Azure Beginner to Hero

Summary of Azure File Sync in Italy North and Related Updates Azure File Sync in Italy North Availability : Azure File Sync is now generally available in the Italy North region as of May 16, 2025[1]. Purpose : Azure File Sync is designed to allow users to centralize their file services in Azure while maintaining compatibility with existing applications and file systems. Regional Significance : The Italy North region is a strategic location for Azure services, offering low latency and high performance, which are crucial for businesses operating in Italy. It aligns with European and Italian data residency regulations, ensuring data remains within regional borders[5]. Related Azure Updates The specific update from https://azure.microsoft.com/updates?id=492879 does not provide direct information related to Azure File Sync in Italy North, as the content is not available in the search results. However, generally, Azure updates often include new features, services, and region availa...

Azure Premium SSD v2 Disk Storage has now been made generally available in the Japan West region. This expands the regions where Premium SSD v2 is supported, which previously included several other locations such as Switzerland North, Japan East, Korea Central, and others[2][3]. Premium SSD v2 offers: Baseline performance of 3,000 IOPS and 125 MB/s per disk regardless of disk size, with no additional cost for performance[1]. Designed for IO-intensive enterprise workloads requiring sub-millisecond disk latencies and high IOPS/throughput at a low cost. Suitable for workloads like SQL Server, Oracle, MariaDB, SAP, Cassandra, MongoDB, big data/analytics, gaming, on virtual machines or stateful containers[2]. Supports 4k physical sector size by default, with the option to configure 512E sector size for compatibility with certain applications like Oracle Database[2]. In regions that support availability zones, including Japan West, Premium SSD v2 disks can only be attached to zonal ...

Summary of Azure NetApp Files Support for Active Directory Connection Azure NetApp Files now supports creating one Active Directory (AD) connection per NetApp account. This feature allows for more flexibility in managing AD connections, which are crucial for various Azure NetApp Files functionalities, such as creating SMB, NFSv4.1 Kerberos, or dual-protocol volumes. Key Points Default Configuration : Previously, Azure NetApp Files supported only one AD connection per subscription and account within the same region. This limitation has been adjusted to allow one AD connection per NetApp account[1]. AD Integration Requirements : For effective deployment of Azure NetApp Files volumes, it is essential to integrate with Active Directory Domain Services (AD DS) or Microsoft Entra Domain Services. Incorrect integration can lead to client access issues for SMB, dual-protocol, or Kerberos NFSv4.1 volumes[2]. Supported Authentication Scenarios : Azure NetApp Files supports AD DS authentic...

Azure Ultra Disk Storage has been announced as generally available (GA) in the New Zealand North region, expanding its global availability. This service provides high throughput, extremely high input/output operations per second (IOPS), and consistent low latency disk storage for Azure virtual machines (VMs), making it ideal for data-intensive workloads such as SAP HANA, top-tier databases, and other transaction-heavy applications[4][1]. Key features of Azure Ultra Disk Storage include: Dynamic performance tuning of SSDs without VM restarts, allowing adjustment of disk throughput and IOPS in real-time based on workload needs. High scalability with disk sizes ranging from 4 GiB to 64 TiB. Throughput options between 300 MB/s and 2000 MB/s. IOPS capacity from 1,200 up to 160,000 per disk. Support for both Linux and Windows VMs, including flexible and uniform scale sets[1][5]. Regarding availability, Azure Ultra Disks support various redundancy options depending on the region. In...

Summary of Azure's 6th Generation Intel-based VMs Azure has announced the general availability of its 6th generation Intel-based virtual machines, specifically the Dv6 and Ev6 series. These VMs are powered by the 5th Generation Intel Xeon Platinum processors, offering enhanced performance and scalability for various workloads. Key Features and Specifications Dv6 Series : Offers a balance of CPU to memory performance with scalability up to 128 vCPUs and 512 GiB of RAM. This series includes the Dlv6 and Dv6 models, both providing increased CPU cache size, higher memory bandwidth, and faster storage options[1][2]. Ev6 Series : Ideal for memory-intensive workloads, offering up to 192 vCPUs and over 1.8 TiB of RAM. These VMs are suitable for applications like relational databases, data warehousing, and in-memory analytics[2][4]. Processor Technology These VMs utilize the 5th Generation Intel Xeon Platinum processors, specifically the 8537C (Emerald Rapids) processor for the Dv6...

Introduction to 6th Generation Intel-based VMs Azure has announced the general availability of the 6th generation Intel-based virtual machines, specifically the Dv6 and Ev6 series. These VMs are powered by the 5th Generation Intel Xeon Platinum processor, providing enhanced performance and scalability. Key Features and Specifications Processors : The new VMs are based on the Intel Xeon Platinum 8537C (Emerald Rapids) processor, which is associated with the 5th generation in the context of new VM series support[5]. CPU and Memory Scalability : The Dv6 series offers up to 128 vCPUs and 512 GiB of RAM, making it suitable for general-purpose workloads[3]. In contrast, the Ev6 series provides even higher scalability with up to 192 vCPUs and more than 1.8 TiB of RAM, ideal for memory-intensive applications[3]. Storage Options : Both series offer VMs with and without local disk storage. Users can attach remote persistent disks like Premium Disk v1, Premium Disk v2, or Ultra Disks to th...

Neon Serverless Postgres has officially reached General Availability (GA) as an Azure Native Integration as of May 7, 2025. This milestone signifies that developers using Azure can now access a powerful, serverless Postgres database solution fully embedded within the Azure ecosystem without friction[1][2]. Key Features and Benefits at GA Native Azure Integration: Neon Serverless Postgres appears directly in the Azure portal alongside Microsoft's own database offerings, allowing provisioning and management of Neon projects, branches, and connection strings via the Azure portal, CLI, and SDK[2]. Seamless Provisioning and Management: Developers can create Neon organizations, projects, and branches directly from Azure, streamlining workflows and enabling a faster path from development to production[1][2]. Single Sign-On (SSO): Authentication is integrated with Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory), allowing secure access with existing Microsoft credentials[2][3]...

Azure Storage Actions: Serverless Storage Data Management – Generally Available Azure Storage Actions has officially launched as a generally available (GA) serverless data management solution for Azure Blob Storage and Azure Data Lake Storage. This feature revolutionizes the way organizations manage large-scale data assets by automating complex data operations with minimal manual intervention or programming expertise[3][2][5]. Key Features No-Code Task Automation Users can compose, validate, and deploy data management tasks using an intuitive, no-code interface, allowing even non-developers to define complex conditional logic for processing objects[3][5]. Serverless Infrastructure No provisioning or management of infrastructure required. The platform automatically scales to handle billions of storage objects across multiple storage accounts[2][3]. Dynamic Targeting Tasks can target objects based on properties like blob tags and metadata, enabling precise, automated operation...

Launched: Generally Available Enhanced Cost Management Exports Microsoft announced the general availability of enhanced Cost Management exports in April 2025, introducing significant improvements to streamline FinOps practices[1][2]. Key Enhancements Expanded datasets : Export price sheets, reservation recommendations, reservation details, and reservation transactions alongside standard cost/usage data (actual and amortized)[1][5]. FOCUS compliance : Supports the FinOps Open Cost and Usage Specification to standardize cost data across cloud providers, combining actual/amortized costs and reducing storage needs[1][5]. Optimized file handling : Formats : CSV or Parquet with compression Partitioning : Splits large datasets into manageable chunks Overwrite : Replaces previous files in daily exports[1][5] Security : Export directly to storage accounts behind firewalls[1]. API & UX improvements : New API for programmatic export management[1] Simplified workflow...

Here's a concise summary of Azure's Generally Available: Fallback to Internet on Private DNS Zones based on available documentation and relevant sources: Overview The Fallback to Internet feature for Azure Private DNS Zones is now generally available, allowing DNS queries for non-private records to resolve via public DNS servers when no matching record exists in the configured private zones[1][3][5]. This ensures seamless hybrid environments and reduces DNS resolution failures. Key Functionality Automatic Public DNS Resolution : Queries for records not defined in private DNS zones automatically resolve using public internet DNS servers if enabled[5]. Hybrid Environment Support : Ideal for scenarios requiring access to both private endpoints and public resources without manual DNS configuration[3][4]. Enhanced Resilience : Minimizes application downtime caused by DNS resolution failures in isolated or on-premises environments[2][4]. Configuration Steps Enabl...

Summary of Azure Firewall Integration in Security Copilot Overview The integration of Azure Firewall with Microsoft Security Copilot enhances the security capabilities by leveraging AI to investigate malicious traffic intercepted by Azure Firewall's intrusion detection and prevention system (IDPS). This integration simplifies complex tasks for security analysts, allowing them to query data using natural language instead of writing complex queries[1][2][5]. Key Features and Benefits Automated Investigation : The Azure Firewall integration in Security Copilot enables detailed investigations of malicious traffic using AI, reducing manual effort and time spent on threat analysis[2][5]. Natural Language Queries : Analysts can ask questions in natural language, making it easier to investigate threats without needing to write complex KQL queries[2][5]. Integration and Accessibility : The integration is available both through the Security Copilot portal and the Copilot in Azure exp...

Introduction to Azure Compute Fleet Azure Compute Fleet is a feature designed to simplify and optimize large-scale virtual machine (VM) deployments. It provides accelerated access to Azure's capacity in a given region, allowing users to deploy and manage thousands of VMs efficiently[1][2]. Key Features and Capabilities Scalability and Deployment : Azure Compute Fleet can deploy up to 10,000 VMs in a single API call, combining Spot and Standard VMs. This scalability is beneficial for dynamic applications or large-scale workloads[3][5]. Cost Optimization : Compute Fleet offers superior price-performance ratios by utilizing a mix of pricing models, including Reserved Instances, Savings Plans, Spot Instances, and pay-as-you-go options[1][5]. Flexibility in VM Sizes : Users can mix up to 15 different VM sizes and families within a single fleet, tailoring deployments to specific workload needs[3]. Simplified Management : The "Fire & Forget-it" model automates the de...

Overview of Next Generation Azure Data Box Devices Microsoft has announced the general availability of the next generation Azure Data Box devices, specifically the Azure Data Box 120 and Azure Data Box 525 . These devices are designed to enhance the process of transferring large amounts of data into Azure Storage by offering faster, more reliable, and secure offline data ingestion solutions[2][3][4]. Key Features and Improvements The new Azure Data Box devices incorporate several key features and improvements: Fast Data Transfer : They utilize NVMe devices to achieve faster data transfer rates, with speeds reaching up to 7 GBps for medium to large files, offering a significant improvement over previous models[1][3]. Resilience and Security : The devices are ruggedized to withstand rough transportation conditions and offer secure data transfer protocols to ensure data integrity and confidentiality[2][3]. Ease of Use : The devices are designed for ease of handling, with larger c...

Azure File Sync enables seamless tiering of data from on-premises Windows Servers to Azure Files for hybrid use cases and simplified migration. It also enables you to leverage the performance, flexibility and compatibility of your on-premises File Server

Azure Premium SSD v2 (Pv2) Disk Storage is now available in Japan West. Pv2 is Azure’s next-generation general-purpose block storage designed to deliver an ideal balance of low-latency performance, flexible scalability, and cost efficiency. With sub-milli

To provide a new flexible and cost-effective option for developers, Azure App Configuration now offers a Developer pricing plan. This new plan is ideal for development teams looking for a reliable configuration store for development and testing, and for

Azure NetApp Files support for Active Directory connection per NetApp account feature is now generally available. The feature allows each NetApp account to connect to its own Active Directory Forest and Domain, providing the ability to manage more than on

Azure Ultra Disk Storage is now available in New Zealand North. Azure Ultra Disk Storage offers high throughput, high IOPS, and consistent low latency disk storage for Azure virtual machines (VMs). Ultra Disk Storage is suited for data-intensive workloads

Fallback to internet on Private DNS Zones: New feature which unblocks adoption of a fully managed solution for Network Isolation and simplifies scenarios with Private Link and Private DNS. This feature enables public recursion to occur in the event of rec

Azure Premium SSD v2 Disk Storage is now available in New Zealand North region. This next-generation storage solution offers advanced general-purpose block storage with the best price performance, delivering sub-millisecond disk latencies for demanding IO