In this episode of SysAdmin Weekly, Andy and Eric dive headfirst into the world of GitHub Copilot, the AI-powered coding assistant everyone’s either cautiously testing or quietly ignoring. But should you be paying attention?

Originally designed for developers, GitHub Copilot is quickly becoming a SysAdmin’s Swiss Army knife, helping with everything from PowerShell scripting to deciphering cursed regex one-liners. But it's not all sunshine and sudo.In this episode we cover:

• How sysadmins are using Copilot to write scripts, generate configs, and troubleshoot faster.
• The hidden risks: hallucinated commands, AI security pitfalls, and Shadow IT vibes.

• Why context matters (and why Copilot doesn’t know your environment).
• Practical advice for testing, adoption, and rolling it out safely across your team.

Is GitHub Copilot the productivity boost you've been waiting for… or a compliance time bomb with autocomplete?Tune in and find out!

Episode Resources:

SysAdmin Weekly Companion Newsletter

AndyOnTech⁠

Project Runspace

Windows Update with 3rd Party Apps

#SysAdmin #ITPro #GithubCopilot

Are companies really looking the migrate off the cloud? You may be surprised!

In this episode of SysAdmin Weekly, we’re diving headfirst into the growing trend of cloud repatriation and why some orgs are saying “thanks, but no thanks” to AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. From skyrocketing costs to performance surprises and compliance headaches, we’re breaking down the real-world reasons behind this shift back to on-prem and hybrid infrastructure.

- What’s triggering the move?

- Who’s doing it, and is it working?

- Should you be considering repatriation?

If you’re a sysadmin, IT leader, or just a curious cloud-watcher, this one’s for you.

Buckle up! we’re demystifying the hype and serving up hard truths with a side of occasional snark.

Subscribe, comment, and tell us if YOU would bring workloads back from the cloud!

Episode Resources:

SysAdmin Weekly Companion Newsletter

AndyOnTech

Project Runspace

Barclays CIO Survey 2024 – Enterprise CIO repatriation intentions

Dropbox S-1 Filing GeekWire – Dropbox saved $75M moving off AWS

37signals Blog DataCenterDynamics – $2M/year saved post-cloud

Flexera State of the Cloud Report 2024 – 21% of workloads repatriated

GEICO Interview Infrastructure VP – Cloud cost and latency issues

IDC Repatriation Study 2024 – 80% expect repatriation of workloads

Uptime Institute Survey 2022–2023 – Only 6% abandon public cloud entirely

Gartner Cloud Cost Analysis 2024 – Cloud economics and repatriation triggers

Gartner “Cloud Missteps” Report 2023 – Cloud project failure as a repatriation reason

Citrix Hybrid Cloud Study 2023 – UK: 25% moved more than 50% of workloads back

#CloudRepatriation #SysAdmin #HybridCloud #CloudComputing #ITStrategy #InfrastructureOps #CloudCosts #TechTrends

In this episode of *SysAdmin Weekly*, we bid farewell to an old friend: WSUS (Windows Server Update Services). Microsoft is phasing it out and hosts Andy and Eric here to talk about why, what it means for SysAdmins, and how you can prep for what’s next.

In This Episode:

• A quick trip down memory lane: the story of WSUS and its role in traditional patch management
• Why WSUS is being deprecated and how it affects on-prem systems
• What replaces WSUS? (Hint: think Intune, Azure Update Manager, and cloud-first strategies)
• Deep dive into Hot Patch? No reboot updates? Yes please.
• How Azure Arc extends Hot Patch to hybrid and multi-cloud environments
• What SysAdmins should be doing NOW to stay ahead of the curve

Whether you're managing legacy infrastructure or moving toward a cloud-native model, this episode is packed with practical guidance, snarky insights, and a little bit of nostalgia.

Episode Resources:

SysAdmin Weekly - The Newsletter

AndyOnTech

Project Runspace

Windows STS Guidance

Azure Arc Pricing

#WSUS #AzureArc #HotPatch #SysAdminLife #Intune #PatchManagement #CloudFirst #MicrosoftUpdate #ITPodcast

In this episode Andy sits down with Microsoft Certified Trainer Paul Schnackenburg to discuss the current state of Microsoft Certification. They explore the evolving role of Microsoft Certified Trainers (MCTs), the significance of certification in validating technical skills, and the shift from product-focused to role-based certifications. Also included in this episode: confusing exam names, the importance of applied skills, the shift to online proctored exams, the need for hands-on lab experiences, the annual renewal process for certifications, the value of exam pricing, and the role of trainers in preparing for certification exams.If you're looking to get your Microsoft certification in 2025 you won't want to miss this episode!

Episode Resources:

Hackers Abuse OAuth 2 Workflows - https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hackers-abuse-oauth-20-workflows-to-hijack-microsoft-365-accounts/

Telemessage Hack - https://www.wired.com/story/how-the-signal-knock-off-app-telemessage-got-hacked-in-20-minutes/

M365 and Azure Exam Guides - https://intunedin.net/

Project Runspace - https://www.projectrunspace.org

Andy On Tech - https://www.andyontech.com

#SysAdminWeekly #microsoftcertification #sysadmin #itprofessionals

In this episode of SysAdmin Weekly, host Andy Syrewicze and guest Paul Schnackenburg discuss Microsoft's Secure Future Initiative (SFI) - a new initiative created a year or two back in response to multiple security incidents at Microsoft. In this conversation, Andy and Paul expand on various aspects of Microsoft's progress on the plans outlined in the Secure Future Initiative, focusing on the integration of security best practices in development, the implementation of hardware security modules, and the enhancement of Red Team capabilities.

Other key points of the SFI discussed include the role of AI in Microsoft's internal security operations, cultural shifts towards security awareness among Microsoft employees, and Microsoft's plans for management of identities and access control. Finally the guys wrap up with why all this is important for SysAdmins!

Key Points:

- Microsoft's Secure Future Initiative aims to improve security practices.

- The CSRB report highlighted significant security failings at Microsoft.

- Microsoft is focusing on integrating security best practices into development.

- The introduction of hardware security modules is a significant step for Microsoft.

- Red Team capabilities are being enhanced to identify vulnerabilities more effectively internally at Microsoft.

- AI is being integrated into security operations to improve efficiency of MS internal security.

- Cultural shifts are occurring at Microsoft to prioritize security across all employees.

Episode Resources:

Microsoft April 2025 SFI Progress Report - https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/security/blog/2025/04/21/securing-our-future-april-2025-progress-report-on-microsofts-secure-future-initiative/

CSRB Report - https://www.cisa.gov/resources-tools/resources/CSRB-Review-Summer-2023-MEO-Intrusion

Google on 97 Zero-Days in 2024 - https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/google-97-zero-days-exploited-in-2024-over-50-percent-in-spyware-attacks/

Paul Schnackenburg - https://www.expertitsolutions.com.au/aboutus.html

Paul's Blog - https://tellitasitis.com.au/

Project Runspace - https://www.projectrunspace.org

Andy on Tech - https://www.andyontech.com

#sysadmin #securefuture #cybersecurity #microsoft

In this episode of SysAdmin Weekly, hosts Andy Syrewicze and Eric Siron take a look at everyone's FAVORITE subject: licensing! And they're particularly focusing on Hyper-V and VMware. Andy and Eric's conversation includes the highlights and the differences between Microsoft and VMware licensing philosophies, the implications of WindowsServer Standard versus Data Center licensing, and the challenges sysadmins face during audits. Also discussed are the complexities of licensing for virtual machines. They discuss the implications of VM mobility, and the challenges of high availability beyond traditional clustering. Finally Andy and Eric cover new licensing options, includingpay-as-you-go and virtual instance licensing, and provides insights for organizations considering migration from VMware to Hyper-V. Throughout the discussion, the importance of consulting with licensing experts is emphasized to ensure compliance and cost-effectiveness.

Key Takeaways:

- Licensing is a necessary evil in IT.- Microsoft and VMware have fundamentally different licensing philosophies.- Hyper-V is included with Windows Server licensing.- Understanding VM mobility is crucial for compliance.- Nonprofits can access better software pricing through TechSoup.- Audits can consume significant time and resources. Make sure you're getting the cheapest pricing you're eligible for.- Windows containers do not count towards licensing.- Desktop licensing can be complex and risky.- VM mobility can complicate licensing agreements.- Data center licensing allows for unlimited virtual instances.- Pay as you go licensing is often not cost-effective.- SQL licensing can be affected by VM mobility.- Always consult with licensing experts before making changes.- Migration from VMware to Hyper-V requires careful planning.- The cost of migration can be more significant than licensing fees.

Episode Resources:

- Episode on Azure Local - https://youtu.be/YpEG-u_A9Qs?si=S10VdgHYX3GcNmFn- Project Runspace - https://www.projectrunspace.org- Andy On Tech - https://www.andyontech.com

#HyperV #SysAdmin #ITPro #VMware

In this episode of SysAdmin Weekly, hosts Andy Syrewicze and Eric Siron discuss the litany of new features for Hyper-V in Windows Server 2025. They discuss enhancements in networking, including accelerated networking, Network ATC, and the upcoming Network HUD. The conversation emphasizes the importance of these features for sysadmins and how they simplify network management and configuration.

Also In this episode, Andy and Eric discuss the changes in Hyper-V Manager, new security features, and dynamic processor compatibility. Finally the duo highlights the revolutionary GPU partitioning capabilities in Windows Server 2025 Hyper-V, which enables more flexible GPU resource allocation for virtual machines, especially for AI workloads.

Episode Resources:

Project Runspace - https://www.projectrunspace.org

Andy On Tech - https://www.andyontech.com

Link to episode about Hyper-V NOT being dead - https://youtu.be/w_A7amIzZtA

Windows Server 2025 Networking Enhancements - https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/networkingblog/revolutionizing-network-management-and-performance-with-atc-hud-and-accelnet-on-/4284889

#windowsserver #sysadmin #itpro

In this episode of the Sysadmin Weekly Podcast, hosts Andy Syrewicze and Eric Siron discuss Azure Local, a rebranding and enhancement of Azure Stack HCI. They explore the benefits, key use cases, and why SysAdmin should take a look at it. The conversation covers the features of Azure Local, including its integration with Azure Cloud management tools, virtualization capabilities, as well as potential applications in disconnected environments. The guys also emphasize the significance of communities and resources available for sysadmins getting started with Azure Local.

Want to contact the hosts? Email us at contact@sysadminweekly.com!

Episode Resources

• Project Runspace
• Andy on Tech
• AMD / Lenovo System Running Azure Local at MS Ignite
  
• 
  AKS on Azure Local
• AVD on Azure Local
• Azure Arc Overview
• Azure Local Hardware Catalog
• Azure Local System Requirements
  

Key Takeaways

• Azure Local is a rebranding of Azure Stack HCI.
• The name Azure Local is clearer and more descriptive.
• Hyper-V and Storage Spaces Direct are included in Azure Local.
• Azure Local allows for unified management through Azure Arc.
• There are no urgent reasons to switch to Azure Local immediately.
• Azure Local supports Kubernetes and Azure Virtual Desktop.
• Azure Local can be beneficial in disconnected environments.
• Linux VMs work seamlessly in a Microsoft environment.
• Resources for getting started with Azure Local are available.