Azure Weekly Update - 18th July 2025

This week's bag of Azure joy is up!

New Videos

• Azure Update - 18th July 2025
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) for Everyone!
• Microsoft Security Copilot Entra Update and Conditional Access Agent

Announcements Summary

• PowerShell Durable Functions SDK (01:16) - You can now use PowerShell to author durable functions using a new module
• Durable Functions orchestration versioning (01:43) - Versions can be utilized for your orchestrations to better track updates and even assign workers to specific versions of orchestration
• Azure Functions Kafka triggers (02:27) - Functions can now be triggered from Kafka Topics and even write using bindings
• AKS node auto-provisioning (02:55) - Nodes can now be provisioned based on the unscheduled pod requirements to optimize VM SKU
• AKS VM node pools (04:06) - This moves away from VMSS based node pools to instead have AKS manage each node as a separate VM that gives additional flexibility
• AKS AS migration command (04:56) - You can now easily migrate from Availability Sets and Basic load balancers and IPs with a migration command
• AKS max blocked nodes allowed (06:20) - A new setting configures the maximum number of blocked nodes that are allowed, i.e. can't drain
• AKS extension manager move to control plane (06:34) - This move simplifies security, networking and operations for your AKS environment
• HOBO public IP for ER GW (07:11) - The public IP needed for ExpressRoute gateway can now be managed by Microsoft without any visibility to you
• AFD (classic) and Class CDN (classic) onboarding retirements (08:07) - Most should be moving to the new Standard and Premium SKUs
• AZNFS BlobNFS major update (09:14) - A move to the BlobFuse library brings enhanced performance, larger file support and removal of a number of limitations
• Event Hub geo-replication (10:24) - The ability to replicate the namespace metadata and data is now GA giving better resiliency
• SSD storage for ephemeral OS disks (10:52) - You can now enable a higher performance ephemeral OS disk experience
• Cosmos DB in Fabric (12:32) - Create Cosmos DB artifacts in Fabric for near real-time replication to OneLake for easy analysis
• Databricks Unity Catalog to Fabric OneLake (13:45) - Easily access Databricks table from your OneLake
• PostgreSQL flex in Indonesia Central (14:13) - New region for PostgreSQL flex
• Backup standard to enhanced policy migrations (14:35) - Migrate to enhanced policies for more frequent backups, longer retention and other benefits
• Backup standard trusted launch support (14:58) - Standard policy can now protected trusted launch VMs
• Azure Backup GRS and CRR for Premium SSD in new regions (15:14) - Global replication and cross-site restore is now possible for Premium SSD using VMs in additional regions
• Azure AI speaker recognition retirement (15:48) - Migrate to alternate solutions
• Azure Cloud HSM (15:57) - If you need the highest levels of security and isolation utilize this new FIPS 140-3 level 3 offering