CIAOPS - Need to Know podcasts

Episode 77 - David Perks

In this episode I speak the CEO and founder, David Perks, of successful Australia cloud and software developer Within Reach Software. We learn how the new app model from Microsoft along with the migration of collaboration software like SharePoint to the cloud have provided David's business a huge opportunity to grow beyond Australia.

Developing for products like SharePoint Online provide a standard platform on which David can now roll out his software to any tenant in the world. We discuss how custom software and apps are added to SharePoint Online platform and how, if you already have Office 365 you can take advantage of these today.

Resources

Within Reach Software

http://store.office.com

Docusign - https://store.office.com/docusign-for-sharepoint-online-WA104218069.aspx?assetid=WA104218069

Episode 76 - Tas Gray

Tas joins me again to discuss a curly Office 365 and SharePoint Online question - where should you save your document? A SharePoint Team Site or in OneDrive for Business?

There are plenty of good reasons to store your data in each location but what makes the most sense when? Tas shares his experience and thoughts from the field and we come up with some guidelines that you can use to make the decision of where to locate your data easier.

Resources

https://blog.onedrive.com/taking-the-next-step-in-sync-for-onedrive/

http://www.messageops.com/onedrive-vs-sharepoint-comparison-matrix/

Should I save my documents to OneDrive for Business or a team site

Email – tas@axiomit.com.au

Twitter – http://twitter.com/tasgray

Google+ - https://plus.google.com/+TasGrayIT

LinkedIn - http://au.linkedin.com/in/tasgray/

 

Papers / Tools

 

Deploying Office 365 Desktop Apps from a USB drive - http://www.axiomit.com.au/speed-office-365-desktop-application-deployment/

I’ve developed a DNS Configuration tool for Office 365 which is hosted on Azure - https://tools.axiomit.com.au/

Episode 75 - Angus Mansfield

In this episode I’m joined by old friend Angus Mansfield from XCentral to discuss the power of business relationship and the importance of partnerships to any organisation. Angus shares his experiences and insights into what makes a successful relationship and how to ensure that it works to the advantage of both parties. Importantly Angus shares with us how to successfully search out and develop partnerships that provide real benefits for you business.

Resources

Angus Mansfield - Xcentral

Episode 74 - Melanie Gass

In this episode I speak with experienced Office 365 implementer and presenter Melanie Gass. Melanie is also well known as the Microsoft Princess.

We look at the recent changes in Office 365 and how you can keep up to date. We review the Office 365 plans and then take a deeper dive into some of the new products in the Office 365 suite including Delve and Clutter. For resellers we talk about the Microsoft Partner Network and what resources are available.

If you want to learn about the latest with Office 365 as a customer or reseller, this is a not to miss episode.

Resources

www.centerpointsolution.com

Office 365 roadmap 

Office 365 pricing plans 

Delve info 

Clutter information 

Become a Microsoft partner 

Learn more about Microsoft Partner Internal Use Rights 

Cloud SureStep training for Microsoft Partners 

 

Episode 73 - Mark O'Shea

I’m joined by an old friend, MVP Mark O’Shea, to talk reseller opportunities in the Microsoft cloud. We especially look at products like Azure and Intune. Mark gives us his experience and knowledge about really getting into Azure and how it can make a real difference to your business and your customers.

Mark spells out how import Azure is becoming and why resellers really need to start looking into what solutions it can provide from them. You'll also hear more about Intune and role that it can play when coupled with Office 365 and Azure to provide an overall management solution.

Resources

intunedin.net

@intuned

Episode 72 - James Eling

James Eling returns to discuss one of the most important aspects of any organisation, its culture. James shares his insight and experience in developing a sustainable culture that ensures the right people are attracted and retained but it.

This is great episode packed full of great learnings from a very experienced operator. There are plenty of take aways that can be implemented in a business immediately and help you grow a shared set of values that works for a business.

Episode resources

James Eling
www.extremenetworks.com.au
 jeling@extremenetworks.com.au

Episode 71 - Ben Dampney

I this episode I speak with Ben Dampney from DigitIT about one of the biggest challenges in any business, attracting and retaining good staff.

Ben shares his recent experiences with locating his first staff member and the processes and challenges we went through to find the right person for his business. We cover off plenty of strategies you can implement, even if you are not yet quite ready to take the leap into employing that first staff member.

Some great insight and real world experiences shared by Ben here that I think will benefit many, so listen and learn from someone who has already done it.

Resources

DigitIT

The Small Business technology podcast

Episode 70 - James Eling

In this episode I am joined by the owner and managing director of Extreme Networks - James Eling, to talk about the state of play in the SMB IT space. James and I discuss the changes and challenges the cloud is bringing to the segment and the revolution it is especially forcing upon small IT resellers.

James shares his extensive business experience in this warts and all look at the options for SMB IT resellers. Is is perhaps time to consider merging? Acquiring a business? Or perhaps getting out of the game altogether. Some really great and honest feedback from someone who has built a very successful business and continues to transition it every day to something that makes sense. You'll learn a lot from listening to this episode.

Episode resources

James Eling
www.extremenetworks.com.au
 jeling@extremenetworks.com.au

Episode 69 - Tas Gray

I am joined again by Tas Gray from AxiomIT to talk everything Office 365. We talk  about the different plans that are available and what represents the best value. We also a deeper look into the specifics of each plan as well as answer some specific questions when it comes to Office application. You’ll also find some discussion around Azure, network social and the new business model the cloud bring for IT resellers.

Episode resources

The RDS world changes again - http://blog.ciaops.com/2014/10/office-365-rds-world-changes-again.html

Office 365 plans - https://products.office.com/en-us/business/compare-more-office-365-for-business-plans

Installing Office Pro Plus on RDS server - http://blog.powerbiz.net.au/office-365/installing-office365-proplus-on-a-rds-server-terminal-server-using-shared-computer-activation/

Email – tas@axiomit.com.au

Twitter – http://twitter.com/tasgray

Google+ - https://plus.google.com/+TasGrayIT

LinkedIn - http://au.linkedin.com/in/tasgray/

 

Papers / Tools

 

Deploying Office 365 Desktop Apps from a USB drive - http://www.axiomit.com.au/speed-office-365-desktop-application-deployment/

I’ve developed a DNS Configuration tool for Office 365 which is hosted on Azure - https://tools.axiomit.com.au/

Episode 68 - John Liu

Here I speak with SharePoint MVP John Liu about workflows in SharePoint (and in Office 365). We discuss what workflows are, how to create them and what you can do with them. John gives us many examples of where workflows can be used to better automate and optimise a business.

Resources

SharePoint Designer 2013

http://www.microsoft.com/en-au/download/details.aspx?id=35491

 

Visual Studio 2013 Community Edition (with Update 4)

http://www.visualstudio.com/downloads/download-visual-studio-vs

 

 http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sharepointdesigner/

  

@johnnliu

http://johnliu.net

 

 http://sharepoint-videos.com/video-categories/sharepoint-2013-training-courses/sp13-304-sharepoint-designer-2013-workflow-course/

 

http://www.lynda.com/search?q=workflow&f=producttypeid%3a2%094%092015%3bmeta_software_facet%3aSharePoint

http://www.pluralsight.com/search/?searchTerm=sharepoint%20workflow

 

Custom Activities - these can all be used on Office 365 or SP2013 OnPrem

 

Office Dev Patterns and Practices samples

https://github.com/OfficeDev/PnP/tree/master/Samples/Workflow.Activities

 

Codeplex

http://sp2013workflowactivities.codeplex.com/

 

Paul Culmsee has a 12-part multi series that’s very fun to follow

http://www.cleverworkarounds.com/2013/12/21/trials-or-tribulation-inside-sharepoint-2013-workflowspart-1/

 

Plumsail has a pack of custom activities that can be purchased (~$500) and more importantly, support.

http://plumsail.com/workflow-actions-pack/