Azure Weekly Issue 365: 27th March 2022

Mark Russinovich announces Azure confidential computing with NVIDIA GPUs for trustworthy AI, and are also new AMD processors available too: Azure HBv3 VMs for HPC now generally available with AMD EPYC CPUs with AMD 3D V-Cache. There's an interesting series on Decentralized Identity: The Basics of Decentralized Identity, and a reminder to Update your Azure App Service apps to use Microsoft .NET 6 before 3rd December 2022.

In the data & analytics space you can Save money and increase performance with intelligent cache for Apache Spark in Azure Synapse. The service we (and customers) loved, Azure Data Lake Analytics will be retired on 29 February 2024; Azure Synapse Analytics, and in particular SQL Serverless offer a smooth transition for Pay Per Query TSQL based pipelines & queries.

There's a nice tutorial on Refresh Power BI Datasets with ADF or Synapse and finally, Barry Smart summarises his experience at the recent SQLBits Conference 2022 - the best bits.

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

• The Azure Updates Team announces Azure QnA Maker will be retired on 31 March 2025
• On Microsoft + Open Source, Olatunji Ruwase And Jeff Rasley talks about Supporting efficient large model training on AMD Instinct GPUs with DeepSpeed
• Zachary Cavanell writes about Built-in AI in Power BI. Find the Insight You Can't See
• Foteini Savvidou presents Digitize your notes with Azure Computer Vision and Python
• Jeffrey Palermo (@jeffreypalermo) talks to Sam Nasr on Azure AI & ML - Episode 185 of the DevOps Podcast

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

• The Azure Updates Team talks about Azure Data Lake Analytics will be retired on 29 February 2024, and announce the General Availability of: Azure Machine Learning user-defined functions in Azure Stream Analytics,  Azure Data Explorer supports multiple databases per data connection and announce the Public preview: Intelligent cache for Apache Spark in Azure Synapse
• Avinanda Chattapadday writes about Save money and increase performance with intelligent cache for Apache Spark in Azure Synapse and the docs are also published.
• Ron L'Esteve covers Writing Databricks Notebook Code for Apache Spark Lakehouse ELT Jobs
• Luis Aranda blogs about Azure SQL Troubleshooting Power BI dataset refresh failures
• On the Microsoft BI Tools blog, Joost van Rossum (@ssisjoost) explains how to Refresh Power BI Datasets with ADF or Synapse
• Clemens Schotte highlights the Azure Maps Power BI Update
• Anshul Sharma discusses Preview Configure ADX table retention, caching and batching policies via one-click

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 Azure blog, Mark Russinovich (@markrussinovich) announces that Azure confidential computing with NVIDIA GPUs for trustworthy AI
• On the Azure blog, Evan Burness (@evanburness) announces Azure HBv3 VMs for HPC now generally available with AMD EPYC CPUs with AMD 3D V-Cache
• Vijay Kanchanahalli describes how to Accelerate graphics-heavy workloads using NVads A10 v5 Azure
• The Azure Updates Team announces General availability: Azure HBv3 virtual machines for HPC now upgraded
• Sean Feldman (@sfeldman) talks about Executing Azure Timer function manually
• Charbel Nemnom (@charbelnemnom) explains how to Rename Azure VM Data Disks

Containers

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

• Siddique Juman writes about New updates to Group Managed Service Accounts gMSA 1.3.0 on Azure Kubernetes Service
• Vinicius Apolinario (@vrapolinario) discusses Using Windows Admin Center to troubleshoot applications on Windows Containers
• Monojit Datta writes about Self-managed Kubernetes on Azure

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

• Aditi Gupta explains how to Simulate region-down disaster recovery drills with stopped servers
• Siddhant Sawant discusses Accessing binary logs from Azure Database for MySQL – Flexible Server
• On Code Project, Lewis Gavin discusses Streaming at Scale with Azure Event Hubs, Azure Functions, and Cosmos DB Part 1: Getting Streaming Datainto Azure and Part 2: Processing Streaming Data with Azure Functions in Java
• On the .NET Curry blog, Darren Gillis presents Diving into Azure Data Studio
• Jose M Jurado (@jmjuradodiaz) shares Lesson Learned 191: MARS vs Connection Retry-Logic
• Aditi Gupta explains how to Migrate from locally redundant to geo-redundant backup storage for existing flexible servers
• On the SQL Server Blog, Logan Carrington discusses Move end-of-support SQL Server 2012 to Azure Virtual Machines and save

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, Dante Gagne explains how to Suffer from Ctrl+S fatigue We have a feature for you
• On Visual Studio Magazine, David Ramel (@dramel) discusses Java on VS Code: More Snippet Shortcuts, Optimized Code Completion and writes about VS Code Power Platform Tools Now Generally Available
• On the Q Sharp blog, Mariia Mykhailova (@tcNickolas) announces Azure Quantum challenge at QCHack 2022

DevOps

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

• Panu Oksala describes How to use Azure DevOps Test Plans
• Kevin Chant blogs about Question about CI/CD method for Serverless SQL Pools
• Anna Hoffman talks about SQL 911: A DBAs Guidebook using Notebooks in Azure Data Studio Data Exposed
• Luise Freese (@LuiseFreese) explains How to get started deploying Azure resources using Bicep

Hybrid + Multicloud

Covering: Azure Arc, Azure Stack

• Chhavi Nijhawan writes about 5 reasons to attend the Modernize and Migrate with Hybrid Cloud Flexibility digital event
• The Azure Updates Team announces the Public Preview of Azure Kubernetes Service on Azure Stack Hub and Azure Container Registry on Azure Stack Hub
• Raymond Baziwane walks through Understanding the Azure Kubernetes Service AKS on Azure Stack HCI upgrade experience

Identity

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

• The Azure Updates Team announces Public preview: User-assigned managed identities in Stream Analytics and that Operator Assistance in Azure MFA will be retired on 30 September 2023
• Damien Bowden (@damien_bod) discusses Onboarding new users in an ASP.NET Core application using Azure B2C
• Andreas Helland covers Getting rid of credentials in Azure - Part 1
• Pamela Dingle writes about Decentralized Identity: The Basics of Decentralized Identity
• Sonia Cuff (@soniacuff) asks How does Conditional Access block Legacy Authentication

Integration

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

• Arjun Chiddarwar blogs about Using the EasyAuth to trigger workflows in Logicapp Standard
• Yutang Lin highlights the App Service Web Apps, Functions, and Logic Apps Standard .azurewebsites.net TLS cert renewal

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 writes about Generally available: Connect and manage devices in Azure IoT Central without models
• The Azure Updates Team covers Azure Time Series Insights will be retired on 31 March 2025 and Classic data export in Azure IoT Central will be retired by 31 March 2023
• Christa St Pierre explains how to Embrace digital transformation at the edge with Azure Percept
• Antti K. Koskela (@koskila) describes How to get your Azure IoT Edge runtime to use port 443 instead of using 5671 and 8883
• Yair Zarka describes Use Azure Workbooks in Microsoft Defender for IoT

Learning

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

• On the Azure Medium blog, Andre Camillo explains How to get started with Microsoft Sentinel: fundamental concepts
• Natalie Duryea explains how to Be open, be flexible: Skilling and the learning culture at Deutsche Telekom and T-Systems
• Temante Leary describes The 2-Minute Recap: Everything new with Security, Compliance, and Identity on Microsoft Learn

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 Transition to using connection strings for data ingestion by 31 March 2025
• The Azure Updates Team announces Templates functionality preview version in Azure portal will be retired on 31 March 2025
• On System Center Automation, Billy York talks about Azure Monitor Alert Reports with Azure Resource Graph
• On the Azure podcast, Yun Jung Choi discusses App Service Diagnostics
• Blesson John talks about Purview Self-Service Data Access Policy Now in Public Preview
• Sameera Perera discusses Extending Operational Technology to Azure
• Matthew Sekol blogs about Technology's Dual Intersection with ESG: Technology Solving ESG Issues

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

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

• The Azure Updates Team talks about Review your VNET configurations that may be affected by IP address changes
• Jerry Zhang explains How to allow access of Cloud Service Extended Support only from specified Virtual Network
• Shane Baldacchino describes Azure Site-2-Site VPN with Ubiquiti Edge Router running EdgeOS and Azure CLI
• Gary Mullen-Schultz describes how to Programmatically Find Next Available CIDR for Subnet
• Irene Huang explains how to Manage port forwarding for backend pool with Azure Load Balancer
• Roelf Zomerman (@RCZ_Jag) talks about Azure Availability Zones Mapping Checker

Security

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

• Charbel Nemnom (@charbelnemnom) explains how to Optimize Your Costs in Microsoft Sentinel
• Safeena Begum Lepakshi blogs about Policy Distribution Dashboard for Microsoft Defender for Cloud
• Paul Harrison writes about When Is True Not Equal To True
• Benjamin Kovacevic explains how to Update Microsoft Sentinel VIP Users Watchlist from Azure AD group using playbooks

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

• Tao Yang (@MrTaoYang) covers Azure Policy for Virtual Machine Customer-Managed Boot Diagnostic Storage Accounts

Web

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

• The Azure Updates Team say you must Update your Azure App Service apps to use Microsoft .NET 6 before 3 December 2022
• Tobias Zimmergren & Jussi Roine chat about The latest on WordPress on Azure on episode 126 of Ctrl+Alt+Azure

Azure Virtual Desktop

Covering: Azure Virtual Desktop

• On Tech Community blog, Yun Liu discusses Microsoft Teams Live Captions is now generally available on Azure Virtual Desktop and writes about New Multimedia Redirection upgrades on Azure Virtual Desktop are now in public preview