TOP STORIES #73

If colleagues would like to join TOP STORIES, they can click here.

What is interesting is the fallout from the CrowdStrike meltdown, which you can read about in the reactions and comments below.

Hardware

Intel Admits damage is permanent

If you are the proud owner of a desktop high-performance Intel CPU, this is not good news, as the new update being rolled out by Intel will only stop further damage. This is not good news and something Intel will be really keen to leave in the past as it gets ready for the wave of Lunar Lake processors to compete with AMD. You can read more here.

Rollable Displays, a hint of the near future

Samsung has submitted a patent for a display that can roll out to end up being a lot bigger than in it's closed state. Samsung also suggest that the display can adapt to reflect UI's of other devices when brought into close proximity of the primary display. You can read more here about what we can expect to see in displays in the near future.

Microsoft

Office Connectors in Teams retirement delayed

In TOP STORIES #71 I noted that Microsoft had announced that these connectors would be retired in favour of Power Automate workflows with only 3 months' notice,

Clearly, there was a backlash big enough for Microsoft to announce a new date, but you have to take note of the new schedule. You can read about all this here.

If you are affected by this, please contact your First Technology account manager to speak with our specialists so they can help you with the migration.

Microsoft M365 plan comparison Documents updated July 2024

Microsoft has updated the plan comparison documents for July to include the Entra Suite which you can download here.

As usual it can get quite complicated to understand what is included, what can be added and then what prerequisites are required for what you want to add. Entra ID replaces things like AD, and have been in the works for a year.

Please Contact your Licensing Account manager to understand more about what you are licensed for (things keep changing), what you can add to your agreement and how you can benefit from the Entra Suite.

Remember "Service Packs"? Seems they are coming back.

They are getting a new name - "Checkpoint Cumulative Updates". These new updates package all changes made since the last update, reducing the need to install multiple separate updates.

You can read more about this here.

This is a good opportunity to Contact your First Technology Account manager to connect you with our specialists to review your system deployment processes to ensure they are optimised for these new updates. Our expertise can help you utilise the latest Microsoft tools, ensuring your systems are up-to-date, secure, and running efficiently.

End Tasks from the TaskBar

Windows 11 now has an option for you to end a task straight from the taskbar. You can read about how to enable it here.

We have an RDS problem

Microsoft has acknowledged that the latest update for Windows Server is causing connection problems for RDS - you can read more about the problem here.

Security

How KnowB4 almost got caught

Here is a story about a company that specialises in security awareness training using its own tools to prevent an attempt to compromise its own systems. KnowB4 managed to prevent the attack and has published the story so that everybody else can learn from these very sophisticated attacks.

First Technology Group actually partners with KnowB4 in South Africa to provide training and tools in addition to what you already have to prevent phishing and other attacks. Please contact your First Technology Account manager to arrange a session with KnowB4 to see how they can help you get smarter in preventing attacks.

CrowdStrike Fallout- in 78 minutes

For several more weeks, we will be hearing about just how expensive this mess has turned out to be. Here is one story about how much this incedent cost, but what will be more interesting to follow are the stories about what is going to be done to prevent this in future, and those stories are only just starting (Microsoft already has something to say - see below).

Here is a hint of what may be coming with Microsoft moving away from allowing security products to have kernel-level access in future - and more on this further down.......

In the meantime, CrowdStrike maintains that 97% of all Windows devices are back online.

Just ONE cup of Coffee!

Amidst all this, offering affected customers a cup of Coffee might only have stimulated CEOs with enough energy (because he is drinking the ONE cup of coffee) to call their legal department.

There is an important lesson here. If you can afford CrowdStrike, you probably have a very well-staffed legal department.

You can read about the ONE - yes, ONE! cup of coffee here, TomsHardware also feels that trying to repair your reputation one cup of coffee at a time (of which some got revoked) is not the most clever thing to do pointing to the still plummeting share price.

CrowdStrike - Lessons Learnt - from Directions on Microsoft

Directions has published its own commentary about how we can all learn from the meltdown, and there is some really good advice - it's a good read here.

What is really important to note is that Microsoft has issued a statement suggesting that the company will stop allowing third parties to access the kernel in the future.

This is a good opportunity to re-examine what you can use from your existing Microsoft licensing stack rather than spending additional money on third parties, which increases your exposure to a Crowdstrike-like meltdown. Please contact your First Technology account manager to connect you with our security specialists to help you review your security portfolio.

Major Secure Boot Security issue - yes, it's serious

It seems that many vendors did not replace the default key issued by AMI, putting around 800 products at risk. Vendors are going to issue BIOS updates which will be essential to deploy. You can read more about this serious vulnerability here.

Daves Garage on YouTube has an excellent explanation of the problem as well. In the meantime, you need to be extra careful protecting yourself, making sure all your other security measures are up to date.

This is a good opportunity to review your security status. If you would like assistance in reviewing your environment, including making sure your tools are correctly configured to protect you right now as these patches are still being rolled out by different vendors.

Please reach out to your First Technology account manager, who will connect you with our Security Specialists.

Cloud & AI

To Support OpenAI, Microsoft Taps Oracle for More Cloud Power

Oracle has agreed to lend Microsoft capacity in the Oracle cloud meet OpenAI's increasing demands for capacity. Oracle is betting on companies using its infrastructure optimised for AI, a bet that seems to be working so far. You can read more here.

What's up at FTG

What does a World Class SoC look like and how does it work?

You are invited to book a tour of one of our SoC (Security operations Center) nodes (and there are still parts we can't show you). You can book for the tour here.

BUI blog

FTG's Azure and security division has launched a blog focused on Security - what's new, what changed and what you need to do to maintain a good security posture.

All BUI videos have been moved to one YouTube channel which you can find here.

New Recommendations in Entra ID
Entra Admin Center Updates
Conditional Access Policies Renaming
Phasing Out Legacy Identity Protection Policies

Movies

Well, DeadPool and Wolverine looks set to break records, and I can assure you that it is excellent! Go and see it, if you have not already.

For this week we have quite a crop of different types of movies, so take a look.....maybe there is something you like.

The next big movie coming up is Alien: Romulus on the 16th of August - it will be a scream!

Now Playing: DeadPool & Wolverine

Now Playing: The Fabulous Four

Now Playing: Storm Crashers

2 August: Harold and the Purple Crayon (I could use one of these)

2 August: The Bikeriders

2 August: The Trap (This one is going to be SCARY)

2 August: Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha

2 August: The Exorcism