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Happy Anniversary Day 50 years of Microsoft Innovation

50 years of Microsoft

A Legacy of Innovation and Transformation

Half a century ago, on April 4th, 1975, two young visionaries, Bill Gates and Paul Allen, co-founded Microsoft with a bold ambition: to make computing accessible and essential for everyone. What began as a small software company has grown into a global technology leader, continuously transforming industries and empowering billions of lives. As we celebrate Microsoft’s 50-year journey, let’s explore its milestones, innovations, and impact, including its contributions to datacenters, Windows Server, Hyper-V, Azure, and the leadership of its CEOs.

The Early Years: Coding the Future

Microsoft’s first big breakthrough came with the creation of an operating system for the fledgling personal computer market. In 1980, the company introduced MS-DOS, laying the groundwork for the revolutionary Windows operating system, launched in 1985. This graphical interface transformed computing, making it accessible to both businesses and individuals.

Guiding Microsoft Through Its Evolution: The CEOs Who Shaped the Company

Microsoft’s trajectory has been shaped by its visionary leadership. From the founders to the present, each CEO has left an indelible mark:

  1. Bill Gates (1975–2000): As co-founder and first CEO, Gates spearheaded the company’s initial growth, launching pivotal products like MS-DOS, Windows, and Office. His focus on innovation and accessibility built the foundation of Microsoft’s success.
  2. Steve Ballmer (2000–2014): During his tenure, Ballmer led Microsoft through massive expansion, particularly in enterprise solutions and cloud computing. He introduced Windows Server and laid the groundwork for services like Azure. Ballmer’s energy and passion defined his leadership style and kept Microsoft competitive in a rapidly changing market.
  3. Satya Nadella (2014–Present): Nadella ushered in a cloud-first, AI-driven era, transforming Microsoft’s culture and business model. His emphasis on inclusivity, empathy, and sustainability revitalized the company. Under his leadership, Azure became one of the world’s leading cloud platforms, and Microsoft made transformative acquisitions like LinkedIn, GitHub, and Activision Blizzard.

Lake Bill on Redmond Campus

Redefining Enterprise Technology: Datacenters, Windows Server, and Virtualization

As businesses increasingly relied on technology, Microsoft expanded its offerings to support enterprise needs. Windows Server, introduced in 1993, became a cornerstone for server management and networking. It evolved over the decades, incorporating features such as Active Directory, high availability, and security enhancements.

Microsoft played a pivotal role in virtualization with Hyper-V, launched in 2008. Hyper-V allowed organizations to maximize resource efficiency and reduce costs by running multiple virtual machines on a single physical server. Modern datacenters powered by Microsoft’s hardware and software solutions now form the backbone of its cloud services.

Embracing the Cloud: The Azure Revolution

Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform, launched in 2010, redefined computing. It enabled organizations to access scalable infrastructure, deploy applications globally, and harness artificial intelligence with ease. Azure spans over 60 regions worldwide, making it one of the most comprehensive cloud platforms. Its ecosystem includes hybrid cloud solutions, advanced analytics, and IoT technologies.

Gaming, Devices, and Consumer Innovation

Microsoft entered the gaming industry with the Xbox in 2001, creating a thriving gaming ecosystem. Beyond gaming, the company innovated with devices like the Surface lineup, combining sleek design with productivity. Its integration of hardware and software demonstrated Microsoft’s versatility.

Shaping the Future: AI, Sustainability, and Datacenters

Microsoft continues to lead in artificial intelligence with tools like Microsoft Copilot. Its pledge to be carbon-negative by 2030 highlights environmental responsibility, with sustainable datacenter operations playing a central role.

Conclusion: A Legacy Built to Inspire

Microsoft’s 50-year journey is a testament to the power of innovation and visionary leadership. From Bill Gates to Steve Ballmer to Satya Nadella, each CEO has steered the company to new heights. With contributions ranging from datacenters and Windows Server to Hyper-V and Azure, Microsoft’s impact has been profound. As the company looks ahead, it remains dedicated to empowering people and organizations to achieve more, ensuring the next 50 years are as groundbreaking as the last.

Here’s to Microsoft—a company built to inspire and shape the future.

at Building 92 of the Microsoft Campus in Redmond.

 


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Azure Update Management for Windows and Linux in Multi Cloud #Azure #Winserv #Linux

Microsoft Azure Update Management Center

Microsoft Azure Update Manager (preview) is a unified service to help manage and govern updates for all your machines. You can monitor Windows and Linux update compliance across your deployments in Azure, on-premises, and on the other cloud platforms from a single dashboard. Important: It’s still in Preview but GA is coming Soon 

To support management of your Azure VM or non-Azure machine, Update Manager (preview) relies on a new Azure extension designed to provide all the functionality required to interact with the operating system to manage the assessment and application of updates. This extension is automatically installed when you initiate any Update manager (preview) operations such as check for updates, install one time update, periodic assessment on your machine. The extension supports deployment to Azure VMs or Arc-enabled servers using the extension framework. The Update Manager (preview) extension is installed and managed using the following:

The extension agent installation and configuration are managed by the Update Manager (preview). There’s no manual intervention required as long as the Azure VM agent or Azure Arc-enabled server agent is functional. The Update Manager (preview) extension runs code locally on the machine to interact with the operating system, and it includes:

  • Retrieving the assessment information about status of system updates for it specified by the Windows Update client or Linux package manager.
  • Initiating the download and installation of approved updates with Windows Update client or Linux package manager.

In my case I’m updating Windows Server Insider version which is Azure Arc enabled in the following steps :


Here you see my Azure Arc enabled Domain Controller with Windows Server Insider.
Here you Click on Check for Updates
Go to Update Management Center

When you Click on Machines you will get a Nice Overview of your Servers

When you Click on History, you will see the assessment and keeps all activity history in one place.

Update reports are Important and you can make your Own reports or download
Public Templates.

In the following steps we are going to install the three updates on the Azure Arc Enabled Server :

Select the machine(s) for the One-time updates.
Click on Next

here you see the Updates.

You can select your reboot Options and the Maintenance Window in Minutes.

If everything is correct you can click on Install.

In History you see your job in progress

Update Management Overview
In Progress

This is what I like most, when you have to manage more then 100 Servers and they are in your Own Datacenter On-premises but also at Multi Cloud vendors Like in Azure, AWS, Google Cloud or are not Domain Joined Servers then here you can see your Update Compliance in a Single point of Dashboard Overview in the Microsoft Azure Cloud.

Create your Own Maintenance Configuration.

Click on Next DynamicScopes

Add a Dynamic Scope

Select the Filter(s)

Filter for Arc Servers and OS type Windows.

Then you see the Azure Arc Servers by your Filter.

Dynamic Scope is set.

select.

Machines.

Include Update Classification

Azure Update Management Center Overview with Updates Completed 🙂

Updates completed on Windows Server Insider Domain Controller.

Conclusion

Microsoft Azure Update Management Center is still in Preview but is a Great Single Dashboard Overview for managing your Updates on Windows Servers and Linux at any Place. It gives you Great Overview and you can see the status in one view. GA is coming soon, but you can now test and experience it before you go in production with this Awesome product.
Follow Microsoft Azure Update Manager here on X

More information on Microsoft Azure Update Management Center (Preview) here

 


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Installing Biometric Fingerprint for Windows Login #WIMVP #Security #Windows #WindowsHello

Windows Hello Fingerprint

Biometric tokenization is the process of substituting a stored biometric template with a non-sensitive equivalent, called a token, that lacks extrinsic or exploitable meaning or value. The process combines the biometrics with public-key cryptography to enable the use of a stored biometric template (e.g., fingerprint image on a mobile or desktop device) for secure or strong authentication to applications or other systems without presenting the template in its original, replicable form.

I still had an old laptop with Windows 10 Insider preview Build but with a Fingerprint Sensor, and logging into Windows is more secure with Windows Hello Fingerprint then using a password only.
In the following steps you will see how easy it is to install Windows Hello Fingerprint when you have a fingerprint sensor :

  1. Select Start  > Settings  > Accounts  > Sign-in options.
  2. Under Manage how you sign in to your device, you’ll see three choices to sign in with Windows Hello:
    • Select Windows Hello Face to set up facial recognition sign-in with your PC’s infrared camera or an external infrared camera.
    • Select Windows Hello Fingerprint to set up sign-in with a fingerprint reader.
    • Select Windows Hello PIN to set up sign-in with a PIN.

I already had a PIN installed, so I installed WindowsHello Fingerprint.

Windows Hello Setup.
Swipe your finger on the Fingerprint sensor.

Swipe again

Swipe again until it’s good.

Windows Hello Fingerprint is installed.

Login screen to sign in with Windows Hello Fingerprint.

Here is my Old laptop with Windows Hello fingerprint Sensor.

New Laptops with Windows 10/11 can use Windows Hello Face Authentication for login.

You can also buy a YubiKey Bio Series – FIDO Edition for biometric Authentication / Login for Windows.

Conclusion

In simple steps you can make your Authentication on your Windows device more secure with Windows Hello Fingerprint and Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) with a token like Yubikey. For security is passwordless better then typing your credentials and with
Biometric Authentication it’s much safer to login on Windows. So lot of choices, but my old laptop is more secure with Windows Hello Fingerprint Authentication 🙂

Security First and by Design


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Windows Dev Kit 2023 aka Project #Volterra #Windows11 #developers #DevOps

Windows Dev Kit 2023 Project Volterra

Windows Dev Kit 2023 is an Arm-powered device built by Windows developers for Windows developers. Everything you need to develop Windows apps for Arm, on Arm. Powerful AI. All on one device.  

More information here about the Windows Dev Kit 2023

You can purchase the dev kit here.  


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What’s New in Windows Server 2022 Security! #Winserv #Security #WindowsServer2022 #SecOps

Microsoft Security Compliance Toolkit 1.0

The Microsoft Security Configuration Toolkit enables enterprise security administrators to effectively manage their enterprise’s Group Policy Objects (GPOs).  Using the toolkit, administrators can compare their current GPOs with Microsoft-recommended GPO baselines or other baselines, edit them, store them in GPO backup file format, and apply them via a domain controller or inject them directly into testbed hosts to test their effects. For more information, see Windows Security Baselines.

 

Baseline security policies for Windows Server 2022.

But what’s new in Microsoft Windows Server 2022?

Here we have some new Windows Server 2022 security features :

  • Secured-core server

  • Hardware root-of-trust

  • Firmware protection

  • Virtualization-based security (VBS)

  • Secure connectivity

    • Transport: HTTPS and TLS 1.3 enabled by default on Windows Server 2022

    • Secure DNS: Encrypted DNS name resolution requests with DNS-over-HTTPS

    • Server Message Block (SMB): SMB AES-256 encryption for the most security conscious

    • SMB: East-West SMB encryption controls for internal cluster communications

    • SMB over QUIC

  • Azure Arc enabled Windows Servers

  • Windows Admin Center

  • Azure Automanage – Hotpatch

You can read more information on these topics on Microsoft Docs

Windows Server 2022 security features

In the following steps you will see some of the security features of Microsoft Windows Server 2022.

When your Windows Server 2022 is running on a Hypervisor like Hyper-V, you can set Memory integrity under Windows Security to ON.
This prevents attacks from inserting malicious code into high security processes. When you set this security feature on, the Server needs a reboot to activate.
Memory Integrity needs a reboot.

Windows Security Notifications.

By default Virus & Threat protection notification is active, when you want notifications about Microsoft defender firewall blocking a new application, you have to turn this feature on and select the firewalls.

In Windows security we have also ransomware protection. 
Protect your files against threats like ransomware, and see how to restore files in case of an attack.
You can do this by Controlled folder access.
Protect files, folders and memory on your Server from unauthorized changes by software.

Protected folders.

New in Windows Server 2022 is Tamper protection in Windows Security.
This Prevents others from tampering with important security features.

 

This was all Microsoft Windows Server 2022 security in the VM, but how about your Windows Server 2022 Hyper-V Hypervisors?

Hypervisor-protected Code Integrity (HVCI) is a virtualization based security (VBS) feature available in Windows. In the Windows Device Security settings, HVCI is referred to as Memory Integrity.

HVCI and VBS improve the threat model of Windows and provide stronger protections against malware trying to exploit the Windows Kernel. VBS leverages the Windows Hypervisor to create an isolated virtual environment that becomes the root of trust of the OS that assumes the kernel can be compromised. HVCI is a critical component that protects and hardens this virtual environment by running kernel mode code integrity within it and restricting kernel memory allocations that could be used to compromise the system.

See Virtualization Based Security System Resource Protections for more details on these protections.

 

Here you find a great video with a session of Jeff Woolsey Principal Program Manager at Microsoft. It’s all about What’s new in Windows Server 2022.

Conclusion

Start with Microsoft Windows Server 2022 today and make your test environment to play with Windows Server 2022 and Security.
Make your core business application solution more secure then ever, and let a ethical hacker do pen tests on your solution.
When you have security by default in your architectural designs, and test your Windows Server 2022 for production workloads it makes a big different to keep your environment and solution safe. And when you monitor your Windows Server 2022 solution pro-active with Azure Monitor, Azure Security Center, Azure Defender like this with Azure Arc enabled Servers

This keeps you in Control on Security by design for your business.


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#Microsoft Debug Diagnostic Tool v2 Update 2 for #ITPro #DevOps #MVPbuzz #Developers

Diag06

Microsoft Debug DiagTool

The Debug Diagnostic Tool (DebugDiag) is designed to assist in troubleshooting issues such as hangs, slow performance, memory leaks or memory fragmentation, and crashes in any user-mode process. The tool includes built-in analysis rules focused on Internet Information Services (IIS) applications, web data access components, COM+, SharePoint and related Microsoft technologies. Debugdiag 2.0 introduces a new analysis engine host with built-in reporting framework that can be accessed from .NET. This new analysis engine simplifies analysis rule development in .NET. Starting with Debugdiag 2.0, the analysis engine relies on Microsoft.Diagnostics.Runtime for .NET analysis.

Diag07

Add your Data files to Analyse

Diag09

Use ? for Help to get the job done

Diag10

Collect your Information for Trouble shooting

Diag11

Make your Own Debug Diag Rules

Diag12

The Help Function in the Tool can Help you understand the DiagTool

Here you can download the Microsoft Debug Diagnostic Tool v2 Update 2


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#Microsoft Windows Management Framework 5.0 Production Preview #Powershell #DSC #Winserv #WMF

World Cloud

This release includes new features and functionality in Windows Management Framework 5.0, including the following:

  • Windows PowerShell 5.0
  • Windows PowerShell Integrated Scripting Environment
  • Windows PowerShell Desired State Configuration
  • Network Switch Cmdlets
  • Package Management
  • Software Inventory Logging

WMF 5.0 Production Preview differs from older previews of WMF 5.0 in the following ways:

  • It is fully supported until three months after WMF 5.0 RTM. By fully supported, we mean we will investigate production-blocking issues, and provide workarounds or updates as necessary.
  • All features in the Production Preview are production-ready. No experimental features are in this package.
  • You must uninstall all previous releases of WMF 5.0 previews before installing the WMF 5.0 Production Preview.

Your feedback about Windows Management Framework 5.0 Production Preview is valuable to us; we invite you to provide feedback at all times. For important information about changes in behavior from Windows PowerShell 4.0, and a list of known issues with this release, be sure to read the release notes that are available for download with this package. You can log bugs and suggestions by using the Microsoft Connect website.

Windows Management Framework 5.0 makes updated management functionality available for installation on Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows 8.1 Pro, Windows 8.1 Enterprise, Windows Server 2012, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.

Please read also the awesome Windows Management Framework 5.0 Production Preview Release Notes !

Here you can download the Windows Management Framework 5.0 Production Preview

PowerShellBanner

 

 


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Getting Started with Microsoft #Windows10 for IT Professionals

MVA Windows 10 Deployment

Azure AD ConnectLogon directly with Windows 10 in Microsoft Azure Active Directory

As an IT Pro, how can you securely enable your organization with Windows 10? Find out, in this practical and informative course. Windows offers management features that empower IT professionals to address the current shift toward a mobile workplace, a realization of heterogeneous ecosystems, bring your own device (BYOD) and choose your own device (CYOD) scenarios, and the cloud.

Walk through what’s new in Windows 10 deployment and management, with a team of experts. Look at runtime provisioning, mobile device management (MDM), secure authentication, and much more. Plus, find out what Windows as a Service means for you and your organization.

01 | What’s New in Windows 10 deployment
Focus on upgrading, provisioning, and Wipe-and-Load installations of Windows 10. Take a look at the tools that IT Professionals can use to make Windows 10 deployment happen.
02 | What’s New in Windows 10 Management and the Windows Store

Explore traditional management, with Group Policy, System Center and related components, and mobile device management, which we added in Windows 8.1 and enhanced in Windows 10.

03 | Runtime Provisioning in Windows 10

Since it’s time-prohibitive to re-image a machine, find out the benefits of runtime provisioning (and get precious time back).

04 | Windows 10 Mobile Device Management MDM

Take a closer look at today’s MDM challenges, through more granular device management capabilities.

05 | Protecting Your Data with Containers Without Boxing Yourself In

Since a majority of data leaks happen accidentally, learn how Windows 10 addresses this, without additional cumbersome steps.
06 | A New Era of Threat Resistance for the Windows 10 Platform
Get the details on how Windows 10 addresses ​evolving cyber-threats, with a new approach.

07 | Secure Authentication with Windows Hello
Find out how easy multifactor authentication is now. Learn how to secure your organization via included biometric capabilities made available in Windows 10​. ​

08 | Windows as a Service: What does it mean for your business?
Find out how easy multifactor authentication is now. Learn how to secure your organization via included biometric capabilities made available in Windows 10​. ​

Recommended Resources and Next Steps :
Take this opportunity to dive deeper into Windows 10 at your own pace at Microsoft Virtual Academy.
Windows-10-Banner


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#Microsoft Cloud Platform Roadmap Site #Cloud #Azure #HybridCloud

Microsoft Cloud Roadmap

The Microsoft Cloud Platform roadmap provides a snapshot of what Microsoft is working on in the Cloud Platform business. Use the roadmap to find out what Microsoft  recently made generally available, released into public preview, are still developing and testing, or are no longer developing on.

Here you go to the Microsoft Cloud Platform Roadmap site


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#Microsoft Virtual Academy is the place to be……. #Learning #sysctr #Azure #SQL #Office365 #Sharepoint #MVA

MVA Learning

What is MVA?

Successful technologists never stop learning and great technology never stops evolving. Microsoft Virtual Academy (MVA) offers online Microsoft training delivered by experts to help technologists continually learn, with hundreds of Microsoft training courses, in 14 different languages. Our mission is to help developers, knowledgeable IT professionals and advanced students learn the latest technology, build their skills, and advance their careers. Through MVA, we offer free Microsoft training, and the entire service is hosted on Windows Azure.

Become an MVA member so that you can earn points for your learning, achieve different levels of badges and status relative to others in your country or around the world, and get certificates when you complete an entire online training course. Your personal dashboard helps you track your progress against your personal learning plans.

MVA learning opportunities combine on-demand Microsoft training courses and live events:
•On-demand, free Microsoft training courses help you learn at your own pace, and when the time is right for your busy schedule.
•MVA’s exciting live online courses include Jump Start training, where you can interact with experts and a worldwide audience of learners from around the world. Through this method of interactive online training, our instructors and subject matter experts will answer the questions you pose in real time chat sessions so that you can apply what you learn right away.

Developers who want to learn how to build apps for the web, Windows or Windows Phone can explore our free Microsoft training courses on App Development training, HTML5 training, C# training including XAML, Game Development training, Cloud Development, Mobile App Development, Web Development and mobile development training.

IT Pros who are looking to evaluate, deploy, administer, update, and manage infrastructure in their organization should checkout our hundreds of online IT training courses. Topics include Management and Security training, Windows Server training, Office 365 training, Windows 8 training, Windows Azure training, Virtualization, Hybrid Cloud Training and Business Intelligence.

From here you go to Microsoft Virtual Academy

Virtual Labs
Go to Microsoft Virtuallabs for Virtual environments