June is jumping with M365 goodness – and we’ve done the digging, so you don’t have to.

Whether it’s quietly rolled-out features, game-changing announcements, or updates that could impact your day-to-day, we’ve rounded everything up in one handy place. This month, we’re diving into SharePoint enhancements, ramping up with Copilot Agents, and tackling big questions around security and collaboration.

Your smarter M365 experience starts here. Let’s dive in.

June Highlights from Our Clients

Security and external collaboration were top of mind this month! Questions like “How do we keep our content safe?”, “Who can access my documents?”, and “How do we avoid accidental sharing?” sparked great conversations. To help answer these and more, we’re thrilled to welcome Brett Lonsdale from Lightning Tools who'll be sharing practical insights and tools that empower SharePoint site owners to confidently manage permissions and strengthen their security posture. Register for this free webinar here.

Exciting SharePoint Updates

Microsoft continues to roll out fantastic new features in SharePoint that enhance functionality and unlock new possibilities. Here’s what’s landing now:

• Template Gallery: 50 fresh templates to help you create stunning sites.

• Flexible Sections: More control over page layouts.

• Document Library Enhancements: Faster performance and smoother editing.

• List Form Improvements: Now with conditional logic!

• Integration Upgrades: Check out the tip below for more!

Copilot Agents Are Heating Up

Interest in Copilot Agents is booming! With Copilot Studio, we can rapidly build AI-powered solutions to tackle everyday business challenges. Rich showcased a variety of use cases this week - definitely worth watching the recording! View here.

Meet Marama!

Scroll to the bottom of this month’s newsletter to get to know Marama, who leads our Modern Workplace Team. You might be surprised by whose job she’d love to try for a day!

Join us for webinars and sessions designed to help you get more out of Microsoft 365.

Interested in a One-Day SharePoint Workshop with Steve Knutson?

Get hands-on with SharePoint in this practical in person, one-day workshop led by Steve Knutson. Whether you're new to SharePoint or ready to level up, this session will cover real-world tips and best practices to help you get the most out of the platform. To register your interest in this session, email Mel at m.ross@stp.co.nz

📅 9th of July at 9am: Take Control: Smarter SharePoint Permissions with Lightning Tools

Managing permissions in SharePoint can be… complicated. Between broken inheritance, nested groups, and mysterious access, it’s easy to lose visibility - and even harder to maintain compliance. In this special co-hosted webinar, we’re joined by Brett from Lightning Tools to explore how their SharePoint Online Permissions Management Tool gives site owners and admins clarity and control over user access. Register here.

📅 17th July at 3pm: The hidden costs of SharePoint: Is your intranet holding you back?

Many organisations rely on SharePoint as their intranet - but what if it’s actually holding them back? In this webinar, we’ll explore why, and how Powell can help you transform SharePoint into a powerful, user-friendly hub that drives real engagement. Register here.

📅 30th of July at 12pm: Managing Controlled Documents in SharePoint: Best Practices for Compliance & Collaboration

Managing controlled documents in a digital workplace doesn’t have to be complicated. Join Steve Knutson and Tyler Price this July as we dive into how SharePoint Online can be used as a powerful platform for managing controlled documents - from version control and approvals to metadata and permission strategies. Register here.

📅 6th August at 10am: Smart Governance in Microsoft 365: How ProvisionPoint Premium Makes It Possible

Microsoft 365 offers powerful collaboration tools - but with that power comes complexity. Sprawl, inconsistent site provisioning, and security gaps are all too common. That’s where ProvisionPoint Premium comes in. In this special webinar with SnapOn Software , we’ll show you how to take control of Microsoft 365 workspaces - with smarter provisioning, better lifecycle management, and built-in compliance from day one. Register here.

📍 9th September: Canterbury Tech Summit

Tech Summit 2025 - NZ’s premier event for digital innovation, right here in Ōtautahi. If you're heading along in person, come visit the Stratos team at our stand! We’d love to chat all things tech, share what we’ve been working on, and hear what’s inspiring you this year.

Missed our latest webinars? Campaigns, Content and Engagement with Powell Software is available to view here. Our Age of Agents with Rich Burdes is also available here.

To get notified of our upcoming webinars please register here: https://forms.office.com/r/QX9i8cfhh3

Stay in the Loop with SharePoint Rules

Tired of manually checking libraries for updates? SharePoint’s built-in Rules feature lets you set up simple, no-code alerts that keep you in the loop.

Whether you're tracking staff photo uploads, proposal submissions, project updates, or training material changes - Rules can help.

Here’s how to create a rule that alerts you when someone updates a Project Status Report.

Ever wondered what makes Stratos tick? We're shining the spotlight on the people behind the scenes - those who keep the wheels turning, the projects moving, and the GIFs flowing on MS Teams. This month, get to know Marama Scott, Microsoft 365 Team Lead - Modern Workplace and what makes her an essential part of the Stratos crew!

What is your role at Stratos Technology Partners, and what do you love about it?

I’m an M365 Consultant and I lead the M365 Modern Workplace Team. What I love most about my role is the variety - we get to work across a range of Microsoft modern workplace tools, blending project work with ongoing client relationships. I enjoy guiding clients through the transformation process and then continuing to support them beyond the project phase!

If you could swap roles with someone at work for a day, who would it be and why?

I’d swap roles with our Director, Steve Knutson, just to see what a day looks like from the top!

How did you get started in your career?

I originally started in Communications, managing intranets and websites. The first version of SharePoint I encountered was the 2007 version! It’s been cool to see its evolution over the past decade. Modern SharePoint has come a long way, and I love helping clients take full advantage of its capabilities today.

If you could have dinner with any person (alive or dead), who would it be and why?

I would take my 6-year old son to meet and have dinner with his great-grandparents (my partner’s grandparents). They were such lovely people and they would have absolutely loved to have met their great grandchildren!

What's your favourite tool, app, or hack that makes your job easier?

Planner helps me keep an overview of our team’s work pipeline, and I love using Microsoft Teams Chat for quick, efficient communication with both my team and clients.

Lately, I’ve also been enjoying Loop (thanks, Ashley L., for the recommendation!) – it’s a great way to create shared workspaces with each team member, keeping training plans and check-ins neatly organised in one place.

Which pizza topping do you swear by, even though others think it’s wrong?

Pineapple - sorry, not sorry! 🍍

That’s a wrap for June!

From SharePoint skills and smarter governance to pineapple-on-pizza debates - thanks for joining us this month.

Got questions or keen to chat? If you're stuck on permissions, exploring Copilot, or ready to book a SharePoint workshop, we’re here to help. 📩 Reach out at info@stp.co.nz