Microsoft Azure

Azure App Service Lets Encrypt Renewal Failures and Resolution

Richard Green on 18th February 2021

Paying for certificates isn’t the done thing when you can get free certificates from Lets Encrypt. Free certificates from Lets Encrypt come at a different price and that is lifetime as the certificates are only ever valid for 90 days. If you’re still manually buying and installing certificates annually then you don’t want that four times a year so we automate the process end-to-end. This has been working perfectly since about 2018 for us, however, a recent alert about a certificate expiring made us sit up and look at this case of Azure App Service Lets Encrypt renewal failures and the resolution.

Running a Static Website for Less than a Latte

Richard Green on 12th February 2021

Yes, you read that right. If all you need is a way to show a couple of static web pages you could run a static website for less than the cost of a coffee for the entire year. Although the focus here is a small, simple, and static website, you can apply the same logic to larger sites or even if you need a way to serve up static content over HTTP, not just a website.

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.

Using Azure AD Application Proxy to Publish Internal Web Apps

Richard Green on 16th June 2020

With users working remotely, how are they accessing the internal line of business systems such as web applications that you have running? Chances are they may be having to use a VPN but Azure AD Application Proxy could provide you with a better solution.

Oftentimes, we work with customers to help them to move workloads to Microsoft Azure but what if you want or need to keep something 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.

Managing Licensing with Azure AD Group-based License Assignment

Richard Green on 16th April 2020

With the use of Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, and the vast array of Microsoft services across the cloud offerings from Microsoft, it’s all about licensing. Making sure that every user has the right licenses is important so let’s explore how we could be managing licensing with Azure AD Group-based License Assignment.

Securing Passwords with Azure AD Password Protection

Richard Green on 22nd February 2020

Organisations define password policies to ensure that their users are not setting weak passwords that can be easily compromised. In this article, we explore securing passwords with Azure AD Password Protection and whether it can help make you more secure but also easier on your users.

Traditional password policies in Active Directory rely on basic filters to determine the number of characters and type of characters including numbers, letters, and symbols. On face value these policies may seem secure, however, are these policies actually causing the problem and much weaker than you think?

Manage Software Updates with Azure Update Management

Richard Green on 16th February 2020

The answer is Azure Update Management so what is the problem we are trying to solve? At Arcible, we have some on-premises servers. To keep safe, secure, and compliant, these servers need patching just like any other server does. Our environment is small and not big enough to justify a Microsoft Endpoint Manager (formerly Configuration Manager) deployment and Windows Server Updates Services (WSUS) is too painful and manual to manage.

So if we aren’t using Microsoft Endpoint Manager or WSUS, what do we do? We want a solution that’s automated to reduce the admin overhead but while being lightweight and not costing much.

Temporary Services with Azure Spot VMs

Richard Green on 6th December 2019

Do you have services that you need to run but you don’t mind when or how they run so long as they do? Azure Spot VMs, newly announced in preview this week could be just for you.

Azure Cost Management for CSP

Richard Green on 23rd November 2019

One of the primary routes for Azure consumption has been the Cloud Seller Programme (CSP) model, however, a problem has been that there has been no visible Cost Management for CSP. As of October 2019 though, this is now available giving you access to the same cost management for CSP as Enterprise Agreement and Pay-as-you-Go customers have had.