Tutorial / Cram Notes
When discussing the deployment of new features and services in Microsoft 365, it is important to understand the three key release phases: Private Preview, Public Preview, and General Availability (GA). Each phase represents a different stage in the development and release process, with varying levels of access, support, stability, and completeness.
Private Preview
The Private Preview phase is the initial testing and development phase where a limited number of participants are given access to a new feature or service. This is often by invitation only and is used to gather feedback from a select group of users who test the functionality in a controlled environment. The participants are usually under a Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and are expected to provide detailed feedback and report issues.
For example, a new security feature in Microsoft 365 might be released to a small group of large enterprise customers to gather initial feedback before making it more widely available.
Public Preview
Following the Private Preview, the Public Preview phase opens the testing to a broader audience. While still not the final version, the service or feature is now sufficiently stable for use in non-production environments or for testing in production with the understanding that it’s not fully supported. Public Preview is a critical step in the development process because it allows Microsoft to collect feedback from a wide range of users and environments, thus identifying any additional issues before the full release.
An example of a Public Preview might be the introduction of a new collaboration tool within Microsoft Teams, where any Microsoft 365 customer can enable and try out the new feature and provide feedback, but with the understanding that there may still be bugs, and the feature set may not be complete.
General Availability (GA)
In the world of cloud computing services like Microsoft Azure, General Availability (GA) is a critical stage in the release process of a product or service. GA indicates that the service or product has completed its preview phases, including private and public previews, and is now ready for production use with all the applicable warranties and support from Microsoft.
Definition and Importance of General Availability
General Availability means the Azure service or feature is deemed fully developed, stable, and operational for enterprise use. It has been tested across multiple scenarios and validated for performance, security, and compatibility. It also implies that the service is now backed by Azure’s service level agreements (SLAs), providing customers with guarantees about the availability and performance of the service.
Once a service reaches GA, it is available to all Azure customers, and they can implement it into their production environments with confidence.
Stages Before General Availability
Before reaching General Availability, an Azure service will typically go through the following stages:
- Private Preview: A selective and limited release of the service to gather initial user feedback.
- Public Preview: A wider release where any Azure customer can opt-in to test the new service, often with the benefit of reduced pricing. During this stage, the service might not be fully supported, and there is no SLA in effect.
| Release Stage | Description | SLA | Pricing | Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Preview | Limited to certain users for initial feedback | None | Not Applicable | Limited |
| Public Preview | Open for all users to test with the possibility of no charge | None | Reduced or Free | Limited |
| General Availability | Fully supported release ready for production use | Full | Standard | Full Support |
Examples of General Availability in Azure
- Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) – At its launch, was first introduced in preview before becoming generally available. Once GA was announced, users could leverage AKS for orchestrating containerized applications with the full support and SLA assurances from Azure.
- Azure Synapse Analytics – When Azure Synapse Analytics reached GA, it marked the readiness of Azure’s limitless analytics service to integrate enterprise data warehousing and Big Data analytics.
- Azure Static Web Apps – A service for hosting static web applications reached GA in May 2021, providing developers with a simple and integrated way to deploy full-stack applications to Azure.
The Significance of GA for Azure Customers
General Availability carries significant implications for Azure customers:
- Reliability: Products have been rigorously tested and vetted, ensuring their reliability for production environments.
- Support: Full support from Microsoft’s technical support teams and automated service level agreements.
- Compliance: Services in GA have passed compliance checks and can be used in environments with strict regulatory requirements.
- Continuous updates: Even after reaching GA, Azure services continue to receive updates for improvement, along with regular security patches.
How Azure Announces General Availability
Microsoft announces GA through various channels, such as:
- Azure Updates: Official announcements on the Azure Updates webpage.
- Microsoft Blogs: Detailed posts on the Azure blog, providing insights into the capabilities and potential use cases of the new service.
- Azure Service Pages: Specific service pages on the Azure website are updated to reflect the new status and provide documentation and pricing details.
General Availability is a milestone in the lifecycle of Azure services, indicating they are ready for widespread use in production environments. It means that Microsoft fully supports the service with a service level agreement, and it meets the company’s standards for security, reliability, and compliance. Customers wanting to implement new Azure services in their infrastructure should look for GA announcements to ensure they are making decisions based on services that are fully developed and supported. With GA, Azure continues to expand its robust cloud platform with a growing suite of services tailor-made for enterprise use-cases.
As an example, a new compliance feature that has passed through Private and Public Previews will be rolled out in GA, which means it is now officially part of the Microsoft 365 suite with full functionality, documentation, and support available.
Comparison Table
| Phase | Accessibility | Purpose | Support Level | Stability |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private Preview | Invite-only | Early feedback collection and issue identification | Limited support | Least stable |
| Public Preview | Open to all | Broader testing, feedback collection, and issue resolution | Partial support | More stable than Private Preview |
| General Availability (GA) | Available to all subscribers | Full production use with complete feature set and full support | Full Microsoft support | Fully stable |
In conclusion, Private Preview, Public Preview, and General Availability are three distinct phases in the release of new Microsoft 365 features or services. Each stage serves a specific purpose and provides different levels of stability and support. By understanding these phases, businesses and IT professionals can better plan their adoption strategies for new Microsoft 365 updates, ensuring they leverage the latest innovations with the appropriate balance between early access and stability.
Practice Test with Explanation
True or False: The Public Preview phase is the last phase before a Microsoft service or feature becomes generally available.
- ( ) True
- (X) False
False
The General Availability (GA) phase is the last phase where the product or service is released to all customers, following the Public Preview.
During which phase can only selected customers access a new Microsoft 365 feature?
- (X) Private Preview
- ( ) Public Preview
- ( ) General Availability
Private Preview
In the Private Preview phase, only a selected group of customers have access to the feature for testing purposes.
True or False: General Availability (GA) signifies that a product or feature is fully supported and considered stable.
- (X) True
- ( ) False
True
General Availability indicates that the product or service is stable, fully supported, and ready for production use.
What phase often follows General Availability as the lifecycle of a Microsoft 365 service or feature?
- ( ) Private Preview
- ( ) Public Preview
- (X) End of Service
End of Service
After a product reaches General Availability, it eventually enters the End of Service phase when support ends and it may be replaced by newer offerings.
True or False: Features in Public Preview may not be fully supported by Microsoft.
- (X) True
- ( ) False
True
Features in Public Preview are generally not fully supported, as they are still being tested and feedback is being gathered.
Which phase allows all customers to test new features but still with the warning that these could change before GA?
- ( ) Private Preview
- (X) Public Preview
- ( ) General Availability
Public Preview
Public Preview allows all customers to test and give feedback on features, but it comes with a disclaimer that changes could occur before GA.
True or False: A product in Private Preview is typically feature-complete.
- ( ) True
- (X) False
False
During Private Preview, a product might still be in development. Features could be added or refined based on feedback before it becomes feature-complete at GA.
Which of the following statements is true for General Availability (GA)?
- (X) GA features are fully supported and have SLA guarantees.
- ( ) GA features are not recommended for production environments.
- ( ) GA features are available only to a limited audience for final testing.
GA features are fully supported and have SLA guarantees.
General Availability features are production-ready, fully supported, and come with SLA guarantees.
True or False: All customers can provide feedback during the Private Preview phase of a product’s lifecycle.
- ( ) True
- (X) False
False
Only a selected group of customers participate in Private Preview, thus only they can provide direct feedback during this phase.
How can Microsoft 365 users access a feature that is in Public Preview?
- ( ) By signing an agreement with Microsoft
- ( ) By being part of a special program
- (X) It’s automatically available to them
It’s automatically available to them
Features in Public Preview are typically made available to all users, and they can choose to test them without needing special access or agreements.
True or False: Once a feature reaches General Availability, it will no longer receive any updates or improvements.
- ( ) True
- (X) False
False
Features may still receive updates and improvements post-GA; however, these usually focus on enhancements or bug fixes rather than core changes to functionality.
During which phase would a customer typically expect the highest level of stability and reliability for a Microsoft 365 feature?
- ( ) Private Preview
- ( ) Public Preview
- (X) General Availability
General Availability
During the General Availability phase, the feature or service is expected to be at its highest level of stability and reliability for all customers.
Interview Questions
What is private preview in the context of Microsoft 365 services?
Private preview is a phase in the lifecycle of Microsoft 365 services where a limited group of customers is given early access to test new features and provide feedback.
What are some benefits of participating in a private preview program?
Customers who participate in private preview programs get to test new features before they are generally available, and provide feedback that can influence the development of the feature. They also get to use the new feature in a controlled environment and make sure it meets their specific needs.
What is public preview in the context of Microsoft 365 services?
Public preview is a phase in the lifecycle of Microsoft 365 services where a wider audience is given access to test new features and provide feedback.
What are some benefits of participating in a public preview program?
Customers who participate in public preview programs get to test new features before they are generally available, and provide feedback that can influence the development of the feature. They also get to use the new feature in a wider, more realistic environment.
What is general availability (GA) in the context of Microsoft 365 services?
General availability (GA) is the final stage in the lifecycle of Microsoft 365 services, where a feature or service is released for public use.
How does Microsoft determine when a service or feature is ready for general availability?
Microsoft evaluates feedback from customers in the private and public preview phases, as well as other factors such as performance, stability, and security, to determine when a service or feature is ready for general availability.
What is the difference between a private preview and a public preview?
Private preview is a limited, controlled testing environment for a small group of customers, while public preview is a wider testing environment for a larger group of customers.
What is the benefit of having multiple phases in the lifecycle of a Microsoft 365 service?
Having multiple phases in the lifecycle of a Microsoft 365 service allows for a more controlled and iterative approach to developing and releasing new features. It also allows for customer feedback to be incorporated into the development process.
How can customers participate in a private or public preview program?
Customers can usually sign up to participate in a private or public preview program through the Microsoft 365 admin center or other relevant portals. Microsoft may also reach out to specific customers directly to invite them to participate.
What are some risks or drawbacks of participating in a private or public preview program?
Features in preview may not be fully tested or stable, and may have bugs or other issues that could impact the user experience. Additionally, features in preview may not be fully documented, which could lead to confusion or incorrect usage.
What happens to a feature in preview if it doesn’t receive enough positive feedback?
If a feature in preview doesn’t receive enough positive feedback, Microsoft may choose to delay or cancel the release of the feature.
Can customers provide feedback during the general availability phase?
Yes, customers can continue to provide feedback on Microsoft 365 services and features even after they have been released for general availability.
How does Microsoft incorporate customer feedback into the development process?
Microsoft collects and evaluates customer feedback through various channels, such as surveys, forums, and support tickets. They use this feedback to prioritize feature requests and make improvements to existing features.
What is the benefit of having a phased approach to feature releases?
A phased approach to feature releases allows Microsoft to gather feedback from customers in a controlled environment before releasing a feature to a wider audience. This can help ensure that features are well-designed and meet the needs of customers.
Can customers opt out of a public preview program?
Yes, customers can usually opt out of a public preview program
Can anyone explain the difference between private preview and public preview in Microsoft 365 services?
How does general availability (GA) differ from the preview stages?
Why is private preview not accessible to everyone?
Appreciate the clear distinction between these stages in your discussion!
When does Microsoft usually move a service from public preview to GA?
Is it safe to use features in public preview for critical business operations?
This post was a great help, thanks!
Where can I find the list of features currently in public preview for Microsoft 365?