As organizations rapidly adopt Microsoft 365 Copilot, AI agents, and generative AI technologies, one challenge stands above all others: ensuring data is secure, governed, and compliant. In this episode of M365 FM, Mirko Peters speaks with Peter Rising, Senior Partner Solution Architect at Microsoft, about how Microsoft Purview helps organizations prepare for AI at scale. The discussion explores why AI readiness is not just about deploying Copilot licenses but understanding and controlling the data that powers AI experiences. Peter explains how Microsoft Purview provides visibility into sensitive information, helps classify and protect business-critical data, and enables organizations to apply Zero Trust principles across their Microsoft 365 environment. The conversation covers key capabilities including Data Loss Prevention (DLP), sensitivity labels, information protection, insider risk management, auditing, compliance monitoring, and data governance. These tools help ensure tha…

What does the future of Azure look like, and how are Infrastructure as Code and DevOps transforming the way organizations build and manage cloud solutions? In this episode of M365 FM, host Mirko Peters is joined by Microsoft Azure MVP Maik van der Gaag for an in-depth discussion about modern cloud engineering, automation, and the evolving Azure ecosystem. Maik shares insights from his extensive experience helping organizations adopt cloud technologies and modern development practices. The conversation explores why Infrastructure as Code (IaC) has become a critical foundation for scalable and reliable cloud environments. Maik explains how tools such as Terraform and Bicep enable teams to automate deployments, improve consistency, reduce configuration drift, and accelerate delivery across Azure environments. Beyond the technology, the episode highlights the cultural side of DevOps. Successful cloud transformation is not only about tools and automation but also about collaborati…

In this episode of the M365.fm podcast, Nathan Rose joins the show to explore how Copilot Studio, Dataverse, and the Model Context Protocol (MCP) are shaping the future of agentic AI in Microsoft 365. The conversation dives into how organizations can move beyond simple chatbots and build intelligent agents that understand intent, access business data, and take meaningful actions across systems. Nathan explains why Dataverse has become a critical foundation for AI-powered business applications, providing structured data, security, and governance that enterprise AI solutions require. The discussion then focuses on MCP, an emerging open standard that enables AI agents to connect with external tools, data sources, and business systems in a more consistent and scalable way. Listeners will learn how MCP reduces integration complexity, allowing Copilot Studio agents to interact with Dataverse, Dynamics 365, Microsoft services, and even third-party systems without relying on large numbe…

In this episode of the M365 Voice podcast, host Mirko Peters is joined by Parvez Ghumra to explore the critical role of Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) in the Power Platform. The conversation moves beyond simple solution deployments and dives into what it takes to build enterprise-ready Power Platform solutions that are scalable, maintainable, and governed effectively. Parvez shares his journey from traditional software development into the low-code world and explains why citizen development and professional development must work together. Listeners will learn how source control, automated deployments, Azure DevOps, GitHub, and governance practices can transform Power Platform projects from manual, error-prone processes into reliable enterprise delivery pipelines. The discussion also covers common ALM challenges, how organizations can avoid deployment pitfalls, and practical strategies for introducing DevOps principles into Power Platform environments. Whether you're a ma…

Artificial Intelligence is everywhere. Every conference keynote, every boardroom discussion, and every technology roadmap seems to be focused on AI. But beyond the excitement and endless headlines, one question remains: how do organizations move from AI experimentation to real, measurable business value? In this episode of the M365.fm Podcast, I sit down with Microsoft MVP, Solution Architect, Microsoft Certified Trainer, and Power Platform expert Kayode Ajayi to explore what successful AI adoption actually looks like inside modern organizations. Together, we cut through the hype and focus on the practical realities of implementing Microsoft Copilot, Copilot Studio, Power Platform, and enterprise AI solutions at scale. Kayode shares his journey from technology enthusiast to Microsoft MVP and explains how Power Platform has evolved into a true enterprise-grade platform capable of supporting complex business scenarios when backed by the right architecture, governance, and security…

In this episode of M365.fm, host David Warner speaks with MVP Gautam Sheth about Microsoft 365 Copilot extensibility and how organizations can go beyond the out-of-the-box Copilot experience. Gautam explains the different extensibility options available, including declarative agents, custom engine agents, Copilot connectors, and plugins, helping listeners understand when and why each approach should be used. The discussion focuses on practical steps for extending Copilot with organizational knowledge, business processes, and external systems to deliver more relevant and actionable AI experiences. Gautam highlights the importance of grounding Copilot in enterprise data, leveraging Microsoft Graph, and designing solutions that align with real business scenarios rather than simply adding AI for its own sake. The episode also covers governance, security, and adoption considerations, emphasizing that successful Copilot implementations require a balance between technical capabilities …

Quick answer: AI transformation leadership with Areti Iles is covered in this M365 FM episode with a practical focus on how it works, where it fits, and the architecture, security, governance, or operational choices that matter in real Microsoft environments. In this episode of the M365 FM Podcast, Mirko Peters welcomes Areti Iles, Microsoft MVP, Head of Professional Services at Telefonica Tech’s AI Business Solutions Division, community leader, mentor, conference organizer, and one of the most...

In this episode of the M365 FM Podcast, Mirko Peters sits down with Carike Botha (MVP) to explore the evolution of Power Apps from traditional low-code development to the emerging world of pro-code applications. The discussion challenges the common assumption that low-code platforms eliminate the need for developers, showing instead how modern Power Platform solutions increasingly blend citizen development with professional software engineering. Carike explains how Power Apps has matured beyond simple forms and workflows, enabling developers to build scalable, maintainable, and enterprise-grade solutions. The conversation highlights the introduction of code-first capabilities, deeper integration with development tools, and the growing importance of software architecture, source control, testing, and governance within the Power Platform ecosystem. The episode also examines where low-code approaches excel and where pro-code techniques become essential. As organizations build more …

In this episode of the M365 FM Podcast, Mirko Peters speaks with Alicia King, Microsoft MVP and Pre-Sales Engineering Director at RSM US LLP, about how organizations can modernize ERP systems without creating unnecessary disruption. Alicia shares lessons from over 100 ERP transformation projects across more than 40 countries, emphasizing that ERP modernization is fundamentally a business transformation initiative rather than a technology project. Success depends on leadership alignment, clear business goals, strong change management, and user adoption—not just selecting the right software. The conversation explores the evolution of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Supply Chain and how Microsoft's expanding ecosystem has brought more capabilities into a unified platform. Alicia explains how this helps organizations streamline operations, improve visibility, and reduce complexity. The episode also highlights common reasons ERP projects struggle, including poor communication, un…

In this episode of the M365 FM Podcast, host Mirko Peters sits down with Microsoft MVP Fabio Bonolo to explore how AI, Microsoft Copilot, and modern workplace technologies are transforming the future of work. Fabio shares his journey from sales executive to recognized thought leader in the Microsoft ecosystem and explains why the AI revolution is about far more than technology alone. The conversation dives into the rapid evolution of Microsoft Copilot, autonomous AI agents, hybrid work, and the changing role of productivity in modern organizations. Fabio discusses why successful AI adoption requires strong leadership, effective change management, employee education, and a culture focused on empowerment rather than fear of automation. Listeners will gain practical insights into Copilot adoption strategies, data governance, AI readiness, workplace transformation, and how organizations can build future-ready environments where humans and AI collaborate effectively. The episode also…

In this episode of m365.fm, Microsoft MVP Onyinye Madubuko shares her insights on designing effective hybrid workplaces and how organizations can create modern, inclusive, and collaborative work environments. The discussion explores the rapid shift to hybrid work, the importance of employee experience, and how businesses can use Microsoft 365 technologies like Microsoft Teams, Viva, and Teams Rooms to improve communication and productivity. Onyinye explains how successful hybrid workplace strategies go beyond technology and require thoughtful planning around accessibility, collaboration, meeting room design, and organizational culture. She highlights the challenges companies face when balancing remote and in-office work while ensuring employees stay engaged and connected. The episode also covers practical approaches to digital transformation, user adoption, and creating flexible workspaces that support different work styles. Onyinye shares real-world experiences from helping org…

In this episode of the M365.fm podcast, Mirko Peters speaks with Microsoft MVP Carsten Lund Meilbak about the evolution of enterprise communication and collaboration — from the early days of Microsoft Lync and Skype for Business to the modern Microsoft Teams ecosystem. The conversation explores how collaboration platforms have changed from simple messaging and voice solutions into fully integrated hubs for meetings, telephony, teamwork, apps, and AI-powered productivity. Carsten shares his personal journey through the Microsoft collaboration space and explains how organizations adapted to major platform transitions over the years. The discussion highlights the technical and cultural shifts that accompanied the move from traditional on-premises communication systems toward cloud-first collaboration with Microsoft Teams. A major focus of the episode is how Teams transformed workplace communication by combining chat, meetings, calling, file collaboration, and integrations into a si…

In this episode of the M365.fm podcast, host Mirko Peters sits down with Vesa Nopanen to explore how Microsoft 365 Copilot is evolving from a simple AI assistant into a true collaborative coworker inside modern organizations. The conversation focuses on the future of AI-driven work, the rise of agentic collaboration, and how businesses can prepare for a world where humans and AI systems work side by side. Vesa shares his perspective on the transformation of workplace productivity through Microsoft Copilot, Teams, Loop, Azure AI, and emerging AI agents. The discussion highlights how organizations are moving beyond isolated AI prompts toward integrated AI ecosystems that can automate processes, assist decision-making, and participate in daily workflows. The episode also examines the concept of “Copilot Cowork,” where AI acts less like a tool and more like an intelligent team member capable of context-aware collaboration. The podcast dives into practical topics including governance…

Quick answer: OneNote vs Microsoft Loop vs Copilot for notes is covered in this M365 FM episode with a practical focus on how it works, where it fits, and the architecture, security, governance, or operational choices that matter in real Microsoft environments. In this episode of the m365.fm podcast, Mirko Peters sits down with Microsoft MVP, educator, technical storyteller, and community leader Karinne Diamond Bessette to explore one of the biggest productivity challenges in the modern workpla...

In this episode of the m365.fm podcast, Mirko Peters speaks with Microsoft MVP and cloud security expert Martin Dimovski about securing AI workloads and MLOps environments in Microsoft Cloud. The conversation focuses on why AI security must be treated as a core business requirement instead of an afterthought. Martin explains the growing risks organizations face as they rapidly deploy AI agents, large language models, APIs, and cloud-native AI solutions without fully understanding the security implications. The episode highlights how AI introduces new attack surfaces while also amplifying existing cybersecurity weaknesses. A major theme is “secure-by-design” architecture. Martin stresses that security should start during the planning and design phase, not after deployment. Topics include threat modeling, identity protection, secure pipelines, infrastructure hardening, API security, and governance. He emphasizes that security teams should work alongside developers and DevOps teams…

In this episode of the m365.fm podcast, host Mirko Peters speaks with cybersecurity expert Viktor Hedberg about the importance of securing enterprise environments through Active Directory (AD) tiering and privileged access management. The discussion explores how attackers commonly target privileged accounts to move laterally through corporate networks and why traditional “flat” admin models are no longer sufficient. Viktor explains the concept of AD tiering, where administrative privileges are separated into security tiers to reduce the blast radius of compromised credentials. He also highlights the role of privileged access workstations (PAWs), just-in-time administration, and strong identity protection practices. The episode covers real-world attack scenarios, lessons learned from incident response engagements, and practical recommendations for organizations running hybrid Microsoft environments. Key themes include reducing standing privileges, enforcing multi-factor authentic…

Microsoft MVP Evi van der Velden joins the M365.fm podcast to explain why simplicity is one of the most overlooked success factors in Microsoft 365. The conversation explores how many organizations create unnecessary complexity through excessive customization, unclear governance, and overengineered solutions that ultimately reduce productivity instead of improving it. Evi shares practical insights from real-world Microsoft 365 projects, highlighting how simpler architectures, cleaner collaboration environments, and focused governance strategies often deliver better long-term results. The discussion covers Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, governance, adoption, user experience, and the growing impact of AI tools like Microsoft Copilot inside modern workplaces. A key theme throughout the episode is that technology should support people rather than force users to adapt to complicated systems. Evi explains why organizations frequently underestimate the importance of user behavior, commun…

Secure, scalable, and governed Power Platform adoption requires more than just enabling low-code tools — it demands a structured governance strategy that balances innovation, security, and operational control. In this episode of the M365.fm podcast, Mirko Peters speaks with Microsoft MVP Craig White about the real-world challenges organizations face when scaling Microsoft Power Platform across the enterprise. Craig explains why governance should never block innovation. Instead, organizations should create guardrails that allow citizen developers to build solutions safely while maintaining compliance, security, and architectural consistency. The discussion covers environment strategies, Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies, connector governance, lifecycle management, identity security, and API control. The episode highlights how many businesses still misunderstand Power Platform governance, often relying on restrictive policies that create shadow IT instead of reducing risk. Craig…

In this episode of the M365.fm podcast, we explore how organizations can maximize the value of Microsoft Copilot across Microsoft 365, Power Platform, Security, and Azure environments. The discussion focuses on practical, real-world use cases that help businesses automate repetitive work, improve collaboration, accelerate reporting, and enhance decision-making using AI. The episode explains how Copilot integrates with tools like Word, Excel, Outlook, Teams, Power BI, and Power Automate to simplify everyday tasks such as content creation, meeting summaries, data analysis, workflow automation, and reporting. It also covers how Microsoft Graph enables Copilot to provide context-aware assistance by connecting emails, files, meetings, and business data. Beyond productivity, the episode dives into advanced scenarios including Copilot extensibility, custom plugins, AI agents, governance, security operations, and compliance automation. Special attention is given to the importance of dat…

In this episode of the m365.fm podcast, Christian Buckley joins the conversation to unpack why traditional governance models are struggling to keep up with the pace of AI adoption inside Microsoft 365. The discussion explores how tools like Copilot and autonomous AI agents are reshaping collaboration, compliance, and content management — often faster than organizations can adapt their policies and processes. Christian explains that most governance frameworks were designed for static content and predictable user behavior, not AI systems capable of generating, accessing, and acting on information across the tenant. The episode dives into the growing risks of “agent sprawl,” shadow AI, uncontrolled permissions, and poor data quality, all of which can undermine security, compliance, and trust in AI-driven workplaces. A major theme throughout the episode is that governance is no longer just an IT responsibility. Successful AI governance requires a balance between innovation and contr…

In this episode of the M365 FM Podcast, host Mirko Peters speaks with Microsoft AI MVP and CTO Karthikeyan VK about the biggest problem in today’s AI landscape: organizations are relying too heavily on Large Language Models (LLMs) while ignoring the engineering foundations needed for reliable enterprise AI systems. Karthikeyan explains that many companies try to make AI agents handle everything directly through prompts and LLMs, instead of combining them with deterministic engineering practices such as orchestration, validation, governance, retries, observability, and state management. He argues that LLMs should act as reasoning engines, while structured workflows and business logic remain controlled through traditional engineering systems. The discussion highlights the difference between probabilistic AI systems and deterministic enterprise processes like finance, compliance, ERP integrations, and security workflows. According to Karthikeyan, enterprise trust breaks down when A…

Microsoft is ending support for Exchange Web Services (EWS) in Exchange Online, with full retirement starting October 2026. The article explains why this matters for Microsoft 365 administrators, developers, ISVs, backup vendors, and enterprises still relying on legacy integrations. EWS has been a core API for mailbox access, calendar synchronization, migrations, archiving, and third-party tools for years, but Microsoft is now pushing organizations toward Microsoft Graph as the modern replacement. The article highlights that this is not just a technical API change. Many existing applications, scripts, automation processes, monitoring tools, and enterprise workflows still depend heavily on EWS. Organizations that fail to identify these dependencies early may face outages, broken integrations, compliance risks, or unsupported applications once Microsoft disables the service. A major focus is the migration challenge. While Microsoft Graph offers a modern, secure, and unified API mo…

From DAX to Community: The Power BI Journey with Bernat Agulló Roselló explores the evolution of modern Business Intelligence through the personal and professional journey of Microsoft MVP Bernat Agulló Roselló. In this episode of the m365.fm podcast, Bernat shares how he moved from Excel macros and manufacturing reporting into advanced Power BI development, semantic modeling, DAX optimization, and community leadership. The conversation highlights how Business Intelligence is far more than dashboards and visuals. Bernat explains that successful Power BI solutions depend on data modeling, automation, architecture, optimization, and collaboration. A major focus is DAX (Data Analysis Expressions), where he discusses common misconceptions, especially the mistake of treating DAX like Excel formulas. He emphasizes the importance of semantic models, filter context, relationships, and understanding measures versus calculated columns. Another key topic is Tabular Editor and its role in e…

In this episode of the m365.fm podcast, Mirko Peters speaks with Microsoft MVP and Copilot adoption expert Edyta Gorzoń about why successful Microsoft Copilot adoption is far more than a technical deployment project. The conversation focuses on the gap many organizations face between rolling out AI tools and creating measurable business impact. Edyta explains that real adoption depends on people, communication, culture, and change management rather than only licenses, governance, or feature training. She highlights why many AI initiatives fail when companies focus purely on technology while ignoring user behavior, business processes, and employee concerns. The episode explores how organizations can build scalable adoption strategies by identifying real business use cases, supporting employees through change, and creating continuous learning instead of one-time training sessions. Edyta also discusses the importance of leadership involvement, internal champions, and measuring prod…