Ctrl+Alt+Azure

The Azure Well-Architected Framework (WAF) recently got a big rewrite. We take Operational Excellence, a pillar from WAF, for a deeper look with Bastian Ulke from Microsoft. What is it? How should you utilize this pillar? Bastian also talks about the recommendations and patterns within Operational Excellence. Also, Tobi asks Bastian an unexpected question.

(00:00) - Intro and catching up.
(02:41) - Show content starts.

Show links

- WAF: OpEx

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We talk about experiences in Azure with Mustafa Toroman. He is the CTO for run.events and shares his vast experience working with Azure both as a consultant and for building a product. How does he learn new stuff? What about the approach to DevOps? Also, Jussi asks Mustafa an unexpected question.

(00:00) - Intro and catching up.
(03:32) - Show content starts.

Show links

- CloudSummit
- Mustafa Toroman (@toromust) / X (twitter.com)
- Windows95man - No Rules!

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We're talking about Azure Verified Modules with Microsoft's Jack Tracey. What is AVM? How and when should you use it? Jack shares insights on the vision and how you can benefit as an architect and developer. Also, Tobi asks Jack an unexpected question.

(00:00) - Intro and catching up.
(02:15) - Show content starts.

Show links

- https://aka.ms/AVM 
- https://aka.ms/AVM/ModuleProposal 
- https://aka.ms/AVM/ModuleTriage  

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Azure now has Carbon Optimization capabilities available. We take a look at what this means, how it works, why it's important, and what can you do with it. Also, Tobi asks Jussi an unexpected question.

(00:00) - Intro and catching up.
(02:37) - Show content starts.

Show links
- Azure carbon optimization - Microsoft Learn
- Microsoft Azure emissions insights (preview) - Microsoft Cloud for Sustainability

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In this episode, we'll look at SecOps or Security Operations. What is it, and what are the elements one should consider? What about SOC, how does it tie into all of this? Lastly, we discuss the tools and services within Azure that are essential for any SecOps work. Also, Jussi asks Tobi an unexpected question.

(00:00) - Intro and catching up.
(02:55) - Show content starts.

Show links
- Introduction to Security operations (SecOps) - Training
- MCRA
- SAF

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Let's focus on understanding what Azure AI Search is. What was it called before? What features does it have, and how much will it cost? We also talk about use cases, especially with generative AI workloads with Azure AI Search. Also, Jussi asks Tobi an unexpected question.

(00:00) - Intro and catching up.
(04:07) - Show content starts.

Show links
- Introduction to Azure AI Search
- Pricing - Azure Cognitive Search

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In this episode, we take a look at recent updates to Azure. What's new, what's in preview, and what's interesting? Also, Tobi asks Jussi an unexpected question.

(00:00) - Intro and catching up.
(02:57) - Show content starts.

Show links

- Private Preview: Upgrade existing Azure Gen1 VMs to Gen2-Trusted launch

- GA: Azure Virtual Network encryption

- Entra ID - redemption order

- Azure Copilot for Azure CLI

- Entra External ID - Google as an identity
- Public Preview of the Arc Visual Studio Code Extension

- Quickstart: Create and run a load test with Azure Load Testing

- Use secrets & environment variables - Azure Load Testing

- Ctrl+Alt+Azure | 190 - Let's take Defender for APIs for a spin

- Microsoft Announces GA of Defender for APIs

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We re-visit the Azure Well-architected Framework, with Dom Allen from Microsoft. What has changed, and what's interesting now in the WAF refresh? We take a look at what's new, and how to best utilize WAF. Also, Tobi asks Dom an unexpected question.

(00:00) - Intro and catching up.
(03:32) - Show content starts.

Show links
- WAF
- Azure documentation | Microsoft Learn
- YouTube: Unsolved Tetris Mysteries With Creator Alexy Pajitnov & Designer Henk Rogers 

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In this episode, Tobias and Jussi reflect a bit on options for building Generative AI with the lens of available studios like the Azure AI Studio and the Microsoft Copilot Studio. Jussi also asks Tobias a question about useless things you'd have an endless supply of.

(00:00) - Intro and catching up.
(01:53) - Show content starts.

Show links
- Azure AI Studio
- Microsoft Copilot Studio
- Using Ollama (Jussi)
- LM Studio

We talk about Azure architectures - how to design them, thoughts and experiences on visualizing them, and what matters in the end. Additional thoughts also on collaboration and Well-architected Framework as it relates to this. Tobi asks Jussi an unexpected question.

(00:00) - Intro and catching up.
(04:35) - Show content starts.

Show links
- WAF: Architect's checklist
- Azure Architecture Center
- Draw.io
- Azure Diagrams

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Let's not talk about AI, but instead let's talk about Azure SQL backup and recovery. What aspects to consider for disaster recovery? What options are available for backups in Azure SQL? How to test for recovery? Also, Jussi asks Tobi an unexpected question.

(00:00) - Intro and catching up.
(03:27) - Show content starts.

Show links
- Disaster Recovery in WAF
- Disaster recovery in Azure SQL

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We take a look at the Generative AI for Beginners course from Microsoft. It's free, open-source, and available for everyone. What's in it? Who should go through the lessons? And is this even needed? Also, Tobi asks Jussi an unexpected question.

(00:00) - Intro and catching up.
(04:28) - Show content starts.

Show links
- Generative AI for Beginners – A Course
- 191 - Prompt engineering techniques with ChatGPT and Azure OpenAI

In this episode, we take a look at recent updates to Azure. What's new, what's in preview, and what's interesting? Also, Jussi asks Tobi an unexpected question.

(00:00) - Intro and catching up.
(03:30) - Show content starts.

Show links
- Release notes - Microsoft Defender for Cloud

- Detect threats quickly with near-real-time (NRT) analytics rules in Microsoft Sentinel

- Analytics with Azure Synapse Link - Azure Cosmos DB | Microsoft Learn

- Azure SQL trigger for Functions

- Azure Functions support on Apple Silicon Macs

- azure_ai extension for PostgreSQL

- Microsoft Fabric reservations

- Private subnet

- Defender for APIs

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So many Copilots! We take a look at Copilot for Azure, which was announced during Ignite 2023. What can you do with it? What's our experience using it? How does it relate to other Copilots, such as GitHub Copilot Chat. Who benefits from this capability? Also, Jussi asks Tobi an unexpected question.

(00:00) - Intro and catching up.
(02:27) - Show content starts.

Show links
- Sign up: https://aka.ms/MSCopilotforAzurePreviewRequest
- Product docs: Microsoft Copilot for Azure (preview) overview | Microsoft Learn
- Tech community post: Simplify IT management with Microsoft Copilot for Azure

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We look at AI-102 - the exam, the course, and the labs. As this course focuses on Azure Cognitive Services (Azure AI Skills after the rename), we walk through the intended audience, the skills you'll need, and the stuff you'll learn. Also, Jussi asks Tobi an unexpected question.

(00:00) - Intro and catching up.
(04:41) - Show content starts.

Show links
- Study guide for Exam AI-102: Designing and Implementing a Microsoft Azure AI Solution

- Instructor-led course: Course AI-102T00--A: Designing and Implementing a Microsoft Azure AI Solution

- Self-paced learning: Exam AI-102: Designing and Implementing a Microsoft Azure AI Solution - Certifications

- Certification: Microsoft Certified: Azure AI Engineer Associate - Certifications | Microsoft Learn

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Microsoft pushes into chip manufacturing, we heard about new chips like Azure Maia and Azure Cobalt. There's also the Azure AI Studio, all the new and updated Microsoft Copilots, the updated Microsoft Cybersecurity Reference Architecture (MCRA), Microsoft Cloud PKI, The Windows App, and more. Tobias asks Jussi an unexpected question about being turned into a cat.

(00:00) - Intro and catching up.
(02:18) - Show content starts.

Show links
- Announcing Azure AI Studio preview (microsoft.com)
- Azure AI Studio: ai.azure.com
- Copilots: See them all in the Book of News
- AI transformation and the technology driving change
- What’s new in Azure AI Platforms – Charting the Future with Innovative AI and ML
- Security Adoption Framework
- Cloud PKI
- Windows App
- Microsoft SSE

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Earlier this year, Microsoft announced courseware and studying materials for Azure OpenAI. We look at this 1-day course and reflect on the content, who this course is best suited for, and what one should learn. Also, Jussi asks Tobi an unexpected question.

(00:00) - Intro and catching up.
(02:02) - Community highlights.
(04:42) - Show content starts.

Community Highlights
- Uli Homann, CVP & Distinguished Architect at Microsoft: Deepening Well-Architected guidance for workloads hosted on Azure (microsoft.com)

Show links
- Course details: AI-050
- Course Details: AI-102
- Request access to AOAI: Limited access to Azure OpenAI Service - Azure AI services

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Microsoft recently announced the Applied Skills initiative. We talk about what it is, how it compares to Microsoft certifications, and our experience in completing the assessments of the initiative. Also, reflections on hiring and recruiting and skills in general. Tobi asks Jussi an unexpected question.

(00:00) - Intro and catching up.
(03:48) - Community highlights.
(05:18) - Show content starts.

Community Highlights
- TJ Devine: Microsoft 365 Copilot is generally available

Show links
- Applied Skills announcement (Microsoft)
- Applied Skills

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In this episode, we delve into the annual Microsoft Digital Defense Report, the 2023 edition. We dive into some of the findings and reflect a bit on what this means. Some surprises here, but also some known threat angles.

(00:00) - Intro and catching up.
(02:40) - Community highlights.
(04:07) - Show content starts.

Community Highlights
- Gregor Reimling: The new Azure Update Center is GA Part 1 – three big reasons to migrate to Update Center and forget the classic Update Management Center 

Show links
- Microsoft Digital Defense Report 2023 (Microsoft)
- What is the Cybercrime Atlas? (Tobias Zimmergren)

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In this episode, we take a look at recent updates to Azure. What's new, what's in preview, and what's interesting? Also, Tobi asks Jussi an unexpected question.

(00:00) - Intro and catching up.
(03:52) - Community highlights.
(08:30) - Show content starts.

Community Highlights
- James Berger | Say Goodbye to Visio: The Future of Diagram Design is Here!

Show links

- GA: Azure AI Content Safety
- Releasing CIS Azure Foundations Benchmark v2.0.0 in regulatory compliance dashboard
- Data security overview dashboard in CSPM
- Migrate to Azure Monitor agent–based VM insights by 31 August 2024
- Azure Activity Logs Legacy solution is replaced by Diagnostic settings
- Migrate to Azure Resource Manager control plane API version 2021-11-01 by 30 September 2026
- Retirement notice: Bing Speech will be retired on 3 November 2023
- Support for TLS 1.0/1.1 on Azure Cache for Redis ending on 30 September 2024
- Azure Machine Learning - Public Preview for October
- Windows Server 2012/R2 reaches end of support
- Public Preview of Azure API Management Pricing Tiers: Basic v2 and Standard v2
- Public preview: Announcing Microsoft Playwright Testing service: Scalable end-to-end testing for modern web apps
- General availability: Microsoft Azure now available from new cloud region in Italy
- Default outbound access for VMs in Azure will be retired— transition to a new method of internet access

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