Azure ExpressRoute - Cisco Meraki MX or directly into LAN?
We are in the process of deploying Azure ExpressRoute across multiple sites via a provider Layer 2 VPLS circuit and are evaluating our CPE options. Our provider is delivering a Layer 2 handoff to each site, meaning we are responsible for all Layer 3 BGP configuration on the customer edge. We currently run a full Cisco Meraki environment — Meraki MX appliances as our edge firewalls and Meraki MS switches on the LAN side — and are wondering if anyone has successfully terminated an ExpressRoute BGP session directly on a Meraki MX, or alternatively terminated it directly into the LAN without a dedicated edge router in between. Terminating ExpressRoute BGP directly on a Meraki MX appliance — is this even possible given Meraki's limited BGP support? Connecting the Layer 2 provider handoff (dot1Q or QinQ) directly into a Meraki MS LAN switch and routing from there — has anyone made this work, and what were the caveats? Running a dedicated CPE router in front of the Meraki MX — and if so, how did you handle the integration between the CPE router and the Meraki SD-WAN fabric, particularly around route advertisement and traffic steering? Our provider model uses QinQ VLAN tagging with a provider-assigned S-tag and customer-defined C-tags for private and Microsoft peering. Since the provider is only delivering Layer 2, all BGP session establishment, prefix advertisement, and routing policy must be handled entirely on our CPE. Our understanding is that Meraki MX does not support QinQ subinterfaces or the level of BGP policy control needed for ExpressRoute, but we wanted to see if anyone has found a creative workaround before we commit to dedicated CPE hardware at each site. Device recommendations welcome: If a dedicated CPE router is the only viable path, we'd also love to hear what devices others have used successfully for this use case. Our circuit is 1Gbps, so we need something that can handle that throughput comfortably with BGP active — but we're a mid-size enterprise and are looking for cost-effective options rather than carrier-grade platforms. What has worked well for you without breaking the budget? Any real-world experience, gotchas, or recommended architectures would be greatly appreciated, especially from anyone running a Meraki-only environment who has tackled this!Join us at Microsoft Azure Infra Summit 2026 for deep technical Azure infrastructure content
Microsoft Azure Infra Summit 2026 is a free, engineering-led virtual event created for IT professionals, platform engineers, SREs, and infrastructure teams who want to go deeper on how Azure really works in production. It will take place May 19-21, 2026. This event is built for the people responsible for keeping systems running, making sound architecture decisions, and dealing with the operational realities that show up long after deployment day. Over the past year, one message has come through clearly from the community: infrastructure and operations audiences want more in-depth technical content. They want fewer surface-level overviews and more practical guidance from the engineers and experts who build, run, and support these systems every day. That is exactly what Azure Infra Summit aims to deliver. All content is created AND delivered by engineering, targeting folks working with Azure infrastructure and operating production environments. Who is this for: IT professionals, platform engineers, SREs, and infrastructure teams When: May 19-21, 2026 - 8:00 AM–1:00 PM Pacific Time, all 3 days Where: Online Virtual Cost: Free Level: Most sessions are advanced (L300-400). Register here: https://aka.ms/MAIS-Reg Built for the people who run workloads on Azure Azure Infra Summit is for the people who do more than deploy to Azure. It is for the people who run it. If your day involves uptime, patching, governance, monitoring, reliability, networking, identity, storage, or hybrid infrastructure, this event is for you. Whether you are an IT professional managing enterprise environments, a platform engineer designing landing zones, an Azure administrator, an architect, or an SRE responsible for resilience and operational excellence, you will find content built with your needs in mind. We are intentionally shaping this event around peer-to-peer technical learning. That means engineering-led sessions, practical examples, and candid discussion about architecture, failure modes, operational tradeoffs, and what breaks in production. The promise here is straightforward: less fluff, more infrastructure. What to expect Azure Infra Summit will feature deep technical content in the 300 to 400 level range, with sessions designed by engineering to help you build, operate, and optimize Azure infrastructure more effectively. The event will include a mix of live and pre-recorded sessions and live Q&A. Throughout the three days, we will dig into topics such as: Hybrid operations and management Networking at scale Storage, backup, and disaster recovery Observability, SLOs, and day-2 operations Confidential compute Architecture, automation, governance, and optimization in Azure Core environments And more… The goal is simple: to give you practical guidance you can take back to your environment and apply right away. We want attendees to leave with stronger mental models, a better understanding of how Azure behaves in the real world, and clearer patterns for designing and operating infrastructure with confidence. Why this event matters Infrastructure decisions have a long tail. The choices we make around architecture, operations, governance, and resilience show up later in the form of performance issues, outages, cost, complexity, and recovery challenges. That is why deep technical learning matters, and why events like this matter. Join us I hope you will join us for Microsoft Azure Infra Summit 2026, happening May 19-21, 2026. If you care about how Azure infrastructure behaves in the real world, and you want practical, engineering-led guidance on how to build, operate, and optimize it, this event was built for you. Register here: https://aka.ms/MAIS-Reg Cheers! Pierre RomanYour guide to the Microsoft 365 Community Conference
Register now and save your spot for the chance to ask questions and share feedback with hundreds of Microsoft executives, engineers, and product leaders. By making your voice heard, your feedback will help shape the technologies that you and countless others use every day. Plus, you’ll hear from icons of Intelligent Work during inspiring keynotes, sessions, and AMAs, including: Jeff Teper, President, Microsoft 365 Collaborative Apps & Platforms, Microsoft Ryan Cunningham, Corporate Vice President, Power Platform Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Security Dr. Jaime Teevan, Chief Scientist & Technical Fellow, Microsoft View full speaker list > What: Microsoft 365 Community Conference 2025 Register today | Note: Use the SAVE150 discount code to save $150 USD. Content snapshot: 5 Microsoft keynotes + 1 Ask Microsoft Anything (AMA) | 200+ overall sessions Microsoft-led sessions | 21 full-day workshops (pre-day and post) Microsoft is sending over 150+ product makers to present and engage. Review all sessions, workshops, and speakers. When & where: April 21-23, 2026 In-person: Loews Sapphire Falls and Loews Royal Pacific Resorts in Orlando, Florida Pre-day workshops on Sunday, April 19 and Monday, April 20. Details: Twitter & hashtag: @M365CONF | #M365Con Follow us on LinkedIn: M365Community Conference LinkedIn Company Page Cost: $1,850- full conference (Includes 3 continental breakfasts, 3 lunches, a T-shirt, and backpack (additional costs for full-day workshops). Please visit the M365 Community Conference for full pricing. Microsoft Customer Discount: Use CODE: SAVE150 for $150 USD off registration. Why attend? Stay Ahead of Innovation: Gain exclusive insights into the latest advancements in AI and Microsoft’s Product Roadmap. Empowering you to drive transformation within your organization and stay at the forefront of technology. Hands-On Learning: Participate in practical sessions and workshops that provide actionable strategies and skills to optimize workflows, enhance productivity, and achieve business success. Connect with Experts: Build invaluable connections with Microsoft product makers, MVPs, industry leaders, and a global community of like-minded professionals who share your passion for technology. Transform Your Impact: Leave with a deeper understanding of Microsoft tools, clear strategies for leveraging AI in your work, and a roadmap for achieving your goals and enhancing your team's success. Build Community: Build community by connecting with others, sharing experiences, and forming meaningful relationships. Check out Jeff Teper's awesome statement on The ultimate Microsoft 365 community event is back| Microsoft 365 Blog. FUN: Join us in our community lounge for networking, hanging out, meet and greets with Microsoft and Community All-Stars, surprise and delight treats, stickers and raffles to win grand prizes! Are you in? Register today! Don't miss your chance to join the largest M365 focused conference of the year. Ways to save: Use CODE: SAVE150 for $150 USD off registration. M365CON26 Grant Program (For Non-profits & Small Business) See if you qualify for a deep discount or free pass for Microsoft 365 Community Conference. Small Businesses & Non-profits are eligible to apply for a free pass grant (government organizations do not quality). Read on for more details about what to expect, and we hope to see you there! High-level conference schedule *subject to change – check back for updates Sunday, April 19, 2026 – Workshop Day 9:00 AM- 4:00 PM Workshops Monday, April 20, 2026 – Workshop Day 9:00 AM- 4:00 PM Workshops Tuesday, April 21, 2026 –Conference Session Day 7:00 AM- 8:15 AM Continental Breakfast 8:30 AM- 5:00 PM Keynotes and Sessions 5:00 PM- 6:30 PM Conference Opening Recep7on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 – Conference Session Day 7:00 AM- 8:00 AM Continental Breakfast 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Keynotes and Sessions 5:00 PM - 6:15 PM Networking and T-shirt pick up in Expo Hall 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM Attendee Party Universal Islands of Adventure Thursday April 23, 2026 – Conference Session Day 7:30 AM– 8:45 AM Continental Breakfast 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM Keynotes and Sessions Friday April 24, 2026 – Workshop Day 8:00 AM - 3:00 PM Workshops Check out the keynotes and speakers Catch the speakers and sessions that matter most to you, and your customers. Keynote: Building for the Future: Microsoft 365, Agents and AI, What's New and What's Next Jeff Teper, President, Collaborative Apps and Platforms, Microsoft Tuesday, April 21, 8:30-9:30 AM Keynote: Business Apps and Agents Ryan Cunningham, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Tuesday, April 21, 9:30-10:20 AM Keynote: Securing AI: Building Trust in the Era of AI Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Security Business Wednesday, April 22, 8:00-9:15 AM Keynote: The Future of Work Fireside Keynote Jamie Teevan, Ph.D., Chief Scientist and Technical Fellow, Microsoft Thursday, April 23, 2:15-3:15 PM Keynote: From Momentum to Movement: Where Community Goes Next Karuana Gatimu, Director of Customer Advocacy, AI and Collaboration, Microsoft Heather Cook, Principal PM Manager, Global Community Evangelism and Events Customer Advocacy Group, Microsoft 365 Thursday, April 23, 3:15-4:15 PM Full session list 200+ sessions and workshops If you’re interested in learning how Microsoft is shaping the future of work—there’s a session for you. Join Microsoft experts, MVPs, and community leaders as you find out about the latest product innovations and AI-powered tools. Discover what’s new with Microsoft 365 Copilot, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, Copilot Studio, and much more. Check out the full catalog > Explore sessions by day: Tuesday, April 21, 2026 – Conference Session Day 10:55 AM - 11:15 AM | Building AI Agents for Communities: How Viva Engage + Copilot Supercharge Organizational Insight Speaker: Spencer Perry and Ramya Rajasekhar 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | Featured Session: Your Guide What’s New in Teams: Collaboration, Communication, and Copilot Speaker: Chandra Chivukula and Ilya Bukshteyn 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | Breaking In, Leveling Up: Navigating Tech Careers with Community Speaker: Heather Cook and Nisaini Rexach (CELA) 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | OneDrive: Your Hub for Productivity and Collaboration Excellence Speaker: Carter Green and Arvind Mishra 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | From Chaos to AI-Ready in 30 Days: Meet the SharePoint Admin Agent Speaker: Dieter Jansen and Dave Minasyan 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | Leveraging SQL database in Fabric to implement RAG patterns using Vector search Speaker: Sukhwant Kaur 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | How Microsoft Actually Builds Copilot Agents Speaker: Kristina Marko and Clint Williams 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | Copilot Studio Governance for Public Sector Speaker: William McLendon and Richie Wallace 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | AI-Powered Collaboration: Unlocking Your Employee Knowledge Base in Engage Speaker: Allison Michels and Ramya Rajasekhar 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | From Data to Decisions: How Copilot in VS Code Empowers Research and Enterprise Teams Speaker: Semir Sarajlic and Olesya Sarajlic, PhD 1:40 PM - 2:00 PM | Deep dive into Agent insights and content governance across SharePoint and Microsoft 365 Speaker: Nikita Bandyopadhyay 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Agent Lifecycle Management and Governance leveraging FastTrack Speaker: Pratik Bhusal and Azharullah Meer 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Evolving channels to be the hub for collaboration in M365 Speakers: Roshin Lal Ramesan and Derek Snook 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Employee Voice Reinvented: Gathering Insights with Next-Gen Feedback Agents Speaker: Caribay Garcia and Alisa Liddle 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Fireside Chat: Being an Effective Leader with AI Speaker: Karuana Gatimu 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Inside Microsoft: Reclaiming Engineering Time with AI in Azure DevOps Speaker: Apoorv Gupta and Gopal Panigrahy 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Featured Session: OneDrive in Action: Transforming Industries, Empowering Success Speaker: Vishal Lodha, Arwa Tyebkhan, and Jason Moore 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Demystifying Copilot and AI experiences on Windows Speaker: Anupam Pattnaik 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Work IQ fundamentals Speaker: Ben Summers 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Copilot "Employee Agents" Speaker: Kyle Von Haden 2:30 PM - 2:50 PM | FastTrack your M365 Deployment Speaker: Pratik Bhusal and Jeffrey Manning 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM | Protect and govern agents with Microsoft Purview Speaker: Nishan DeSilva and Shilpa Ranganathan 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM | Mission Readiness - Cybersecurity and Copilot in the Public Sector Speaker: Karuana Gatimu 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM | A New Way of Building! Child Agents, Instructions, and Descriptions Speaker: Dewain Robinson and Grant Gieszler 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM | Start your adoption journey with adoption.microsoft.com Speaker: Jessie Hwang 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM | Copilot readiness & resiliency with M365 Backup & Archive Speaker: Sree Lakshmi and Eshita Priyadarshini 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM | Protection in Teams as Modern Threats Evolve Speaker: Srisudha Mahadevan and Harshal Gautam 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM | Meet AI in SharePoint Speaker: Cory Newton-Smith and Julie Seto 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM | Featured Session: Engage everywhere: communities, events, and storylines in Teams, powered by AI Speaker: Jeanette Vikbacka Castaing, Jason Mayans, Steve Nguyen, and Murali Sitaram 3:30 PM - 3:50 PM | From Slack to Teams: What’s New and How We Make the Move Easy Speaker: Roshin Lal Ramesan and Arun Das 3:55 PM - 4:15 PM | How Microsoft Digital adopted Baseline Security Mode to improve Microsoft's security posture Speaker: Adriana Wood 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | Featured Session: Agent 365: The control plane for all Agents Speaker: Nikita Bandyopadhyay and Sesha Mani 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | Customer/Partner spotlight: Microsoft 365 Backup Speaker: Saumitra Bhide and Brad Gussin 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | Demystifying Multiagent (Child / Connected) and Component Collection Speaker: Bobby Chang and Dewain Robinson 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | Turning AI Potential into High-Impact AI Business Cases and ROI Speaker: April Delsing and Olga Gordon 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | Leading Workforce Transformation: The Art and Science of Skilling Your People Speaker: Karuana Gatimu 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | Seamless External Collaboration for all customer engagements Speaker: Nitesh Golchha 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | Leading Workforce Transformation: The Art and Science of Skilling Your People Speaker: Jessie Hwang 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | Community in the Age of AI—Humans at the Center of Copilot Adoption Speaker: Sarah Lundy, Allison Michels, and Alex Snyder 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | What's new with Copilot and Office: Word, Excel, Power Point Agent Mode and Agents Speakers: Trevor O'Brien and Dan Parish 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | Understanding Work IQ API Speaker: Paolo Pialorsi Wednesday, April 22, 2026 – Conference Session Day 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM | Building for the future: Microsoft 365, Agents and AI, what's new and what's next Speaker: Jeff Teper 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM | Business Apps & Agents Keynote Speaker: Ryan Cunningham 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM | Empowering Community Builders: Join MGCI & CommunityDays.org Speaker: Heather Cook, Bryan Hart and Emily Hove 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM | The Communicator’s Guide to Viva Engage: Making Comms Relevant in Your AI Transformation Speaker: Najla Dadmand, Sarah Lundy, and Dan Mulcahey 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM | Top Wins - Copilot and Agents for Non Profit Speaker: Karuana Gatimu 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM | Empowering Community Builders: Join MGCI & CommunityDays.org Speaker: Heather Cook, Bryan Hart and Emily Hove 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM | The Communicator’s Guide to Viva Engage: Making Comms Relevant in Your AI Transformation Speaker: Najla Dadmand, Sarah Lundy, and Dan Mulcahey 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM | From Chaos to Clarity: Hyper automation That Actually Works Speaker: Danielle Moon 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM | The Communicator’s Guide to Viva Engage: Making Comms Relevant in Your AI Transformation Speaker: Najla Dadmand, Sarah Lundy, and Dan Mulcahey 10:15 AM - 11:00 AM | Supercharge Your Agents with Computer Use in Copilot Studio Speaker: Sravani Seethi and Phi-Lay Nguyen 10:55 AM - 11:15 AM | Building AI Agents for Communities: How Viva Engage + Copilot Supercharge Organizational Insight Speaker: Spencer Perry and Ramya Rajasekhar 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | Featured Session: Your Guide What’s New in Teams: Collaboration, Communication, and Copilot Speaker: Chandra Chivukula and Ilya Bukshteyn 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | Breaking In, Leveling Up: Navigating Tech Careers with Community Speaker: Heather Cook and Nisaini Rexach (CELA) 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | OneDrive: Your Hub for Productivity and Collaboration Excellence Speaker: Carter Green and Arvind Mishra 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | From Chaos to AI-Ready in 30 Days: Meet the SharePoint Admin Agent Speaker: Dieter Jansen and Dave Minasyan 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | Leveraging SQL database in Fabric to implement RAG patterns using Vector search Speaker: Sukhwant Kaur 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | How Microsoft Actually Builds Copilot Agents Speaker: Kristina Marko and Clint Williams 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | Copilot Studio Governance for Public Sector Speaker: William McLendon and Richie Wallace 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | AI-Powered Collaboration: Unlocking Your Employee Knowledge Base in Engage Speaker: Ramya Rajasekhar and Allison Michels 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | From Chaos to AI-Ready in 30 Days: Meet the SharePoint Admin Agent Speaker: Dieter Jansen and Dave Minasyan 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | AI-Powered Collaboration: Unlocking Your Employee Knowledge Base in Engage Speaker: Ramya Rajasekhar and Allison Michels 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | From Data to Decisions: How Copilot in VS Code Empowers Research and Enterprise Teams Speaker: Semir Sarajlic and Olesya Sarajlic, PhD 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | How Microsoft Actually Builds Copilot Agents Speaker: Kristina Marko and Clint Williams 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM | An AI Powered Communication and Operational Efficiency Blueprint for Frontline Teams Speaker: Vishal Anil and Amarjit Prasad 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM | Connected Collaboration: The Future of Sharing in M365 Speaker: Miceile Barrett and Phaneendra Sai Sristi 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM | Use data, insights, and employee listening to build your comms strategy Speaker: Amy Morris, Paula Wellings, and John Cirone 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM | The Power Apps Builder’s Guide for Choosing the Right Path Speaker: April Dunnam 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM | What's new in the Microsoft 365 Copilot app: Your starting place for AI at work Speaker: Andrea Lum and Constance Gervais 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM | The Future of SharePoint Extensibility: What's New, What's Next Speaker: Alex Terentiev and Vesa Juvonen 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM | Using SharePoint AI to solve Business Processes Speaker: Kristen Kamath, Nate Tennant, and Alexander Spitsyn 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM | The Future of SharePoint: AI ready to discover, publish and build. Speaker: Kripal Kavi and Sarah Mathurin 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM | Secure and Govern Microsoft 365 Copilot - What Every IT Pro Needs to Know Speaker: Sophie Ke 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM | What's new in the Microsoft 365 Copilot app: Your starting place for AI at work Speaker: Andrea Lum and Constance Gervais 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM | An AI Powered Communication and Operational Efficiency Blueprint for Frontline Teams Speaker: Vishal Anil and Amarjit Prasad 1:30 PM - 2:15 PM | The Future of SharePoint Extensibility: What's New, What's Next Speaker: Alex Terentiev and Vesa Juvonen 1:35 PM - 1:55 PM | Modernizing Federal Security for the AI Era: Deploying Copilot in GCC High and DoW Speaker: William McLendon and Richie Wallace 1:40 PM - 2:00 PM | Deep dive into Agent insights and content governance across SharePoint and Microsoft 365 Speaker: Nikita Bandyopadhyay 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Agent Lifecycle Management and Governance leveraging FastTrack Speaker: Pratik Bhusal and Azharullah Meer 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Evolving channels to be the hub for collaboration in M365 Speaker: Chandra Chivukula, Roshin Lal Ramesan, and Chandrika Duggirala 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Employee Voice Reinvented: Gathering Insights with Next-Gen Feedback Agents Speaker: Caribay Garcia and Alisa Liddle 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Fireside Chat: Being an Effective Leader with AI Speaker: Karuana Gatimu 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Inside Microsoft: Reclaiming Engineering Time with AI in Azure DevOps Speaker: Apoorv Gupta and Gopal Panigrahy 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Featured Session: OneDrive in Action: Transforming Industries, Empowering Success Speaker: Vishal Lodha, Jason Moore, and Arwa Tyebkhan 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Work IQ fundamentals Speaker: Ben Summers 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Copilot "Employee Agents" Speaker: Kyle Von Haden 2:30 PM - 2:50 PM | FastTrack your M365 Deployment Speaker: Pratik Bhusal and Jeffrey Manning 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM | Protect and govern agents with Microsoft Purview Speaker: Nishan DeSilva, Shilpa Ranganathan 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM | Mission Readiness - Cybersecurity and Copilot in the Public Sector Speaker: Karuana Gatimu 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM | A New Way of Building! Child Agents, Instructions, and Descriptions Speaker: Dewain Robinson and Grant Gieszler 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM | Start your adoption journey with adoption.microsoft.com Speaker: Jessie Hwang 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM | Copilot readiness & resiliency with M365 Backup & Archive Speaker: Sree Lakshmi and Eshita Priyadarshini 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM | Protection in Teams as Modern Threats Evolve Speaker: Srisudha Mahadevan and Harshal Hautam 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM | Featured Session: Engage everywhere: communities, events, and storylines in Teams, powered by AI Speaker: Jeanette Vikbacka Castaing, Jason Mayans, Steve Nguyen, and Murali Sitaram 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM | Meet AI in SharePoint Speaker: Cory Newton-Smith and Julie Seto 3:30 PM - 3:50 PM | From Slack to Teams: What’s New and How We Make the Move Easy Speaker: R Roshin Lal Ramesan and Arun Das 3:55 PM - 4:15 PM | How Microsoft Digital adopted Baseline Security Mode to improve Microsoft's security posture Speaker: Adriana Wood 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | Featured Session: Agent 365: The control plane for all Agents Speaker: Nikita Bandyopadhyay and Sesha Mani 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | Demystifying Multiagent (Child / Connected) and Component Collection Speaker: Bobby Chang and Dewain Robinson 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | Turning AI Potential into High-Impact AI Business Cases and ROI Speaker: April Delsing and Olga Gordon 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | Leading Workforce Transformation: The Art and Science of Skilling Your People Speaker: Karuana Gatimu 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | Seamless External Collaboration for all customer engagements Speaker: Nitesh Golchha 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | Customer/Partner spotlight: Microsoft 365 Backup Speaker: Brad Gussin and Saumitra Bhide 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | Leading Workforce Transformation: The Art and Science of Skilling Your People Speaker: Jessie Hwang 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | Community in the Age of AI—Humans at the Center of Copilot Adoption Speaker: Sarah Lundy, Allison Michels, and Alex Snyder 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | What's new with Copilot and Office: Word, Excel, Power Point Agent Mode and Agents Speaker: Trevor O'Brien and Dan Parish 4:15 PM - 5:00 PM | Understanding Work IQ API Speaker: Paolo Pialorsi Thursday April 23, 2026 – Conference Session Day 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM | Microsoft Lists Speaker: Mitalee Mulpuru and Arjun Tomar 10:55 AM - 11:15 AM | Building AI Agents for Communities: How Viva Engage + Copilot Supercharge Organizational Insight Speakers: Spencer Perry and Ramya Rajasekhar 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | Featured Session: Your Guide What’s New in Teams: Collaboration, Communication, and Copilot Speakers: Ilya Bukshteyn and Chandra Chivukula 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | Breaking In, Leveling Up: Navigating Tech Careers with Community Speaker: Heather Cook 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | OneDrive: Your Hub for Productivity and Collaboration Excellence Speaker: Carter Green and Arvind Mishra 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | From Chaos to AI-Ready in 30 Days: Meet the SharePoint Admin Agent Speaker: Dieter Jansen and Dave Minasyan 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | Leveraging SQL database in Fabric to implement RAG patterns using Vector search Speaker: Sukhwant Kaur 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | How Microsoft Actually Builds Copilot Agents Speaker: Kristina Marko and Clint Williams 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | AI-Powered Collaboration: Unlocking Your Employee Knowledge Base in Engage Speaker: Ramya Rajasekhar and Allison Michels 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | From Chaos to AI-Ready in 30 Days: Meet the SharePoint Admin Agent Speaker: Dieter Jansen and Dave Minasyan 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | From Data to Decisions: How Copilot in VS Code Empowers Research and Enterprise Teams Speaker: Semir Sarajlic and Olesya Sarajlic, PhD 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM | Copilot Studio Governance for Public Sector Speaker: William McLendon and Richie Wallace 1:40 PM - 2:00 PM | Deep dive into Agent insights and content governance across SharePoint and Microsoft 365 Speaker: Nikita Bandyopadhyay 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Agent Lifecycle Management and Governance leveraging FastTrack Speaker: Pratik Bhusal and Azharullah Meer 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Evolving channels to be the hub for collaboration in M365 Speakers: Roshin Lal Ramesan and Derek Snook 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Employee Voice Reinvented: Gathering Insights with Next-Gen Feedback Agents Speaker: Caribay Garcia and Alisa Liddle 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Fireside Chat: Being an Effective Leader with AI Speaker: Karuana Gatimu 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Inside Microsoft: Reclaiming Engineering Time with AI in Azure DevOps Speaker: Apoorv Gupta and Gopal Panigrahy 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Featured Session: OneDrive in Action: Transforming Industries, Empowering Success Speaker: Vishal Lodha, Jason Moore, and Arwa Tyebkhan 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Work IQ fundamentals Speaker: Ben Summers 1:45 PM - 2:30 PM | Copilot "Employee Agents" Speaker: Kyle Von Haden 2:30 PM - 2:50 PM | FastTrack your M365 Deployment Speaker: Pratik Bhusal and Jeffrey Manning 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM | Protect and govern agents with Microsoft Purview Speaker: Nishan DeSilva and Shilpa Ranganathan 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM | Mission Readiness - Cybersecurity and Copilot in the Public Sector Speaker: Karuana Gatimu 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM | A New Way of Building! Child Agents, Instructions, and Descriptions Speaker: Dewain Robinson and Grant Gieszler 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM | Start your adoption journey with adoption.microsoft.com Speaker: Jessie Hwang 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM | Copilot readiness & resiliency with M365 Backup & Archive Speaker: Sree Lakshmi and Eshita Priyadarshini 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM | Protection in Teams as Modern Threats Evolve Speaker: Srisudha Mahadevan and Harshal Gautam 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM | Meet AI in SharePoint Speaker: Cory Newton-Smith and Julie Seto 2:45 PM - 3:30 PM | Featured Session: Engage everywhere: communities, events, and storylines in Teams, powered by AI Speaker: Jeanette Vikbacka Castaing, Jason Mayans, Steve Nguyen, and Murali Sitaram 3:30 PM - 4:15 PM | Keynote: From Momentum to Movement: Where Community Goes Next Speakers: Heather Cook and Karuana Gatimu Friday, April 24, 2026 – Workshop Day 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM | Deepening customer connections for your SMB through Teams Speakers: Angela Chin and Prem Mathiyalagan 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM | Cultivating Trust and Leadership Excellence: Strategies for Respect and Empathy in the Workplace Speaker: Heather Cook 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM | Planner, Copilot and Agents: AI Assisted Projects with Work IQ Speakers: Howard Crow and Robyn Guarriello 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM | Microsoft 365 Mergers & Acquisitions Speaker: Vaibhav Gaddam and Subham Dang 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM | Top Wins - Copilot and Agents for Retail Speaker: Karuana Gatimu 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM | Agents are joining the team - build collaborative agents for Microsoft Teams Speaker: Carter Gilliam and Saira Shariff 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM | Prompt to Profit: How Finance Teams Win with M365 Copilot & AI Agents Speaker: Melanie Mayo 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM | Top Wins - Copilot and Agents for Retail Speaker: Danielle Moon and Karuana Gatimu 9:00 AM - 9:45 AM | Microsoft Purview: AI‑-Powered Data Security for Microsoft 365 Speaker: Aashish Ramdas Level up your AI skills and shape the future of your business with Featured Sessions Develop the skills needed to thrive as a Frontier Firm through sessions led by innovators, builders, designers, Microsoft product teams, and MVPs shaping collaboration. Featured Session: Engage everywhere: communities, events, and storylines in Teams, powered by AI with Murali Sitaram, Steve Nguyen, Jason Mayans, and Jeanette Vikbacka Castaing Featured Session: Your Guide What’s New in Teams: Collaboration, Communication, and Copilot with Ilya Bukshteyn and Chandra Chivukula Planner, Copilot and Agents: AI Assisted Projects with WorkIQ with Howard Crow and Robyn Guarriello Lightning Talks: Lightning Talks are fast‑paced, 15‑minute sessions happening live at the Microsoft Booth that are designed to deliver practical insights, real‑world tips, and quick wins you can take back to your team right away. Stop by throughout the day to learn something new, get inspired, and catch a few surprises along the way. You can check the event agenda for session details. Onsite experiences Demo Stations: Visit the demo stations in the Microsoft Booth for guided, live walkthroughs led by Microsoft experts who can answer your questions in real time. Each station is designed to support scenario‑based conversations and hands‑on exploration, so you can dive deeper into the tools and solutions that matter most to your organization. The Microsoft Booth will be open anytime the expo hall is open. Mini LEGO figurines: Build a mini-LEGO figurine as a takeaway after walking through a demo scenario. It is a quick hands-on moment that adds some play and personality to your conference experience and lets you take some fun swag home. Celebrate 25 years of SharePoint Tuesday, April 21, 12:30PM – 1:30PM Celebrate the SharePoint community with the premiere of a new documentary short film at the conference, complete with a true movie‑premiere experience. Designed to honor the impact of SharePoint and Microsoft 365, this special event brings the community together to capture and celebrate the moment in person. Tuesday, April 21, 5PM – 6:30PM Microsoft Booth Join a live panel celebrating 25 years of SharePoint and what is next for the platform and community. Expect reflections, stories, and forward-looking conversations tied to the broader SharePoint at 25 celebration. Surface + Global Skilling Bar: Get hands on with Surface devices while exploring skilling resources designed to help you level up. This activation is being built to connect Surface experiences with AI skilling guidance, including the AI Skills Navigator. Attendees can experience this hands-on learning in the Microsoft booth during expo hall hours. Surface giveaways from raffle: Enter the raffle for a chance to win Surface giveaways and other prizes during the event. Winners are selected as part of the community giveaway experience, so check posted instructions onsite and make sure you enter. Each raffle will take place at the close of expo hall hours at the Microsoft Booth Bring your spirit wear game! We’re bringing the fun to the show floor with themed Costume Spirit Days all week long! Come by the booth in your best look, show off your costume, and score an extra raffle ticket for our daily prize drawing. Product Roundtable Discussions Microsoft wants to hear from you! The Microsoft User Experience Research team is hosting a series of interactive sessions focused on AI-powered experiences across Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, SharePoint, Planner, and Viva Engage. We invite you to join us to share your perspectives, explore emerging ideas, and influence what’s next. Customer feedback is at the heart of our innovation process. Your participation helps ensure that the experiences we are building are useful, intuitive, and grounded in real organizational needs. “At Microsoft, learning from our customers is a privilege and a vital part of our customer-driven innovation process. By sharing your perspectives, you enable us to create solutions that truly meet your needs and enhance your overall experience with Microsoft products.” – Marcella Silva, Partner Director of User Experience Research What you can expect: Interactive Sessions: Participate in hands-on activities and guided discussions with the Microsoft User Experience Research and Product teams. Expert Insights: Learn directly from the teams shaping the experiences you use every day. Exclusive Previews: Get early visibility into current explorations and future directions. Meaningful Connections: Engage with peers and Microsoft teams in a collaborative environment. Community meetups Community meetups are informal, connection‑first gatherings where attendees can meet others who share a role, interest, or identity. Whether you're looking to exchange ideas, grow your network, or find your people within the Microsoft 365 community, these sessions create space for meaningful conversations and authentic connection beyond the conference sessions. How to sign up: Please use this signup sheet to reserve a social meetup with your community. Women in Tech and Allies Lunch Discussion Grab your lunch and network with peers, discuss progress, and focus on how we can continue to make the Microsoft ecosystem the best in the world for supporting women. All individuals are welcome regardless of gender for an open and compassionate conversation on allyship and inclusiveness. The discussion will be hosted by Heather Cook, Principal Customer Experience PM and distinguished panelists including: Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Security Business Jaime Teevan, Chief Scientist & Technical Fellow Lan Ye, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Teams Sumi Singh, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Teams Karuana Gatimu, Director, Customer Advocacy - AI & Collaboration, Microsoft Kate Faaland, Program Manager of Data and AI, AvePoint Reservable podcast room Microsoft FTEs, MVPs, and community leaders can reserve time in the on-site Podcast Room at Microsoft 365 Community Conference to record interviews, podcast episodes, or social content. The space will be equipped with branded backdrops along with professional video and audio equipment to support high quality content creation. Complete the reservation form to request a time slot. Calendar invites will be sent once confirmed. Questions can be directed to Jonathan Jones. Celebrity Meet-n-greet Stop by the Microsoft Community News Desk on Tuesday from 2pm-4pm for a special photo meet and greet. Meet surprise celebrity guests and snap a photo with them at our on site photobooth Get the MVP experience—and don’t forget the photo op! Microsoft MVPs will be on hand throughout the event to share their real-world experience and practitioner insight directly to you. During sessions, our MVPs will share thoughts and brainstorm solutions to challenges as they share practical, scenario‑driven guidance drawn from hands‑on work with Microsoft 365. And of course, the program isn’t over without the annual MVP photo! This will take place at the Innovation Hub (Microsoft Booth) on Tuesday, April 21, at 5:00 PM. Register Today! You’ll find all this and more at Microsoft 365 Community Conference, April 21–23 in Orlando. Register today and don't miss your chance for the largest M365 focused conference of the year. and don't miss your chance for the largest M365 focused conference of the year. Ways to save: Use CODE: SAVE150 for $150 USD off registration. M365CON26 Grant Program (For Non-profits & Small Business) See if you qualify for a deep discount or free pass for Microsoft 365 Community Conference. Small Businesses & Non-profits are eligible to apply for a free pass grant at www.change3e.com/grants (government organizations do not quality). Learn more Visit M365Conf.com and follow the action on: X/Twitter: @M365Conf / #M365Con, @Microsoft365, @MSFTCopilot, @SharePoint, @OneDrive, @MicrosoftTeams, @MSPowerPlat, @Microsoft365Dev, and @MSFTAdoption. And on our Microsoft Community LinkedIn and Learning YouTube channel. Want more information? Check out our library of blogs on topics, speakers, community activities and more: The ultimate Microsoft 365 community event returns with Jeff Teper 5 reasons to attend this year’s event What’s new in Microsoft Teams What to expect from the Copilot & AI sessions MVP experiences Get your company engagement up with Viva Engage Women in Tech at M365 Community Conference Level up your data security Keynotes highlight We hope you will join us in Orlando for an unforgettable week of innovation, inspiration, and community! Get ready to dive into the action with passionate MVPs, Microsoft product leaders, and an incredible lineup of tools like Microsoft 365 Copilot, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, Copilot Studio, Power Platform, Planner, and so much more. Let us make memories and shape the future together!Women are leading the future of intelligent work at Microsoft 365 Community Conference
At the Microsoft 365 Community Conference this April 21–23 in Orlando, we’re proud to spotlight a range of experiences created to support, connect, and celebrate women across the tech community—from leadership panels and networking opportunities to professional development sessions designed to help you grow your impact and your career. Join us for the Women in Tech & Allies Lunch on Wednesday, April 22 sponsored by AvePoint and explore Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Professional Development sessions throughout the week. Be sure to register for the conference so you can dive into all of these activations onsite! A big thank you to the women on the Microsoft 365 Community Conference Community Content Committee, Susan Hanley, Martina Grom who worked on the community session selection for the show. Women in Tech & Allies Lunch Calling all women in tech and allies! Join us on Wednesday April 22, for the Women in Tech & Allies Lunch, your opportunity to network with peers, discuss the unique challenges facing women in the field and brainstorm solutions, and celebrate the talent, expertise, and dexterity that is uniquely you. This community experience, held at the Microsoft 365 Community Conference, April 21–23 in Orlando, is among the most popular moments of the conference year over year, and we want you to be a part of it. This year, we’re splitting the lunch into two segments: we’ll begin with a dynamic executive panel, which will then lead into a networking activation designed to spark connection, allyship, and actionable insights. The executive panel will be hosted by Heather Cook, Microsoft’s Principal Customer Experience Manager. She'll be joined by a powerhouse lineup of panelists, including: Vasu Jakkal, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Security Business Dr. Jaime Teevan, Chief Scientist & Technical Fellow Lan Ye, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Teams Sumi Singh, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Teams Karuana Gatimu, Director, Customer Advocacy - AI & Collaboration, Microsoft Kate Faaland, Program Manager of Data and AI, AvePoint They will discuss how women are utilizing Microsoft’s solutions to shape the Frontier Firm. Heather and the panelists will discuss the challenges they’ve faced as women in tech, as well as support from allies and how innovations in the field have built a foundation for their growth and the growth of their teams. Wristbands for the Women in Tech & Allies Lunch will need to be picked up on-site. And of course, there will be ample opportunities for fun, networking, and swag! Attendees will walk away with Women in Microsoft 365 enamel pins, as well as Women in Power stickers and some great raffle prizes. Plus, they’ll have the opportunity to network with other attendees over a good meal. Don't miss out on the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Professional Development sessions Fireside Chat: Being an Effective Leader with AI with Karuana Gatimu Director, Customer Advocacy - AI & Collaboration, Microsoft Empowering Community Builders: Join MGCI & CommunityDays.org with Heather Cook, Principal PM Manager, Global Community Evangelism & Events Customer Advocacy Group, Microsoft 365, Microsoft, Emily Hove, Global Director, Microsoft Reactor, Microsoft, Bryan Hart, Senior Customer Experience PM, Microsoft Leading Workforce Transformation: The Art and Science of Skilling Your People with Karuana Gatimu, Director, Customer Advocacy - AI & Collaboration, Microsoft, Jessie Hwang, Customer Experience PM, Microsoft 365 Customer Advocacy Group, AI & Collaboration, Microsoft How To Thrive In Your Tech Career: Managing Burnout and Boredom with Adam Harmetz, Vice President of Product, Microsoft Cultivating Trust and Leadership Excellence: Strategies for Respect and Empathy in the Workplace with Heather Cook, Principal PM Manager, Global Community Evangelism & Events Customer Advocacy Group, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Be sure to check out all DEI and Professional Development content in our session catalog and in Whova for additional programming to come Insights, solutions, connection, and good times, what more would you want from an afternoon? Register now and be a part of something special April 21–23. Use the SAVE150 code for $150 USD off current registration pricing.Understanding Azure SQL Data Sync Firewall Requirements
Why IP Whitelisting Is Required and What Customers Should Know Azure SQL Data Sync is commonly used to synchronize data between on‑premises SQL Server databases and Azure SQL Database. While the setup experience is generally straightforward, customers sometimes encounter connectivity or configuration issues that are rooted in network security and firewall behavior. This blog explains why Azure SQL Data Sync requires firewall exceptions, what type of IP addresses may appear in audit logs, and how to approach this topic from a security and documentation standpoint—based on real troubleshooting discussions within the Azure SQL Data Sync ecosystem. The Scenario: Sync Agent Configuration Fails Despite Valid Setup A frequently reported issue occurs when the Azure SQL Data Sync Agent (installed on an on‑premises server) fails to save its configuration. The error typically indicates that a valid agent key is required—even when: The agent key was freshly generated from the Azure SQL Data Sync portal Connection tests succeed The agent has been reinstalled or the server restarted New sync groups were created Despite these efforts, synchronization does not proceed until a specific public IP address is allowed through the Azure SQL Database firewall. Why Firewall Rules Matter for Azure SQL Data Sync Azure SQL Database is protected by a server‑level firewall that blocks all inbound traffic by default. Any external client—including the Data Sync Agent—must be explicitly allowed to connect. In Azure SQL Data Sync: The Data Sync Agent runs on‑premises It connects outbound over TCP port 1433 It uses the public endpoint of the Azure SQL logical server The Azure SQL firewall must allow the public IP address used by the agent If this IP is not allowed, the agent cannot complete configuration or perform synchronization operations—even if authentication and permissions are otherwise correct. Identifying the Required IP Address In the referenced discussion, the required IP address was identified by reviewing Azure SQL audit logs, which revealed connection attempts being blocked at the firewall layer. Once this IP address was added to the Azure SQL server firewall rules, synchronization completed successfully. This highlights an important point: Audit logs can be a reliable way to identify which IP address must be whitelisted when Data Sync connectivity fails. Is This IP Address Owned by Microsoft? Can It Change? A natural follow‑up question is whether the observed IP address is Microsoft‑owned, and whether it can change. From the discussion: Azure SQL Data Sync relies on Microsoft‑managed service infrastructure Some outbound connectivity may originate from Azure service IP ranges Microsoft publishes official IP ranges and service tags for transparency However, documentation does not guarantee that a single static IP will always be used. Customers should therefore treat firewall configuration as a network security requirement, not a one‑time exception. Related Microsoft Resources While Azure SQL Data Sync documentation focuses on setup and troubleshooting, firewall requirements are often implicit rather than explicitly called out. The following Microsoft resources were referenced in the discussion to help customers understand Azure service IP ownership and ranges: Gateway IP addresses – Azure Synapse Analytics Download Azure IP Ranges and Service Tags – Public Cloud These resources can help security teams validate Microsoft‑owned IPs and plan firewall policies accordingly. Key Takeaways for Customers ✅ Azure SQL Data Sync requires firewall access to Azure SQL Database ✅ The public IP used by the Data Sync Agent must be explicitly allowed ✅ Audit logs are useful for identifying blocked IPs ✅ IP addresses may belong to Microsoft infrastructure and can change over time ✅ Firewall configuration is a security prerequisite, not an optional step Closing Thoughts Azure SQL Data Sync operates securely by design, leveraging Azure SQL Database firewall protections. While this can introduce configuration challenges, understanding the network flow and firewall requirements can significantly reduce setup friction and troubleshooting time. If you're implementing Azure SQL Data Sync in a locked‑down network environment, we recommend involving your network and security teams early and validating firewall rules as part of the initial deployment checklist.
Citrix Terminal Server Explorer (network drive) suddenly closes
Windows Explorer sessions on the Citrix terminal server that access a file server (Network Drive) close unexpectedly during file operations. Citrix Terminal Server (Windows 2022) File Server (Windows 2022) Have somebody an Idea? Kind Regards
