Category Archives: Uncategorized

Extended Security Updates for Windows Server

Extended Security Updates are critical if you want to continue safely running Windows Server workloads on versions that are out of support. They’re free for customers running Windows Server in Azure and available to purchase through an EA for on-premises workloads.

Servers in Azure receive ESUs by default, and there’s an excellent article here (https://bit.ly/3LTxdrS) on how it works for on-premises servers where it’s not automatic and you need to register your servers.

If you’re running Azure Stack HCI then ESUs are free but you need to turn on Azure Benefits – and this article (https://bit.ly/3M4gX7s) is useful for explaining that process. If you’re new to Extended Security Updates, then this article is a good place to start: https://bit.ly/3NFed1C.

Power BI Report Server

The Power BI team announce a new version of Power BI Report Server. This product facilitates the distribution of interactive Power BI reports, traditionally within the boundaries of an organisation’s firewall. It’s not available to be purchased; the rights to install and use it are granted for customers who have active SA on SQL Server Enterprise Core licences, or Server Subscriptions for SQL Server Enterprise Core licences, or who have purchased Power BI Premium P SKUs.

Find the announcement here: https://bit.ly/3sZad3Y.

Public preview of SQL Server 2022

Microsoft announce the public preview of SQL Server 2022. As you’d expect there’s continued innovation across performance, security, and availability, and Microsoft describe it as “the most Azure-enabled release of SQL Server yet”.

You can find the announcement here: https://bit.ly/3wOJqsu, with an overview of the new features and links to download the preview.

Preview of Power Pages

Microsoft announce the preview of Power Pages, the fifth product in the Power Platform family. In common with the other members of the Power Platform family it’s a low-code solution, and enables any user to create a secure website, but with advanced capabilities for customisation by professional developers as required. This new product extends the capabilities of the Power Apps Portals product which has historically been used to create external portals quickly and easily.

There’s a free 30-day preview available, and you can find the announcement article here: https://bit.ly/3lEZpUT.

Microsoft Purview

Microsoft announce a new brand family – Microsoft Purview – which combines the capabilities of the former Azure Purview and the Microsoft 365 Compliance products to provide a unified data governance and risk management solution. There are a whole host of name changes too – Office 365 Customer Lockbox becomes Microsoft Purview Customer Lockbox for example – and you can find all the new names and more information on Microsoft Purview itself in the announcement here: https://bit.ly/3lpmxGI.

Microsoft Viva Goals

Microsoft announce the private preview of Microsoft Viva Goals. This new Viva module is based on the acquired Ally.io product, and enables business goal setting and management. Viva Goals will be generally available in the third quarter of 2022 and will be included in the current Microsoft Viva Suite subscription at that time.

Find the announcement here: https://bit.ly/3lpl8Qs.

Licensing changes for hosted solutions

Microsoft announce some upcoming licensing changes for hosted solutions. These will allow partners to offer more solutions (notably hosted desktop solutions comprised of Windows and Office), and will allow customers more flexibility in where they use their existing licences.

This increased flexibility will come via changes to Software Assurance which will expand to allow customers to use their Windows, Office and Windows Server licences with any Cloud Provider partner on dedicated or multi-tenant hardware.

There’s no word yet on when exactly these changes will be implemented, but in the interim you can read the (very long) blog post here: https://bit.ly/3lkgvqD.

Dynamics 365 Business Central On-premises Licensing Guide

There’s an updated (May 2022) Dynamics 365 Business Central On-premises Licensing Guide. It’s just a small amendment with another table added to the list of those included for Team Members on page 14.

Find this updated guide here: https://bit.ly/3wlg4To.

Microsoft Azure Customer Solution VL Brief

There’s an updated (April 2022) Microsoft Azure Customer Solution VL Brief. This is a useful document detailing the rules for ISVs when creating customer solutions built on Azure: essentially, ISVs should purchase the Azure services through an EA or (and this is the addition to this new document version) direct from Microsoft via the Microsoft Customer Agreement. Partners intending to just resell the Azure services should use the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program.

Find this updated document here: https://bit.ly/39sdBgW.