Tutorial / Cram Notes
Microsoft Teams is an ever-evolving platform, with new features and updates being added regularly to enhance user experience and functionality. As part of this ongoing development, Microsoft offers preview features allowing Teams administrators and end-users to test upcoming functionalities before they are released broadly. Managing these preview features is crucial to ensure that they align with an organization’s deployment policies and user readiness. This can be achieved through the utilization of Microsoft Teams update policies.
Microsoft Teams Update Policies
Update policies in Microsoft Teams are used to control how and when Teams updates, including preview features, are delivered to users. Administrates can configure these policies to either provide early access to new features or to standardize the timing of these updates across their organization.
Managing Teams Preview Features with Update Policies
- Access the Microsoft Teams admin center: Administrators must log in to the Teams admin center to manage update policies. The admin center is the central place for administration and management of Teams-specific settings and policies.
- Navigate to Teams update policies: Within the admin center, you should navigate to the ‘Teams update policies’ under ‘Teams > Teams policies’. Here you will find options to create new policies or modify existing ones.
- Create or Edit an Update Policy: You can create a new policy by clicking “Add” or select an existing policy to edit. When defining the policy, specify how you want to handle preview features.
- Configuration Options:
- Decide whether to enable or disable the preview features. This can be found under the ‘Show preview features’ setting.
- Assign the update policy to either individual users or user groups, depending on the desired scope of the preview rollout.
- Apply the Policy: After configuring the update policy, you need to apply the policy to users. You can do this through the assignment of the policy to user accounts within the admin center.
Examples of Using Update Policies to Manage Preview Features
Scenario: A software development company wants its IT team to test new Teams features while keeping the rest of the company on the stable release.
Solution: The Teams administrator would create a new update policy with preview features enabled and assign it specifically to the IT department’s user group. The rest of the organization remains on the default policy with no preview features.
Scenario: A large enterprise wants to gradually roll out preview features to different departments to ensure proper training and support is provided.
Solution: The administrator creates multiple update policies with preview features enabled and assigns them to the user groups in phases. During each phase, the respective department is educated on the new features, and support is offered as needed.
The Importance of Training and Communication
As preview features can introduce changes to workflows, it is vital to provide training and clear communication to users who are receiving the updates. This will minimize potential disruption and maximize the benefits of the new functionalities.
Monitoring and Feedback
- Monitor the Usage: After rolling out preview features, it’s important to monitor how they are used and how they affect productivity. This can be accomplished through user feedback and usage metrics within the Teams admin center.
- Collect Feedback: Encourage users trying out preview features to provide feedback. Microsoft often uses this feedback to make improvements before the official release.
Summary Table: Teams Update Policies Configuration
| Policy Setting | Description | Options |
|---|---|---|
| Show preview features | Determines if preview features are shown | Enabled/Disabled |
| Users/Groups | Specifies which users or groups the policy will be applied to | Individual user(s), User group(s) |
By carefully planning and managing the rollout of Microsoft Teams preview features through update policies, organizations can control the user experience, test new functionalities effectively, and ensure that the adoption of new features meets their unique business needs. The MS-700 Managing Microsoft Teams exam candidates must be familiar with these practices to effectively manage Teams within their organizations.
Remember, as with any policy updates, changes might not take effect immediately and could take up to 24 hours to propagate to all users. It is also important to stay informed on Microsoft’s release notes and update channels to anticipate and prepare for upcoming changes.
Practice Test with Explanation
T/F: Microsoft Teams update policies can be managed in the Microsoft Teams admin center.
- True )
Correct Answer: True
Explanation: Microsoft Teams update policies can indeed be managed in the Microsoft Teams admin center, where administrators can set policies for how their organization receives Teams feature updates.
T/F: Update policies in Microsoft Teams can be assigned to users, but not to specific groups or teams.
- False )
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: Update policies can be assigned to users, groups, or entire teams within Microsoft Teams to control how they receive updates and preview features.
Which of the following features can be controlled by update policies in Microsoft Teams? (Select all that apply)
- A) Showing previews of new features
- B) Scheduling meetings
- C) The frequency of Teams client updates
- D) The default download channel for Teams updates
Correct Answer: A, C, D
Explanation: Update policies can be used to show previews of new features (A), control the frequency of Teams client updates (C), and set the default download channel for Teams updates (D). Scheduling meetings (B) is not controlled by update policies.
T/F: Only global administrators can manage Teams update policies.
- False )
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: While global administrators can manage Teams update policies, other roles with sufficient privileges, such as Teams service administrators, can also do this.
How often can Microsoft release new features to the Teams client?
- A) Weekly
- B) Monthly
- C) Bi-monthly
- D) As needed
Correct Answer: D
Explanation: Microsoft does not have a strict schedule and can release new features to the Teams client as needed, depending on development and rollout plans.
When using Teams update policies, which channel will provide users with the most stable experience?
- A) Standard release channel
- B) Targeted release channel
- C) General availability channel
- D) Teams preview channel
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The standard release channel provides the most stable experience as it contains fully tested features that are ready for widespread use across organizations.
T/F: Users need to manually opt-in to preview features in Microsoft Teams.
- True )
Correct Answer: True
Explanation: Users that are set to receive preview features through update policies must opt-in to the public preview individually within their Microsoft Teams client settings.
What is the purpose of the Teams preview channel?
- A) To give users early access to fully tested features
- B) To distribute critical security updates
- C) To give users early access to features in development
- D) To revert back to previous versions of Teams if needed
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The purpose of the Teams preview channel is to give users early access to features that are still in development and have not yet been fully tested.
T/F: It is possible to revert to an older version of Microsoft Teams after an update has been applied.
- False )
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: Once an update has been applied to Microsoft Teams, it is not typically possible to revert to an older version due to how updates are managed and distributed within the service.
Which type of release can be delayed through a Teams update policy?
- A) Feature updates
- B) Security updates
- C) Bug fix updates
- D) Emergency updates
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: Feature updates can be delayed through a Teams update policy to give IT departments more time to manage the rollout and to train users. Security, bug fix, and emergency updates are generally not delayed due to their importance.
T/F: Microsoft Teams update policies allow administrators to disable updates entirely.
- False )
Correct Answer: False
Explanation: Teams update policies do not allow administrators to disable updates entirely as updates are essential for security and functionality. However, administrators can manage how and when certain updates are applied.
If an organization wants to be part of a validation phase for new features before they are released broadly, which option should they choose in their Microsoft Teams update policy settings?
- A) Standard release
- B) Targeted release
- C) Teams preview
- D) General availability
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The targeted release option in update policy settings allows organizations to receive and validate new features before they are released more broadly. This channel is intended for organizations to prepare for change management and adoption strategies.
Interview Questions
What are Microsoft Teams preview features?
Microsoft Teams preview features are features that are currently being developed by Microsoft and are not yet widely available to all users. They are in the testing phase and available to a select group of users.
How can you manage Microsoft Teams preview features?
Microsoft Teams preview features can be managed through Microsoft Teams update policies.
What are Microsoft Teams update policies?
Microsoft Teams update policies are settings that can be configured to control how and when new features are released to users.
How can you create a new Teams update policy?
A new Teams update policy can be created using the Teams Admin Center or PowerShell.
What are the options available in a Teams update policy?
Teams update policy options include allowing or blocking specific preview features, setting a release schedule for preview features, and controlling how users receive updates.
How do you apply a Teams update policy to specific users or groups?
A Teams update policy can be applied to specific users or groups through the Teams Admin Center or PowerShell.
What happens when a preview feature is added to a Teams update policy?
When a preview feature is added to a Teams update policy, it will only be available to users who are assigned that policy.
Can you apply multiple Teams update policies to the same user or group?
Yes, multiple Teams update policies can be applied to the same user or group. In this case, the most permissive policy will be applied.
How can you monitor the usage of Teams preview features?
Teams Admin Center provides reports that allow administrators to monitor the usage of Teams preview features.
How can you disable a Teams preview feature?
A Teams preview feature can be disabled by removing it from the update policy or by disabling the feature globally in the Teams Admin Center.
How can you check the current release status of a Teams preview feature?
The current release status of a Teams preview feature can be checked in the Teams Admin Center.
What are the benefits of using Teams update policies to manage preview features?
Using Teams update policies to manage preview features can help ensure a smooth rollout of new features, reduce user confusion, and maintain the security and stability of the Teams environment.
Can Teams update policies be used to manage non-preview features?
No, Teams update policies are only used to manage preview features.
What is the difference between a Teams update policy and a Teams policy package?
Teams update policies are used to manage preview features, while Teams policy packages are used to manage policies related to messaging, meetings, and calling.
Are Teams update policies available to all types of Microsoft Teams licenses?
No, Teams update policies are only available to users with Microsoft Teams Commercial Cloud, Government Community Cloud (GCC), or Education licenses.
How often are new preview features released and updated?
Some detailed examples or case studies would be really helpful.
This was a waste of time!
Has anyone faced issues with update policies not applying correctly?
Are there ways to track which users have activated preview features?
Can we revert back from preview features to regular stable features? How?
How should we communicate about preview features to end users?
Thanks for the post, it clarified a lot of my doubts!