Latest Microsoft Updates for UK Businesses – IT Support London News
As we move into 2026, Microsoft has released a significant wave of updates that will directly impact how UK businesses collaborate, communicate, and secure their digital environments. In this month’s IT Support London News roundup, we break down the most important changes that matter to your organisation and your end-users — excluding deep technical details aimed at engineers.
This January, the focus is firmly on simplicity, security, productivity, and AI-powered innovation, helping London businesses work more efficiently and safely in the year ahead.
Microsoft Teams – New Features Improving Everyday Collaboration
Flexible Meeting Layouts (February–March 2026)
Microsoft Teams will soon include a resizable layout divider, allowing users to adjust how shared content and participant videos are displayed.
Why it matters: Clearer meeting layouts mean improved engagement and easier presentations — ideal for hybrid teams.
Private Organiser & Presenter Chats (February 2026)
Structured meetings, webinars, and town halls will get a private chat space for organisers and presenters only.
Why it matters: Helps teams coordinate behind the scenes without disrupting attendees.
Enhanced Multilingual & Interpreter Experience (December 2025)
Teams now features automatic spoken language detection, simpler interpreter settings, and a new “Preparing” visual indicator.
Why it matters: Reduces meeting setup time and improves accessibility for multilingual teams.
New Security Alerts for Impersonation (December 2025)
Teams will now detect attempts to impersonate your organisation’s domains, not just brands.
Why it matters: A major security win for protecting staff from external threats.
Prevent Screen Capture (Premium Feature, Nov 2025)
Meeting organisers can now block screenshots and screen recordings across most devices.
Why it matters: Protects sensitive internal discussions and confidential client data.
Outlook – Smarter Scheduling for Busy Teams
Polls Built Directly into the Calendar
Users can now propose multiple time slots inside the calendar form.
Why it matters: Faster scheduling, particularly with external partners.
Book Workspaces When Creating Events
Outlook now allows workspace booking straight from the event page.
Why it matters: Perfect for businesses using hot-desking or flexible workspaces.
Microsoft 365 Apps – A Better, Cleaner User Experience
Redesigned Access Request and Access Denied Pages (Jan–Feb 2026)
Microsoft has refreshed its access request screens for improved clarity.
Why it matters: Users will find it easier to request access to documents and sites, reducing support tickets.
Microsoft Intune – Stronger Device Management and Security
New Security Copilot‑Powered Agents (2026)
Microsoft is rolling out AI-assisted agents for reviewing changes, policies, and device offboarding.
Why it matters: Helps organisations maintain stronger security with less manual work.
Faster Device Recovery Tools
New Windows tools allow quick recovery from boot issues and enable rolling devices back in minutes.
Why it matters: Reduced downtime for staff — essential for productivity.
Edge for Business Expands to Contractor Devices (Early 2026 Preview)
Edge for Business can now apply security controls on devices not owned by your company.
Why it matters: Ideal for contractors, freelancers, and multi-organisational projects.
Microsoft Entra – Safer Identity Management
Soft Deletion for Security Groups
Organisations can recover deleted groups for up to 30 days.
Why it matters: Prevents accidental disruptions to access and permissions.
Synced Passkeys (Preview)
Passkeys now sync across Apple, Google, and other providers.
Why it matters: More secure, password-free sign-in for staff, reducing credential risk.
Microsoft 365 Admin & Licensing Changes
New Alert Controls in Defender XDR (Dec 2025)
Admins can now control which identity-related alerts appear — High Risk only, High + Medium, or All.
Why it matters: Reduces noise and helps IT focus on real threats.
Copilot for Business (Dec 2025)
A new SMB licence offers full Copilot features at a lower cost.
Why it matters: Makes AI more accessible for small to mid-sized UK businesses.
Security Copilot Included with Microsoft 365 E5
E5 customers will receive Security Copilot at no extra cost.
Why it matters: Enterprise-grade AI threat protection for security-conscious organisations.
Microsoft Copilot – AI Features Transforming Work in 2026
Custom AI Meeting Summaries (Jan 2026)
Teams will allow tailored summaries using prompts or templates.
Why it matters: Saves time preparing minutes, actions, and reports.
Schedule Meetings Directly in Copilot (Jan 2026)
Users can now book meetings, rooms, and agendas inside the chat.
Why it matters: Less switching between apps = faster workflow.
Automatic Rescheduling for Conflicting Events
Users can mark meetings as flexible and Copilot will move them.
Why it matters: Helps staff avoid double-booking.
Sora 2 Video Generation (Preview)
Copilot now creates AI-generated videos using natural prompts.
Why it matters: Supports marketing, training, and creative teams.
Copilot Voice for Desktop & Web (GA)
Users can now speak to Copilot using “Hey Copilot”.
Why it matters: Hands-free productivity for multitasking.
IT Support Tips for 2026: What Your Organisation Should Do Next
- Review Microsoft licensing to ensure you’re benefiting from new Copilot and Security Copilot inclusions.
- Update staff training on new Teams features such as secure screen capture, multilingual meetings and private presenter chats.
- Prepare BYOD and contractor policies as Edge for Business expands.
- Enable passkeys where possible for stronger password‑less authentication.
- Use AI‑powered scheduling and summarisation tools to reclaim valuable work hours.
- Refresh your device recovery strategy to leverage Intune’s new rollback features.
As shown in this month’s IT Support London News update, Microsoft is entering 2026 with a strong focus on security, productivity, and AI-enhanced workflows. These new features are designed to make collaboration smoother, protect organisations from evolving threats, and reduce the time teams spend on manual admin.
If your business wants help activating these new features, improving staff adoption, or preparing for the evolving Microsoft 365 roadmap, our IT support team in London is here to help.
With over 15 years at Speedster IT, I’ve built a career around helping businesses navigate the evolving world of technology. I publish all the content for the IT Support London Blog and Cyber Security Blog, where I share practical insights on infrastructure upgrades, cybersecurity trends, and smart IT strategies for growing companies.
