Cloudy with a Chance of Insights

Richard Hogan, David Rowley and Cyrus Irandoust

Introducing our fortnightly podcast, your guide to Microsoft's Cloud portfolio! Dive deep into the world of Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, and Microsoft Security with us. Our mission is to deliver engaging and insightful discussions that empower cloud practitioners and organisations to maximise their investment in Microsoft Cloud technologies. Tune in for expert insights, practical tips, and enjoyable conversations that make navigating the Microsoft ecosystem a breeze.

  1. 8시간 전

    TypeChat, DeepSpeed, Entra & Purview Updates and the Joys of Not Preparing | EP22

    Welcome back to Cloudy with a Chance of Insights, the bi-weekly podcast where three Microsoft Cloud architects (Richard, David, and Cyrus) attempt to make sense of the ever-expanding universe of Azure, M365, D365, and all things cloud—usually with minimal preparation and maximum digression. This week, Richard kicks things off with a personal update, before launching into a philosophical ramble about why he’s doing a podcast at all—spoiler: it’s not for the likes, but if you fancy pressing that button, it does help others find us though :-) David then dives into Microsoft’s TypeChat (think: making AI output less of a fever dream and more of a structured answer), DeepSpeed (the unsung hero keeping Copilot’s LLMs from collapsing under their own weight), and Mark It Down (finally, a tool to turn your document chaos into Markdown sanity). Cyrus brings his usual blend of technical depth and existential musings, covering, the big shift: Microsoft Entra as the new source of authority for identity, Passwordless guidance, Intune’s new security baselines, Purview Insider Risk’s new network-based detection for cloud apps and GenAI Along the way, we reminisce about Commodore 64s, DOS pranks, and the joys of wiring up PC speakers (or not), the state of search engines, the rise of GenAI, and why none of us are likely to become TikTok influencers anytime soon. BlogThe Microsoft Cloud Blog YouTubeCloudy with a Chance of Insights - YouTube SoicialsTwitter / XBlueSkyLinkedInThreadsFacebook For all the links to the articles etc, please visit the companion blog site. The Microsoft Cloud Blog

    53분
  2. 10월 5일

    One Token to Rule Them All? Azure Security, AI Agents & Certifications Unpacked | EP21

    This week on Cloudy with a Chance of Insights, Richard, David, and Cyrus unpack a wide range of Microsoft Cloud updates and real-world challenges. Dive into the new Microsoft Agent Framework, Arc Gateway’s general availability, and the latest AI research breakthroughs. We explore Sentinel Graph, Meister’s Azure Web App release, and fresh developments in certifications and applied skills. Security takes centre stage with a deep dive into the “one token to rule them all” vulnerability, plus practical tips for managing cross-tenant integrations. The team also discusses spec-driven development, GitHub Copilot, and the quirks of generative AI coding. Whether you’re an architect, developer, security pro, or just cloud-curious, this episode covers the latest news, practical insights, and a few honest opinions from the front lines of Microsoft’s ecosystem. Topics this week, include: Microsoft Agent Framework and Arc Gateway AI model training and 3D ML rendering Sentinel Graph, Meister, and UEBA updates VMware licensing changes in Azure Inclusive packaging design Spec-driven development and Copilot Certifications, accreditations, and applied skills Security incident: “one token to rule them all” BlogThe Microsoft Cloud Blog YouTubeCloudy with a Chance of Insights - YouTube SoicialsTwitter / XBlueSkyLinkedIn For all the links to the articles etc, please visit the companion blog site. The Microsoft Cloud Blog

    51분
  3. 9월 8일

    Zero Trust, Logic Apps , Intune Updates, OneGov & Azure Service Groups | EP19

    Join Richard, David, and Cyrus for a lively, practical discussion on the latest from the Microsoft Cloud universe. This episode covers Zero Trust in action, Intune and security updates, Logic Apps on Rancher K3s, Azure Service Groups, Excel’s Fabric One Lake integration, the US government’s “OneGov” mega-deal with Microsoft, new Defender for Cloud features in GovCloud, and developer-focused updates in VS Code and Azure DevOps. Highlights: Zero Trust: Microsoft’s updated assessment tools and workshops, now with six pillars for holistic security.Intune & Security: Targeted app control, autopilot patching, real-time Apple device management, and multi-admin approval.Logic Apps & Service Groups: Deploy Logic Apps on lightweight Kubernetes, and visualize resources with Azure Service Groups.Excel + Fabric: Pull governed enterprise data into Excel with Fabric One Lake integration.US Government x Microsoft: The OneGov agreement—sovereign cloud, compliance, and major discounts.Defender for Cloud: New features for GovCloud, boosting security for public sector workloads.Developer Experience: VS Code Schema Designer and Azure DevOps Test Run Hub for streamlined workflows.Trends & Tangents: IT/HR convergence, server naming schemes, and more real-world insights. Subscribe & follow for more insights: #MicrosoftCloud #Azure #ZeroTrust #CloudSecurity #Podcast #CloudyWithAChanceOfInsights Links Logic Apps Deployment using Rancher Azure Service Groups Excel support for Fabric OneLake New Test Run Hub in Azure Test Plans General availability of Defender CSPM and Defender for Servers Plan 2 in Azure Government cloud Why firms are merging HR and IT departments Zero Trust assessment and progress tracking resources Accelerating AI adoption for the US government What’s New in Microsoft Intune: August 2025

    43분
  4. 8월 25일

    Cloud Security, AI Strategy, and the Case for Critical Thinking | EP18

    In this episode, the team explores Microsoft’s evolving cloud strategy through the lens of security, AI, and architectural shifts. Key Topics: Azure Network Security Perimeter: A modular approach to securing individual resources rather than entire networks. Linux OS Guard: Microsoft’s push to make Linux a first-class citizen in Azure, with secure boot and VTPM-backed trust. Satya Nadella’s Mission Reframing: A cultural and strategic pivot toward AI and security as Microsoft’s core priorities. Microsoft Graph Terraform Provider: Cyrus explains the significance of zero-day support and full lifecycle management across Microsoft 365 and Entra. Terraform VS Code Extension: A refreshed tooling experience for infrastructure-as-code practitioners. Secure Futures Initiative (SFI): Richard outlines new consumer-facing patterns and practices for security-by-default architecture. Copilot UI Frustrations & Stop Button: A practical discussion on usability and token management. Critical Thinking in AI: The team reflects on the importance of user discernment in an AI-driven world. Blog: https://themicrosoftcloudblog.com Socials: X: https://x.com/richardihogan Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/richardihogan.bsky.social LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardhogan/ Audio Versions: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3D5jBLs Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/49kBxxL CHAPTERS: 00:00 Introduction to Cloud Insights 01:33 Exploring Azure Network Security Perimeter 06:48 Linux OS Guard and Microsoft's Role 13:31 Satya's Mission Reframing and AI Focus 20:38 The Future of Work and AI's Impact 22:35 Navigating the Future: Staying Relevant in a Changing Market 25:50 Terraform Acquisition: A Game Changer for Microsoft Technologies 36:08 Secure Futures Initiative: Microsoft’s Commitment to Security 42:24 User Feedback Mechanisms: Evolving Communication with Microsoft LINKS: Azure Network Security Perimeter Azure Linux with OS Guard Recommitting to Our Why, What, and How Announcing MSGraph Provider Public Preview and the Microsoft Terraform VSCode Extension SFI Patterns and Practices

    50분
  5. 8월 11일

    AI at the Edge: Sentinel Data Lake, SharePoint Exploits & the Future of Windows

    In this episode of Cloudy with a Chance of Insights, Richard, David, and Cyrus explore the cutting edge of Microsoft Cloud innovation.The conversation begins with a deep dive into Microsoft Research’s new framework for classifying human-AI interactions—an essential step toward building smarter, more responsive applications. David then introduces the public preview of Windows Backup for Organizations, a cloud-backed solution that ties user profiles and settings to identity, offering a new layer of resilience for enterprise environments. Richard shares insights on Sentinel Data Lake, a powerful new tool for aggregating and analyzing security data across your environment. With support for KQL and Jupyter notebooks, and a tiered storage model, it’s designed for scale and flexibility. Cyrus delivers a compelling breakdown of a recent SharePoint exploit uncovered at Pwn2Own Berlin, highlighting the importance of zero trust architecture and proactive security measures. His recommendations—pre-authentication, WAFs, and Sentinel-based hunting—are essential for any organization still running on-prem environments. The episode wraps with a look at how AI development tools are empowering non-developers to build sophisticated solutions. David shares his experience using Claude Sonnet 4 in Visual Studio Code to automate integration analysis and reporting—proving that with the right tools, anyone can build something impactful. Key Themes: AI interaction telemetry and proactive interfacesWindows Backup and user-centric designSentinel Data Lake and scalable security analyticsSharePoint vulnerabilities and zero trust architectureAI tools for non-developers and solution reuseBlog: The Microsoft Cloud Blog Socials: X: https://x.com/richardihoganBlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/richardihogan.bsky.socialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardhoganAudio Versions: https://spoti.fi/3D5jBLshttps://apple.co/49kBxxLKeywords: #MicrosoftCloud, #AIinteractions, #WindowsBackup, #SentinelDataLake, #SharePoint #security, #AI, #cloudcomputing, #cybersecurity Referenced Links Classifying Human–AI Interactions at Scale Windows Backup for Organizations Windows 2030 Vision – Agentic AI OS Microsoft 365 Copilot for GCC High / DoDA Nuclear weapons story: Making SharePoint Zero-Day-Tolerant with Microsoft Entra, Microsoft Sentinel, and Security CopilotIntroducing Microsoft Sentinel Data Lake

    51분
  6. 7월 6일

    HOLDING THE FORT, Exchange Server SE, Sentinel Deprecation, MCP for MS SQL & Purview OCR Feature

    In this episode of 'Cloudy with a Chance of Insights', Richard Hogan discusses his transition to a new role within IBM, the upcoming changes in Microsoft's XDR and Sentinel solutions, and new features in Microsoft Purview. He shares his experiences with Copilot and productivity tools, explores the implications of natural language processing in SQL Server, and discusses the introduction of Exchange Server subscription edition. The episode concludes with reflections on changing career paths in the tech industry due to the rise of AI.   KEYWORDS #MicrosoftCloud, #Copilot, #SQLServer, #ExchangeServer, #Purview, #XDR, #Sentinel, #AI, #ProductivityTools, CareerPaths  Blog https://themicrosoftcloudblog.com Socials X.Twitter: https://x.com/richardihogan Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/richardihogan.bsky.social LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardhogan/  Audio Versions Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3D5jBLsApple: https://apple.co/49kBxxL  CHAPTERS   00:00 Introduction and Personal Updates 05:15 Microsoft's XDR and Sentinel Transition 08:25 New Features in Microsoft Purview 09:48 Experiences with Copilot and Productivity Tools 22:08 Natural Language Processing in SQL Server 25:16 Exchange Server Subscription Edition 28:15 Career Path Changes in Tech 33:04 Conclusion and Call to Action   LINKS   Microsoft Purview Compliance Portal OCR Support forembedded Images in Files, including Office files in SharePoint/OneDrive https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/microsoft-365/roadmap?id=497912   Exchange Server Subscription Edition (SE) is nowavailable https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/exchange   Agents at Work: Putting MSSQL MCP Server into Practice https://devblogs.microsoft.com/azure-sql/mssql-mcp-server-in-action-susans-journey/   Planning your move to Microsoft Defender portal for allMicrosoft Sentinel customers https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft-security-blog/planning-your-move-to-microsoft-defender-portal-for-all-microsoft-sentinel-custo/4428613

    35분
  7. 6월 23일

    M365 Local, Sovereign Cloud, Logic App Updates | EP15

    In this episode of 'Cloudy with a Chance of Insights', the hosts discuss Microsoft's recent announcement regarding the expansion of its sovereign cloud initiative, particularly focusing on the implications for Microsoft 365 Local. They explore the significance of data sovereignty, the inclusion of Exchange and SharePoint servers, and the absence of Teams in the sovereign package. The conversation also delves into the balance between AI investments and cybersecurity, highlighting the evolving landscape of cloud security responsibilities. In this conversation, the speakers discuss the evolving landscape of identity and access management (IAM) and data security, emphasizing the importance of robust identity solutions and multi-factor authentication (MFA). They explore the concept of zero trust, its assumptions, and the role of AI in enhancing security measures. The discussion also covers enterprise integration, AI governance, and the significance of Azure Logic Apps in hybrid deployment scenarios. Finally, they touch on the political influences affecting cloud strategies, particularly in relation to government regulations and the shift towards sovereignty in data management.Bloghttps://themicrosoftcloudblog.comSubscribe https://www.youtube.com/@CloudyWithaChanceofInsightsSocialsX.Twitter: https://x.com/richardihoganBluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/richardihogan.bsky.socialLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardhogan/Audio VersionsSpotify: https://spoti.fi/3D5jBLsApple: https://apple.co/49kBxxL#MicrosoftCloud, #SovereignCloud, #microsoft365Local, #AI, #Cybersecurity, #DataSovereignty, #CloudSecurity, #ExchangeServer, #SharePointServer, #CloudCompliance, #IAM, #datasecurity, #identity, #zerotrust, #AzureLogicAppsCHAPTERS00:00 Introduction to Sovereign Cloud Initiative02:15 Deep Dive into Microsoft 365 Local12:07 Implications of Sovereign Cloud for Organizations18:46 AI and Cybersecurity: Balancing Investments24:43 Shared Responsibility in Cloud Security27:05 The Future of IAM and Data Security28:00 Identity as the New Perimeter29:12 Zero Trust: Assumptions vs. Reality30:55 The Role of AI in Zero Trust33:40 Enterprise Integration and AI Governance40:11 Azure Logic Apps and Hybrid Deployment46:42 Political Influences on Cloud StrategyLINKSAnnouncing comprehensive sovereign solutions empowering European organizationshttps://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2025/06/16/announcing-comprehensive-sovereign-solutions-empowering-european-organizations/SECURING AI AGENTS WITH INFORMATION-FLOW CONTROLhttps://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7336492549919907840/Announcing the General Availability of the Azure Logic Apps Rules Enginehttps://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/IntegrationsonAzureBlog/announcing-the-general-availability-of-the-azure-logic-apps-rules-engine/4416707Announcement: General Availability of Logic Apps Hybrid Deployment Modelhttps://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/IntegrationsonAzureBlog/announcement-general-availability-of-logic-apps-hybrid-deployment-model/4422414

    50분

소개

Introducing our fortnightly podcast, your guide to Microsoft's Cloud portfolio! Dive deep into the world of Microsoft Azure, Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, and Microsoft Security with us. Our mission is to deliver engaging and insightful discussions that empower cloud practitioners and organisations to maximise their investment in Microsoft Cloud technologies. Tune in for expert insights, practical tips, and enjoyable conversations that make navigating the Microsoft ecosystem a breeze.