Azure Weekly Issue 341: 19th September 2021

Another vulnerability was announced in the last week. 'OMIGOD' was discovered by Wiz (who also discovered the Cosmos DB / Jupyter Notebook vulnerability). For more details see the following article Microsoft Azure OMI Vulnerabilities, Dubbed 'OMIGOD,' Still Not Patched.

There are some interesting articles buried in the newsletter this week. A feature we've been waiting for all year is finally here: Azure Synapse Analytics RBAC roles are now Generally Available. We've been talking about CodeOps for a while now, and one of the items on our internal TODO list is gathering telemetry we can use for analytics. So I was very pleased to see the Introducing Azure DevOps Audit Stream post this week. In a similar vein OpenTelemetry + Azure Monitor is worth reading. I'm very happy to see this broad adoption; it's much needed.

There's some really interesting content in the AI space this week. First, the latest updates on Azure Neural TTS: new voices for casual conversations are quite impressive - I'd recommend taking a listen to the audio samples contained in this post. I particularly enjoyed Visualize AI events in real-time from Azure Video Analyzer using Power BI, it's a really compelling example of how you can extract signals from unstructured content which can then be fed into Machine Learning models for actionable insights. I'm fascinated by Natural Language Processing (we use a form of this this in Azure Weekly to do article classification), so this week's AI Show is particularly interesting as it covers custom NLP tasks with Verseagility, I'm looking forward to trying this out over the next week. Finally, Nitya Narasimhan shares A Visual Guide To: Azure Percept.

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 Channel 9, Seth Juarez and Timm Walz talks about Ramping up your custom NLP tasks with Verseagility Episode 30 AI Show
• Qinying Liao writes about Latest updates on Azure Neural TTS: new voices for casual conversations
• Travis Dahlke describes How Form Recognizer Helps Organizations and Businesses Enhance their Data Processing
• The Azure Updates Team cover Azure Machine Learning public preview announcements for Sep 2021

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

• Saveen Reddy announces Azure Synapse Analytics RBAC roles are now Generally Available
• On SQL Server Central, Ron L'Esteve explains how to Mount an Azure Data Lake Storage Gen2 Account in Databricks
• On the MSSQL Tips site, Ron L'Esteve covers Bloom Filter Indexes using Databricks Delta
• Meagan Longoria (@mmarie) shares Slides and Video from Building a Regret-free Foundation for your Data Factory Now Available
• On SQL Server Central, Diponkar Paul describes How to Flatten JSON in Azure Data Factory
• Elizabeth Maher covers Power BI Reports - Part 3: Cost Management Data and Lab Services Data Together
• The Azure Updates Team announces Azure Stream Analytics: 3 new regions are now generally available
• On the SQL Server Blog, Julie Koesmarno explains how to Enhance your Log Analytics data exploration in Azure Data Studio
• Deepak Agrawal writes that Azure Data Explorer cost estimator is now available in Azure pricing calculator

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

• Alan Kinane (@Azure_Alan) writes about What are On-demand capacity reservations
• Sean Feldman (@sfeldman) blogs about Azure Functions Isolated Worker - Sending multiple messages
• The Azure Updates Team highlights that Azure VMware Solution achieves FedRAMP High Authorization
• The Azure Updates Team covers JetStream Disaster Recovery for Azure VMware Solution now in public preview

Containers

Covering: Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), Azure Red Hat OpenShift, CNAB, CNCF, Container Instances, Container Registry, Porter, WSL, Web App for Containers

• The Azure Updates Team announces General availability: AKS Run command, and General availability: Azure Red Hat OpenShift support for OpenShift 4.8, and Public preview: Custom policy definitions for AKS clusters, and Public preview: Scale-down mode in AKS and and Public preview: Azure CNI enhancement now allows AKS pods and nodes in different VNets
• Carlos Mendible (@cmendibl3) covers AKS: Windows node pool with spot virtual machines and ephemeral disks

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

• The Azure Updates Team announces Public preview of v4 Cosmos DB extensions for Azure Functions
• On the Codit blog, Holly Hamilton discusses Catering for Azure Cosmos DB optimistic concurrency
• The Azure Updates Team announces Azure Database for PostgreSQL - Hyperscale Citus supports PostgreSQL 11.13, 12.8, and 13.4 minor versions, and Azure Database for PostgreSQL – Hyperscale Citus support for Citus 10.1 is generally available and and Azure Database for PostgreSQL–Hyperscale Citus: Japan West region now available
• On Channel 9, Anna Hoffman and Claire Giordano talk about How to Use Citus to Shard Postgres, for Performance & Scale Data Exposed
• Niko Neugebauer writes about How-to determine the SQL MI Failover Group & HA Replicas Details

Developer Tools

Covering: App Configuration, Azure Lab Services, CLIs, Developer tool integrations, SDKs, Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, Visual Studio Online

• On the Visual Studio blog, Mads Kristensen (@mkristensen) shares that Visual Studio 2022 Preview 4 is now available
• Also on the Visual Studio blog, Peter Groenewegen (@pgroene) explains how to Discover quick actions for common tasks as you type, with IntelliCode
• On Visual Studio Magazine - Blogs, David Ramel (@dramel) writes about Visual Studio 2022 Preview 4: Hot Reload Expands, Speed Improvements and covers Progress Telerik Adds New Controls for Blazor, .NET MAUI, Desktop
• Jeffrey Palermo (@jeffreypalermo) talks to Daniel Roth on Web Development with .NET 6 - Episode 158
• On the Microsoft DevOps blog, Jay Gordon (@jaydestro) blogs about AzureFunBytes Episode 55 – Programming for Accessibility with Rory Preddy
• On the Azure blog, David Blank-Edelman explains how to Join us behind the scenes at Azure, thanks to the Well-Architected Framework
• On the Azure podcast, Mariia Mykhailova provides an An update on Quantum in Episode 394

DevOps

Covering: Azure Artifacts, Azure Boards, Azure DevOps, Azure Pipelines, Azure Repos, Azure Test Plans, Azure DevTest Labs, DevOps tool integrations

• The Cloud Journey, John Alfaro shares two Continuous Deployment Recipes using GitHub Actions, Checkov and Terraform Cloud(CLI) and consuming Azure DevOps to PowerShell to Terraform Cloud(API-driven Run Workflow)
• On the Microsoft DevOps blog, April Edwards (@TheAprilEdwards) covers Level up your skills with Bicep
• On Channel 9, April Edwards and John Downs talk about Level up your Bicep skills on Microsoft Learn on The DevOps Lab
• Also on the Microsoft DevOps blog, Gloridel Morales talks about September patches for Azure DevOps Server and Team Foundation Server
• Also on the Microsoft DevOps blog, Peter De Tender (@pdtit) discusses Introducing Azure DevOps Audit Stream
• On the Microsoft BI Tools blog, Joost van Rossum (@ssisjoost) writes about ADF Deploy - ResourceGroupNotFound and writes about ADF Deploy - missing arm-template-parameters-definition.json
• Kevin Chant blogs about Introducing my Azure DevOps templates for Data Platform deployments
• Antti K. Koskela (@koskila) discusses GitHub Action fails with The GITHUBTOKEN environment variable was not set

Hybrid

Covering: Azure Arc, Azure Stack

• Raymond Baziwane discusses Distributing virtual machines across multiple cluster shared volumes in AKS on Azure Stack HCI
• Jessica Guan explains how to Improved node pool support in AKS on Azure Stack HCI
• Thomas Maurer (@thomasmaurer) talks about Azure Arc - enabled data services with Azure Stack HCI and Azure Kubernetes Service AKS
• Silvio Di Benedetto describes how to create an Hybrid Group in Azure Automation.
• Sarah Lean (@TechieLass) explains how to Install Azure Arc onto your servers

Identity

Covering: Azure Active Directory (AD), Azure Active Directory B2C, Azure Active Directory Domain Services

• John Joyner (@john_joyner) covers Azure Lighthouse accelerates Cloud Management curriculum
• Eric Ouellet presents Enhanced Malicious OAuth Activity Detection Capabilities in App Governance
• The Intune Support Team describes Success with remote Windows Autopilot and hybrid Azure Active Directory join

Integration

Covering: Azure API for FHIR, Event Grid, Logic Apps, Service Bus

• Aditya Balaji covers Monitor your backups effectively using Azure Monitor Alerts for Azure Backup
• Luise Freese (@LuiseFreese) writes about 4 ways to level up your Power Automate flows

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 the DEV site, Nitya Narasimhan (@ntiya) provides A Visual Guide To: Azure Percept
• Amira Youssef explains how to discover the possibilities with Azure Percept
• The Azure Updates Team writes about General availability: Azure IoT Central new and updated features—August 2021
• Pete Gallagher walks through Configuring and Visualising IoT Edge Metrics using Prometheus and Grafana

Learning

Covering: Microsoft Certifications, Azure Certifications, Microsoft Learning Paths, Certification Pathway Information

• Lee Stott (@lee_stott) covers Microsoft Student Summit S2, October 18-20, 2021
• Jeffrey Raymond Kitt blogs about The MVP Global Cloud Skills Challenge: Career Stories
• Orin Thomas talks about Introducing the Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate certification
• Jeffrey Raymond Kitt blogs about Upskilling Oneself and Others
• Tobias Zimmergren and Jussi Roine shares all the latest Azure Updates - Episode 099 - Ctrl+Alt+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

• Matthew McCleary discusses OpenTelemetry + Azure Monitor
• The Azure Updates Team talks about Azure Monitor Agent and Data Collection Rules now support Windows Server 2022
• Edoardo Zonca writes about Alert Based on Log to Metrics Feature on Azure Monitor
• Asir Selvasingh (@asirselvasingh) covers Monitor Spring Boot applications end-to-end using Dynatrace
• Scott Hanselman and Steve Michelotti talk about Enable government missions in the cloud with Azure Government Azure Friday

Media

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

• Nikita Pitliya explains how to Visualize AI events in real-time from Azure Video Analyzer using Power BI

Migration

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

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

• Hannes Lagler-Gruener demonstrates how to change the VM VNet

Security

Covering: Azure DDoS Protection, Azure Information Protection, Azure Sentinel, Key Vault, Security Center

• Russell McDonald talks about Hunting for OMI Vulnerability Exploitation with Azure Sentinel
• Kurt Mackie (@kurmac) covers Microsoft Azure OMI Vulnerabilities, Dubbed 'OMIGOD,' Still Not Patched
• Pavel Kratky gives you a Final reminder to migrate from Azure Information Protection classic client to unified labeling
• On Azure Sentinel blog, Ofer Shezaf (@oshezaf) blogs about Azure Sentinel Information Model Fall Release: Speed & Ease and covers Azure Sentinel Information Model Fall Release: Speed and Ease
• Also on Azure Sentinel blog, Rod Trent writes about Azure Sentinel Notebooks Ninja Part 2: Getting Started with Azure Sentinel Notebooks
• On Azure Sentinel Blog, Ian Hellen discusses Azure Sentinel Notebooks - Azure cloud support, new visualizations
• Also on Azure Sentinel Blog, Ross Bevington writes about Unusual MIRAI variant looks for mining infrastructure
• Sonia Cuff (@soniacuff) lists the Top 6 tips for configuring a new Microsoft Azure environment
• On the DEV site, Jay Gordon (@jaydestro) presents AzureFunBytes Episode 57 - Securing Azure with Tanya Janca

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

• Ozge Gun covers Azure Storage TLS: Critical changes are almost here and why you should care
• On Tech Community blog, Ned Pyle asks you to take the Azure File Sync survey
• Pete Gallagher talks about Uploading files to Azure Blob Storage using the REST API and Postman

Web

Covering: API apps, API Management, App Service (Web), Azure Cognitive Search, Azure SignalR Service, Azure Spring Cloud, Web apps

• Carlos Mendible (@cmendibl3) writes about Static website hosting in an Azure Storage Account protected with Private Endpoint
• Justin Yoo (@justinchronicle) covers Accessing User Profile from Blazor WebAssembly on Azure Static Web Apps
• Nate Ceres explains how to Join the Azure Spring Cloud Enterprise preview and level up Spring Boot apps
• Siddharth Vaghasia describes Azure Meeting Bot To Capture Meeting Participants Information
• On Code Project, Nate Ceres and Rory Preddy covers Supercharge your Java Apps on Azure

Azure Virtual Desktop

Covering: Azure Virtual Desktop

• The Azure Updates Team announces General Availability: Azure Virtual Desktop is now available in the Azure China cloud
• On the Redmond magazine site, Kurt Mackie (@kurmac) blogs about Azure Virtual Desktop Now Supports End Users Joined via Azure Active Directory