Microsoft Mechanics Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Introducing Face Check with Microsoft Entra Verified ID Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

Protect your organization from account takeover and hiring fraud as deepfake impersonation threats grow. With Microsoft Entra Verified ID, you can use Face Check to verify identities in real time against government-issued IDs like driver's licenses and passports. Use Face Check with integrated solutions for • new employee, guest or admin onboarding • step-up authentication to access sensitive information • securing common helpdesk-driven tasks, like user account recovery Setup is simple and has been designed so that both the enterprise and the person verifying their identity maintain control—without storing or passing biometric information like other face matching solutions.

Join Ankur Patel, from the Microsoft Entra team, as he demonstrates how Face Check with Verified ID works and how to set it up.

► QUICK LINKS: 00:00 - Face Check with Microsoft Entra Verified ID 00:54 - AI-powered identity verification 01:44 - First time user experience 03:21 - How it works 04:55 - Use cases 05:34 - Set it up 06:16 - Update an app for Face Check 06:43 - Access packages 08:18 - Wrap up

► Link References

For more information, check out https://aka.ms/FaceCheckSetup

Watch the complete playlist for Microsoft Entra Suite at https://aka.ms/EntraSuiteMechanics

Access a list of identity verification providers at https://aka.ms/IDVpartners

► Unfamiliar with Microsoft Mechanics?

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Introducing the Microsoft Purview Unified Catalog | Get control of your data Feb 24, 2025

Show notes

Locate, access, and trust the data you need using Microsoft Purview's Unified Catalog. By leveraging AI-powered search and automated quality checks, you can use data across your organization while staying compliant and meeting privacy standards. With streamlined approval workflows, request and gain access to data quickly, collaborate with stakeholders, and ensure data quality across projects.

Daniel Hidalgo, Microsoft Purview Senior Product Manager, joins Jeremy Chapman to share how to manage data governance, drive better decisions, and support meaningful AI outcomes with Microsoft Purview.

► QUICK LINKS: 00:00 - Microsoft Purview Data Governance 00:29 - Data visibility and access 01:46 - Universal data catalog 03:23 - Crowdsourcing approach 04:24 - Business user demo 06:58 - How it works 08:05 - Create new governance domain 08:53 - Define data products 09:39 - Automate data quality checks 10:33 - Day-to-day management 11:57 - Wrap up

► Link References

Get started at https://aka.ms/PurviewDataGovernance

► Unfamiliar with Microsoft Mechanics?

As Microsoft's official video series for IT, you can watch and share valuable content and demos of current and upcoming tech from the people who build it at Microsoft.

• Subscribe to our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MicrosoftMechanicsSeries

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How to set up agents and Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat now included with Microsoft 365 Feb 11, 2025

Show notes

Get AI-powered assistance using Copilot Chat and agents in Microsoft 365 without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license. Research faster, analyze files with data protections, and automate repetitive tasks with Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat. Create and use agents to streamline workflows, with pay-as-you-go billing so you only pay for what you use. See how to easily configure access, pin Copilot Chat for quick use, and manage agent authoring in Copilot Studio. Jeremy Chapman, Director of Microsoft 365 shows how to optimize productivity while controlling costs.

► QUICK LINKS:

00:00 - Copilot Chat and agents

00:45 - How to use Copilot Chat

01:52 - Use agents in Copilot Chat

02:43 - Compare with Microsoft 365 Copilot

04:00 - Make it discoverable

04:48 - Configure access for author agents

06:22 - Pay-as-you-go

07:24 - Wrap up

Link References

Get a detailed comparison to Microsoft 365 Copilot at https://aka.ms/CopilotChat

See how how pay-as-you-go works at https://aka.ms/CopilotChatMetering

For more information, check out https://aka.ms/CopilotChatDocs

For detailed Copilot enablement guidance go to https://adoption.microsoft.com/copilot

Unfamiliar with Microsoft Mechanics?

As Microsoft's official video series for IT, you can watch and share valuable content and demos of current and upcoming tech from the people who build it at Microsoft.

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Using Azure AI Foundry SDK for your AI apps and agents Feb 07, 2025

Show notes

Design, customize and manage your own custom applications with Azure AI Foundry right from your code. With Azure AI Foundry, leverage over 1,800 models, seamlessly integrating them into your coding environment to create agents and tailored app experiences. Utilize Retrieval Augmented Generation and vector search to enrich responses with contextual information, as well with built-in services to incorporate cognitive skills such as language, vision, and safety detection.

Dan Taylor, Principal Product Architect for Azure AI Foundry SDK, also shares how to streamline your development process with tools for orchestration and monitoring. Use templates to simplify resource deployment and run evaluations against large datasets to optimize performance. With Application Insights, gain visibility into your app's metrics, enabling data-driven decisions for continuous improvement.

► QUICK LINKS: 00:00 - Manage AI apps in Azure AI Foundry 00:27 - What's in the Azure AI Foundry 01:37 - Ground apps using your own data 03:03 - Retrieval Augmented Generation 03:48 - Using vector search 04:17 - Set up your coding environment 06:11 - How to build AI apps in code 07:16 - Using traces 07:45 - Evaluating performance against large data sets 08:19 - Options for monitoring your AI apps 08:58 - Wrap up

► Link References Find the Azure AI Foundry at https://ai.azure.com

Check out our code samples at https://aka.ms/AIAppTemplates

► Unfamiliar with Microsoft Mechanics? As Microsoft's official video series for IT, you can watch and share valuable content and demos of current and upcoming tech from the people who build it at Microsoft.

• Subscribe to our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MicrosoftMechanicsSeries

• Talk with other IT Pros, join us on the Microsoft Tech Community: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-mechanics-blog/bg-p/MicrosoftMechanicsBlog

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High Performance Computing in Azure - with Mark Russinovich Jan 13, 2025

Show notes

See the latest innovations in silicon design from AMD with new system-on-a-chip high bandwidth memory breakthroughs with up to 7 terabytes of memory bandwidth in a single virtual machine - and how it's possible to get more than 8x speed-ups without sacrificing compatibility from the previous generation to HBv5. These use AMD EPYC™ 9004 Processors with AMD 3D V-Cache™ Technology.

And find out how Microsoft's own silicon including custom ARM-based Cobalt CPUs and Maia AI accelerators for performance and power efficiency.

Mark Russinovich, Azure CTO, Deputy CISO, Technical Fellow, and Microsoft Mechanics lead contributor, shows how with workloads spanning Databricks, Siemens, Snowflake, or Microsoft Teams, Azure provides the tools to improve efficiency and performance in your datacenter at hyperscale.

► QUICK LINKS:

00:00 - 7TB memory bandwidth in a single VM 00:51 - Efficiency and optimization 02:33 - Choose the right hardware for workloads 04:52 - Microsoft Cobalt CPUs and Maia AI accelerators 06:14 - Hardware innovation for diverse workloads 07:53 - Speedups with HBv5 VMs 09:04 - Compatibility moving from HBv4 to HBv5 11:29 - Future of HPC 12:01 - Wrap up

► Link References

Check out https://aka.ms/AzureHPC

For more about HBv5 go to https://aka.ms/AzureHBv5

• Subscribe to our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MicrosoftMechanicsSeries

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One-click AI agents in SharePoint and Teams - focused on files you select (Microsoft 365 Copilot) Nov 25, 2024

Show notes

Streamline your workflow and enhance team collaboration with one-click AI agents in Microsoft 365 Copilot. Automate responses, generate detailed documents, and maintain up-to-date content without moving files outside Microsoft 365. Agents utilize your existing content to provide accurate and efficient outputs, saving you time and ensuring consistency. Integrate them into Microsoft Teams to facilitate real-time information sharing and collaboration.

CJ Tan, Microsoft SharePoint and OneDrive GPM, shares the steps to get started building custom AI agents.

► QUICK LINKS: 00:00 - Create specialist agents in one click 00:42 - How to create an agent 02:12 - Data security & version control 02:39 - Customize your agent 04:14 - Access and permissions 05:39 - Test it out 06:23 - Use agents in Teams 07:50 - Agent files 08:25 - Wrap up

► Link References

For more ideas and details for building your own agents, check out https://aka.ms/SharePointAgentsAdoption

► Unfamiliar with Microsoft Mechanics?

As Microsoft's official video series for IT, you can watch and share valuable content and demos of current and upcoming tech from the people who build it at Microsoft.

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Build autonomous SQL databases in Microsoft Fabric Nov 23, 2024

Show notes

Spin up SQL databases in seconds with Microsoft Fabric, seamlessly integrating your operational and analytical data across multiple clouds. Use AI to scale, tune, and secure databases, so you can focus on building powerful, data-rich applications without the manual management overhead.

Create and host API endpoints directly from your SQL database in one click, enabling seamless interaction with your data using popular frameworks like React. Integrate your database management into your CI/CD pipelines with ease, ensuring high availability and streamlined development processes.

Anna Hoffman, Principal GPM, SQL database in Microsoft Fabric, joins Jeremy Chapman, Director of Microsoft 365, to show you how to get started.

► QUICK LINKS: 00:00 - SQL database in Microsoft Fabric 00:38 - A new class of autonomous database 01:44 - Spin up a database in seconds 03:09 - Use APIs to read and write data 05:00 - Integrate into CI/CD pipeline & source control 05:41 - Bring in data from across your data estate 06:50 - Vector-based semantic search with keyword search 09:03 - See a finished app 11:12 - Query performance 12:31 - Security and control 13:04 - Wrap up

► Link References

• Subscribe to our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MicrosoftMechanicsSeries • Talk with other IT Pros, join us on the Microsoft Tech Community: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-mechanics-blog/bg-p/MicrosoftMechanicsBlog • Watch or listen from anywhere, subscribe to our podcast: https://microsoftmechanics.libsyn.com/podcast

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Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible Server - Elastic Clusters, faster disks, and AI updates Nov 22, 2024

Show notes

Increase scalability, optimize performance, and integrate advanced AI features with Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible Server. Scale up with SSD v2 for up to 4x more transactions per second and significantly lower latency. Scale out effortlessly with elastic clusters using Citus, distributing workloads across multiple servers at no extra cost. Optimize performance with Automatic Index Tuning, reducing server utilization and enhancing efficiency. Leverage advanced AI features like DiskANN, semantic reranking, and Graph RAG to build better AI apps.

Charles Feddersen, Partner Director of Program Management for Postgres at Microsoft, joins Jeremy Chapman to show you how to build scalable, high-performance AI apps on Azure PostgreSQL Flexible Server today.

► QUICK LINKS: 00:00 - Azure Database for Postgres Flexible Server 00:39 - Updates to PostGreSQL 01:50 - Faster storage with SSD v2 03:06 - Scale out workloads using elastic cluster 03:59 - Provision an elastic cluster 05:34 - Scale "in-place" 07:12 - Eliminate redundant indexes 07:44 - Optimize server parameters 09:52 - Improve AI apps with Postgres Flexible Server 11:40 - Code behind queries using PG Admin 12:31 - Scale workloads 13:36 - Wrap up ► Link References Get started at https://aka.ms/azurepostgresblog Access code at https://aka.ms/AzurePostgresAI ► Unfamiliar with Microsoft Mechanics? As Microsoft's official video series for IT, you can watch and share valuable content and demos of current and upcoming tech from the people who build it at Microsoft.

Data Security Posture Management (DSPM), new to Microsoft Purview Unlisted Nov 22, 2024

Show notes

Stay ahead of evolving risks and mitigate vulnerabilities with Microsoft Purview Data Security Posture Management (DSPM). Gain prioritized visibility into data security risks, track unprotected sensitive information, and receive actionable insights. With built-in classifiers, automated risk assessments, and AI-powered capabilities like Security Copilot, you can identify and mitigate threats, ensuring a compliant data security environment.

Talhah Mir, Microsoft Purview's Principal Group Product Manager, shows how to transform your data security strategy with automated, intelligent risk management and maintain continuous protection across your organization.

► QUICK LINKS: 00:00 - Build and maintain a strong data security posture 01:25 - Start in Microsoft Purview Portal 02:14 - Microsoft Purview solutions 03:39 - Analytic reports 04:39 - Take action 05:30 - AI app-focused view 06:13 - View trends 06:59 - Add Security Copilot capabilities 09:37 - Wrap up

► Link References

Get started at https://aka.ms/DSPM

► Unfamiliar with Microsoft Mechanics?

As Microsoft's official video series for IT, you can watch and share valuable content and demos of current and upcoming tech from the people who build it at Microsoft.

• Subscribe to our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MicrosoftMechanicsSeries

• Talk with other IT Pros, join us on the Microsoft Tech Community: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-mechanics-blog/bg-p/MicrosoftMechanicsBlog

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Introducing Windows 365 Link Nov 22, 2024

Show notes

Windows 365 Link is the first Cloud PC device purpose-built for Windows 365. It can connect to your Cloud PC in seconds with a simple sign-in, accessing a familiar Windows Desktop with high-fidelity performance. Windows 365 Link offers seamless setup and streamlined management through Microsoft Intune, ensuring your IT environment is efficiently maintained alongside other PCs. As a stateless and adminless device, it does not store user profile data or install additional software.

Optimize your work experience with passwordless authentication, high-performance video conferencing, and support for essential peripherals. Designed with a robust security posture, Windows 365 Link provides data protection with features like Secure Boot, BitLocker encryption, Hypervisor-based Code Integrity, and more.

Jalleen Ringer, Partner GPM for Windows Cloud Endpoints, shows how Windows 365 Link is the ideal choice for secure, scalable, and efficient cloud computing.

► QUICK LINKS: 00:00 - Windows 365 Link—First Cloud PC device purpose-built for Windows 365 00:55 - What it's like to use Windows 365 Link 02:32 - Ports and connectivity 03:18 - Set it up 03:48 - Device management 05:26 - Wrap up

► Link References

Check out https://aka.ms/Windows365Link

► Unfamiliar with Microsoft Mechanics?

As Microsoft's official video series for IT, you can watch and share valuable content and demos of current and upcoming tech from the people who build it at Microsoft.

• Subscribe to our YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MicrosoftMechanicsSeries

• Talk with other IT Pros, join us on the Microsoft Tech Community: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/microsoft-mechanics-blog/bg-p/MicrosoftMechanicsBlog

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