As small and medium-sized businesses continue to navigate hybrid work, rising security demands, and the need for operational efficiency, Microsoft 365 is rolling out new features designed to meet those challenges head-on. This month’s updates focus on improving collaboration, simplifying IT management, and enhancing security—all while helping teams stay productive and protected.
Microsoft Teams: Streamlining Collaboration and Personalization
Compact Notifications
(Mid–Late July 2025)
Users can now reduce screen clutter by switching to compact toast notifications—ideal for high-alert environments.
Save Messages for Later (Late August–Early September 2025)
Bookmark any chat, post, or reply to revisit later. This helps users stay organized and quickly access important information.
Meeting Join Bar (Mid–Late July 2025)
A new banner appears when meetings go live, allowing users to join instantly. If multiple meetings are active, users can choose which to join—reducing missed connections.
Meeting URL Validation (September 30, 2025)
Teams will now validate join links to prevent them from being broken by security tools. Businesses should review URL rewriting policies and whitelist Teams URLs.
New Workflows App (September 2025)
Automate tasks like approvals, message scheduling, and app syncing—no coding required. This helps teams focus on high-value work.
SMS Notifications Expand to Australia (Late July–Early August 2025)
Teams Premium users can send SMS appointment reminders to Australian phone numbers via Microsoft Bookings and Virtual Appointments.
Accent Color Customization (Late July–Late August 2025)
Users can personalize their Teams interface with accent colors, improving engagement and satisfaction.
Microsoft Outlook: Enhancing Email Safety and Efficiency
Large Audience Warnings (Completed Early July 2025)
Outlook Mobile now alerts users when emailing large groups, helping them double-check tone and content before sending.
Unverified Sender Banner (Mid-July–Mid-August 2025)
A new banner flags emails from unverified senders, warning users about potential impersonation risks.
Report Junk + Unsubscribe (Mid–Late July 2025)
Users can now block and unsubscribe from unwanted emails in one action—reducing inbox clutter and improving hygiene.
Microsoft Entra: Strengthening Identity Security with Less Overhead
Improved iOS Backup for Microsoft Authenticator (September 2025)
Authenticator now supports seamless backup and restore using iCloud and iCloud Keychain—no Microsoft personal account required.
Security Copilot in Entra (July–September 2025)
Admins can use natural language to investigate threats, manage identities, and take action across users and apps—no scripting needed. The Conditional Access Optimization Agent also scans for policy gaps and suggests one-click fixes.
Microsoft Intune: Simplifying Device Management Across Platforms
Hotpatching for Windows 11 Arm64 (Available Now)
Security updates can now be applied without restarts, improving uptime and reducing disruption.
macOS LAPS Integration (Available Now)
Local admin accounts on newly enrolled macOS devices now include encrypted, auto-rotating passwords—boosting security and compliance.
Real-Time Apple Update Tracking (Available Now)
Admins can monitor macOS update progress live, with visibility into failures and user interactions—no more manual check-ins.
Wildcard Support for Windows EPM (Available Now)
Admins can use wildcards in elevation rules, reducing the need to rewrite rules for every new app version.
Custom Device Cleanup Rules (Available Now)
Organizations can set platform-specific cleanup criteria and track actions via audit logs—ensuring better device hygiene.
Security Copilot in Intune (Generally Available)
AI is now embedded in Intune to help IT teams troubleshoot, plan, and optimize device configurations faster and more effectively.
CloudCapsule: Automating Microsoft 365 Security Assessments
Automated Security Reviews with CIS Controls (Available Now)
CloudCapsule automates Microsoft 365 security assessments using the CIS Controls framework. It helps teams identify gaps and streamline compliance without manual effort.
Conclusion: How an MSP Can Help You Maximize Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 continues to evolve with features that support smarter collaboration, stronger security, and simplified IT management. But unlocking the full value of these tools requires more than just enabling them—it takes strategic implementation, training, and ongoing optimization.
That’s where a Managed Service Provider (MSP) like Sundog comes in. We help small and medium-sized businesses configure Microsoft 365 to fit their workflows, secure their environments, and empower their teams. Whether you’re looking to automate tasks, improve device hygiene, or strengthen identity protection, we’re here to help you get the most out of your Microsoft 365 license.