Azure Weekly Issue 453: 11th February 2024
There are a number of OpenAI related announcements this week; Azure OpenAI Service announces Assistants API, New Models for Finetuning, Text-to-Speech and more and the rather impressive OpenAI text-to-speech voices on Azure OpenAI Service and Azure AI Speech, also a useful post on Planning for Resiliency with Azure OpenAI and Microsoft Semantic Kernel – Some Tips & Tricks To Get Rendered Prompts.
There are also a couple of good Microsoft Fabric related posts: Data Activator in Microsoft Fabric to Trigger an Action when a Condition is Met and Microsoft Fabric real-time analytics exploration: EventGrid MQTT Broker integration.
Two interesting posts in the cloud native and DevOps space: Simplifying Azure Kubernetes Service Authentication Part 1 and Introducing Azure Verified Modules.
Finally a great Azure Networking 101 for Software Developers overview.
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
- Dave Jacobs announces OpenAI text-to-speech voices on Azure OpenAI Service and Azure AI Speech
- Justin Royal covers Upcoming Events to Expand Your Azure AI Knowledge
- Mona Whalin talks about Azure OpenAI Service announces Assistants API, New Models for Finetuning, Text-to-Speech and more
- Ricky Diep explains how to Enable Chat History on Azure AI Studio with Azure Cosmos DB
- Krishnakumar Muthukrishnan announces Native Document support for PII Redaction and Summarization
- Rie Moriguchi explains how to AI Guide Dog: How Technology Boost Accessibility
- Gaurav Mantri (@gmantri) provides some tips & tricks on Microsoft Semantic Kernel to: Get Rendered Prompts and Get Prompt & Completion Tokens
- Jones Jebaraj blogs about GenAI Solutions: Elevating Production Apps Performance Through Latency Optimization
- Manoj Kumar writes covers Copilot for genomics report interpretation
- Pascal Burume describes How to use Semantic Kernel Bot in-a-box to interact with data using natural language & AI
- Ron L'Esteve covers LangChain Prompt Templates with OpenAI LLMs
- Geert Baeke (@GeertBaeke) provides A look at the Azure OpenAI Assistants API
- On the Azure Medium blog, Valentina Alto talks about Getting Started with Code Interpreter in Azure OpenAI
- Martin Bald discusses Optimizing ML Models in Production in the Cloud or at the Edge using Shadow Deployments
- Matthew Anderson blogs about Planning for Resiliency with Azure OpenAI
Analytics
Covering: Apache Spark for HDInsight, Azure Analysis Services, Azure Data Explorer, Azure Data Share, Azure Databricks, Azure Stream Analytics, Azure Synapse Analytics, Data Factory, Event Hubs, HDInsight, Microsoft Purview, Microsoft Fabric
- Koen Verbeeck (@Ko_Ver) walks through using Data Activator in Microsoft Fabric to Trigger an Action when a Condition is Met
- Sander van de Velde writes abotut Microsoft Fabric real-time analytics exploration: EventGrid MQTT Broker integration
- On Microsoft Fabric Blog, Elizabeth Oldag walks through Getting the size of OneLake data items or folders
- Greg Low (@greglow) discusses ADF: Fix – The required Blob is missing – Azure Data Factory – Get Metadata
- Diponkar Paul blogs about Fixing the Synapse Error Available workspace capacity exceeded error Livy session
- Katie Cummiskey Introduces the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform on Azure for Communications
- Michal Bar writes about ADX Web updates – Jan 2024
- Anshul Sharma writes about ADX Continuous Export to Delta Table - Preview
- The Azure Updates Team announces General Availability to migrate Virtual Network injected Azure Data Explorer Cluster to Private Endpoints
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
- Amy Colyer discusses Lightbits for Azure VMware Solution
- Robert Smit (@Clustermvp) discusses Introducing Windows Server 2025 running in Azure
Containers
Covering: Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), Azure Red Hat OpenShift, CNAB, CNCF, Container Instances, Container Registry, Porter, WSL, Web App for Containers
- Fady Azmy discusses Migration and Modernization solutions for Windows-based applications to Azure Kubernetes Services
- Elishiah Miller blogs about Simplifying Azure Kubernetes Service Authentication Part 1
- Rachit Tandon walks through Creating Azure Container Apps using Azure Python SDK
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
- Varun Dhawan blogs about January 2024 Recap: Azure PostgreSQL Flexible Server
- Jared Westover describes how to Provision a Free Azure SQL Managed Instance Step by Step
- Pedro Acevedo explains How to Change Collation of an Azure SQL Managed Instance When There Are Dependency Errors
- Ravi Shankar explains How to connect to Azure Database for MySQL – Flexible Server in a private network configuration
- Artem Mikulich shares a SQL Server 2014 retirement and an action plan
Developer Tools
Covering: App Configuration, Azure Lab Services, CLIs, Developer tool integrations, SDKs, Visual Studio, Visual Studio Code, Visual Studio Online
- Yannick Reekmans (@yannickreekmans) explains how to Get a never-expiring M365 Developer Program tenant with a Visual Studio Subscription
- Nandita Gupta blogs about Developing With Accessibility in Mind at Microsoft
- Jeremy Li describes ZIP package of Azure CLI is available on Windows
- Carlos Marin walks through Capturing Powershell and AZ CLI REST API calls with Fiddler
- Damien Caro discusses Hardening your defense in depth with secrets awareness in Azure command line tools
- Shreyan Fernandes provides An Overview of LIDA: Generate Visualizations and Infographics of Tabular Data using LLMs
DevOps
Covering: Azure Artifacts, Azure Boards, Azure DevOps, Azure Pipelines, Azure Repos, Azure Test Plans, Azure DevTest Labs, DevOps tool integrations
- Dan Hellem discusses Azure Boards + GitHub improvements in private preview
- On the Microsoft DevOps blog, Angel Wong writes about Regenerating secrets for Azure DevOps OAuth applications
- Linda Petersson Introduces Azure Verified Modules
- Saloni Agrawal covers Recording Test Scenarios In JMeter
- Freek Berson (@fberson) explains how to Publish Bicep modules to registries with the source.
Hybrid + Multicloud
Covering: Azure Arc, Azure Stack
Identity
Covering: Azure Active Directory (AD), Azure Active Directory B2C, Azure Active Directory Domain Services
- On the Redmond magazine site, Kurt Mackie (@kurmac) talks about Microsoft Previews Face Check Verifications Using Entra Verified ID
- On Microsoft Security blog, Ankur Patel discusses Microsoft Entra Verified ID introduces Face Check in preview
- Nitika Gupta (@_nitika_gupta) discusses Auto Rollout of Conditional Access Policies in Microsoft Entra ID
- Vinicius Apolinario (@vrapolinario) blogs about Firewall considerations for gMSA on Azure Kubernetes Service
- Travis Roberts (@Ciraltos) explains How to Send Entra ID Logs to Log Analytics
Integration
Covering: Azure API for FHIR, Event Grid, Logic Apps, Service Bus
- The Azure Updates Team announces the General availablility: Support for up to 100 TB of storage for the FHIR service
- Alex Zúñiga discusses Logic Apps Aviators Newsletter - February 2024
- Sandro Pereira (@sandro_asp) writes about Logic App Consumption Bulk Failed Runs Resubmit Tool, presents two articles on Azure Cost Optimizations: Logic App skipped triggers are billable and Push vs Pull may significantly impact the final solution cost, and two articles on BizTalk Server to Azure Integration Services: How do we migrate Dynamic Ports and Validate XML messages before executing the business logic
- Parth Shah talks the Public Preview of Azure OpenAI and AI Search in-app connectors for Logic Apps Standard
- Saroja L Sattigeri writes about Common issues of Azure Automation connector in logic appconsumption and logic app standard
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
- Clemens Schotte explains how to Enhance your indoor maps with real-time map feature styling
Learning
Covering: Microsoft Certifications, Azure Certifications, Microsoft Learning Paths, Certification Pathway Information
- Ayelet Artzi explains how to Become a Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management Ninja
- Matt Graven provides resources on AI for Developers
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
- Paul Bergson discusses Monitoring for an Azure Server Going Offline
- The Intune Support Team provides a Support tip: Improving the efficiency of dynamic group processing with Microsoft Entra ID and Intune
Media
Covering: Azure Media Player, Content Protection, Encoding, Live and On-Demand Streaming, Media Analytics, Media Services, Video Indexer
- Robert Cunningham covers Public preview of Universal Print on macOS
- Daysha Carter covers Azure Communication Services February 2024 Feature Updates
Migration
Covering: Azure Database Migration Service, Azure Migrate, Data Box
- Stephane Lapointe (@s_lapointe) writes TIFU by Forgetting to Turn Off Microsoft Defender for Storage During a Massive Data Migration
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
- Wessel Loth has written a Azure Networking 101 for Software Developers
Security
Covering: Azure DDoS Protection, Azure Information Protection, Azure Sentinel, Key Vault, Security Center
- Danielle Dennis writes about Latest Defender EASM Features Increase Visibility and Enhance Querying for Faster Remediation
- Stanislav Belov writes about Defender Monthly news - February 2024
- Prateek Taneja explains how to What's New: CrowdStrike Falcon Data Replicator V2 Data Connector is now Generally Available
- Rene van den Bedem discusses Azure VMware Solution Security Design Considerations
- Episode 224 of the Ctrl+Alt+Azure podcast withTobias Zimmergren & Jussi Roine (@CtrlAltAzure) - We're talking about Security Operations SecOps in Azure
- Benjamin Kovacevic explains how to Create Tasks Repository in Microsoft Sentinel
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 announces Azure Ultra Disk Storage is now available in Canada East and Public Preview: Azure NetApp Files Standard Network Features - Edit Volumes in US Gov Regions
- Shubhra Sinha describes how to Integrity protect your Azure blob storage data with Azure confidential ledger
Web
Covering: API apps, API Management, App Service (Web), Azure Cognitive Search, Azure SignalR Service, Azure Spring Cloud, Web apps
- The Azure Updates Team explains how to Mount Azure Storage as a local share in App Service Linux Now supports NFS
- Fernando Mejia announces the availability of TLS 1.3 in Azure API Management in Preview
- Damien Bowden (@damien_bod) shows how to Secure an ASP.NET Core Blazor Web app using Microsoft Entra ID
Azure Virtual Desktop
Covering: Azure Virtual Desktop
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