Microsoft Readies New Security Copilot Agents
Microsoft is pitching agents as the next step in the evolution of its Security Copilot and has five agents lined up for preview in April.
Microsoft to drop its Skype communications service in May 2025
Microsoft is advising customers to replace its Skype consumer communications service with the consumer-focused Teams Free. But some customers may prefer to go elsewhere for their replacement.
Exchange Server: An Even Tighter SE Squeeze
Exchange Server 2016 and 2019 customers knew they had to upgrade fast to stay supported. Now they have even less time.
Microsoft makes DeepSeek R1 model available via Azure AI Foundry and GitHub
Who’s afraid of DeepSeek? Microsoft says it’s not and keeps investing full-steam in new AI datacenters.
SQL Server: The Polymath of Databases?
Microsoft's SQL Server has managed to be all things to many customers over its lifetime. Can it do it again, when it comes to serving as a vector database?
Microsoft in 2024: What Mattered to Our Readers
Microsoft's Copilot barrage had Directions readers searching for answers. But they cared about a lot of non-AI topics, too.
Microsoft Changes Directions with Copilot Branding, Delivery Yet Again
Microsoft is adding a new 'freemium' tier to Microsoft 365 Copilot with M365 Copilot Chat. But buyers beware: Consuming and creating work agents is not free.
Microsoft’s Silicon Journey: Why It Matters
One in an occasional series on enterprise computing by Directions on Microsoft analyst Barry Briggs, former CTO of Microsoft’s IT unit.
Prepare to Opt Out of New Outlook Starting in April 2026
Microsoft has provided enterprise customers with a date when 'classic' Outlook for Windows will enter the "Opt-Out" phase as part of the planned transition to the new Outlook.
Microsoft Ignite 2024: What You Need to Know
AI assistants and related tools get top billing at Ignite. But new Windows security features, SQL Server 2025, a thin-client device for Windows 365 are also on the agenda.
