The Azure Podcast

The team meets with recurring guest Bob Ward and meet a new one, Anna Hoffman, to talk about their Learn Azure SQL video series. Media file: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode369.mp3 Resources: https://aka.ms/azuresqlyt --> Data Exposed / Data Exposed Live / Azure SQL 61 video series https://aka.ms/azuresqlbook --> Azure SQL Revealed https://aka.ms/azuresqlfordevelopers --> Practical Azure SQL Database for Modern Developers https://aka.ms/learnliveazuresqlfundamentals --> Learn Live Azure SQL Fundamentals (6 week live series) https://aka.ms/azuresqlfundamentals --> Learning Path on Microsoft Learn with free hands on exercises YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/I42ikJ1IfU8 Other updates: Our commitment to expand Azure Availability Zones to more regions (https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/blog/our-commitment-to-expand-azure-availability-zones-to-more-regions/) Limited-time free quantities offer for Azure Synapse Analytics https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/limited-time-free-quantities-offer-for-azure-synapse-analytics/ Do more for the National Security mission with Azure https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/do-more-for-the-national-security-mission-with-azure/  

The cohosts had the pleasure to chat with Anavi Nahar, Senior PM Manager about choosing the right load balancing solution, how load balancing is used internally at Microsoft, and a quick trivia of the different OSI levels.  Media File: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode368.mp3 YouTube: https://youtu.be/b7kXUXxafwA Resources: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/products/azure-load-balancing/ Other Updates: Increase availability at scale with Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets flexible orchestration mode - Microsoft Tech Community Scale your critical applications cost-effectively with Azure Disk Storage Architect and optimize your internet traffic with Azure routing preference Announcing preview of Azure Trusted Launch for virtual machines Empowering every developer to innovate with Azure Connecting customers and businesses with Azure Communication Services and Microsoft Teams

The team talks to Azure specialists Jeff Mitchell and Rob Kuehfus about the Enterprise Scale Landing Zones that are part of the Cloud Adoption Framework. These architectural templates allow enterprises to lay down an Azure footprint that is consistent with best practices in terms of security, governance, networking and identity and can be leveraged by new and existing Azure customers. Media file: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode367.mp3 YouTube: https://youtu.be/5xshifBaj1E Resources:   Review the Enterprise-scale landing zones Architecture guidance Review the Enterprise-scale landing zones implementation guidelines Review and deploy a reference implementation MS Learning Path - Create an enterprise-scale architecture in Azure Try out the reference implementation on your own: Introduction to Enterprise Scale ‘in-a-box’ tutorial (Github) Check out the Channel 9 series for ESLZ and WAF here Other updates: · Azure Defender for App Service introduces dangling DNS protection - https://azure.microsoft.com/en-in/blog/azure-defender-for-app-service-introduces-dangling-dns-protection/ · Prevent dangling DNS entries and avoid subdomain takeover - https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/security/fundamentals/subdomain-takeover Demystifying cloud economics https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/demystifying-cloud-economics/ E-commerce on Azure increases security with Payment Card Industry Three-Domain Secure compliance https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/e-commerce-on-azure-increases-security-with-payment-card-industry-three-domain-secure-compliance/ Automating quota management with Azure Quota REST API https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/automating-quota-management-with-azure-quota-rest-api/ Microsoft plans to establish first datacenter region in Indonesia https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/microsoft-plans-to-establish-first-datacenter-region-in-indonesia/    

Five years after his last appearance, Gaurav Malhotra comes back to talk to the team about his current work with Azure Purview. Media File: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode366.mp3 Other Resources: Azure Purview Overview Azure Purview Docs Azure Purview Feedback Azure Purview blog on Tech Community Azure Purview discussion on Tech Community Updates: Apache Spark Connector for SQL Server and Azure SQL now compatible with Spark 3.0 Customers unify hybrid and multicloud IT operations with Azure Arc Future-proof your network with Azure for Operators Microsoft will establish its next U.S. datacenter region in Georgia’s Fulton and Douglas Counties Public preview: Application Insights work item integration for Azure DevOps & GitHub    

Evan and Sujit talk to Microsoft Cloud Solution Architects Matthew Garrett and Tyler Peterson about an interesting Open Source project they developed that can help customers reduce the consumption of resources in Azure. This innovative solution allows for lowering the service tiers in dev/test environments and can result in significant reduction of consumption costs.   Media file: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode365.mp3 Resources: GitHub repo: https://github.com/Azure/bellhop Documentation site: https://azure.github.io/bellhop/#/   Other updates: General availability: Azure mobile app now supports Azure Government https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/features/azure-portal/mobile-app/ Today we’re announcing Microsoft Azure has increased the scope of its HITRUST CSF certification to include 172 Azure offerings across 49 Azure regions. Azure’s HITRUST certification letters are available on the Service Trust Portal and include the full list of HITRUST CSF certified Azure offerings and regions.   Azure has partnered with the HITRUST Alliance to deliver the HITRUST Shared Responsibility Matrix for Microsoft Azure. Azure customers can leverage Azure’s HITRUST CSF certification to inherit controls and apply them to their own assessments.   Azure customers can also accelerate their HITRUST CSF deployments by using Azure’s HITRUST Blueprint. This blueprint helps customers deploy a core set of policies by defining a repeatable set of standards, patterns, and requirements enforced across Azure resources. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/compliance/offerings/offering-hitrust https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-ddos-protection-2020-year-in-review/

Russell, Sujit, and Cynthia chat with Michael Collier about different considerations regarding Azure Functions ranging from virtual networking, hosting, common use cases and some of the existing limitations to be aware of.    Media File: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode364.mp3 Other Updates: Availability Zones now available in South Central US and Germany West Central Confluent Cloud Integration with Azure is now generally available Support for more workloads, tag based policies now in Backup Center public preview Azure Security Center—General availability updates for January 2021 Azure API-Management Updates Jan 21 More Resources: Michael's Blog @michaelcollier    

The team gets together with an Azure Networking developer, Vishal Munde, to talk about how streaming analytics can make troubleshooting NVAs better for everybody.  Media file: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode363.mp3   Other updates: Python 3.9 in Azure Functions is now in public preview https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/python-39-in-azure-functions-is-now-in-public-preview/ Build regionally resilient cloud services using the Azure Resource Manager https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/build-regionally-resilient-cloud-services-using-the-azure-resource-manager/ Azure Cost Management and Billing updates – January 2021 https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-cost-management-and-billing-updates-january-2021/ Azure Availability Zones in the South Central US datacenter region add resiliency https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-availability-zones-in-the-south-central-us-datacenter-region-add-resiliency/ 4 reasons customers are asking service partners for Azure Lighthouse https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/4-reasons-customers-are-asking-service-partners-for-azure-lighthouse/

Sujit, Kendall, and Cynthia talk with Matt Henry about what Azure VMWare Solution is, how different people can take advantage of the offering, and the position Microsoft is taking given the interesting history with VMWare in the past.   Media file: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode362.mp3 Resources: Introduction - Azure VMware Solution | Microsoft Docs <-basic documentation (Microsoft) Network & Security Insights for Azure VMware Solution - VMware Cloud Management <-Networking guidance (VMware) Catalogs | VMware Hands-on Labs | HOL-2194-91-ISM Azure VMware Solution - Lightning Lab | Lab | VMware Learning Platform <-Hands on Lab (VMware) How to enable your Azure VMware Solution resource - Azure VMware Solution | Microsoft Docs <- Steps to get nodes made available to you for deployment Microsoft Mechanics: Azure VMware Solution | How to run a complete VMware environment on Azure | Ignite 2020 (libsyn.com) <- How to deploy video including at 1:59 in the video – how to self-size your AVS environment using Azure Migrate Azure Products by Region | Microsoft Azure <-This is preselected for all Azure VMware globally. Check mark means there are nodes available, clock means pending launch date. Other Updates: Azure IoT Edge for Linux on Windows available for public preview Azure and HITRUST publish shared responsibility matrix Public preview: Automatic Cluster Upgrades in AKS

Our hosts talk to Ben Cutler from the Project Natick team and learns about the experimental work Microsoft did hosting a datacenter at the bottom of the ocean. Don’t  forget to check out the cool seal picture! Media file: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode361.mp3 Resources: https://natick.research.microsoft.com   Other updates: Azure SQL Database named among the top 3 databases of 2020 https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-sql-database-named-among-the-top-3-databases-of-2020/   Publishing Azure Container Instances from Docker CLI ( I think I did this one on a previous call -ken) https://devblogs.microsoft.com/devops/publishing-azure-container-instances-from-docker-cli/ Jump Start your Developer Skills with Visual Studio Code Coding Packs https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/educator-developer-blog/jump-start-your-developer-skills-with-visual-studio-code-coding/ba-p/2036765 Cross resource query between Azure Monitor and Azure Data Explorer in public preview https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/cross-resource-query-between-azure-monitor-and-azure-data-explorer-in-public-preview/

The Azure Podcast co-hosts chat with Corey on his Azure journey, his favorite Microsoft services, what he saw in our customers digital transformation during COVID and many more.  Media File: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode360.mp3 Other Updates: Digital event: Explore how data and analytics will impact the future of your business Azure Cost Management and Billing updates – November 2020 Let us know about your thoughts at https://aka.ms/azpodcastfeedback

Cynthia, Cale, Evan and Sujit reminisce about the year that was 2020. They share their highlights, lowlights and other insights in their experiences with Azure this year. We wish all of you Happy Holidays and a Very Happy New Year!   Media file: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode359.mp3   Other updates: Watch this new series to help you navigate and adopt the cloud https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/watch-this-new-series-to-help-you-navigate-and-adopt-the-cloud/   Is Azure open-sourced? https://github.com/Azure   Azure Digital Twins is now generally available https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/azure-digital-twins-is-now-generally-available/   https://aka.ms/azpodcastfeedback

Cale, Sujit, and Cynthia speak with Christos Matskas, Senior Program Manager in Identity about Microsoft's Identity strategy, how developers can utilize several ready-made components, the idea of Secure DevOps.  Media File: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode358.mp3 Resources: stream: aka.ms/425Show Youtube: aka.ms/425Show/yt Blog: aka.ms/425Show/blog Discord: aka.ms/425Show/discord/join Email: 425Show@microsoft.com Twitter: @christosmatskas, @AzureAndChill Updates: Defining roles and responsibilities for cloud cost optimization Optimum Developer Productivity – GitHub + Visual Studio Code + Azure  

The team talks with Ankur Patel about decentralized identifiers and verifiable claims.  These are part of the next generation of identity systems and have been a part of an incubation initiation with the DIF (decentralized identity foundation).   Media file: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode357.mp3   Other updates: New feature in public preview for intelligent ingestion from Event Hubs source https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/next-time-you-connect-event-hub-with-azure-data-explorer-use-the-1click-tool-to-easily-and-accurately-define-the-endtoend-ing/

The team talks to Conor Kelly about how Microsoft is investing in sustainable energy – not only to power the Cloud, but also to advance the technology as a whole. Media file: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode356.mp3 Resources: Azure Sustainability - Azure Sustainability—Sustainable Technologies | Microsoft Azure SSE Airtricity project - Microsoft demonstrates how to increase green energy in Ireland one rooftop at a time | Innovation Stories Azure IoT for Energy - IoT for Energy | Microsoft Azure   Other resources: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/new-sap-hana-certified-memoryoptimized-virtual-machines-now-available SAP On Azure book by Ravi Kashyap https://www.sap-press.com/sap-on-microsoft-azure_5174/  

Nate McKervey, Head of Blockchain and Distributed Ledger Technologies at Splunk, talks to the team about how Splunk technologies can make Blockchain networks on Azure more secure by providing insights into the networks that make up the distributed ledger. Media file: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode355.mp3   Other updates: Boost your performance with Azure Files SMB Multichannel https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/boost-your-client-performance-with-azure-files-smb-multichannel/ Azure Hybrid Benefit now generally available for Linux https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-hybrid-benefit-now-generally-available-for-linux/ Empowering developer velocity and efficiency with Kubernetes https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/empowering-developer-velocity-and-efficiency-with-kubernetes/ Azure high-performance computing at Supercomputing 2020 https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-high-performance-computing-supercomputing-2020/ AKS Office Hours hosted by Kendall https://github.com/Azure/aks-gbb-officehours