Azure Weekly Issue 307: 17th January 2021
To kick off this edition - there are a couple of good videos on Channel 9; first up Alex Frankel joins Abel Wang discuss Project Bicep – the next generation ARM Templates - we've been converting some of our more advanced ARM Templates to Bicep to put it through its paces; we're happy with the direction of travel - each new release improves the experience. Something to keep an eye on. Secondly, the Microsoft Graph should get more attention / love than it currently does; Cecil Phillip delves into Change Notifications with Microsoft Graph On .NET
Another post with some personal interest is Processing CloudEvents for Azure EventGrid via Azure Functions as we've adopted the CloudEvents standard for a serverless workflow engine we've been building over the last year. On the Azure blog, Alex Simon discusses how Azure Active Directory empowers frontline workers with simplified and secure access. Sarah Lean lists ten things you can implement to save costs in your Azure environment. Incredibly useful as we all ramp up our projects and resources for the new year!
Mark Serafine provides an introduction to Microsoft Azure Government Secret - which supports agencies working with highly classified data. And Kenneth Omorodion runs through how to create Azure DevOps Analytics Visuals with Power BI OData Queries.
Finally, this week our newest endjineer - Barry Smart - has written his first endjin blog, covering the Doing Data Together Conference and how we can take learnings from the Covid 19 pandemic and apply them to wider data and analytics scenarios.
AI + Machine Learning
Covering: Anomaly detector, Azure Bot Service, Azure Machine Learning, Azure Open Datasets, Bing APIs, Cognitive Services, Computer Vision, Content moderator, Custom vision, Data Science Virtual Machines, Face, Form Recogniser, Immersive Reader, Ink Recogniser, Language Understanding (LUIS), Machine Learning Studio, Microsoft Genomics, ML.NET, Personaliser, Project Cortex, QnA Maker, Speaker Recognition, Speech-to-Text, Speech translation, Text Analytics, Text to Speech , Translator Speech, Translator Text
- On the DEV site, Adi Polak (@AdiPolak) discusses The Data Behind MLOps
Analytics
Covering: Apache Spark for HDInsight, Apache Storm for HDInsight, Azure Analysis Services, Azure Data Explorer, Azure Data Share, Azure Databricks, Azure Stream Analytics, Azure Synapse Analytics, Data Catalog, Data Factory, Data Lake Analytics, Event Hubs, HDInsight, .NET for Apache Spark, R Server for HDInsight, Azure Purview
- On the Microsoft BI Tools blog, Joost van Rossum (@ssisjoost) runs through Scaling Azure Dedicated SQL Pools from ADF
Compute
Covering: Azure CycleCloud, Azure Dedicated Host, Azure Functions, Azure VMware Solution by CloudSimple, Batch, Cloud Services, Linux Virtual Machines, SAP HANA on Azure Large Instances, Service Fabric, Virtual Machines, Virtual Machine Scale Sets
- On the Premier Developer blog, Bryan Soltis (@bryan_soltis) describes How to Post a File to an Azure Function in 3 Minutes
- On Code Project, Duncan Edwards Jones (@Merrion) covers Event Sourcing on Azure Functions
- Antti K. Koskela (@koskila) fixes an issue: "Could not find a part of the path ___. Value cannot be null. Parameter provider" when running Azure Functions locally
- On the DEV site, Nitya Narasimhan talks about The Recipe Connector (#SeasonsOfServerless)
- On Tech Community blog, Arsen Vladimirskiy (@ArsenVlad) runs through Creating VM images and publishing in Partner Center
Containers
Covering: Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), Azure Red Hat OpenShift, CNAB, CNCF, Container Instances, Container Registry, Porter, WSL, Web App for Containers
- Geert Baeke (@GeertBaeke) talks about Kubernetes Canary Deployments with GitHub Actions
- On Tech Community blog, Athinanthny Senthil highlights that you need to Upgrade Azure Service Fabric Clusters on Unsupported Versions Below 6.3.63. By January 19, 2021
- Elton Stoneman (@EltonStoneman) describes Microsoft's Docker Images for .NET Apps
Databases
Covering: Azure Cosmos DB, Azure Database for MariaDB, Azure Database for MySQL, Azure Database for PostgreSQL, Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Database Edge, Azure Cache for Redis, SQL Data Warehouse, SQL Server on virtual machines, SQL Server Stretch Database, Table storage
- On the Azure blog, John Chirapurath highlights: Azure SQL Database named among the top 3 databases of 2020
- On Tech Community blog, Dandan Zhang asks - Are you running into Postgres connection issues on Azure?
- On SQL Server Central, Sucharita Das explains how to Analyze Azure Cosmos DB data using Synapse Link and Power BI
Developer Tools
Covering: App Configuration, Azure Lab Services, CLIs, Developer tool integrations, SDKs, Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, Visual Studio Online
DevOps
Covering: Azure Artifacts, Azure Boards, Azure DevOps, Azure Pipelines, Azure Repos, Azure Test Plans, Azure DevTest Labs, DevOps tool integrations
- Jérôme Laban discusses Multi-Platform DevOps
- On the MSSQL Tips site, Kenneth Omorodion explains how to Create Azure DevOps Analytics Visuals with Power BI OData Queries
- On the Microsoft DevOps blog, Damian Brady (@damovisa) explains how to Generate a GitHub Actions workflow with Visual Studio or the dotnet CLI
- Gloridel Morales talks about the January patches for Azure DevOps Server and Team Foundation Server
- Steven Murawski (@StevenMurawski) lists the Top Stories from the Microsoft DevOps Community
- On Tech Community blog, Buck Woody (@BuckWoodyMSFT) discusses DevOps for Data Science - Part 4 - DevOps Maturity Levels
- Prashant Kumar discusses how to Perform policy operations through Azure DevOps using Azure Policy
- Srini Padala runs through Using Azure DevOps to deploy an application on AKS Private Cluster in Azure US Government
- On the DEV site, Aaron Powell (@slace) covers Using Environments for Approval Workflows With GitHub Actions
- Jaliya Udagedara (@JaliyaUdagedara) describes Passing Variables Between Jobs and Stages in Azure Pipelines
Hybrid
Covering: Azure Arc, Azure Stack
- Thomas Maurer (@thomasmaurer) talks about how to Manage your Hybrid Cloud environment using Azure Arc
- On Tech Community blog, Rick Claus (@RicksterCDN) highlights the ITOps Talks Hybrid Event
Identity
Covering: Azure Active Directory (AD), Azure Active Directory B2C, Azure Active Directory Domain Services
- Damien Bowden (@damien_bod) describes Protecting legacy APIs with an ASP.NET Core Yarp reverse proxy and Azure AD OAuth
- On the DEV site, Waldek Mastykarz (@waldekm) explains how to Create Azure AD apps with one line of code
- On the Premier Developer blog, Marius Rochon discusses Setting up for Azure B2C development
- On Channel 9, Silvano Coriani (@scoriani) talks about how to Simplify Authentication with Managed Identities for Azure Resources
- On Tech Community blog, Daniel Naim highlights that Microsoft Defender for Identity expands support to AD FS servers
- Also on Tech Community blog, Sean Li covers The latest on Azure Active Directory Spring Integrations
- On Microsoft Security blog, Teri Seals-Dormer describes how Azure Active Directory empowers frontline workers with simplified and secure access
Integration
Covering: Azure API for FHIR, Event Grid, Logic Apps, Service Bus
- On the DEV site, Justin Yoo (@justinchronicle) describes an EventGrid Subscription to Custom Topic Using Azure CLI
- On Tech Community blog, Manohar Patel Seshapur covers an issue: Recurrence trigger not fired at specified frequency
- Xuehong Gan discusses Troubleshooting Integration Service Environment Deployment Failure
- Sean Feldman (@sfeldman) writes about how to Automatically create Service Bus trigger queue for Azure Function and how to Automatically provision NServiceBus Service Bus Function endpoint topology
- Also on the DEV site, Justin Yoo (@justinchronicle) blogs about Processing CloudEvents for Azure EventGrid via Azure Functions
- June Castillote (@junecastillote) explains How to Send Email from Azure
- On Azure Tips and Tricks, Michael Crump (@mbcrump) explains How to Get Started with Azure Communication Services Part 2 of 2 - Send SMS messeges
Internet of Things
Covering: Azure Digital Twins, Azure IoT Central, Azure IoT Edge, Azure IoT Hub, Azure IoT solution accelerators, Azure Maps, Azure Sphere, Azure Time Series Insights, IoT DevKit, WildernessLabs, Windows 10 IoT Core Services
- On Channel 9, Ranga Vadlamudi (@RangaVadlamudi) talks about how to Manage Devices at scale with Azure IoT Central
- On Tech Community blog, Diana Phillips writes about why you should Set your IoT-related resolutions now!
- David Kurth discusses how Retailers innovate with Microsoft technologies
- Matt Lavery (@matticusau) writes: IoT is now Generally Available as a solution covered by FastTrack for Azure to eligible customers
- Archana Iyer discusses Unlocking more experiences with the cloud
- Ravi Krishnaswamy describes how Microsoft is Helping retailers navigate the future
- Dalya Perez describes Making Tech a Place for All
Learning
Covering: Microsoft Certifications, Azure Certifications, Microsoft Learning Paths, Certification Pathway Information
- On Tech Community blog, Liberty Munson writes about Taking Azure certifications for data and AI to the next level
- Barry Luijbregts (@azurebarry) explains how to Prepare for Exam AZ-304: Microsoft Azure Architect Design
- On the Microsoft DevOps blog, Jay Gordon (@jaydestro) provides A Guide to Skills Measured for the Azure Fundamentals Exam AZ-900
- Adam Marczak (@MarczakIO) continues his series on AZ-900, covering the Cloud Adoption Framework for Azure
Management and Governance
Covering: Automation, Azure Advisor, Azure Backup, Azure Blueprints, Azure Lighthouse, Azure Managed Applications, Azure mobile app, Azure Monitor, Azure Policy, Azure Resource Manager, Azure Service Health, Azure Site Recovery, Cloud Shell, Cost Management, Microsoft Azure portal, Scheduler, Azure Purview
- The Azure updates team announces that you can now View change data through Azure Monitor workbook integration with Application Change Analysis and that Monitoring your Azure Data Explorer Clusters with Azure Monitor Insights is in public preview
- Stanislav Zhelyazkov (@StanZhelyazkov) discusses Tracking Issues with Resource Health and Log Analytics
- On the DEV site, Zachary Deptawa (@zdeptawa) discusses Terraform and Azure
- On Channel 9, Cecil Phillip (@cecilphillip) talks about Change Notifications with Microsoft Graph On .NET
- Also on Channel 9, Abel Wang and Alex Frankel discuss Project Bicep – Next generation ARM Templates
- Sarah Lean (@TechieLass) runs through Ten things you can implement to save costs in your Azure environment
- On the Azure Medium blog, Adam Bertram (@adbertram) describes How to Set Up Azure DSC on an Ubuntu Linux VM
- On System Center Automation, Billy York provides Azure Resource Graph Examples and Github Repo
- Also on Tech Community blog, Christopher Scott talks about App Registration Expiration Monitoring and Notifications
- On Azure Medium, Itay Podhajcer (@ItayPodhajcer) describes the Easy Terraforming of an Azure Batch Service with an Auto-Scaling Pool
Media
Covering: Azure Media Player, Content Protection, Encoding, Live and On-Demand Streaming, Media Analytics, Media Services, Video Indexer
Migration
Covering: Azure Database Migration Service, Azure Migrate, Data Box
- Radu Vunvulea (@RaduVunvulea) provides an Overview of tools, templates and assessments that can be used together with Microsoft Cloud Adoption Framework
- On The Azure Podcast, the team presents Microsoft Solutions with Corey
Mobile
Covering: App Service (Mobile), Mobile apps, Notification Hubs, Visual Studio App Centre, Xamarin
Networking
Covering: Application Gateway, Azure Bastion, Azure DNS, Azure ExpressRoute, Azure Firewall, Azure Firewall Manager, Azure Front Door, Azure Internet Analyzer, Azure Private Link, Content Delivery Network, Load Balancer, Network Watcher, Traffic Manager, Virtual Network, Virtual WAN, VPN Gateway, Web Application Firewall
- On Tech Community blog, Mohit Kumar provides a Tutorial Overview: Azure Web Application Firewall Security Protection and Detection Lab, Part 1 - Lab Setup, Part 2 - Reconnaissance Playbook, Part 3 - Vulnerability Exploitation Playbook and finally Part 4 - Data Disclosure and Exfiltration Playbook
- Sonia Cuff (@soniacuff) blogs about Configuring Azure virtual network subnets with CIDR notation
- The Azure updates team talks announces that a Public IP SKU upgrade is generally available
Security
Covering: Azure DDoS Protection, Azure Information Protection, Azure Sentinel, Key Vault, Security Center
- On Tech Community blog, Miriam Wiesner (@miriamxyra) explains How to use tagging effectively (Part 2)
- The Fasttrack Team discusses how FastTrack now assists with more threat protection capabilities
- On Azure Sentinel Blog, Ron Marsiano talks about Handling ingestion delay in Azure Sentinel scheduled alert rules
- On Microsoft Security blog, Eric Avena blogs about Increasing resilience against Solorigate and other sophisticated attacks with Microsoft Defender
- On the DEV site, Chris Noring (@chris_noring) blogs about Using Azure Key Vault to manage your secrets
- On the Azure blog, Pradeep Nair highlights: Azure and HITRUST publish shared responsibility matrix
- Also on Tech Community blog, Mark Serafine provides an Introduction to Microsoft Azure Government Secret
Storage
Covering: Archive Storage, Avere vFXT for Azure, Azure Data Lake Store, Azure FXT Edge Filer, Azure HPC Cache, Azure NetApp Files, Blob Storage, Disk Storage, File Storage, Managed Disks, Queue Storage, Storage Accounts, Storage Explorer, StorSimple
- Mark Heath (@mark_heath) blogs about how to Bulk upload files to Azure Blob Storage with the Azure CLI
- On SQL Server Central, Rajendra Gupta covers Azure Blob Storage Data Upload with SSIS
Web
Covering: API apps, API Management, App Service (Web), Azure Cognitive Search, Azure SignalR Service, Azure Spring Cloud, Web apps
- On Azure Tips and Tricks, Michael Crump (@mbcrump) explains How to log request/response payload in Application Insights for APIs frontend by API Management
Windows Virtual Desktop
Covering: Windows Virtual Desktop
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