Senior Azure PM Sumeet Mittal does an awesome job explaining the brand new and hotly anticipated feature, Azure Private Link.

Media file: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode302.mp3

Transcript:

Resources:

Blog:  https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/announcing-azure-private-link/

Product page: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/private-link/

Documentation: https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/private-link/private-link-overview#availability

Other updates:

In the latest update of Azure DevOps, we've added user assignment-based billing. With this feature, the number of Basic or Basic + Test Plan licenses will change as you add or remove users. This means that you’ll only pay for the licenses you’re using. We’ve also added a new setting that lets you choose whether new users get full Basic access or limited/free Stakeholder access. See the list of new features for more information.

Managed instance, a deployment capability of Azure SQL Database, is transitioning from a manual to service-aided subnet configuration, now in preview.

SR-IOV availability schedule on NCv3 Virtual Machines SKU
Posted on Thursday, October 17, 2019
As part of Azure’s ongoing commitment to providing industry-leading performance, we are enabling support for all MPI types and versions, and RDMA verbs for InfiniBand-equipped virtual machines, beginning with NCv3 coming in early November 2019. 
The upgrade WILL INVOLVE SERVER DOWNTIME on a regional basis and, if you intend to utilize the InfiniBand network using MPI, this REQUIRES AN UPDATE TO YOUR VMs. Please read the following post for full details. https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/sr-iov-availability-schedule-on-ncv3-virtual-machines-sku/

Microsoft integrates OpenZeppelin Contracts into Microsoft Azure
https://blog.openzeppelin.com/microsoft-integrates-openzeppelin-contracts-into-microsoft-azure-vscode-plugin/

October 2019 unified Azure SDK preview
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/october-2019-unified-azure-sdk-preview/
Announcing the general availability of larger, more powerful standard file shares for Azure Files
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/announcing-the-general-availability-of-larger-more-powerful-standard-file-shares-for-azure-files/
Trusted Cloud: security, privacy, compliance, resiliency, and IP
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/trusted-cloud-security-privacy-compliance-resiliency-and-ip/

Azure Security Specialist, Sarah Young, gives us the low-down on the new Azure Sentinel service which gives you a SIEM in Azure that watches over all of your enterprise.

Media file: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode301.mp3

Transcript: https://eus2.videoindexer.ai/accounts/e0eee289-7730-4999-978b-eb7f63be8cb5/videos/2ad7063764/ 

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/azure-sentinel/

Other updates:

For the first time ever, you can register your self-installations of SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines with Resource Provider to unlock features and functionality previously only available with our Azure Marketplace images.

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) managed identities integration is now available in preview. With managed identities, AKS now supports creating and using system-managed identities instead of service principals. Managed identities are essentially wrappers around service principals, making their management simpler.

From <https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/managed-identities-integration-in-azure-kubernetes-service-aks-is-now-in-preview/>

Private Preview - Azure Spring Cloud service
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/private-preview-azure-spring-cloud-service/

New output options in Azure Stream Analytics—SQL Managed Instance and SQL Server on VM
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/new-output-options-in-stream-analytics-managed-instance-and-sql-server-on-vm-as-output-targets-for-stream-analytics/

Measuring your return on investment of Azure as a compliance platform
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/measuring-your-return-on-investment-of-azure-as-a-compliance-platform/

Infura Now Natively Supported in the Azure Blockchain Development Kit for Ethereum
https://blog.infura.io/infura-now-natively-supported-in-the-azure-blockchain-development-kit-for-ethereum-430fb02f1c9b
Discover, develop, and deploy smart contracts faster with Blockchain Dev Kit updates
https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/opensource/2019/10/08/microsoft-azure-blockchain-dev-kit-updates-ethereum-devcon/
Azure Monitor adds Worker Service SDK, new ASP.NET core metrics
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-monitor-adds-worker-service-sdk-new-asp-net-core-metrics/

The team celebrates the 300th episode by speaking with Albert Greenberg, the director of development for all of Azure Networking and someone who was around when Azure was just 5 clusters of servers.

Media file: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode300.mp3

Transcript: https://eus2.videoindexer.ai/accounts/e0eee289-7730-4999-978b-eb7f63be8cb5/videos/0fcb9185e4/?location=EUS2 

Updates:

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-gb/blog/announcing-azure-private-link/

Harold Wong, a Principal Software Engineer in the Commercial Software Engineering team, gives us the scoop on the popular Azure Redhat OpenShift service (ARO) which gives customers a fully managed OpenShift cluster in Azure. He gives us use-cases for this service as well as tips and advice on moving to ARO.

Media file: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode299.mp3

Transcript: https://eus2.videoindexer.ai/accounts/e0eee289-7730-4999-978b-eb7f63be8cb5/videos/9aeef77764/?location=EUS2

Resources: https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/openshift/

Other updates:

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/announcing-azure-storage-explorer-1-10-0/

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/microsoft-and-swift-extend-partnership-to-make-native-payments-a-reality/

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/12-tb-vms-expanded-sap-partnership-on-blockchain-azure-monitor-for-sap-solutions/

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/introducing-the-preview-of-direct-upload-to-azure-managed-disks/

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-cosmos-db-recommendations-keep-you-on-the-right-track/

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/analyze-and-visualize-your-data-with-azure-cosmos-db-notebooks/

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/windows-virtual-desktop-is-now-generally-available-worldwide/

Senior Azure Storage PM Art Khlobystin talks to Cynthia, Evan and Sujit about the new HA/DR features in Azure Storage.

Media file: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode298.mp3

Transcript: https://eus2.videoindexer.ai/accounts/e0eee289-7730-4999-978b-eb7f63be8cb5/videos/45e0433f0c/?location=EUS2

Towards the end of the show, Art briefly talks about the new upcoming Object Replication Service which would give customers the flexibility of replicating data across any regions of choice and not just the paired regions. He asks for any feedback/questions to be send to his email artek@microsoft.com or you can post to our Twitter handle @AzurePodcast and we will route it to the team. Thank you!

Other updates:

Azure Media Services Video Indexer supports detection, grouping, and recognition of characters in animated content.

Azure Advisor alerts are now in preview

From <https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/azure-advisor-alerts-are-now-in-preview/>

Public Preview - Video Indexer Multilingual identification and transcription
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/public-preview-video-indexer-multilingual-identification-and-transcription/

Public Preview - Video Indexer Animated Character Detection
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/public-preview-video-indexer-animated-character-detection/

Azure CLI support for Azure HDInsight is now generally available. This enables administrators to easily manage their HDInsight clusters using simple Azure CLI commands.

Matt Small talks to the team about KeyVault and talks about use cases and some common problems customers see.

Media file: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode297.mp3

Transcript: https://eus2.videoindexer.ai/accounts/e0eee289-7730-4999-978b-eb7f63be8cb5/videos/5927fd922a/?location=EUS2

Matt's Blog: https://azidentity.azurewebsites.net

Other updates:

Azure Files premium tier gets zone redundant storage
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-files-premium-tier-gets-zone-redundant-storage/

Announcing user delegation SAS tokens preview for Azure Storage Blobs
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/announcing-user-delegation-sas-tokens-preview-for-azure-storage-blobs/

Azure Sphere is a set of hardware, software, and cloud services that provide an security and management platform for the IOT ecosystem.  In this episode, the Josh Nash, the Principal Product Planner walks us through the platform concepts, the components, and how customers and partners are leveraging this.

Media file: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode296.mp3

Transcript: https://eus2.videoindexer.ai/accounts/e0eee289-7730-4999-978b-eb7f63be8cb5/videos/fdcd8c138e/?location=EUS2

Building cloud-native applications with Azure and HashiCorp
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/building-cloud-native-applications-with-azure-and-hashicorp/

Microsoft Azure available from new cloud regions in Germany
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/microsoft-azure-available-from-new-cloud-regions-in-germany/

Microsoft acquires Movere to help customers unlock cloud innovation with seamless migration tools
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/microsoft-acquires-movere-to-help-customers-unlock-cloud-innovation-with-seamless-migration-tools/

Microsoft’s connected vehicle platform presence at IAA, the Frankfurt Auto Show
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/microsoft-s-connected-vehicle-platform-presence-at-iaa-the-frankfurt-auto-show/

Satellite connectivity expands reach of Azure ExpressRoute across the globe
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/satellite-connectivity-expands-reach-of-azure-expressroute-across-the-globe/

Azure Backup PM Geetha Lakshmi gives us a great update on the Backup Service. She gives us a refresher and focuses on the many new features in the Restore process that make it faster and easier for customers to get files recovered.

Media file: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode295.mp3

Transcript: https://eus2.videoindexer.ai/accounts/e0eee289-7730-4999-978b-eb7f63be8cb5/videos/82c61e28cf/?location=EUS2

Other updates:

https://azurecosmosdb.github.io/CosmicNotes/
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/microsoft-azure-available-from-new-cloud-regions-in-switzerland/
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/azure-data-factory-mapping-data-flows-adds-sql-scripts-to-sink-transformation/
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/application-insights-variable-retention-preview/

Microsoft and Qualcomm accelerate AI with Vision AI Developer Kit
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/microsoft-and-qualcomm-accelerate-ai-with-vision-ai-developer-kit/

Azure Cost Management updates – August 2019
https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-cost-management-updates-august-2019/

Shaloo Garg, a Managing Director in Microsoft Startups, explains to us how Startups can leverage valuable technical and business resources from Microsoft to help make them successful in the marketplace.

Resources:

https://Startups.microsoft.com
https://azuremarketplace.microsoft.com/en-us

Media file: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode294.mp3

Transcript: https://eus2.videoindexer.ai/accounts/e0eee289-7730-4999-978b-eb7f63be8cb5/videos/c101319a3b/?location=EUS2

Other updates:

Now available is a set of APIs that primarily helps increase efficiency in copying data from any URL to Azure or inside Azure. The APIs include:
• Put Block From URL
• Put Page From URL
• Append Block From URL
These APIs enable server-side synchronous copy of data from any URL source into either a block blob, page blob or as an append blob. The benefits of these APIs include:
• Server-side data transfer. The data transfer is performed server-side, meaning the data is read directly from the source by the destination server in Azure. The data is not flowing through the caller, so you do not need a VM with CPU, memory and network capacity to move the data. You can get away with using a relatively small VM that just orchestrate the data transfer.
• Synchronous data transfer.  Each call is performed synchronously, meaning the data transfer is complete when the call returns. This is unlike the existing asynchronous cross-account copy blob API, which is a scheduled background process where you need to regularly check if its complete.
• Any data source. The data source can be any data addressable by a URL, meaning you can copy data from inside or outside of Azure. Further it can be from any blob type to any blob, e.g. reading from a page blob and writing to a block blob.

From <https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/new-copy-apis-for-efficient-data-copy/>

https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/Azure-SQL-Database/Unified-Azure-SQL-experience/ba-p/815368

Work more efficiently with the updated Azure Blockchain Development Kit by using our new interactive debugger.

Faith Xu, a Senior PM in the Microsoft ML Platform team, brings us up to speed on the Open Neural Network eXchange (ONNX) specification and it's associated Runtime which can be used for running interoperable ML models in Azure.

Media file: https://azpodcast.blob.core.windows.net/episodes/Episode293.mp3

Transcript: https://eus2.videoindexer.ai/accounts/e0eee289-7730-4999-978b-eb7f63be8cb5/videos/77672a62af/?location=EUS2

Resources:

ONNX: https://github.com/onnx/onnx
ONNX Runtime: https://github.com/microsoft/onnxruntime
ONNX Tutorials: https://github.com/onnx/tutorials
ONNX Runtime Tutorials: https://github.com/microsoft/onnxruntime#examples-and-tutorials
ONNX Converters: https://github.com/onnx/onnxmltools/tree/master/onnxmltools
ONNX Ecosystem Docker Image: https://github.com/onnx/onnx-docker/tree/master/onnx-ecosystem
ONNX Runtime in AzureML: https://aka.ms/onnxnotebooks

Other updates:

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/general-availablility-of-managed-identity-for-linux-in-app-service-and-functions/

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/general-availability-of-user-assigned-managed-identities-for-app-service-and-azure-functions/

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/update-to-azure-sql-database-serverless-increases-compute-scale-limits-by-4x/

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/announcing-the-general-availability-of-azure-ultra-disk-storage/

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/azure-resource-manager-arm-application-and-service-deployment-is-now-ga/

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/public-preview-of-managed-identity-for-azure-service-fabric-applications/

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/new-powershell-scripts-available-for-azure-monitor-logs-query-and-data-collection/

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-in/updates/new-tool-for-automating-load-testing-of-power-bi-embedded-capacities-now-available/