Do you find it difficult to keep up-to-date on the frequent updates and changes in the Microsoft Azure cloud? If so, Build Azure Weekly is the solution you’ve been looking for! Build Azure Weekly is a weekly newsletter that includes all the latest Microsoft Azure Service Updates from the week in addition to links to many other blog articles, podcasts and videos from all over the Internet.

If you want to receive the newsletter in your email every week, then you’ll absolutely want to Subscribe!

The Weeks Top Links

Here are some of the most notable links from the week:

Azure Tips and Tricks Part 184 – Quickly Set Up Azure Active Directory with Azure App Services via Michael Crump
Five tips for securing your IaaS workloads via Azure Gov Team
New device modeling experience in Azure IoT Central via Sarah Hubbard
Azure Cosmos DB update: SDKs, CORS, mulit-region strong consistency, and more via Microsoft Developer

Azure Service Updates

Here’s a list of the Microsoft Azure Service Updates from over the past week:

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Blog Articles

Here’s a collection of some of the most note worthy blog articles posted over the past week:

Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)

Automation Accounts and Start/Stop VM Solutions in Azure via Gregor Suttie
Azure AD B2B, Azure Infrastructure Compliance and More, on The Friday Five! via MVP Award Program
Instantly restore your Azure Virtual Machines using Azure Backup via Sonia Gupta
Five tips for securing your IaaS workloads via Azure Gov Team
Using Azure Recovery Vault to backup SQL Server within your Virtual Machines via Gregor Suttie
Friday Five: Getting Started with Azure IaaS Inventory, Opinions on AI and More! via MVP Award Program

Platform as a Service (PaaS)

Azure Tips and Tricks Part 184 – Quickly Set Up Azure Active Directory with Azure App Services via Michael Crump
GCast 37: Managing Blobs with the Azure Storage Explorer via David Giard
Working with AZCopy 10 and Azure Storage Blob Access Tiers via WarNov
Right click publish quickly to Azure App Services with VS Code extensions and zipdeploy via Scott Hanselman
Managing Tables with the Azure Storage Explorer via David Giard
Blobfuse is an open source project developed to provide a virtual filesystem backed by the Azure Blob storage. via Lee Stott

Serverless and Functions as a Service (FaaS)

Logic Apps B2B encode minor update via David Burg
On-Premise point-to-site connectivity leveraging Logic Apps Integration Services Environment (ISE) in a Hub-Spoke network topology via Rene Brauwers
Announcing Azure Integration Service Environment for Logic Apps via Kevin Lam
Improving the TypeScript support in Azure Functions via Colby Tresness
Announcing the general availability of Java support in Azure Functions via Asavari Tayal
Comparison of Cold Starts in Serverless Functions across AWS, Azure, and GCP via Mikhail Shilkov
Cold Starts in Azure Functions via Mikhail Shilkov
Microsoft Integration Weekly Update: Feb 25, 2019 via Gautam
Logic Apps SFTP with SSH connector minor update via David Burg
Microsoft Integration Weekly Update: Feb 18, 2019 via Gautam

Software as a Service (SaaS)

Introduction to DevOps for Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement using YAML Based Azure Pipelines via Paul Breuler
Introducing Dynamics 365 Guides for HoloLens 2 via Microsoft HoloLens

Command-Line and ARM Templates

Right click publish quickly to Azure App Services with VS Code extensions and zipdeploy via Scott Hanselman

Database and Big Data

Azure Cosmos DB update: SDKs, CORS, mulit-region strong consistency, and more via Microsoft Developer
An intro to Azure Cosmos DB .NET SDK 3.0 via Microsoft Developer
Lesson Learned #73: Azure Database for MySQL – CONVERT_TZ returns null via Jose M Jurado – MSFT
Creating IoT applications with Azure Database for PostgreSQL via Shau Phang
Importing and Indexing Table Data in Azure Search via David Giard
TWC9: Visual Studio 2019, Node.js and Cosmos DB, GitHub Draft Pull Requests and more via Microsoft Developer
Using Azure Recovery Vault to backup SQL Server within your Virtual Machines via Gregor Suttie
Azure Hybrid Benefit for SQL Server via Angelos Petropoulos
More reliable event-driven applications in Azure with an updated Event Grid via Bahram Banisadr
Use GraphQL with Hasura and Azure Database for PostgreSQL via Sunil Kamath
ARM Goes To War In The Datacenter With “Ares” Designs via Timothy Prickett Morgan

Internet of Things (IoT)

New device modeling experience in Azure IoT Central via Sarah Hubbard
Creating IoT applications with Azure Database for PostgreSQL via Shau Phang
Running Cognitive Services on Azure IoT Edge via Phani Mutyala
Microsoft and SAP extend partnership to Internet of Things via Sam George
MWC 2019: Azure IoT customers, partners accelerate innovation from cloud to edge via Sam George
IoT in Action: New innovations making IoT faster and simpler via Justin Slade
Diagnose issues with Distributed Tracing for Azure IoT Hub (preview) in Visual Studio Code via Rukmani Gopalan
IoT Deep Dive Live: Building End to End Industrial Solutions with PTC ThingWorx and Azure via Microsoft Developer
Create a CI/CD pipeline for your Azure IoT Edge solution with Azure Pipelines via Zhiqing Qiu

Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Cognitive Services Speech SDK 1.3 – February update via Leon Romaniuk
Latest enhancements now available for Cognitive Services’ Computer Vision via Cornelia Carapcea
Introduction to DevOps for Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement using YAML Based Azure Pipelines via Paul Breuler
Running Cognitive Services on Azure IoT Edge via Phani Mutyala
Announcing Azure Monitor AIOps Alerts with Dynamic Thresholds via Yaniv Lavi
How Logistics Leaders Can Use AI Right Now via Brad Anderson
Friday Five: Getting Started with Azure IaaS Inventory, Opinions on AI and More! via MVP Award Program
Machine Learning Developer – Anomaly detection using machine learning in Azure Stream Analytics via Deva [MSFT]

DevOps and Development

How to use Azure DevOps open REST API with Curl via jldeen
TWC9: Build Registration Open, HoloLens 2, Visual Studio 2019 Updates, Twitch Live Code and more via Microsoft Developer
Top Stories from the Microsoft DevOps Community – 2019.03.01 via Edward Thomson
Azure Development Community – Same Great Blog… NEW HOME!!! via Ed Price – MSFT
Meet Utopia: DevOps with all the bells and whistles via WouterDeKort
Introduction to DevOps for Dynamics 365 Customer Engagement using YAML Based Azure Pipelines via Paul Breuler
Azure Container Instances – Using Managed Identity to access Key Vault secrets with C# via Tobias Zimmergren
Introducing the Microsoft DevOps Engineer Expert Certification: What You Need to Know via Liberty Munson (Microsoft)
Announcing the general availability of Java support in Azure Functions via Asavari Tayal
Azure AZ-100 and AZ-101 Curated study links on GitHub via Michael
TWC9: Visual Studio 2019, Node.js and Cosmos DB, GitHub Draft Pull Requests and more via Microsoft Developer
Right click publish quickly to Azure App Services with VS Code extensions and zipdeploy via Scott Hanselman
Cross-Platform Container Builds with Azure Pipelines via Edward Thomson
Machine Learning Developer – Anomaly detection using machine learning in Azure Stream Analytics via Deva [MSFT]
Research uncovers digital transformation opportunity for Microsoft Partners via markleigh@outlook.com
Azure Container Instances (ACI) and Secrets – Creating secret volumes and consume secrets using C# .NET Core via Tobias Zimmergren
Update to Azure DevOps Projects support for Azure Kubernetes Service via Atul Malaviya
Diagnose issues with Distributed Tracing for Azure IoT Hub (preview) in Visual Studio Code via Rukmani Gopalan
Create a CI/CD pipeline for your Azure IoT Edge solution with Azure Pipelines via Zhiqing Qiu

Containers (Docker, Kubernetes, etc) and Service Fabric

Network Policies with Calico in AKS via Vincent-Philippe Lauzon
Running Micro Focus Enterprise Server 4.0 in a Docker Container in Azure via swread
Azure Container Instances – Using Managed Identity to access Key Vault secrets with C# via Tobias Zimmergren
Docker’s 6th Birthday: How do you #Docker? via Lisa McNicol
Flex Volume in AKS via Vincent-Philippe Lauzon
Azure Container Instances (ACI) and Secrets – Creating secret volumes and consume secrets using C# .NET Core via Tobias Zimmergren
Update to Azure DevOps Projects support for Azure Kubernetes Service via Atul Malaviya
Azure AD Pod Identity in AKS via Vincent-Philippe Lauzon
Azure Container Instances (ACI) and Secrets – Using Secure Environment Variables via Tobias Zimmergren

Blockchain and Smart Contracts

Handling media and documents on the blockchain via Microsoft Developer

Security, Identity, and Privacy

Azure Tips and Tricks Part 184 – Quickly Set Up Azure Active Directory with Azure App Services via Michael Crump
Azure AD B2B, Azure Infrastructure Compliance and More, on The Friday Five! via MVP Award Program
Introducing Microsoft Azure Sentinel, intelligent security analytics for your entire enterprise via Eliav Levi
Azure AD Pod Identity in AKS via Vincent-Philippe Lauzon

Azure Stack

Azure Stack laaS – part two via Tiberiu Radu
Azure Stacks’ role in the “Azure: The World’s Computer” vision via Mark Scholman

Learning and Certification

Microsoft Azure Next Up Exam Camp! via Sarah_Arnold
Introducing the Microsoft DevOps Engineer Expert Certification: What You Need to Know via Liberty Munson (Microsoft)
Azure AZ-100 and AZ-101 Curated study links on GitHub via Michael
Azure Notebooks: Jupyter for The Cloud via Cameron Vetter

Government

Join us: Government cloud strategies: What to know – Feb. 27 via Karina Homme

Other

Bike Reminders – A breakdown of a real Azure application (Part 1) via James
Using the Azure Search REST API via David Giard
Azure Maps – The Microsoft Azure Enterprise Location Platform via Microsoft Developer
Hosted Pipelines Announcements: VS 2019, Mojave, and more via Joe Bourne
Azure Marketplace new offers – Volume 32 via Christine Alford
How to Unzip Automatically your Files with Azure Function v2 via Frank Boucher
Creating an Azure Search Service via David Giard
Announcing Azure Spatial Anchors for collaborative, cross-platform mixed reality apps via Neena Kamath
Cloud Platform Release Announcements for February 25, 2019 via Cloud Platform Team
Bing Maps Autosuggest API Now Supports Business Suggestions in 8 New Countries via Bing Team
Microsoft CEO Defends U.S Military Contract Following Employee Pushback via Mehedi Hassan
Azure.Source – Volume 71 via Rob Caron
Introducing Microsoft HoloLens 2 via Microsoft HoloLens
An overview of Azure Integration Services via Microsoft Developer
Cloud-based load testing service end of life via Jamie Cool
AzureCAT Blog – Moving to a new home via Ed Price – MSFT
Cloud-based load testing service end of life via Jamie Cool
Advisory- Azure Monitor Status Migrated to TechCommunity via Azure Monitoring Services Health Status
Logic App SAP trigger: ERROR Gateway not connected to local R/3 via David Burg
Class schedules on Azure Lab Services via Kirthi Krishnamraju
2018 Guidance from AzureCAT: SAP on the Microsoft Platform via AzureCAT
Live stream analysis using Video Indexer via Xavier Pouyat
Application Insights integrations and service updates via Microsoft Developer

Videos

Here are links to some of the videos that have been posted over the past week:

An intro to Azure Cosmos DB .NET SDK 3.0 | Azure Friday via Channel 9
Azure Cosmos DB update: SDKs, CORS, multi-region strong consistency, and more | Azure Friday via Channel 9
Explore | The Countdown to Microsoft Build 2019 via Channel 9
Azure Maps – The Microsoft Azure Enterprise Location Platform | Internet of Things Show via Channel 9
Introduction to Azure Integration Service Environment for Logic Apps via Azure Friday (HD) – Channel 9
Introduction to Azure Integration Service Environment for Logic Apps | Azure Friday via Microsoft Developer (uploads) on YouTube
Introduction to Azure Integration Service Environment for Logic Apps | Azure Friday via Channel 9
Getting started with ROS on Windows | Internet of Things Show via Channel 9
Handling media and documents on the blockchain | Block Talk via Channel 9
An overview of Azure Integration Services via Azure Friday (HD) – Channel 9
TWC9: Visual Studio 2019, Node.js and Cosmos DB, GitHub Draft Pull Requests and more | This Week On Channel 9 via Channel 9
Inception with Azure DevOps | Visual Studio Toolbox via Channel 9
Using Azure Boards with GitHub | The DevOps Lab via Channel 9
Third Party Azure IoT solution accelerators | Internet of Things Show via Channel 9
Blockchain based registries | Block Talk via Channel 9

Podcast

To complete the collection of different mediums to allow you to consume your Azure news / info in any way you want, here’s a list of the podcasts released this week:

Episode 114 – Answering “Why Cloud?” with Sarah Lean via Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast
Scrum Dynamics 23: Top 10 Antipatterns for Scrum Roles via CRM Audio — The Microsoft Business Applications Podcast
Episode 292 | Microsoft Azure + Office 365 News & Updates via Microsoft Cloud Show
ProdCast 46: Breaking down goals and being intentional with technology via CRM Audio — The Microsoft Business Applications Podcast
Episode 113 – Megatastic via Microsoft Cloud IT Pro Podcast
Episode 267 – What the Hack? via The Azure Podcast
Open Source Home Assistants with Sarah Withee via .NET Rocks!
Episode 291 | New Opportunities After Failures via Microsoft Cloud Show
Power Platform People 1: Samit Saini from Heathrow Airport via CRM Audio — The Microsoft Business Applications Podcast

Feedback

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Please feel free to reach out and let me know your feedback on the Build Azure Weekly series. I post this weekly post as a service to others and really want to make it the best it can be.

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About the Author

Chris Pietschmann

Chris Pietschmann is a Microsoft MVP, HashiCorp Ambassador, and Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) with 20+ years of experience designing and building Cloud & Enterprise systems. He has worked with companies of all sizes from startups to large enterprises. He has a passion for technology and sharing what he learns with others to help enable them to learn faster and be more productive.