Azure Weekly Newsletter Issue #271

powered by endjin

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@HowardvRooijen | @endjin

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 that A new log streaming feature is now available in Azure Machine Learning
• On the DEV site, Ari Bornstein (@pythiccoder) brings us 10 Azure ML Code Examples Every Cloud AI Developer Should Know
• Also on the DEV site, Dmitry Soshnikov walks through Making an Interactive Cognitive Portrait Exhibit using some Creativity, .NET, Azure Functions and Cognitive Services Magic
• On the Azure Medium blog, Luca Zavarella explains How To Authenticate Into Azure Machine Learning Using The R SDK
• On Channel 9, Seth Juarez (@sethjuarez) talks about Similarity and Scoring in Azure Cognitive Search and Custom Skills in Azure Cognitive Search
• On Azure Medium, Ayush (@heyayushh) discusses how you can Use Immersive Reader to increase Reading Comprehension using Azure Function and Cognitive Services

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

• On the endjin blog, Carmel Eve (@Carmel_Eve) describes Building a proximity detection pipeline with Azure Functions
• Also on the endjin blog, James Broome has continued his series on Azure Analysis Services: How to update the expression for a calculated column from .NET
• The Azure updates team announces some updates for Azure Analysis Services:
  Many-to-many relationships are now generally available,
  Calculation groups are now generally available,
  Query interleaving is now generally available
  and Improved query replica synchronization now available
• And James Serra (@JamesSerra) attempts to clear up some Azure Synapse Analytics confusion

Blockchain

Covering: Azure Blockchain Service, Azure Blockchain Tokens, Azure Blockchain Workbench

• No content this week

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

• The Azure updates team announces Automatic image upgrades for custom images for VM scale sets
• On the Serverless360 blog, Nadeem Ahamed summarises Azure Functions Live – April 2020

Containers

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

• On Channel 9, Ralph Squillace talks about Understanding Cloud Native Application Bundles (CNAB)
• Steve Buchanan (@buchatech) blogs about Use Azure Container Registry with Azure Kubernetes Service
• The Azure updates team announces that Azure Spot support for Azure Kubernetes Service is in preview
• On the Perficient blog, James Patterson describes The Need for Innovation and Azure Red Hat OpenShift and Why Containers and Solutions Like Azure Red Hat OpenShift Help Power Innovation
• On the DEV site, Abhishek Gupta (@abhi_tweeter) writes about Kafka Connect on Kubernetes, the easy way!

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 that Change tracking support now available in Azure SQL Database Hyperscale
• On Channel 9, Anna Hoffman and Jeroen ter Heerdt discuss Updating connection policies for Azure SQL
• On the MSSQL Tips site, Ron L'Esteve walks through Loading Azure SQL Data Warehouse Dynamically using Azure Data Factory

Developer Tools

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

• On the Azure blog, Ricky Brundritt (@rbrundritt) discusses how the Updates to Azure Maps Web SDK includes powerful new features
• The Azure updates team announces that the New Azure API Management Visual Studio Code extension now available
• On the DEV site, John Papa (@John_Papa) tells us to Try gh, GitHub's new CLI
• On the Visual Studio blog, Allison Buchholtz-Au (@allison_au) walks through how to Bring your own machine to Visual Studio Online
• On Channel 9, Anna Hoffman and Jeroen Ter Heerdt introduce Azure CLI for Azure SQL

DevOps

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

• On the endjin blog, James Broome discusses how to save money with automatic shutdown in Azure Analysis Services
• On the .NET Curry blog, Subodh Sohoni (@subodhsohoni) explains how to Prevent Code Access for Developers Working Remotely using Azure DevOps (Protecting Code and IP during Lockdown)
• The Azure updates team describes an Azure DevOps update to increase productivity and reduce latency
• On the Microsoft DevOps blog, Gloridel Morales runs through the April patches for Azure DevOps Server and Team Foundation Server
• On the Premier Developer blog, Larry Duff discusses Customizing Azure DevOps with Extensions
• Also on the Premier Developer blog, Taylor O'Malley walks through Multi-Stage Pipelines and YAML for Continuous Delivery in Azure DevOps Pipelines
• On Channel 9, Sean Ferguson joins Abel Wang to discuss how to Easily Track Where Your Work Item Has Been Deployed With The New Deployments Control
• Also on Channel 9, Brian Randall talks about Pull Requests in Azure DevOps
• Jeffrey Palermo and Jay Harris talk about Distributed DevOps

Hybrid

Covering: Azure Arc, Azure Stack

• Thomas Maurer (@thomasmaurer) discusses How to get Azure unblocked with Microsoft Services on Azure Unblogged
• On the Azure SQL Database blog, Danimir Ljepava (@danimir) describes the Monitoring options available for Azure SQL Database Managed Instance

Identity

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

• Rahul Nath (@rahulpnath) discusses Azure Managed Service Identity And Local Development and explains how you can Let Azure Manage The Username and Password Of Your SQL Connection String
• Radu Vunvulea (@RaduVunvulea) demystifies Azure AD B2B and B2C
• The Azure updates team announces SQL Server 2019 IaaS images with Linux distribution support now available
• On the Premier Developer blog, Marius Rochon covers the B2C Identity Experience Framework – getting started
• Also on the Premier Developer blog, Vijetha Marinagammanavar describes Azure Bastion – Secure access to Azure VMS
• Nicolas Bonnet (@nico_bonnet) covers Identity Score
• On Channel 9, Barry Luijbregts joins Scott Hanselman to discuss How to choose Azure services for working with messages in your application and How to choose Azure services to speed up your application

Integration

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

• On the Planet Geek blog, Daniel Marbach (@danielmarbach) deep dives into the Azure Service Bus .Net SDK, blogging about how to Publish / Subscribe with Topics and discussing Topologies
• Steve Buchanan (@buchatech) provides an Application Gateway Ingress Controller Deployment Script
• The Azure updates team describes Workflow automation with Logic Apps
• Sean Feldman (@sfeldman) discusses The future of the Azure Service Bus .NET SDK
• Callon Campbell (@flying_maverick) explains How to choose Azure services for working with messages in your application

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 announces that they are Postponing the IoT Hub deprecation of support for TLS 1.0/1.1
• On the Azure blog, Tony Shakib (@TonyShakib) highlights how Microsoft is Accelerating digital transformation in manufacturing

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, Sceduler

• The Azure updates team announces that Azure Monitor Application Insights is now in preview and Azure Monitor for virtual machines is now generally available
• Adam Marczak (@MarczakIO) provides an Azure Cloud Shell Tutorial
• And on the DEV site, Jeremy Likness (@jeremylikness) provides a Deep Data Dive with Kusto for Azure Data Explorer and Log Analytics
• Marcel Zehner (@marcelzehner) walks through How to use and configure reservations to save money
• On the MSSQL Tips site, Mohammed Moinudheen explains how to Redeploy Azure Windows VM
• Charbel Nemnom (@charbelnemnom) explains How To Deploy an Azure VM From Windows Admin Center
• Nicolas Bonnet (@nico_bonnet) discusses Autoscale on Azure
• On the Serverless360 blog, Sowndarya Balakrishnan explains How to monitor multiple Azure subscriptions in a single dashboard
• Tobias Zimmergren & Jussi Roine (@CtrlAltAzure) writes about Azure Policies - the how, the what, and the why?
• Adam Marczak (@MarczakIO) discusses ARM Templates Modularization
• On the Azure Developer Community Blog, Stephane Eyskens (@stephaneeyskens) has provided The Azure Infrastructure Architect Map

Media

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

• No content this week

Mixed Reality

Covering: Kinect DK, Remote rendering, Spatial anchors

• No content this week

Migration

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

• No content this week

Mobile

Covering: App Service (Mobile), Mobile apps, Notification Hubs, Visual Studio App Centre, Xamarin

• On Channel 9, James Montemagno and Maddy Leger run through a Xamarin.Forms 101: Resources for getting started with Xamarin
• On the Azure SQL Database blog, Davide Mauri (@mauridb) talks about how to Sync Mobile Apps with Azure using Change Tracking API
• Also on Channel 9, James Montemagno (@JamesMontemagno) walks through Submitting Your First Pull Request to Xamarin.Forms

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 announces that Azure Virtual Network now supports reverse DNS lookup
• Antariksh Mistry blogs about Azure Private Link – Part 2
• Marcel Zehner (@marcelzehner) blogs about Mastering Azure Virtual WAN – Part 1
• On the DEV site, Abhishek Gupta (@abhi_tweeter) explains how to Let's learn how to build a chat application with Redis, WebSocket and Go (part 1)
• Aidan Finn (@joe_elway) highlights some Free Online Training on Azure Network Security
• Marcel Zehner (@marcelzehner) talks about Mastering Azure Front Door

Security

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

• The Azure updates team highlights how to use Advanced integrations with export of Security Center recommendations and alerts
• Daniel Neumann (@neumanndaniel) walks through Connecting Azure Container Registry with Azure Security Center
• On .NET Rocks, Vishwas Lele describes Azure for Government
• On Azure Medium, Stas Lebedenko (@angry_stas) walks through Securing Azure Functions API with API Management and IdentityServer4

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

• Christos Matskas (@ChristosMatskas) explains how to Enumerate Azure Storage File Share files with the .NET Azure SDK

Web

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

• On the DEV site, Julien Dubois (@juliendubois) discusses Java distributed caching in the cloud with the new Azure discovery plugin for Hazelcast
• On the Azure Developer Community Blog, Jeffrey Chilberto blogs about Azure on the Cheap - Azure Storage Static Website and Azure Front Door

Windows Virtual Desktop

Covering: Windows Virtual Desktop

• Travis Roberts (@Ciraltos) blogs about Application Masking with FSLogix in Windows Virtual Desktop

Useful Links

• Azure CNAB Quickstarts Library - You can deploy to the Cloud, on Prem and on the Edge using CNAB & Porter. This library provides a number of quickstart templates to help you get started, fast!
• Azure Quickstart Templates - Learn how to deploy to Azure using ARM Templates. Over 850 examples in this repo.
• Power BI Weekly - Interested in Power BI? Sign up to our sister newsletter Power BI Weekly to receive all the week's Power BI news.
• Azure Resources - A fantastic collection of resources contained in this repo. Issue a PR if you have resources to share. Managed by Azure MVP Gregor Suttie.
• Azure Charts - Azure Charts is a set of auto-rebuilt charts to keep you updated on Azure changes, news, stats. Public updates, RSS channels and web pages are used as data sources
• The Developer’s Guide to Microsoft Azure (2nd Edition) - ebook from Microsoft showcasing architectural approaches and common design patterns you face when building modern applications.
• Azure Virtual Datacenter - ebook from Microsoft highlighting an approach to isolation, security, and trust in the Microsoft cloud.
• Cyber Security Demystified - ebook from Microsoft describing how to keep your organisation safe.
• Microsoft's What is Azure poster - a visual overview of Azure's services and features.
• Microsoft Azure Essentials: Fundamentals of Azure - a free ebook from Microsoft Press, by Michael S. Collier and Robin E. Shahan.
• Data Science in the Cloud with Microsoft Azure Machine Learning and R - a free ebook on Azure Machine Learning, by Stephen F. Elston.
• Protecting Data in Microsoft Azure - a whitepaper that describes the various mechanism you can you can leverage for managing sensitive data in the Azure platform.
• A-Z of the Azure ecosystem - a slide deck outlining current Azure services.
• Azure Architecture Center - guidance from the Patterns & Practices team covering API Design, API implementation, Autoscaling, Background jobs, CDN, Caching, Data partitioning, Monitoring and diagnostics, Retry, Scalability and availability.
• Azure Architect's Reference - if you are an architect responsible for building an application on Azure, or are trying to figure out how you could migrate an application and need to dig deep into the workload, cost, security, capacity, availability, deployment and operational modelling this invaluable resource should be your first stop. An open source project, with contributions from several experienced architects, it gathers data from many different references into a single, useful guide that is constantly updated by the community.
• Azure Table Storage Design Guide - a guide from the storage team.
• Azure infrastructure services implementation guidelines - key design and implementation guidelines for deploying an IT workload in Azure infrastructure services.
• Azure Speed Test - a simple web tool that measures the latency between you and Azure Datacenters to suggest which might be fastest for you location.
• Azure Websites Cheatsheet - everything you need to know about configuring & managing Azure Websites on a single page.
• Data Migration Assistant - enables you to upgrade to a modern data platform by detecting compatibility issues that can impact database functionality on your new version of SQL Server and Azure SQL Database. It recommends performance and reliability improvements for your target environment.
• Azure SQL DTU Calculator - a tool to help you determine the number of DTUs for your existing SQL Server database(s) as well as a recommendation of the minimum performance level and service tier that you need before you migrate to Azure SQL Database.
• Microsoft Azure Symbol/Icon Set - a set of Visio and PowerPoint shapes for use in architecture diagrams / presentations.
• Service Bus Explorer - a free and open source tool for managing and exploring Azure Service Bus(including Event Hubs).
• Best practices for designing Azure Resource Manager Templates - guidance based on the whitepaper 'World Class ARM Templates Considerations and Proven Practices'.
• Microsoft Cloud Networking for Enterprise Architects - a downloadable guide to Azure networking, covering topics such as cloud migration and networking for PaaS and SaaS services
• Whitepapers for Power BI - numerous whitepapers ranging various Power BI topics
• Azure Serverless Computing Cookbook - ebook from Microsoft, including use cases, hands-on steps, and tutorials for quickly configuring your own serverless environments.
• Executive Summary: Enterprise Cloud Strategy - executive summary of the 140-page e-book from Microsoft. Learn about the basics of adopting a cloud computing strategy for your enterprise.
• Migrating SQL Server to Azure SQL Database Managed Instance—A Step-by-Step Guide - ebook from Microsoft providing breakdown of tactical steps for implementing a quick, simple, and low-impact data migration with Azure SQL Database Managed Instance.
• Azure Backup Deep Dive Whitepaper - a deep dive by Adin Ermie and Charbel Nemnom describing Azure Backup
• Azure Stack: An extension of Azure - whitepaper from Microsoft detailing how you can extend Azure Stack to make Azure services available on-premises
• Azure Strategy and Implementation Guide - For Azure users - ebook from Microsoft outlining recommended general architecture and cloud design principles, DevOps, approaches to service management, and overall governance.
• Azure Data Factory: SSIS in the Cloud - eBook from Microsoft explaining why you would want to migrate your existing SSIS workloads to Azure Data Factory and addressing common considerations and concerns. Includes technical details of creating an Azure-SSIS IR and then walk-throughs of how to upload, execute, and monitor your packages through Azure Data Factory
• Parallel Virtual File Systems on Microsoft Azure - ebook from Microsoft documenting the results of a series of performance tests on Azure to see how scalable Lustre, GlusterFS, and BeeGFS are
• Build and deploy a multi-container application in Azure Service Fabric - ebook from Microsoft which shows how to create a sample multi-container application using ASP.NET Core and Docker and deploy it on an Azure Service Fabric cluster.
• Azure ebook/whitepaper resources - White papers, analyst reports, and e-books landing page with an abundance of extra resources.