Archive for the ‘Technology’ category

Microsoft Releases SharePoint Server Subscription Edition Update 23H1

March 17th, 2023

Microsoft Releases SharePoint Server Subscription Edition Update 23H1

  • The update adds support for the SharePoint Framework version 1.5.1 development platform, with support for “modern web technologies and tools.”
  • Microsoft “recompiled SharePoint Server Subscription Edition with the newest Visual C++ compiler: Visual C++ 2022.”
  • Microsoft also added four new PowerShell commandlets that “will replace the functionality of the ‘stsadm.exe -o variationsfixuptool’ command.”

The update supports private key management of SSL/TLS certificates in SharePoint Server farms, which allows the certificates to be ” dynamically updated when the certificate assignments change.

Microsoft added “wildcard host header binding” for web applications that share the same TCP port, which means that organizations can now shorten DNS names using an asterisk.

With this update the sharing function in “lists, document libraries, pages, or site contents” follows the modern sharing dialog box convention . However, Microsoft also added the option to its Lists column totals view to make it look more like the “classic” SharePoint approach.

The Quick Chart modern Web Part can now get data from a SharePoint site’s List or Library, which previously wasn’t possible.

The File Picker now supports more file types, namely “PDF, TXT, MP4, M4V, MP3, OGG and WAV.”

SharePoint Server 2019 and AMSI Support
Microsoft announced that it has integrated the Windows with this update (AMSI) security capability into SharePoint Server 2019 with its March 2023 cumulative update. This capability is “designed to prevent malicious web requests from reaching SharePoint endpoints.” It will examine incoming Web requests and block the malicious ones.

AMSI lets applications and services integrate with any AMSI-capable anti-malware product present on a computer.

AMSI was added to SharePoint Server SE back in November, and is now available in SharePoint Server 2019. “This feature will also become available to SharePoint Server 2016 customers later this year,” Baer indicated.

Windows 10 sales to end this month

January 26th, 2023

Windows 10 use currently leads worldwide in terms of Windows desktop use.

Windows 7 with Extended Security Updates support fell out of support on Jan. 10. The same date as the end of supportfor Windows 8.1.

Both the Home and Pro Windows 10 OSes can’t be purchased from Microsoft after this month. Here’s Microsoft’s language to that effect from its Microsoft Store listings for the Home and Pro editions:

January 31, 2023 will be the last day this Windows 10 download is offered for sale. Windows 10 will remain supported with security updates that help protect your PC from viruses, spyware, and other malware until October 14, 2025.

A “get Windows 10” search currently defaults to Microsoft’s get Windows 11 page.

The statement seems to just apply to the downloadable OS product.

For the various ways to buy Windows, see this PCWorld.com article.

Microsoft Edge update will permanently disable the Internet Explorer 11 desktop web browser

December 19th, 2022

Microsoft announced last week that in February. 2023 a future Microsoft Edge update will permanently disable the Internet Explorer 11 desktop web browser on some Windows 10 systems.

115 June 22was the day Internet Explorer reached its end of support, and the company told customers that the legacy web browser would get disabled via a Windows update.

“The out-of-support Internet Explorer 11 (IE11) desktop application is scheduled to be permanently disabled on certain versions of Windows 10 devices on February 14, 2023, through a Microsoft Edge update, not a Windows update as previously communicated,” Redmond said on Friday.

“All remaining devices that have not already been redirected from IE11 to Microsoft Edge are scheduled to be redirected with the Microsoft Edge update scheduled for February 14, 2023.”

Enterprise admins should to transition from IE11 to Microsoft Edge with IE mode and remove IE visual references from the Start Menu and the Windows taskbar with the Disable IE policy before February 14 to avoid “business disruption at scale when users lose access to IE11-dependent applications.”

Next year’s May non-security preview release and the June Windows monthly security update are designed to remove those in environments where admins do not act before IE11 gets permanently disabled.

Internet Explorer will redirect users to the new Chromium-based Microsoft Edge when launching the Internet Explorer 11 desktop applications. During the process, users’ data (including settings, passwords, and favorites) will be imported into Microsoft Edge to make the switch easier.

Since October 2020, IE11 has automatically launchrd Microsoft Edge when visiting incompatible sites. The list of incompatible sites (managed by Microsoft) contains 7,562 domains, a long list of high-profile online platforms and services, including Facebook, Instagram, Google Drive, Microsoft Teams, Twitter, and many others.

Internet Explorer around for some time yet

Although officially retired from multiple Windows 10 versions on the semi-annual channel (SAC) servicing channel and not shipping with Windows 11, IE11 will still be available on Windows 7 ESU, Windows 8.1, and versions of Windows 10 LTSC client, IoT, and Server. The web browser will continue to receive technical support and security updates on systems that run these Windows versions for the lifecycle of the Windows version.

You can switch to Microsoft Edge with IE mode which enables backward compatibility and will be supported through at least 2029. To enable IE mode in Microsoft Edge, go to edge://settings/defaultbrowser, toggle on the ‘Allow sites to be reloaded in Internet Explorer‘ option, and restart the browser.

Microsoft also discontinued IE support in Teams in November 2020 and also ended support across Microsoft 365 apps and services in August 2021. Other Microsoft services and apps have also ended support for Internet Explorer during the last few years.

Why Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations technology makes a difference.

December 7th, 2022

Microsoft has invested billions of dollars into Dynamics 365 technology and security, which has produced many great new features.

When you move to the cloud, everyone is maintained on the same version, and you will always be in lockstep with Microsoft updates. You can be proactive and flexible in promoting those upgrades into your production environment to enhance your user experience.

Your integrations will become extensions-based, rather than relying on over-layering. This will give you several benefits because Extensions make rolling updates much easier

  • Easier to apply new releases, updates, and hotfixes without affecting customization
  • ISVs provide new releases quicker
  • Reduce the cost and effort involved with an upgrade
  • – all of this without impacting the core code of your environment

We understand why some businesses are hesitant to move to the cloud, but from our view, the benefits outweigh the risk. Microsoft has invested heavily in Azure. It is built on the latest hardware, has 24-7 monitoring year-round, and is consistently updated.

With this move, you will have peace of mind not having to worry about the hardware, energy, labour costs and work associated with backup and disaster recovery. While many businesses feel they have control over their on-site servers, this can lead to a false sense of security. Cyber threats are prevalent and getting faster and more sophisticated. Whether a business has on-site servers with a backup plan or not, many simply aren’t prepared for the worst-case scenario unless they have a large internal IT team or pay for a costly third-party IT service.

Microsoft recognizes this and has over 3,500 Azure cybersecurity professionals working to protect its cloud and has invested in it to the tune of over $1 billion annually. Simply put, upgrading takes that load off your shoulders and puts it onto a specially trained Microsoft team.

Azure also has thousands of connectors, and a Dataverse ( Common data model) to integrate non-Microsoft systems with your Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations environment.

One of the greatest benefits of upgrading is you can create low/no-code applications using the Power Platform. Power BI, PowerApps, Power Automate, and the Dataverse combine to form the Power Platform, a program that integrates seamlessly with Dynamics 365 solutions.

It lets you compile, design, and publish your data very easily into visually appealing reports and dashboards that can be used internally and externally and published to workspaces or organizational/public-facing apps.

Create apps for your team to have the information they need to work from wherever they are, on whatever device they use..

One of the best features of the Power Platform is that data changes synchronise across your system. For example, go into a system to update a client’s contact information, and that change will update in all your connected systems.

Power BI is a cloud-based analytics tool that gives you a single visual view of your most critical business data. You can create reports on the health of your business, dashboards displaying critical numbers and figures that help your staff work, and rich and interactive visualizations. It is easy to use and integrates seamlessly with Dynamics 365 technologies. There are out of the box embedded dashboards and Synergy has created many client specific dashboards.

Time to move to Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations with Synergy Software Systems

December 7th, 2022

No more Dynamics Ax support

Most versions of Dynamics AX are off both Mainstream and Extended Support, which means they have no access to new features, and will not get fixes for either non-security or security issues, and cannot reach out to Microsoft for one-on-one support.

AX 2012 R3 is on extended support, but that support cycle will end on January 10, 2023. Extended support means you still get security fixes. However, you have no access to new features, and need to pay an annual fee plus a per-incident charge for non-security fixes and access to support.

AX TO FO 2 SUPPORT LIFECYCLE

From January 2023, all Dynamics AX customers will be on their own for Microsoft core code and security threats, or for issues about compatibility with database or operating system changes. It’s essential to have a proven partner to support local builds and customisations and to help explain and manage the upgrade process.

That’s why if you have not already moved to Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations then time has run out. Urgent action is advised. It takes time to review options, to understand the different licences, the many new features, the new technology platform, and to mobilise resources and to reimplement an enterprise company.

Chrome flaw-urgent update

September 7th, 2022

An urgent warning has been issued for BILLIONS of Google Chrome users by Google to warn that its web browser users that there is a vulnerable flaw.

 Chrome has launched a new update – across Windows, Max and Linux computers.

Chrome users need to relaunch the browser to activate the update. This will update Chrome to version 105.0.5195.102 for Windows, Mac, and Linux. 

To update Chrome, click on the three-dot menu on the top-right of your Chrome window. Then users should go to Help > About Google Chrome to see if the update is available, before clicking the download button.

Please see the Chrome Security Page for more information.

This latest update comes just days after Google released Chrome version 105 on August 30th. That update already came with 24 security fixes. Apparently, that still wasn’t enough. This is the sixth zero-day vulnerability Chrome has faced so far this year. The last vulnerability that was actively exploited was just flagged in mid-August,

USB 4 version 2.0

September 3rd, 2022

USB 4 version 2.0 is expected to provide twice the speed of data performance over existing USB Type-C cables and connectors. The new technology, will launch later in 2022, and should deliver greatly improved connectivity and data transfer speeds. The advances, are made possible by a new physical layer architecture allowing up to 80GBps operation – even when using previous USB C passive cables, which previously allowed up to 40GBps speeds.

his means that a 40GBps cable bought today would soon be able to deliver double these speeds, with no extra effort required by the user. 

Existing USB-C and USB Power Deliver (PD) specifications will be updated to enable the new levels of performance, with the protocols backwards-compatible with USB 4 version 1.0, USB 3.2, USB 2.0 and Thunderbolt 3. There’s also improved support for DisplayPort and PCIe, where improved data tunnelling will be used to harness the best possible bandwidth.

Solutions will most benefit from this speed enhancement include: higher-performance displays, storage, and USB-based hubs and docks.

More information, together with detailed technical specifications into how USB 4 version 2.0 will work, are expected to be revealed in November 2022.

Why now is the time to adopt Power Bi – ask Synergy Software Systems, Dubai

August 19th, 2022

Power BI innovation never stops. For several years in a row now, it is positioned as a leader in the 2021 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Analytics and Business Intelligence Platforms, furthest to the right for completeness of vision and furthest up in the ability to execute within the Leaders’ quadrant.

The gaps are widening with interactive reports, paginated reports, datasets, dataflows, deployment pipelines, scorecards, dashboards, metrics, data alerts, and much more, and recently announced in public preview, self-service datamarts. No wonder, customers are adopting Power BI at an accelerated pace. Boost Office 365 productivity with Power BI integrated into PowerPoint and Microsoft Teams, connect to data anywhere with hundreds of built-in connectors, leverage industry-leading AI, go quickly from insight to action with the Microsoft Power Platform, and provide best-in-class mobile experiences with Power BI Mobile.

Reports can be mobile friendly, they can be paginated, and you can link into Azure Analysis Services.

Microsoft Edge browser improvements

July 31st, 2022

Microsoft Edge is the built-in browser on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

It’s powered by Chromium, which ensures its compatibility with the vast majority of the web.

Starting with Edge 102, the browser will automatically compress disk caches to optimize performance.

Using too much disk space can worsen the browsing experience as well as bog down an entire system.

“When a browser uses too many resources, it not only impacts the browsing experience but can also slow down the entire system,” explained Microsoft’s Edge team in a blog post. “However, when it comes to performance optimizations, we often need to balance optimizing for the entire system, since optimizing for one resource can often come at a cost increasing the use of another resource.”

Browsers store content from the web by using disk caches. This allows Edge and other apps to access information quickly. While browsers, including Edge, already moderate how much disk space they take up, compressing content allows for further optimization.

Contents within caches are usually highly compressible. “Since the contents in these cache(s) are often highly compressible, compression results in increasing the likelihood that the requested resource can be fetched from the disk.”

Edge will automatically compress disk caches on eligible systems. The browser has to check whether a system is eligible to ensure that compression will not result in poor performance.

Cache compression is particularly advantageous for systems with a “clear” amount of available storage space, which is otherwise quickly used up with unlimited cache.

Most recently, the browser’s CPU and memory requirements have been slashed, which would have a less damaging effect on battery life. Bleeping Computer(opens in new tab) reports that sleeping tabs should use 32% less memory on average, with CPU usage dropping by 37%.

An upcoming update could give users a whole new way to interact with Edge by using custom commands. Microsoft Edge Canary 105 will see a feature that enables the command bar to run commands from a launcher integrated into the browser. Unlike rivals such as Chrome and Firefox, the new command bar is not located in the browser address bar, but as a standalone option, which we can hope will provide much smoother functionality.

he new command bar is opened by pressing Ctrl+Shift+Space, and sits just below the Microsoft Edge address bar. 

Although given the official name DevTools Command Palette, ghacks.net found that a wide range of commands could be used in the bar, including creating a new window or tab, opening office web apps, and even opening other apps such as Stack Overflow.

Users already signed up to Microsoft Edge Canary are able to try out the new feature now by updating to the latest build. The tool is still in development, so there’s no news yet on a potential release date, but if it gets enough engagement in the testing phase, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t become a part of Microsoft Edge in the future.

Microsoft has been made aware that some users are experiencing issues with favorites synchronization and plans to fix this in an upcoming release.

Xcitium – the new Comodo zero threat solution

July 31st, 2022

Every 11 seconds a new ransom incident occurs and every day the AV-TEST Institute registers over 450,000 new malicious malware and unwanted applications.

What if you could provide 100% protection from those unknown ransomware and malware attacks?

Well, – Now you can!

Comodo Security Solutions has rebranded as Xcitium as it unveils its patented ‘ZeroThreat‘ technology, to be the first in this new Gartner Domain Space “Containment for Endpoints”

Xcitium will have an official launch at the Black Hat USA Exhibition (Aug 6-11, 2022). 

ZeroThreat’ technology employs Kernel API Virtualization to isolate and eliminate threats such as zero-day ransomware and other malware before those can cause damage, all without interfering with a customer’s operations. 

“Xcitium’s ZeroThreat Technology, utilizing patented Kernel API Virtualization, prevents unknown malware from accessing critical system resources that cause damage, while providing complete use of the unknown file or application—this is a distinct departure from all existing vendors which terminate the offending unknown once their engine makes a threat determination,” 

Sarah Pavlak, Industry Principal at Frost & Sullivan

(In 2018, as Comodo, the company expanded beyond its original business strategy of keeping the Internet secure through SSL certificates. It focus was on unified managed endpoint protection in response to the increasing, advanced threat, landscape.

Since its inception, Xcitium has a track record of zero security breaches when completely configured.

The ZeroThreat technology is the cornerstone of the Xitium endpoint suite.

It is built with a signature role to keep the Internet safe with:

  • advanced endpoint protection (AEP),
  • endpoint detection and response (EDR),
  • managed detection and response (MDR).

For more information, contact: Synergy Software Systems 0097143365589