Command Control Power: Apple Tech Support & Business Talk

680: Microsoft Retires SMS/Voice MFA, Salesforce SSO Headaches, and SOC 2 Realities

Command Control Power: Apple Tech Support & Business Talk

Show Notes

Sam and Joe discuss Microsoft's plan to retire Microsoft-provided SMS and voice calls for MFA, with key dates of Sept 1, 2026 (users on SMS/voice are automatically enabled for passkeys and nudged to register) and Feb 1, 2027 (blocking enforcement for users whose only MFA is SMS/voice, no opt-out), noting paid/customer-managed telecom options and the need to warn clients, address legacy per-user MFA vs conditional access, and handle shared accounts via shared mailboxes or passkey-sharing tools. Sam recounts a prolonged Salesforce SSO/MFA issue worsened by poor vendor documentation and misleading AI guidance, ultimately tied to a Microsoft KB update. They then cover partnering with Fuji for client SOC 2 compliance support, emphasizing evidence, audits, costs, and ongoing maintenance, plus how cyber-insurance questionnaires drive security improvements. The episode also touches on residential support cases, Vision Pro support challenges with DRM blocking screen mirroring, and show wrap-up.

00:00 Show Kickoff 00:17 Microsoft MFA SMS Retirement 00:44 Key Dates and User Impact 03:28 Authenticator Backups and PSAs 04:40 Legacy MFA Cleanup Challenges 07:36 Conditional Access Licensing Risks 10:12 Shared Accounts and Passkeys 12:21 Salesforce MFA SSO Headaches 13:25 AI Missteps and Vendor Docs 17:50 SOC 2 Help from Fuji 21:23 SOC 2 Costs and Maintenance 22:49 Easy Buttons and Real Audits 26:27 Cyber Insurance Questionnaires 27:53 Partnering for Expertise 29:07 Cyber Insurance Foot in Door 30:31 Apple Store Referral Win 31:01 Lightroom Migration Pitfalls 34:31 Blocked Contacts Mystery 38:04 Email Search and User Training 40:02 Supporting Vision Pro Clients 47:28 Amazon Returns and Exceptions 50:24 Wrap Up and Callouts

More from Command Control Power: Apple Tech Support & Business Talk

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Oct 13, 2026

Joe and Jerry discuss using iPhone built-in Background Sounds (rain/white noise) and Joe's reliable Shortcuts automation: when power connects, if the time is after 9:55 PM or before 6:15 AM and audio isn't already playing (checked via the third-party Actions app), set rain sound and volume and enable it; Siri's shortcut generation was buggy, while Gemini helped produce working logic. They swap notes on using white noise at home and while traveling, and Joe recounts encountering a bear at night and ideas for a "bear alert" automation. They note Apple Notes lacks version history/rollback and mention the Note Export app as a workaround. Jerry describes using Claude to guide PowerShell incident response for a Microsoft 365 phishing compromise, generating reports and adding an admin-enforced outbound wire-fraud notice. They also compare Gemini/Claude/ChatGPT (including an annoying ChatGPT "pet" hotkey conflict) and praise Duolingo's habit features. Finally, Joe explains Verizon's AI chat helped clarify phone unlocking and trade-in financing rules versus AT&T's device-locking and poor chat results, influencing his upgrade decision.

Oct 6, 2026

Jerry describes having basal cell carcinoma removed from his nose and urges regular dermatology checkups, then shares how iOS 27 repeatedly warned him before sharing a "sensitive" stitched-and-bloody photo, even suggesting he consult a "trusted adult." Joe discusses costly RV maintenance and how machines (including hard drives) can fail when left idle, leading into Mac maintenance routines. They debate slang like "cooked," then talk Apple's new iPhone lineup, including Jerry's iPhone 13 Pro Max purchase and their mixed expectations for the first-gen iPhone Duo (weight, outer-screen constraints, camera and battery compromises) alongside improvements like cooling, battery life, and a vapor chamber. They cover Apple Watch "always listening" features, citing Gruber's privacy rationale, and discuss practical recording/summaries for medical visits. Jerry explains how Claude helps him solve technical issues, analyze security research, navigate health insurance decisions, and produce billable security reporting; they note macOS screen sharing bug fixes and mention keychain migration and safe mode articles. They tease upcoming Patreon topics about a move and walking away from a client.

Sep 29, 2026

Sam Valencia, Jerry Zigmont and Joe Saponare discuss working with Apple technology and clients. Drawn from their combined experience of over 20 years in the Apple Consultants Network, thaey discuss technical support issues both with the technology and working with clients.

Sep 22, 2026

Joe and Jerry chat about haircuts, travel plans to Yosemite via Reno and Lake Tahoe amid fires and crowds, and recent wildlife encounters. They discuss upgrading iPhones and frustrations about promised Apple Intelligence features, plus recurring complaints about changing chargers and Apple hardware quality, including deteriorating Apple cases and notoriously poor pre‑M1 MacBook Airs. Joe shares an anecdote about helping an elderly client set up a new Apple account on an M4 iMac while a clock loudly recited affirmations and the Lord's Prayer during an Apple support call. They cover "technical debt" ("Schedule the maintenance or the maintenance will schedule itself"), Mac pricing for RAM/storage, John Siracusa's choice to use an external SSD for a photo library, mixed experiences with M1 MacBook Air performance and batteries, and field benefits of newer Macs. The episode also reviews UniFi improvements (CGNAT alerts, channel optimization, rollback/Safe Ops), using Claude to analyze Wi‑Fi settings, and frustrations when AV installers build weak networks in high-end homes.

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