Hybrid

Replace Your File Server with Azure Files

Richard Green on 26th August 2020

We’ve previously talked about migrating files to SharePoint Online and OneDrive for Business. Even if you’ve done this, you will no doubt have a reason for a file server still. If cloud is your goal, why not replace your file server with Azure Files?

You get all the same capabilities as you do with an on-premises file server but the benefits of a Platform-as-a-Service solution that doesn’t require servers.

Hybrid Windows Autopilot over VPN

Richard Green on 10th July 2020

Windows Autopilot until now has only worked 100% remotely for Azure AD Joined devices. For devices which are Hybrid Azure AD Joined via Active Directory, Windows Autopilot could fail as it required the device to have line-of-sight to a Domain Controller to perform the Domain Join operation. With the introduction of support for Hybrid Windows Autopilot over VPN (Bring Your Own VPN as the Microsoft documentation calls it) the game has changed.

Using Microsoft Teams Calendar with Exchange Server On-premises

Richard Green on 29th June 2020

Microsoft Teams is a cloud only service. There is no on-premises version of Microsoft Teams like there was with Skype for Business Server. If you are using Microsoft Teams but your mailboxes are still on-premises because your organisation isn’t ready to move to Exchange Online, what happens to the Microsoft Teams calendar with Exchange Server on-premises?

When using Microsoft Teams with Exchange Online, we get a Calendar app to allow us to view our calendars directly in Microsoft Teams, however, if your mailbox is in Exchange Server on-premises then you may not see get that functionality today. In this post, we’ll look at what you can do to enable the Microsoft Teams calendar with Exchange Server on-premises.

Security Key Login with Hybrid Windows 10 Devices

Richard Green on 1st June 2020

Technically speaking, this feature has been available for some time if you were prepared to use machines joined to the Windows Insider Programme, as it required a minimum build of Windows 10. Because that build, Build 18945, was exclusive to the Insider Programme, it meant that this feature wasn’t viable for production users because who wants to use preview builds with real users?

With the release of the May 2020 update for Windows 10, however, all the parts are now all there in production form to enable the use of a security key for Windows 10 login on hybrid devices.