The Azure DevOps portfolio spans across:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Azure Pipelines<\/a> – CI\/CD that works with any language, platform, and cloud. Connect to GitHub or any Git repository and deploy continuously<\/li>\n
- Azure Boards<\/a> – Powerful work tracking with Kanban boards, backlogs, team dashboards, and custom reporting<\/li>\n
- Azure Artifacts<\/a> \u2013 Maven, npm, and NuGet package feeds from public and private sources<\/li>\n
- Azure Repos<\/a> – Unlimited cloud-hosted private Git repos for your project. Collaborative pull requests, advanced file management, and more<\/li>\n
- Azure Test Plans<\/a> – All in one planned and exploratory testing solution<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"Azure](\"http:\/\/content.n4stack.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/Azure-DevOps-Services-1024x651.png\")
<\/p>\nExample of Developer using all Azure DevOps Services. Source: Microsoft<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
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AZURE SQL DATABASE MANAGED INSTANCE NOW GENERALLY AVAILABLE<\/h4>\n
Earlier this year Microsoft made us aware of a new deployment model of Azure SQL Database which offered an option to lift and shift on-premises applications to cloud with minimal application and database changes \u2013 Azure SQL Database Managed Instance<\/a>. This month Microsoft have announced<\/a> the general availability of Managed Instance!<\/p>\n
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![\"SQL](\"http:\/\/content.n4stack.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/SQL-Database-Managed-Instance.jpg\")
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Managed Instance improves security and compliance, offers 99.99% uptime SLA and comes with PaaS benefits and management tools. You can find out more about the key features and capabilities here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
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AZURE’S ENHANCED SECURITY NETWORKING<\/h4>\n
Recently Microsoft have been working hard to deliver networking services and enhancements to help you connect to the cloud and protect your workloads. We\u2019re excited to let you know that Azure Firewall<\/a> and Azure Virtual WAN<\/a> are now generally available. This means built-in high availability, unrestricted cloud scalability and automated large-scale branch connectivity. These services are very welcome additions and probably long overdue.<\/p>\n
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MICROSOFT ANNOUNCES PREVIEW OF SQL SERVER 2019<\/h4>\n
We know, we know\u2026 this isn\u2019t an Azure-specific piece of news but we\u2019re so excited we had to touch on it! Microsoft have introduced<\/a> the public preview of SQL Server 2019. The platform combines Apache Spark\u00a0<\/sup>and Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) to create a single, integrated SQL Server solution.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re still running critical applications on SQL Server 2008 have no fear! Your support may be due to run out in 2019 but Microsoft have offered a solution<\/a> where you can bag yourself an additional 3 years Extended Support!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
IN OTHER NEWS:<\/h4>\n
Azure Policy integration with Azure DevOps now available<\/a><\/p>\n
Service Fabric now available on Azure Stack<\/a><\/p>\n
Kubernetes on Azure Stack now in preview<\/a><\/p>\n
Microsoft boosts Azure Stack capacity with Azure Data Box solutions<\/a><\/p>\n
CycleCloud is now generally available<\/a><\/p>\n
Microsoft announces Virtual Desktop on Azure<\/a><\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_divider color=”#e05206″ height=”5px” _builder_version=”3.10.2″ background_color=”#e05206″ max_width=”85%” module_alignment=”center” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.48″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text module_id=”AmazonWebServices” _builder_version=”3.12.2″ text_font=”Roboto|300|||||||” header_text_align=”center” header_text_color=”#00a9e0″ header_2_text_color=”#e05206″ header_3_text_color=”#e05206″ header_4_text_color=”#e05206″]<\/p>\n
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AMAZON WEB SERVICES<\/h1>\n
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AWS ADDS NEW SHELL ACCESS OPTIONS TO EC2 INSTANCES<\/h4>\n
This month AWS announced<\/a> the addition of Sessions Manager<\/a> to AWS Systems Manager<\/a>. This new option for shell-level access promises secure access, access control, auditability, interactivity, and programming and scripting. AWS Sessions Manager is available now \u2013 and an added bonus is that there\u2019s no additional charge for the capability!<\/p>\n
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AWS BRINGS LAMBDA POWERED MACROS TO CLOUDFORMATION<\/h4>\n
Developers rejoice! With CloudFormation Macros<\/a> you\u2019re able to extend the native syntax of CloudFormation<\/a> templates by utilising AWS Lambda<\/a> (the same technology used with AWS\u2019 Serverless Application Model<\/a> functionality).<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
![\"CloudFormation](\"http:\/\/content.n4stack.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/10\/CloudFormation-Macros.jpg\")
<\/h1>\nUsing CloudFormation Macros. Source: AWS<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n
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To top it all off there\u2019s no additional costs associated with Macros, so you only pay the standard AWS Lambda function charges.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
ANNOUNCING PARALLEL QUERY FOR AMAZON AURORA<\/h4>\n
Amazon Aurora can now make use of its additional processing power by running your analytical queries in parallel across thousands of storage nodes. According to an AWS announcement<\/a> on 20th\u00a0<\/span>Sept, the new parallel query offers speed benefits of around two orders of magnitude\u2026 pretty impressive eh?<\/p>\n
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AWS STORAGE GATEWAY NOW AVAILABLE AS A HARDWARE APPLIANCE<\/h4>\n
AWS Storage Gateway<\/a>, the service that connects your on-premises software appliance with cloud-based storage, is now available pre-installed on a hardware appliance. Right now it\u2019s only available to purchase in the US but keep your eyes peeled \u2013 we don\u2019t think it will be long before the rest of us get our hands on it!<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
IN OTHER NEWS:<\/h4>\n
Amazon AppStream 2.0 has new additions<\/a><\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_divider _builder_version=”3.12.2″ background_color=”#e05206″ color=”#e05206″ height=”4px” \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_team_member _builder_version=”3.12.2″ name=”Izzi Fuller” position=”Digital Marketer” linkedin_url=”https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/isobel-fuller-5070b880\/” image_url=”http:\/\/content.n4stack.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/Izzi-Fuller_GW.png” saved_tabs=”all” global_module=”54024″]<\/p>\n
Izzi is a recent addition to the N4Stack team and loves getting stuck into writing – whether its a blog, collateral or website content.<\/p>\n
She’s taking a leap into the world of Data, DevOps and Cloud\u00a0after previously working with SaaS in the pharmaceutical industry and healthcare prior to that.<\/p>\n
Get to know more about Izzi here<\/a>.<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_team_member][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I'M INTERESTED IN AZURE I'M INTERESTED IN AWS MICROSOFT AZURE MICROSOFT LAUNCHES AZURE DEVOPS Microsoft\u2019s well known Visual Studio Team Service (VSTS) has been rebranded to Azure DevOps, and the guy put forward by Microsoft to announce this slick name change… it just had to be Jamie Cool! The Director of Program Management\u00a0announced the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":54167,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"
MICROSOFT AZURE<\/strong><\/h1>
Microsoft has had a busy month releasing new tools and services into public review. They\u2019ve also improved their Azure certifications AND for the first time ever have exceeded Amazon\u2019s AWS cloud revenue! Well done to Microsoft Azure.<\/em><\/h4>
\u00a0<\/em><\/p>
MICROSOFT<\/strong> EXCEEDS AMAZON\u2019S CLOUD REVENUE<\/strong><\/h2>
For the first time ever, Microsoft\u2019s Azure revenue has exceeded AWS revenue after jumping a whopping 89 percent in the last financial quarter! In terms of market share however, AWS is still very much in the lead, commanding 33% of public cloud market with Azure following in 2nd<\/sup> place with 13%.<\/p>
AZURE CERTIFICATIONS RECONSIDERED<\/strong><\/h2>
After receiving feedback<\/a> that the current Azure exams are \u2018too broad, covering a range of skills that very few individuals, even experts in the area, would have\u2019 Microsoft have taken it upon themselves to take another look at their certifications. The result? They\u2019ll be assessing the skills you actually need to be successful \u2013 we think that\u2019s an excellent idea!<\/p>
Microsoft are even offering an 80% discount on their Azure Administrator beta exams for the first 300 people who register! 3\u20262\u20261\u2026go!<\/p>
MICROSOFT ADDS KUBERNETES TOOLS TO AZURE<\/strong><\/h2>
Microsoft\u2019s Azure Dev Spaces<\/a> is now in public review. The cloud-native development experience can be used with Azure Kubernetes Services<\/a> (AKS) and is designed to help developers work with cloud native code \u2013 making it easier to make the jump into container development.<\/p>
To get started click here<\/a>.<\/p>
AZURE SQL DATA WAREHOUSE GETS A SPEED BOOST<\/strong><\/h2>
Microsoft recently announced<\/a> that Azure SQL Data Warehouse customers will benefit from \u2018at least 2x faster query performance from their workloads, cementing it as the fastest data warehouse in the cloud\u2019. In the announcement they explained the speed boost was made real by brand spanking new instant data movement capabilities<\/a> which makes the movement between data warehouse computer notes more efficient than ever before. Well, it\u2019s certainly peaked our interest!<\/p>
MICROSOFT INTEGRATES AZURE SECURITY CENTER INTO SUBSCRIPTION EXPERIENCE<\/strong><\/h2>
Looking for visibility into the security of your cloud platform? Great news \u2013 Azure Security Center is now available in public preview and has been integrated into the subscription package so that customers can assess the security state of resources and ensure data is protected and not vulnerable to attacks.<\/p>
Find out more here<\/a>.<\/p>
AZURE SERVICE FABRIC MESH NOW AVAILABLE AS PUBLIC PREVIEW<\/strong><\/h2>
In July Microsoft announced<\/a> the release of their Azure Service Fabric Mesh to public preview. The fully-managed service supports both Windows and Linux containers and is designed to enable developers to \u2018deploy and operate containerised applications without having to manage VMs, storage or networking configuration\u2019.<\/p>
You can get started with it here<\/a>.<\/p>
AZURE COSMOS DB GETS AN UPGRADE<\/strong><\/h2>
In May 2017, Microsoft announced its new database service, Azure Cosmos DB<\/a>, designed to deliver high performance for large scale applications. This month Microsoft announced that Cosmos DB is getting an upgrade. Introducing the new and improved Cosmos DB Explorer<\/a>, described by Microsoft as \u2018a full screen standalone web-based version of the Data Explorer many of you already use in Azure Portal for Cosmos DB\u2019.<\/p>
\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>
AMAZON WEB SERVICES<\/strong><\/h1>
July was a big month for Amazon Web Services. They introduced a couple of new instances and even found themselves some Greek gods!<\/em><\/h4>
\u00a0<\/em><\/p>
AMAZON INTRODUCES EC2 INSTANCES TO THEIR AWS SNOWBALL EDGE SYSTEM<\/strong><\/h2>
Following the success of AWS Greengrass<\/a> in 2017, Amazon has added more edge computing capabilities to its AWS services. Not only will this allow customers to analyse and move data at the site where its created, the introduction of their Elastic Compute Cloud (EC2) instances to their Snowball Edge<\/a> system, cuts down processing delays and reduces the amount of data customers need to store in the cloud.<\/p>
Take a look at Amazon\u2019s announcement here<\/a>.<\/p>
2,600 PERSONAL DATA FILES EXPOSED DUE TO OPEN AWS S3 BUCKET<\/strong><\/h2>
A political autodial company has come under fire after exposing the personal data of 2,600 voters in the US after failing to properly secure their AWS S3 bucket. Unfortunately, this is becoming a pretty common issue despite Amazon offering up a solution<\/a> in November 2017 with the introduction of five new encryption and security features, including dashboard warning lights.<\/p>
AWS ANNOUNCES THREE NEW INSTANCES\u00a0<\/strong><\/h2>
- Azure Boards<\/a> – Powerful work tracking with Kanban boards, backlogs, team dashboards, and custom reporting<\/li>\n