Category: Vendor

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Cisco Shine: Report on The State of Smart Collaboration Devices in 2025

Yesterday I read the “Omdia Universe: Smart Collaboration Devices 2025 report“. This was promoted by Cisco who, as you may know are currently the fastest growing Microsoft Teams Room MTR provider whilst also of course having their own Webex Meeting platform and experiences.

In this blog, I summarise the key insights that jumped out to me and cover how the report reveal how Cisco are re innovating in this crowded space and differenting themselves through their inter-connected portfolio.

I also look at what it all means for organises who use Webex and of course Microsoft Teams, and why – in this rapidly shifting collaborative landscape – why not all vendors in this space are equal.

The Omdia Universe Report

The report looks at 11 of the top-tier vendors across 18 categories and 20 subcategories, evaluating everything from AI-driven features to deployment simplicity. It looks at the current state and evolution of our hybrid work era where every meeting room is expected to deliver a seamless blend of hardware and functionality to drive productivity and foster a culture of meaningful collaboration.

Early on in the report they bring out the market trends and growth which is important.

State of the Meeting Room Market

The report reveals that one of the primary priority for most organisations is to expand video capabilities across every type of meeting room. This ambition to improve the user experience, together with regular room refresh initiatives, is fueling continuous market growth. Key sectors such as local government, finance, legal, education, and technology are actively deploying these solutions to support both hybrid and in-office workforces.

Although the video conferencing market is mature, recent innovations, especially AI enhancements like active speaker tracking, auto-framing, presenter tracking, background noise cancellation, and audio/video zone fencing, are reinvigorating this space. These features are designed to ensure meeting equity by making every participant visible and audible.

Additionally, collaborative services that offer meeting transcription and summarisaon have become transformative, as enterprises increasingly desire devices that operate seamlessly without manual intervention.

The report concludes that looking ahead, industry leaders like Microsoft and, Cisco are expected to spearhead the integration of meeting room budgets and projects through unified platform-driven experiences.

With hybrid work becoming the norm, the smart collaboration devices market is poised for further expansion, building on a 10% year-over-year revenue increase in 2024 and anticipated even stronger growth in 2025.

Key needs from business include’

  • Broad solutions matter: What organisations demand goes beyond just high-quality video; it’s about having the flexibility to address complex meeting room setups, catering to diverse environments – from intimate huddle spaces to large, multifunctional boardrooms.
  • Integration is king: Unified and connected ecosystems are essential to success. Devices must not only work well independently but also integrate with the software platforms we use every day such as like Cisco Webex and Microsoft Teams. 
  • AI and automation: From real-time noise suppression, participant identification, smart meeting notes and inclusion, to intelligent framing and dynamic meeting analytics, AI is transforming devices into interactive partners rather than mere tools. 
  • Refresh is at an all time high. The Covid Era of quick purchases and decisions is past us and the next 2 years show huge demand from customers and growth from partners who operate and excel in this space.

Deep Impact: Cisco’s Differentiation

In short not all collaboration vendors are equal. When we ask, “Who really understands the future of collaboration?” the answer resonates with Cisco’s long time history and performance in this space.

Image by Omdia

Despite the decline of Webex platform usage over the years and the huge adoption of Teams, the report shares how Cisco is truly the “full stack” visionary in this segment, and here’s why according to the report:

  • End-to-End Ecosystem Integration:  the report calls out that Cisco’s Webex devices aren’t just about a good video endpoint. They are part of a growing broader ecosystem that unifies Cisco’s hardware, network infrastructure, observability platform and other software. For customers and partners, this means easier deployment, streamlined management and an elevated user experience across different meeting room types which leads to higher productivity and a sense of continuity. What really impacts this is that the integration even extends to Microsoft Teams, offering a fluid experience for organisations that want to maintain their existing Teams environment while leveraging Cisco’s robust hardware solutions.
  • AI-Driven Excellence:  while platforms like Cisco Webex and Microsoft Teams have AI embedded in the software, the newest Cisco hardware leverages NVIDIA GPUs and NPUs to go beyond “good enough.” The report calls our how they deliver advanced features like intelligent framing, active speaker tracking, and background noise elimination at the hardware layer. Just like Copilot+PCs that do the same on the desktop, Cisco by putting in their meeting room endpoints don’t simply improve call quality, they change the dynamics of how teams interact in both in-person and remote settings. This AI-first approach creates a “meeting equity” where every participant is seen and heard clearly an essential ingredient for effective hybrid work and something that is key for inclusion and accessibility too.
  • Webex Control Hub & Management Simplicity:  Another big call out is Cisco’s centralised management suite. Whilst Microsoft Teams has a Teams Room Pro portal which is very good, the report details how Cisco takethe headache out of device provisioning and monitoring especially where organisations have a mix of platforms but standardise on Cisco hardware. This ease of use, combined with proactive analytics, provides a level of operational insight that few competitors can match. With new AI features around management and the integration of the network this kind of thoughtful design allows IT teams to focus on strategic priorities rather than firefighting everyday issues across rooms, network etc.
  • Interoperability with Teams:  In today’s environment, larger organisations are often split between different collaboration platforms or may be shifting from one to the other. Cisco’s revised strategy is smart, as it ensures that while Webex remains the backbone for in-room experiences, its devices are “platform agnostic” enough to also be a Microsoft partner and fully support Microsoft Teams. This means businesses don’t have to compromise on one technology over another—they can have the best of both worlds. This is good for sustainability, consistency and for Cisco and Microsoft partners a kind.

Where other vendors fall short

The report also pulls out that while many organisations have vendors preferences (or at the flip end don’t – and use a mix devices, not all are equal.

This is based on the pain points reported by enterprises which are summarised in the report as follows

The report gives scores across the main key vendors and shows Cisco as a clear leader mainly because.

“Cisco emerges as a leader in this Omdia Universe report on smart collaboration devices. Cisco’s” Leader” status is attributed to its exceptional performance across all evaluated categories. The company achieved an impressive overall unweighted score of 90% for its capabilities, 85% for strategy and execution, and a solution breadth score of 97%”

Webex & Teams: Bridging the Divide

Back on Cisco, the report calls out that conversation around collaboration tools is incomplete without recognising the symbiotic (and still new) relationship between Cisco Webex and Microsoft Teams. The once enemies in the Collaboration spaces, Cisco, to avoid loosing any more market share have now truly partnered. The report calls out tha while Webex hardware is the go-to for feature-rich, AI-driven collaboration experiences, Microsoft Teams remains indispensable due to its deep integration into enterprise productivity suites like Microsoft 365 and of course Copilot. This unification of the two brings the best of both!

The report also calls out the reasons some firms still stand behind Webex and why Teams as a platform is the choice by most.

  • Webex:  Cisco’s Webex is celebrated for its polished, intuitive interface and extensive feature set. By offering advanced meeting controls, real-time transcription, immersive audio, and intelligent device management, Webex sets the standard for what “smart collaboration” should feel like.
  • Teams: Teams is deeply entrenched in the daily workflow of almost every enterprise thanks to its seamless integration with other Microsoft 365,its extensibility and of course Their Copilot AI offerings. Cisco’s ability to support Teams via its hardware bridges the gap, allowing organisations to invest in robust, vendor-supported devices without needing to choose exclusively between platforms. Those that choose Teams (as long as they don’t need Windows powered systems) get a truly awesome experience.

Cisco, by ensuring that devices work seamlessly across these two major platforms, they not only reassures current customers but also attracts enterprises looking to future-proof their collaboration investments.

This value is multiplied for organisations that also invest in Cisco networking solutions with the integration, aligned management and insights across their estate that no other vendor can provide.

Read the Report.

The Omdia Universe: Smart Collaboration Devices 2025 report is work a read as it is  more than a scorecard.

NOTE: Whilst this blog pulls out the huge advantages of Cisco, the full report actually show that as well as Cisco, HP Poly, Logitech, Neat, and Yealink also shine.

Regardless of your vendor of choice the message to IT leaders grappling with hybrid work challenges is to ” invest in solutions that blend robust performance with seamless platform integration. Whether you lean towards the established sophistication of Webex or the cohesive productivity experience provided by Teams, the future of collaboration demands a thoughtful, integrated approach.

My view

As a proud Cisco and Microsoft partner, I believe that Cisco’s revamped video collaboration solutions integrate seamlessly with both Webex and Microsoft Teams while driving innovation for both platforms.

Cisco is also (through help of partners and putting their money where their mouth is) effectively overcoming its legacy reputation of “complex and expensive” , where customers once perceived their devices as outdated, expensive, and burdened with complex licensing and procurement processes.

As highlighted in the report and reflected in our customer experiences, those concerns are now outdated. Cisco devices are readily available at competitive pricing through collaboration partners like Cisilion, and the benefits are further amplified when customers invest in the broader Cisco infrastructure portfolio, including networking, ThousandEyes for enhanced visibility and performance, and secure access solutions.

Share your thoughts… Keen to know your views.

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Cisco Live 2025: AI Takes Center Stage and Networking Gets a Boost

Cisco Live 2025 is happening this week in San Diego (after five years in Vegas) with around 22,000 attendees. As you’d image from any tech event at the moment, the focus was very much AI with the theme being summed up as “All AI, all the time”. Throghout the Day 1 keynotes, Cisco’s message was clear: the “agentic AI era” is upon us, and Cisco is positioning itself as the infrastructure backbone to support service providers, cloud providers and enterprises of this new age.

Cisco’s President and Chief Product Officer Jeetu Patel set the tone with a bold analogy: “The way that you should think about us is like the picks and shovels company during the gold rush. We are the infrastructure company that powers AI during the agentic movement,”

…….In other words, while everyone’s chasing AI gold, Cisco’s approach is to providing the bedrock tools to dig for it – unveiling new innovations spanning networking hardware, unified management software, security, and collaboration tools, all infused with AI.

I wasn’t able to attend the event myself, but here’s my break down the top announcements and innovations from the live streams I watched. Let me know what I have missd 🙂

The “Agentic AI” Era

Cisco Live’s buzzword was undoubtedly “Agentic AI.” Cisco sees a shift from basic chatbots to autonomous agents that don’t just answer questions, but perform tasks and jobs on our behalf. As Jeetu Patel said in the keynote “The world is moving from chatbots intelligently answering our questions to agents conducting tasks and jobs fully autonomously. This is the agentic era of AI”.

Like many of the other tech giants, their view is that in this fast moving era, billions of AI agents could be working for us behind the scenes, which “will soar” the demand for high-bandwidth, low-latency and power-efficient networking in Cloud Providers and Private Hosted data centers.

Cisco’s key mesage here is that they are here to help organisations and providers meet this demand. “Cisco is delivering the critical infrastructure for the AI era — secure networks and experiences, optimized for AI that connect the world and power the global economy“.

Cisco CEO Chuck Robbins said that “no organisation can hire limitless people to tackle increasing IT complexity and cyber threats – instead – machines must scale to share the burden”. He went on to say how Automation and AI-driven operations are not just nice-to-haves; they’re becoming essential and every business is looking to invest and build here and it will only accelerate in pace and scale.

Cisco also set out to explain that “generative AI” and “agentic AI” have different effects on the infrastructure needed to support them. Generaive AI creates sporadic spikes in demand, but Agentic AI creates sustained perpetual demand for inferencing capacity. This means that for agentic AI, networks and Cloud data centers need a continuous heavy-duty upgrade to what they run on today. Cisco expect that many will large enterprises, those setting out to build their own “AIs” and of course Service and Cloud Providers will likley need to “re-rack the entire datacenter and rebuild the network” to handle these new AI workloads.

One Unified Plartform to Manage it all

As (a long time ago) IT Sys Admin, I remember how managing networks used to sometimes feel like herding cats – multiple dashboards for switches, routers, security, cloud, etc., all siloed.

Cisco has now announced Cisco Cloud Control, a new unified management console intended to “drive all its networking, security, and observability tools” from one place. In a nutshell, Cloud Control is Cisco’s approach to bring all those separate management tools into a single pane of glass – making it easier for network admins and giving a Cisco Customers a cohesive platform to showcase it’s new AI innovations in one place.

Of course Cloud Control is AI infused too. There is an AI Assistant that lets IT teams query their infrastructure in plain English. Here they could ask (as per their demo) “Hey Cisco, why is the Wi-Fi slow on the 4th floor?” and get a useful answer.

To achieve this, Cisco are using a new custom large language model trained on decades of Cisco networking knowledge (like an AI powered CCIE) to provide expert guidance. Cisco showed off a new AI Canvas (an “agentic” interface) that auto-generates relevant dashboards that work together to help identify issues, suggest fixes, and even implement changes – with human approval gating the final step. In short – you describe a problem, and the system brings forward the relevant controls and data needed to solve it, all guided by Cisco AI.

Cisco’s message is not just about adding AI for AI sake  – it is designed to address real IT headache by combining formerly separate mnagement planes and interfaces into one.

Cisco also announced they are unifying management for their Catalyst and Meraki product lines (switching and wireless) into this single console, with common licensing too.

Overall, the message is that whether it’s campus networks, branch, data center, or cloud, Cisco goal is is to centralise control and inject AI assistance across them all, leading to smarter and simpler unified operations.

Splunk also got a mention – with Cisco talking about how ThousandEyes and Splunk analytics will also be able to integrate into this platform to give end-to-end visibility – from user device to application. This is part of a broader “One Cisco” vision of an integrated portfolio for networking, security, collaboration, and observability.

Net Hardware: Faster, Smarter, and Built for AI

It wouldn’t be Cisco Live without new hardware – and this year, Cisco delivered a loads of it. Recognising that AI workloads are putting unprecedented demands on Service provider and Cloud networks, Cisco unveiled a lineup of new switches, routers, and wireless devices which all give higher throughput, low latency, and security by design. This inlcuded:

  • Campus Switches (C9350 & C9610): Designed for campus networks and powered by its custom Silicon One chips – they boast a huge 51.2 Tbps of throughput and sub-5 microsecond latency, with quantum-resistant security built in. These are designed to handle “high-stakes AI applications” at the network edge.
  • Secure Branch Routers (8100, 8200, 8300, 8400, 8500 Series): To connect sites and users to AI resources, Cisco have unveiled these new Secure Catalyst Routers for branches. These are all-in-one boxes that combine SD-WAN, SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) connectivity and next-gen firewall. Cisco say they will deliver up to 3× the throughput of the previous generation too. Why? Cisco is converging networking and security at the WAN edge so that adopting AI doesn’t open new holes in your defenses.
  • Wi-Fi 7 (Cisco Wireless 9179F): – see new APs, tailored for stadiums and large venues. These APs support the latest Wi-Fi 7 standard bringing multi-gig speeds and better reliability and integrate Ultra-Reliable Wireless Backhaul (URWB) technology alongside Wi-Fi in one device. That means an access point can also serve as a highly reliable wireless bridge/mesh link, useful in places where running fiber/cable is hard.
  • Ruggedised Switches for Industry 4.0: To support AI at the edge – in places like factories, oil rigs, smart cities – Cisco unveiled 19 new rugged switches built to withstand harsh environments. These come in various form factors (tiny DIN-rail mounts, hardened casings, etc.) to fit into industrial sites where conditions are extreme. Interestingly, Cisco integrated that URWB wireless tech here too, meaning you can have a unified wireless fabric that covers both IT and OT (operational tech) environments via a combination of Wi-Fi and wireless backhaul. In plain terms, these rugged switches + wireless combos let factories and outdoor facilities achieve high-density, reliable wireless coverage as part of one unified infrastructure.
  • Powered by Cisco Silicon One: All Cisco’s hardware announcements reinforced a key point: networking and security are fusing together in Cisco’s strategy. All new switches and routers all come with baked-in security features (from Hypershield to post-quantum crypto) rather than treating security as an add-on. Jeetu Patel emphasised, that the future is about networks that are programmable and adaptable – Cisco’s own Silicon One custom chips are a big part of that story because it means that Cisco can update these devices for new AI workloads via software without needing to build a new chip and device. This is a major compete play and USP for Cisco.

Security in the AI Era: Zero Trust, Everywhere, All at Once

All the AI in the world won’t help if your business if your network isn’t secure. Cisco used this approach to double down on its message that security must be woven into every layer of the network, especially as AI opens new frontiers (and potentially new threats). In the agentic AI era, Cisco said that attackers will leverage AI, meaning threats could become faster and more sophisticated. The answer? “Secure by design” infrastructure and a unified security architecture that can handle the scale of AI-fueled operations.

As a result Cisco introduced a new network security blueprint anchored by what they call the Hybrid Mesh Firewall and Universal ZTNA (Zero Trust Network Access). They represent a concerted effort to integrate security across all users, devices, and applications more seamlessly including:

  • Hybrid Mesh Firewall: Annouced earlier this year, Cisco’s next-gen firewall for the AI era, acts as a distributed security fabric spanning your whole environment. It brings together Cisco’s own firewalls and even third-party firewall integrations into one cohesive system to to enable zero-trust segmentation everywhere – from your data center core, across clouds, out to branch offices and all the way to IoT devices at the edge. The goal is that every part of the network becomes a security enforcement point, tightly coordinated.
  • Universal ZTNA: Cisco’s Zero Trust Network Access solution, now branded “Universal” because it aims to cover any user or device, anywhere. Universal ZTNA provides secure, identity-based access to applications, whether users are on the corporate LAN, at home, or on a mobile device. It extends the zero-trust mode to hard-to-manage endpoints and ensures a unified policy follows the user. For example, whether JimBob from accounting logs in from the office or from a coffee shop Wi-Fi, the system continuously verifies his identity and device posture before granting access to the finance app. The synergy here is that integrating ZTNA and the distributed firewall, Cisco can tightly control user-to-app connections and even monitor the traffic between services, all under a zero-trust philosophy.

Beyond hardware, the cloud-based Cisco Security Cloud got enhancements to help secure those emerging AI workflows. Their platform can now better secure interactions involving AI agents, using tools like Cisco AI Defense (which monitors AI model operations for tampering or misuse) as part of a “Secure AI Factory” concept co-developed with NVIDIA.

Their integration of Splunk also got a mention, where they demonstrated deeper Cisco + Splunk integrations for security analytics – such as sending security events and network telemetry into Splunk’s SIEM and using Splunk’s AI-driven insights to automate responses via Cisco’s tools.

Webex: Smarter Meetings, AI Helpers, and Cameras with a Brain

Cisco did also announce a series of Webex updates with more AI coming into Webex in ways that aim to make meetings less of a chore and customer service more efficient.

  • Jira Workflow Automation in Webex: For native Webex meetings, this can listen for action items discussed in a meeting and automatically create Jira tickets for them. For example, if during a team call someone says “I’ll update the budget doc next week,” the AI will note that and generate a task in Jira , Monday.com or Asana – fill in your project tool) assigned to that person. It will even capture the context by attaching relevant portions of the meeting transcript or recording. Cisco touted, the integration can also update Jira tickets in real-time if status changes are mentioned in meetings – so, if the team says “the server migration is completed,” the AI could move the Jira task to “done” and note the discussion. It’s like having a diligent virtual project manager in every meeting, so humans can focus on discussion rather than note-taking.
  • Webex AI Agent for Customer Self-Service: They announced enhancements to the Webex AI Agent – to make it easier to deploy and more powerful. Tgherenis a new set of prebuilt, industry-specific templates – out-of-the-box chatbot templates tailored for industries like healthcare, finance, retail, etc. Instead of a generic bot that has to be trained from scratch, Cisco provides a starting knowledge base (e.g., a healthcare template might know common questions about insurance, appointments, privacy rules, etc.). This can significantly speed up creating a virtual agent and leads to more relevant answers since it’s contextually aware of the industry. Cisco are also enabling these AI agents and features for on-premises deployments as well.

Conclusion

Cisco is all-in on AI, not by making its own AI apps, but by supercharging the underlying tech that makes AI possible.

Cisco seem fully aware of the challenges businesses face with emerging technologies. – whether it’s handling the flood of data and compute that AI workloads generate, securing a more complex threat landscape, and having a true end to end view on the user experence – Cisco is positioning itself as the enabler (and problem-solver) and has signaled it’s not sitting on the sidelines of the AI revolution.

The narrative of “One Cisco” came through strongly: networking, security, collaboration, cloud, and services all interlinking to form a complete platform for the AI era. Cisco is offering a very compelling toolkit for enterprises: blazing-fast hardware to move AI bits, smart software to manage it with minimal hassle, and built-in security every step of the way.

Cisco wants to be “the infrastructure company that powers AI” – the dependable partner under the hood while everyone chases AI magic. By unifying its platforms and injecting AI into network operations, Cisco is making a play to stay indispensable in this new era.

Jeetu Patel – Cisco.
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Copilot & Teams will finally understand your business jargon!

One of the most frustrating thing about Teams intelligent Recap and Copilot in meetings is in its ability to not understand company acroymns and internal “language” or terms.

Scheduled to rollout in July 2025, tenant administrators will be able to upload a Custom Dictionary through the Microsoft 365 Admin Portal’s Copilot Settings page.

This feature will finally enables organisations to improve transcription accuracy in Copilot and Teams meetings and calls by enabling Microsoft 365 to understand company-specific terminology. This will means that will be able to understand things such as

  • Industry jargon,
  • Internal product names and terms
  • Multilingual terms

This should help ensure conversations are transcribed and interpreted with greater precision.

Why this matters?

Organisations rely on Microsoft Copilot and Teams transcripts for insights, documentation, and knowledge retrieval. However, standard AI transcription can misinterpret niche terms or acronyms, leading to confusion and even sometimes humorous transcriptions.

This new Custom Dictionary feature addresses this by allowing businesses to define key terms their workforce frequently uses. 

Real Benefits.

  • Legal & Compliance Accuracy: Law firms using specialised legal terminology (e.g., “prima facie,” “voir dire”) can ensure precise transcripts without ambiguity. 
  • Enterprise Acronyms & Branding: Technology companies like Cisilion will be able to maintain more accurate documentation of internal project names (e.g., “Project Nebula”) and proprietary solutions.
  • Global Team Collaboration: Multinational organisations can optimise transcription quality across multiple languages and regional dialects. 
  • Better AI Insights & Search:Copilot will be able to retrieve knowledge more effectively, ensuring summaries, recommendations, and contextual responses align with an organisation’s unique vocabulary. 


This update is part of a broader set of Microsoft 365 enhancements including improved accessibility for sign language users in Teams meetings  and expanded Copilot capabilities for 1:1 and group calls.

By refining AI-driven language models, Microsoft aims to make workplace collaboration smarter, clearer, and more inclusive.

You can read more and track this features release on the official Microsoft 365 Roadmap.

There’s instructions for enabling and configuring it here.

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Microsoft confirm Cisco are fastest growing Teams Room partner.

Cisco has been named as the fastest-growing partner for Microsoft Teams Rooms.

This was announced by Ilya Bukshteyn, VP for Teams calling, devices, and premium experiences at Microsoft at an event at the Cisco office in Oslo, Norway. UC influencer and Cisco employee Chris Palmero took to LinkedIn and shared the news and some other great quotes from Cisco and Microsoft that came from the event.

Ilya Bukshteyn and Espen Løberg discussed the progress and growth of Cisco in this space, Ilya said that: “We want Microsoft Teams in every space, and Cisco is so great at designing devices for every space.”…….

“The combination of our companies is uniquely positioned to deliver ‘eyes,’ ‘ears,’ and ‘brain’ for every space. And that is the future of work and this partnership (with Cisco) is based on providing customers with choice.”

During the chat, Espen Løberg added: “This collaboration of two world-class engineering teams that have strengths in different areas is moving the industry forward; it’s making the world better.“

As a leading UK Cisco and Microsoft Partner, it’s really great to see the power of these two collaboration giants redefining the entire employee journey. Whilst Cisco are still a way from being the largest Teams Meeting Room partners and still. Of course have their own Webex experiences they promote and drive, the combination of  Cisco’s network, security, observability platform and their devices  running Microsoft Teams and of course AI powered Microsoft 365 Copilot experiences are showing what two previously competing UC and Meeting room provider can achieve when they combine forces.

Cisco is one of a number of Teams Room OEMs and sits along side, Poly, Neat, Lenovo, Logitech and Yealink who are currently the number one provider globally.

At Microsoft Ignite in Chicago in November, I covered an interview with Cisco where they clearly expressed their ambitions to be number one Teams Room provider by the end of 2025.

It seems they are well on their way to achieving this…

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Microsoft releases new Calendar app for commercial customers

After years of silence around bringing more functionality to the Windows 11, Microsoft have quietly announced a new Calendar app for Windows 11.

This doesn’t replace the Calendar Fly out but is instead the latest Microsoft 365 “Companion app” and joins the recently launched People and File Search apps.

It’s only availble for Commercial customers with a Microsoft 365 Business or Enterprise License.

What does the new Calendar app do?

The goal of the new Calendar companion is to essentially bring back the show your day and schedule at a glance with a simple flyout the opens up right above the Windows taskbar as shown in the screenshot below.

It also provides more interactivity allowing you to accept and even join meetings directly from the calendar without having to go to Outlook or Teams.

New Windows 11 calendar flyout

This is quite slick and simple to use and not only provides much needed and quick access to common calendar related things, but also provides more use than the Windows 10 Calendar Fly out and significantly more than what is native on the Windows 11  calendar.

Image (c) Microsoft.

Microsoft says on their blog that:

“The Calendar companion app lets users quickly view their Microsoft 365 calendar directly from the Windows taskbar, eliminating the need to switch between apps and lose context. View upcoming events, join meetings, and search for appointments to stay on top of your schedule. “

When can I get the new Calendar App?

The new Calendar app is currently available to Microsoft 365 Insiders in the Beta Channel but will roll out to other channels over the next few weeks based on customer feedback.

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Chip to Cloud: Microsoft Surface’s End-to-End Security

I had the pleasure in taking part in a podcast last week with some of my team, Microsoft and Westcoast. This was aimed at demystifying Copilot+ PCs, part of which got us into the tech trenches of security and sustainability, two of the main reasons, organisations invest in Microsoft and Surface.

As such I thought I’d break out and do a spotlight on Microsoft’s Chip to Cloud Security approach.

Security is a critical consideration across any technology purchase and the laptops/tablets you buy should be no different. Whilst security can be layered on, it works best when it is built-in and part of what you buy. With Surface this is front and centre.

With cyber threats growing more sophisticated each day both at software and hardware layers, Microsoft has a bold and powerful stance: embedding security from chip design, supply chain, firmware/UEFI, Windows and of course the Cloud.

Microsoft Surface is more than a premium class device. Surface is a manifestation of Microsoft’s holistic, Zero Trust security philosophy. Secure by design and Secure by default.

Surface is also the only Windows OEM that controls and owns the entire security stack from the hardware, to the Windows OS to the Cloud Security like Defender.

Microsoft Surface Chip to Cloud Architecture.

Microsoft sets a compelling example of agile defense against emerging threats in what they term “From Chip to Cloud”.

What Does “Chip to Cloud” Mean?

At its core, “chip to cloud” is about ensuring security at every stage – from design, supply chains, the hardware integrated into the device to the operating system and finally, into the cloud where robust analytics and cloud defense form a huge part of the Surface blueprint (see above).

This approach means that when you first power on a Surface device, the user is protected. This starts at the hardware level and continues seamlessly into Windows, the software applications you run, and the cloud services you use.

The Microsoft Surface: A Manifestation of Microsoft’s Security Vision

Microsoft Surface is not just another OEM device. It is built by Microsoft at every level. Surface combines the very best of Microsoft’s technologies under one roof – Windows 11, Defender, and Microsoft 365 security to provide an enterprise-grade, secure experience.

Rather than just layers on, this is security by design built in and baked into every layer including the silicon.. The commitment to Zero Trust is evident, as every layer, whether hardware, firmware, or software, works in concert to provide continuous protection.

Key Takeaways:

  • Zero Trust Architecture: Every access point, both physical and digital, is continuously verified.
  • Full-Stack Security Ownership: With Microsoft owning the entire security architecture, the Surface delivers a unified defense that spans the entire ecosystem.

In Windows 11, hardware and software work together to reduce the attack surface, protect system integrity, and safeguard valuable data. New and enhanced features are designed with security by default which include running Win32 apps in isolation, token protection, passkeys, and Microsoft Intune Endpoint Privilege Management providing just some of the latest capabilities helping to shield from attacks.

Windows Hello and Windows Hello for Business integrate with hardware-based features such as Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 2.0, biometric scanners, and Windows presence sensing to enable easier, more secure sign-on and protection of your data and credentials. Microsoft are also closer than ever in moving to a Passwordless future.

It Starts with Silicon – the Pluton Security Processor

The journey of security begins at the hardware layer / the silicon. Newer  devices are built in collaboration with Intel, Qualcomm and AMD, ensuring that their internal architecture is as robust and secure as possible. Newer devices will leverage Microsoft’s internally designed Pluton processor which can also act as the Trusted Platform Module (TPM) and hardware root of trust further improving hardware based security.

Pluton Processor Architecture (c Microsoft

Microsoft Pluton security processor is a chip-to-cloud security technology built with Zero Trust principles at the core. Microsoft Pluton provides hardware-based root of trust, secure identity, secure attestation, and cryptographic services. Pluton technology is a combination of a secure subsystem, which is part of the System on Chip (SoC) and Microsoft authored software that runs on this integrated secure subsystem.

The way it works (simplified) is that when the system boots, Pluton hardware initialisation takes place by loading the Pluton firmware from the Serial Peripheral Interface (SPI) flash storage on the motherboard. During Windows 11 startup, the OS uses the latest available version of the Pluton firmware. If no newer firmware is available, Windows defaults to the version loaded during hardware initialisation. This diagram illustrates the process:

Pluton boot process in Windows 11 (c) Microsoft

Note: Microsoft Pluton is currently available on devices with AMD Ryzen® 6000, 7000, 8000, Ryzen AI and Qualcomm Snapdragon® 8cx Gen 3 and Snapdragon X series processors. Microsoft Pluton can be enabled on devices with Pluton capable processors running Windows 11, version 22H2 and later.

Highlights of Pluton.

  • Secure by Design at the Chip Level: Even if one component is challenged, the Zero Trust framework ensures there is backup protection within other layers—including during the manufacturing and supply chain process.
  • The Pluton Security Processor: Unlike traditional hardware security modules, Pluton is embedded right into the CPU. This integration provides hardware-based root of trust, secure identity, and cryptographic operations that are virtually immune to physical tampering. Such a design minimizes the risk of sensitive data extraction even when attackers try to bypass conventional boundaries.

Microsoft Pluton can be used as a TPM, or with a TPM. Although Pluton builds security directly into the CPU, Windows device manufacturers might choose to use discrete TPM as the default TPM, while having Pluton available to the system as a security processor for use cases beyond the TPM. Microsoft are adopting the latter for all new devices built. It’s also leveraged by the new Windows 365 Link Devices.

Preempting Advanced Threats: Learning from Spectre & Meltdown

Back in early 2018, vulnerabilities like Spectre and Meltdown demonstrated that even the most advanced processors could be exploited via speculative execution. Microsoft’s response was swift and agile:

  • Rapid Patch Deployment: Security updates were rolled out on the day of public disclosure, ensuring devices were immediately protected.
  • Agile Firmware Development: Microsoft built its own UEFI, reducing dependency on third-party providers. They even introduced secure programming languages like Rust to minimize vulnerabilities from the start.
  • Holistic Integration: By leveraging its full-stack ownership, Microsoft coordinated an end-to-end defense – from patching the OS to reinforcing the hardware.

This agility and forward-thinking approach are core to maintaining trust in a world where new threats emerge on a daily basis.

Moving forward, the March 2021 Security Signals report found that more than 80% of enterprises had experienced at least one firmware attack in the past two years.

OS and Cloud Defense: The Next Layers of Protection

Moving from hardware to software, Microsoft ensures that Surface devices benefit from Windows 11’s robust security features:

  • Operating System Security: Built-in features such as Windows Hello, TPM 2.0, and Secured-Core PC (with Pluton processors) protections safeguard the operating system, providing seamless defense as soon as the device boots up.
  • Cloud Integration: The cloud plays a critical role by delivering powerful analytics and AI-driven threat detection. Microsoft Defender continuously monitors devices and endpoints, ensuring that potential breaches are thwarted before they escalate.
  • Real-Time Intelligence: Integration with Microsoft 365 security tools like Microsoft Defender and cloud-based analytics means Surface devices receive continuous updates and proactive defenses regardless of where the device is located.

A Secure Ecosystem for the Future

What sets the Microsoft Surface apart is its integration into a broader ecosystem that is built from the ground up with security in mind. From hardware collaboration with Intel and silicon experts, the innovative use of the Pluton processor, to agile responses against threats like Spectre and Meltdown – all these measures come together in an environment where the chip is only the beginning. The real secret lies in how this interconnected world of Windows, Defender, and cloud-based intelligence creates a fortress that’s always one step ahead.

Microsoft Surface is not just the most secure Windows device you can buy it is the point into a cohesive zero trust security architecture that works tirelessly to protect your data, your device from hardware to Windows OS through Office apps and Microsoft 365 services and of course Defender.

Conclusion

Secure by design and Secure by default. Microsoft Surface exemplifies this chip-to-cloud approach by combining robust hardware protection with powerful OS and cloud defenses. With Zero Trust principles woven into every layer, Surface devices are designed not only to meet today’s challenges but to anticipate tomorrow’s threats.

Microsoft Surface isn’t just “the most Secure Windows device” on the market, it is part of Microsoft’s wider secure ecosystem that enables security from Chip-to-Cloud.

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New Surface Copilot+PC devices announced

Microsoft has today announced new (smaller) Copilot+ PC Surface Pro and Laptop 13″ which amongst other things provide a more cost effective Windows-powered alternative to the Apple iPad Pro 11-inch which is also due to launch this week.

These devices focus on hypermobility, versatility, and durability as key user priorities based on extensive user feedback and end user device surveys and studies.

These new devices include a “more portable” 13-inch Surface Laptop and a 12-inch Surface Pro, both of which are smaller/lower-spec versions of Microsoft’s flagship Laptop and Pro.

Both are Copilot+PCs though and powered by an eight-core Snapdragon X Plus processor with an NPU rated at 45 trillion AI operations per second (TOPS).

New Surface Laptop (Left) and Pro (Right)

Both come with a base config of 16GB of RAM (the minimum required for a Copilot+ PC), 256GB or 512GB of UFS storage. They come in three colours, Platinum, Ocean and Violet, and Platinum.

Release date for orders is May 20, 2025, and pricing starts at $899.99 for Laptop and $799.99 for the Pro. Pre-orders are available now from Microsoft and major resellers and these will start shipping to consumers later this month and for Business customers in July.

These devices form part of Microsoft’s continuing efforts to really make their devices and experiences more accessible to more people bringing smaller, seeker devices along with much lower price points when compared to the larger Surface Laptop and Pro range without sacrificing on power, performance, and AI capability.

This latest update to the Surface line up is part of their new Copilot+ PC family, designed to handle the latest AI workloads that are flooding the market including Microsoft own Windows 11 inbox tools including Click-to-Do and Recall.

Different look and feel

These new devices sit in the middle of the Flagship Pro and Laptop and the Go range. They look sleeker and more modern too with rounder edges and softer sides. This means they will also feel like different devices but retain that premium Surface familiarity and build quality.

You will note from naming structure that these devices also fall in line to be part of the Pro and Laptop but at their very core show Microsoft’s initial take what it means to be a Copilot+ PC.

These are also the first Surface devices not to ship with the Surface Connect Port which has been a stable for Surface since the Surface Pro 4. Instead these now support USB-C PD chargers something Microsoft (along with many others) are shifting to from a standardisation, and sustainability perspective.

New Surface Pro 12″

The new Surface Pro is a hybrid 2-in-1 as you’d expect with the usual gorgeous adjustable kickstand, offering a smaller alternative to the current 13-inch Surface Pro 11th Edition.

To keep the price down, this new 12″ version comes with the 8-core Snap-Dragon Plus processor (rather than the 10 or 12 core version), the touchscreen has a lower refresh rate, resolution, and contrast ratio compared to the flagship versions.

There’s also a new Surface Pro 12-inch Keyboard which is needed to turn Pro into a laptop, while the (also optional) Surface Slim Pen 2 enables the user to take notes on draw its display. Taking innovation from the Surface Laptop Studio, Slim Pen can now magnetically attach to the back of the new Surface Pro for safekeeping. Despite its compact footprint, it includes a full-size keyboard with backlit keys and a customizable touchpad

Where this device excels however is in battery life, with this being rated for 16 hours of local video playback per charge.

There is no compromise on connectivity, with 2x USB-C  and a USB-A too. You also get Wi-Fi-7, and Bluetooth 5.4.

Size wise, this 12-inch Surface Pro measures 10.8 x 7.47 x 0.3 inches and weighs just 1.5 pounds, making it “the thinnest and lightest Copilot+ PC yet“.

New Surface Laptop

The new 13″ Surface Laptop, like the smaller Pro, features a downgraded 60Hz touchscreen display with lower resolution and contrast ratio and is powered by the 8-core Snap-Dragon Plus CPUs. Battery power is where this really shines with a 23 hours (rated) of local video playback per charge, compared to the Surface Laptop 7’s 20 hours.

There’s also no compromise on connectivity, with 2x USB-C  and a USB-A too. You also get Wi-Fi-7, and Bluetooth 5.4.

Dimension wide, the new Surface Laptop measures 11.25 x 8.43 x 0.61 inches and weights 2.7 pounds – making it the “thinnest and lightest Surface Laptop yet” according to Microsoft.

Go or No Go?

The launch of the 13-inch Surface Laptop and 12″ Surface Pro, seems to signal the end of Microsoft’s “Go line”, and also confirms Microsoft’s commitment Windows on ARM over Intel x86-based processors. The most recent Surface Laptop Go 3, a 12.4-inch model, was powered by a 12th-gen Intel Core CPU.

Leveraging ARM based chipsets still provide the best power/performace/battery life ratios and by debuting with these again sets the differentiator and gold standard for what a Microsoft expect other Windows OEMs to follow up with.

The most sustainable and repairable Surface devices ever

Surface continues to deliver sustainability advancements. According to the Microsoft blog, the new Surface Laptop contains 100% recycled cobalt in the battery cell and 100% recycled rare earth metals in the magnets.

Microsoft have even given us a peak inside the Surface Laptop to see how just repairable they are.

Inside Surface Laptop

Microsoft has also redesigned internal components for easier access and replacement, extending the potential lifespan of these devices.

Many components can be replaced by authorised service providers or skilled technicians — supporting a more repairable, circular approach to device design.

Standardising the Copilot+PC experience

With these new devices, it means that all new Surface devices can now provide the same amount of NPU processing power (TOPS) across the fleet across-the-board meaning a great Copilot+ PC experiences.

It also means it enables all the latest native AI experiences in Windows 11, including Recall, Click-to-Do, as Microsoft continue to push the boundary of  what it means to have a Copilot+ PC.

Final thoughts.

Microsoft’s original vision of “a computer in every home and on every desk” has evolved alongside the ever-changing landscape of computing. Today’s Microsoft knows that devices need to prioritise adaptability multi modal input and mobility, tailoring themselves to individual workflows rather than enforcing standardised interaction models.

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2025 Work Trend Index Report – AI agents will make every employee an “agent boss”.

Microsoft has just released its annual Work Trend Index report, and as anticipated, its focus is boldly centered on the transformative impact of generative AI in the workplace.

The report reveals that we’re on the brink of a paradigm shift where AI will not only reason but will also solve problems in unprecedented ways. Much like the industrial revolution or the dawn of the Internet, Microsoft suggests that a complete overhaul of work practices may take decades to fully materialise.

The annual Work Trend Index conducts global, industry-spanning surveys as well as observational studies to offer unique insights on the trends reshaping work for every employee and leader across more than data from 31,000 workers across 31 countries, LinkedIn labor market trends, and trillions of Microsoft 365 productivity signals,as well as leading AI-native startups, academics, economists, scientists, and thought leaders.

The full report is in the link below, but I’ve summarised the key insights around how the report claims generative AI is reshaping work and leadership dynamics.

AI’s Transformative Role

  • AI continues to advance in its reasoning and problem-solving ability, with the potential to revolutionise work.
  • Major transitions like the industrial revolution and the Internet took decades and view is that full wide scale AI may follow a similar path.

Immediate Impact of AI on work

Key FindingStats
AI Adoption 82% of industry leaders acknowledge AI is changing work
New Work ModelsThe “Frontier Firm” concept describes organisations using AI-powered intelligence on demand.
New emerging rolesThe rise of “agent bosses”—professionals managing AI agents to enhance productivity.

Productivity Challenges

Challenges from the last 5 years continue to plaugue employees and impact productivity with tech overload and AI is seen as a “potential” to reduce this and bring better focus to information workers.

The report reveals that 80% of the global workforce feels overburdened by constant interruptions—an email, meeting, or ping every two minutes. Consequently, about 82% of leaders plan to harness AI and digital labor within the next 12 to 18 months to alleviate these pressures.

82% of leaders plan to harness AI and digital labor within the next 12 to 18 months to alleviate work and resource pressures.

Bridging Business Needs and Human

  • AI is making intelligence more accessible, shifting focus from headcount to on-demand expertise.
  • It helps close gaps between business demands and human workload.
  • Organisations are urged to invest in adoption training and business process reviews to determine the most optimum areas to leverage AI.
Key Finding% impact
Executives concerned about productivity53%
Global workforce feeling overburdened80%
Average interruption rateEvery 2 minutes
Leaders planning to use AI to improve work82% (within 12–18 months)

Talent, Hiring and Employment Trends

Addressing common concerns about AI replacing jobs, the report delves into LinkedIn data that indicates that top AI labs are hiring at twice the rate of traditional big tech companies. Interestingly, it says that much of this new talent is transitioning from established tech firms, underscoring a dynamic reshuffling of skills and expertise in the workforce.

The report also underscores the necessity for executives to strike the perfect balance between human talent and AI agents. As these digital assistants become ever more integrated into daily tasks, the role of the “agent boss” is emerging leaders who build, delegate, and manage AI agents to magnify their impact and steer their careers in the age of AI.

The report talks of a future where every worker, from the boardroom to the frontline, must adopt a CEO-like mindset for an agent-powered startup, predicting that within five years, 41% of teams will be actively training and 36% managing AI agents.

  • AI labs are hiring at 2x the rate of big tech firms. 
  • Many AI hires come directly from established tech companies.


Human vs. AI Balance in Workplaces

Leadership PerspectiveEmployee Persective
67% of leaders understand AI agents.40% of employees understand AI agents.
79% of leaders believe AI will accelerate careers.67% of employees believe the same.

AI’s current and future role in Work Automation

AI UsageAreas Impacted
46% of leaders use AI agents to fully automate workstreams. Customer service, marketing, product development.
Organisations evaluating human-to-AI balance AI integration must match societal expectations and business needs. |

But…..it states that AI is shifting the global work landscape, demanding strategic adaptation with..

PercentageAreas Impacted
83% of leaders believe AI will enable employees to tackle more complex tasks.
78% of leaders want to recruit for new AI-related roles.  
The report highlights that 67% of leaders are familiar with AI agents compared to only 40% of employees, and 79% believe that AI will accelerate their careers, outstripping the 67% noted for the broader workforce.

What other leaders are saying…

Bill Gates (Founder of Microsoft) said publically that AI might eventually perform “most things,”. We have also seen Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff already rethinking his company’s hiring strategies for 2025. This says that as we navigate this transformative wave, company leaders need to carefully consider when and what digital labour can complement, or in some cases, surpass that of human expertise, especially in roles that demand a personal touch or entail significant responsibility.

There is a necessity for executives to strike balance between human talent and AI agents. As these digital assistants become ever more integrated into daily tasks, the role of the “agent boss” is emerging—leaders who build, delegate, and manage AI agents to magnify their impact and steer their careers in the age of AI

Microsoft Work Trend Index Report

Summary

Microsoft’s Work Trend Index report paints a vivid picture of a future in which they show how AI is starting and has the potential to reshape every facet of our professional lives.

It claims that 83% of leaders believing that AI will empower employees to tackle more complex challenges and 78% actively looking to fill new AI roles, the global work landscape is poised for a dramatic evolution—one that necessitates a delicate balance between harnessing digital innovation and preserving the unique value that human insight brings to the table.

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New Start Menu in testing for Windows 11

New Windows 11 Start Menu

Before we start, why should we get excited about a change to Start Menu?

Afterall, it is something that has been under constant critique since Microsoft changed it up (ok – ruined it) with Windows 8, which was a bold (yet poorly received) attempt to modernise the Start menu after years of “consistency” of the Windows 95 start menu which didn’t really change all the way up to Windows XP.

Classic Windows 95 Start MenuThe Windows 8 Start menu
Classic Windows 95 Start Menu (left) and much “unloved” Windows 8 Start Menu (right

Windows 11 Start Menu Changes

The days of the Windows 8 “start menu-less” UI (which was very optimised for touch and aligned to Microsoft’s entry into the devices market with the Surface RT and now more familiar Surface Pro) are thankfully way behind us. The Start Menu came back with Windows 8.1, evolved through Windows 10 and is now clean and elegant blend of what worked well in Windows 95 and what modern touch friendly interface should look like in 2025.

Windows 11 is a great interface, clean and crisp, but there has been lots of feedback around the need to bring more grouping and controls in to Windows 11. This has also led a to plethora of third-party apps that bring some of this functionality back for power-users.

It is now great to see that, in the latest Dev build of Windows 11 introduces a refreshed Start menu design that is designed to enhance user experience and productivity.

New Windows 11 Start Menu in Dev Build
New Windows 11 start menu – in Windows Insider Dev Build

This new design aims to provide a more intuitive and seamless interaction, making it easier for users to access their favorite apps and settings. The updated Start menu features a cleaner layout, improved search functionality, and customisable options that allow you to tailor the experience to your professional needs.

How do I try it out?

The new Start Menu design is being tested for Windows Insiders in the Dev Channel .

So if you enrolled (or want to), you can get the latest update and check it out. Don’t forget to file feedback in the Windows Feedback Hub.

This new feature is subject to Microsoft’s usual A/B testing meaning not everyone will see the new start menu straight away.

Share your feedback with the community too and if you find this useful, please share this post and help and help shape the future of Windows!

Change is the only constant

Microsoft continuously refines and updates various components of their Windows Operating system, using the Windows Insider Community for early testing and feedback.

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Windows 365 Link now available for £314

Microsoft’s dedicated mini PC that just runs Windows 365 is now evaulable to from limited distributes for £314 / $350.

I’ve just ordered mine, which should arrive early next week, after being lucky enough to play around with one at Microsoft Ignite in Chicago back in November.

What is Windows 365 Link?

Windows 365 Link is aimed (currently) for commercial / business customers and provides a simple, fast, secure and fast way to connect directly to the Windows 365 cloud service provide access to a dedicated (or shared in the case of front line workers) Windows Cloud, a full persistent Windows desktop in the Cloud. The configuration of these desktop experiences is managed via Intune and the specification of each users Cloud PC is configurable subject to the license allocation for the user.

Windows 365 Link

The Windows 365 service itself as a service is not new however, with it being available through the browser and via the Windows App which is available on Windows, Mac, Android and Apple iOS.

The combination of dedicated device and Windows 365 Cloud Service should make for a simple and more easily manageable experience for IT departments than managing physical fleets of desktops and Laptops while also significantly  reducing the needs of hands on support.

Is Windows 365 Link just a Thin Client?

No. But there is a definately similarity!

Many organisations have used Thin Client devices (such as igel thin clients) that run a virtual Windows desktop (shared or dedicated) from a local or data centre deployed server farm. They can also be used to access Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) services such as Citrix, VMware and Microsoft Azure Virtual Desktop.

Windows 365 Link is, essentially a modern version of the thin client, but designed especially to run full Cloud PCs from Microsoft’s Windows 365 infrastructure over the Internet. There is not support for VDI infratrautre and won’t even run desktops hosted on Azure Virtual Desktop. It just runs Windows 365 as the name suggests!

The device is small, weights just, and is vesa mountable as you’d expect. It’s also capable of driving multiple displays at 4K resolution.

Thin Client vs Windows 365 Link

Being a purpose built device (it’s not just a generic thin client device) it is built with Microsoft’s commitment to Security. It’s built by the same team that build Surface. It leverages Chip to Cloud security with features including Secure Boot and TPM and also includes Microsoft’s Pluton processor.

The device is designed to boot in seconds, which sounds like a better experience than the thin clients of the past and performance of Windows 365 experience and the office apps (including Teams) has been rigorously tested and performance tuned with the Windows and Microsoft 365 development team.

Windows 365 Link on Dual Screens at 4K

Windows 365 Link has been in a private preview program by over 100 organisation, Microsoft MVPs and internal employees to help refine and perfect the out of box experience, configuration and performance since November

Secure by Design

Windows 365 Link is a dedicated Cloud PC devices that has no local data, doesn’t allow boot to anything other than Windows 365, has no local admin users, and supports the strongest security including passwordless authentication using Microsoft Entra ID and passkeys. This significantly reduced the attack surface.

It also has security locks and vesa mounts for secure and concealed mounting.

Windows 365 Link promotes sustainable computing

Windows 365 Link is built using more than 63% recycled components and materials, has 100% paper-based packaging, is an ENERGY STAR-certified device, and is designed to be long-lasting and repairable. They are super low power too and because Microsoft Cloud is committed to being carbon negative by 2030, the cloud compute they consume is also green and sustainable.

Availability

Windows 365 Link is available now (from April 3rd) in the US, Canada, Australia, UK, Germany, Japan, and New Zealand.

I’ll be doing a hands on review next week when mine arrives!!

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Microsoft Turns 50 – here are my personal memories

Microsoft 50th Birthday banner

Microsoft is 50. Yes 50.

To celebrate, they are holding a special 50th anniversary Copilot event today (Friday, April 4) at 9:30 AM Pacific Time (5:30pm UK Time).  This actually makes me feel very old, as Microsoft were founded the year I was born!!

The event will be live-streamed here, directly on Microsoft’s website, so you can watch the announcements as they happen. If you go to the website, they have kindly included a calendar invite, which you can add to your calendar app of choice.

What to expect from the Microsoft @ 50 event

Microsoft have said that the “event” will focus on consumer AI announcements related to Microsoft Copilot, but knowing Microsoft, I expect there will be some other teaser announcements too.

Microsoft as a Copilot Company

Microsoft does not hide behind the fact that Microsoft are in fact a Copilot Company. Over the last few months, Microsoft has completely rebuilt the Consumer Copilot app for Windows and across mobile platforms and have recently included unlimited access to Copilot Voice, Vision and their latest Deep Research language models.

We have also seen (this year) the launch of the Copilot+ PCs, which were announced last year on both Qualcomm and Intel chipsets and their new flagship Copilot+ PC devices in Surface Pro 11 and Surface Laptop 7. We also continue to see more exclusive AI features that are powered by dedicated NPU chips coming to Windows 11 PCs. Features like Windows Recall, Click To Do, and AI in Windows Search, and of course updates to Windows Studio Effects and more. We have also seen new AI features across core “inbox” apps such as Paint, Notepad, Snip & Sketch and more. I expect there is more coming …..

Microsoft have also said that there is much more to come for Copilot so maybe we will get to see more of this vision and plan tomorrow (April 4th).

My personal glance back over the 50 years of Microsoft

Everyone will have their own stories and memories of milestones that made Microsoft who they are today. Personally I remember getting my first PC (Intel P90 processor, 2MB RAM and 100MB Hard drive) which ran MS-DOS 5.0 . I remember using Word Perfect in MS-DOS before deploying Windows 3.0 I seem to remember.

My next memory was working with Windows for Workgroups and Novell Netware, and then deploying Windows NT 3.51, Windows 3.11 and then working with an Oil Company doing Windows 3.11 to Windows 95 migrations on oil rigs in my early 20s.

I remember my first Xbox, my kids are no using Xbox One X and love games like Flight Simulator and Minecraft.

I’ve used Windows Phone (yes ok!), had a Microsoft Fitness Band (yes ok) and used MSN Messenger and Skype at length during my teen and early adult years!

We are now about to say goodbye to Windows 10, have seen Azure continue to gain market share in Cloud, Microsoft 365 be the worlds productivity suite and Microsoft become the biggest security company in the world.

The last few years has been all about AI with everything being about Copilot, even the PC with the launch of the Copilot Plus PC.

Today, I write this, after coming back from an incredible week at Microsoft MVP Summit in Seattle, full of excitement for what is coming next across the Microsoft eco system.

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Official Windows 11 Roadmap finally unveiled.

Microsoft has finally unveiled a dedicated Windows 11 roadmap website, designed to simplify the lives of IT pros, and IT technical management and users who care about new features and updates.

This addresses longstanding frustrations about the lack of transparency in the Windows Insider program, where new features are tested before going live.

Why Was This Roadmap Needed?

In short – there has never really been one.

For years, IT professionals grappled with inconsistent communication and unclear timelines in the Windows Insider program. Managing systems with this uncertainty was a challenge, to say the least. Microsoft listened to feedback and responded with a user-friendly roadmap that offers:

  • Feature Tracking: It shows the current status of features—whether in testing, gradual rollout, or general availability.
  • Intended Timelines: Features now come with estimated release windows, helping IT teams prepare systems for upcoming changes.

Simplified Navigation and Transparency

The roadmap include features that are in testing with users enrolled in the Windows Insider Program, features in a gradual rollout phase, and features that are generally available. Many of the features will include a target release window, which should help with preparing for upcoming features and changes.

Microsoft new Windows Roadmap

This empowers IT and Change Management teams to manage changes effectively, a step forward from the often-criticised lack of clarity in past processes.

What about Windows Server?

No, not yet. For now, it only covers Windows 11 client editions – leaving out Windows Server.

Conclusion – Yes! Finally!

This roadmap marks an important evolution in Microsoft’s approach to transparency, giving IT administrators the tools they need to keep systems running smoothly. Though it’s still early days, the potential for this tool to grow and cover more updates is vast.

Of course just like the Microsoft 365 roadmap, features listed on the roadmap remain subject to change, postponement, or cancellation.

For more details, check out the Microsoft announcement

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Deep research AI models coming to Microsoft 365 Copilot

As March 2025 comes to an end, Microsoft have unveiled several exciting updates across Microsoft 365 Copilot, Copilot Chat, and Copilot Studio.

Copilot announcements this week

1. Updates to Copilot Studio Message Rates

Effective April 2nd, 2025, updated (cheaper) message rates for Copilot Studio will go live. These adjustments cover tenant Microsoft Graph grounding and agent actions (previously known as autonomous actions). The prices of tenant Microsoft Graph grounding and autonomous actions are being reduced from 30 messages and 25 messages to 10 messages and 5 messages respectively, from April 2nd, 2025.

The following table illustrates the differences in the subscription models for the cost of Copilot Studio events.

Copilot Studio featureBilling rate [non M365 Copilot Licensed users]Billing rate [M365 Copilot licensed users]Autonomous triggers1
Classic answer1 messageNo chargeN/A
Generative answer2 messagesNo charge2 messages
Agent action5 messagesNo charge5 messages
Tenant graph grounding for messages10 messagesNo charge10 messages
Agent flow actions per 100 actions13 messages13 messages13 messages
1 - Autonomous triggers refer to events or conditions that automatically initiate an agent to take action, without requiring a user to manually invoke it.

Also coming is Agent flows which allow agent creators to bring Power Automate automation features directly into Copilot Studio to quickly and consistently automate business processes. There will also be new deep reasoning in agents combines reasoning models including Open AI o1 with the ability to access enterprise data to complete complex tasks.

Microsoft are also updating pricing with a new  zero-rating for Microsoft 365 Copilot licensed users in Microsoft 365 apps and services, ensuring inclusive, seamless integration and cost-effective use of these tools. This means licensed Microsoft 365 Copilot users will not be charged for using agents in their organisation

2. Rule-Based Workflows in Copilot Studio

From April 2025, Copilot Studio will introduce structured, rule-based workflows for agents. This aims to simplify process automation, enabling users to create efficient, consistent workflows with minimal manual effort. Usage of this functionality will contribute to the Copilot Studio meter, encouraging innovation while maintaining transparency in resource utilisation.

3. Deep Reasoning in Copilot Studio

So this is a big one – Microsoft have made deep reasoning capabilities available in Copilot Studio’s public preview from today. This will empowers users to address complex, decision-intensive tasks by leveraging advanced reasoning algorithms.

Whether it’s managing intricate processes or solving challenging problems, this tool offers remarkable precision and depth in its execution.

4. Two new Deep Reasoning Agents

Microsoft announced two new deep reasoning agents—Researcher and Analyst—as part of an early preview which will also be coming “soon” with previews coming in April before wider rollout.

  • Researcher Agent: has been designed for content creation and information synthesis, this agent combines OpenAI’s advanced deep research model with Microsoft Copilot’s orchestration. By integrating Copilot Chat’s web and work grounding capabilities, Researcher enables users to brainstorm ideas, generate high-quality content, and analyze data more effectively.
Researcher Agent in Copilot.
  • Analyst Agent: This is powered by a new reasoning model. the Analyst agent will function as a virtual data scientist and will have the ability to process complex datasets and provide real-time code validation (using Python) and will be able to deliver actionable insights and visually compelling representations of data in minutes.

Microsoft say that these agents will be gradually rolled out to Microsoft 365 Copilot licensed users through the Frontier program, an early access programme for customers to test out early and new Copilot innovations.

Read more

To dive deeper into these updates, visit Microsoft’s official blog.

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Why Surface Flex Keyboard is a Game-Changer.

Surface Flex Keyboard

Surface Pro has always been about versatility and is the ultimate 2-in-1 device for business and consumers who want the flexibility and agility of a tablet and laptop in one.

Surface Pro can start as laptop, but when you detach the keyboard, you have a tablet, re-attach it and voilà – it is now a laptop again.

Over the years, the once flimsy feel keyboard of the first generation keyboards has got better and better to the point where it now competes in sense of feel, key travel and general use with even a laptop keyboard. 

What if you could take this flexibility a step further?

Introducing The Surface Flex Keyboard?

Surface Flex Keyboard was released in 2024. It is a like a traditional Surface type cover but continues to work when you detach it. This enables a new style of working since you can use the Surface Flex Keyboard in detached mode thanks to the “auto-pairing” Bluetooth connectivity. This makes it great for flexibility, posture and helps you (if you want or need to) change your desk set-up.

Surface Pro Flex Keyboard

With Surface Flex Keyboard, pairing is instant and seamless. Simply connecting the keyboard pairs it instantly and when you detach the keyboard, you can keep working “with” the keyboard not attached.

Surface Pro Flex Keyboard

This means, whether you are taking notes in OneNote, mind-mapping in WhiteBoard or just repositioning your workspace/desk to be more ergonomic. This also works really well when you are working on a train or plane (or sofa) and need to reposition your device.

The best bit – you don’t need to buy the very latest Surface to use it. I’ve just got my hands on one this week whilst at MVP Summit in Seattle and am now using it with my two-year old Surface Pro 9.

Surface Flex Keyboard actually work with all Surfaces going back to the original Pro X which was released in 2019!

Seamless Connectivity, Premium Feel and Different use cases

The Flex Keyboard’s transition between physical and Bluetooth connections is seamless, making it feel like magic. As you’d expect, this is a premium accessory, and it shows. The keyboard really good travel, feels premium and even has the satisfying tactile bump and fast keyboard rebound, similar to that of a Surface Laptop or MacBook Air.

The base of the device is enforced with carbon fiber layers, reducing the bounciness / bendyness that users often criticised in the earlier days of Surface Pro. Oh – you also get a really great haptic touch-pad too which is smooth and precise, and can be adjusted and configured in the Windows Settings.

The keyboard comes in different colours and is wrapped in the usual beautiful soft Alcantara fabric

Compatibility and Value

Surface Flex Keyboard actually work with all Surfaces going back to the original Pro X which was released in 2019, making it a versatile option for new Surface Pro users or those that either need or want a new keyboard for their existing device.

The Surface Flex Keyboard costs from $249 currently in the US and I found them for around £225 in the UK at time of writing.

There seem to be good deal around at the moment but it’s a great keyboard and definitely recommend it for anyone who wants the latest and greatest.

Conclusion

Surface Flex Keyboard is an impressive addition to the Surface Pro “accessories” lineup and I totally love it. Yes they are pricey (but the non flex keyboard is too), but its seamless connectivity (with no manual pairing required), premium feel, and backward compatibility with older devices make it a compelling choice for Surface users new and existing.

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Meet Microsoft 365’s New Mini Apps

Microsoft has introduced two new mini apps for Microsoft 365 users: the People app and the File Search app. These tools are designed to improve productivity and simplify common everyday tasks for business users.

Image (c) Microsoft

The People App: Connecting Teams with Ease

The People app makes it easy to access colleague profiles and organisational charts without interrupting workflow. Whether you’re looking for a team member by name, job title, or department, the app delivers results instantly. It also integrates seamlessly with Microsoft Teams, allowing you to send messages and view detailed profile cards with contact information and project involvement.

You can of course pin the People app to your taskbar, making collaboration just a click away.

The File Search App: Finding Files Faster

Managing files is a more simple with the File Search app. Its homepage displays recently opened files, while its robust search function allows you to locate documents by name, content, or file type. A preview feature lets you confirm you’ve found the correct file without opening it—saving both time and effort.

Like the People app, the File Search app can also be pinned to the taskbar, positioning it as an essential tool for busy professionals.

Who Can Use These Apps

Currently these new apps are available to Windows 11 users with Microsoft 365 desktop apps, these mini apps are expected to enhance efficiency for a wide range of business users. Oh.. And you must be running the beta (or Office Insider Builds) but these will roll out over coming months to everyone.

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Cisco and Microsoft Shake Up Collaboration at Enterprise Connect 2025 with new AI infused features

Enterprise Connect 2025 brought the usual buzz from everyone in the Collab and Contact Center Space.  From AI and  integrations in Contact Center to subtle hybrid work updates for meetings and chat, these announcements from the Collab giants continues to set to redefine how we collaborate in 2025…

Here’s everything you need to know from what Cisco and Microsoft announced.

Microsoft Teams – Key Takeaways:

  • New Live chat widget rolling in out this spring for small businesses. This allows website visitors to chat with sales or customer support team in Microsoft Teams. There’s also a Live chat widget which will provides a dashboard for managing conversations, notifications for incoming chat requests, and an option to view previous customer interactions.
  • Teams Chat will be getting a new @nearby feature that allows people to easily connect with other colleagues who are physically close by to them. This helps encourage face to face chats when people may not realise that colleagues are in the same or adjacent office.
  • Teams meeting recap is now supported for webinars, and the limit for town halls has been increased to 50,000 attendees.
  • Teams channels: Loop comes to Teams Channels by allowing users to add a Loop workspace tab to standard channels.
  • On a security front, Teams has now introduced the automatic blocking of malicious files, detection of sensitive information during screen sharing. This used a combination of Defender and DLP.
  • Teams Phone is getting new features like SMS messaging in US and Canada, as well as barge/whisper/monitor/takeover for team leads in groups and when using Call Queues.
  • In Teams Rooms the new recommender feature will suggests suitable meeting rooms to facilitate easier in-person collaboration. The facilitator agent will also be coming to Teams Rooms (in preview now) to take notes for you in meeting which can co edited by attendees.

The big annoucement on the Microsoft Teams front was of course the annoucement of Teams Phone extensibility for Dynamics 365 Contact Center and for certified ISV solutions such as Luware which are coming soon public preview.

Cisco Webex – Key Takeaways

  • Cisco who are firmly on the AI drive, unveiled their vision for agentic AI collaboration, alongside new AI-powered features for their Webex platform. They said general availability of their Webex AI Agent was due before Easter!
  • Agents upgrade: with new features coming for Cisco AI Assistant for Webex Contact Center, including suggested responses and real-time transcription for agents.
  • Teams Rooms: Cisco announced that AirPlay support on Cisco Devices in  Microsoft Teams Rooms mode would also be coming soon.
  • Line of Business Agent integration: The new Cisco AI Agents  allow agents in Webex Contact Center to integrate with other enterprise apps like Sales force, Dynamics and ServiceNow to improve workflows and customer support with APIs and connectors. This will allow for workflows automation.

Read more.

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoftteamsblog/microsoft-teams-at-enterprise-connect-2025-leading-the-future-of-collaboration/4393733?wt.mc_id=MVP_309187

https://www.webex.com/us/en/live-events/enterprise-connect-2025.html

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SMBs – upgrade to Microsoft 365 E5 Security for $12

Microsoft quietly announced yesterday that Microsoft 365 Business Premium customers (this is a SMB license for customers with less than 300 seats) can now add the Microsoft 365 E5 Security as a bolt on for just $12 pupm.

This represents a saving of 57%

Why would I want Microsoft E5 Security Add-on

This upgrade includes a heap of Enterprise E5 features previously only available to Microsoft Enterprise Customers on Microsoft 365 E3. It includes:

  • Microsoft Entra P2 (Identity protection, Risk Based Conditional Access, Secure Access etc)
  • Defender for Office Plan 2
  • Defender for Identity
  • Defender for Endpoints (Plan 2) with XDR
  • Defender for AI & Cloud Apps and
  • more.

The offers huge value for SMBs bringing their security protection in line with what has previously only been included within Microsoft 365 E5 but at a fraction of the cost. The enhanced protection features in Entra P2 and Defender P2 will be highly valuable for business looking to strengthen their security posture with best-in-class solutions, whilst reducing the reliance on multiple technologies and vendors with integrated management across the rest of their Microsoft 365 Security Portal.

How do I get the Microsoft 365 Security Add-on

Simple – if you are a web-direct customer, you can add-on via the Microsoft 365 Admin centre. If you buy from partner (Cloud Solution Provider) via NCE, speak to them for pricing or speak to us at https://www.cisilion.com.

You can read the full details here: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/microsoft365businessblog/microsoft-365-e5-security-is-now-available-as-an-add-on-to-microsoft-365-busines/4388436?wt.mc_id=MVP_309187

Is there a Compliance E5 Add-on?

Not yet, though have seen lots of questions about this, so I’d guess this might be next!

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Windows 11 UI Updates: New Features & Start menu design

If you are a WindowsInsider then the  latest update to Windows 11 (which will soon become mainstream) brings a mixture of  new features and subtle, but important redesign. Let’s taken a look.

New File Sharing Tools

One of the standout features in the new update is an enhanced file-sharing menu. This new tool appears at the top of the screen whenever you drag a file out of a folder.

New native file sharing in Windows 11

It presents an array of icons for apps like WhatsApp, My Phone, and Microsoft Teams, allowing for seamless sharing directly through these platforms. Additionally, you can now share files from jump lists on the taskbar, making it even easier to send documents, images, and PDFs.

Redesigned Start Menu

The Start Menu, which was relocated to the center of the taskbar with Windows 11, has received several layout options in this update. Users can now choose between grid or category views for the All Apps page.

New desktop grid view in Windows 11

As you can see if the image above, the new grid view maintains alphabetical ordering, but extends the layout sideways to fit more apps on screen, reducing the need for scrolling. The category view groups applications under headings like social, productivity, and entertainment, with the most-used apps highlighted for quick access.

This is much easier to use and more pleasing on the eye in my option. What do you think?

Multiple App Access to Webcam

In response to feedback from users, Microsoft will now allow multiple apps to access a webcam simultaneously (though there are some hardware limitations).

One of the primary benefits of this new feature is that, for the first time you can leverage video streaming for both a sign language interpreter and the end audience at the same time, enhancing accessibility.

It can also of course be used for multiple apps using the same camera without having to close the other app or turn the camera off.

Summary

The changes to the Windows 11 desktop in my opinion provide some really useful features and redesigns.

To test these now you need to be a WindowsInsider and being pre release their may be bugs and refinements before the updates hit mainstream users.

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Copilot in Excel gets new document references features

In an new update announced on the Microsoft 365 Insider blog this week, Microsoft has announced that Copilot in Excel will soon be able to reference documents in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF formats jyst like the other officee apps can. This enhancement significantly expands the capabilities of Copilot in Excel, making it a more powerful tool for users.

With this update, you can now ask Copilot to perform tasks such as displaying to-do items in a table or organising emails with columns for the sender and subject line. This feature is particularly useful when you need to combine data from various sources, including public statistics from the web, internal documents, organisational details, or tables from another Excel files or contained in Word docs.

Getting Started with the New Feature

To take advantage of this new functionality, you need to meet the following minimum requirements:

  • Windows: Build 17729.20000 or later
  • Mac: Build 24053110 or later
  • Copilot license
  • Web search enabled
  • Stable internet connection

Upcoming Web Version and Limitations

Microsoft has announced that this update will soon be available for the web version of Excel. However, there are some limitations to be aware of. For example, refreshable data imports only work for Excel files with tables stored on SharePoint or OneDrive. Additionally, there is limited support for handling workbook and external data simultaneously.

Recent Updates to Copilot in Excel

Copilot in Excel has received several updates in recent months, further enhancing its functionality. One of my favourite features is the Clean Data feature, which addresses issues such as text and number inconsistencies.

Copilot has been integrated into the Excel start up experience, enabling users to use Copilot to explain what they want to create and receive improvement suggestions.

Looking Ahead: More Features on the Horizon

With Microsoft’s global AI tour taking place in cities around the world, including a stop in the UK on March 5th, we can expect even more exciting features to be announced soon. These updates highlight Microsoft’s commitment to continually improving Copilot and making it an indispensable tool for Excel users.

Stay tuned to my blog for more updates in Copilot and bookmark the Microsoft 365 Road map page.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/roadmap?filters=%5B”Microsoft+Copilot+for+Microsoft+365″%5D

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Cisco Live: Every business in the world will become a tech company

…and that’s what the innovations and announcements at Cisco Live this week were all centered around. in networking, security, data centers, and more that we unveiled at Cisco Live EMEA are all about.

Reliving the past to innovate the future

The Cisco Live keynote began with Oliver Tuszik [President, Cisco EMEA] walking us through the 40-year history of Cisco’s innovations that powered big data, IoT, and cloud computing – reminding us that Cisco has been here since the beginning of the internet days and how their technology is what powered the internet and cloud generation we are all now firmly in.

In his opening, he said that “every business in this world will become a technology company,” stating that every organisation is or will soon face three main challenges in this journey:

  • Unlocking the power of AI, especially as we move out of the ‘hype cycle’ of AI, with companies now seeing tangible, real-world efficiency and productivity gains using the technology, but with only 7% of European companies being “AI ready”.
  • Killing complexity. “Everything is growing fast” as companies scale and grow their technologies in the face of the skills shortage. To do this they need to re-invent, simplify, and consolidate complex technology and multi-vendor products into solutions.
  • Strengthening digital resilience.“Digital resilience is business resilience,” especially if every company is to become a tech company.

New Products and Services for the AI Generation

Following the keynote, Jeetu Patel (EVP and Chief Product Officer) talked about what Cisco stand for and the product strategy and vision saying that Cisco’s mantra is to build products people love; quality is priority zero; and think ‘10x’.”

Echoing the opening messages, he enforced that every business is working frantically to understand, play out and refine the opportunities and challenges of realising and adapting to how they work and serve customers in the era of AI.

Jeetu said that “every organisation needs to lay the groundwork for AI,”. He went on to say that the last two years have been “experimental” and that Cisco believe that over the next 2 to 5 years, the world’s workforce will be “supplemented” by AI agents and apps and eventually robots and even humanoids. Cisco said that whilst they believe this shift will create more jobs than it removes, the working world will change, and that change will happen rapidly. He said the IT and Digitial industry needs innovative technologies, new operating processes, and new outlook to business, one that we haven’t seen in this capacity since the dot com boom.

There was loads of technology and updates to existing products announced and a reminder from Cisco just how much of a Software company they now are…

Networking

The first new product announced was the Cisco UCS C845A M8 Rack Server – a modular rack with flexible GPU scaling designed to run AI workloads faster and more efficiently.

Cisco said that this will be the new Cisco blueprint for service providers as they look to capitalise on the opportunities of AI. These new Servers will helpo service providers and large enterprise organisions building their own AI services to meet the demand for high-bandwidth along with secure, and energy-efficient connectivity.

Cisco say that this architecture will result in simplified networks, AI-powered operations and resilient networks with end-to-end network security and observability. Cisco also said that this will better help service providers and telcos monetise easier, by allowing them to deploy services closer to their customers to provide intelligent service delivery.


Cisco also annouced two new N9300 Series Smart Switches, with Cisco’s Silicon One E100 chips, AMD Pensando DPUs, and Cisco Hypershield built in…. Cisco say that Hypershield will be embedded on the new switches, meaning that multi-layer protection can be scaled for zone segmentation, micro segmentation, and distributed exploit protection, along with with a centrally managed firewall distributed throughout the datacenter at the service level.

Cisco Hypershield will be embedded on the new switches, meaning that protection can be scaled for zone segmentation, micro segmentation, and distributed exploit protection – with a centrally managed firewall distributed throughout the datacenter at the service level, allowing service providers and enterprise customers to enforce security policies directly on the network fabric, enabling a “fully distributed security model”.

Cisco AI Defense

DJ Sampath, VP of Product, AI Software and Platform, showcased on stage on how Cisco’s newly announced AI Defense application allows businesses to validate and test new AI models in a matter of minutes which will represent a huge time saving reducing the typical weeks of testing down to hours.

Webex Contact Centre

Cisco Webex also got some new AI attention, with Caitlin Lacey (Director of Global Product Marketing, Collaboration Devices) showing off the newly updated Webex AI Agent that can be used to build autonomous AI chatbots to elevate the customer support experience. Cisco showed how these new AI models are not just limited to text either as they showcased voice based agents with ‘lifelike’ voices and super-low-latency responses which can be built to reduce the number of telephone agents needed and also reduce the time customers need to spend waiting on hold only to be transfered to another department and put back on hold. They even showed how customers can interrupt the agent mid flow. Impressive demo.

Cisco said that the new Cisco AI Assistant for Webex Contact Center is natively integrated with Webex Contact Center today and will be available for integration with third-party contact centers later this year. It includes context transfer summaries, dropped call summaries, Human Agent Wellbeing and automatic customer satisfaction scores (Auto CSAT). They are also introducing new features later this year including suggested responses, real-time transcription for agents, wrap-up summaries and mid-call summaries.

The agents will be available in English only at launch, however, Dutch, French, German, Italian, Polish, Portuguese, Spanish, and Swedish will come later in 2025.

Webex Meeting rooms

Recognising the volume of BYOD meeting room solutions (where customers are not tied to any meeting platform like Webex, Zoom or Teams), Cisco are continuing their investment by supporting “Flexible Conferencing” with their Cisco Room Bar BYOD. This are designed for small to medium rooms, allowing seamless laptop connectivity along with the quality of Cisco audio and video experiences for BYOD / plug n play spaces.

Thousand eyes

Cisco announced updates to Thousand Eyes with a new traffic insight functionality which will give IT support and network administrators greater observability along with the ability to pinpoint disruptions within connected networks, WAN and Internet more easily and visually. This helps identify and pin point potential network disruptions on their own and public/third party infrastructure more easily.

Meraki and Cisco XDR

Cisco Meraki suite is now getting integration with Cisco XDR to power “the SOC of the future.”. For any organisation looking to build their own or build and sell their own SOC, this integration of Meraki dashboard data into Cisco XDR will allow SecOps to see incidents and threats as they emerge across their network infrastructure adding to the visibility scope over what they had before.

Firewalling

Cisco announced their “Hybrid Mesh Firewall“. This is a brand new AI optimised firewall that combines Cisco Firewall Threat Defense, new AI Defense capabilities, and their Security Cloud Control into a single management system.

From what I have read so far (so correct me if I am wrong), each firewall in the mesh will have two versions – an active and shadow version. As such new updates to rules and threat protection for example will be first introduced on the ‘shadow’ device which will then become ‘active’. They will then swap roles, with monitoring taking place over a period of time at a highly granular level to ensure the update works as intended. This will reduce downtime and provide consistent operations. .

Skilling for the Future AI Generation

Cisco has also launched a new AI Skills Journey program to help partners and companies build this much needed AI Infrastructure skillset. This new training will be available at https://u.cisco.com

Cisco are are also updating their current certifications, including traditional certs like the Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA), Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP) and Internetwork Expert (CCIE). These updated certifications reflect the AI and cybersecurity skills needed to achieve impactful business outcomes. Select programs

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