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  • The Evolution of Agentic Coding with Nick Doelman [MVP-MCT]

    The Evolution of Agentic Coding with Nick Doelman [MVP-MCT]
    2026/05/17
    In this episode of the m365.fm podcast, Mirko Peters sits down with Microsoft MVP and MCT Nick Doelman to explore one of the most important technology shifts happening right now: the evolution of Agentic Coding and the future of AI-driven software development. From low-code platforms and Power Platform solutions to natural language interfaces and autonomous AI agents, this conversation dives deep into how developers, makers, consultants, and enterprise organizations must adapt to a completely new way of building business applications. Nick shares his incredible journey from programming on a Commodore 64 and working with C++ and Microsoft Dynamics CRM to becoming one of the leading voices in the Microsoft Power Platform ecosystem. He explains how his technical background, combined with years of real-world consulting and Microsoft experience, shaped his perspective on modern development, automation, governance, and AI-powered engineering.FROM TRADITIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO AI-POWERED ENGINEERING The conversation explores how software development has rapidly evolved over the past few years. Nick explains how Visual Studio Code, GitHub Copilot, Claude, MCP servers, and AI agents are transforming development workflows and dramatically increasing productivity. Instead of manually creating every field, table, and process inside Power Platform, developers can now use natural language prompts to generate data models, business logic, and application structures in minutes instead of hours. Nick also shares practical examples of how he now spends most of his time working with AI-assisted tooling rather than traditional development interfaces. The episode highlights how developers are increasingly collaborating with AI systems instead of simply writing code manually from scratch. WHAT AGENTIC CODING REALLY MEANS One of the central topics of this episode is the meaning of Agentic Coding. Nick explains why Agentic Development is much more than simple vibe coding or asking AI to generate random applications. Instead, it is a structured collaboration between humans and intelligent agents where developers guide, supervise, validate, and refine AI-generated solutions. The discussion breaks down how developers can:Build structured product requirement documents with AIGenerate reusable prompts and workflowsCreate data models through natural languageUse AI for testing, documentation, and architectureImprove application quality through iterative collaborationTHE FUTURE OF POWER PLATFORM Nick shares his vision for the future of Microsoft Power Platform and explains how tools like Power Apps, Power Pages, Dataverse, and Copilot Studio are evolving in the AI era. The discussion explores how Code Apps, Generative Pages, Single Page Applications, and AI-assisted development are changing the role of makers and enterprise developers. The episode also explains why Dataverse remains critically important as the secure and governed data foundation for AI-driven enterprise applications. Even in a world of autonomous agents and AI-generated apps, governance, security, compliance, and business logic remain essential. NATURAL LANGUAGE AS THE NEW PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE One of the most fascinating parts of the episode focuses on how natural language is becoming the purest form of low-code development. Nick explains how developers are moving away from traditional syntax-heavy coding and toward conversational interfaces powered by AI systems. The conversation explores:Prompt engineering for enterprise developmentVoice-driven coding workflowsAI-generated architecture diagramsReusable AI skills and prompt librariesThe evolution of developer productivityNick also explains why AI coding assistants are becoming more like pair-programming partners rather than simple autocomplete tools.WHY GOVERNANCE AND DOCUMENTATION MATTER MORE THAN EVER As AI-generated development accelerates, the importance of governance, documentation, and reusable prompts becomes even more critical. Nick explains why organizations must maintain control over:Source code repositoriesAI-generated promptsDocumentation assetsTest casesSecurity configurationsGovernance standardsThe discussion highlights why future enterprise projects will require not only source code management, but also prompt management and AI workflow governance.THE FUTURE OF BUSINESS APPLICATIONS The episode also explores how enterprise users may soon interact with AI systems differently than today. Instead of opening separate applications for CRM, ERP, ticketing, or reporting, Nick predicts that users will increasingly interact through Microsoft 365 Copilot, Teams, conversational interfaces, and intelligent agents. This future includes:AI-driven customer support experiencesConversational business applicationsAgent-to-agent communicationAutomated workflows powered by natural languageIntelligent enterprise collaboration systemsPOWER PLATFORM, AI, AND THE NEXT GENERATION OF MAKERS Nick also discusses how Power Platform...
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    55 分
  • The Future of Finance in D365FO: Copilot, Agents & Cowork with Billur Samdancioglu [MVP-MCT]

    The Future of Finance in D365FO: Copilot, Agents & Cowork with Billur Samdancioglu [MVP-MCT]
    2026/05/17
    Finance departments are entering one of the biggest technological transformations in decades. Artificial Intelligence, autonomous agents, Copilot experiences, automation platforms, and modern ERP systems are rapidly changing how organizations manage accounting, reporting, forecasting, procurement, compliance, and financial operations. But what does this transformation actually look like inside real Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations environments? In this episode of the m365.fm podcast, Mirko Peters sits down with Microsoft MVP and Microsoft Certified Trainer Billur Samdancioglu to explore the future of finance in D365FO, AI-powered business applications, Copilot experiences, autonomous agents, cloud ERP modernization, and how Microsoft is reshaping enterprise finance workflows. Billur Samdancioglu is a Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations expert, Microsoft MVP, Microsoft Certified Trainer, public speaker, and business applications specialist with deep experience helping organizations modernize financial systems and enterprise operations. Throughout the episode, Billur shares practical insights from working with enterprise customers, implementing D365FO projects, and helping finance teams navigate the growing impact of AI inside Microsoft business applications.HOW FINANCE TRANSFORMATION IS ACCELERATING The conversation begins with Billur sharing her journey into the Microsoft ecosystem and how Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations evolved into one of the most powerful ERP platforms inside modern enterprises. What was once viewed primarily as an accounting system has transformed into a fully connected digital operations platform capable of integrating finance, procurement, logistics, reporting, analytics, automation, and AI-driven decision support. Billur explains that many organizations are now facing increasing pressure to modernize legacy ERP systems because older platforms simply cannot keep pace with modern cloud expectations, automation requirements, AI integrations, compliance demands, and real-time reporting needs. Companies want faster processes, more visibility, better forecasting, lower operational overhead, and smarter financial insights — all while maintaining strong governance and security. One of the strongest themes throughout the episode is that finance modernization is no longer only about replacing software. It is about redesigning how finance teams actually work. AI is changing workflows themselves, not just the tools being used. WHAT COPILOT REALLY MEANS FOR D365FO A major focus of the discussion centers around Microsoft Copilot and how AI assistants are being integrated directly into Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations. Billur explains that Copilot is far more than a chatbot inside ERP systems. It represents a shift toward contextual AI assistance where users can interact with business systems using natural language rather than navigating deeply complex enterprise interfaces. The episode explores how Copilot can already assist finance professionals with:Invoice analysis and validationFinancial summarizationProcurement assistanceReporting generationData explorationWorkflow accelerationProcess guidanceForecasting supportBillur shares how many repetitive operational tasks inside finance departments are ideal candidates for AI-assisted automation because they involve structured processes, predictable data patterns, and repetitive validation activities. Mirko and Billur discuss how finance professionals increasingly interact with ERP systems conversationally instead of manually searching through dozens of menus, forms, and reports. Rather than spending time locating data, employees can ask business questions directly and receive actionable insights instantly.AI AGENTS, COWORK, AND AUTONOMOUS BUSINESS PROCESSES One of the most exciting parts of the episode focuses on autonomous agents and Microsoft’s vision for “Cowork” experiences inside enterprise applications. Billur explains that AI agents are evolving beyond passive assistants toward systems capable of independently executing tasks, monitoring workflows, identifying anomalies, and assisting departments proactively. The discussion explores scenarios where AI agents may eventually:Monitor overdue invoices automaticallyDetect unusual financial activityRecommend procurement optimizationsGenerate operational summariesTrigger workflows independentlyEscalate compliance risksAssist with budgeting processesCoordinate cross-department processesBillur explains that Microsoft’s broader AI strategy increasingly revolves around collaborative AI systems where humans and AI agents work together rather than fully replacing employees. Instead of eliminating finance professionals, AI will likely remove repetitive administrative work and allow teams to focus more heavily on strategy, analysis, and business decision-making. The episode also examines the growing relationship between Dynamics 365, Microsoft Fabric, Power Platform, Copilot Studio, and ...
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    1 時間 6 分
  • Automating Azure Securely: Microsoft Graph, Identity & Cloud Automation with Ahmed Uzejnovic [MVP]

    Automating Azure Securely: Microsoft Graph, Identity & Cloud Automation with Ahmed Uzejnovic [MVP]
    2026/05/16
    What does secure cloud automation actually mean in modern Microsoft environments? How can organizations automate user management, identity workflows, Microsoft 365 operations, and Azure infrastructure without creating massive security risks? And why is Microsoft Graph becoming one of the most important technologies every Microsoft administrator should understand? In this episode of the m365.fm podcast, Mirko Peters sits down with Microsoft MVP Ahmed Uzejnovic to explore secure Azure automation, Microsoft Graph API, identity-driven automation, hybrid cloud infrastructure, PowerShell scripting, and the future of enterprise automation inside Microsoft ecosystems. Ahmed Uzejnovic is an IT automation and infrastructure specialist from Salzburg with a strong focus on PowerShell, Azure Automation, Microsoft Graph, identity security, hybrid environments, and enterprise-scale automation. Throughout the conversation, Ahmed shares practical real-world insights from building secure automation systems for onboarding, offboarding, identity synchronization, cloud governance, and operational management across hybrid Microsoft environments.HOW A SIMPLE USER OFFBOARDING SCRIPT STARTED EVERYTHING Ahmed’s automation journey started in local IT support where repetitive manual tasks quickly became impossible to ignore. One of the earliest examples he shares is user onboarding and offboarding. Administrators were spending multiple hours every day manually disabling accounts, updating systems, configuring permissions, handling Exchange tasks, and managing repetitive operational work. Instead of accepting repetitive manual work as “normal,” Ahmed started building small PowerShell scripts step-by-step to automate individual tasks. What began as tiny automation scripts eventually evolved into a fully automated user offboarding process that is still running successfully years later. This became the starting point for a much larger automation career focused on solving operational problems at scale. One of the strongest themes throughout the episode is Ahmed’s belief that automation is not really about scripts — it is about process thinking. Before automation can work effectively, organizations first need stable, repeatable, and clearly defined operational processes. Bad processes create bad automation. Good processes create scalable automation systems. WHY MICROSOFT GRAPH IS BECOMING ESSENTIAL FOR MODERN ADMINS A major focus of the episode is Microsoft Graph API and why it is rapidly becoming one of the most important technologies inside Microsoft 365 and Azure administration. Ahmed explains that Microsoft Graph is essentially the backend operating layer behind Microsoft cloud services. Nearly every action performed inside Microsoft 365 admin portals, Azure portals, Intune, Entra ID, Teams, and Exchange eventually translates into API calls against Microsoft Graph. The discussion explores how Microsoft administrators can use Graph API to automate:User managementGroup managementIntune administrationDevice managementMicrosoft Teams operationsAzure identity workflowsAuthentication managementAzure Automation processesEnterprise onboarding and offboardingAhmed explains why learning Graph API gives administrators deeper visibility into Microsoft services compared to only using graphical portals. Instead of clicking through interfaces manually, administrators gain the ability to programmatically manage workloads, build scalable automation systems, deploy repeatable configurations, and integrate Microsoft services into broader enterprise processes. One particularly interesting section focuses on how Ahmed uses Microsoft Graph documentation to discover what is technically possible inside Microsoft ecosystems. Before starting any automation project, he first investigates whether Graph endpoints already exist for the workload he wants to automate.THE BIGGEST SECURITY MISTAKE IN AUTOMATION When the conversation shifts toward automation security, Ahmed becomes very direct about one of the most common and dangerous mistakes organizations still make today: hardcoded secrets and passwords. Ahmed explains that many organizations still store credentials directly inside scripts, configuration files, or automation systems without properly securing them. While this may have been common practice years ago, modern cloud security threats make this approach extremely dangerous. A compromised script containing hardcoded secrets can potentially expose entire Microsoft tenants, identity systems, or enterprise infrastructure. The episode explores why organizations should instead adopt modern security practices such as:Azure Key VaultManaged identitiesLeast privilege permissionsRole-based access controlSecure app registrationsIdentity-based authenticationFederated credentialsAhmed strongly emphasizes the importance of designing automation systems under the assumption that attackers may eventually gain access to scripts or infrastructure components. ...
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    56 分
  • The Future of Power Apps: AI, Vibe Coding & Faster App Development with Keith Atherton [MVP/MCT]

    The Future of Power Apps: AI, Vibe Coding & Faster App Development with Keith Atherton [MVP/MCT]
    2026/05/16
    What happens when AI starts building apps alongside developers? Are we entering a future where business users can create enterprise applications simply by describing what they want in plain language? And how will Power Apps evolve as generative AI, Copilot, and vibe coding completely reshape the development experience? In this episode of the m365.fm podcast, Mirko Peters sits down with Microsoft MVP and Microsoft Certified Trainer Keith Atherton to explore the rapidly changing future of Power Apps, low-code development, AI-assisted app creation, and the next generation of business application development. Keith Atherton is a Power Platform Solution Architect at Capgemini, Microsoft MVP for Business Applications, Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT), LinkedIn Learning instructor, public speaker, founder of the Power Platform Community High Five user group, podcast host, and mentor within the Women in Power Platform initiative. With a background in traditional software engineering using .NET and SQL Server before transitioning into Power Platform, Keith brings a unique perspective that combines enterprise architecture, low-code development, AI tooling, governance, and modern app design.FROM TRADITIONAL DEVELOPMENT TO LOW-CODE INNOVATION Keith shares how his career originally started in traditional software engineering using technologies like Visual Basic, .NET, and SQL Server before eventually moving into Power Platform. What immediately attracted him to Power Apps was speed. Instead of rebuilding the same application structures repeatedly in pro-code environments, Power Apps enabled him to create business solutions dramatically faster while still integrating with enterprise systems and Microsoft services. One of the most interesting moments in the conversation is when Keith explains that even before discovering Power Apps, he had already started building his own internal scaffolding systems to automate repetitive development tasks. That realization became his “aha moment” for Power Platform. Rather than manually creating forms, data models, grids, and business logic over and over again, low-code development allowed him to focus more on solving business problems instead of rewriting the same technical structures repeatedly. Mirko and Keith discuss how Power Apps has evolved far beyond simple drag-and-drop interfaces. What started as a low-code productivity platform is now becoming an AI-powered development ecosystem where prompts, screenshots, requirements documents, and conversational interactions can generate applications automatically. WHAT IS VIBE CODING AND WHY IS EVERYONE TALKING ABOUT IT? One of the biggest topics throughout the episode is “vibe coding” — the emerging trend where developers describe what they want using natural language while AI generates the application, code, or functionality automatically. Keith explains that vibe coding is fundamentally changing how software is built because developers increasingly spend less time writing repetitive code manually and more time describing intent, business requirements, layouts, and workflows. The conversation explores several new Microsoft Power Apps features including:Vibe AppsCode AppsGenerative PagesCopilot-assisted Power Fx generationAI-generated app layoutsPrompt-based application buildingKeith explains how some of these new experiences already allow developers to upload screenshots, requirement documents, branding assets, or plain-language prompts to generate fully functional Power Apps in minutes rather than days. One particularly fascinating example discussed in the episode involves AI-generated Power Pages development where tasks that previously required multiple weeks of manual work can now be created in under an hour using AI-assisted tooling. Keith emphasizes that while these tools are incredibly powerful, they still require proper testing, validation, governance, and human oversight before production deployment.HOW AI IS CHANGING APP DEVELOPMENT FOREVER Artificial Intelligence is no longer just an assistant inside development tools — it is becoming part of the development workflow itself. Keith explains how AI now helps developers write Power Fx formulas, explain existing code, generate UI layouts, build entire solution architectures, and even propose automation flows and reporting structures. The episode dives deep into Microsoft’s evolving Copilot ecosystem and how AI is being integrated directly into Power Platform experiences. Keith highlights tools like Plan Designer, which can automatically generate solution architecture proposals including apps, flows, reports, websites, and automation components based on high-level requirements. Mirko and Keith also discuss the increasing convergence between applications and AI agents. Modern Power Apps are no longer just static interfaces — they increasingly contain embedded AI experiences where users can query data conversationally, generate insights, automate tasks, and ...
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    56 分
  • Modern .NET Development- From WPF to ASP.NET and gRPC with Gábor Ruzsinszki [MVP]

    Modern .NET Development- From WPF to ASP.NET and gRPC with Gábor Ruzsinszki [MVP]
    2026/05/15
    What does modern .NET development really look like in 2026? How has the ecosystem evolved from traditional Windows desktop applications with WPF to cloud-native ASP.NET services, microservices, and high-performance gRPC communication? In this episode of the m365.fm podcast, Mirko Peters sits down with Microsoft MVP Gábor Ruzsinszki to explore the past, present, and future of .NET development — from legacy enterprise applications to scalable modern backend architectures. Gábor Ruzsinszki is a Microsoft MVP in Developer Technologies specializing in C#, software architecture, and modern .NET development. Before becoming a professional software architect, Gábor originally worked as an IT and programming teacher, helping students learn algorithms, databases, software engineering, and development fundamentals. That strong educational background shines throughout the episode as he breaks down complex technical concepts into practical, understandable insights for developers at every level.THE EVOLUTION OF .NET DEVELOPMENT The episode begins with Gábor sharing his personal journey into software development and how he first became interested in C# and the .NET ecosystem. Starting with Delphi programming before transitioning into C and C++, he eventually discovered C# during university and immediately recognized its potential as a more modern and developer-friendly language. Since then, he has spent more than a decade building applications with .NET across desktop, backend, and enterprise systems. Mirko and Gábor dive deep into how the .NET ecosystem has transformed over the years. What started as a Windows-focused framework has evolved into a high-performance, truly cross-platform development ecosystem capable of powering cloud-native applications, Linux services, microservices, APIs, web applications, IoT systems, and enterprise-scale backend infrastructures. Gábor explains why modern .NET is faster, cleaner, and significantly more flexible than earlier versions of the framework. One particularly fascinating discussion focuses on performance improvements inside recent .NET releases. Gábor shares a real-world example where upgrading an enterprise application from an older version of .NET to .NET 9 reduced processing time from forty-five minutes down to twenty-five minutes without major code changes — purely because of framework-level optimizations and performance improvements from Microsoft. WHY WPF STILL MATTERS IN ENTERPRISE DEVELOPMENT Even though WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation) is now more than fifteen years old, many enterprise organizations still rely heavily on it for business-critical applications. Gábor explains why WPF became such a dominant desktop UI framework and why it remains relevant even today. Its powerful XAML-based architecture, flexibility, mature tooling inside Visual Studio, and massive community knowledge base still make it valuable for Windows-focused enterprise applications. The conversation explores how WPF influenced modern UI frameworks like MAUI and WinUI, both of which continue using XAML concepts introduced years ago with WPF. Gábor also discusses the challenges organizations face when attempting to migrate large legacy WPF applications toward newer technologies. Many enterprise systems are simply too large, too stable, or too business-critical to rewrite quickly. Mirko and Gábor also compare modern alternatives like .NET MAUI, Avalonia, Uno Platform, and WinUI. The discussion covers licensing considerations, cross-platform support, development experience, community maturity, and why developers should carefully evaluate their long-term platform strategy before starting new projects. ASP.NET CORE, MINIMAL APIS, AND MODERN BACKEND DEVELOPMENT A major focus of the episode is ASP.NET Core and the rise of modern backend architectures. Gábor explains why the software industry has shifted heavily toward SaaS platforms, distributed systems, APIs, and cloud-native applications. This evolution naturally pushed many developers away from purely desktop-focused development into scalable backend engineering using ASP.NET Core. The discussion also explores Minimal APIs — one of the most debated additions to modern ASP.NET Core. Some developers consider Minimal APIs revolutionary while others view them as unnecessary complexity. Gábor gives a balanced perspective, explaining that Minimal APIs are extremely effective for smaller services, lightweight APIs, and microservices, while larger enterprise systems may still benefit from traditional controller-based architectures. The episode goes deep into software architecture concepts including:Clean architecture and maintainable backend systemsHexagonal architecture and ports-and-adapters patternsMonoliths versus microservicesCloud-native development with .NET AspireScalable SaaS backend infrastructuresGábor explains why many startups prematurely adopt microservices before actually needing them and why a well-designed modular...
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    57 分
  • From Exams to Expertise- Building a Career in Power Platform with Nathalie Leenders [MVP/MCT]

    From Exams to Expertise- Building a Career in Power Platform with Nathalie Leenders [MVP/MCT]
    2026/05/15
    The Microsoft ecosystem is evolving faster than ever. Between AI, Copilot, automation, low-code development, cloud platforms, and the growing Power Platform ecosystem, many professionals are asking the same question: How do you actually build a long-term career in Microsoft technologies today? In this episode of the m365.fm podcast, Mirko Peters sits down with Microsoft MVP and Microsoft Certified Trainer Nathalie Leenders to explore the journey from certifications and exams to real-world expertise, consulting experience, and community leadership. Nathalie Leenders is widely known in the Microsoft community for her deep technical knowledge, her passion for Power Platform, her educational content, speaking engagements, and her strong presence within the Microsoft ecosystem. But her path into technology was not a traditional “developer from day one” story. Nathalie shares how she originally worked in IT service management and support roles before gradually moving into SharePoint, workflows, InfoPath, Power BI, and eventually Power Platform development. Her story is a powerful reminder that successful careers in tech rarely follow a perfectly straight line.HOW CURIOSITY AND LEARNING CREATED A MICROSOFT CAREER One of the strongest themes throughout this episode is curiosity. Nathalie explains how her willingness to continuously learn new technologies became the foundation of her success. Long before Power Platform became the global phenomenon it is today, she was already experimenting with SharePoint Designer workflows, automation scenarios, and business process optimization. When the opportunity arose to join an automation-focused team, she embraced the challenge even before fully understanding all the technical requirements. Rather than waiting until she felt “ready,” Nathalie learned by building real solutions in real environments. She discusses how tutorials, Microsoft Learn, YouTube videos, community content, and experimentation helped her grow into a Power Platform consultant capable of solving enterprise-scale problems. She also highlights how visual learning played a major role in her development and why practical hands-on work remains essential in modern IT careers. THE REAL VALUE OF MICROSOFT CERTIFICATIONS IN 2026 Are Microsoft certifications still worth it in 2026? Nathalie gives an honest and balanced perspective on certifications, exams, and technical learning paths. She explains that certifications themselves are not magic career shortcuts, but they can absolutely help people learn structured knowledge, build confidence, and open career opportunities when combined with practical experience. A major part of the conversation focuses on PL-400, one of the most advanced Power Platform certifications available. Nathalie shares how she intentionally challenged herself with the difficult Power Platform Developer certification early in her career, despite being told it might be “too difficult.” That challenge ultimately accelerated her technical growth and pushed her deeper into topics such as JavaScript, plugins, advanced Dataverse concepts, and Power Platform extensibility. Mirko and Nathalie also discuss common mistakes people make while preparing for Microsoft exams. Instead of simply memorizing practice questions, Nathalie encourages listeners to focus on understanding concepts, building real projects, experimenting with technologies, and connecting theoretical learning with actual business scenarios. She emphasizes that true expertise comes from combining certifications with implementation experience and continuous curiosity. WHY THE MICROSOFT COMMUNITY IS A CAREER SUPERPOWER Another major focus of this episode is the incredible impact of community involvement. Nathalie passionately explains how user groups, online community calls, Microsoft events, local meetups, and community-driven learning helped shape her career. She encourages beginners not to feel intimidated by technical communities and reminds listeners that most people in the Microsoft ecosystem are highly supportive and genuinely willing to help others succeed. The conversation highlights the Dutch Women in Tech community, local meetups, MVP networking, and the collaborative culture that makes the Microsoft ecosystem unique. Nathalie explains how even attending events quietly, listening to conversations, and asking small questions can become the starting point for massive career growth. Eventually, those same community interactions led her toward public speaking, blogging, mentoring, and becoming a recognized Microsoft MVP. POWER PLATFORM, LOW-CODE DEVELOPMENT, AND REAL-WORLD CONSULTING This episode also delivers deep insights into the Power Platform itself. Nathalie shares why so many people start with Canvas Apps and how Power Apps provides one of the most approachable entry points into modern application development. She explains how low-code development still requires real technical thinking, problem-solving skills...
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    57 分
  • PowerShell Is Fun — Automating things with PowerShell in multiple areas with Harm Veenstra [MVP]

    PowerShell Is Fun — Automating things with PowerShell in multiple areas with Harm Veenstra [MVP]
    2026/05/14
    PowerShell has become one of the most important automation tools in the Microsoft ecosystem, and in this episode of the m365.fm podcast, Mirko Peters welcomes Microsoft MVP Harm Veenstra to discuss why automation is no longer optional for modern IT teams. Harm shares his journey from helpdesk technician to automation specialist and explains how PowerShell transformed the way he approaches Microsoft 365, Azure, Exchange, Teams, Intune, and enterprise administration.WHY POWERSHELL BECAME ESSENTIAL FOR MODERN IT During the conversation, Harm explains how PowerShell stopped being “just scripting” and became a creative problem-solving platform. Once IT professionals understand the logic behind PowerShell objects, properties, and automation workflows, repetitive manual tasks can be replaced with scalable and consistent processes. Harm highlights that automation is not only about saving time — it is about improving reliability, reducing human errors, and allowing IT teams to focus on more valuable work instead of endless click-ops. The episode also explores how PowerShell evolved alongside Microsoft technologies. From the early Exchange Server days to today’s Microsoft Graph integrations, automation is now deeply connected to nearly every Microsoft cloud service. Harm explains how Microsoft Graph APIs and PowerShell modules give administrators complete control across Microsoft 365 and Azure environments. AUTOMATING MICROSOFT 365 AT SCALE One of the biggest topics in the episode is large-scale automation inside enterprise environments. Harm shares practical examples from real consulting projects where PowerShell was used to automate user onboarding, Microsoft 365 migrations, permissions management, account provisioning, Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 transitions, Teams meeting migrations, and hybrid identity processes. The discussion highlights how repetitive tasks like creating users, assigning licenses, configuring devices, syncing identities, and managing permissions become far more efficient when automated correctly. Harm explains that the true value of automation appears when organizations need consistent results across hundreds or thousands of users and devices. MICROSOFT GRAPH, APIs, AND MODERN AUTOMATION Mirko and Harm spend significant time discussing Microsoft Graph and why it has become one of the most powerful platforms for automation in Microsoft 365. Harm explains how administrators can monitor Graph API calls, discover backend actions performed inside admin portals, and use PowerShell to fully automate workflows that previously required manual configuration. The episode also covers how vendors outside the Microsoft ecosystem increasingly provide PowerShell modules for their products, making PowerShell a universal automation language across cloud platforms, infrastructure services, and enterprise tools. SECURITY, GOVERNANCE, AND SCRIPTING BEST PRACTICES Security plays a major role throughout the conversation. Harm explains why storing credentials inside scripts is one of the biggest mistakes administrators can make and why secure authentication methods such as Azure Key Vault, certificates, and secret management modules should always be used instead. The discussion also touches on governance, monitoring, version control, and documentation. Harm explains how GitHub workflows, revision tracking, testing pipelines, and proper documentation help teams maintain stable and secure automation environments over time. He emphasizes that good documentation is critical because automation should remain understandable for colleagues and future administrators, not just the original script author. AI, COPILOT, AND THE FUTURE OF AUTOMATION The conversation naturally moves into AI and Copilot. Harm shares a balanced perspective on AI-generated code and explains why understanding the logic behind automation still matters. While AI tools can assist with project planning, summaries, and development support, blindly generating scripts without understanding them can create long-term problems for administrators and organizations. Mirko and Harm also discuss the financial side of AI automation versus traditional scripting approaches, highlighting how PowerShell often remains the more efficient and cost-effective solution for many automation scenarios. THE POWER OF THE MICROSOFT COMMUNITY Another major theme in the episode is community. Harm explains how the Microsoft MVP community, blogging, knowledge sharing, and collaboration have helped him continuously improve his PowerShell skills. He describes how writing blog posts forces him to learn new topics deeply and why sharing automation knowledge benefits the entire IT ecosystem. The episode closes with a rapid-fire round covering favorite PowerShell modules, productivity shortcuts, Microsoft technologies, and Harm’s final advice for IT professionals: stop postponing learning PowerShell and start automating today. WHAT YOU WILL LEARNHow PowerShell ...
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    49 分
  • Protecting Microsoft Copilot with Purview, DLP & Insider Risk with Alan Cox [MVP]

    Protecting Microsoft Copilot with Purview, DLP & Insider Risk with Alan Cox [MVP]
    2026/05/14
    In this episode of the M365FM Podcast, Mirko Peters sits down with Microsoft MVP Alan Cox to explore one of the biggest security and governance challenges facing enterprises today: securing Microsoft Copilot before AI begins surfacing sensitive organizational data at scale. The conversation dives deep into Microsoft Purview, Data Loss Prevention, Insider Risk Management, AI governance strategy, and why organizations must rethink permissions, sharing, and compliance before rolling out Copilot broadly.AI DOES NOT CREATE RISK — IT EXPOSES IT Alan explains that Copilot itself is not the true danger. Instead, AI exposes the hidden weaknesses already living inside most Microsoft 365 environments. Overpermissioned SharePoint sites, forgotten Teams channels, excessive sharing, and missing governance controls suddenly become visible the moment AI can summarize and retrieve information instantly. The biggest mistake organizations make is assuming that because employees technically already had access to the data, there is no additional risk. In reality, Copilot dramatically accelerates discoverability. Data that once remained buried inside folders and old conversations can suddenly surface through a single prompt. WHAT MICROSOFT PURVIEW REALLY IS Alan breaks Microsoft Purview down into simple terms. At its core, Purview is about protecting organizational data and bringing hidden risks into focus. Instead of viewing governance purely as restriction and compliance enforcement, he frames governance as a proactive strategy designed to prevent future incidents before they happen. He simplifies Purview into three foundational areas:Data Loss PreventionRetentionSensitivity LabelingThese three pillars ultimately determine what Copilot can access, process, summarize, or expose across Microsoft 365 workloads.INSIDER RISK IS NOW AN AI PROBLEM One of the most important themes in the discussion is how Insider Risk Management changes in the age of generative AI. Alan explains that most insider threats are not malicious attacks. Most incidents happen because employees unintentionally expose sensitive information without understanding the consequences. AI amplifies this problem because natural language prompts make it easier than ever to retrieve information from across the organization. Insider Risk Management helps organizations detect suspicious access patterns, risky prompts, unusual sharing activity, and abnormal behavior before those actions become full-scale incidents. DSPM FOR AI CHANGES GOVERNANCE A major focus of the episode is Microsoft’s evolving DSPM for AI capabilities. Alan explains how Microsoft is consolidating AI governance features into centralized dashboards that simplify policy creation for Copilot protection. Organizations can now deploy controls that restrict AI access to sensitive information in only a few clicks rather than building highly complex manual rule sets. The goal is to make AI governance operationally scalable instead of turning it into an overwhelming compliance project. WHY AUTO-LABELING MATTERS Alan strongly recommends automated sensitivity labeling over manual classification by end users. He explains that users should not be responsible for making security decisions every time they create content. Instead, organizations should automatically identify sensitive information and apply governance policies behind the scenes. His preferred strategy is straightforward:Automatically apply sensitivity labelsUse DLP policies tied to those labelsPrevent Copilot from accessing protected contentThis allows organizations to block AI processing for specific SharePoint sites, document libraries, or files automatically.THE HIDDEN RISK OF TEAMS TRANSCRIPTS One of the more surprising parts of the conversation focuses on Teams transcripts and AI-generated meeting summaries. Alan explains that legal and compliance teams are increasingly worried about the long-term retention of AI-generated meeting metadata. As Copilot automatically creates summaries, notes, and action items, organizations must rethink how this information interacts with retention policies, legal holds, and regulatory obligations. This concern is especially significant in healthcare, finance, and other highly regulated industries. OVERPERMISSIONING IS THE REAL THREAT Alan repeatedly emphasizes that the biggest governance problem is not AI itself. The real issue is that most organizations do not fully understand who has access to what inside their tenant. Employees often inherit permissions without realizing it, and Copilot simply makes those permission issues visible much faster than traditional search ever could. Before deploying Copilot broadly, organizations should:Audit SharePoint permissionsReview external sharing settingsEvaluate retention policiesClassify sensitive dataImplement DLP controlsWithout those steps, AI can unintentionally expose years of poorly governed information.GOVERNANCE SHOULD NOT CREATE SHADOW IT A key takeaway...
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    59 分