Office LTSC 2024 is now available

Office LTSC 2024 is now available

This article is contributed. See the original author and article here.

Microsoft 365 offers the cloud-backed apps, security, and storage that customers worldwide rely on to achieve more in a connected world – and lays a secure foundation for leveraging generative AI to go even further. Investing in our cloud productivity solutions and the AI-powered innovation they support will continue to be Microsoft’s priority. 


 


Still, we know that some customer scenarios require a different approach. Some devices must never be connected to the internet; others need to remain unchanged for years at a time. We remain committed to supporting our customers and these scenarios. Earlier this year, we offered a public preview of Microsoft Office Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) 2024. Today, we’re announcing the general availability of this next perpetual version of Office for commercial and government customers. 


 


An updated solution for specialized needs 


Office LTSC 2024 offers a locked-in-time version of familiar productivity tools, updated with a subset of the features that have been added to Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise over the last three years. New features for this release include Dynamic Charts and more than a dozen new text and array functions in Excel, enhanced search and meeting creation options in Outlook, and improvements to performance, security, and accessibility. Learn more about what’s new.  


 


Office LTSC 2024 will besupported forfive yearsunder theFixed Lifecycle Policy, and – like prior versions – will be deployable alongside Microsoft 365 Apps using a common set of tools to enable customers to more easily manage hybrid environments.  Learn more about how to deploy and manage Office LTSC at Overview of Office LTSC 2024.


 


Choosing the best productivity suite for your organization  


While Office LTSC 2024 offers many significant improvements over the previous Office LTSC release, as an on-premises product it does not include the cloud-based capabilities of Microsoft 365 Apps, like real-time collaboration, AI-driven automation, or cloud-backed security and compliance capabilities. And for customers who need additional flexibility on deployment and connectivity – but not a fully disconnected solution – Microsoft 365 has options that can help. For example, device-based licensing can simplify management of Microsoft 365 Apps in settings like computer labs or hospitals where devices are shared by many users. And extended offline access can be used to maintain access to Microsoft 365 Apps on devices that need to be disconnected from the internet for up to six months at a time. Microsoft 365 (or Office 365) is also required to subscribe to Microsoft 365 Copilot; as a disconnected product, Office LTSC does not qualify. 


 























































  Microsoft 365 Apps [1] Office LTSC 2024 
Apps included  Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, OneDrive, Microsoft Access (Windows Only), Microsoft Publisher (Windows Only) [2], Sway, Microsoft Forms  Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive, OneNote, Microsoft Access (Windows Only) [3]
Desktop apps elisabethjones_7-1726184587970.png
Premium apps installed on up to 5 PCs or Macs 
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Classic apps installed on 1 PC or Mac 
Mobile apps  elisabethjones_6-1726184549338.png
Create & edit on up to 5 phones + 5 tablets 
elisabethjones_13-1726184678994.png
Web apps  elisabethjones_5-1726184539526.png
Create & edit online
elisabethjones_12-1726184668043.png
Eligible for Microsoft 365 Copilot add-on [4] elisabethjones_4-1726184522674.png elisabethjones_11-1726184655004.png
Cloud storage  elisabethjones_3-1726184512002.png
1 TB per user 
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Feature updates  elisabethjones_2-1726184498828.png
New features and security updates delivered via Current, Monthly, or Semi-Annual channels 
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Security updates only
Shared devices  elisabethjones_0-1726184413819.png
Shared computer activation or device-based licensing available 
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Device-based licensing only 
Connectivity requirements  Internet connection required for activation, license validation, and internet-based functionality. Extended offline access available to enable devices to stay disconnected for up to six months at a time.  No internet connection required 

 


Embracing the future of work 


Microsoft 365 offers the most secure, productive, and cost-effective solution for most organizations, and positions customers to unlock the transformative power of AI with Microsoft 365 Copilot. Especially as we approach the end of support for Office 2016 and Office 2019 on October 14, 2025, we encourage customers still using these solutions to transition to a Microsoft 365 subscription that suits their needs as a small business or a larger organization. And for scenarios where that is not possible – where a disconnected, locked-in-time solution is required – this new release reflects our commitment to supporting that need.  


 


Learn more 


Office LTSC 2024 is available to existing commercial and government volume-licensed customers today, along with new on-premises versions of Project and Visio. These products will be generally available to all customers on October 1. We will share more about Office 2024 for consumers in the coming weeks. For more information about Office LTSC 2024 and how it compares to Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise, please visit the Office LTSC plan comparison page. If your organization is ready to take the next step toward the AI-powered future, find out how to get started with Microsoft 365 today 


 


Notes:


[1] Applies to Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise and Microsoft 365 Apps for business. All Microsoft 365 and Office 365 suites that include desktop apps also include everything listed here – and more. Learn about the available options.


[2] Microsoft Publisher will be retiring in October 2026.


[3] Microsoft Access is included only with Office LTSC Professional Plus.


[4] Microsoft 365 Copilot may not be available for all markets and languages. To purchase, customers must have a qualifying Microsoft 365 plan for enterprise or business.

Microsoft 365 Copilot Wave 2: Pages, Python in Excel, and agents

Microsoft 365 Copilot Wave 2: Pages, Python in Excel, and agents

This article is contributed. See the original author and article here.

We are introducing Wave 2 of Microsoft 365 Copilot innovation, with three key updates. From enterprises to small businesses, they help Copilot get better every day. Nearly 1,000 customers have given us direct feedback on Copilot, and we’ve made more than 700 product updates based on that feedback.

The post Microsoft 365 Copilot Wave 2: Pages, Python in Excel, and agents appeared first on Microsoft 365 Blog.

Brought to you by Dr. Ware, Microsoft Office 365 Silver Partner, Charleston SC.

The Azure Storage product group is heading to the SNIA Developer Conference 2024

This article is contributed. See the original author and article here.

The Azure Storage product group is heading to the SNIA Developer Conference (SDC) 2024 in Santa Clara, California, USA from September 16th through September 18th. We have a large contingent of Product Managers and Engineers responsible for Azure Blob Storage and Azure Files presenting across multiple sessions at the conference as well as the Cloud Object Storage Plugfest.


If you’re attending the conference, stop by our sessions, listen in, say “Hello!” and introduce yourself as we demonstrate how Azure Storage can accommodate the largest AI training and AI inference workloads using Azure Blob Storage. Or if you’re a Files customer, stop by our sessions on Azure Files and SMB.


Session catalog


































































Date



Session title



Speakers



Track



17 September 2024 @ 3:05PM PT



Elevating Linux File Access: Recent Enhancements to the SMB 3.1.1 Client




  • Steven French – Principal Software Engineer – Azure Storage



File Systems & Protocols



17 September 2024 @ 4:05PM PT



Cloud Storage Considerations for Retrieval Augmented Generation (RAG) in AI Applications




  • Vamshidhar Kommineni – Group Product Manager

  • Saurabh Sensharma – Principal Product Manager



AI / ML Applications for Storage



17 September @ 4:05PM PT



Demystifying Linux SMB Mount Options




  • Bharath S M – Senior Software Engineer

  • Shyam Prasad – Principal Software Engineering Manager 



File Systems & Protocols



18 September @ 9:30AM PT



DNA Data Storage “End-to-End” System Concept


 




  • Shruti Sethi – Senior Technical Manager



Archival Storage



18 September @ 11:35AM PT



Azure Files: Design Challenges for the Biggest File Server in the World




  • Utsav Mohata – Principal Software Engineer

  • Rena Shah – Senior Product Manager



File Systems & Protocols



18 September 2024 @ 2:30PM PT



Supercharging OpenAI Training with Microsoft’s Azure Blob Storage




  • Jason Vallery – Group Product Manager – Azure Blob Storage

  • Jegan Devaraju – Group Engineering Manager – Azure Blob Storage



AI / ML Infrastructure



18 September @ 2:30PM PT



Troubleshooting/Debugging Issues on Linux SMB Client




  • Bharath S M – Senior Software Engineer



File Systems & Protocols



16 September – 18 September



Cloud Object Storage Plugfest




  • Scott Hoag – Principal Product Manager – Azure Object Storage

  • Pete Imming – Principal Product Manager – Azure Object Storage

  • Ryan Erdmann – Principal Software Engineer



Plugfest



16 September – 19 September



SMB3 Interoperability Lab




  • Azure Files engineering team



IO Lab


September V1 Title Plan now available!

September V1 Title Plan now available!

This article is contributed. See the original author and article here.

September V1 Title Plan has been uploaded. Go to: aka.ms/Courseware_Title_Plan 


Mindy_Rosenthal_0-1726275244687.png


aka.ms/Courseware_Title_Plan 


 


Don’t forget to checkout updates made to the Title Plan, shared in its permanent location, linked above.


 


Mindy_Rosenthal_1-1724260005246.png


 


Please note: This is not a support forum. Only comments related to this specific blog post content are permitted and responded to.


 



  • For ILT Courseware Support, please visit: aka.ms/ILTSupport 

  • If you have ILT questions not related to this blog post, please reach out to your program for support. 

MVP’s Favorite Content from Microsoft Azure MVPs

MVP’s Favorite Content from Microsoft Azure MVPs

This article is contributed. See the original author and article here.

In this blog series dedicated to Microsoft’s technical articles, we’ll highlight our MVPs’ favorite article along with their personal insights.


 


Pratheep Sinnathurai, Microsoft Azure MVP, Switzerland


Pratheep Sinnathurai.jpg


Azure Arc overview – Azure Arc | Microsoft Learn


“I always compare Azure Arc to the Lord of the Rings, seeing it as the one ring to rule them all. If you’re seeking a solution to manage all your Windows and Linux servers, Azure Arc could be the answer. It provides a unified management experience across diverse environments, whether on-premises, in Azure, or other clouds.


 


Using Azure Arc, I’ve also gained valuable insights into other technologies, such as Kubernetes (AKS) and AWS, through its Multi-Cloud Connector. This feature enhances your ability to manage and govern resources across multiple cloud platforms seamlessly.


 


In essence, if you’re looking for a comprehensive solution to manage your hybrid and multi-cloud infrastructure efficiently, Azure Arc offers the tools and capabilities you need.”


*Relevant Blog: In my blog post I explained how to use pre and post events fro Azure Update Manager on Azure Arc Enabled Servers.


Using Pre and Post events from Azure Update Manager on Azure Arc-Enabled Windows Server | by Pratheep Sinnathurai | Medium


 


Elton Bordim, Microsoft Azure MVP, Brazil


Elton Bordim.jpg


Bring Azure innovation to your hybrid environments with Azure Arc – Training | Microsoft Learn


“This content is comprehensive, helping with the solution support of Azure Arc and the supported resources. Understanding how to innovate with Azure Arc is essential nowadays, and by contributing Azure Arc content to the community, without a doubt, this training is the one I most like to recommend.”


*Relevant Activities:


– Blog: Encerramento da série: Azure Arc para iniciantes – Elton Bordim – MCT | AZ-104 | AZ-305 | SC-200 | AZ-800 e 801


– Video: Azure Arc – YouTube


 


Joe Carlyle, Microsoft Azure MVP, Ireland


Joe Carlyle.jpg


Networking architecture design – Azure Architecture Center | Microsoft Learn


Networking is core to Azure, and core to architecting excellent solutions. While the architecture center offers a range of guidance from foundational to niche, the networking section should be common to nearly all deployments. It is unique in its importance to Azure design.


*Relevant Blog: A lot of my content would relate to Azure Networking, and I do have a recent blog highlighting this area – Exploring – Network Design in the Azure Architecture Center – wedoAzure


 


Luke Murray, Microsoft Azure MVP, New Zealand


Luke Murray.jpg


Design review checklist for Reliability – Microsoft Azure Well-Architected Framework | Microsoft Learn


“Hyperscaler Cloud offerings, like Microsoft Azure, offer businesses worldwide to compete on a global stage, but with the ability to scale up business offerings comes more complexity and additional risk of outages. One of the key pillars (for good reason) of the Azure Well-Architected Framework is Resiliency, and Microsoft Learn offers a great way of checking off, using a data-validated approach, of not only your Resiliency at a Technical level, but Business as well, using resources, such as the Design review checklist for Reliability.”


*Relevant Blog: Running your own Azure Proactive Resiliency Assessment | luke.geek.nz