Azure updates
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RSS feedMarch 2021
Azure SQL auditing to Log Analytics and Event Hub are now generally available
Auditing for Azure SQL Database and Azure Synapse Analytics to Log Analytics and Event Hub are now generally available, allowing the centralization of SQL audit logs into a single go-to-location.
Azure SQL auditing of Microsoft operations is now in general availability
Azure SQL auditing of Microsoft operations for Azure SQL Database, Azure Synapse Analytics and Azure SQL Managed Instance is now generally available, enabling more transparency into your workforce.
Public preview: Maintenance window for Azure SQL Database and Azure SQL Managed Instance
The maintenance window feature aligns planned maintenance updates on Azure SQL Database and Azure SQL Managed Instance resources to occur on predictable times during regional off-business hours.
Advance notifications for Azure SQL Database now in public preview
Prepare for planned maintenance events on your Azure SQL Database resources and minimize the impact of database failovers on your sensitive workloads with advance notifications (preview).
February 2021
Log Replay Service for Azure SQL Managed Instance in public preview
Log replay service enables continuous replication of SQL Server data to SQL Managed Instance in the cloud, the easier orchestration of workload functions, and pre-migration performance testing through a fully customizable experience.
January 2021
Confidential computing using Always Encrypted with secure enclaves now in public preview
Always Encrypted with secure enclaves enables in-place encryption and rich confidential queries on sensitive data by leveraging Intel SGX secure enclaves, available in the new DC-series hardware configuration.
December 2020
Azure Data Share snapshot sharing for SQL Database and Synapse generally available
You can now share structured data stored in relational databases and data warehouse easily and securely between internal departments, with external partners, vendors or customers for collaboration.
Private link for Azure SQL Data Sync on Azure SQL Database now in public preview
Private link enables SQL Data Sync users to choose a service managed private endpoint for the sync service to securely connect to member and hub databases during data synchronization.
Transparent Data Encryption with customer-managed keys for SQL Database Hyperscale
This feature enables bring your own key (BYOK) support for data protection at rest, using Azure Key Vault, for Azure SQL Database Hyperscale customers.
October 2020
We’re retiring Azure SQL DB Import-Export Direct Endpoints on 31 October 2023
Target retirement date: October 31, 2023
Start using Azure Resource Manager REST APIs.
Public preview: Auditing of Microsoft support operations in Azure SQL DB and Azure SQL MI
The auditing of Microsoft support operations capability enables the audit of Microsoft support operations when accessing servers and/or databases during a support request to an audit logs destination. The use of this capability, along with auditing, enables more transparency into the workforce and allows for anomaly detection, trend visualization, and data loss prevention.
Public preview: Zone redundant configuration for Azure SQL DB general purpose tier
Make your general purpose databases and elastic pools resilient to a much larger set of failures, including catastrophic datacenter outages, without any changes of the application logic by selecting zone redundancy.
Machine Learning open sourcing for R and Python Custom Runtime
Announcing a general availability release that solves one of our customers’ pain points; the ability to bring a newer version of R and Python they may be using in their own companies.
Distributed database transactions spanning multiple Azure SQL Managed Instances
Utilize distributed transactions (now in preview) and save time when migrating existing applications that require this capability as it eliminates the need to change application code and to perform extensive testing.
Reserved capacity on Azure SQL Database Hyperscale is now available
Obtain discounts on Azure SQL Database Hyperscale using reserved capacity.
September 2020
Configurable Backup Storage Redundancy option for Azure SQL Managed Instance
Now in general availability, locally redundant storage (LRS) and zone-redundant storage (ZRS) options have been added to backup storage redundancy, providing more flexibility and choice.
Azure AD authentication features for Azure SQL DB, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Azure SQL Managed Instance
These new preview features extend existing functionality, remove user limitations, and provide customers with greater ease of use when setting up Azure SQL Database or Azure SQL Managed Instance.
Global virtual network peering support for Azure SQL Managed Instance now available
Utilize global virtual network peering for your managed instances to save time through easy network configuration and by offloading your gateways from database replication traffic.
Hosting catalog databases for all supported versions of SSRS in Azure SQL Managed Instance
Expand your ability to quickly migrate existing solutions to Azure SQL Managed Instance with new catalog database hosting capabilities.
Major performance improvements for Azure SQL Managed Instances
Enhanced log write throughput and superior data/log IOPS make Azure SQL Managed Instances even more appealing for migration.
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