Microsoft Archives

Navigating Microsoft Entra Lockouts: Why Having a Trusted IT Partner Matters

Over the weekend, some organizations using Microsoft Entra ID experienced unexpected user lockouts tied to a new security feature rollout specifically, the MACE Credential Leak Detection app, designed to proactively disable potentially compromised accounts. While this tool adds an important layer of security, it also caught many IT teams off guard, especially those without dedicated support or visibility into conditional access changes. At Red Level, we see this as a reminder of just how critical it is to have an experienced Managed Services Partner (MSP) in your corner, someone who can help you adapt quickly, respond efficiently, and keep your business running smoothly. What Happened In certain environments where Phase 2 security baselines were active, Microsoft’s rollout of the MACE app triggered widespread account lockouts. Even accounts with strong passwords and Multi-Factor Authentication were affected. This wasn’t a breach or a bug, it was a well-intentioned rollout of a new ...

Kristy Mossoian2025-04-21T16:52:39+00:00

License & Registration Check – Make Sure Your Microsoft Setup is Street Legal

When was the last time you took a close look at your Microsoft Cloud licensing? If you’re like most businesses, it’s something that often gets set up and then forgotten, until you run into an issue. Just like driving without proper registration can get you into trouble, operating without optimized Microsoft licenses could be costing you more than you realize. Are You Paying Too Much for Licenses You Don't Need? Many businesses purchase Microsoft 365, Azure, or other cloud services and never revisit their licensing. Over time, this can lead to: Over-licensing: Paying for seats or features your team isn’t using. Under-licensing: Missing out on features that could boost security, productivity, or compliance. Misaligned Licensing: Employees may be assigned higher-tier licenses when a lower-tier one would suffice. What Happens When You Don't Keep Your Licensing In Check? Wasted Budget: You could be spending thousands on unnecessary or unused licenses. Security ...

Kristy Mossoian2025-03-19T19:18:30+00:00

Boosting Engagement in SharePoint

Microsoft is enhancing SharePoint to help organizations create more engaging and visually stunning digital experiences. From branding to image and video editing, the focus is on elevating every aspect of site design. With features like the Brand Center and advanced editing tools, creative teams have full control over their content, ensuring it looks its best. Content is the most effective when it’s discoverable right in the flow of work. Customers rely on SharePoint not only to create content but to help generate engagement and reach the right audiences. With features like News, SharePoint in Teams, and Microsoft Viva, Microsoft is making it easier than ever to reach your audience and foster meaningful engagement within your organization. Generate Engagement SharePoint isn't just about creating content—it's about making sure that content gets noticed and engages the right audience. Microsoft has developed various features to help you achieve this: SharePoint in Microsoft Outlook ...

Kristy Mossoian2024-08-30T12:58:28+00:00

Elevate SharePoint Contant for Dynamic Experiences

Microsoft is enhancing SharePoint to help organizations create more engaging and visually stunning digital experiences. From branding to image and video editing, the focus is on elevating every aspect of site design. With features like the Brand Center and advanced editing tools, creative teams have full control over their content, ensuring it looks its best. Compelling Content Microsoft is enhancing SharePoint to help you create more engaging and visually stunning digital experiences. These updates focus on elevating every aspect of site design, including branding, typography, layout, images, and animations. This new design experience is based on the Microsoft Fluent Design System and will seamlessly integrate over time. Introducing the Brand Center The new Brand Center in SharePoint allows you to define fonts, colors, logos, and other design elements that represent your organization's identity. You can easily apply these branding elements across multiple sites, ensuring consistency and alignment with your brand ...

Kristy Mossoian2024-06-26T18:37:47+00:00

Migrating to Azure with Confidence

Migrating to a cloud-based hosting platform can boost your organization’s computing infrastructure. It can improve efficiency, save time, and reduce costs. Microsoft Azure stands out for its service quality, security, reliability, and global reach. Like many other businesses, both large and small, you're ready to make the move. Understanding the Challenge However, migrating to the cloud requires significant organizational change. To fully leverage Azure, you must understand its unique attributes and keep them in mind throughout the migration process. Tools and Services to Simplify Migration Microsoft offers robust tools and services to ease and simplify migration. As a Microsoft partner, Red Level brings extensive experience helping clients shift to the Azure platform. We’ll ensure you use the right tools to make your cloud journey as smooth and effortless as possible. Think Ahead: Planning Eases Migration Effective planning and preparation are key to a smooth cloud migration. This is where Red ...

Red Level2024-08-30T14:12:00+00:00

Legacy Authentication is ending soon. Are you prepared?

Microsoft has announced an official end of its Basic Authentication for Exchange Online in all Microsoft Office 365 Tenants beginning October 1st. What does that mean for your company’s security? What’s replacing it? How do I prepare? We’ll answer all of these questions for you and keep it non-techie. How will it affect us if we don’t update? Well, for starters, you won’t be able to log in. At all. That sounds drastic! Why end Basic Authentication? Don’t we need that? Of course, we do. But Basic Authentication is showing its age and is vulnerable to some well-known but effective attacks. Here are two of the attacks you should know about. More than 99% of password spray attacks use legacy authentication. In a spray attack, an attacker will brute-force logins from a list of usernames that still use the default passwords to log into a certain app or website. Most ...

Red Level2023-03-28T14:01:31+00:00

Microsoft’s Response to Education Institutions

Technology can play a vital role in reducing the impact of COVID-19 on people and organizations. Many schools and universities have moved to online courses to ensure everyone is still receiving an education during this time. Microsoft has introduced extended free trials and resources for clients to use to maintain collaboration, productivity, and security. Here is Microsoft's response for education institutions: New, Extended Free Trials for EDU Customers Office 365 A1 – Free versions to all educational institutions: This version provides unlimited chat, built-in group and one-on-one audio or video calling, 10 GB of team file storage, and 2 GB of personal file storage per user. You also get real-time collaboration with the Office apps for web, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. No restrictions for # of users. Get started for free Technical documentation Microsoft Teams for Free (Individuals and IT roll-out – in Office 365 A1 above): Provides unlimited chat, built-in ...

Microsoft2023-02-16T16:01:23+00:00

Use Report Builder 2012 to Visualize Your SharePoint Data

Quick and Dirty Reporting for SharePoint 2013 Applications - Part 1 Good restaurants are hard to come by. The combination of tasty food, atmosphere, price, and service is a mix many owners never master. The same is true in using SharePoint as a platform to develop a department sized application. Microsoft Access, Excel and Lotus notes have traditionally played in this “no-code” space. However, SharePoint offers: tables, forms, a workflow engine, but lacks a little in the reporting area. A simple tool I have been using to resolve this shortcoming is Microsoft SQL Server 2012 Report Builder (you can download it for free here). Report Builder is a free graphics interface tool that visualizes data in table or chart formats. Report Builder can connect to numerous data sources, but what I like about it is that a SharePoint list is one of them. One of the core benefits of this ...

Red Level2023-02-16T16:01:29+00:00

Top 5 Infrastructure Trends for 2019

We’ve bid 2018 farewell and welcomed 2019 with open arms. So what's next? What’s going to happen in 2019 from an infrastructure perspective? The answer for 2019 is similar to that of recent years. Cloud and security are still the top priorities. Let’s take a quick look at what may impact your infrastructure focus. 1. Exchange Migration Migrations from Exchange on-premises to Exchange online and upgrades from older versions of Exchange to the latest version are both projects going strong in 2019. We continue to support our clients who are going through these Exchange migration and upgrade processes and predict that Exchange migrations, upgrades, and support will continue to be a trend with our clients. 2. Multi-Factor Authentication To add additional security, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) provides one or more additional forms of authentication for users when they log into company resources. Traditionally, users would log into their computers or other ...

Red Level2023-02-16T16:01:29+00:00

Check and Configure SharePoint User Permissions

Ever have a SharePoint gotcha problem before? It’s highly likely that your answer is yes and you are not alone. SharePoint has lots of gotchas and it can be difficult to troubleshoot sometimes. However, there are some really simple yet powerful features that are built right into the interface. Site collection administrators will find these features easily accessible and usable to trouble shoot why somebody doesn’t have access to certain resources. This blog covers the features that allow you to check guest permissions in SharePoint. Scenario 1: Problem - Users are granted access to a site and they start navigating until they can’t add or update items. Solution - Bring up list setting and check permission dialog Type in the user name in question and check their permissions to the list Review all the permissions that the user is assigned throughout the site Alter and modify the additional permission and ...

Clay Osborn2023-02-16T16:01:31+00:00

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