Many customers have been most interested in the cut-over deadline to make sure they transit in time and perform necessary steps for Skype for Business upgrade. Microsoft has answered to that and if you are following the recent news on “Skype shutting down”, the deadline is: July 31, 2021.

However, till that time, business can still use Skype for Business Online and continue to add users till the deadline approaches. After that the option to select Skype for Business Online will be diminished and all O365 customers will automatically be on boarded into Teams.

Microsoft Teams feature similarity to Skype for business Online

Microsoft has assured in repeated blogs that Teams will incorporate all features of Skype for business Online. However, in another earlier blogpost from Microsoft, it is revealed that there are a few more enhanced features incorporated in Teams like:

• Dynamic 911: This feature makes use of user’s current calling location and route it to a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) call center that is operated by local government.
• Contact Center Integration and Compliance Recording: Teams will be equipped with contact-center capabilities and Microsoft is working on it with different certified partners.
• Teams and Skype Consumer Interoperability: This one is very important. While the hype on the news about “Skype Shutting Down” was created, Microsoft offered a good transition path for Skype for business online customers and has nurtured Interop between Teams and Skype Consumer for using chat and calling. This option will be available in the Q1 of 2020.
• Shorter Retention Periods: this provides the feature of limiting channel and chat retention periods to as small as 1 day! Plus, if data is deleted, it is removed from every permanent storage location.

In order to help users with Moving to Teams from Skype for Business Online, FastTrack onboarding assistance is provided which is a full-fledge training on how to migrate your communication from Skype for business to Microsoft Teams to ease the Skype4B upgrade process.

ALSO READ: Microsoft Teams Features for a better cloud user experience

MachPanel Automation Module for Microsoft Skype for Business

MachPanel is an industry leading full fledge Multi-Cloud Service Orchestration & Delivery Platform (MSOP). It empowers businesses with all the tools needed for successful business automation. Its Automation Module for Microsoft Skype for Business offers Service Providers and Enterprises provides top notch services with features like Enterprise Voice, Billing, Reporting, Dial Plans, Response Groups, Phone Numbers and Persistent Chat. It also provides service providers the flexibility and control to manage their clients and communications infrastructure efficiently by providing a centralized management control panel for Providers, Resellers and End Customers.

Get Started with MachPanel and experience cloud business provision and automation like never before.

Lets TalkRequest a Demo

The post “Skype for Business in Shutting Down”: Mark your calendars as Microsoft makes the move appeared first on MachSol Blog.

Skype for Business Online to Teams Framework

Microsoft has been assisting in introducing new ways to upgrade to upgrade from Skype for Business Online to Teams. Recently, a Skype for Business Online to Teams Framework was introduced for a smooth and streamlined end-to-end approach of upgrading Skype for Business Online to Teams. In this Way all tasks are shifted smoothly from Skype for Business Online to Teams. In this method, the process is broken down into 5 different steps:

• Define Core Stakeholders of the Project
• Define the Scope of the Project
• Devise a plan for user Readiness and Technical Readiness
• Deploy and implement plan
• Practice Operational Excellence

The Upgrade Timeline

Microsoft has also put forward an upgrade Timeline in order to make sure that all the up gradations are done in a phase-by phase manner and no step is missed which leads to anomalous switch. There are three basic phases: the Pre-Upgrade Phase, the Upgrade Phase and the Post- Upgrade phase.

The Pre upgrade phase: In this phase, there are a number of Sub-phases each with a different purpose.

• Planning: In this step, the stake holders are defined along with the scope and vision of upgrade from Skype for Business Online to Teams. Goals, risks and risk mitigation plans are identified. An upgrade timeline is defined along with appropriate upgrade & coexistence strategy
• Preparing: In this phase, the environment and organizational readiness to change is assessed, networks are optimized and users are prepared for the upgrade. Further, the launch date of Teams into the organization is announced and the IT staff is prepared for Microsoft Teams.
• Running Pilot: the pilot logistics are outlined, participants and test scenarios are selected. Then, test plans are designed and the pilot is conducted. Once pilot is run, learning’s are assessed before Deployment is done from Skype for Business Online to Teams.
• Deploying Teams along with Skype for Business Online: In this phase, Teams is launched and both S4B and Teams are run in parallel. It is important to stay informed of the Teams roadmap.

Upgrade phase: in this phase, the actual upgrade is implemented from Skype for Business Online to Teams. Before executing the upgrade, it is important to know if all pre-upgrade activities are done. First upgrade group communication is initiated, coexistence mode is set to “Teams Only” mode for first group and then for all preceding groups and at the end, post-upgrade feedback survey is sent.

The Post Upgrade Phase: In this phase the success of upgrade is measured. Mitigation plans are also implemented and network health is monitored using automated tools.

MachPanel and Automation module for Skype for Business Server 2019

MachPanel offers Complete Orchestration for Hosted Skype for Business (on-premises) for Service Providers and Enterprises. The Automation module for Microsoft Skype for business Server 2019 (on-premises) offers Enterprise Voice, Billing, Reporting, Dial Plans, Response Groups, Phone Numbers and Persistent Chat all supported. Service providers can effectively manage their clients and communication infrastructure since this module of MachPanel offers end-to-end automation. It also offers Dial IN Conferencing, SIP gateways, Private Labeling, Scalability & Security, exactly what you need to move forward in the digital communication business.

Get your hands on MachPanel and get all the assistance needed to deploy Skype for Business Server  2019 (on-premises) to stay in line with the latest Unified Communication trends in cloud business.

Lets TalkRequest a Demo

The post A look into Upgrading from Skype4B Online to Teams – 2019 Edition appeared first on MachSol Blog.

What is OAuth 2.0?

Typically, OAuth 2.0 authorization protocol is used for providing authentication to specific flows to third party apps. This is one step ahead of the original OAuth authorization protocol. It provides authorization flows for desktop applications, web applications, mobile phones, and smart devices.

The changes to be implemented

The phones will require applying a firmware update with the consent of the organization.  The Partners of Microsoft phone like AudioCodes, Polycom, Yealink and Crestron have almost finalized the new OAuth 2.0 firmware updates for Skype for Business user’s phones. In order to stay in-line with Microsoft’s implementation of OAuth 2.0 authorization protocol, IT professionals will have to apply firmware, as mentioned earlier, and they also have to agree to the terms and conditions of using the new firmware through “consent URL”. By means of a consent URL, each vendor will have to provide the consent only once and not for every phone device.

Who will be affected?

The update is applicable to those Skype for Business Users who are using phones having a 3PIP firmware using a Skype for Business Online environment and to Skype for Business hybrid w/ Modern Auth enabled. Those customers who have adopted 3PIP firmware but have an on-premises setup of Skype for Business deployed are not affected by this update. In addition to this, customers with a Skype for Business hybrid but Modern Auth disabled are also not going to be affected from this Microsoft announcement with the implementation of OAuth 2.0 authorization protocol.

ALSO READ: Get to know everything about Skype for Business 2019

MachPanel and Automation module for Skype for Business Server 2019

MachPanel is a full-fledged business automation tool which provides deployment services for Skype for business Server 2019 to its customers. It supports Enterprise Voice, Persistent Chat, Billing, Reporting, Dial Plans, Phone Numbers and Response Groups. MachPanel is a multi-tenant Control Panel that provides you all it takes for a successful Skype for business deployment and after deployment support. The complete control panel serves all Skype for Business Users: Providers, Resellers and End Customers equally.

Stick around for more latest announcement from Microsoft regarding OAuth 2.0 authorization protocol and get your hands on MachPanel for best-in-line Skype for business server 2019, news, updates and services for a progressive cloud business.

Lets TalkRequest a Demo

The post What Changes OAuth 2.0 brings to Skype for Business Users appeared first on MachSol Blog.

With the general availability of Microsoft Skype for business server 2019, there is a hype to know what features are actually present in the final release, as promised in the public preview. Since Microsoft is showing Cloud-first approach for most of its products, this was the most awaited version for the cloud users who were promised a great many features in the public preview. Let’s dig deep into the final release of Microsoft Skype for business Server 2019.

Cloud Services for On-Premises Users

This is the most exciting part of the Microsoft Skype for Business Server 2019. When this version is used in a hybrid topology, on-premises users are able to get their hands on the same apps that the cloud users can get like, for voicemail support, Cloud PBX users use Azure VM and not Exchange Unified Messaging, with Microsoft Skype4B Server 2019, users can leverage the same techniques too. A support is given for Hybrid Modern Authentication for all users. Further Hybrid aware Microsoft Office 365 Portal for Microsoft Skype for Business Server 2019 is introduced which simplifies easier management for Skype for Business Online/On-Premises /Teams.

Cloud Voicemail Support

The Microsoft Skype for Business Server 2019 enable all users, whether they are on-premise users or Skype4B Online users, to get access to cloud voicemail. Cloud Voicemail feature can be used when Microsoft Skype for Business Server 2019 is paired with Microsoft Exchange Server 2019. The new Exchange Server 2019 is not offering Unified Messaging. This technique of Cloud Mail is an alternate to that. With Cloud Mail, voice messages will be able to get stored in a user’s inbox. However, if you don’t wish to migrate to Microsoft Exchange Server 2019, you can still continue to use the voicemail feature that is provided by Unified Messaging on your current Exchange deployment. For those who are planning an up-gradation to Microsoft Exchange 2019 should first plan to deploy Cloud Voicemail.

Cloud Call Data Connector

The Cloud Call Data Connector enables simplification of call monitoring in a hybrid environment with the help of online tools which enables monitoring of users call quality. Call Analytics is essential to every Call related system. This feature has been integrated to the core experience related to management and administration in Microsoft O365. Now, you have the ability to upload call quality data into your O365. It means there is no need to store this data on local devices. With Microsoft Skype for Business Server 2019, CQD (Call Quality Dashboard) is available for on-premise users.

Migrations to Teams

Administration experience has been improved in the latest release of Microsoft Skype for Business Server to make users move from on-premise to Teams. The experience to migrate to Microsoft Teams has been further streamlined for on-premises users. This is crucial for those on-premises users who plan to shift to the cloud.

TLS 1.2 Support

This TLS 1.2 support provides additional security for the Microsoft Skype for Business Server 2019 users and this version of Skype for Business Online deprecates TLS 1.0/1.1.

MachPanel Automation module for Microsoft Skype for Business

MachPanel provides a way of smooth Enterprise Voice with its Skype for Business Automation experience for its customers who offer hosted or on-premise Microsoft Skype for business Server 2019, 2015, Lync 2013 and 2010. With MachPanel, you can get an automated experience of Skype for business in your environment as a hosted service. The support and management of the automation module is persistent throughout for a hassle-free user experience at your end.  The Multi-Cloud Service Orchestration & Delivery Platform (MSOP) offers Hosters and Partners a lot of options to manage communications like Billing and Reporting, Dial Plans, Response Groups, Phone Numbers, Persistent Chat in a reliable manner. It offers professional support for 24/7. MachSol also offers complete Turnkey solution where its certified and experienced technology experts can design and deploy highly available and secure Skype for business infrastructure.

So, all you Skype for Business Online users, grab this opportunity and switch to MachPanel for an excellent Microsoft Skype for Business Server 2019 experience for a better communication channel in your business.

Lets TalkRequest a Demo

The post Microsoft Skype for Business Server 2019 is Finally Here! appeared first on MachSol Blog.

Microsoft has been widely recognized worldwide as the most promising player in the UC market over last several years. It is due to the fact that it competes with Cloud service along with the necessary software to focus more established collaboration vendors. Recently Microsoft is again in the news as it has announced its Skype for business Server 2019 public preview. Let’s have a closer look at what Microsoft has to offer in the upcoming version of Skype for Business Server 2019.

Deprecated Stuff

Like all other visions, the latest version Skype for Business Server comes with a set of things that have been considered as primitive and hence they are deprecated.  The features deprecated with this version release of Skype for business are:

1. Mobility Service (Mcx)
2. Persistent Chat for Skype for Business Server
3. XMPP Gateways for Skype for Business Server
4. In-place upgrades
5. SQL Mirroring for Skype for Business Server

In place for SQL Mirroring, SQL AlwaysOn Clustering and Availability Groups is there for SQL in Skype4Business Server 2019. SQL Mirroring was a popular method of SQL HA but it was said by Microsoft for a long time that this feature will be deprecated soon and SQL AlwaysOn along with Clustering will take its place. In place of persistent chat, there is Teams already present in Skype4B. In Place upgrades also needed tweaking every time you configure them, so most users are pleased that it’s gone. The legacy Mcx Service is replaced by UCWA, that’s more popular too in Skype for business Server 2019.

Hybrid All The Way

Yes, Hybrid is needed in order to take advantage of the newest features in Skype for business Server 2019. This will also make migrations easier to Skype for Business Online or Teams.

You can still use the Standard edition. Enterprise edition is popular too. To take maximum advantage of Windows Fabric, it is ideal to have three FE’s. Office Online Server along with Office Web Apps is still used.

System Requirements

Standard Edition requires dual 6 core processors along with at least 32GB RAM. It deploys SQL Express 2016. For the Enterprise Edition, you would need, dual 6 core processors along with 64GB RAM for each EE Front End and Back End Servers. That makes it needing double the memory needed to run Skype for business Server 2015 a few years back! It can also run QL Server 2016/2017 with latest updates. For Operating systems: the only platform where it can run is Windows Server 2016.

ALSO READ
Features To Be Seen In Microsoft Exchange Server 2019

MachPanel Automation Module for Skype for Business

MachPanel is an integrated Control Panel especially designed to cater the needs for CSPs. Its Automation Module for Microsoft Skype for Business also supports Lync 2013 and 2010. It offers Enterprise Voice service, billing and reporting, Persistent chat, Service for phone numbers. There is a centralized management control panel which offers flexibility and control to Providers, Resellers and End Customers.  If you are looking for a streamlined solution to your business call handling, MachPanel Automation module for Skype for Business is the answer.

So, gear up and get your hands on this promising Automation module for a successful growth of your business.

Lets TalkRequest a Demo

The post Announcing the Skype for Business Server 2019 Preview appeared first on MachSol Blog.

Communication has been started with the client to narrow down and rectify the issue. Upon analysis it has been discovered that tenant of their hosted platform is trying to federate and communicate with a company using office 365 Skype for business online services.

So we started our troubleshooting SOP, verified following at Hosted Side:

1. SRV record (Tenant domain) require for federation is in Place | Yes
2. Skype for Business Server is allowing External communication | Yes
3. Domain to federate with, is listed in Allowed SIP federated Domains, as in this case they are trying to federate with domain on Skype for Business Online, so SIP federated Partners Tab has been verified and found that LyncOnline as CSHostingProvider is enabled.

All good at Hoster side.

Next step was to verify setting on Skype for business Online side, and as it was not in our control, so client was requested to follow Office365 documentation and make sure all the setting required for setting federation is in Place. Which are:

1. SRV record require for federation is in Place | Yes (nslookup -q=SRV _sipfederationtls._tcp.yourdomain.com)
2. Lync Online federation is enabled in External Communication tab.
3. Time to get operational, as Microsoft says that it may take some time like 12 plus hours.

We were expecting that the issue will be resolved if they make sure Skype for business online side configuration, but after a couple of days, they came back with update : Issue still exists.

Hmm, so now we have to look further and see what’s going wrong:

1. Tested Federation will remote domain not on Office 365 and that work like a charm which make it clear that something fishy only with Skype for business Online tenant domains.
2. Verified everything at Lync Online side our self and found that settings are in place as expected.

Detailed troubleshooting reveals that Office365 Lync Online is looking for tenant domain name in a Certificate assign to Access Edge Services of Skype for business Edge Servers as Access Edge FQDN, which is not the case in Hosted platforms, as they have SAN Cert with provider domain based names only, to avoid additional cost and configuration per tenant domain. Currently it seems to be a limitation for hosting providers tenants to federate with Skype for business Online tenants domain or have to add the tenant domain names (who want this feature) in SAN cert of Skype for business Edge Servers deployment.

If you have encounter similar situation or you have some further details or insights on this particular limitation or issue, always drop me your valuable feedback / comments at qaiser.khan@machsol.com

The post Federation among Tenants on Hosted Skype for business Platform and Skype for business Online appeared first on MachSol Blog.