Azure Weekly Issue 176: 27th May 2018

Finally we can say goodbye to the influx of GDPR-triggered privacy policy updates we've all been receiving over the last couple of months from the services with which we are registered. The Azure team has taken the new law by the scruff-of-the-neck, highlighting Azure's New capabilities to enable robust GDPR compliance. Tom Kerkhove at Codit has also written a nice blog about Using Azure Serverless to become GDPR compliant

There has been a fair amount of announcements/updates this week, so let's take a look at those:

• Accelerate your SAP on Azure HANA project with SUSE Microsoft Solution Templates
• New container images in Azure Marketplace
• Accelerate data warehouse modernization with Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services for Azure
• Load confidently with SQL Data Warehouse PolyBase Rejected Row Location
• General availability: Data-in Replication for Azure Database for MySQL
• Announcing the deprecation of the WIT and Test Client OM at Jan 1, 2020
• Transact capabilities for SaaS apps now available in Azure Marketplace
• Azure IoT Reference Architecture update
• Changes coming to PowerShell (preview) in Azure Cloud Shell
• Create enterprise subscription experience in Azure portal public preview
• Do more with Chef and Microsoft Azure
• Enterprise administrators can view reserved instances in the Azure portal
• Deprecation of older versions of the Azure Site Recovery REST API
• General availability: Log alerts for Application Insights
• Public preview: Query across applications in log alerts
• Azure App Service on Azure Stack Update Two Released
• Azure AD Authentication for Azure Storage now in public preview
• New updates for Microsoft Azure Storage Explorer
• An update on the integration of Avere Systems into the Azure family
• Improvements and innovations headed to Azure Government

Aside from Microsoft's announcements, Milan Nankov has open-sourced his Azure Resource Policy Designer which aids the creation and modification of Azure resource policies. Check it out here.

Otherwise, there has been a number of engaging articles this week, some of which include: Serverless real-time notifications in Azure using Azure CosmosDB by Matias Quaranta, who uses Azure SignalR (currently in preview) along with Functions and Cosmos DB to create a real-time, serverless chat application; Taming the fire hose: Azure Stream Analytics by Vincent-Philippe Lauzon where Vincent highlights the specifics of the unsung hero of real-time data analytics; and 10 Reasons to Use Durable Functions by Mark Heath, where Mark points out the key advantages in light of the release of his new Azure Durable Functions Fundamentals Pluralsight course.

Finally, while I was at BUILD the OpenAPI.NET SDK reached v1.0, so I updated my original technical spike for converting OpenAPI documents in Visual Studio 2017, added support for the new Common Project System in VS 2017 and published the code to GitHub and an easy to install VSIX. If you want to add OpenAPI document to your Azure Functions, this extension is for you. Also, if you're interested in the topic of APIs, I can recommend the In the Mood for HTTP YouTube show hosted by Darrel Miller and Glenn Block.

AI + Machine Learning

Covering: Azure Batch AI, Azure Bot Service, Microsoft Genomics, Machine Learning services, Machine Learning Studio, Cognitive Services, Bing APIs, Computer Vision API, Content moderator, Custom Services, Emotion API, Face API, Language Understanding (LUIS), Linguistic Analysis API, QnA Maker API, Speaker Recognition API, Text Analytics API, Translator Speech API, Translator Text API, Web Language Model API

• On TechNet, Gopi Kumar (@zenlytix) provides some Enterprise Deployment Tips for Azure Data Science Virtual Machine DSVM
• Gunnar Peipman (@gpeipman) describes Automatically describing and tagging pictures on SharePoint using Azure Cognitive Services
• On the Revolution Analytics blog, David Smith (@revodavid) posts a Video: speeding up R with parallel programming in the cloud
• On MSDN, Jamie Dalton blogs about YOLO on Azure Deep Learning Virtual Machine DLVM – Linux
• Jen Stirrup writes about the PASS Marathon: Deep Learning and Artificial Intelligence in the Workplace with Microsoft CNTK, Tensorflow and CaffeOnSpark
• On the Daily Dot Net Tips blog, Abhijit Jana (@AbhijitJana) explains how you can Learn Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning from AI School

Analytics

Covering: Azure Databricks, HDInsight, Data Factory, Stream Analytics, Data Lake Analytics, Event Hubs, Power BI, Azure Analysis Services, Apache Spark for HDInsight, Apache Storm for HDInsight, R Server for HDInsight, Data Catalog

• Vincent-Philippe Lauzon (@vplauzon) writes Taming the fire hose: Azure Stream Analytics
• On the Power BI blog, Amanda Cofsky asks us to Help Improve Power BI
• Also on the Power BI blog, Youssef Shoukry announces that the On-premises data gateway May update is now available
• Also on the Power BI blog, Charles Sterling (@chass) highlights the 5/29 Webinar: Building Spectacular Power BI Dashboards with Zebra BI visuals
• Devin Knight (@knight_devin) posts Power BI Custom Visuals Class Module 104 – User List by CloudScope

Compute

Covering: Virtual Machines, Functions, Batch, Service Fabric, Virtual Machine Scale Sets, Cloud Services, Linux Virtual Machines, SAP HANA on Azure Large Instances

• On the Azure blog, Will Bratton and Sebastian Max Dusch describe how to Accelerate your SAP on Azure HANA project with SUSE Microsoft Solution Templates
• On MSDN, Prashant Pratap discusses Azure Durable Functions
• Mark Heath (@mark_heath) writes 10 Reasons to Use Durable Functions
• Thuan Soldier writes about the Inconsistent password policy when updating VM password

Containers

Covering: Container Registry, Container Instances, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), Web App for Containers

• On the Azure blog, Rajesh Ramabathiran (@rajram) writes about the New container images in Azure Marketplace
• On MSDN, Stuart Leeks (@stuartleeks) blogs about Azure Container Registry Global Webhooks–with a helping of Azure Durable Functions
• On Stackify Blog, Erik Dietrich (@daedtech) talks about Azure Container Service (AKS): A Detailed Guide to Setting Up Your First Cluster with Kubernetes
• Daniel Neumann (@neumanndaniel) writes SAP HANA Express Edition – Deploy HANA Express database on ACI – Azure Container Instances
• Mark Heath (@mark_heath) blogs about Integrating ACI with other Azure services

Databases

Covering: Azure SQL Database, Azure Cosmos DB, SQL Data Warehouse, Redis Cache, SQL Server Stretch Database, SQL Server on virtual machines, Table storage, Azure Database for PostgreSQL, Azure Database for MySQL

• On the Azure blog, Kuber Sharma describes how to Accelerate data warehouse modernization with Informatica Intelligent Cloud Services for Azure
• Also on the Azure blog, Casey Karst describes how to Load confidently with SQL Data Warehouse PolyBase Rejected Row Location
• Also on the Azure blog, the Azure updates team writes about General availability: Data-in Replication for Azure Database for MySQL
• On MSDN, Mohamed Baioumy writes Tips & Tricks : What you need to do to creat SQL Login to authenticate to Azure SQL DBs members in Auto-Failover Group

Developer Tools

Covering: Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, SDKs, Developer tool integrations, CLIs, Blockchain Workbench

• Bill Zack (@WilliamHZack) blogs about his Azure Platform Technical Overview in Nashville
• On MSDN, Cheng-Bin Tham explains how to Activate Free Azure Cloud Credits – Visual Studio Dev Essentials
• On TechNet, Richard Spitz explains How to study for the 70-535: Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions certification
• On the Daily Dot Net Tips blog, Abhijit Jana (@AbhijitJana) writes about the Azure Cloud Shell in Visual Studio Code and explains how to Deploy Azure Web Apps from Visual Studio Code using Azure Cloud Shell
• On the Visual Studio blog, Deborah Chen (@ChenDeborah) writes about Snapshots on Exceptions while debugging with IntelliTrace
• On Channel 9, Burke Holland (@burkeholland) presents Episode 17: Five VS Code Extensions You Should Know About with Elijah Manor
• Also on Channel 9, Robert Green talks about the Hot Extensions with Justin Clareburt

DevOps

Covering: Visual Studio Team Services (VSTS), Azure DevTest Labs, DevOps tool integrations, Azure DevOps Projects, Azure Lab Services

• On MSDN, Tanmayee Kamath describes Importing virtual machines across labs
• On Microsoft + Open Source, Elena Neroslavskaya posts a Tutorial: CI/CD for Azure using Terraform, Ansible and VSTS, describes How to create a custom VSTS agent on Azure ACI with Terraform and writes another Tutorial: Immutable infrastructure for Azure, using VSTS, Terraform, Packer and Ansible
• On the Microsoft DevOps blog, Ewald Hofman announces the Announcing the deprecation of the WIT and Test Client OM at Jan 1, 2020
• Also on the Microsoft DevOps blog, Willy-P. Schaub (@wpschaub) lists the Top stories from the VSTS community – 2018.05.18
• Also on the Microsoft DevOps blog, Alex Mullans (@alexmullans) explains how to Use packages reliably with upstreams for VSTS feeds
• Also on MSDN, Mark Meadows and Everett Yang write about Assigning Work Items to a Group in Visual Studio Team Services
• Also on MSDN, Wesam Darwish describes Getting Started with DevOps and Continuous Delivery of Value

Identity

Covering: Azure Active Directory, Multi-factor Authentication, Azure Active Directory Domain Services, Azure Active Directory B2C

• On MSDN, Deva writes Azure/Office 365 Graph API developer: RefreshToken, AccessToken, IdentityToken
• Also on MSDN, Frank Hu describes Using Postman to Call the Microsoft Graph API Using Client Credentials and describes Finding the Correct Permissions for a Microsoft or Azure Active Directory Graph Call
• John Savill explains how to Understand the authentication pros and cons with Azure AD
• On Code Project, Tahir Naushad covers Azure AD with ASP.NET Core 2.0 and talks about Azure AD B2C with ASP.NET Core 2.0
• On the Perficient blog, Quynh Bui describes Setting up SAML SSO with Azure AD and Oracle EPBCS/PBCS

Integration

Covering: Service Bus, Logic Apps, Event Grid

• On the Azure blog, Rajesh Ramabathiran (@rajram) writes that Transact capabilities for SaaS apps now available in Azure Marketplace
• On MSDN, David Burg (@david_burg) writes about Which SAP NCo version to pick for Azure Logic Apps SAP Connector
• Also on MSDN, Timothy Warner (@TechTrainerTim) explains how to Create Your First No Code Logic App in Microsoft Azure
• Michael Crump (@mbcrump) writes Azure Tips and Tricks Part 124 - Creating the Azure Logic App for our IoT Button and Part 125 - Using Azure Function to call our Logic App with the IoT Button
• On the Codit blog, Tom Kerkhove (@TomKerkhove) describes Using Azure Serverless to become GDPR compliant
• On Channel 9, Barry Luijbregts (@azurebarry) talks about How I choose which services to use in Azure with Scott Hanselman

Internet of Things

Covering: IoT Hub, IoT Suite, IoT Edge, IoT Central, IoT solution accelerators, Time Series Insights, Azure Maps, Azure Sphere

• On the Azure blog, Tim Laverty writes about the Azure IoT Reference Architecture update
• On the Kloud blog, Darren Robinson (@darrenjrobinson) blogs about Exporting IoT Device Information from Azure IoT Hubs using PowerShell
• On Channel 9, Olivier Bloch (@obloch) presents IoT White Boarded for the Top Floor with Tom Davis and talks about Azure Maps intro for developers with Ricky Brundritt
• On TechNet, Basim Majeed blogs about Using Query APIs to Unlock the Power of Azure Time Series Insights Part 2: The Aggregates APIs

Management and Governance

Covering: Backup, Site Recovery, App Insights, Azure Advisor, Sceduler, Automation, Log Analytics, Azure Monitor, Security & Compliance, Protection & Recovery, Automation & Control, Insight & Analytics, Azure Service Health, Microsoft Azure portal, Azure Resource Manager, Cloud Shell, the Azure mobile app, Azure Policy, Cost Management, Azure Managed Applications

• On the Azure blog, Danny Maertens writes about the Changes coming to PowerShell (preview) in Azure Cloud Shell
• Also on the Azure blog, Tommy Nguyen writes about the Create enterprise subscription experience in Azure portal public preview
• Also on the Azure blog, Jeremy Winter explains how to Do more with Chef and Microsoft Azure
• On the Azure blog, the Azure updates team writes that Enterprise administrators can view reserved instances in the Azure portal, writes about the General availability: Log alerts for Application Insights, writes about the Public preview: Query across applications in log alerts and writes about the Deprecation of older versions of the Azure Site Recovery REST API
• Also on the Azure blog, Jose Lara Silva describes how to Control Azure Data Lake costs using Log Analytics to create service alerts
• On MSDN, Clive Watson writes Azure Log Analytics: Disk Space Usage Part 3
• On the Kloud blog, Ward van Besien walks through Creating your own PowerShell modules for Azure Automation – Part 1 and Part 2
• On the Daily Dot Net Tips blog, Abhijit Jana (@AbhijitJana) explains how to Configure Azure Portal auto logout after period of inactivity, writes about Quick Navigation using Azure Portal Keyboard Shortcuts, describes how to Import Azure Portal Dashboard and explains how to Browse all Azure Portal Dashboards
• On the New Venture Software blog, Milan Nankov (@milannankov) announces that the Azure Resource Policy Designer is now Open-source

Media

Covering: Media services, Encoding, Live and On-Demand Streaming, Azure Media Player, Content Protection, Media Analytics, Video Indexer

Microsoft Azure Stack

Covering: Azure Stack

• On MSDN, Andrew Westgarth writes that Azure App Service on Azure Stack Update Two Released
• Thomas Maurer (@thomasmaurer) writes that he will be Speaking about Azure Stack at IT Camp 2018 in Cluj-Napoca

Migration

Covering: Azure Database Migration Service, Azure Migrate, Data Box

• On MSDN, Shau Phang explains How to seamlessly migrate MySQL and PostgreSQL apps to Azure Database for MySQL and PostgreSQL with minimum downtime
• On the Azure podcast, the Azure podcast team and guests Paul Yuknewicz and Cesar De La Torre (@AzurePodcast) describes Episode 230 - Moving apps to Azure

Mobile

Covering: App Service (Mobile), Notification Hubs, Mobile apps, API apps, Visual Studio App Centre, Xamarin

Networking

Covering: ExpressRoute, Azure DNS, Virtual Network, Traffic Manager, Load Balancer, VPN Gateway, Application Gateway, Network Watcher

• On the Azure blog, Dilip Lukose writes about Blue-Green deployments using Azure Traffic Manager
• On MSDN, Michael S. Hansen discusses Using Azure Traffic Manager for Private Endpoint Failover – Manual Method and Using Azure Traffic Manager for Private Endpoint Failover – Automation

Security

Covering: Azure Information Protection, Key Vault, Security Center, Azure DDoS Protection, Azure Advanced Threat Protection

• On the Azure blog, Tom Keane writes about the New capabilities to enable robust GDPR compliance

Storage

Covering: Storage, StorSimple, Data Lake Store, Blob Storage, Disk Storage, Managed Disks, Queue Storage, File Storage, Storage Explorer, Archive Storage

• On the Azure blog, Lavanya Kasarabada announces that Azure AD Authentication for Azure Storage now in public preview
• Also on the Azure blog, Catherine Wang writes about the New updates for Microsoft Azure Storage Explorer
• Also on the Azure blog, Tad Brockway writes An update on the integration of Avere Systems into the Azure family
• On TechNet, Luke Brennan writes Azure – PowerShell setting Blob Tiers

Web

Covering: App Service (Web), API Management, Content Delivery Network, Azure Search, Web apps, Azure SignalR Service

• On the Azure blog, Matias Quaranta writes about Serverless real-time notifications in Azure using Azure CosmosDB
• On MSDN, Andrew Hall (@AndrewBrianHall) writes Exploring Azure App Service – Web Apps and SQL Azure
• Also on MSDN, Finbar Ryan (@FinVamp1) walks through Investigating issues using Web Deploy for Azure App Service
• Also on MSDN, Paras Patidar blogs about Web App Instance Name and ARR affinity Mapping using Function App – Part-1, Part-2, Part-3 and Part-4
• Also on MSDN, Yi Wang MS Oss explains how to Configure WordPress Database Connection on Azure App Services