Category: Microsoft

In an era where global sustainability is paramount, organizations face the challenge of translating pledges into actionable progress. Despite the strategic importance placed on sustainability by 85% of executives, only a mere 16% have seamlessly integrated it into their business strategies. 

 Introducing a suite of new data and AI solutions within the Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability, aimed at providing organizations with the tools they need to expedite their sustainability journey. These solutions offer accelerated environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data analytics and insights, alongside an AI assistant designed to streamline decision-making and reporting processes. 

 Microsoft Fabric emerges as the central analytics platform for sustainability data. Launched in May 2023, Microsoft Fabric serves as an end-to-end SaaS platform, amalgamating an organization’s enterprise data, including previously inaccessible ESG data. Now in preview, sustainability data solutions within Microsoft Fabric offer organizations pre-built ESG data models, connectors, and reporting capabilities, facilitating faster insights and progress tracking. 

 Copilot and intelligent insights, now in preview within Microsoft Sustainability Manager, offer AI-driven assistance for enhanced decision-making. Leveraging generative AI and natural language queries, Copilot enables organizations to swiftly analyze environmental data, draft preparatory reports, and engage with sustainability data in a conversational manner. Intelligent insights further augment this by providing an integrated AI model for in-depth analysis of emissions data, aiding in identifying reduction opportunities and optimizing decisions based on historical trends and anomalies. 

 Moreover, the ESG value chain solution within Microsoft Sustainability Manager, now generally available, enables organizations to streamline data collection from suppliers and identify emissions reduction opportunities within their value chain. This solution proves vital, as supplier activities often contribute significantly to an organization’s emissions footprint. 

 Real-world examples showcase the efficacy of these solutions, such as Södra, Sweden’s largest forest-owner association, which has leveraged Microsoft Sustainability Manager to enhance reporting practices and streamline data collection processes. 

 Further emphasizing the transformative potential of sustainability initiatives, Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability facilitates partnerships and fosters innovation. Allegiant Stadium, home to the Las Vegas Raiders, stands as a testament to this, utilizing Microsoft solutions to achieve LEED Gold certification and operate entirely on renewable energy sources. 

 With an ecosystem of sustainability solution partners, including Avanade, Microsoft endeavors to address the multifaceted challenges of sustainability by harnessing the power of AI responsibly. By leveraging data and AI, organizations can not only drive efficiency and accuracy in decision-making but also uncover new avenues for business growth, propelling us towards a transformative future of sustainability. 

Get more information by mailing us at tech@cyberwaves.eu.

Author

Deepthi Bennan

Marketing Manager, Cyberwaves B.V.

World Backup Day is a reminder of the importance of backing up your data. It’s a day to take stock of your digital life and ensure that you’re protecting your valuable information. 

Backups are essential because they protect you against data loss. Data loss can occur due to a variety of reasons, such as hardware failure, natural disasters, cyberattacks, and human error. Losing your data can be a devastating experience, especially if you haven’t backed it up. 

Here are some reasons why backups are important: 

Protect Against Data Loss 

Backups protect you against data loss. If you have a backup of your data, you can easily restore it if something goes wrong. This is especially important for businesses that rely on their data to operate. 

Save Time and Money 

Backing up your data can save you time and money. If you lose your data and don’t have a backup, you may need to spend time and money to recover it. This can be a costly and time-consuming process. 

Peace of Mind 

Backups provide peace of mind. Knowing that your data is backed up can help you feel more secure and confident in your digital life. You don’t have to worry about losing your data or starting from scratch if something goes wrong. 

How to Backup Your Data 

There are many ways to backup your data. Here are some options: 

• External Hard Drive: You can backup your data to an external hard drive. This is a simple and affordable option. 
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• Cloud Storage: You can also backup your data to a cloud storage service, such as Google Drive or Dropbox. This option is convenient and accessible from anywhere with an internet connection. 

• Backup Software: There are many backup software options available, such as Acronis True Image and EaseUS Todo Backup. These options offer advanced features and customization. 

Conclusion 

In conclusion, backups are essential for protecting your data and ensuring that you can recover it if something goes wrong. World Backup Day is a reminder to take stock of your digital life and ensure that you’re protecting your valuable information. So take the time to backup your data today and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with knowing your data is safe and secure. 

Author

Deepthi Bennan

Marketing Manager, Cyberwaves B.V

The regulation landscape of data privacy is more complicated than ever. With new laws emerging in China and India, changes in Europe and the United Kingdom, and now 26 different laws across the United States, staying ahead of regulations may seem tough.

Privacy Management for Microsoft 365: Introduction

Microsoft 365 Privacy Management is now publicly available to help businesses protect personal data and create a privacy-resilient workplace. Privacy Management for Microsoft 365 provides automatic end-to-end visibility of privacy issues at scale, cheers to role-based access controls and data that is de-identified by default.

1. Identify critical privacy risks and conflicts: Finding where personal data is stored, especially in an unstructured setting, is one of the most difficult aspects of protecting privacy. Most businesses still rely on inefficient and costly manual processes to maintain data inventory and mapping, mostly via email, spreadsheets, and in-person communication. By employing data classification and user mapping expertise, Privacy Management automatically and continuously assists clients in discovering where and how much private data is stored in their Microsoft 365 environments. An aggregated view of an organization’s privacy posture is viewable, including the amount, type, and location of private data, as well as associated privacy risks and trends over time.
2. Automate privacy operations and response to subject rights requests: Privacy Management correlates data signals across the Microsoft 365 suite of solutions to provide actionable insights that enable privacy administrators to automate privacy policies using an out-of-the-box template—data transfers, data minimization, data overexposure, and subject-rights request management—or create a custom policy to meet an organization’s unique needs.
3. Empower employees to make smart data handling decisions: You must educate your employees on how to handle data responsibly in order to create a privacy-resilient culture. Administrators may automate privacy regulations and protect sensitive data with the help of Privacy Management, which provides insights and contexts. Furthermore, data owners are offered recommended actions, training, and suggestions to help them make wise data-handling decisions, removing the need to choose between privacy and productivity.

Figure 1: Overview dashboard showcasing privacy risks and trends.

It’s a journey to achieve privacy.

Customers can purchase Privacy Management for Microsoft 365 as an add-on to their Microsoft 365 or Office 365 subscription. You can use the free 90-day trial to get started with Privacy Management. Get more information by mailing us at tech@cyberwaves.eu.

Author

Deepthi Bennan

Marketing Manager, Cyberwaves B.V.

Due to the pandemic, the work environment of every industry changed, the shift to remote work lasted about 15+ months. To understand this impact Microsoft conducted regular research and study among their customers and employees. As per their recent work trend survey report, indicating that in a year they send 160,000 people to work at home and onboarded 25,000 new employees, and the percentage went high in history 90%.

There’s no guarantee that the trend will continue in the increasingly complex world of hybrid work. For one thing, employee expectations have changed. According to last year’s Work Trend Index report, 73 percent of employees want the option to work remotely, but 67 percent want more in-person engagement. Without any preparation, dealing with this hybrid work paradox will be challenging.

Microsoft continues to invest in hybrid innovation as we all learn and share practical advice. Check out the new features in Microsoft Teams and Office 365 designed to help your employees no matter where they work meet their diverse work needs.

Designed for all, not just onsite attendees

 Microsoft introduced new features in June aimed at supporting inclusive hybrid meetings, including a front row for Teams Rooms, a revised Teams experience on Surface Hub, and an updated Microsoft Whiteboard that allows visual participation even if you’re not physically in the same room. With the introduction of a new category of intelligent cameras, Microsoft is ushering in the next phase of Teams Rooms innovation. This new generation of intelligent cameras is powered by three distinct technologies:

1. AI-powered active speaker tracking, enabling in-room cameras to use audio, facial movements, and gestures to detect who in the room is speaking, zooming in for a closer perspective.
2. Multiple video streams that allow in-room participants to be placed in their own video pane.
3. People recognition, which will identify and display the profile name of enrolled users within their video pane.

You can create more equal meeting experiences where everyone feels visible and represented when intelligent cameras are used with Dynamic View in Teams. Teams modify various features of the meeting as individuals join it, so distant members can see the room and information well, and industry-leading partners including Jabra, Neat, Poly, and Yealink, these features will be available to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the coming months and rolled out as updates over the course of the next year.

Office environments that are meant for everyone, not only in-person attendance

Microsoft is improving companion mode in Teams mobile to give in-room attendees easy access to engagement tools like chat, live reactions, and Microsoft Whiteboard, allowing them to contribute more dynamically. They’re also making it easy to access meeting and device controls, such as joining a meeting, casting a PowerPoint, muting the room, turning on and off room cameras, and more. In the coming months, the improved companion mode experience will be accessible.

It will also be simpler to organize meetings and collaborate. New features in Outlook track when and where teammates are working, as well as how they will participate in meetings. Working hours have been modified to allow you to enter work schedule details right in your calendar, letting people know when and where you’ll be working. People can now indicate whether they will attend a meeting in person or online, allowing meeting planners to better prepare by scheduling space with video conferencing capabilities or bringing a speaker pack. Early next year, Outlook will begin bringing out new hybrid work experiences.

People may find and reserve flexible workplaces in the office using the hot desking experience on Microsoft Teams displays. Access your own Teams calendar, chats, meetings, and more by booking space from your smartphone or in advance using Outlook or Teams. When hot-desking, team displays can be used as a standalone device or as a second screen, and all personal information is deleted from the device after signing out. By the end of 2021, Lenovo ThinkSmart view is planned to offer this experience.

Remote meetings that are just as effective as face-to-face meetings

 Many people used to prefer to deliver crucial presentations in person, but we’re investing to make remote presentations as successful and immersive as possible. Hybrid presentations aren’t only about providing knowledge; they also use nonverbal social cues like facial reactions and gestures to engage the audience. Cameo is a unique PowerPoint experience that combines your Teams camera stream seamlessly into your presentation, allowing you to select how and where it appears on your slides and providing layout ideas for optimal viewing. Use PowerPoint Live in Teams for an immersive remote presentation when it’s time to present. Cameo will be available in early 2022.

Speaker coach in Microsoft Teams uses AI to privately provide guidance on your speed, tell you if you are interrupting someone, and remind you to check in with your audience as we try to create an inclusive hybrid work culture where all voices can be heard. Speaker coach will be accessible in Microsoft Teams in early 2022.

The most recent automated Even in low-light situations, lighting modifications will make you seem good in video-on meetings. In the next months, lighting corrections will be accessible.

Let lose work area space at home or in the workplace and get clear strong quality for gatherings with the new Logi Dock. This docking station has an implicit speakerphone with contact controls, intended to work flawlessly with Teams. With a tad of a button, you can join Teams gatherings, change your sound, and then some. Logi Dock will be accessible in the coming months.

Stay in the progression of work with Microsoft Teams

 Adaptability comes from realizing that regardless of where you work from, you are associated with your partners and work. The most recent developments in Teams bring your #1 applications and encounters together to assist you with staying productive, centered and associated in half-breed work.

With Microsoft Teams gatherings and calls coming to Apple CarPlay, you would now be able to join Teams gatherings and settle on decisions sans hands out and about utilizing Siri.

Microsoft Viva brings correspondence, information, experiences, and learning into the progression of work. With Viva Connections, you can remain educated regarding organization news and assets straightforwardly from Teams. You can discover customized declarations, organization discussions, and a dashboard of assets for activities like presenting a day-by-day wellbeing check or cost reports. Now, Viva Connections mobile app will be available in preview.

By using Apps in Teams meetings you will empower a more engaging and productive collaboration experience. App content can now be shared and interacted with life during meetings, enabling visualizations such as real-time visual problem solving and brainstorming. With Miro, MURAL, Lucidspark, Freehand, and many more to come, you can get started right away.

While hybrid work is exciting, it will be a challenge for every leader and organization. Organizations that embrace the change and incorporate flexibility into their operating models will foster a more inclusive work environment. Microsoft is committed to fostering a hybrid work culture where flexibility leads the way – giving customers and employees the power to work from anywhere, anytime, and take control of their personal development and wellbeing.

Author

Deepthi Bennan

Marketing Manager, Cyberwaves B.V.