What a Conference! Microsoft Ignite was a huge one this year, and we’re thrilled to bring you the highlights. As expected, this year’s event was once again headlined by artificial intelligence, with Microsoft Copilot stepping up its game to help you work smarter. But that’s not all - there were exciting improvements across other core areas too, from Windows 365 to Azure and Intune.

If you’re eager to get up to speed with the latest innovations and see how they can benefit your organisation, keep reading. We’ve got all the details right here. We hope you enjoyed the conference as much as we did!

• Artificial Intelligence

  • Copilot Agents

  • Microsoft 365 Copilot

  • Copilot Studio

  • Copilot Studio & Azure AI

  • Security Copilot

  • Security Copilot in Intune

• Microsoft 365

  • Microsoft Teams

  • Intune

  • Entra SSE

  • Storyline

• Windows

  • Windows 365

  • Windows 365 Link

  • Hotpatch

  • Administrator Protection

  • Security & Resiliency

  • Credentials & Authentication

  • Trusted Apps & Drivers

  • Data Encryption

  • Managing Windows

  • Universal Print

  • Windows Search

  • Surface Hub 3

• Microsoft Edge

  • Edge Management

  • Scareware blocker

• Microsoft Purview

  • Insider Risk Management

  • New Copilot Controls

  • New DLP Capabilities

  • Data Security Posture

  • Sensitivity Label Enhancements for SharePoint

• Microsoft Azure

  • Adaptive Cloud

  • Virtual Machines

  • Azure Virtual Desktop

  • Infrastructure Updates

  • Microsoft Fabric

  • Autonomous Fabric Databases

  • SQL Server

• Power Platform

  • Power Apps

  • Power Automate

  • Power Pages

• Security

  • Defender for Cloud

  • SOC Enhancements

  • Exposure Management
    

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Artificial Intelligence

Copilot Agents

Have you ever wished your daily grind could magically handle itself? Enter Microsoft 365 Copilot’s new out-of-the-box agents! These aren’t your typical digital tools - they’re purpose-built, proactive helpers designed to tackle anything from the most mundane tasks to the trickiest workflows. Meet your new digital dream team: -

• SharePoint: Meet the SharePoint Agent, your go-to for making sense of your SharePoint content. Need instant insights? Done. Want to build a custom agent to comb through specific files or sites? Easy. Plus, you can personalise it with a quirky name and fine-tune its behaviours. Whether you’re in a meeting, writing an email, or deep in a chat, this agent delivers real-time responses grounded in SharePoint’s security settings. It’s like having a super-smart librarian who never sleeps - and it’s available now!
  

• Employee Self-Service: Say hello to the Employee Self-Service Agent in Microsoft 365 Copilot Business Chat (BizChat). This clever companion is the answer wizard for your workplace questions. Want to check your payroll details? Done. Need to book leave? Handled. Eyeing a shiny new laptop? Consider it requested. This agent even dabbles in IT support for Microsoft 365 products. It’s still in private preview, but once it’s live, it’ll be your HR and IT bestie all rolled into one.
  

• Facilitator: Meetings can be a drag, but not with the Facilitator Agent in your corner. During Teams meetings, this multitasking marvel takes real-time notes and lets attendees co-author and collaborate on them - live. In chats, it keeps everyone on the same page by summarising key points as the discussion unfolds. It’s your personal assistant for smarter, faster teamwork, and it’s currently in preview.
  

• Interpreter: Breaking language barriers? Piece of cake for the Interpreter Agent. This brainy bot brings real-time interpretation to Teams meetings in up to nine languages. Want it to speak in your voice? Done - it even nails your tone. Coming early next year, this agent is set to make global collaboration more inclusive and seamless than ever.
  

• Project: Finally, meet the Project Manager Agent. Got a project to manage? This agent’s got you. It can create detailed plans from scratch or use pre-built templates, assign tasks, track progress, send reminders, and even generate status updates. Need it to write content or complete tasks? It can do that too! Currently in preview, this agent is your ticket to effortless project management.

Microsoft 365 Copilot

Microsoft 365 Copilot continues to innovate, introducing game-changing tools to boost productivity, streamline workflows, and enable smarter decision-making. Here’s a quick roundup of what’s new: -

• Simplify Workflows with Copilot Actions: Automate routine tasks like gathering status updates, compiling reports, or scheduling emails. These customisable prompt templates can help save time and adapt to your needs. Currently in private preview.
  

• Smarter Teams Meetings: Copilot can now analyse content shared on-screen during Teams meetings for insights, helping users catch every detail. Available in early 2025.
  

• Instant File Summaries in Teams: Quickly understand shared files in chats without opening them, while respecting security policies. Preview available early 2025.
  

• PowerPoint Enhancements: From translating slides into 40+ languages to integrating branded designs, Copilot now builds polished presentations in minutes. Features roll out between December and early 2025.
  

• Excel Made Easy: With a new start experience, simply describe your needs, and Copilot will create a tailored spreadsheet complete with headers, formulas, and visuals. Available by year’s end.
  

• Outlook Upgrades: Schedule meetings, focus time, or even draft agendas with ease. Features will arrive by November’s end.
  

• Enhanced IT Admin Tools: Copilot in Microsoft 365 Administration Centers simplifies admin tasks with insights, reports, and troubleshooting support. Features roll out in early 2025.
  

• Copilot Analytics: Measure Copilot’s business impact with dashboards, Viva Insights, and advanced reporting to track KPIs like productivity and adoption. Tools begin rolling out in early 2025. Whether you're streamlining tasks, enhancing collaboration, or driving smarter decisions, these updates bring Copilot closer to transforming your workday.
  

Copilot Studio

Imagine if creating your own digital assistant was as easy as building a playlist. That’s exactly what Microsoft Copilot Studio offers - a sandbox for crafting agents that work your way. Copilot Studio is evolving with powerful new features to make agents even more capable. Here’s what’s coming: -

• Autonomous agentic capabilities: Ever wished your digital assistant could just do the thing without waiting for instructions? With autonomous agentic capabilities, that wish is granted. These agents don’t need constant handholding - they’ll respond to triggers like emails or uploaded files and act on your behalf. No nudges, no prompts - just seamless, behind-the-scenes action. It’s like having a super-reliable sidekick who already knows what you need.
  

• Agent library: Not sure where to start? The Agent Library has your back. It’s packed with templates for common tasks like leave management or speeding up sales deals. Think of it as a treasure chest of pre-built brilliance - you can pick a template, tweak it to fit your needs, and voilà! You’ve got a custom agent ready to handle the heavy lifting.

• Image Upload: Upload images to Copilot for analysis and Q&A, powered by GPT-4o. This feature adds rich context to your data without manual effort and is currently in preview.

• Voice-Enabled Agents: Build agents with voice capabilities for apps and websites, enabling faster, more personal interactions. This feature is in private preview.
  

• Advanced Knowledge Tuning: Address knowledge gaps by refining agents with specific instructions and new data sources, like documents and databases. This feature is also in preview.

Copilot Studio & Azure AI

Microsoft Copilot Studio is levelling up with exciting updates designed for makers and developers. Here’s what’s new: -

• Microsoft 365 Agents SDK: Build scalable, enterprise-ready agents with code that works seamlessly across Copilot, Teams, and more. It bridges no-code and code-first solutions, leveraging AI services from Azure AI Foundry, Semantic Kernel, or third-party providers. Available now in preview.
  

• Azure AI Foundry Integrations: Supercharging Intelligence: Bring custom search indices or use fine-tuned models from the Azure AI catalogue of over 1,800 options. Perfect for large enterprises or industry-specific needs. Knowledge integrations are in preview; custom models are in private preview.

Security Copilot

Microsoft’s Security Copilot just got a major upgrade, making AI-powered security tools available to everyone in your organisation - from IT admins to security analysts. Here’s a quick breakdown of the latest advancements:

• Boost Security Across the Board: GenAI powers Microsoft’s security tools, giving admins and analysts more visibility and control to strengthen your security posture.
  

• AI-Driven Insights for Identity Admins: Get smarter access control with instant insights on sign-ins, user behaviour, and app risks with a more embedded Security Copilot in the Microsoft Entra ID admin center.
  

• Faster IT Troubleshooting: AI-powered Kusto Query Language (KQL) helps IT teams troubleshoot endpoints, manage patches, and resolve policy conflicts faster.
  

• SOC Analysts: More Efficiency: The new side panel in Security Copilot provides deeper insights into identity misconfigurations and threats for quicker responses.
  

• Broader Threat Intelligence: The new Threat Intelligence plugin unifies data sources for a complete view of threats, with simplified workflows using out-of-box promptbooks.
  

• Automate Routine Security Tasks: Use the new Logic Apps connector to automate tasks and enrich workflows with GenAI insights.