The latest Microsoft Teams and Microsoft 365 expert community briefings, podcasts and upcoming community events for October 2025.
Expert Briefings
Backing up your Teams Phone Number Configuration – Why & How
https://empowering.cloud/backing-up-your-teams-phone-number-configuration-why-how/
Damian Lewis from BSI discusses how to safeguard your Microsoft Teams phone numbers from accidental deletion or changes. He outlines common scenarios that can cause number loss and presents a straightforward solution using PowerShell automation to create regular backups.
- The risks to phone number assignments including account disabling, usage location changes, license changes, and administrative errors
- A practical PowerShell-based backup solution that automatically stores number assignments in blob storage
- How to restore numbers quickly when problems occur using the backed-up data
- GitHub repository with code and documentation for implementing your own backup solution
Crestron Multi-Camera Expansion – Five Cameras without Automate VX
https://empowering.cloud/crestron-multi-camera-expansion-five-cameras-without-automate-vx/
Cara Shannon, Senior Product Marketing Manager for Intelligent Video and Unified Communication, at Crestron talks about their latest developments.
Crestron has expanded its intelligent switching capabilities with 1 Beyond cameras, allowing up to five cameras (one primary i12 camera plus four companion cameras) without requiring the full Automate VX system. The primary camera connects via USB whilst companion cameras connect over the network, with switching available through visual cues or manual control via Crestron control systems.
- Two switching modes: automatic visual-based switching or manual control through touch panels
- Mix and match capability between i-Series (intelligent tracking) and P-Series (standard PTZ) cameras for manual switching
- Configuration through One Beyond Camera Manager software
- Automate VX systems still offer advanced features including voice activation, visual AI auto-framing, and support for up to 12 cameras
Understanding the Importance of SOC 2 Type II Compliance when Choosing Cloud Services
Steve Jump, Cyber Risk Governance Advisor and Chief Security Officer at Numonix, discusses the critical importance of SOC 2 Type II certification.
- The difference between SOC 2 Type I (point-in-time assessment) and Type II (evidence of control operation over a defined period)
- How SOC 2 builds upon ISO 27001 certification as the foundational security framework
- Numonix's secure recording approach where client-specific encryption ensures they cannot access customer data
- Why SOC 2 reports are shared selectively under NDAs rather than published publicly
- The business value for customers in highly regulated industries like banking, healthcare, and government who need proof of vendor security standards
- How proper certification streamlines vendor evaluation compared to lengthy spreadsheet questionnaires
- The rigorous auditing process that validates not just policies but active compliance and issue resolution
Microsoft Teams Monthly Update September 2025
https://empowering.cloud/microsoft-teams-monthly-update-september-2025/
MVP Tom Arbuthnot shares all the latest Microsoft Teams news and announcements in less than 13 minutes.
- Malicious URL Protection for Teams
- Improved Organization Chart in Profile Card
- Control External Access by Domain for Specific Users and Groups
- 5 Unify Certified Contact Centers
- New Teams Desk Phone Transfer UI
- Touch Console Support for MTRoW Boards
- Browser Support for MTRoW Boards
- Sales, Service, and Finance Copilots now included with Microsoft 365 Copilot License
- Improved Copilot Chat in Office Apps
- Events
Microsoft Teams Insider Podcast
Telco Infrastructure Evolution – Automation, AI and Containerisation Explained
Matt Hurst, Senior Director of Strategic Business Architecture at Ribbon, joins Tom Arbuthnot to discuss the significant changes occurring in telco infrastructure with AI, analytics, and automation. Matt clearly explains how Automation, Containerisation and AI work and apply in telco and also large enterprise infrastructure.
Scaling M365 Copilot Adoption Across 20,000 Users
Tom Arbuthnot discusses Microsoft 365 Copilot adoption with Karoliina Kettukari, Head of Modern Work at OP Financial Group in Finland.
OP Financial Group has licensed approximately half their workforce for M365 Copilot, with strong support from senior management and eager employee adoption. The organisation also utilises Copilot Chat for an additional 50% of their licensed user base, particularly for roles working primarily in customer systems rather than M365 applications.
AV, AI and Meeting Equity – Multi-Camera, Multi-Agent, Multi-AI with Bo Pintea
Bo Pintea from Huddly talks about the evolution of multi-camera setups and their role in creating more immersive and equitable meeting experiences.
The Future of Converged Communications – Leon Wright, Global Lead at Microsoft
Leon Wright, Global Lead for Converged Communications at Microsoft, discusses how AI is transforming Teams Phone, telco partnerships and customer engagement.
Microsoft Teams Desk Phones – AI Features and Roadmap
Prashi Badkur, Senior Product Manager Lead for Teams phone devices at Microsoft, talks about the evolving role of physical desk phones.
Upcoming Community Events
Teams Fireside Chat – 8th October | 16:00 BST / 08:00 PDT
Join us for October’s Teams Fireside Chat. We'll be joined by Scott Plette, Partner Group Product Manager - Teams calling and Premium at Microsoft.
As a Partner Group Product Manager for Teams Phone and Teams Premium, Scott Plette manages the team charged with defining, prioritizing, and driving the development of Teams Phone experiences for desktop, mobile, and devices, as well as advanced communication and protected communication scenarios enabled by Teams Premium.
Microsoft Teams Devices Ask Me Anything
October Sessions
EMEA/NA – 15th October | 16:00 BST / 08:00 PDT
Hosts: MVP Graham Walsh, Michael Tressler, Jimmy Vaughan
APAC – 15th October | 16:30 AEDT
Hosts: MVP Graham Walsh, Phil Clapham, Andrew Higgs, Justin O’Meara
Microsoft Teams Devices Ask Me Anything is a monthly community event which gives you all an update on the important and Microsoft Teams devices news, as well as the chance to ask questions and get them answered by the experts. We have 2 sessions to cover different time zones, so there's really no excuse not to come along to at least one!
Copilot Fireside Chat with Karuana Gatimu, Director, Customer Advocacy – AI and Collaboration at Microsoft – 24th September | 16:00 BST / 08:00 PT
Join Microsoft MVPs Zoe Wilson and Kevin McDonnell for the monthly Copilot Fireside Chat series! The next session is on 24th September at 16:00 BST / 08:00 PT and we’ll be joined by special guest Karuana Gatimu, Director, Customer Advocacy – AI and Collaboration at Microsoft
Copilot Fireside Chat is a virtual event that usually takes place on the last Wednesday of each month at 16:00 GMT. All are welcome to come along and discuss everything Copilot. Bring along your Copilot questions and get them answered by the experts, with special guest appearances alongside hosts Zoe and Kevin.
M365 Change Community Round Up
As Microsoft 365 Copilot rapidly expands its reach across the entire Microsoft 365 ecosystem it's become more important to stay on top of Microsoft 365 change than ever before.
From urgent action items in the Microsoft 365 Message Center to exciting new features on the Microsoft 365 Roadmap, many changes will significantly impact your organisation's productivity and even have implications for your security and compliance policies.
The new M365 Change Community Round Up is a new live monthly call open to all, where we take a closer look at Microsoft Message Center updates and what they really mean for your organisation.
🗓️ Join MVPs Darrell Webster, Daniel Glenn from the M365 Message Center show, Tom Arbuthnot and special guests every last Thursday of the month at 13:00 UK / 08:00 ET / 07:00 CT (25th September is the first session).
It's the perfect opportunity to stay in the know, not just on new shiny features, but the all important, high admin and high user impacting items which can have serious consequences if not prepared for.
