Azure Local – Bringing the Cloud to Your Datacenter

Discover how Azure Local transforms your operations:

✅ Disconnected Operations – Stay productive even without constant internet connectivity.

✅ Arc Gateway – Seamlessly manage resources with centralized control.

✅ Active Directory Less – Azure Local without traditional AD dependencies.

✅ Microsoft 365 Local – Enjoy familiar apps with localized performance enhancements.

✅ Azure AI Video Indexer Enabled by Arc – Advanced video insights powered by AI.

✅ VMware to Azure Local – Effortless migration and integration with existing VMware setups.

✅ Multi-Rack Deployment – Scale efficiently across multiple hardware racks.

✅ External Storage Support – Integrate with external storage for flexible data management.

✅ Microsoft 365 Local Exchange, SharePoint, and Skype – Enhanced collaboration tools tailored for your local environment.

✅ GPU on Azure Local – High-performance computing with dedicated GPU support.

✅ Edge RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation) – Boost edge computing capabilities with advanced AI models.

✅ OCR (Optical Character Recognition) – Transform scanned documents into searchable, editable data.

✅ Azure AI Indexer – Powerful indexing capabilities for streamlined data access.

More info:

🌐 https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/products/local

🔹 Feature: Windows Resiliency Initiative (WRI)

✅ Windows Resiliency Initiative (WRI): A robust framework designed to enhance system stability and recovery capabilities.

What is it giving you?

✅ Windows 365 Reserve: Seamlessly continue your work when something happens to your computer—perfect for short-term disruptions.

✅ Windows Remote Recovery: Recover your system remotely, ensuring minimal downtime even from afar.

✅ Quick Machine Recovery (QMR): Instantly restore your device to full functionality, reducing downtime dramatically.

✅ Digital Signage Mode: Maintain professional public displays by hiding Windows screens and error messages.

✅ Point-in-Time Restore: Roll back to a precise, stable system state when things go wrong—like time travel for your data!

✅ Device Rebuild: Efficiently rebuild your device environment, ensuring swift recovery even after major failures.

✅ Windows Recovery Environment (WinRE) – Connectivity: Enhanced connectivity tools within WinRE, simplifying remote troubleshooting and recovery.

🔰 Strengthening the Ecosystem:

Initiatives like Microsoft Virus Initiative 3.0 and the Windows Endpoint Security Platform are paving the way for safer, kernel-free architectures. These advances empower security and driver developers with safe update deployments, leveraging innovative user-mode and Rust-based designs to boost resilience.

More info:

🌐 https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/business/windows-resiliency-initiative#overview

🔹 Feature: Azure Virtual Desktop (AVD) – Discover what’s new and how it benefits you:

✅ Hybrid Deployment with Azure Arc

Run AVD in a hybrid model on existing servers/VMs via Azure Arc.

Skip the need for new hardware—just install agents/extensions on current VMs.

Enables smooth, incremental migration to the cloud.

✅ B2B Collaboration for External Users – sell your app via AVD

Add external partners as guest users with their own identities.

Supports Conditional Access & MFA for secure interactions.

Simplifies external user management for AVD resources.

✅ Regional Resilience Improvements

AVD metadata now replicated across multiple regions within a geography.

Regional deployment scope helps isolate failures effectively.

Reduces risks of cross-region impacts.

✅ Ephemeral Disk Host Pools & Autoscaling

Ephemeral disks = faster boot times & rapid deployments.

Dynamic autoscaling required due to non-traditional VM stopping/rebooting.

Storage costs? Nearly zero—compute only!

✅ Enhanced Stability with RDP Multipath

RDP leverages multipath networking for seamless path switching.

Fewer disconnects, ~2x higher mean time to failure.

Zero admin effort required—no configuration needed.

✅ Improved Monitoring & Migration Tools

New Windows 365 reporting with rich visualizations & export features.

Migration API for moving personal desktops from traditional VDI to Windows 365.

Simplifies management & eases transition to cloud PC models.

More info:

🌐 https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/azurevirtualdesktopblog/announcing-new-hybrid-deployment-options-for-azure-virtual-desktop/4468781

🔹 Feature: Azure Copilot Admin Center

🔹 What It Does: For compliance purposes, organizations may need to disable AI functionalities within their environment. The Azure Copilot Admin Center provides one of the key places where this can be managed. However, it seems that future limitations might not be good idea.

What is it giving you:

✅ Centralized control for storing prompts (Cosmos DB)

✅ Enhanced compliance management by allowing AI feature restrictions

✅ Simplified admin experience for managing Azure Agents

✅ Websocket connections to directline.botframework.com are required for Microsoft Copilot in Azure 

More info:

🌐 https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/copilot/manage-access

🔹 Feature: DocumentDB (MongoDB) Kubernetes Operator

🔹 What It Does: Deploy and manage DocumentDB on Kubernetes with ease. User-friendly operators make it a breeze to manage workloads in any Kubernetes.

What is it giving you:

✅ Provides an open-source, cloud-native solution to deploy, manage, and scale DocumentDB instances on Kubernetes.

✅ Ensures seamless management of MongoDB-compatible DocumentDB, built on PostgreSQL.

✅ Simplifies database operations, boosting efficiency in Kubernetes environments.

✅ Enhances scalability and flexibility for modern cloud-native applications.

More info:

🌐 https://opensource.microsoft.com/blog/2025/11/05/documentdb-goes-cloud-native-introducing-the-documentdb-kubernetes-operator

🔹 Feature: aspire.dev

🔹 What It Does: Aspire is the tool for code-first, extensible, observable development and deployment.

What is it giving you:

✅ Aspire is a CLI: Simplify your development workflow with powerful command-line tools.

✅ Type-Safe Manifest: Ensure robust configurations with type-safe manifests for better reliability.

✅ VS Code Extension: Seamlessly integrate with Visual Studio Code for an enhanced coding experience.

✅ Plugin Ecosystem: Extend functionality effortlessly through a flexible plugin architecture.

✅ Dev-Time Orchestrator: Manage and coordinate your applications, front ends, APIs, containers, and databases with ease.

✅ Lightweight OTEL Viewer: Gain insightful observability with a built-in, lightweight OpenTelemetry viewer.

✅ Custom Onboarding Tool: Streamline team onboarding with customized setup tools tailored to your development stack.

✅ Pipeline Generator: Automate deployment pipelines, boosting efficiency and reducing manual effort.

More Info:

🌐 https://aspire.dev

🌐 http://aka.ms/aspire-discord

🔹 Feature: Zero Trust Assessment

🔹 What It Does: Helps organizations evaluate and strengthen their security posture by identifying gaps and providing actionable recommendations based on Zero Trust principles.

What is it giving you:

✅ Enhanced visibility into security gaps across your environment.

✅ Actionable insights to improve identity, device, app, and data security.

✅ Tailored recommendations to align with Zero Trust architecture.

✅ Support in operationalizing security measures effectively.

More info:

🌐 https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft-security-blog/the-microsoft-zero-trust-assessment-helping-you-operationalize-the-hardening-of-/4468729

🔹 Feature: Premium V4 Tier for Azure App Service

🔹 What It Does: Offers enhanced performance, improved scalability, and cost-efficient options for running your web applications.

What is it giving you:

✅ Cost Efficiency: Azure App Service P4 is now cheaper than P3, and surprisingly, P3 was already more economical than S1.

✅ Better Performance: Enhanced CPU and memory configurations for demanding workloads.

✅ Scalability: Supports higher instances, making it perfect for growing applications.

⚠️ The Premium V4 tier lacks stable outbound IP addresses. Use NAT Gateway.

⚠️ If you can not upgrade to Premium V4, create new App Service Plan the best in new resource group and migrate the App Service.

More info:

🌐 https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/app-service/app-service-configure-premium-v4-tier

🌐 https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/app-service/windows/#pricing

🔹 Feature: Standard Logic App in On-Premises

🔹 What It Does: Standard Logic App in on-premises extends your automation capabilities beyond the cloud, allowing seamless integration with on-premises resources.

What Is It Giving You:

⚠️ Similar to App Service, it utilizes a Kubernetes cluster connected via Azure Arc, enabling hybrid deployment and management.

✅ Hybrid Flexibility: Run workflows locally while maintaining cloud capabilities.

✅ Consistent Management: Unified operations through Azure Arc for both on-premises and cloud environments.

✅ Enhanced Security: Keep sensitive data on-premises while leveraging Azure’s security features.

✅ Scalability: Easily scale with Kubernetes-managed infrastructure.

✅ Integration Power: Connect with on-premises services as well as cloud apps smoothly.

More Info:

🌐 https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/logic-apps/set-up-standard-workflows-hybrid-deployment-requirements

In this video, we build a simple HR application powered by natural-language search!
You’ll see how to create HR records, store employee information, and then query everything using plain English — no complex filters, no SQL required.

Step By Step: https://microsoft.github.io/copilot-camp/pages/make/copilot-studio/06-mcp/

Repository: https://github.com/MariuszFerdyn/copilot-camp/tree/main/src/make/copilot-studio/path-m-lab-mcs6-mcp/hr-mcp-server

Flight Simulator 2024 – 0% language loading problem (PC) , 0% Waiting For Authentication

Flight Simulator 2020 – Access to the content services is currently unavailable (PC) 

Probably you tried this with no results:

• Log out of both the Microsoft Store and the XBOX Application. After a few moments, sign back in to each app to refresh your account access. 

• Type wsreset.exe – restart PC and try to log-in again 

• Run a system file check by opening Command Prompt as administrator and typing sfc /scannow. Allow the scan to complete and follow any prompts to fix detected issues. 

• Next, use the DISM tool to repair system files. In Command Prompt, enter DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth and wait for the process to finish. 

• Remove the Flight Simulator local app data folder. To do this, press Windows Key + R, type %LOCALAPPDATA%\Packages and remove the Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe 

• Finally, repair the Flight Simulator game through the Microsoft Store or the XBOX Application by selecting the game and choosing the Repair option. 

If it still doesn’t help – the issue is: 

The simulator cannot create the Microsoft.FlightSimulator_8wekyb3d8bbwe container

The issue reproduces on multiple PCs

The OS is freshly installed

Reinstalling Store, Xbox App, Gaming Services, and the game does nothing

Your Microsoft account does not have a functioning entitlement record for Flight Simulator 2024

This is a backend licensing / entitlement corruption on Microsoft’s side.

No further troubleshooting on your PC will change this.

The working workaround:

1. Log in to Microsoft Store that have license for Microsoft Flight Simulator 
2. Log off from XBOX App and log in with completly different account – if you have no other just create: https://account.microsoft.com/account 
3. After that browse thet Microsoft Store will use the orginal account, but only XBOX Application use the different one 

This workaround will allow you to play: Flight Simulator 2024 or 2020 

 To fix the issue permanently, contact Microsoft: 

https://support.xbox.com/contact-us 

Explain the issue clearly:

Flight Simulator will not launch on your account.

You’ve tried: full reinstall, Xbox app / Store reset, clearing local cache, even on a brand-new PC.

The game works perfectly on a different Live ID on the same PC, which proves the issue is tied to your account.
Ask specifically for: entitlement / account corruption check or reset of game licenses / tokens. 

Alternatively, you may contact us through: https://x.com/XboxSupport  or better Help with Microsoft Store purchases – Microsoft Support

🔹 Feature: .NET 8 Custom Code Support for Azure Logic Apps

🔹 What It Does: Enables developers to seamlessly integrate custom .NET 8 code within Azure Logic Apps Standard, enhancing flexibility and functionality in app workflows.

What is it giving you:

✅ Enhanced Performance: Execute custom logic (everything what you wants) with improved efficiency directly in your workflows.

✅ Greater Flexibility: Write and manage .NET 8 code natively, allowing tailored solutions for complex business needs.

✅ Simplified Development: Streamline app development by reducing the need for external services or APIs.

✅ Better Integration: Easily connect with other Microsoft services and third-party applications.

More info:

🌐 https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/integrationsonazureblog/announcement-introducing-net-8-custom-code-support-for-azure-logic-apps-standard/4167893

🔹 Feature: Newe Microsoft SQL Driver for Python

What It Does:

✅ Faster Query Execution: Experience 2-4 times faster query execution, maximizing performance.

✅ Superior Connection Handling: Benefit from connection handling that’s 16 times faster, ensuring smooth data transactions.

✅ Easy Installation: Simplify your setup with quick and hassle-free installation.

✅ Cross-Platform Compatibility: Work effortlessly across different operating systems.

✅ Pip Install Capabilities: Install easily using pip, streamlining your development workflow.

More info:

🌐 https://github.com/microsoft/mssql-python

#

🔹 Feature: SharePoint Embedded

🔹 What It Does: The fastest way to build enterprise-grade, globally compliant document management directly into your apps — without rebuilding the Microsoft 365 stack.

✅ Seamless Integration: Easily embed document management capabilities into your applications.

✅ Enterprise-Ready: Built-in compliance and security features meet global standards.

✅ Enhanced Collaboration: Supports Microsoft 365 tools for efficient teamwork.

✅ Copilot Support: Leverage AI-powered productivity enhancements.

✅ Simple API: Quick deployment with minimal development effort required.

🔹 Feature: Visual Studio Code on the Web

🔹 What It Does: Enables you to access and use Visual Studio Code directly from your browser without any installation, making coding more flexible and accessible.

What It’s Giving You:

🤔 Free competitor of GitHub Codespaces

✅ Seamless coding experience from any device with an internet connection.

✅ Quick access to your projects without setup time.

✅ Full support for extensions, themes, and settings synchronization.

✅ Integrated GitHub support for version control on the go.

✅ Optimized performance for lightweight coding sessions.

✅ Use Jupiter Notebooks to explore data over the web

🌐 https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/fabric/data-engineering/author-notebook-with-vs-code-web

🌐 https://insiders.vscode.dev/

🌐 https://vscode.dev/

Based on Ignite 20225 – LAB515 Build Advanced Ai Agents with PostgreSQL.

Source Code: https://github.com/MariuszFerdyn/ignite25-LAB515-build-advanced-ai-agents-with-postgresql.

Transcript:

Source code: https://github.com/MariuszFerdyn/ignite25-LAB515-build-advanced-ai-agents-with-postgresql

 

— ============================================================================
— PART 1: Initialize Database and Verify Data
— ============================================================================

— Load initial dataset from SQL script
\i ./Scripts/initialize_dataset.sql;

— Enable auto-formatting for better readability in psql
\x auto

— Verify that data was loaded correctly – show first 5 case names
SELECT name FROM cases LIMIT 5;

— ============================================================================
— PART 2: Install and Configure Azure AI Extension
— ============================================================================

— Check which Azure extensions are available in the server
SHOW azure.extensions;

— Install the azure_ai extension to enable Azure OpenAI integration
— This extension provides functions to interact with Azure OpenAI Service
CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS azure_ai;

— Switch to PowerShell context to load environment variables
cd C:\Lab\Scripts\
.\get_env.ps1

— Configure Azure OpenAI endpoint URL
— Replace {AZURE_OPENAI_ENDPOINT} with your actual endpoint from Azure Portal
SELECT azure_ai.set_setting(‘azure_openai.endpoint’, ‘{AZURE_OPENAI_ENDPOINT}’);

— Configure Azure OpenAI API key for authentication
— Replace {AZURE_OPENAI_KEY} with your actual API key from Azure Portal
SELECT azure_ai.set_setting(‘azure_openai.subscription_key’, ‘{AZURE_OPENAI_KEY}’);

— Verify the endpoint configuration was saved correctly
SELECT azure_ai.get_setting(‘azure_openai.endpoint’);

— Verify the API key configuration was saved correctly
SELECT azure_ai.get_setting(‘azure_openai.subscription_key’);

— ============================================================================
— PART 3: Test Embeddings Generation
— ============================================================================

— Test embeddings creation with sample text
— text-embedding-3-small is the Azure OpenAI embedding model
— Show only first 100 characters of the resulting vector for preview
SELECT LEFT(azure_openai.create_embeddings(‘text-embedding-3-small’, ‘Sample text for PostgreSQL Lab’)::text, 100) AS vector_preview;

— ============================================================================
— PART 4: Traditional Keyword Search (for comparison)
— ============================================================================

— Perform traditional keyword-based search using ILIKE pattern matching
— This will miss semantically similar content that uses different words
SELECT id, name, opinion
FROM cases
WHERE opinion ILIKE ‘%Water leaking into the apartment from the floor above’;

— ============================================================================
— PART 5: Prepare Table for Vector Search
— ============================================================================

— Install pgvector extension to support vector data type and operations
CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS vector;

— Add a new column to store embeddings (1536 dimensions for text-embedding-3-small)
ALTER TABLE cases ADD COLUMN opinions_vector vector(1536);

— Generate embeddings for all existing cases
— Concatenate name and first 8000 chars of opinion for better context
— max_attempts and retry_delay_ms handle API rate limiting gracefully
UPDATE cases
SET opinions_vector = azure_openai.create_embeddings(‘text-embedding-3-small’, name || LEFT(opinion, 8000), max_attempts => 5, retry_delay_ms => 500)::vector
WHERE opinions_vector IS NULL;

— ============================================================================
— PART 6: Create Vector Index for Efficient Similarity Search
— ============================================================================

— Install pg_diskann extension for high-performance vector indexing
CREATE EXTENSION IF NOT EXISTS pg_diskann;

— Create DiskANN index for fast cosine similarity searches
— This dramatically improves performance for large datasets
CREATE INDEX cases_cosine_diskann ON cases USING diskann(opinions_vector vector_cosine_ops);

— Verify embeddings were created – show one example vector
SELECT opinions_vector FROM cases LIMIT 1;

— ============================================================================
— PART 7: Semantic Search Using Vector Similarity
— ============================================================================

— Perform semantic search using cosine similarity (<=> operator)
— Find the 10 most semantically similar cases to the query
— This finds similar content even if exact words don’t match
SELECT
id, name
FROM
cases
ORDER BY opinions_vector <=> azure_openai.create_embeddings(‘text-embedding-3-small’, ‘Water leaking into the apartment from the floor above.’)::vector
LIMIT 10;

— Get the most similar case with full opinion text
— Shows the best semantic match to the query
SELECT
id, opinion
FROM cases
ORDER BY opinions_vector <=> azure_openai.create_embeddings(‘text-embedding-3-small’, ‘Water leaking into the apartment from the floor above.’)::vector
LIMIT 1;

— ============================================================================
— PART 8: Compare Semantic Search vs Keyword Search
— ============================================================================

— Re-run the traditional keyword search for comparison
— Notice how semantic search (above) may find more relevant results
— that don’t contain the exact phrase
SELECT id, name, opinion
FROM cases
WHERE opinion ILIKE ‘%Water leaking into the apartment from the floor above’;

Video:

🔹 Feature: Prism – Run x86/x64 Applications on ARM Processors

🔹 What It Does: Prism is the new emulator included with Windows 11 24H2.

What is it giving you:

💻 Emulation simulates software by compiling x86 instructions into optimized Arm64 code.

✅ Improved performance for x86/x64 apps on ARM devices

✅ Lower CPU usage during emulation

✅ Enhanced efficiency, leading to longer battery life on ARM-based devices

✅ Smoother user experience with optimized resource management

More info:

🌐 https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/arm/apps-on-arm-x86-emulation

🔹 Feature: Copilot Studio Lite

🔹 What It Does: A lightweight, no-code agent builder embedded in Microsoft 365 Copilot — making it easy for users (not just developers) to quickly build AI agents with your organisation’s content. 

What Is It Giving You:

🤔 It could be thread as demo of Copilot Studio, agent is created using prompts. Can not do more like answer the questions using data that you have access to. Can no interact so can not send email.

✅ Access to Organizational Knowledge: Connects with Microsoft Graph, SharePoint, and Outlook while maintaining existing permissions and governance.

✅ Cost-Efficient: Free to use in its “lite” form with eligible Microsoft 365 licenses, perfect for lightweight scenarios and piloting agents without upfront costs.

✅ Fast Time-to-Value: Ideal for small teams or specific cases like onboarding assistants, FAQ bots, or document-search agents for rapid deployment.

✅ Option to Scale: As your needs grow, upgrade to the full Copilot Studio experience with advanced connectors, multistep workflows, and external channel publishing.

More info:

🌐 https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-copilot/extensibility/copilot-studio-experience

🌐 https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot-studio/billing-licensing

🔹 Feature: Microsoft Purview

🔹 What It Does: A comprehensive portfolio of products designed to keep your data secure, no matter where it resides.

While Office 365 is often the starting point for many, securing your data as it moves inside and outside your organization is critical. The next step? Configuring labels and other security measures to safeguard your information effectively.

Be aware that Microsoft Purview enables you to track and manage your data not only within Office 365 but also across Azure and on-premises environments. Plus, there’s an additional portal to help streamline your data governance:

🌐 Portal: https://web.purview.azure.com/

🌐 Office365: https://purview.microsoft.com/

What It’s Giving You:

✅ Unified data governance across cloud and on-premises

✅ Advanced tracking and visibility for sensitive information

✅ Simplified compliance with integrated labeling and classification

✅ Enhanced risk management with robust security configurations

The new feature, Data Security Investigations in Microsoft Purview, is designed to enhance your organization’s ability to detect, investigate, and respond to potential data security risks. This feature allows security teams to gain comprehensive visibility into data activities, ensuring sensitive information is protected and compliance requirements are met (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/purview/data-security-investigations).

More info: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/purview/

🔹 Feature: Conditionalr Access Optimization Agent

🔹 What It Does: Identifies users or applications not protected by Conditional Access policies and suggests next steps to secure them.

What It Gives You:

✅ Enhanced visibility into unprotected access points

✅ Actionable recommendations to improve security posture

✅ Streamlined management of Conditional Access policies

✅ Proactive threat mitigation through continuous assessment

More info: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/entra/security-copilot/conditional-access-agent-optimization

🔹 Feature: Microsoft Agent Framework – The Successor to Symantec Kernel

🔹 What It Does: Developers can create intelligent, secure, and scalable agent-based applications

What It Gives You:

✅ Modularity: Workflows can be broken down into smaller, reusable components, making it easier to manage and update individual parts of the process.

✅ Agent Integration: Workflows can incorporate multiple AI agents alongside non-agentic components, allowing for sophisticated orchestration of tasks.

✅ Type Safety: Strong typing ensures messages flow correctly between components, with comprehensive validation that prevents runtime errors.

✅ Flexible Flow: Graph-based architecture allows for intuitive modeling of complex workflows with executors and edges. Conditional routing, parallel processing, and dynamic execution paths are all supported.

✅ External Integration: Built-in request/response patterns enable seamless integration with external APIs and support human-in-the-loop scenarios.

✅ Checkpointing: Save workflow states via checkpoints, enabling recovery and resumption of long-running processes on the server side.

✅ Multi-Agent Orchestration: Built-in patterns for coordinating multiple AI agents, including sequential, concurrent, hand-off, and Magentic.

✅ Composability: Workflows can be nested or combined to create more complex processes, allowing for scalability and adaptability.

More info: https://github.com/microsoft/agent-framework

🔹 Copilot News – You must be familiar with these AI Agents that can do work for you, enhancing productivity like never before.

🔹 Feature: Copilot – Saga News November 2025

✅ Agent Mode for Word, Excel, PowerPoint

Elevate your document, spreadsheet, and presentation game with AI agents that assist in content creation, data analysis, and design optimization.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-just-added-ai-agents-to-word-excel-and-powerpoint-how-to-use-them/

✅ Agent Mode and Office Agent (Word, Excel) in M365 Copilot

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/09/29/vibe-working-introducing-agent-mode-and-office-agent-in-microsoft-365-copilot/

✅ Facilitator

A powerful meeting agent that drives agendas, captures notes, and simplifies follow-ups, ensuring no detail is missed.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/facilitator-teams

✅ Copilot in SSMS

Enhance SQL Server Management Studio with AI-driven insights, query optimization, and data management tools.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ssms/copilot/copilot-in-ssms-overview

✅ Viva Engage Agents

Boost community interactions with AI agents that foster engagement, streamline communication, and support network growth.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/viva/engage/ai-technology-with-viva-engage/agents-community-network-deployment-config

✅ Dedicated Agents for Teams Channels

Have an AI teammate for every Teams channel, tailored to understand your projects and keep your team aligned.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoftteams/set-up-channel-agent-teams

✅ Knowledge Agent in SharePoint

Harness AI to enrich content, automate processes, and prepare knowledge for seamless integration with Copilot.

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/spblog/introducing-knowledge-agent-in-sharepoint/4454154

✅ Model Choice in Researcher

Expand your research capabilities with flexible model options in Microsoft 365 Copilot.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/09/24/expanding-model-choice-in-microsoft-365-copilot/

✅ Research in Copilot

Supercharge your research with AI-driven analysis and data synthesis tools.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2025/03/25/introducing-researcher-and-analyst-in-microsoft-365-copilot/

✅ Multi-Agent Orchestration in Copilot Studio

Design complex workflows with AI agents that collaborate, delegate, and execute tasks seamlessly.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot/blog/copilot-studio/multi-agent-orchestration-maker-controls-and-more-microsoft-copilot-studio-announcements-at-microsoft-build-2025/

✅ Computer Use Tool in Copilot Studio

Enable agents to interact with websites and desktop applications for enhanced workflow automation.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-copilot-studio/computer-use

✅ Copilot Tuning

Boost the accuracy, relevance, and efficiency of your AI agents with business-specific tuning.

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/copilot/microsoft-365/copilot-tuning-overview

✅ Copilot Control System

Gain comprehensive oversight of your AI ecosystem with robust controls and monitoring tools.

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365copilotblog/introducing-copilot-control-system/4397248

🔹 Feature: Viva Engage

🔹 What It Does: Similar to Facebook and Facebook Groups

Considerations:

🤔 While Facebook had a service like Facebook/Meta Workplace, it didn’t gain significant traction.

🚀 I previously developed a tool that could copy your Facebook group or profile as a complete replica. Although it wasn’t fully finished, it worked and looked just like Facebook! I’m seeking motivation to continue working on it.

🚀 This tool could potentially serve as a synchronization mechanism between Viva Engage and Facebook. But for what specific purpose—marketing, support groups? One potential benefit is enabling Viva Engage to leverage AI agents using internal knowledge.

🚀 In large organizations, Viva Engage is often integrated as part of the intranet, sometimes even as a SharePoint web part.

🤔 I haven’t observed it being used for support or helpdesk requests, but I believe it could be beneficial—much like how Stack Overflow operates.

🤔 While Viva Engage might be more suitable for certain cases compared to Teams, Teams is used daily, making it more convenient for users.

🔹 Feature: Azure Local / Azure Stack HCI

🔹 What It Does: Azure Stack HCI extends Azure capabilities to your on-premises environment, enabling seamless hybrid cloud solutions. It integrates with Azure services to provide scalability, efficiency, and robust security.

What is it giving you:

✅ Enhanced Flexibility: Deploy and manage workloads efficiently across both cloud and local environments.

✅ Optimized Performance: Benefit from low-latency processing closer to your data sources.

✅ Simplified Management: Unified tools for managing hybrid resources in one dashboard.

✅ Increased Security: Advanced security features with integrated Azure services.

✅ Cost Efficiency: Reduce operational costs with scalable infrastructure.

More info: https://azurelocalsolutions.azure.microsoft.com

Continuation of the Well-Architected Framework Series: This time, we’re focusing on Assessment across Azure, Microsoft 365, Windows, and other Microsoft products.

🔹 Feature: Microsoft Assessments

🔹 What It Does: Helps you check your solution effectiveness and alignment with best practices using Microsoft’s Assessment tools.

What It’s Giving You:

✅ Actionable Insights: Identify areas for improvement in your current architecture.

✅ Tailored Recommendations: Receive recommendations specific to your environment and workloads.

✅ Risk Identification: Spot potential risks and security gaps early.

✅ Optimized Performance: Ensure your solutions are scalable, secure, and cost-efficient.

✅ Simplified Compliance: Align with industry standards and Microsoft’s best practices effortlessly.

More info: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/assessments/

#

Are you architect?

🔹 Feature: Azure Well-Architected Framework

🔹 What It Does: Planning a landing zone or deploying PaaS and others? Here are essential guidelines you must know!

What is it giving you?

✅ Best Practices for designing and operating reliable, secure, and efficient systems.

✅ Guidance on optimizing costs while maintaining performance.

✅ Framework to strengthen your cloud architecture based on proven pillars.

🌟 Main Pillars:

✅ Reliability – Ensure systems recover from failures and continue to function.

✅ Security – Protect applications and data from threats.

✅ Cost Optimization – Manage expenses while maximizing value.

✅ Operational Excellence – Improve processes and monitoring for smooth operations.

✅ Performance Efficiency – Achieve the best performance with scalable resources.

🔗 More info: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/well-architected/

🔹 Feature: VNet Flow Logs

🔹 What It Does: The successor to NSG Flow Logs, offering advanced capabilities without the need to implement NSG.

What It’s Giving You:

✅ Enhanced visibility into network traffic

✅ Simplified monitoring without NSG dependency

✅ Detailed analytics for improved security insights

✅ Easier troubleshooting for network-related issues

More info: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/network-watcher/vnet-flow-logs-overview?tabs=Americas#virtual-network-flow-logs-compared-to-network-security-group-flow-logs

🔹 Feature: “Hey Copilot” on Windows 11

🔹 What It Does: Transform your Windows 11 device into an AI-powered assistant, enabling you to manage tasks effortlessly using natural language.

What Is It Giving You?

✅ Voice Activation & Natural Conversation

Simply say, “Hey Copilot,” to start a voice interaction. Your PC understands natural language, letting you search, summarize, and perform tasks—no keyboard needed.

✅ Copilot Vision — “See What You See”

Your AI PC visually interprets content on your screen or within apps. Whether editing photos, reviewing presentations, or organizing files, Copilot Vision helps you take smart next steps.

✅ Agentic Actions — Acting on Your Behalf

Beyond providing answers, Windows 11’s AI executes tasks for you—like drafting emails, creating documents, organizing files, or scheduling events—with your approval.

✅ Deep Integration Into Your Workflow

Copilot is seamlessly built into Windows 11 and your taskbar. It connects with apps, settings, and tools, helping you work efficiently without switching contexts.

✅ Unified Connections Across Your Services

Link personal and work accounts—like OneDrive, Outlook, Google Drive, and Gmail—so your PC can locate, summarize, and act on information wherever it’s stored.

More info and great videos:

https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2025/10/16/making-every-windows-11-pc-an-ai-pc/

🌟 The Saga Continues! 🌟

🔹 Feature: Azure Chaos Studio

🔹 What It Does: Enables you to experiment with controlled chaos by simulating resource failures to see how your applications respond.

What is it giving you:

✅ Helps identify vulnerabilities in your systems before they cause real issues.

✅ Enhances system resilience by preparing for unexpected failures.

✅ Supports proactive troubleshooting, saving time and resources.

✅ Provides insights to optimize performance under stress conditions.

More Info: https://rzetelnekursy.pl/ui-tests-with-playwright-azure-load-testing-and-resilience-tests-with-azure-chaos-studio/

🚀 Testing Saga Continues! 🚀

🔹 Feature: Azure App Testing

🔹 What It Does: Perform Load Web Tests in Azure, fully compatible with JMeter for seamless performance evaluation.

What Is It Giving You?

✅ Simplified load testing for web applications

✅ Enhanced performance insights with Azure integration

✅ Seamless compatibility with JMeter for smooth workflows

✅ Scalable testing environments to meet diverse demands

✅ Quick setup and easy configuration for faster results

More Info: https://rzetelnekursy.pl/ui-tests-with-playwright-azure-load-testing-and-resilience-tests-with-azure-chaos-studio/