Microsoft Community Insights Podcast

1) How can my business migrate to AI & ERP?
2) How can we save time and money with this migration?
3) How can my business become stronger on AI with S/4?
As such, these firms have the great fortune of helping SAP-run companies achieve "Faster, stronger, more stable company" status.
✔️ Scale your SAP landscape while reducing complex code and staff
✔️ Generate a S/4 upgrade scenario with a team of experts
✔️ Increase productivity while reducing cost and complexity

We talk with Tiago Costa about what “secure by design” looks like on Azure when teams want AI fast but lack the basics like data governance, landing zones, and repeatable deployment. We share lessons on cost shocks from token-based billing, why click ops undermines security, and how to guide teams towards safer habits without slowing delivery.    

Jordan shares the thinking behind “Easy AI”: add agents and agentic workflows to what you already run, even when the people operating the system don’t know the codebase inside out. We talk through the new Azure portal experience for enabling MCP, using  App Service managed instance 

See here for information 

If you are letting people query Microsoft Fabric with T-SQL, you are already making a security decision, whether you meant to or not. We sit down with data platform MVP John Minor to unpack what it really takes to secure the Fabric SQL analytic endpoint, from the basic shape of the Fabric ecosystem to the small settings that can derail a rollout.

We start with the fundamentals: which Fabric objects actually expose a SQL analytic endpoint (lakehouse, warehouse, mirrored database, SQL database), what “read-only endpoint” means in practice, and why the SQL database has both OLTP and OLAP representations. John explains the purpose of the SQL analytic endpoint, what you can build with T-SQL (views, functions, object-level controls), and why case sensitivity is a gotcha worth fixing before you deploy anything widely. We also cover connectivity, including the TDS protocol and how SSMS fits into real-world management and testing.

Deployment is where motivation goes to die: the app works locally, the deadline is close, and suddenly you’re buried in portals, docs, and mysterious errors. We sit down with Microsoft MVP Mohammed Sami to talk about a more practical approach: using GitHub Copilot in VS Code to keep your focus, ask better questions, and move from “it runs on my machine” to “it’s live” with less stress.

You will learn how small knowledge graph, implement a GraphRAG workflow, and connect it to an AI agent powered by the Microsoft Agent Framework and Microsoft Foundry. You will learn how the agent traverses a graph database, interprets relationships, and answers queries over connected data.

Tech does not just need more women, it needs more women who feel free to show up as themselves. We sit down with Samantha St Louis, VP of AI App Innovation and a Microsoft MVP, to talk about what it really looks like to build an AI career, lead AI strategy, and navigate a male-dominated industry without shrinking your personality to fit the room.

Her career journey is the proof point. She starts as an  nurse then moves into early health tech, builds her own company, and later levels up through Microsoft Learn and certifications like Power Platform Fundamentals before going deeper into AI engineering and AI architecture. Along the way, she shares candid stories about bias, the quiet gatekeeping that keeps people out, and why soft skills are a real competitive advantage in modern tech.

Choosing the right AI model shouldn’t feel like roulette. We sit down with Kate Catlin, the product manager from GitHub. Kate shares how model strengths and explains how auto mode aims to pick the right model for the job so developers can focus on outcomes.

We dig into practical tactics that cut through hype: start with a golden dataset, run evaluations early, and keep refining with real user prompts once your AI is live. If you’re overwhelmed by weekly model releases, you’re not alone—Kate outlines how to compare new options  with  scoring and selective manual review. 

She also tackles the enterprise challenge: slow model approvals that leave teams on outdated systems. With a disciplined eval pipeline, organisations can safely adopt newer, faster, and often cheaper variants that deliver better results.

Build an agent that understands intent, finds the right data, and takes action across your CRM—without wiring a maze of connectors. We sit down with Microsoft MVP and functional architect Nathan Rose to explore how Dataverse and Model Context Protocol in Copilot Studio turn instructions into outcomes, shrinking complexity and unlocking reliable, low‑code automation.

We walk through a plan-first workflow that asks Copilot to survey the codebase, propose a step-by-step solution, and only then switch to agent mode to implement. That simple change lifts code quality, reduces rework, and keeps diffs aligned with architecture. We also dig into custom agents with scoped permissions and roles: a testing agent for unit coverage, a docs agent for READMEs, a refactor agent limited to certain directories. Prompt craft matters, but stable configuration, coding standards, and CI guardrails matter more. Think of it as turning best practices into reusable instructions that AI can follow every time.

Johan shares field notes from consulting and charity projects: where AI saves hours, where it still stumbles, and how code generation quality has improved over the past year. We explore SpecKit’s promise for scaffolding and simpler apps, acknowledge its preview status and quota costs, and outline how to adopt incrementally in legacy systems. Along the way, we cover open source tracking via changelogs and issues, integrating agents into CI/CD, and designing a workflow that is auditable, secure, and team-friendly.

What if your documentation never drifted out of sync across 54 languages? We sit down with MinSock, Microsoft AI MVP and open-source maintainer, to unpack how a hackathon prototype grew into a robust translation automation pipeline now living under the Microsoft Azure GitHub organisation. The story starts with a simple pain: reading English technical docs as a non-native speaker. It evolves into a system that watches your repo, translates Markdown, images and Jupyter notebooks, and keeps everything aligned as source files change.

Enjoy the episode, and if it sparks ideas, share it with your team, subscribe for more community-driven engineering stories, and leave a review with the one translation challenge you want solved next.

We dig into how to make that magic reliable, sharing a practical blueprint for building trustworthy AI on Microsoft Foundry with guest   Microsoft AI MVP, Liji Thomas.

From there, we tour Microsoft Foundry’s control plane and show how to configure guardrails at model and agent levels to block PII, reduce jailbreaks, and filter harmful or protected content. We explore observability and evaluations for groundedness, coherence, and relevance, plus why an evaluation-driven approach matters most after deployment. 

We start by weighing the trade-offs: managed AI gives you speed, safety, and a deep model catalog, but steady high-volume workloads, strict compliance, or edge latency often tilt the equation. That’s where AKS shines. With managed GPU node pools, NVIDIA drivers and operators handled for you, and Multi-Instance GPU to prevent noisy neighbours, you get reliable performance and better utilisation. Auto-provisioning brings GPU capacity online when traffic surges, and smart scheduling keeps pods where they need to be.

The breakthrough is Kaito, the Kubernetes AI Toolchain Operator that treats models as first-class cloud native apps. Using concise YAML, we containerise models, select presets that optimise vLLM, and expose an OpenAI-compatible endpoint so existing clients work by changing only the URL. We walk through a demo that labels GPU nodes, deploys a model, serves it via vLLM, and validates responses from a simple chat UI and a Python client. Tool calling and MCP fit neatly into this setup, allowing private integrations with internal APIs while keeping data in your environment.

We sit down with Peter Ward to decode how real moonshot solutions are built at the intersection of clean data, practical AI, and unapologetically human design. From Copilot adoption to rethinking org charts, we connect the dots between cost, capability, and cultural change to show where the next wave of value will emerge.

We start by reframing the Copilot debate. The £30‑a‑month question isn’t the point; the outcome is. Peter shares how teams translate AI into measurable time savings, faster delivery, and better decisions, while addressing the quiet blockers: messy data, limited access, and incentives that favour stasis. We dig into the shift already visible in hiring data—entry roles thinning, mid‑senior roles holding—and why career growth now rests on a new metric: innovation density, the number of high‑value outcomes you can ship by orchestrating AI agents.

We break down Blazor’s render modes in plain language. Server side rendering for instant first paint, streaming SSR for progressive content, interactive Server with SignalR for low latency, and Blazor WebAssembly when you want client side execution and near native speed. With the .NET 8 Blazor Web App template, you can pre render for speed, attach Server for responsiveness, and hydrate WASM in the background so returning visits feel instantaneous. If desktop or mobile is on the roadmap, Blazor Hybrid with .NET MAUI lets the same components run across Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

We explore how real-time analytics in Microsoft Fabric turns raw events into decisions within seconds while keeping the strength of batch for complete, trusted reporting. From OneLake layering to agentic AI, we share practical patterns, pitfalls, and skills to get started fast.

• OneLake bronze, silver, gold layering for reliability
• Event Hubs to OneLake pipeline setup
• real-time dashboards, monitoring and alerting
• hybrid architecture for BI and operational analytics
• data quality rules, schema checks and replay
• skills to start with Fabric using SQL
• common streaming pitfalls and latency issues
• roadmap to agentic AI that lets users talk to data
• personal journey, community work and speaking plans

Brian shares his fascinating journey from certification skeptic to exam developer, explaining how Microsoft's approach to testing has evolved from simple multiple-choice questions to complex, hands-on lab scenarios that reflect real-world challenges. Drawing on his experience working with retail and consumer goods organizations, Brian reveals how businesses are implementing AI solutions that transform inventory management, supply chain operations, and customer experiences.

Santosh Kumar, Azure MVP in Networking and Cloud Security, explains why Zero Trust isn't just a product but a critical security strategy for the modern workplace. He breaks down how organisations can implement this approach to protect against the dramatic rise in cyber threats.

Follow the Microsoft Community Insights Podcast on social media so you never miss an episode.

Syntax in security might sound technical and dry, but as Mona Ghadiri reveals, it's actually the secret sauce that determines whether your AI security tools deliver inconsistent results or game-changing efficiency.

This eye-opening conversation explores how treating Security Co-Pilot prompts as code transforms security operations. Mona, a Microsoft MVP in Security Co-Pilot and Vice President at Capgemini, introduces her innovative "Mad Lib Method" - creating templated prompts with specific variables that security analysts can populate. This approach addresses a fundamental challenge: not everyone using these tools is a native English speaker, and subtle differences in syntax dramatically impact AI outputs.

The rapidly evolving field of generative AI can be intimidating, especially for those looking to implement enterprise-ready solutions. That's precisely the gap Amit sought to fill with his book "Azure OpenAI Essentials," co-authored with technical reviewers who ensured quality and accuracy throughout.

Amit, who has spent years helping healthcare organizations build scalable generative AI applications, explains that his motivation came from witnessing firsthand the understanding gaps among both customers and Microsoft's own technical field community. Rather than continuing with ad-hoc office hours and one-off explanations, he decided to create a comprehensive, structured resource that would guide readers from absolute basics to enterprise implementation.

Daniel takes us through the unsustainable habits that led to his collapse: working late shifts to avoid interruptions, surviving on takeaway meals and six energy drinks daily, and completely neglecting self-care. The turning point came when he discovered a three-part approach to recovery—the BOSH technique: movement (Bewegen), relaxation (Ontspanning), and social connection (Social).

What makes this episode particularly valuable is Daniel's practical, tested advice for maintaining mental wellbeing in high-pressure tech environments. He explains why walking in nature without technological distractions fundamentally changes how our brains process stress, and shares his precise methodology for power naps that rejuvenate rather than drain energy (hint: it's all about avoiding deep sleep cycles).

What does it mean to build true belonging in a digital age? Heather Cook, a 25-year Microsoft veteran and community champion, takes us on a remarkable journey through the evolution of technology communities and how artificial intelligence is reshaping connection rather than replacing it.

Dive into the world of functional programming with Simon Painter, a  .NET developer with 20 years of experience who literally wrote the book on functional C#. Simon breaks down this powerful programming paradigm in refreshingly accessible terms, comparing it to connecting Lego bricks to create increasingly complex systems.

Beyond his professional work, Simon shares his passion through teaching children Python at a code club, speaking at conferences worldwide, and authoring "Functional Programming with C#" (O'Reilly). Whether you're curious about a different programming approach or seeking more reliable, testable code, this episode provides a compelling introduction to thinking functionally.

Ready to explore functional programming? Follow us on social media to catch more expert insights and expand your developer toolkit!

Read more about it here 

In this episode, we speak with software developer Jokey about his extensive experience with .NET, the challenges of integrating legacy systems, and the importance of continuous learning in the tech industry. Jokey shares insights on his journey in software development, his contributions to open source, and the innovative projects he has undertaken, including the creation of a unified SDK for Google Gemini. The conversation emphasizes the significance of community engagement, personal growth, and the evolving landscape of software development.

Joki shares his fascinating journey of building the Google Gemini SDK for NET from scratch—a project that now approaches 50,000 downloads and caught the attention of Microsoft engineers who contribute to its development. You'll discover how he unified Google's AI interfaces before Google themselves implemented a similar approach in their official SDKs, demonstrating the innovation possible within the NET ecosystem.

What does it mean to be a storyteller at one of the world's largest technology companies? In this captivating conversation with Miri Rodriguez, Senior Storyteller at Microsoft and co-author of the forthcoming book "The Women of Microsoft," we discover how narrative shapes the way we understand technology, transformation, and human connection in the digital age.

Josh walks us through the powerful combination of open-source CNCF projects that address different aspects of container supply chain security. Learn how Trivy scans for vulnerabilities, Copasetic performs targeted patching when base image updates aren't possible, Notation provides digital signatures to verify trust, and Ratify enforces security policies at deployment time. Together, these tools create a comprehensive approach to securing containers from build to runtime.

Ready to strengthen your container security posture? Listen now and discover how these tools can integrate into your existing workflows. Remember to follow us on social media to stay updated with more insights from community experts and share your thoughts on this episode!

Security has become the cornerstone of modern technology infrastructure, and understanding how to implement effective observability within DevSecOps pipelines is crucial for organizations of all sizes. In this revealing conversation with Neel—a developer, educator, and middleware expert—we uncover the critical role observability plays in creating secure, resilient systems.

Are we on the verge of having AI do our chores? Join us as we explore this intriguing question with Kellen Gorman, a seasoned AI technologist who has experience in groundbreaking projects across different sectors. Dive into discussions about Kellyn unexpected journey into the AI field, highlighting the critical importance of quality data—from origins in Azure to wildlife conservation efforts with the London Zoological Society. 

Throughout the episode, Kellyn candidly shares her insights on the ethical implications of AI, the projects currently shaping our interactions with technology, and practical advice for anyone looking to enter the AI landscape. She draws upon her experiences, showcasing how AI can drive positive change while warning against the pitfalls of data poisoning that can sabotage even the most innovative projects. 

In this episode of the Microsoft Community Insights podcast, host Nicholas  speaks with Erlend Rushfeldt, a consultant manager at Innofactor, about the intricacies of cost optimization in cloud migration, particularly within Azure. They discuss common mistakes organizations make in managing Azure costs, strategies for effective cost management, and the importance of creating a culture of cost awareness. Erlend shares insights on the challenges faced by organizations in understanding their Azure bills and emphasizes the need for continuous monitoring and optimization. The conversation also highlights resources available for learning more about Azure cost management and the role of the FinOps Foundation in providing frameworks and training.

Azure AI Foundry is reshaping the way developers approach AI solutions, providing an intuitive platform with numerous models and features tailored to user needs. Bhuvi Vatsey shares vital insights on maximizing AI effectiveness and the importance of a creative mindset in adopting these technologies.

• Discussion on the mission and importance of Azure AI Foundry 
• Overview of available models and how to choose them 
• Introduction to the Azure AI agent service and its functionalities 
• Emphasis on creativity and small-scale implementation in AI projects 
• Recommendations for resources to learn more about Azure AI Foundry

What if the key to unlocking your IT career lies in embracing failure and exploring diverse domains? Join us as we uncover this intriguing possibility with Ian Schreier, a principal architect and the mastermind behind Help my IT Career. With nearly three decades of experience, Ian opens up about his journey through the ever-evolving landscape of IT and the vital importance of aligning career paths with personal interests and strengths. His unique insights promise to inspire IT professionals and newcomers alike to broaden their skill sets and refine their career strategies.

Unlock the future of data analytics with insights from Javier Villegas, a Microsoft MVP, as he unpacks the game-changing features of Microsoft Fabric. This episode promises to transform your understanding of data management by exploring how this SaaS platform revolutionizes the way we handle data ingestion, storage, and analysis. Say goodbye to the cumbersome and costly traditional data methods, and discover how Microsoft Fabric integrates effortlessly with Power BI to provide a robust, scalable solution.

In our conversation, Haji emphasizes the power of community engagement within the tech industry. As a former MVP and current leader for Windows MVPs, he highlights the critical role of feedback in shaping Microsoft's products and solutions. From advocating for accessibility features to navigating the evolution of cloud technologies like Windows 365 and Copilot, Haji's journey underscores the importance of being a bridge between tech creators and the community. His passion for helping customers embrace new technologies demonstrates the profound impact of collaboration and mutual learning.

Join us as Microsoft MVP Susheeta Kaldi unveils her secrets to mastering Azure administration in the fast-paced world of healthcare. Promising insights into resource management, security, and automation, Susheeta discusses the critical balance between performance and cost optimization with a focus on tools like Azure Key Vault and Azure Monitor. As a listener, you'll gain practical knowledge about the skills necessary for effective Azure administration, and learn how this role is evolving with the integration of AI tools such as Copilot, which are transforming task automation and security enhancement.

Microsoft Sentinel has long been one of Microsoft security flagships. It launched in 2019 as one of the first pure cloud security monitoring solutions out there. 5 years on, what's the verdict? We will explore the gamebreaking bugs, infuriating errors, smooth solutions and much more in this security monitoring trip down memory leak lane.

If you're not familiar with security monitoring solutions, fear not. In this talk you will learn the basics of security monitoring, explore the development of Microsoft Sentinel and get a quick introduction on how you can set it up for your own team and start detecting bad actors in your stack!

Join us as we explore the fascinating intersection of AI and automation with our special guest, Konstantinos Pasad, a solutions architect hailing from Athens, Greece. Kostas shares with us the journey of integrating cutting-edge Microsoft technologies like Azure, OpenAI Assistant, and Logic Apps into real-world projects. 

Learn the secrets to building an ultra-responsive e-commerce platform with our special guest, Florian Linz, a freelance solution architect with a wealth of experience in Azure Cloud projects. Together, we unravel the intricacies of Azure's high availability features, such as geo-redundancy and zone redundancy, that ensure service stability across data centers. Florian shares invaluable insights into leveraging Azure Front Door to enhance website performance through effective content delivery networks, providing practical guidance on choosing the right resources for load redundancy.

Unlock the secrets of cutting-edge threat detection with insights from Ruros Barbic, a security architect and Microsoft MVP, as we navigate the powerful capabilities of Microsoft Sentinel. You'll learn how Sentinel's analytics expertly sift through historical data to detect anomalies and potential threats, providing security teams with the tools to efficiently respond to incidents. Ruros sheds light on the seamless integration of Sentinel with other Microsoft security solutions, enhancing threat detection and facilitating rapid responses to security incidents. Discover best practices to address the human element in cybersecurity and how unified security operations streamline incident response, all while staying ahead of insider threats.

Discover why Pulumi could be your new go-to tool for infrastructure as code in our latest episode with Alec Harrison, a Microsoft MVP in AI and Azure. Alec shares compelling reasons to choose Pulumi over other well-known tools like Terraform and Bicep, particularly in light of recent shifts in Terraform’s terms of service and IBM’s acquisition. Learn how Pulumi’s support for multiple programming languages and cloud providers, including AWS, Azure, and GCP, can streamline your multi-cloud deployments with unified scripts and efficient processes.

Ever wondered how you can fast-track your career in tech while still in college? Join us as we promise an inspiring conversation with Rachel Abor and John Aritz, both esteemed Microsoft MVPs. Discover how the Microsoft Learn Student Ambassador Program transformed their academic and professional trajectories, providing unique opportunities like mentoring, leading hackathons, and speaking at global events.

What if your raw data could transform into powerful insights that drive your business forward? Join us for an engaging discussion with Azure consultant Michael Tobin as we unpack the essential components of modern data platforms. From the intricacies of data ingestion to the importance of robust infrastructure setups like hybrid connectivity and role-based access control, Michael shares expert advice on navigating the complexities of data management. We also explore best practices for creating landing zones using Terraform and Bicep, ensuring a structured environment for development, testing, and production.

Stay ahead of the curve with our latest episode, where Sarah Young also unveils a treasure trove of resources for those eager to deepen their grasp on AI security. Sarah's insights from her experiences at top tech events will guide you through the evolving landscape of AI security.

http://aka.ms/copilotl33tsp34k

Build sessions
BRK227 - Inside AI Security with Mark Russinovich
BRK225 - Secure your AI application transformation with Microsoft Security
BRK226 - Data Security Considerations for AI Adoption