This month, Microsoft has announced updates across several technical areas. In security, enhancements include the general availability of the Microsoft Defender for Identity sensor and the introduction of ExCyTIn-Bench for evaluating AI performance in cybersecurity. Updates in modern work solutions highlight AI integration in the SharePoint Framework and improvements in Microsoft 365 Copilot. Business applications see new AI agents in Dynamics 365, while Azure updates feature flexible configuration in Azure NetApp Files and support for Ultra Disks in Azure Site Recovery. Additionally, advancements in data and AI solutions include new multimodal tools in Azure AI Foundry and the new Microsoft Agent Framework in public preview. Updates in app innovation solutions include GitHub Copilot enhancements with custom models to improve completion accuracy.
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Monthly Highlights
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Summary with key announcements and updates from Microsoft
Security Highlight
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Recent Technical Developments in Microsoft Security
Microsoft Defender for Identity sensor that improves identity defense through better protection and correlation is generally available. The Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2025 highlights the rise in financially motivated cyberattacks, emphasizing the need for organizations to build resilience. The Microsoft Security Store has been launched to facilitate the discovery and deployment of trusted security solutions. Azure Blob Storage is identified as a target for sophisticated cyberattacks, prompting a focus on hardening customer support tools against threats. Microsoft has also unveiled ExCyTIn-Bench, an open-source tool for evaluating AI performance in cybersecurity.
Modern-Work Highlight
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Recent Technical Developments in Microsoft Modern Work Solutions
The SharePoint Framework (SPFx) roadmap emphasizes AI integration and community-driven development. Microsoft Fabric's Copilot enhances data engineering by allowing natural language interaction with data. New features in Microsoft 365 Copilot include Agent Mode and Copilot Chat Quality Roadmap, improving user productivity. Microsoft Teams introduces threaded conversations for better context management and Copilot-enabled thread summarization. Additionally, support for Office 2016 and 2019 has officially ended, urging users to upgrade. The Microsoft 365 Developer Program is also set to receive new capabilities and enhancements.
Business-Applications Highlight
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Recent Technical Updates in Microsoft Business Applications
Dynamics 365 Finance and Operations will feature improved user license validation with a staged rollout aligned to contract renewals, enhancing user experience and transparency. New AI agents are being introduced in the Record to Report process, reducing manual efforts for finance teams. Additionally, the Dynamics 365 Customer Service now includes an agent activity feed for monitoring AI agents, and sensitive data redaction has been implemented for voice AI agents. Furthermore, integration between Dynamics 365 Field Service and Outlook/Teams is now generally available, streamlining scheduling for technicians.
Infrastructure Highlight
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Recent Technical Developments in Microsoft Cloud Infrastructure
Azure NetApp Files now offers a flexible service level that allows independent configuration of storage capacity and throughput. Azure Site Recovery has added support for Ultra Disks, enabling efficient replication and failover. The Azure Resource Manager has enhanced integration with Azure Monitor Metrics for improved monitoring. Additionally, Microsoft introduced near-zero downtime scaling for HA-enabled Azure Database for PostgreSQL. The Azure VMware Solution AV36 node type is set to retire on June 30, 2028, though current Reserved Instance terms remain unaffected.
Data-Ai Highlight
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Recent Technical Developments in Microsoft Data and AI Solutions
Grok 4 is now available in Azure AI Foundry, providing advanced reasoning capabilities. The public preview of the Microsoft Agent Framework simplifies the development of multi-agent systems. Azure AI Foundry has launched new multimodal tools, including OpenAI GPT-image-1-mini and GPT-realtime-mini, enhancing creative capabilities. The Eventhouse Endpoint for Lakehouse allows for real-time insights with improved query performance, while OneLake APIs facilitate seamless integration with existing applications. Additionally, Fabric Data Engineering Workloads now support Managed Private Endpoints for secure connections to on-premises data sources.
Digital-App-Innovation Highlight
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Recent Technical Updates in Microsoft Digital App Innovation
The September 2025 update for Visual Studio 2022 (v17.14) introduces enhancements including a fully integrated Profiler Agent for improved performance analysis, and a new capability for Microsoft Dev Box that simplifies setup by allowing platform engineers to specify images directly. Additionally, Visual Studio is launching Planning in Public Preview, enabling structured prompts for managing larger projects effectively. GitHub Copilot has also been enhanced with custom models to improve completion accuracy and a new agent mode for better workflow integration.
Industry-Solutions Highlight
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Recent Technical Developments in Microsoft & Industry Solutions
The Global Secure Access initiative aims to enhance secure access to corporate resources while improving user experience. Windows Hotpatch is being introduced to streamline security updates without requiring system reboots, minimizing disruption. Microsoft Learn is refreshing its certification offerings to better align with the increasing demand for AI skills across industries. The Dragon Copilot AI tool is being showcased for its role in supporting clinical teams at HLTH 2025. Additionally, Vuln.AI is being deployed for advanced vulnerability management, addressing the complexity of managing numerous devices and vulnerabilities efficiently.
Events Highlight
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Upcoming Microsoft Events
Don't miss GitHub Universe 2025, where developers will celebrate AI-powered innovation. Join the Microsoft Security Summit Sweden to learn about embedding AI in cybersecurity strategies. Experience hands-on learning at the Microsoft Copilot Connections series, focusing on inclusivity and productivity. Prepare for Microsoft Ignite 2025 in San Francisco, featuring keynotes from industry leaders and the latest in AI technology. Additionally, engage in practical workshops like the AI Builders series, where you can enhance your skills in prompt design. Join us in exploring the future of technology and its impact on business and society.
Security updates, identity protection, compliance tools, and threat intelligence, including Microsoft Defender, Sentinel, Security Copilot, Entra and more.
Updates and news on research, skilling, as well as tailored solutions and innovations for industries including healthcare, manufacturing, financial services, and more