Azure Beginner to Hero

Here's the summary of available information: [In Preview] Public Preview: Azure SQL Updates (Late-April 2025) MSSQL Extension for VS Code : Added Schema Compare functionality to analyze and synchronize database schemas directly within the editor[4]. Target Platform Support : Microsoft.Build.Sql 2.0.0 Preview now includes support for SQL Server 2025 in database projects[4]. Earlier versions (1.0.0) already supported SQL database in Fabric [4]. Tooling Updates : The 170.0 release of SqlPackage/DacFx (mid-April 2025) provides compatibility with SQL Server 2025 and Fabric integration[3][5]. Additional Context The query references https://azure.microsoft.com/updates?id=489702 , but no specific details about this update are available in the provided search results. For accuracy, always verify the URL directly for unreferenced updates. Key Sources : [4] for VS Code Schema Compare, [3][5] for tooling releases. Background : SQL Server 2025 offers AI/analytics enhancemen...

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...

Enhanced Support for Generation 2 VMs in Azure DevTest Labs Azure DevTest Labs has introduced enhanced support for Generation 2 Virtual Machines (VMs) in public preview, offering key advantages over Generation 1 VMs. This development aligns with Microsoft's commitment to providing users with more advanced and secure virtualization options. Key Features of Generation 2 VMs Increased Memory : Generation 2 VMs support greater memory compared to their Generation 1 counterparts[1][2]. Intel Software Guard Extensions (Intel SGX) : Provides additional security features by enabling secure enclaves[1][2]. Virtualized Persistent Memory (vPMEM) : Enhances performance and capacity with persistent memory support[1][2]. Improved Boot and Installation Times : Offers faster boot and installation experiences, enhancing overall productivity[1][2]. Enhanced Support in Azure DevTest Labs Image Choice : Users can now easily choose between Generation 1 and Generation 2 versions of the same ...

Azure Application Gateway V2 now supports enabling dedicated connections from Application Gateway to backend server. By default, Application Gateway reuses the idle backend connections to optimize the resource usage of TCP connections helping both the gat

Choosing the right Azure SQL service can be challenging. To make this easier, you can now visit the Azure SQL hub, a new home for everything related to Azure SQL in the Azure portal. Whether you’re new to Azure SQL or an experienced user, the hub helps yo

As part of our ongoing commitment to improving security and performance, we will be retiring support for hsmPlatform 1 keys, effective September 15, 2028. To ensure the continued security and functionality of your operations, we recommend transitioning to

Azure Linux 2.0 on AKS will be retired on November 30, 2025, please transition to Azure Linux 3.0 by that date. Azure Linux 2.0 has been replaced by the newer supported version Azure Linux 3.0. We encourage you to transition to Azure Linux 3.0 prior to

You can now create a replica cluster of your Azure Cosmos DB for MongoDB (vCore) in the same region where the primary cluster is hosted. This replica is continuously synchronized with the primary (read-write) cluster, ensuring data consistency. Same-regio

Announcong that Azure App Service now supports Bring Your Own License (BYOL) for JBoss Enterprise Application Platform (EAP), enabling enterprise customers to deploy Java workloads with greater flexibility and cost efficiency.If you’ve evaluated Azure App

Announcing the addition of the D192 size to the Azure Dsv6 and Ddsv6-series Virtual Machines families, powered by the 5th Generation Intel® Xeon® Platinum 8573C (Emerald Rapids) processor. Dsv6-series virtual machines use Azure managed disks only, while D

Announcing the general availability of Azure Database for MySQL – Flexible Server version 8.4. With this release, you can now create new MySQL 8.4 servers for your production workloads and benefit from the latest features, performance enhancements, and se

To help you manage your MySQL upgrade timelines with greater flexibility, we’re introducing Extended Support for Azure Database for MySQL – Flexible Server, starting in spring 2026. If your server is running on a MySQL version that has reached the end of

Data stored in your Azure Cosmos DB for MongoDB (vCore) cluster is automatically and seamlessly encrypted with keys managed by Microsoft. Now, in addition to this service-managed key encryption (SMK), you have the option to add another layer of security b

To simplify the experience of creating and managing file shares in Azure, Azure Files now supports a file share-centric management model offered by the Microsoft.FileShares resource provider. With this update, file shares become top-level resources in Azu

Last August, we introduced Azure App Testing, a unified testing service that brings together two powerful testing capabilities—Azure Load Testing and Microsoft Playwright Testing—to help developers and QA teams run large-scale functional and performance t

The general purpose Dasv7 and Dalsv7, memory-optimized Easv7, and compute-optimized Fasv7, Falsv7, Famsv7 VMs, are now available in preview with and without local disk support. These VMs are now available in the East US 2, North Europe, and West US 3 regi

The Multitenant Managed Logging feature in Container Insights is now generally available, offering customers who operate shared AKS clusters the ability to segregate container logs by team. This functionality enables teams to independently manage and acce

As part of our ongoing commitment to improve customer experience, we continuously evaluate our product portfolio to ensure it meets the evolving needs of our customers. To better align with current usage patterns and future investments in disk performance