by Contributed | Nov 5, 2020 | Technology
This article is contributed. See the original author and article here.
It is tough to understate the potential of AI.
Silicon Valley CEOs predict the technology will have an even greater impact than the internet revolution, calling it the biggest trend of the last 30 years while heralding its ability to make medical diagnoses, operate electronic trading platforms, offer remote sensing, and much more.
On the other hand, however, Canadian AI MVP Rahat Yasir points out that many remain apprehensive about the technology’s potential side effects, like job loss, bias, data breaches, and discrimination.
“Unfortunately, we still hear a lot of myths and negative perspectives about AI these days,” Rahat says. “As an individual who is working in this domain for years, I always try to provide unbiased information to our community about AI and educate as many people as possible.”
Through his work in solving a not-for-profit’s challenge of testing thousands of cosmetic products in Quebec, Canada, Rahat is hopeful to demonstrate the good in AI.
Within Canada, ingredients in cosmetics are not reviewed for safety before they are put on the shelves, and nor are producers required to display warnings for toxicity.
While the chemical content of beauty products is displayed on packaging, the average consumer still struggles to decipher the scientific language used by products.
Protégez-Vous! (Protect Yourself!) is a non-profit organization that performs rigorous tests, studies, and surveys on thousands of products sold in the province of Quebec. Before AI, freelancers and internal community users manually collected product information and ingredient lists. Armed with AI, however, the process is automated.
The not-for-profit teamed up with Osedea AI to leverage Microsoft AI technologies like ink recognition, custom object detection, text analytics, OCR, and translation. From a single photo of the product packaging, the AI solution recognizes the language and converts the ingredients list into text.
“This automates the entire process of data collection for community users, with it only taking a few seconds of photo capturing of different products to complete the new data collection process,” says Rahat, who serves as the Lead AI Developer at Osedea AI.
“Often developing AI integrated applications are time-consuming and expensive because of a lack of training data, computational resources, and enough financial assistance,” Rahat says.
“Microsoft AI services helped us to deliver quick product development for Protégez-Vous which is currently used by internal users and getting ready to launch with general customers early next year.”
It is an application like this which makes Rahat optimistic about the future of AI. Last month, Rahat delivered the keynote address of MTL Connecte about AI for safety, security, and a better future.
“AI is saving lives, creating more jobs, increasing productivity, and saving time by bringing automation — and I’m always encouraging everyone to learn about AI technologies and be up to date!”
Rahat, who has served for the past six years as an MVP, says he enjoys sharing his knowledge and contributing to the community by mentoring others and giving feedback to Microsoft product groups. “I am badly missing in-person events and MVP Summit, but I am always in touch with MVPs through online events, social media, online forums,” Rahat says.
For more on Rahat, check out his Twitter @Anind0
by Contributed | Nov 5, 2020 | Technology
This article is contributed. See the original author and article here.
Final Update: Thursday, 05 November 2020 20:51 UTC
We’ve confirmed that all systems are back to normal with no customer impact as of 11/5, 20:22 UTC. Our logs show the incident started on 11/5, 19:45 UTC and that during the 37 minutes that it took to resolve the issue 166 customers experienced latent log ingestion and possible data gaps.
- Root Cause: The failure was due to backend cache being pushed past an operational threshold. The system was scaled out to mitigate the issue.
- Incident Timeline: 37 minutes – 11/5, 19:45 UTC through 11/5, 20:22 UTC
We understand that customers rely on Azure Log Analytics as a critical service and apologize for any impact this incident caused.
-Jeff
Initial Update: Thursday, 05 November 2020 20:13 UTC
We are aware of issues within Log Analytics and are actively investigating. Some customers in East US 2 region may be experiencing intermittent data gaps.
- Next Update: Before 11/05 22:30 UTC
We are working hard to resolve this issue and apologize for any inconvenience.
-Jeff
by Contributed | Nov 5, 2020 | Technology
This article is contributed. See the original author and article here.
The recent shift towards remote work has accelerated digital transformation. End users are increasingly collaborating in chat-based workspaces like Microsoft Teams and Yammer, resulting in new types of data that are more dynamic than email and more complex to discover. We are excited to share several new capabilities that improve eDiscovery workflows efficiently with Advanced eDiscovery and enhance forensic investigations with Advanced Audit.
References:
This webinar was presented on October 19th, 2020, and the recording can be found here.
Attached to this post is the FAQ document that summarizes the questions and answers that came up over the course of both Webinars.
Thanks to those of you who participated during the two sessions and if you haven’t already, don’t forget to check out our resources available on the Tech Community.
Thanks!
@LaurenVaughn on behalf of the MIP and Compliance CXE team
by Contributed | Nov 5, 2020 | Technology
This article is contributed. See the original author and article here.
Microsoft offers an official IoT Developer Specialty Certification which requires passing the AZ-220 Certification Exam. This exam content was updated on September 24, 2020 and includes new areas of focus. I successfully passed this exam on October 29, 2020 and in this post will be sharing my preparation strategy in the hopes that it might assist others in completing the examination and obtaining an official designation as a “Microsoft Certified Azure IoT Developer”!
How do I know which topics to focus on, what skills does the AZ-220 exam measure?
The AZ-220 Microsoft IoT Developer examination measures the skills outlined in this document. What is interesting to note, is that the various topics / sub-sections are basically titles pulled directly from official Azure IoT related documentation available on docs.microsoft.com. This is important because, I found during my taking of practice exams and the official examination that many of the questions were rooted primarily in the official documentation content! So much so, that I would place a bet that the authors of the examination literally consulted the official documentation while creating the actual AZ-220 exam questions. Thus, I have provided below, the skills mentioned in the aforementioned document, with an additional enhancement to those line-items in the form of hyperlinks which point to the relevant documentation entry on docs.microsoft.com.
Be warned that it is not advised that one only prepare for the AZ-220 exam by merely “reading the docs”, practical application is arguably the most important preparation technique as it can create experiences that you can later draw on during test time. We will discuss resources which enforce practical application in the subsequent section.
Skills Measured
NOTE: The bullets that appear below each of the skills measured are intended to illustrate how
we are assessing that skill. This list is not definitive or exhaustive.
NOTE: In most cases, exams do NOT cover preview features, and some features will only be
added to an exam when they are GA (General Availability).
Implement the IoT Solution Infrastructure (15-20%)
Create and configure an IoT Hub
Build device messaging and communication
Configure physical IoT devices
Provision and manage devices (20-25%)
Implement the Device Provisioning Service (DPS)
Manage the device lifecycle
Manage IoT devices by using IoT Hub
Build a solution by using IoT Central
Implement Edge (15-20%)
Set up and deploy an IoT Edge device
Develop modules
Configure an IoT Edge device
Process and manage data (15-20%)
Configure routing in Azure IoT Hub
Configure stream processing
Configure an IoT solution for Time Series Insights (TSI)
Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize IoT solutions (15-20%)
Configure health monitoring
Troubleshoot device communication
Perform end-to-end solution testing and diagnostics
Implement security (15-20%)
Implement device authentication in the IoT Hub
Implement device security by using DPS
Implement Azure Security Center (ASC) for IoT
Where can I learn how to apply the concepts measured on the AZ-220 exam in a practical / hands-on manner?
In February of 2020, the initial AZ-220 Developer exam beta was being written and at the time, a series of lab exercises were developed to prepare the initial set of test takers on the concepts that the exam would cover. Those original labs exist today at http://aka.ms/az220labs but have since evolved into a more modern and interactive format on the Microsoft Learn Platform. As one of the authors for these Learn Modules, I can assure you that the core concepts are retained, but amplified with the ability to complete the exercises using the 100% free Microsoft Learn Azure Sandbox in addition to some updates and modernization of content where applicable. In fact, you will notice that many of these Learn Modules actually have the same exact titles as the original AZ-220 labs! Thus, the secret I am about to reveal here is that you can obtain practical experience using actual the free Azure access provided by the Microsoft Learn Azure Sandbox at zero cost by completing the following Learning Paths on MS Learn which are based on the original AZ-220 preparedness labs! Below I have provided links to those Learning Paths and the Modules contained within.
Introduction to Azure IoT – Learning Path
Securely Connect IoT Devices to the Cloud
Build the Intelligent Edge with Azure IoT Edge
Develop IoT solutions with Azure IoT Central
I prefer to learn at my leisure with video content, are there any resources that cover the materials in the official docs and Microsoft Learn that I can watch?
In July 2020, in preparation for upcoming changes to the AZ-220 exam content which was updated on September 24, 2020 (Fun Fact: Coincidentally my birthday!), the IoT Advocacy team at Microsoft developed a 5 part video series that covers 60-70% of the AZ-220 exam content. Pretty much everything is covered with the exception of Implement security (15-20%) & Monitor, troubleshoot, and optimize IoT solutions (15-20%).
That content can be viewed and consumed at http://aka.ms/iotlp/blog or by clicking the image below:
So far, all of the AZ-220 prep materials that you shared are 100% free which is awesome, but what are your thoughts on paid courses / practice exams, are there any recommendations?
There is an official instructor led training for the AZ-220 Exam, which consists of 4 days of instruction with a Microsoft Certified Trainer. I have not used this service personally but understand that the content and instructors are vetted and would assume it is of high quality.
Diana Phillips from the One Commercial Partner Group at Microsoft runs a similar but 100% free study group that you can learn more about and enroll in at this link. You could almost think of it as a free alternative to the above resource which also provides video resources, prescribed homework assignments, and is rooted in the lab content mentioned previously at http://aka.ms/az220labs.
There is also an official practice exam offered by MindHub Inc., which provides access to approximately 100+ sample exam questions that are provided in a format very similar to the actual exam. You can sample what the question format for this practice test at this link. Full-time Microsoft employees may be able to access these materials at https://mslibrary.measureup.com/. I relied on this resource very heavily in the days leading up to my official examination. On my first attempt at the practice exam I scored ~70%, but noticed that the report literally breaks down into sections that map 1:1 to the skills measured!
Thus, I could zero in on the exact sections I needed to brush up on and soon after was scoring in the high 80-90% range!
I continued forth by completing a grand total of 4 practice exams before I decided to go up for the final exam where I scored an 800 out of 1000 on my first attempt! (Note: a 700 or higher is required to pass).
Summary
The AZ-220 Certification Exam covers a broad range of topics related to Azure IoT Services and the underlying technologies that make it work. If you regularly work with these technologies and want to try your hand at the exam, you can try a free practice exam right now at this link.
Personally, I preferred to learn most of the content by following the Learn Modules and creating / reviewing the IoT Event Learning Path videos, then moved onto the official practice exam offered by MindHub Inc., then I used the results of my practice exams to hone in on the documentation areas that I needed to focus on. Once I could consistently score in the high 80s / low 90s on the practice exam I believe I was more than ready.
If you have taken the exam or are currently preparing, let us know about your experience in the comments. We have a great conversation space right here on the IoT Tech Community where you can ask your questions to the community at large, or feel free to reach out to me directly on twitter @pjdecarlo if you need any assistance. We wish everyone luck on their journey to become an officially certified Azure IoT Developer.
by Contributed | Nov 5, 2020 | Technology
This article is contributed. See the original author and article here.
What is Android Work Profile?
Android Work Profile (AWP) is the Android Enterprise feature that keeps your phone’s personal information private and separate from work while offering secure access to your work resources—all on one device. With Google’s movement from legacy Device Admin deployment to Android Enterprise, admins will have restricted access to user’s devices.
How can I get AWP for my Android device?
If your organization supports Android Work Profile, they’ll have instructions on how to get it for your device. Learn more about AWP
How to get Microsoft To Do on AWP?
If Microsoft To Do is made available on AWP by your organization, you can download it from the AWP managed Play Store and sign in with your work account. Once you do, you’ll be able to switch between your personal and work accounts by tapping your avatar and selecting which version of To Do you’d like to view. If To Do is not available on your AWP, please contact your IT admin for more details.
How does AWP affect Microsoft To Do?
Your apps and data will be separated into personal and work profiles, which you can switch between with just a tap. On some devices, your personal and work profiles will be shown together, but your work apps will have a briefcase icon in the bottom-right corner.
Since the work profile keeps your personal and work information separately, you’ll no longer see a blended view of work and personal To Do notifications in your notification panel.
Apps in Android Work Profile with a briefcase icon
FAQs:
Will there be any functional changes in To Do app on AWP?
There won’t be any change in To Do functionalities.
Can I use To Do beta program in AWP?
Yes, users can join the beta program available on To Do Play Store page.
Will To Do provide multi-account support on AWP?
Users on the personal profile can log into the To Do app only via personal Microsoft accounts. On AWP, users can log into To Do app using both personal as well as work/school accounts.
Will AWP support the To Do widget?
Yes, the widget will be available for both personal and work profiles and will have multi-account support.
What will be the impact on To Do shared list and reminder notifications in AWP?
On the personal profile, users will not see a change in reminders and shared list notifications. On AWP, reminders and shared list notifications will appear with a briefcase icon.
To Do reminders in Android Work Profile
Contact us for more details:
Email To Do Support at todohelp@microsoft.com
Get started with Microsoft To Do
Follow us on Twitter
Find us on Facebook
by Scott Muniz | Nov 5, 2020 | Security, Technology
This article is contributed. See the original author and article here.
Original release date: November 5, 2020
Cisco has released security updates to address vulnerabilities in multiple Cisco products. An attacker could exploit some of these vulnerabilities to take control of an affected system.
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) encourages users and administrators to review the Cisco Security Advisories page and apply the necessary updates.
This product is provided subject to this Notification and this Privacy & Use policy.
by Contributed | Nov 5, 2020 | Technology
This article is contributed. See the original author and article here.
by Contributed | Nov 5, 2020 | Technology
This article is contributed. See the original author and article here.
The possibilities of tomorrow’s factories are truly limitless as traditional manufacturing and industrial practices are shaken up by modern technology.
Driven by The Internet of Things, The Cloud, Blockchain, AI, and VR/AR — to name but a few — The Fourth Industrial Revolution is expected to produce machines which analyze and diagnose issues with ultimately no paperwork.
It is certainly an exciting development in manufacturing and one which The Microsoft User Group Lyon looks to be at the forefront of. The French group launched Smart Factory initiatives in 2016, an open-source project featuring Microsoft Lab Experiences.
Today, the collaborative platform acts as a mini-factory for enthusiasts to unleash their collective intelligence on new technologies which can be deployed at scale into production factories. The communal project looks to develop tomorrow’s smart factories with hands-on code which can be used and improved by anyone.
Microsoft Azure MVP and Microsoft User Group Lyon Lead Vincent Thavonekham says the platform has evolved into a repository of true industrial 4.0 devices which provide use cases and connect to real industrial equipment.
“Currently, we have more than 100 contributors with various talents. This gives us collective insight on broad topics like 3D Blender, marketing, coding, cartooning, photographs, philosophy, and more!”
Vincent, who is also one of the co-founders of Azure User Group France and a Microsoft Regional Director, says the project provides tangible feedback that goes beyond gadgets so that people can have an illustration of real-life examples on physical industrial equipment.
One successful project, for example, leverages Azure Custom Vision and its object detection capabilities to automatically flag anomalies on a Schneider Electric apparatus. Another project, meanwhile, uses drones to process 42 billion laser dots along 450 kilometres of railroad tracks from Paris to Lyon. Using French tech company VISEO’s custom data model and Azure IoT Edge, the data is now prepared for upload to the Cloud in days instead of weeks.
Further, this solution was used in a real-world scenario by Altametris, a subsidiary of SNCF Réseau. The project analyzed the Cloud data to track and maintain its railroad assets remotely to reduce expenses and increase safety. Special photographic processing on data collected from the drone, meanwhile, enabled teams to view the welds and bolts on bridges to achieve digital inspection rather than manual inspection. Finally, dynamic visualization enabled long-term predictions to be made, like how tall trees would grow under the railway in 20 years, and whether or not they would create safety hazards.
These are next-generation insights which are made possible, Vincent says, thanks to the flexibility of Microsoft’s AI technologies.
“I love the fact that Microsoft brought to the masses such sophisticated technologies, and these technologies also have the ability to allow AI experts to have the freedom to use their own techniques with open-source tools,” he says.
With Smart Factory only growing from strength to strength, Vincent says it is a very exciting time to develop Industry 4.0 solutions with other like-minded MVPs, RDs, teachers, directors, job seekers, trainees, enthusiasts, teenagers and more.
“I love that [as an MVP] I can count on the help of a friendly community that is always ready at any time and in any country,” Vincent says. “[Being an MVP] is like a badge which opens many doors that I wouldn’t have dared to open otherwise.”
For more on Smart Factory, check out the GitHub page.
by Scott Muniz | Nov 5, 2020 | Security
This article was originally posted by the FTC. See the original article here.
Scammers follow the headlines. They take advantage of what’s happening in the news to find new ways to get people to part with their money. During the COVID pandemic, cleaning supplies have been in high demand, but often in short supply. Scammers see that as opportunity knocking.
Brought to you by Dr. Ware, Microsoft Office 365 Silver Partner, Charleston SC.
by Contributed | Nov 5, 2020 | Technology
This article is contributed. See the original author and article here.
Initial Update: Thursday, 05 November 2020 13:05 UTC
We are aware of issues within Application Insights and Log Search alerts and are actively investigating. Some customers may experience Data access issues or delayed/missed Log Search alerts for resources hosted in West US2 region.
- Work Around: None
- Next Update: Before 11/05 16:30 UTC
We are working hard to resolve this issue and apologize for any inconvenience.
-Harshita
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