Turn off Office 365 password expiry

Office-365 has a default password expiry of 90 days.  In most small/micro businesses it is appropriate to turn this setting off.
Do note that once the setting is off, it is only off for the current users, if more users are added then the process must be re-applied.

In Office-365 you have to do this through PowerShell.

1. Click Start > All Programs > Accessories > Windows PowerShell > Windows PowerShell.
2. Run the following command:
   
   
   

   $LiveCred = Get-Credential
3. In the Windows PowerShell Credential Request window that opens, type the credentials of an administrator account in your cloud-based organization. When you are finished, click OK.
4. Run the following command:
   
   
   

   $Session = New-PSSession -ConfigurationName Microsoft.Exchange -ConnectionUri https://ps.outlook.com/powershell/ -Credential $LiveCred -Authentication Basic -AllowRedirection
   Note   The AllowRedirection parameter enables cloud-based organizations in datacenters all over the world to connect Windows PowerShell to the cloud-based service by using the same URL.
5. Run the following command:
   
   
   

   Import-PSSession $Session
   A progress indicator appears that shows the importing of commands used in the cloud-based service into the client-side session of your local computer. When this process is complete, you can run these commands.


Connect-MsolService -Credential $Creds

Run the following command:

Add-MailboxPermission -Identity <mailboxToShare> -User <userToAccess> -AccessRights FullAccess -InheritanceType All

Note  <mailboxToShare> and <userToAccess> can both be replaced by the respective user's email addresses.

To disconnect PowerShell run the following command:

Remove-PSSession $Session

To now add the mailbox to Outlook.  From Outlook do the following:

1. On the Tools menu, click E-Mail Accounts.
2. Click View or change existing e-mail accounts, and then click Next.
3. In the list, click the Exchange account type, and then click Change.
4. Click More Settings, and then click the Advanced tab.
5. Click Add, and then type the mailbox name of the person whose mailbox you want to add to your user profile.

To have The PC Support Group help you with any of your business or personal computer needs please call us on +44 (0) 845 2233116 or visit our website http://www.pcsupportgroup.com/

Comparing RMM Tools

Kaseya vs GFI-Max vs Centrastage

I've been comparing Remote Monitoring and Management (RMM) tools for the past 6 months after having used Kaseya for 3 years.  The reason for comparing is I'm leaving my present company and going solo.

Kaseya is very powerful and can do almost anything.  The scripting engine is very easy to get to grips with. The auditing is the most comprehensive I've seen.  The monitoring is also the most comprehensive I've seen.  The reporting I've never used and looks like it takes a bit to set up.  The remote control is ok, VNC has been a bit unreliable, although generally you can get it working. Remote desktop actually uses the full rdp client and gives a great connection experience. Also LiveConnect has some useful features such as the command shell which I use regularly.  If I was to use Kaseya for starting out I would go with http://virtualadministrator.com/ as they don't have a minimum purchase quantity and they have a useful script library.  The downside for me being US billing - I think.

GFI-Max I evaluated for about a week but couldn't get on with it.  There are a few things that I'd like to do but can't.  File distribution is very useful if you're wanting to automate some tasks, such as update Adobe reader, or any other commonly used programs, but GFI-Max doesn't allow this, you can move a file to a computer using TeamViewer but for that you have to initiate a remote session.  Also when it comes to running a script on a single computer I found that I have to remove a computer from a profile, run the script and then put the computer back into the profile.  And once I'd done that I didn't know whether the script had actually run.  I think GFI perhaps has it's strengths in noticing a problem and then using TeamViewer to solve the problem.  And therefore maybe better for the less proactive support companies.

Centrastage I found could do almost everything I needed it to do, was dead simple to set up, had some great reports built in and some useful monitors available.  The remote control isn't as good as Kaseya, although I've not had any reliability problems so far, it just doesn't use the full VNC or RDP client so things like shortcut keys, or full screen don't work properly (I use Win+R all the time but I can't with CS).  Be aware that if you've used Kaseya then you'll need to uninstall Liveconnect and possibly the agent as well before being able to use CS remote control.  For the price and the functionality I believe it is the best for me.

I know GFI-Max has a large following so I'm sure if I invite feedback they'll be a lot of GFI Max followers saying how good it is, but I think once you've tried the alternatives above then you'll see what you're missing.