
1. New Outlook Feature: See Who’s In the Office Based on Work Hours and Location
Overview
A new Microsoft Outlook feature will enable users to know who’s in the office, based on their hours and location settings. The new Outlook for Windows and the web will offer this capability. Rolling out from mid-August 2024 (for Targeted Release) and reaching General Availability by early Oct 2024, the rollout should be fully completed by mid-January 2025.
Impact
Users can quickly see who will be in the office that day. A new “always on” preview will emerge in the upper right part of the calendar. This will enhance the already existing Location icon. Basically, it’s a simpler way of tracking the office presence of your team members.
Action Needed
No admin action is required. But, you should consider notifying your users about this impending change.

2. Windows Autopatch: Enhanced Device Deregistration for Better Sync
Overview:
On January 8, 2025, Windows Autopatch will roll out an enhancement to device management. This update is sure to enhance synchronization reliability between Microsoft Entra groups and Autopatch groups. This means that if you remove devices from Entra groups, they will be unregistered from Autopatch automatically, and any new additions will take effect within 3 hours.
Impact:
This update will be applied by default.
Deregistration: Devices removed from Entra groups (via Assigned or Dynamic distribution methods) will automatically be deregistered from Autopatch. Devices in this state will not receive service-created policies and will be omitted from Autopatch reports.
Action Needed:
To use Autopatch again on devices that were removed from Autopatch groups, ensure that it is added back via Entra groups. This change is irreversible once synchronization is enabled. After the devices are onboarded, admins can use the Windows Autopatch devices report to review them. If you need any help, please file a service request in the Intune admin center.

3. Update to Microsoft Viva Engage (Yammer): Enhanced Audit Log Schema
Overview
From mid-December 2024, Microsoft Viva Engage (previously Yammer) will make changes to the schema of its audit log. Basically, they intend to improve user identification and increase change transparency. The update will help you identify the actor and the target using newly added parameters. New fields include TargetObjectId and ModifiedProperties that help admins track changes to admin roles and other important actions more easily.
Impact
Microsoft Purview compliance portal’s audit log queries will be impacted by this update. The field UserKey will now capture the Entra ID ObjectId of the actor, instead of Passport ID. The TargetObjectId will track the Entra ID ObjectId of the user that was affected by the change and the ModifiedProperties field will include both: old value and the new value for changed fields. This is specifically important for changes to admin role.
These changes will be visible only in admin-specific audit logs and events i.e. promoting users to key roles (Corporate Communicator, Yammer Admin, etc.).
Admins must update their audit log queries and scripts to accommodate the new UserKey and TargetObjectId fields.
Action Needed
This rollout occurs automatically, but you must ensure that all scripts referencing the deprecated UserKey field (Passport ID) are updated to use the new format of the Entra ID ObjectId. This update is for users with an E3 license, and rolling out will be completed by mid-January 2025. The updates will be immediately implemented for organizations already using the feature.

4. Microsoft Forms Update: A Streamlined and Modernized Experience
Overview
Microsoft Forms is rolling out an improved experience that modernizes the UI for everything from creating forms, analyzing responses, and the portal. The update introduces a revamped layout with new templates, more style options, better data insights, and whatnot. The update began in late Oct 2024 and should be completed by the end of December 2024.
Impact
There will be a new UI with categorized templates for Feedback, Registration, Research, Quiz, etc. To create forms, you will now have an updated, left-side pane offering an extensive list of templates and a customized right-hand pane to pick your form styles and govern your cover page layouts. Microsoft will improve the results page with charts and graphs to help you analyze the data better.
Action Needed
This update will be automatically applied, requiring no action from administrators.

5. Microsoft Office Add-ins Store Policy Update for Minor Users
Overview
Office Add-ins Store policy will now allow minor users to access add-ins for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc. Rollout started in mid-Dec 2024 and wraps in late February 2025. This policy change only affects under 18 users on Windows desktops and the web. Previously, these users were not allowed to access the store, but now they freely can, unless admins have blocked this feature for them.
Impact
This update brings a new experience to the Office Add-ins store for users of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. For educational organizations, admins will have to audit their configurations to determine if their students satisfy requirements for accessing add-ins.
Action needed
This new feature will be on by default, so admins of educational organizations may need to decide if they want to allow or block access according to their policies.

6. Customizable Notification Locations in Microsoft Teams – A New Update
Overview
From mid-Jan 2025, Teams will let users choose the position of their alerts on their screens. Four options to choose from: bottom right, top right, bottom left, top left. So, users will have some good control over the placement positions of notifications. A good pill for focus and productivity as it reduces distractions.
Impact:
This update will affect Teams on Windows desktops. Previously, Teams notifications were fixed in the bottom right corner. Now, users can personalize their notification location through Settings > Notifications and Activity> Display.
Action Needed:
The rollout will be gradual. The feature will roll out by default. No admin action is required.

7. Microsoft Purview: Upcoming Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) with Copilot Integration
Overview
Microsoft Purview will soon release Data Security Posture Management. The feature is sure to bring automated data security risk assessments to help you with data safety. DSPM is unique in discerning compromised data configurations, creating a holistic view of sensitive data and the associated threats. It works with Copilot for Security to help admins respond faster to risks. The Public preview was planned to roll out in Nov 2024 but has been pushed to mid-December 2024 and is expected to be fully there by late January 2025.
Impact
DSPM will automatically analyze your perimeters for how your organization stores its data. It will show reports on stuff like where unprotected sensitive info may be residing, where it’s being copied, and other things. If you link it with Security Copilot, cybersecurity admins can conduct investigations across dimensions (files, users, devices, etc.) and get policies/recommendations accordingly. This combo allows them to act faster in managing risks.
Action Needed
To access DSPM, your organization needs a Microsoft 365 E5 or E5 Compliance license. Then you need to enable DSPM in the Purview portal by opting into the Data Security Posture Management (preview) feature.
Or manually turn DSPM on by enabling DLP and IRM analytics in the Purview portal. To view the dashboard, data security admins need to have roles like Entra compliance admin or Insider Risk Management admin. Configure Security Copilot with the necessary permissions to use its capabilities for more depth. The rollout will occur automatically, but be prepared to support the transition. Check out the respective Microsoft Learn documentation about enabling DSPM.

8. Viva Pulse Now Included in Microsoft 365 Copilot Subscription
Overview
From December 2024, Microsoft Viva Pulse capabilities are available with M365 Copilot subscription. The update allows Copilot or Viva Pulse premium license holders to send Pulse surveys to gather realtime feedback on Copilot implementation.
Impact:
Previously, the ability to send a survey was limited to users with a Viva Pulse premium license. But now, all Microsoft 365 Copilot license holders have the ability to send these requests to efficiently get feedback from their teams on-the-go. Also, even though users with the mentioned license can create surveys, any person in the tenant can respond without even having a license. However, full access to research-based templates will still require a premium license.
Action Needed:
The rollout will finish by Jan 2024. No action is required from admins.

9. Microsoft Teams and Skype for Business Call Hold Synchronization Update
Overview
Microsoft is improving call hold synchronization between Teams and Skype for Business (SfB). When you pick up call on any of these services while being on another call, the first call will automatically be put on hold. The update is effective in Teams client version 24261.1100.3128.2662 and later, and will be completely rolled out by the end of the year 2024.
Impact
A far smoother call management as now calls are automatically placed on hold while switching back and forth between two platforms.
Action Needed
Modify the following group policy registry keys:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Lync\EnableIPCForHoldResume: Set DWORD to “0x01”
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Lync\Enable21Interop: Set DWORD to “0x01”

10. Transition to the cloud.microsoft Domain
Overview
From November 2024, Microsoft products have entirely moved to the cloud.microsoft domain. A New SaaS-specific domain, introduced in early 2023, is already hosting authenticated products like Microsoft Outlook. Some services were already accessible on this domain, whereas, legacy domains are redirecting. The switch is intended to simplify their product experience, and mainly, security.
Impact
There should be no impact on organizations already following the updated domain and service endpoint guidance (from April 2023). Users might observe that the cloud.microsoft domain lacks the “dot com” at the end as this is by design. This is intended to help prevent spoofing.
Action Needed
- Educate users about recognizing the cloud.microsoft domain.
- If your resources mention old URLs, update to avoid confusion, nonetheless, redirection will be automatic.
- Collaborate with your developers to ensure compatibility with the new domain.
Ensure that your network is not blocking .cloud connections.

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