Azure Weekly Issue 309: 31st January 2021
This week there have been a few exciting announcements!
Firstly, ARM Template Specs is now Public Preview, which provides a way to centrally manage and test your ARM deployments. We'll definitely be putting this to use here at endjin!
The updates team has also announced that Azure Machine Learning Output Datasets are generally available. This provides a way to read cloud data securely, and with full versioning and audit management in your machine learning scenarios.
On the Azure blog, Michael Flanakin runs through the Azure Cost Management and Billing updates for January 2021.
And on the Microsoft Security blog, Joy Chik highlights some of the Azure AD app gallery apps that made the most impact in 2020. With 2020 being the year of all-things-remote, the ability to for users to securely connect has been vital - and these apps have helped that happen!
On Channel 9, Olivier Bloch and Mike Hall discuss ML at the edge and in the Cloud with Azure Sphere.
And, looking forward, Jeffrey Palermo shares his top list of architectures for 2021 and Beyond!
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 Tech Community blog, Qinying Liao introduces Unified Neural Text Analyzer: an innovation to improve Neural TTS pronunciation accuracy
- On the DEV site, Jen Looper (@jenlooper) write about Machine Learning for Artisans: Classifying Lacemaking Techniques
- The Azure Updates Team announces that Azure Machine Learning Output Datasets are generally available, that Azure Machine Learning Data Labeling – Image Instance Segmentation is in public preview and highlights Azure Cognitive Services Translator - Inuktitut language text translation now available
- Maddy Butzbach (@maddybutzbach) describes How to build an intelligent travel journal using Azure AI
- William Mendoza explains How to build a voice-enabled grocery chatbot with Azure AI
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
- Chris Webb (@cwebb_bi) compares The Performance Of Importing Data Into Power BI From ADLSgen2 Direct And Via Azure Synapse Analytics Serverless
- Fikrat Azizov compares Azure Synapse Analytics vs Azure Data Factory for Building a Synapse Pipeline
- The Azure Updates Team announces that Azure Data Factory is now available in two additional regions
- Olga Goldenberg provides a Spotlight on the ADX Web Explorer query results grid
- Ed Elliott (@EdDebug) describes JOINS with Synapse Analytics and .NET for Apache Spark
- Kevin Chant discusses Unit tests for an Azure Synapse Analytics dedicated SQL Pool
- On Channel 9, Sheel Choksi talks about Accelerating Data Engineering with Azure
- On How to Code, Johan Åhlén gives an Introduction to Azure Synapse Dedicated SQL pools (formerly SQL DW)
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
- The Azure Updates Team announces that Python 3.9 in Azure Functions is now in public preview
- Kate Smith (@aKateSmithSQL) describes The Positive Impact of Intelligent Query Processing
- Liliam Leme describes Serverless Architecture and Concepts: What is it?
- On the MSSQL Tips site, Vitor Montalvao explains how to Create Azure VM from a VHD image
Containers
Covering: Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), Azure Red Hat OpenShift, CNAB, CNCF, Container Instances, Container Registry, Porter, WSL, Web App for Containers
- Dave Rendon explains how to Deploy Kemp Ingress Controller in an Azure Kubernetes Service
- On Channel 9, Brigit Murtaugh (@BrigitMurtaugh) talks about Dev Containers
- On the DEV site, Jay Gordon (@jaydestro) discusses AKS and HashiCorp Consul
- The Azure Updates Team announces Azure Service Fabric Mesh Preview Retirement
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
- Ahmed Mahmoud explains how to Migrate your database from PostgreSQL Single Server to PostgreSQL Flexible Server using Azure DMS
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
- Richard Fennell (@richardfennell) writes about What to do when moving your Azure DevOps organisation from one region to another is delayed.
- On the DEV site, Adi Polak (@AdiPolak) discusses The Importance of Testing data Applications
- Also on the DEV site, Jay Gordon (@jaydestro) provides A Brief Intro To Azure Boards
- On the Microsoft DevOps blog, Zachary Deptawa (@zdeptawa) lists the Top Stories from the Microsoft DevOps Community
- Anusha Ammaluru explains how to Get Started with Cucumber and Azure DevOps
- Thomas Thornton (@tamstar1234) blogs about Creating Templates For Azure DevOps Pipeline Jobs
- Antti K. Koskela (@koskila) covers Azure DevOps Pipelines Caching
- On the Azure blog, Ricardo Duncan explains how to Automate application lifecycle management with GitHub Actions
- Pratibha Sood highlights how to Prepare your cloud environments using Azure landing zones
- On Azure Tips and Tricks, Michael Crump (@mbcrump) describes How to use GitHub Actions from Azure App Service
- Jaliya Udagedara (@JaliyaUdagedara) describes how to Create/Update Azure API Management APIs in Azure Pipelines
Hybrid
Covering: Azure Arc, Azure Stack
- Rick Claus (@RicksterCDN) highlights the ITOps talk at the All Things Hybrid event
- Hai Yue covers Hybrid relay control & rendezvous channel of Python edition
- On the Azure podcast, Matt Henry discusses Azure VMWare Solution
Identity
Covering: Azure Active Directory (AD), Azure Active Directory B2C, Azure Active Directory Domain Services
- Simon J.K. Pedersen (@simped) walks through Removing Users from Azure AD Domain Service
- On the Azure blog, Ramya Oruganti introduces Seamless integration between Microsoft Azure and Confluent Cloud
- The Azure Updates Team announces that Confluent Cloud Integration with Azure is now generally available and that 99.99% uptime for Azure Active Directory Premium customers is coming April 1st, 2021
- Damien Bowden (@damien_bod) explains how to Implement OAUTH Device Code Flow with Azure AD and ASP.NET Core
- On Channel 9, Christer Ljung talks about Using AzureAD B2C for authenticating users On .NET
- On Microsoft Security blog, Teri Seals-Dormer talks about The state of apps by Microsoft identity: Azure AD app gallery apps that made the most impact in 2020
- On the Microsoft DevOps blog, Peter De Tender discusses Managed Identities
- Chenye Charlie Zhu describes Permission and RBAC setting for Event Triggers in ADF
- Joonas Westlin (@JoonasWestlin) describes how to Get a Managed Identity access token in Azure App Service through Advanced Tools (Kudu) and Building Azure AD B2C custom policies part 1: Visual Studio Code and manual deployment
- John Kilmister (@johnkilmister) writes how to OAuth Device Flow for IoT with the Microsoft Graph API
Integration
Covering: Azure API for FHIR, Event Grid, Logic Apps, Service Bus
- On the DEV site, Justin Yoo (@justinchronicle) blogs about WebSub to EventGrid via CloudEvents, and Beyond
- Akihiro Nishikawa (@Logico_jp) discusses Using JMS 2.0 APIs to access Azure Service Bus
- Rohitha Hewawasam discusses Logic Apps Anywhere: Networking Possibilities with Logic App Preview
- Shelton Graves (@sheltongraves) writes about Why you should consider an event-driven architecture
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
- The Azure Updates Team highlights that you should Upgrade IoT Hub IP filter before 1 February 2022 and announces that Azure Sphere version 21.01 is now available
- On Channel 9, Mike Hall talks about ML at the edge and in the Cloud with Azure Sphere
- Adityo Setyonugroho writes: Mixed Reality - It Is No Longer A Science Fiction
- On Microsoft Security blog, Teri Seals-Dormer announces the general availability of Azure Defender for IoT
Learning
Covering: Microsoft Certifications, Azure Certifications, Microsoft Learning Paths, Certification Pathway Information
- On the DEV site, Nitya Narasimhan writes about Visual Azure: Studying for Certification, one Sketchnote at a time
- Anand Raman explains how to Get skilled on AI and ML – on your terms with Azure AI
- Sandra Marin talks about the certification: Azure Database Administrator Associate
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
- Angel Perez highlights that ARM Template Specs is now Public Preview
- On the Azure blog, Gaurav Chandwani explains how to Build regionally resilient cloud services using the Azure Resource Manager
- On the Azure blog, Michael Flanakin (@flanakin) talks about the Azure Cost Management and Billing updates – January 2021
- Charbel Nemnom (@charbelnemnom) explains how to Replace Failover Datacenter With Azure Site Recovery
- Simone Frigerio dives into How To Debug Syslog Ingestion for Sentinel and Log Analytics.
- On the Premier Developer blog, Emmanuel Knafo discusses Cloud Economics
- The Azure Updates Team announces that South Central US Availability Zones, and Germany West Central Availability Zones are now generally available and that the New Azure Cloud Services deployment model is in public preview
- Tobias Zimmergren (@zimmergren) delves into how to Upgrade Application Insights to Workspace-based Resource Mode from Classic
- Tobias Zimmergren (@zimmergren) walks through Querying data from multiple Application Insights instances
- John Nisi covers how Azure Availability Zones in the South Central US datacenter region add resiliency
- On System Center Automation, Billy York talks about Azure Workbooks: Icons Thresholds & Heatmaps
- Helder Pinto describes How to Remove at Scale the Azure Diagnostics Extension and its Storage Data
- On the Azure blog, Girish Bablani discusses the Key customer benefits of the expanded SAP and Microsoft partnership
- James Dumont le Douarec walks through An Azure Policy journey
- Microsoft Cloud Partner Site, Marty Donovan shares a number of webinars The Azure Government Marketplace Opportunity (March 2, 2021 8:00 AM PST), Developing for Commercial Marketplace - Creating Dynamic UIs for Managed Applications (March 4, 2021 11:00 AM PST) and The Azure Government Marketplace Opportunity (April 6, 2021 8:00 AM PST)
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
- Jim Toland describes PostgreSQL to Azure DB for PostgreSQL – Hyperscale Citus online migrations now generally available
- Jeffrey Palermo (@jeffreypalermo) talks about Architectures for 2021 and Beyond
- On the Microsoft site, a reporter discusses how Top marketing intelligence firm 10th Man uses Microsofts Azure cloud to unlock the power of data
- Adam Listek writes about Your Options for Getting Microsoft Azure for Free
Mobile
Covering: App Service (Mobile), Mobile apps, Notification Hubs, Visual Studio App Centre, Xamarin
- On Channel 9, James Montemagno (@JamesMontemagno) talks about App Actions (Xamarin API of the week)
- Also on Channel 9, Javier Suarex Ruiz introduces The Xamarin Community Toolkit
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
- Aidan Finn (@joe_elway) explains how to Enable FQDN-Based Network Rules In Azure Firewall
Security
Covering: Azure DDoS Protection, Azure Information Protection, Azure Sentinel, Key Vault, Security Center
- On Azure Sentinel Blog, Sreedhar Ande walks through Protecting your DocuSign Agreements with Azure Sentinel
- On Microsoft Security blog, Teri Seals-Dormer talks about Protecting multi-cloud environments with Azure Security Center
- The Azure Updates Team writes about how Azure HDInsight extends capabilities for encryption of data in transit and at rest
- Magdy Salem writes about Azure Sentinel & secure application lifecycle
- Archana Balakrishnan writes about 4 reasons customers are asking service partners for Azure Lighthouse
- Thomas Stringer shares Azure Key Vault Certificates with Let's Encrypt as the Issuer CA
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
- The Azure Updates Team writes about Copy Blob support over private endpoints in Azure Storage is generally available and talks about Resource instance rules for access to Azure Storage now in public preview
- Charbel Nemnom (@charbelnemnom) explains How to Back up and Restore Azure Managed Disks
- James van Den Berg explains how to Get Started with the Microsoft Azure Storage Explorer
- Pierre Roman (@pierreroman) explains how to Protect your Azure blob storage from accidental deletion.
Web
Covering: API apps, API Management, App Service (Web), Azure Cognitive Search, Azure SignalR Service, Azure Spring Cloud, Web apps
- The Azure Updates Team lists the Azure API Management Updates - January, 2021
- Adam Listek explains How to Set Up a WordPress Blog in Microsoft Azure
Windows Virtual Desktop
Covering: Windows Virtual Desktop
- Travis Roberts (@Ciraltos) discusses Windows Virtual Desktop
- Jesse Esquivel highlights that Windows Virtual Desktop support is now generally available in Microsoft Defender
Azure Weekly Archive
If you would like to read more interesting articles from the Azure ecosystem check out our archive where you will find all of the back issues.
Contribute Content
If you would like to contribute any content to the Azure Weekly newsletter, please email azureweekly@endjin.com