Azure updates

Azure Private Link support for Azure Automation is now available in preview

You can now use Azure Private Link to securely connect virtual networks to Azure Automation using private endpoints (in preview).

• Automation
• Security
• Services

Azure Automation updated DNS records

Target availability: Q2 2020

To support new features in Azure Automation, like Azure Private Links, the automation URLs have been updated. Instead of region-specific URLs, there are now account-specific URLs.

• Automation
• Security
• Services

Azure Log Analytics agent for Windows SHA-2 signing date has been extended

Target availability: Q3 2020

The Azure Log Analytics agent for Windows will begin to use SHA-2 signing exclusively on Aug. 17, 2020. This change requires action only if you’re running the agent on a legacy OS version.

• Log Analytics
• Azure Monitor
• Automation
• Security Center
• Azure Sentinel
• Management
• Operating System
• Security

Action Required—Log Analytics agent for Windows will enforce SHA-2 signing on May 18, 2020

Target availability: Q2 2020

The Log Analytics agent for Windows, sometimes known as the OMS Windows agent or Microsoft Monitoring agent, will begin to enforce SHA-2 signing on May 18, 2020. This change only requires action if you are running the agent on a legacy OS version (Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, or Windows Server 2008).

• Log Analytics
• Azure Monitor
• Automation
• Security Center
• Azure Sentinel
• Microsoft Build
• Operating System
• Security

Process Automation Watcher meter ID changes

Starting December 1, 2019, the meter IDs for Process Automation Watcher will change.

• Automation
• Pricing & Offerings
• Services

Azure Automation Service Management REST APIs are being retired January 30, 2020

Target retirement date: January 30, 2020

Migrate any Azure Automation Service Management REST APIs and PowerShell cmdlets for Azure Automation to Resource Manager REST APIs or the latest PowerShell cmdlets by January 30, 2020.

• Automation
• Retirements

Azure Automation supports the Azure PowerShell Az module

Azure Automation now supports the Azure PowerShell Az module.

• Automation
• Management
• Services

Azure portal October update

The Azure portal received updates in October 2018.

• Microsoft Azure portal
• Azure mobile app
• Storage Accounts
• Virtual Machines
• Virtual Machine Scale Sets
• Azure Advisor
• Service Fabric
• Virtual WAN
• Activity Log
• Azure Managed Applications
• Automation
• Azure SQL Database
• Azure Synapse Analytics
• Management

Update Management: Pre/post tasks, dynamic groups, and update inclusion

Update Management now supports dynamic groups, pre/post tasks, and inclusion lists.

• Automation
• Features
• Management
• Services

Updates to file support and Windows services tracking in Change Tracking and Inventory

New support has been added for more powerful tracking of Windows files, file content tracking and differencing, and adjustable Windows Service collection frequency.

• Automation
• Log Analytics
• Features
• Management
• Services

Run signed runbooks in Azure Automation

In Azure Automation, you can configure Hybrid Runbook Workers to run only signed runbooks. After you configure the worker, all unsigned runbooks will fail to run.

• Automation
• Management
• Services

Start/Stop VMs during off-hours in Azure Automation has been updated

Start/Stop VMs during off-hours in Azure Automation has been updated in the areas of email functionality, dependent modules, and runbooks.

• Alerts
• Automation
• Gallery

Azure Automation supports .NET Framework 4.6 when running jobs within the service

The Azure Automation service has been upgraded to support PowerShell modules that have a dependency on .NET Framework 4.6 or lower running from the service.

• Automation
• Features

Automation runbooks available in action groups to take actions from alerts

You can run an Automation runbook when an alert triggers an action group on an Azure resource. This capability extends the actions you can take in response to the alert.

• Automation
• Features
• Management

Public preview: Azure Automation watcher tasks

Watcher tasks deliver the ability to author a watcher runbook that polls a system in your environment and then call an action runbook to process any events found.

• Automation
• Management