Application management

Microsoft updates Teams, Outlook for hybrid work challenges

Microsoft's upcoming hybrid work features will help remote and in-office employees schedule meetings, share presentations and collaborate more effectively. Continue Reading

By

• Mike Gleason, News Writer

File Explorer tabs reappear in new Windows 11 preview build

The latest Windows 11 developer build lets people open multiple folders in the file management app. The feature is supposed to cut down on time switching between folders. Continue Reading

By

• Maxim Tamarov

Microsoft boosts productivity in Windows 11 through taskbar

The latest Windows 11 update lets video conference participants use the taskbar to mute and unmute audio and share content without opening the Teams app. Continue Reading

By

• Maxim Tamarov

Microsoft brings parity to OneNote web, desktop apps

OneNote web app users will be able to set a view-only mode, copy and paste objects without changing their format, and perform other functions found in the desktop version. Continue Reading

By

• Maxim Tamarov

Apple working with Dropbox, Microsoft to fix macOS 12.3

Apple said it will work with Dropbox and Microsoft on the macOS 12.3 problem that prevented their file storage software from running correctly on the upcoming version of the OS. Continue Reading

By

• Maxim Tamarov

Microsoft gets kudos for bringing OneDrive to Apple M1 Macs

OneDrive will soon run on ARM-based laptops, joining Box, Dropbox and Google storage services. Analysts said the ARM-based laptop market will grow in the coming years. Continue Reading

By

• Maxim Tamarov

Microsoft to increase monthly subscription costs by 20%

Monthly subscribers to Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365 and Windows 365 will have to pay a premium or switch to an annual pricing model starting July 2022. Continue Reading

By

• Maxim Tamarov

Microsoft Loop adds project management to 365

Loop lets teams track project status while editing documents in a single app. The Microsoft 365 software works with Word, PowerPoint and Excel document snippets. Continue Reading

By

• Maxim Tamarov

Microsoft could make Edge default browser for opening links

People might no longer be able to use workarounds like EdgeDeflector to set another browser, such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, as their default for opening links. Continue Reading

By

• Maxim Tamarov

Excel

Excel is a spreadsheet program from Microsoft and a component of its Office product group for business applications. Continue Reading

By

• Alexander S. Gillis, Technical Writer and Editor

Microsoft Loop bolsters collaboration in 365

Loop lets people collaborate on Word and Excel content through Teams, Outlook and OneNote. The new software is based on the Fluid open source framework. Continue Reading

By

• Maxim Tamarov

The options for running Microsoft 365 on a Chromebook

Without access to the Microsoft 365 service locally, IT admins will have to consider a few workarounds to deliver Microsoft's productivity apps to Chromebook devices. Continue Reading

By

• Gary Olsen

Microsoft announces release date for Windows 11

Windows 11 will include integration with unified communications platform Teams but won't initially include the option to download Android apps. Continue Reading

By

• Maxim Tamarov

Microsoft to offer online-only Office, Outlook on Chromebooks

Starting on Sept. 18, Chromebook users will have to rely on the web-based versions of the popular Microsoft apps. Google welcomed the move as better for Chromebook users. Continue Reading

By

• Maxim Tamarov

Monday.com brings document editing to project management

Monday.com has launched workdocs, targeting the document editing tool for brainstorming and goal setting. The tool is included in the company's project management platform. Continue Reading

By

• Mike Gleason, News Writer

Comparing offerings: Microsoft 365 vs. Google Workspace

Microsoft 365 vs. Google Workspace is a difficult choice, so organizations should evaluate each offering's features and pricing before they pick a cloud productivity service. Continue Reading

By

• Robert Sheldon
• Reda Chouffani, Biz Technology Solutions

What's included in Microsoft 365 subscription plans

Microsoft 365 has different licensing plans for all kinds of businesses. Learn about the different subscription plans that Microsoft offers for this cloud-based platform. Continue Reading

By

• Brien Posey
• Robert Sheldon

A Microsoft 365 email migration checklist

When an organization migrates its email servers and profiles to Microsoft 365, it could use several different processes. Sort through the five options listed below. Continue Reading

By

• Brien Posey

Google lowers power use in latest Chrome update

The latest Chrome update changes the way the browser handles tabs to reduce CPU and power consumption. Chrome 91 also lets people copy and paste files directly into emails. Continue Reading

By

• Maxim Tamarov

Samsung releases two more smart TV, PC hybrids

The new 24- and 43-inch Smart Monitors will run Microsoft 365 and support Bixby, Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa voice assistants. Pricing for Smart Monitors starts at $200. Continue Reading

By

• Maxim Tamarov

Microsoft makes PowerPoint Presenter Coach widely available

Microsoft has added features to PowerPoint Presenter Coach. The enhancements in the self-help tool provide better tips on how to improve presentations that use PowerPoint slides. Continue Reading

By

• Mike Gleason, News Writer

Microsoft makes Universal Print generally available

Microsoft wants Universal Print to replace on-premises print servers. The cloud service provides printer management and eliminates the use of printer drivers. Continue Reading

By

• Mike Gleason, News Writer

Microsoft bolsters data security in 365

Microsoft said the latest 365 security features provide better protection for corporate data. The improvements guard sensitive information against attacks and leaks. Continue Reading

By

• Mike Gleason, News Writer

Microsoft to add a text prediction feature to Word

The feature, scheduled for release next month, makes suggestions as a person types in Word. Microsoft said the predictive text feature will make writing faster and more efficient. Continue Reading

By

• Mike Gleason, News Writer

Microsoft announces Office 2021, Office LTSC

Microsoft will launch two versions of Office for those who don't want Microsoft 365 subscriptions. Office 2021 and Office LTSC will be available in the second half of the year. Continue Reading

By

• Mike Gleason, News Writer

Microsoft crowdsources notifications for Edge

Microsoft wants the crowd to determine which notification requests are seen in Edge. The company has introduced a system to show useful notifications and hide annoying ones. Continue Reading

By

• Mike Gleason, News Writer

Google adds alias email addresses to Gmail search

Google has added to Gmail the ability to search all of a person's email addresses. The more comprehensive search results make it easier to find emails within inboxes. Continue Reading

By

• Mike Gleason, News Writer

Microsoft launches Application Guard for Office

Microsoft's new Application Guard for Office opens untrusted Word, PowerPoint and Excel documents in a container to protect a user's computer from threats. Continue Reading

By

• Mike Gleason, News Writer

Otter.ai helps Google Meet stay competitive

Otter.ai provides captioning, live transcription and recording options in Google Meet. The features match those in Zoom and Microsoft Teams. Continue Reading

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• Mike Gleason, News Writer

How to set up MFA for Office 365 on end-user devices

When it comes to authentication factors, more is always better from a security perspective. Find out how to deploy MFA on end-user devices for Microsoft 365 users. Continue Reading

By

• Peter van der Woude, InSpark

How does Microsoft 365 extend Windows 7 support?

Microsoft is ending its official support for Windows 7. However, Microsoft 365 customers have the option to extend support via continued Windows security updates. Continue Reading

By

• Reda Chouffani, Biz Technology Solutions

Google sunsetting G Suite unlimited storage

G Suite customers who enjoyed unlimited storage for years will have to switch to a plan with limits. Google announced the change when G Suite became Workspace. Continue Reading

By

• Mike Gleason, News Writer

Microsoft redirects to Edge as IE nears end of life

Microsoft will force some sites to open in Edge instead of IE, another sign the browser is nearing its end of life. Enterprise users must adapt, experts say. Continue Reading

By

• Mike Gleason, News Writer

Does Office 365 include Teams with enterprise licenses?

There are numerous issues that come with licensing for Microsoft Teams, including this key question: Does Office 365 include Teams with the different Office 365 licenses? Continue Reading

By

• Reda Chouffani, Biz Technology Solutions

Google Meet updates close in on Microsoft Teams, Zoom

The latest Google Meet features let participants see up to 49 people on-screen at a time. Other enhancements include better control over who gets access to meetings. Continue Reading

By

• Mike Gleason, News Writer

Microsoft launches Word transcription tool

The new Microsoft Word transcription feature makes crafting notes from an audio file a more streamlined process. The service is available with a Microsoft 365 subscription. Continue Reading

By

• Mike Gleason, News Writer

Microsoft ending 365 IE 11 support in 2021

With Microsoft 365 IE 11 support coming to an end, organizations must prepare for the day when relying on the browser is no longer an option, industry observers said. Continue Reading

By

• Mike Gleason, News Writer

How to use the Office cloud policy service with Microsoft 365

The Office cloud policy continues Microsoft's trend of converging management utilities within Microsoft Endpoint Manager, and IT can manage all Office apps within this platform. Continue Reading

By

• Peter van der Woude, InSpark

How IT admins can use PowerShell to monitor CPU usage

IT administrators that are familiar with PowerShell can use certain scripts to monitor CPU performance on desktops to determine the root cause of desktop performance issues. Continue Reading

By

• Dan Franciscus

New Microsoft Lists tracks info in 365 productivity suite

Microsoft Lists, launching in July, is intended to help organizations store and track selected information from 365. Lists will come with the productivity suite. Continue Reading

By

• Mike Gleason, News Writer

What IT can do when Microsoft 365 is not working

IT professionals who manage Microsoft 365 should be aware of common issues that administrators face. They can solve many of these problems with the right policy or PowerShell scripts. Continue Reading

By

• Reda Chouffani, Biz Technology Solutions

Google Meet features counter Zoombombing, streamline mobile

New Google Meet features announced this week should make the platform better, analysts said. Google will need more to compete with Cisco, Microsoft and Zoom. Continue Reading

By

• Mike Gleason, News Writer

Ensure remote users meet data protection standards

During the pandemic, users may have adopted insecure applications as part of their workflows. IT pros must ensure remote data protection by securing or removing these apps. Continue Reading

By

• Colm Warner

IT must prep for the rise of the hybrid team

Phased reopenings are on the horizon, so IT pros must prepare for a hybrid team approach -- with some employees in the office and others at home. Continue Reading

By

• Mike Gleason, News Writer

How to deploy Office 365 Applications with Microsoft Intune

Organizations that deploy Office 365 applications with Intune can set various configurations, such as what versions of the deployed apps and how the apps receive updates. Continue Reading

By

• Peter van der Woude, InSpark

Knoa software measures remote worker effectiveness

At a time when in-person interactions are at a minimum, how can companies tell if their employees are struggling? Knoa says user experience management metrics can help. Continue Reading

By

• Mike Gleason, News Writer

Why isn't Adobe Reader working on Windows 10?

When Adobe Reader isn't working with Windows 10, admins can take a few troubleshooting steps to rectify the issue. Begin with Adobe's AcroMonitor tool. Continue Reading

By

• Robert Sheldon

Enterprise takeaways from Microsoft 365 news

The line between personal and professional lives continues to blur, and last week's Microsoft 365 news exemplified that point. Continue Reading

By

• Mike Gleason, News Writer

Discover how Catchpoint helps end-user experience monitoring

The Catchpoint end-user experience monitoring tool supports several notable integrations with enterprise software and monitoring capabilities such as real user monitoring. Continue Reading

By

• Dan Franciscus

4 negotiation tactics for success in a Microsoft software agreement

A Microsoft software agreement requires skill and knowledge. Use these four Microsoft negotiation tactics to get the best discounts for a productivity suite. Continue Reading

By

• Erica Mixon

COVID-19 sparks software licensing issues with remote users

Organizations face a range of issues with the spread of COVID-19, including how to support a newly remote workforce. Learn how to address these enterprise licensing concerns. Continue Reading

By

• Colm Warner

Which Chrome browser management settings should IT deploy?

Organizations that allow the use of Google Chrome should ensure that their IT departments understand the different settings that shape Chrome browser management practices. Continue Reading

By

• Robert Sheldon

What IT needs to know about Chrome extension security issues

Google Chrome extensions can improve user experience, but they could access a lot of user data. Admins should take control over users' extensions for security and privacy reasons. Continue Reading

By

• Kyle Johnson, Technology Editor

Okta 2020 Businesses@Work report: security and data apps see growth, companies want best of breed

Always interesting to see data-driven studies showing what apps organizations are trending towards. Continue Reading

By

• Kyle Johnson, Technology Editor

EG Enterprise v7 focuses on usability, user experience monitoring

New features in EG Enterprise v7, set to launch soon, enable simulated and real user monitoring, automated diagnosis and new dashboard and visualization features. Continue Reading

By

• Taylor Driscoll

Google is sunsetting Chrome apps. Let’s look at the Chrome OS app landscape

Not many people were using these apps anymore. Continue Reading

By

• Kyle Johnson, Technology Editor

Image-level methods for Windows application deployment

Imaging is a crucial process, but IT must also consider application deployment. Here are methods to deploy different types of Windows apps during installation. Continue Reading

By

• Brien Posey

Will Microsoft's Edge start a new browser war?

Analysts say the new browser fight between Google and Microsoft could be about the future of work, as enterprises increasingly move to web applications. Continue Reading

By

• Mike Gleason, News Writer

2020 Thoughts: I want browser extension security taken seriously & I will cover more desktop virt

New decade but same BrianMadden.com site. Continue Reading

By

• Kyle Johnson, Technology Editor

Manage Windows 10 default file type associations with SetUserFTA

Windows 10 default file type associations dictate which applications open for different file types. Find out how IT can manage these associations with the SetUserFTA tool. Continue Reading

By

• Dan Franciscus

Microsoft extends Office 365 benefit to nonprofit volunteers

Thursday's announcement extends the company's September offering of 10 free Microsoft 365 Business licenses for nonprofits' employees to their volunteers. Continue Reading

By

• Ha Ta

Google Chrome experiment crashes in RDS. What can we learn?

Environments using Google Chrome experienced some panic last week as tabs went blank. Continue Reading

By

• Kyle Johnson, Technology Editor

New Microsoft Edge browser gets competitive with Chrome

The new version of Microsoft's Edge browser promises new enterprise features and simplified management for Windows admins. Experts say Edge is now competitive with Google Chrome. Continue Reading

By

• Erica Mixon

Microsoft self-service policy for Office 365 raises concerns

Microsoft will allow end users to make certain purchases in Power Platform. Office 365 admins should know what this entails and how it will affect them. Continue Reading

By

• Erica Mixon

Is it acceptable to use ad blockers in the enterprise?

I’m a fan of ad blockers, but realize that might be a tad hypocritical given where some revenue for media is generated. Continue Reading

By

• Kyle Johnson, Technology Editor

4 steps to check application compatibility with Windows 10

Before a Windows 10 migration, IT admins should make sure all applications are compatible with the new OS. Here are four steps to get started with the process. Continue Reading

By

• Reda Chouffani, Biz Technology Solutions

End users will make or break an Office 365 migration

When migrating to Office 365, IT admins need to keep the end users in mind. That was the big takeaway from a training session at a Virtual Technology User Group event in Maine. Continue Reading

By

• Jesse Scardina, News Writer

Google Safe Browsing can differ between desktop and mobile. Why?

Google continues to address security issues, but their blacklist service, Google Safe Browsing, doesn’t provide equal protection for desktop and mobile. Continue Reading

By

• Kyle Johnson, Technology Editor

User experience management from Knoa shines light on SAP app use

Agribusiness company Bunge improved its end-user experience with SAP applications by licensing Knoa. The software company helped provide insights into how its users were -- and weren't -- interacting with the applications. Continue Reading

By

• Jesse Scardina, News Writer

Apica introduces desktop application performance monitoring tool

Designed for Windows desktop applications, Apica's Desktop Application Check intends to increase visibility and boost desktop application monitoring capabilities. Continue Reading

By

• Sabrina Polin, Managing Editor

You can now see if Chrome extensions are safe with Duo’s free, new CRXcavator tool

Free-to-use tool provides some additional insight into Chrome extensions across an entire organization before users install. Continue Reading

By

• Kyle Johnson, Technology Editor

What IT should know about the Microsoft Office app for Windows 10

Microsoft released a new Microsoft Office app during an update to Windows 10. Learn about the changes that this new app brings and how to take advantage of its features. Continue Reading

By

• Gary Olsen

IE mode unburdens IT admins by running legacy apps on Microsoft Edge

At its annual developer conference, Microsoft introduced IE mode to Microsoft Edge. The new feature will help IT admins run legacy applications on a more modern browser. Continue Reading

By

• Jesse Scardina, News Writer

How to add MDT applications with Chocolatey package manager

The Microsoft Deployment Toolkit allows administrators to install applications during deployment. Here's how IT can simplify the process with Chocolatey's command-line input. Continue Reading

By

• Dan Franciscus

Microsoft acquisition of Express Logic adds IoT improvements

Microsoft's acquisition of Express Logic is another example of its $5 billion investment in IoT. One expert sees the move as a step toward an end-to-end IoT OS. Continue Reading

By

• Jesse Scardina, News Writer

How Google manages Chrome extensions without manually white/blacklisting each one

The key is to make policies based on permissions or runtime actions, not manually whitelisting each one. Continue Reading

By

• Kyle Johnson, Technology Editor

Why can’t other apps get real-time co-authoring right like Google Docs?

Google Docs has been the supreme co-authoring experience for years, why can’t anyone else offer anything as good? Just a frustrating thing, really. Continue Reading

By

• Kyle Johnson, Technology Editor

How to manage cookies across web browsers

There are pros -- saved login credentials -- and cons -- privacy concerns -- to cookies. Either way, IT should understand how to manage cookies across web browsers. Continue Reading

By

• Gary Olsen

Government shutdown raises end-user security risks

The government shutdown could be a boon for hackers, as end-user resources are a prime attack vector. An expert explains what IT should be on the lookout for. Continue Reading

By

• Alyssa Provazza, Editorial Director

How can you improve Google Chrome management?

IT professionals should deploy Group Policies to their browsers to improve the user experience. Check out this step-by-step guide on applying Group Policies to Google Chrome. Continue Reading

By

• Brien Posey

Test your phishing security knowledge with this quiz

Email phishing can cause major security breaches if users aren't careful. IT must train users on email security best practices to defend against these attacks. Continue Reading

By

• John Powers, Senior Site Editor

Web browser quiz: Do you know Chrome, Firefox, Edge and IE?

Users work with web browsers constantly. As a result, it's important for IT to know how to manage the top options, including Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox. Continue Reading

By

• Eddie Lockhart, Site Editor

Recapping end-user computing strategy evolutions of 2018

It's time to take a look back and consider how end-user computing has evolved over the past year. AI made an obvious mark, but what about hosted desktops and new management approaches? Continue Reading

By

• Alyssa Provazza, Editorial Director

Recapping end-user computing strategy evolutions of 2018

 Continue Reading

Advantages of hyper-converged infrastructure for virtual desktops

Advantages of hyper-converged infrastructure compared with a traditional data center setup include improved scalability and availability, simpler management and better integration. And when it comes to virtual desktops and applications, those benefits lead to better performance. This month's cover story explores the advantages of hyper-converged infrastructure powering VDI and virtualized apps.

Also in this issue, a columnist explains the evolution of desktop storage and how the cloud continues to be the next big things in this area. Expert Jack Madden takes a deep dive into Microsoft's new desktop as a service offering, which is set to shake up the DaaS industry. Plus, this month's App Spotlight shines on Evernote, a compelling option for business organizing and note-taking. And to wrap up another year of the Access e-zine, the editor's note takes a look back at the biggest end-user computing trends and lessons from 2018.

 Continue Reading

Top Microsoft Office alternatives for enterprise use

Microsoft's productivity suite sees the most enterprise use, but organizations can switch to certain Microsoft Office alternatives for lower licensing costs and more. Continue Reading

By

• John Powers, Senior Site Editor

Buy the right help desk tools to track and resolve incidents

Help desk management tools help admins manage, track and resolve problems. Learn about the leading products and the reporting, communication and support features they offer. Continue Reading

By

• Gary Olsen

Windows Server 2019 RDSH drops Office 365 ProPlus support

Microsoft hopes to accelerate customer cloud desktop adoption when it makes the Office 365 ProPlus suite a cloud-only product for Windows Server 2019 RDSH users. Continue Reading

By

• Ed Scannell, Freelancer

How to manage cookie privacy in the enterprise

Cookies can make life easier for users by preventing them from having to re-enter passwords and preferences on websites, but they also carry some legitimate privacy concerns. Continue Reading

By

• Gary Olsen

Create an email phishing test to minimize attack vectors

With email phishing testing, IT can improve its end-user security. Phishing attacks prey on user ignorance, so IT can use a test to teach users how to avoid this attack vector. Continue Reading

By

• John Powers, Senior Site Editor

Microsoft doubles down on Office 365 AI capabilities

Microsoft confirmed its strategic commitment to Office 365, delivering an improved version that includes new AI and machine learning features. Continue Reading

By

• Ed Scannell, Freelancer

How to create an internal phishing campaign from scratch

When IT begins an email phishing campaign, it must determine what server the emails will come from, consider phishing tool options and more. Continue Reading

By

• Kevin Beaver, Principle Logic, LLC

Why you don't always need a general-purpose operating system

A purpose-built, or real-time, operating system could be more useful for applications that require a lot of data processing. Several options for this type of system exist today. Continue Reading

By

• Tim Mangan, TMurgent Technologies, LLP

Why you don't always need a general-purpose operating system

 Continue Reading

What’s new with Workspace ONE Intelligence & Trust Network?

Announcements focused on improving security features and automating common processes. Continue Reading

By

• Kyle Johnson, Technology Editor

Assess IT help desk software options based on these features

Explore communication channels, ticket management, agent management, knowledge base options and reporting capabilities when evaluating prospective help desk management software. Continue Reading

By

• Gary Olsen

4 enterprise email clients to consider instead of Outlook

Organizations looking to cut costs or make a change for their business email client have numerous options to replace Microsoft Outlook, but not all of them are viable. Continue Reading

By

• John Powers, Senior Site Editor

MSIX app packaging gets a hand from Cloudhouse

The introduction of the MSIX packaging format creates potential app compatibility concerns for IT pros. With the right tool, however, they can make the transition much smoother. Continue Reading

By

• Eddie Lockhart, Site Editor

Dell XPS 15 2-in-1 laptop slims down, but it's no tablet

Despite Dell's best efforts, including combining CPU and GPU in a single processor to make the device smaller, the XPS 15 2-in-1 still falls short as a tablet. Continue Reading

By

• Eddie Lockhart, Site Editor

End-user security awareness training is a must-have

There are lots of different ways to keep users up to date on the latest security risks and how they should be handling their corporate resources. Continue Reading

By

• Alyssa Provazza, Editorial Director