Azure Policy: Modern Governance with Practical Recommendations
Azure Policy is one of Microsoft Azure’s most effective governance tools. It helps organizations enforce standards automatically, detect configuration issues early, and keep cloud environments aligned with internal policies and external regulatory requirements. For organizations that value security, predictability, and cost control—especially nonprofits—Azure Policy provides essential guardrails without relying on manual oversight. This guide explains why Azure Policy matters, how it works, and recommended best practices for using it effectively, with a practical example and step‑by‑step guidance. 📘 Official Azure Policy overview Why Azure Policy Matters Azure Policy allows you to define rules that Azure evaluates continuously. These rules ensure resources stay compliant during creation and over time. Policies can block, audit, modify, or remediate resource configurations automatically—reducing risk and operational overhead. Common governance scenarios include: Restricting which Azure regions can be used Requiring resource tags for cost tracking Enforcing encryption and security baselines Auditing misconfigurations Preventing unsupported or high‑risk deployments ✅ Recommendation Adopt Azure Policy early, before environments scale. Governance is far easier—and less disruptive—to maintain than to retrofit after sprawl occurs. Recommended Approach: Built‑In Policies First Microsoft maintains hundreds of built‑in policies that cover common governance scenarios, including region restrictions, security controls, and compliance baselines. One of the most widely used policies is: Allowed locations – Restricts where resources can be deployed (Deny or Audit) ✅ Recommendation Use built‑in policies whenever possible. They are: Maintained and updated by Microsoft Aligned with Azure platform changes Easier to audit, document, and explain to stakeholders Create custom policies only when built‑in options cannot meet specific business requirements. Why Region Restriction Policies Are Useful Restricting deployment regions is one of the most impactful governance controls an organization can apply. Key Benefits 🔐 Stronger security - Limits deployments to trusted, reviewed regions. 📜 Regulatory compliance - Supports data residency requirements (HIPAA, GDPR, donor data protections). ⚡ Performance optimization - Keeps workloads closer to users and connected systems. 💰 Cost governance - Prevents accidental deployment in higher‑cost regions. 🧭 Operational consistency - Establishes clear boundaries for teams and automation pipelines. ✅ Recommendation Apply region restrictions at the management group or subscription level to ensure consistent enforcement across environments. Step‑by‑Step: Assigning an Azure Policy (Portal) Step 1 — Open Azure Policy Sign in to <https://portal.azure.com> Search for Policy Open the Policy service Step 2 — Explore Policy Definitions Azure provides built‑in policies for: Tag enforcement Encryption requirements Diagnostic and activity logging Resource configuration and restrictions Security and compliance baselines ✅ Recommendation Group related policies into Initiatives (policy sets) for easier management—especially for compliance or nonprofit governance standards. 📘 List of built in policy definitions: Step 3 — Assign the Policy In the left menu, expand Authoring Select Assignments Select Assign Policy Select scope (management group, subscription, or resource group) Choose the policy definition during the assignment wizard Configure parameters Review and create Azure begins evaluating resources automatically. 📘 Assigning policies via the portal Compliance Reporting in Azure Policy Azure Policy includes a built‑in Compliance Dashboard that shows: Overall compliance percentage across assigned policies and initiatives Compliant vs. non‑compliant resources, aggregated by scope (management group, subscription, or resource group) Non‑compliant initiatives and policies, helping identify which policy sets are failing Individual policy evaluation results, showing exactly why a resource is non‑compliant Exemptions, errors, and not‑applicable states, including resources excluded from enforcement or failing evaluation Note: Compliance data is generated during evaluation cycles and may not be real‑time; results are updated periodically based on policy or resource changes. 📘 Compliance reporting documentation Why Azure Policy Is Especially Valuable for Nonprofits Nonprofits often manage sensitive donor, beneficiary, and financial data while operating under tight budgets. Azure Policy helps by: Enforcing security without increasing staffing Preventing costly configuration mistakes Supporting audit readiness Protecting donor trust Reducing operational waste Final Recommendations ✅ Start with built‑in policies ✅ Apply policies at the management group level when possible ✅ Use Deny for hard requirements; Audit for learning phases ✅ Group policies into initiatives ✅ Review compliance dashboards regularly ✅ Document governance decisions for transparency and audits Conclusion Azure Policy is a foundation of strong cloud governance. Whether you’re restricting deployment regions, enforcing security baselines, or preparing for audits, it delivers automated, consistent, and scalable enforcement. For nonprofits and mission‑driven organizations, Azure Policy ensures every cloud resource supports security, compliance, and responsible stewardship—without increasing operational burden.Building Intelligent Apps With Azure
Technology is changing fast, and apps today can do far more than they used to. With artificial intelligence (AI) becoming part of everyday tools, organizations of all sizes are looking for ways to build smarter, more helpful apps. Microsoft Azure makes this easier by giving teams the tools and training they need to learn, experiment, and create with confidence. What Makes an App “Intelligent”? An intelligent app uses AI to make experiences feel more natural and responsive — like understanding language, recognizing images, or offering helpful suggestions. You can build these apps from scratch or modernize the ones you already have using Microsoft Azure. Cloud technology plays a big role because it keeps everything fast, secure, and easy to scale. Helping Teams Build With Confidence Working with AI can feel overwhelming at first. Teams often face challenges like: Not having much experience with AI Feeling unsure about which tools to use Wanting to make sure AI is used responsibly Azure supports teams with hands‑on learning, expert guidance, and built‑in responsible AI tools through frameworks like Microsoft Responsible AI, helping teams build safely and confidently. Start With the Basics Before building intelligent apps, it helps to understand where your team is today and what skills they may need. Azure and Microsoft Learn offer simple, practical resources to get started: AI fundamentals – Learn the basics of how AI works https://learn.microsoft.com/ai Generative AI – Explore tools like AI copilots and how to write effective prompts Craft effective prompts for Microsoft 365 Copilot - Training | Microsoft Learn Cloud‑native development – Build apps designed to run smoothly in the cloud Create cloud native apps with Azure and open-source software - Training | Microsoft Learn Modernizing older apps: Azure application modernization overview - Assess, plan, and modernize existing workloads Microsoft App Modernization Guidance for Azure - App Modernization Guidance | Microsoft Learn Power Platform modernization - Rebuild or extend legacy apps using low-code tools. Modernize applications with Power Platform - Power Platform | Microsoft Learn Azure & .NET modernization – Upgrade ASP.NET apps to modern .NET and deploy to Azure Modernize ASP.NET and ASP.NET Core web applications - App Modernization Guidance | Microsoft Learn These resources help teams learn at their own pace and build confidence as they go. Deploying Apps the Right Way Once your app is ready, you need a smooth way to launch it. Azure provides tools and best practices to help teams: Set up the right environment Build and test apps quickly Use containers and DevOps to speed up delivery Azure DevOps | Microsoft Azure Containers on Azure | Microsoft Azure Deploy AI features safely using Azure’s governance and security tools As many developers have noted, “What used to take weeks now takes hours.” Keep Improving Over Time Building an intelligent app isn’t a one‑time project. Teams need to monitor performance, keep apps secure, and make improvements as technology evolves. Azure offers resources to help with: Scaling apps as usage grows — Automatically adjust resources to meet demand while maintaining performance and reliability. Protecting apps from security threats — Use built‑in security, identity, and compliance tools to safeguard data and reduce risk. Improving accuracy and performance — Monitor models and applications to fine‑tune quality, responsiveness, and user experience. Managing costs — Track usage, optimize resources, and control spending as apps grow and evolve. Create a Culture of Continuous Learning The most successful organizations treat learning as an ongoing investment. As Forbes notes, helping people understand new technologies builds trust and prepares teams for the future. Microsoft offers a wide range of learning paths, tutorials, and hands‑on experiences to support your team as they explore AI and intelligent app development: https://learn.microsoft.com/ https://www.microsoft.com/nonprofits/offers-for-nonprofits https://learn.microsoft.com/industry/nonprofit/microsoft-for-nonprofits/Shared Data and Collective Resolve Are Advancing ALS Research
Answer ALS shows what becomes possible when people come together to share data in service of something bigger than themselves—and why that mindset matters far beyond ALS research. That spirit is reflected in the journey of former New Orleans Saints player Steve Gleason, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2011 just months before he and his wife were expecting their first child. Rather than allowing the diagnosis to define his future, Gleason founded Team Gleason to support people living with ALS through assistive technology, equipment, and care services. In 2013, he challenged the scientific community to push beyond conventional thinking, declaring, “The status quo is not acceptable.” That call helped spark the founding of Answer ALS, a nonprofit organization dedicated to understanding ALS at unprecedented depth. Today, that collaboration continues through Neuromine, the world’s largest ALS research hub, built in collaboration with Microsoft and powered by Microsoft Azure. Neuromine brings together anonymized biological and clinical data from more than 2,500 individuals who have chosen to share their information to accelerate progress. Why this matters for nonprofits: when organizations prioritize collaboration, trust, and responsible data sharing, they unlock insights that no single institution could achieve alone. This story is a powerful reminder that technology—used thoughtfully—can help nonprofits move faster, work smarter, and drive impact at scale. Learn more on Microsoft for Nonprofits LinkedInDon’t Get Locked Out: Why Every Organization Needs Emergency Access Accounts
When systems fail—or when administrators suddenly lose access—the ability to regain control quickly can determine whether your nonprofit continues delivering essential services or faces major disruption. Emergency Access Accounts (also known as break‑glass accounts) give you a crucial safety net, ensuring your team can restore services, manage users, and adjust security settings even when normal admin access is unavailable. This updated guide explains why these accounts are vital, how to configure them correctly, and how nonprofits can secure them within Microsoft Entra ID. Why Emergency Access Accounts Matter In our previous discussion, we highlighted that resilience starts with preparation. If your primary admin accounts become locked out due to MFA issues, Conditional Access misconfigurations, outages, or human error, break‑glass accounts are your only guaranteed path to recovery. To function safely and effectively, these accounts must be: Highly secure Isolated from daily operations Able to bypass standard access controls Protected with passwordless authentication (Passkeys/FIDO2, certificates, Windows Hello) And every organization—nonprofit or otherwise—should maintain at least two for redundancy and continuity. Best Practices for Nonprofits Creating Emergency Access Accounts Before setting up a break‑glass account, review these nonprofit‑aligned security practices: 1. Use Non‑Obvious Naming Avoid predictable names like "breakglass" or "emergencyadmin." Use neutral, coded names known only to trusted administrators. 2. Create Cloud‑Only Accounts Do not sync these accounts from on‑premises directories. Cloud‑only accounts remain available even if local infrastructure goes down. 3. Don’t Assign Licenses Licenses add unnecessary exposure. Break‑glass accounts should not use email, Teams, or any cloud workloads. 4. Don’t Link the Account to a Real Person These accounts belong to the organization, not an individual. Avoid personal MFA methods like individual phones or emails. 5. Enforce Strong Password Standards 32‑character complex password (minimum) Rotate securely twice per year Do not reuse passwords Store them under a tightly governed, documented process 6. Disable Password Expiration If passwords auto‑expire, the account can break at the worst time. Rotate manually under a secure, audited process. 7. Exclude From Conditional Access Policies Break‑glass accounts must still work even when Conditional Access doesn’t. Exclude them from any policy that might block sign‑in. 8. Assign Permanent Global Administrator Role Emergency accounts need always‑on permissions. Do not use PIM‑eligible roles or time‑restricted activation. How to Create an Emergency Access Account in Microsoft Entra ID Step 1 — Create the Account Open Microsoft Entra Admin Center. Navigate to Entra ID → Users → All users. Select + New user → Create new user. Use the .onmicrosoft.com domain. Ensure Account enabled is selected. Set the Usage location. 7. Assign the Global Administrator role. 8. Review and create. Repeat the steps to establish a second emergency account as needed. Step 2 — Enable Passwordless Authentication Break‑glass accounts should always be secured using passwordless methods: Passkeys (FIDO2) Certificate‑based authentication (CBA) How to Enable FIDO2 Passkeys Go to: Entra ID → Security → Authentication methods → Policies → FIDO2 Security Key Enable FIDO2 if not already enabled and click Save. How to Enable Certificate‑Based Authentication (CBA) Step 1 — Upload Your Certificate Authority Entra Admin Center → Entra ID → Certificate authorities Upload your Root CA Mark as Root CA (if applicable) Add any intermediate CAs Provide the CRL (Certificate Revocation List) URL for revocation checks This is required so Entra can check for revoked certificates Step 2 — Turn on Certificate‑Based Authentication Go to: Entra ID → Authentication methods → Policies Choose Certificate‑based authentication 3. Switch Enable → On 4. Under Include, target only your break‑glass accounts Conclusion Emergency access accounts aren’t just a security measure—they’re an operational safeguard that protects your mission. When the unexpected happens, these accounts ensure your organization can recover quickly and continue serving your community.How Cloud + AI Solutions Empower Nonprofits to Do More with Less
Nonprofits play a vital role in our communities—delivering essential services, supporting vulnerable groups, and driving social change. Yet many face familiar hurdles: limited budgets, outdated systems, rising data demands, and the need to stay connected with donors, volunteers, and the people they serve. Cloud technology and artificial intelligence (AI) are helping nonprofits overcome these challenges. Solutions like Microsoft Azure make it easier to modernize, stay secure, and expand impact. The Cloud + AI Advantage for Nonprofits Cloud computing provides secure storage, flexible computing power, and modern tools without costly infrastructure. AI builds on that foundation—analyzing data, automating tasks, understanding language, and making predictions that help teams work smarter. Together, cloud and AI help nonprofits: Reduce manual work Improve staff and volunteer efficiency Personalize communications Gain deeper data insights Build more responsive, effective programs In short, AI becomes a digital copilot that frees teams to focus on their mission. Secure Data, Stronger Trust Nonprofits manage sensitive information and complex compliance needs. Azure offers built‑in security, encryption, and access controls—allowing organizations to protect data with enterprise‑grade safeguards, without needing a large IT team. Modernize Without Overspending Aging servers and disconnected systems slow organizations down. Azure enables nonprofits to: Move files and apps to the cloud Scale storage as needed Avoid expensive hardware upgrades Reduce downtime and crashes This flexibility stretches budgets while improving reliability. Unlock Better Insights With AI Data is powerful only when it’s usable. Azure AI helps nonprofits analyze trends, measure impact, forecast needs, and improve engagement—turning raw data into actionable insights. Do More With Limited Resources Small teams often juggle many roles. Cloud automation and AI‑enhanced workflows streamline processes, reduce manual tasks, and boost productivity—so more time goes toward serving communities. Ready to Explore Azure? Cloud and AI don’t replace human effort—they amplify it. With the right foundation, nonprofits can become more agile, secure, and impactful. Register for the eBook: The cloud + AI: Microsoft Azure solutions for nonprofitsAI in Care Services: Restoring the Human Touch
Frontline care workers are the heart of our communities—but many are overwhelmed by paperwork, policies, and burnout. In Australia alone, the care sector faces a 344,000-worker shortage. The question isn’t just how to meet demand—it’s how to care for the caregivers. Two nonprofits—Uniting NSW.ACT in Australia and Parlan in the Netherlands—are showing how AI can do just that. Uniting NSW.ACT: Meet Buddy, the AI Sidekick Serving 148,000 clients annually, Uniting needed a smarter way to work. Enter Buddy, an AI assistant built on Microsoft Azure. What Buddy Delivers: Case notes in 2 minutes (down from 15) Voice-to-text documentation, even in remote areas Instant access to 1,600 policies More time for personal, compassionate care Buddy uses Azure OpenAI Service and a Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) approach to surface accurate policy guidance and streamline compliance. It saves frontline workers nearly an hour per day, improves onboarding, and helps attract and retain staff in a tight labor market. By reducing administrative burdens, Buddy empowers carers to focus on what matters most—human connection. Parlan: Copilot for Mental Health Dutch nonprofit Parlan provides mental health care to children and families with complex needs. To reduce paperwork and improve care, Parlan adopted Microsoft 365 Copilot. What Copilot Delivers: Therapy reports in minutes Faster prep for complex cases Real-time translation in Teams Easy creation of therapeutic tools Copilot helps staff summarize hundreds of pages of client history, draft reports quickly, and even translate conversations during live sessions. It also assists in creating therapeutic stories—tasks that once took hours now take minutes. By streamlining administrative work, Copilot gives practitioners more time for direct care. Why It Matters This isn’t just about speed—it’s about wellness. Less admin means: Lower stress Reduced burnout Higher job satisfaction Better client outcomes The Big Picture AI isn’t replacing care—it’s restoring time, trust, and connection. Tools like Buddy and Copilot help workers do what they do best: care deeply, and serve with purpose. To learn more about their story, please visit Microsoft for Nonprofits: (21) How Technology Is Boosting Worker Wellness and Restoring the Human Touch | LinkedInHow AI Is Helping Patients Access Life-Saving Treatments Faster
Every day counts when patients are waiting for critical medications. For NSF, audits of new drugs are essential to ensure safety and compliance—but these processes can take weeks, slowing time-to-market for therapies that could change lives. NSF partnered with the Cloud Accelerate Factory to build an Azure AI-powered solution that automates document review, compliance checks, and summary generation. The result? Audit times cut by 50%, freeing experts to focus on strategy and enabling treatments to reach patients sooner. With near-perfect accuracy and scalable design, this AI tool is transforming how NSF works—reducing inefficiencies, minimizing human error, and unlocking capacity for global impact. This isn’t just about technology—it’s about accelerating hope. By embracing AI, NSF is proving how nonprofits can leverage innovation to amplify their mission and improve lives worldwide. To learn more about how NSF, an independent, science-based organization, is using AI and to join the conversation, please read their full story on Microsoft for Nonprofits LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7406363128894160896Azure Document Intelligence - How to Extract Data from PDFs and Scanned Files
Imagine this: your nonprofit receives dozens—maybe hundreds—of forms every month. Volunteer sign-ups, program applications, donation forms, surveys. Now imagine you could automatically extract the data from those documents, no matter the layout, and drop it neatly into a spreadsheet or database—with zero manual entry. That’s not a dream. It’s Azure Document Intelligence in action. Whether you're processing handwritten forms, structured PDFs, or invoices from partner organizations, Document Intelligence can turn them into actionable data in minutes. Let’s walk through what it is and exactly how to get started—no coding required. In 2025, Microsoft now offers two ways to work with this tool: the new Azure AI Studio (also known as Foundry) or the original Document Intelligence Studio. Both are currently available, but AI Studio is the direction Microsoft is heading. 📄 What Is Azure Document Intelligence? Azure Document Intelligence is a service that uses AI-powered optical character recognition (OCR) to: Analyze and extract text, tables, and key-value pairs from documents Understand form structure (even if layout varies) Turn scanned documents or PDFs into structured data You can use prebuilt models (like invoice or receipt recognition),or train a custom model to understand your own document types. 🛠️ How to Use Azure Document Intelligence to Read Forms ⚡ Option 1: Use the New Azure AI Studio (Recommended) Azure AI Studio (formerly Azure AI Foundry) is Microsoft’s unified interface for working with AI-powered services like Document Intelligence. This is the platform that will eventually replace Document Intelligence Studio. 🔹 Step 1: Go to Azure AI Studio Sign in with your Azure account. 👉 https://ai.azure.com Choose Build a solution → Document Intelligence. If it’s your first time, you’ll be prompted to create a new project. 🔹 Step 2: Set Up the Document Intelligence Resource Select your Azure subscription, region, and resource group. Name your project (e.g., volunteer-forms). You’ll be issued: An Endpoint URL An API key Note: Keep these for later—they’re required for API calls or Power Automate connections. 🔹 Step 3: Upload and Train Your Model Upload sample forms (PDFs or images). Label fields like name, email, and date. Train a custom model using at least 5 of more example situations. Test and view your results in structured format within the testing pane. 🔹 Step 4: Use the Data Export to Excel or JSON. Connect to Power Automate, Power Apps, or your CRM via API. Check out this blog to see more on the Azure AI Foundry and a video walkthrough of the platform Build, Deploy, & Manage AI with Azure AI Foundry | Microsoft Community Hub 🧭 Option 2: Use Document Intelligence Studio (Legacy Interface) Step 1: Set Up the Document Intelligence Resource in Azure Go to the Azure Portal. Click Create a resource. Search for Document Intelligence (formerly Form Recognizer) and select it. Click Create and fill out the basics: Subscription: Choose your nonprofit subscription. Resource group: Use an existing one or create a new one. Region: Choose the region closest to you. Name: Something like doc-intel-demo. Pricing tier: Choose Free F0 if you're testing (limited pages/month), or Standard if using your credits. Click Review + Create > Create. Step 2: Use the Document Intelligence Studio This is the visual, no-code interface for trying out Document Intelligence. Visit Document Intelligence Studio. Log in with your Azure account. Click Get started. On the left, click Models > Custom model > Build a model. Paste in your Endpoint and Key from the Azure portal. Choose Create project and fill in: Project name (e.g., VolunteerFormsModel) Storage container: You’ll need a Blob Storage account with your forms uploaded (see next step). Source: Select the folder with your form samples. Step 3: Upload Your Forms to Blob Storage In Azure, create a Storage Account if you don’t have one already. Go to Containers and create a new container (e.g., forms-training). Upload 5–10 sample forms of the same type. These can be PDFs, scans, or images. Make sure the forms are consistent in layout (for best results). In Document Intelligence Studio, link this container to your project. Step 4: Label the Forms Once your forms are uploaded, start labeling fields (like Name, Date, Email). The AI will try to guess some fields—confirm or correct them. Do this for 5+ documents to train the model. Click Train model once labeling is complete. Step 5: Test the Model After training, go to Test model. Upload a new, unlabeled form and run the model. Watch as it extracts structured data like: Name: Jane Doe Email: jane@example.org Program Interest: Youth Mentoring Review the output in JSON or table format. Step 6: Export or Use the Results You can: Export the data to Excel Connect via API to feed into a database or CRM Use Power Automate to automate workflows (like adding entries to SharePoint or sending confirmation emails) check out the blog below to see up the workflow ➡️Automate the Busywork: How Nonprofits Can Use Power Automate to Extract and Process Form Data | Microsoft Community Hub Real-World Nonprofit Use Cases Here’s how nonprofits are using Document Intelligence right now: Digitizing intake forms for case management Automatically processing volunteer applications Scanning paper surveys into Excel Extracting info from grant agreements or invoices Final Thoughts Azure Document Intelligence makes what used to be tedious—scanning and retyping forms—quick, intelligent, and scalable. Once set up, it can save your nonprofit hours of manual entry each week and reduce human error. ➡️Automate the Busywork: How Nonprofits Can Use Power Automate to Extract and Process Form Data | Microsoft Community HubUnderstanding the Fundamentals of AI Concepts for Nonprofits
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a cornerstone of modern technology, driving innovation across various sectors. Nonprofits, too, can harness the power of AI to enhance their operations and amplify their impact. In this blog, we'll explore fundamental AI concepts, common AI workloads, Microsoft's Responsible AI policies, and the tools and services available through Azure AI, all tailored for the nonprofit sector. Understanding AI Workloads AI workloads refer to the different types of tasks that AI systems can perform. Here are some common AI workloads relevant to nonprofits: Machine Learning: This involves training a computer model to make predictions and draw conclusions from data. Nonprofits can use machine learning to predict donor behavior, optimize fundraising strategies, and analyze program outcomes. Computer Vision: This capability allows software to interpret the world visually through cameras, video, and images. Applications include identifying and tracking wildlife for conservation efforts or analyzing images to assess disaster damage. Natural Language Processing (NLP): NLP enables computers to understand and respond to human language. Nonprofits can use NLP for sentiment analysis of social media posts, language translation for multilingual communities, and developing conversational AI like chatbots for donor engagement. Anomaly Detection: This involves automatically detecting errors or unusual activity. It is useful for fraud detection in financial transactions, monitoring network security, and ensuring data integrity. Conversational AI: This refers to the capability of a software agent to engage in conversations with humans. Examples include chatbots and virtual assistants that can answer questions, provide recommendations, and perform tasks, enhancing donor and beneficiary interactions. Responsible AI Practices As AI technology continues to evolve, it is crucial to ensure it is developed and used responsibly. Microsoft's Responsible AI policies emphasize the importance of fairness, reliability, safety, privacy, security, inclusiveness, transparency, and accountability in AI systems. These principles guide the development and deployment of AI solutions to ensure they benefit everyone and do not cause harm. To learn more about Microsoft Responsible AI Practices click here: Empowering responsible AI practices | Microsoft AI Azure AI Services for Nonprofits Microsoft Azure offers a suite of AI services that enable nonprofits to build intelligent applications. Some key services include: Azure Machine Learning: A comprehensive platform for building, training, and deploying machine learning models. It supports a wide range of machine learning frameworks and tools, helping nonprofits analyze data and make informed decisions. To learn more or get started with Azure Machine Learning click here: Azure Machine Learning - ML as a Service | Microsoft Azure Azure AI Bot Service: A service for building conversational AI applications. It provides tools for creating, testing, and deploying chatbots that can interact with users through various channels, improving donor engagement and support services. To learn more or get started with Azure AI Bot Service click here: Azure AI Bot Service | Microsoft Azure Azure Cognitive Services: A collection of APIs that enable developers to add AI capabilities to their applications. These services include vision, speech, language, and decision-making APIs, which can be used for tasks like image recognition, language translation, and sentiment analysis. To learn more about the various Cognitive Service please click here: Azure AI Services – Using AI for Intelligent Apps | Microsoft Azure Conclusion AI has the potential to transform the nonprofit sector by enhancing efficiency, driving innovation, and providing valuable insights. By understanding AI workloads, adhering to responsible AI practices, and leveraging Azure AI services, nonprofits can unlock the full potential of AI to better serve their communities and achieve their missions. Embrace the power of AI to take your nonprofit organization to new heights and make a greater impact. For a deeper dive into the fundamental concepts of AI, please visit the module Fundamental AI Concepts. This resource will provide you with essential insights and a solid foundation to enhance your knowledge in the ever-evolving field of artificial intelligence.Video Tutorial: How to Migrate Your WordPress Site to Azure for Nonprofits
Before you migrate your WordPress site, ensure you have deployed a WordPress site on Azure. If you're unfamiliar with this process, scroll down to the reference section at the bottom of this blog. There is an article that will guide you through creating a WordPress site in Azure, complete with a helpful video. Why Azure for Nonprofits? Azure offers various benefits for nonprofits, including cost savings, scalability, and robust security features. Migrating your WordPress site to Azure can help you leverage these advantages to better serve your community. Step-by-Step Guide Access the WordPress Admin Portal: Go to your personal WordPress site and navigate to the admin portal by adding /wp-admin to your site's URL. Install the WP Migration Plugin: Select Plugins > Add New. Search for "WP Migration" and press enter. Install and activate the "All-in-One WP Migration and Backup" plugin. Export Your Website: Click on the plugin itself where it says "All-in-One WP Migration". Select Export > Export Site to File. Download the exported file. Access the WordPress Site on Azure: Navigate to the admin portal of your WordPress site on Azure by adding /wp-admin to your site's URL. Install the WP Migration Plugin on Azure: Select Plugins > Add New. Search for "WP Migration". Install and activate the plugin. Import Your Website: Click on the plugin and select Import. Choose Import from File and select the file you downloaded earlier. Handling File Size Limits If you encounter a file size limit error (WordPress has a 50 MB limit), you can either purchase the unlimited extension or manually increase the limit: Access Azure Portal: Go to your Azure portal and type in "App Services". Select your app service. Use SSH to Modify File Size Limits: Scroll down to Deployment Tools and click on SSH. Click on Go to access the backend of the app service. Create a file in the home site wwwroot directory named .user.ini. Edit the File: Use the command nano /home/site/wwwroot/.user.ini. Add the following lines to increase the upload and post max size: upload_max_filesize = 1G post_max_size = 1G Save the file by pressing Ctrl + X, then Y, and Enter. Verify and Import: Refresh your WordPress site on Azure. Import the file again, and it should bypass the previous limit. Final Steps Once the migration is complete, you may want to delete the .user.ini file you created earlier. Use the command: rm /home/site/wwwroot/.user.ini References techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/nonprofittechies/deploying-a-wordpress-site-on-microsoft-azure-a-guide-for-non-profits-with-video/4415254?previewMessage=true Resolving Host Restrictions on File Sizes Exceeding 50 MB in WordPress on Azure for Nonprofits | Microsoft Community Hub
