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Welcome to the Microsoft Cloud IT Podcast!

Weekly Microsoft 365 and Azure news and information for the IT Professional

The weekly newsletter to accompany our podcast about Microsoft 365 and Azure. Scott and Ben are a couple of IT Pros that with a long history with Microsoft products. Recently Ben focuses primarily on Microsoft 365 but does a fair amount in Azure, and Scott spends most of his time in Azure, but with a history in SharePoint and Microsoft 365 still enjoys that side of things as well. We started this podcast over 5 years ago and continue to enjoy chatting weekly about various topics and technically in Microsoft 365 and Azure, specifically as it relates to IT Pros.

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Podcast Episode 409 cover highlighting Microsoft 365 Copilot preparation, security, and governance best practices.
Featured Post

Episode 409 - Preparing for Copilot​- Securing Your Microsoft 365 Data and Beyond​

Episode 409 - Preparing for Copilot- Securing Your Microsoft 365 Data and Beyond Hello Reader, The next episode of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro podcast has been released! Listen Online Copilot in Microsoft 365 is here—but is your environment ready for it? In Episode 409 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast, we discuss the essential steps tenant admins need to take before deployment. From preventing oversharing in SharePoint to setting governance controls for sensitive data, this episode breaks...

8 days ago • 1 min read
Podcast cover for Episode 408 discussing advanced tips for finding, implementing, and optimizing Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers in daily workflows.

Episode 408: Get More from Model Context Protocol Servers Hello Reader, The next episode of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro podcast has been released! Listen Online Episode 408 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast is live! In part two of our exploration into Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers, we dive deeper into how to find, implement, and get the most out of MCP servers in your daily workflows. From Azure and Docker to Notion and Microsoft Learn MCP Server, we cover real-world examples and...

22 days ago • 1 min read
Podcast Episode 407 graphic discussing the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and its impact on AI extensibility in Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365.

Episode 407 - Model Context Protocol (MCP) Part 1: The USB Port of AI Communications Hello Reader, The next episode of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro podcast has been released! Listen Online In this episode, we dive deep into the Model Context Protocol (MCP) - a game-changing specification that's extending the capabilities of Large Language Models (LLMs) and creating exciting new possibilities for IT professionals working with Microsoft Azure and Microsoft 365.MCP represents a significant shift...

about 1 month ago • 1 min read

Episode 406 - Agents of Insight: Copilot in Action and Sentinel on the Move Hello Reader, The next episode of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro podcast has been released! Listen Online Welcome to Episode 406 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode, Ben and Scott discuss their recent experiences and thoughts on Microsoft's Copilot features and agents, specifically focusing on the Researcher and Analyst agents. They share practical applications and benefits of these tools, such as using...

about 2 months ago • 1 min read
Podcast cover for Episode 405 on Microsoft Copilot Notebooks and Loop Workspaces

Episode 405 - Loop, Loop Workspaces, Loop Pages, Copilot Pages, Copilot Notebooks, Copilot Notebooks in OneNote Notebooks Hello Reader, The next episode of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro podcast has been released! Listen Online Welcome to Episode 405 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this epsidoe, Ben and Scott tackle the increasingly complex world of Microsoft's notebook ecosystem, exploring the new Copilot notebooks feature and how it relates to existing tools like OneNote and Loop....

2 months ago • 1 min read
Podcast cover art for Episode 404: Microsoft 365 Copilot landing page update

Episode 404: The Microsoft 365 Landing Page Shake-Up Hello Reader, The next episode of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro podcast has been released! Listen Online Welcome to Episode 404 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode, Ben and Scott discuss the latest change Microsoft has rolled out to the Microsoft 365 user experience, redirecting users from the familiar portal.office.com to a new Copilot-centric landing page. This shift has caught many IT professionals off guard, rendering...

3 months ago • 1 min read
Podcast cover for Episode 403 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. Includes headshots of hosts Ben Stegink and Scott Hoag over a colorful 3D tech background, with the title “Catching up on all the news from Microsoft Build 2025.”

Episode 403 - Catching up on all the news from Microsoft Build 2025 Hello Reader, The next episode of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro podcast has been released! Listen Online Welcome to Episode 403 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast where Ben and Scott catch up on some of their favorite announcements and news from Microsoft Build 2025. Like what you hear and want to support the show? Check out our membership options. Show Notes Introducing Microsoft 365 Copilot Tuning New Microsoft 365 Copilot...

3 months ago • 1 min read
Black and white photo of Andrew Connell smiling, with the MS Cloud IT Pro Podcast logo in the top-left corner and the episode title "Declarative Agents with Andrew Connell – Episode 402" overlaid in a purple banner.

Episode 402 - Declarative Agents with Andrew Connell Hello Reader, The next episode of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro podcast has been released! Listen Online Welcome to Episode 402 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In today's episode, we’re thrilled to have Andrew Connell (AC) joining us once again. If you’ve been with us for a while, you’ll recognize AC as a repeat guest and one of the early voices who encouraged us to launch this podcast. In this episode, we’re diving deep into the world...

4 months ago • 1 min read
Zero Trust in Microsoft 365

Episode 401 - Zero Trust in Microsoft 365 Hello Reader, The next episode of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro podcast has been released! Listen Online Welcome to Episode 401 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast. In this episode, Ben Stegink and Scott Hoag dive into the intricacies of implementing Zero Trust principles within Microsoft 365 environments. They explore the foundational aspects of Zero Trust, starting with identity management and the importance of Entra ID. They also cover: Identity...

4 months ago • 1 min read
Cover art for Episode 400 of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast featuring a futuristic robot holding a digital workflow diagram with the title “Building Smarter Workflows with Copilot Agents.”

Episode 400 - Microsoft 365 Copilot Declarative Agents and Copilot Studio Agent Builder Hello Reader, The next episode of the Microsoft Cloud IT Pro podcast has been released! Listen Online In this episode, Ben and Scott explore how IT professionals and developers can leverage Microsoft 365 Copilot’s declarative agents and the Copilot Studio Agent Builder to enhance productivity and streamline workflows within their organizations. Declarative agents allow you to define specific tasks and...

4 months ago • 1 min read