Microsoft Azure has introduced the private preview of its new storage-optimized virtual machine series, the Lsv4 and Lasv4. The Lsv4-series VMs are powered by the 5th Generation Intel® Xeon® processor, known as Emerald Rapids, while the Lasv4-series is based on…

Microsoft has announced the General Availability of its next-generation Azure Data Box devices, Azure Data Box 120 and Azure Data Box 525. These NVMe-based, compact devices are designed to enhance data transfer efficiency significantly, offering up to a 10x boost…

Azure Firewall serves as a critical tool for inspecting traffic to Azure services, even when using VNet Service Endpoints. As detailed in [this blog series](/2025/02/17/private-link-reality-bites-service-endpoints-vs-private-link), Private Link is usually Microsoft’s recommended approach, yet many enterprises still opt for Service Endpoints…

Microsoft has announced the release of the GPT-4.1 model series, available through the Azure OpenAI Service and GitHub. The latest iteration, which includes GPT-4.1, 4.1-mini, and 4.1-nano, offers improved capabilities in coding, instruction following, and long-context processing—a feature crucial for…

In an insightful exploration, the Azure AI Evaluation library introduces new Agentic metrics specifically tailored to assess generative AI systems. As AI’s capabilities expand, it’s crucial to refine the metrics used for evaluation. Traditional NLP metrics like BLEU and ROUGE…

In the realm of organizational data management, setting KQL (Kusto Query Language) query alerts has become a vital strategy. By proactively monitoring real-time data, businesses can make informed decisions that positively impact customer behavior, operational performance, and market trends. This…

Exciting updates have arrived for Azure Database for MySQL as part of the March 2025 announcements, revealing new features and a roadmap for upcoming enhancements. Among the highlights is the public preview of MySQL Discovery and Assessment in Azure Migrate,…

As Microsoft unveils the February 2025 update for the FinOps Toolkit version 0.8, it’s bringing in several noteworthy enhancements aimed at streamlining cloud financial operations and maximizing efficiency. Among the highlights is a refreshed design for Power BI reports, which…

In an insightful guide, the process of connecting Azure SQL Server using System Assigned Managed Identities within ASP.NET applications was examined, demonstrating an alternative to traditional username-password authentication methods. By integrating Microsoft Entra with Azure SQL Server, this methodology helps…

The Azure Training Maps is an innovative tool for students grappling with the Azure ecosystem. These comprehensive visual guides seamlessly integrate all course resources, tools, and structures into a succinct diagram, helping learners map their studied elements within the larger…

Microsoft has recently unveiled the public preview of its newly enhanced Hybrid Connection Manager (HCM), promising a significant upgrade in usability, performance, and security for users. One of the standout advancements in this version is its cross-platform compatibility which now…

The Fabric Conference US 2025 was a thrilling week for those in attendance, whether in person or virtually through blogs and social media. The event was packed with announcements about the latest innovations and sneak previews of upcoming features in…

Microsoft has launched the preview of an innovative tool called the Microsoft Fabric SKU estimator. This tool enhances the previous Microsoft Fabric Capacity Calculator by providing more precise capacity estimations tailored for businesses, reflecting Microsoft’s commitment to refining their services…

DeepSeek-R1, an open-weights reasoning model designed for advanced conversational AI, coding, and complex problem-solving, is making waves in the AI community. Built on DeepSeek-V3, it offers significant advantages such as full local data control, challenging even OpenAI’s models. The model…

Welcome to this week’s edition of the Learning FOCUS blog series, where we delve into the intricacies of the FinOps Open Cost and Usage Specification (FOCUS). This time, we’re exploring the columns that identify and categorize services, a feature unique…

2025 is shaping up to be the year of AI agents, and Microsoft is offering an exciting opportunity for developers to get a head start. Whether you’re new to AI or a seasoned pro, you can join a free three-week…