providing a new PowerShell command to track progress and check whether the migration has started or is completed in your Tenant.
For more information see: New enhancements in Private Channels in Microsoft Teams unlock their full potential | Microsoft Community Hub
#MicrosoftCloudQuickFix #Microsoft365 #MicrosoftTeams #MicrosoftPurview #M365Compliance
Working your way thru an Exchange SE Migration and need a bit more time? This week marks t-minus 2 months until the end-of-support for Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 / 2019. After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide technical support, bug fixes, or security update unless… You request to join the Exchange 2016 / 2019 Extended Security Update program. This is today’s #MicrosoftCloudQuickFix !
Exchange Server SE is the next release of Microsoft Exchange Server and is now available download. The licensing model for Exchange Server SR requires subscription licenses for all users and devices that access Exchange Server SE on top of required Server licenses and CALs. Microsoft will continue to provide a free Hybrid server license and key via the Hybrid Configuration Wizard.
Now of course on October 15, 2025 your Exchange 2016 and Exchange 2019 servers will continue to work but it is recommended you begin to prepare now if you will require more time to perform your upgrade or migrations.
Beginning on August 1, 2025, customers with an Microsoft Agreement can contact their Microsoft account rep to inquire and purchase a 6 month Extended Security Update (ESU) for their Exchange 2016 / 2019 servers. Your Microsoft account rep will have information related to per server cost and additional details on how to purchase and receive ESU updates.
Notes about the Expended Security Updates:
See for more information see:
#MicrosoftCloudQuickFix #Microsoft365 #MicrosoftExchange #ExchangeOnline
Still using on premises Security Groups to manage access to apps? Do you have old Distribution Lists from a legacy Exchange environment and cringing recreating them in Exchange Online? Or worst you still have the dreaded Mail-enable Security Groups kicking around? Well Microsoft has finally come up with a solution to transfer these to Entra ID and THIS game changer is today’s ‘Bonus Edition’ #MicrosoftCloudQuickFix !!!
Contained within the July 31, 2025 Microsoft Entra Connect Update 2.5.76.0 is the listing for the added Group Source of Authority conversation feature (Public Preview) which will allow on a per Active Directory Group basis an administrator to transfer the Group Source of Authority from Windows Active Directory to Microsoft Entra ID. The per group basis allows for a nicely phased approach for the transfer!
You will need to make sure you upgrade your production and staging Microsoft Entra Connect servers in order to utilize this new capability which was also announced this week during the Microsoft Entra Suite Summer Camp
Note: For Entra ID Cloud Sync you must be at minimum version 1.1.1370.0
Once you move the Active Directory Group Source of Authority to Entra ID you gain the ability to use the advanced modern identity governance capabilities such as Access Reviews, Entitlement Management, Group Expiration and Naming Policies, and Dynamic Group membership assignment all in that single Entra ID pane. You can then use Group Writeback if the group is needed to govern any on premises applications / resources. If need be you can rollback the Group Source of Authority from Entra ID back to Active Directory!
See what I mean about THIS is a game changer!
You can watch the demo from #Microsoft here:
This new capability is in Public Preview and rolling out worldwide in August 2025 and is included in Entra ID Free and Basic (and above) licensing however to take advantage of Access Reviews and Entitlement Management capabilities an Entra ID P2 license is needed.
I am certain I will have more to discuss about this new capability so stay tuned!
For more information see:
#MicrosoftCloudQuickFix #Microsoft365 #MicrosoftCloudSecurity #MicrosoftEntra #MicrosoftEntraID #WindowsActiveDirectory #ActiveDirectory #SecurityGroups #IdentityAccessManagement #IdentityGovernance #ExchangeOnline #ExchangeServer #DistributionList #MailEnabledSecurityGroup
Microsoft is releasing a new default background image for the Microsoft Entra Personal and Work/School sign-in experience. This is today’s #MicrosoftCloudQuickFix !
Microsoft is making a change to the sign-in experience to align with the new modern design principals with the modernized end-user UX which aims to provide a cleaner experience across all authentication flow.
This update is visual only, no user or admin action is required, and it will not affect sign-in functionality nor will it supersede any corporate company branding configured in a Work or School Microsoft Entra ID tenant. This update will only affect screens where Company Branding doesn’t apply.
This update is already in General Availability and rolling out worldwide in August 2025 for personal Microsoft accounts, in late September 2025 for Microsoft Work and School accounts, with an expected completion by mid-October 2025.
Although no administrator action is needed to prepare for this change it is recommended to notify users of the change and update training documentation.
For more information see:
#MicrosoftCloudQuickFix #Microsoft365 #MicrosoftCloudSecurity #MicrosoftEntraID
Thank-you for your patience while we moved our hosting services to WordPress on GoDaddy !
Update: We are good to go!
Do you have old on-premises Exchange servers kicking around? Old Hybrid Exchange servers left over from a previous Exchange Online Migration or an anonymous SMTP relay? Last week marked t-minus 6 months until the end of support for Microsoft Exchange Server 2016 / 2019. After October 14, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide technical support, bug fixes, or security updates. What are your options? This is today’s #MicrosoftCloudQuickFix !
Of course, on October 15, 2025, your Exchange 2016 and Exchange 2019 will continue to work but it is recommended you begin to prepare now.
We recommended that you either fully migrate to Exchange Online as moving to Microsoft Cloud Services ensures continuous support, access to advanced features, and security advancements or (and if you haven’t done this by now there is likely good reason) upgrade your on-premises Exchange Servers to Exchange Server Subscription Edition (SE) to be released in July 2025 and offers a direct in-place upgrade from Exchange Server 2019 CU 15 released in February 2025.
If you are still running Exchange Server 2016 you should perform a side-by-side ‘legacy upgrade’ to Exchange Server 2019 CU 15 now and then perform the in-place upgrade to Exchange Server SE once released. The good news is Exchange Server 2019 CU15 is fully supported on Windows Server 2025!
Exchange Server SE is the next release of Microsoft Exchange Server and will be available for download in July 2025. The licensing model for Exchange Server SR requires subscription licenses for all users and devices that access Exchange Server SE on top of required Server licenses and CALs. Microsoft will continue to provide a free Hybrid server license and key via the Hybrid Configuration Wizard.
See for more information see:
Now that you know your options, it’s time to start planning your transition.
#MicrosoftCloudQuickFix #Microsoft365 #MicrosoftExchange #ExchangeOnline
Ever had connectivity issues that delayed your MFA authentication? Left your phone by the coffee pot but have your cup ready for the meeting? One-time code expired before you could use it? Microsoft is changing the user sign-in experience to help reduce duplicate request errors and allow the user to refresh their notifications in the Microsoft Authenticator app. This is today’s #MicrosoftCloudQuickFix !
With the rollout of this change the user sign-in experience will include the message, “Didn’t receive a sign-in request? Swipe down to refresh the content in your app.” advising the user that they can refresh notifications in the Microsoft Authenticator app (or Microsoft Authenticator Lite for Outlook mobile) if they have not received the sign-in notification. Once refreshed the user can complete the sign-in.
This is already in General Availability and began rollout worldwide in late March 2025 with an expected completion by mid-April 2025.
Although no administrator action is needed to prepare for this change it is recommended to notify users of the change and update training documentation.
For more information see:
#MicrosoftCloudQuickFix #Microsoft365 #MicrosoftCloudSecurity #MicrosoftEntraID #MicrosoftAuthenticatorApp