Microsoft Ignite 2018
September 24–28 // Orlando, FLcontents |contents
Foreword by Frank X. Shaw

5

Chapter 1 Security

6

1.1

Microsoft Threat Protection

1.2

Password-free sign-in for thousands of apps

1.3

Microsoft Secure Score

1.4

Azure confidential computing public preview

1.5

Modern Compliance enhancements

1.6

Expansion of work to bring the entire tech sector together throughthe Cybersecurity Tech Accord

Chapter 2 Artificial intelligence and data
2.1 Artificial intelligence
2.1.1

AI for Humanitarian Action

2.1.2

Cortana Skills Kit for Enterprise

2.1.3

New Azure Machine Learning capabilities

2.1.4

Azure Cognitive Services update – Speech Service general availability

2.1.5

Microsoft Bot Framework v4 general availability

2.1.6

Unified search across Microsoft 365

2.1.7

New AI-powered meeting features in Microsoft 365

2.1.8

Ideas in Office

2.1.9Intelligent enhancements in Excel

2.2 Data
2.2.1

SQL Server 2019 public preview

2.2.2

Azure SQL Database Hyperscale and Managed Instance

2.2.3

Azure Data Explorer public preview

2.2.4

Azure Cosmos DB Multi-master general availability

2.2.5

Azure Databricks Delta preview

2.2.6

Azure SQL Database intelligent features

2.2.7

New Azure SQL Data Warehouse pricing tier82

contents |Chapter 3 Internet of things and edge computing

12

3.1 Internet of things
3.1.1

Azure Digital Twins

3.1.2

Azure IoT Central general availability

3.1.3

Azure Maps: Map Control update

3.1.4

New Azure IoT Edge features and capabilities

3.1.5

Azure IoT Hub Device Provisioning Service updates

3.1.6

Azure IoT Hub message routing update

3.1.7

Azure IoT platform support for Android and Android Things

3.1.8

Azure Sphere public preview

3.1.9

New Dynamics 365 connected field service offering

3.2 Edge
3.2.1

Azure Data Box Edge preview

3.2.2

Azure Data Box Gateway preview

3.2.3

Azure Data Box general availability

3.2.4

Azure Data Box Heavy preview

3.2.5

Azure Event Hubs on Azure Stack in development

3.2.6

Consistent blockchain deployment for Azure and Azure Stack preview

3.3.7

Expanded capacity for Azure Stack

Chapter 4 More Azure news

16

4.1 Azure infrastructure
4.1.1

Windows Server 2019 and Windows Server, version 1809 availability

4.1.2

Azure Ultra SSD Managed Disks public preview

4.1.3

Azure Standard SSD Managed Disks general availability

4.1.4

Azure Premium Files public preview

4.1.5

Larger Azure Managed Disks sizes

4.1.6

New GPU-enabled Azure Virtual Machines

4.1.7

Azure Serial Console general availability

4.1.8

Azure Virtual WAN general availability

4.1.9

Azure Front Door Service preview

4.1.10 Azure Firewall general availability
4.1.11 Azure ExpressRoute Direct public preview
4.1.12 Azure ExpressRoute Global Reach public preview
4.1.13 New Azure DDoS Protection Standard features
4.1.14 H-series Virtual Machines for High-Performance Computing public preview
4.1.15 Microsoft Learn and role-based Microsoft Certifications

3

contents |Chapter 4 More Azure news continued

19

4.2 Governance and management
4.2.1

Azure Blueprints public preview

4.2.2

Azure Resource Graph public preview

4.2.3

Azure Policy for DevOps public preview

4.2.4

Azure Cost Management within Azure Portal public preview

4.2.5

Azure Monitor general availability

4.3 Developer
4.3.1

Azure SignalR Service general availability

4.3.2

Intune MAM Wrappers for line of business apps

4.3.3

Azure Functions 2.0 runtime availability and other updates

4.3.4

Azure Event Grid updates

4.3.5

Azure Container Registry: ACR tasks general availability

4.3.6

Azure Container Registry: ACR tasks multi-step capability, public preview

4.3.7

Azure Container Registry: Docker content trust model support, public preview

4.3.8

Azure Container Registry: Helm repositories, public preview

4.3.9

Azure Container Registry: Open Container Initiative (OCI) Support, public preview

4.3.10 New features for Azure LogicApps
4.3.11 Azure Service Fabric updates
4.3.12 Kubernetes on Azure Stack public preview
4.4 Quantum
4.4.1 Microsoft Quantum to add chemical simulation library for tackling real-world
challenges
4.5 Migration
4.5.1

Hyper-V assessments in Azure Migrate

4.5.2

Azure VM Image Builder private preview

Chapter 5 More Microsoft 365 news

Resources24

5.1

Microsoft Teams expands to empower workers in all roles, and across industries

5.2

LinkedIn integration with Outlook and Office apps

5.3

Microsoft Stream mobile app

5.4

Microsoft Teams integrates new Yammer and SharePoint features

5.5

Bringing OneDrive innovation to Mac

5.6

Surface Hub 2 arrives in 2019

5.7

Windows Virtual Desktop

5.8

Integrated Microsoft 365 admin center

5.9

Windows Autopilot extends to existing devices

27

4foreword |foreword
We love a good book here at Microsoft. Some of our friends, like Marc, prefermagazines, while some, like Jeff, prefer newspapers. Don’t get me wrong, welove both mediums, but we’re especially fond of books. And, since there’s somuch news at this year’s Ignite event, we decided to make a book to collect it
all in one place.
This Microsoft Ignite 2018 Book of News is your guide to ALL theannouncements we’re making on Sept. 24, with summaries of the news andlinks to more information.
The first three chapters cover our three key themes of news: Security; AI and
Data; and IoT and Edge Computing. These are critical areas to the future of IT
and areas that we’re working closely in with our customers.
On Security, every single place in the world where technology intersects with
our lives there is a potential security risk. Really, think about that. We’resurrounded by vulnerabilities. Ensuring every user, sensor, end point andeverything in between is kept secure is our goal. We’ve got products andprograms that span across all this work backed by decades of security focus
and experience that no other company has. Continuing this work, at Ignite
we’ve got security news across the company that includes global security
operations, enterprise class technology, and new cybersecurity partnerships tomake everyone safer.
On AI and Data, there’s an extremely intricate connection that you’re all awareof when it comes to the two. Taken together the question to ask is how all thisdata and powerful intelligence is going to shape our world. Not just how we’llinteract with technology tomorrow, but what will this stuff be capable of in theimmediate future. At Microsoft, we have a practical view and approach with
the idea that AI can be used for good, which is also the guiding principle
we’ve used in creating all the new AI and data products and initiatives you’llhear about at the event.
On IoT and Edge Computing, we cover everything from smart spaces making
employees more efficient to intelligent data appliances at the far reaches ofthe earth. At Ignite, we’ve got news about new IoT and edge computing
products that are making these concepts real for organizations today.
That’s not everything, though. In addition to these key themes of news, thisBook contains a wealth of other announcements that will be important to you
in your own way. This includes things like new SQL Server features, the launchof Windows Server 2019, a wealth of Azure updates, LinkedIn integration with
Office apps, and the upcoming arrival of Surface Hub 2, just to name a few.
We’ve been on a journey in how we communicate news from our flagshipevents, and we’re hearing that you continue to want more information. I hope
you enjoy this new resource for your reporting.
Let us know what you think!
– fxs
Frank X. ShawCVP Communications
Microsoft

5

security |security
1.1 Microsoft Threat Protection

1

Building on our experience running security operations, Microsoft is announcing Microsoft Threat Protection.
Working with unparalleled access to data across our services, it brings together threat protection solutions
across email, PCs, documents, identities and infrastructure into a single integrated experience in Microsoft
365, saving thousands of hours for overstretched security teams and protecting customers from the evolving
nature of attackers from organized crime to nation-states.
Microsoft Threat Protection is a new end-to-end solution that detects cyberthreats, remediates their effects
and protects organizations from new and changing threats. It is Microsoft’s most comprehensive security
solution and combines the intelligence of Microsoft’s security products.
Go to Microsoft Secure Blog and contact WE Modern Work team to learn more.
1.2 Password-free sign-in for thousands of apps
Nearly all data loss starts with compromised passwords, and so today we are declaring an end to the era ofpasswords. We are delivering new support for password-less login via the Microsoft Authenticator app for thehundreds of thousands of Azure Active Directory connected apps that businesses use every day. No company
lets enterprises eliminate more passwords than Microsoft.
The app eliminates the need for passwords — the number one security liability for enterprises — bycombining your phone and fingerprint, face, or PIN for a more secure, multifactor sign-in.
Go to Microsoft Secure Blog and contact WE Modern Work team to learn more.
1.3 Microsoft Secure Score
Microsoft Secure Score is the only enterprise-class dynamic enterprise report card for cybersecurity. By using
it, organizations get assessments and recommendations that typically reduce their chance of a breach by up
to thirtyfold with steps like securing admin accounts with MFA and end-user accounts with MFA and turning
off client-side email forwarding rules.
Microsoft Secure Score is now available to help IT professionals understand their all-up security position withadditional controls from Microsoft Cloud App Security, Azure Active Directory and Azure Security Center toharden defenses even more to protect networks and information, secure against threats, and assist in overallsystems management.
Go to Microsoft Secure Blog and contact WE Modern Work team to learn more.
1.4 Azure confidential computing public preview
Azure confidential computing — the first solution for protecting data while it’s processed in the public cloud— will be coming in early October in public preview on new Azure virtual machine family called DC series. The
new VM series backed by Intel SGX technology was available last year in private preview.
Data breaches often stem from cybercriminals accessing data in use for computation, analysis and otherfunctions, deterring many organizations from putting sensitive data into cloud workloads.
But Azure is the first cloud service to provide a secure platform for protecting the confidentiality and integrityof customer data and code while in use.
Go to Microsoft Secure Blog and contact WE Modern Work team to learn more.

6

security |1.5 Modern Compliance enhancements
New enhancements in Microsoft 365 compliance solutions are now available to support anorganization's compliance journey beyond the General Data Protection Regulation with more
intelligent capabilities.
Enhancements include a new unified labeling experience for creating and configuring data sensitivity
labels at the same time for Office 365 and Azure Information Protection. With this new experience in
Office 365 Security and Compliance Center, organizations have a more integrated approach toconfigure and automatically apply protection and retention labels and policies.
The Compliance Manager solution also now has new risk assessment templates that help customers
strengthen their data protection controls.
Go to Microsoft Secure Blog and contact WE Modern Work team to learn more.
1.6 Expansion of work to bring the entire tech sector together through the Cybersecurity TechAccordSince participating in the establishment of the Cybersecurity Tech Accord, an agreement to bring theentire technology sector together in defending all customers everywhere from malicious attacks bycybercriminal enterprises and nation-states, the group has nearly doubled in size. With 27 neworganizations joining from around the globe since its launch, including Panasonic, Swisscom andRockwell Automation, to name a few, the total number of signatories is now 61 companies
strengthening the broad ecosystem needed to keep the world secure.
Go to Cybersecurity Tech Accord and contact WE Modern Work team to learn more.

7

artificial intelligence and data |artificial
intelligenceand data

2

2.1 Artificial intelligence2.1.1 AI for Humanitarian Action
Microsoft is launching AI for Humanitarian Action, a new $40 million, five-year program that will
harness the power of artificial intelligence for disaster recovery, helping children, protecting refugees
and displaced people, and promoting respect for human rights. The company will partner withnongovernmental organizations through grants and investments of technology and expertise.
AI for Humanitarian Action is part of Microsoft’s AI for Good initiative, a $115 million commitment toempowering people and organizations to solve global challenges with access to game-changing AI
technology and educational opportunities, launched in July 2017.
Go to Microsoft on the Issues Blog and contact Microsoft Philanthropies team to learn more.
2.1.2 Cortana Skills Kit for Enterprise
Microsoft is bringing customizable Cortana experiences and skills with the new Cortana Skills Kit forEnterprise.
The end-to-end solution allows enterprises to build custom skills and agents, test them with users
and fully manage deployment to their organization.
Developed with the Microsoft Bot Framework and Azure Cognitive Services Language Understanding
service, the platform will help enterprises effectively use Cortana to improve workforce productivity.
This is currently available by invite only and more broadly in the near future where companies anddevelopers will be able to request an invitation.
Go to Microsoft AI Blog and contact WE Data+AI team to learn more.
2.1.3 New Azure Machine Learning capabilities
Azure Machine Learning helps data scientists and developers build and train AI models faster, theneasily deploy to the cloud or the edge. Significant new updates to the service include automatedmachine learning to identify the most efficient algorithms and optimize model performance,
additional hardware-accelerated models for FPGAs, and a Python SDK that makes Azure Machine
Learning services accessible from popular IDEs and notebooks.
Go to Microsoft AI Blog and contact WE Data+AI team to learn more.

8

artificial intelligence and data |2.1.4 Azure Cognitive Services update — Speech Service general availability
Microsoft’s new Speech Service, which combines several AI speech capabilities into a single service, is
now generally available.
The solution bundles improved models for speech recognition, capabilities for speech translation andthe ability to customize models to create a unique voice. Part of Azure Cognitive Services, it was
launched in public preview in May at Build 2018.
Also, a preview is now available for Human Parity Text to Speech. This uses Natural Text to Speech to
make the machines sound more natural.
Go to Microsoft AI Blog and contact WE Data+AI PR team to learn more.
2.1.5 Microsoft Bot Framework v4 general availability
The Microsoft Bot Framework v4 SDK is now generally available with rich, multilanguage tools forbuilding and connecting intelligent bots using C#, Java, Python and JavaScript.
The latest version simplifies your first bot experience, with a modular, extensible architecture thatallows you to pick components and services you need and leverage a rich ecosystem of pluggable
extensions. It was launched in public preview in May at Build 2018.
Go to Microsoft AI Blog and contact WE Data+AI team to learn more.
2.1.6 Unified search across Microsoft 365
Microsoft Search, a new unified search experience in Microsoft 365, enables you to find, command,navigate and discover items across your organization’s network of data, transforming your search bar
into a resource for collective knowledge.
An AI-powered insights engine connects content across Windows, Office.com, Office apps,
SharePoint, OneDrive and third-party ecosystems to surface relevant, personalized results, whether
it’s a recent chat or a document a co-worker created. With Microsoft Search you can harness thepower of your company’s collective brain securely and safely to get the information you need and getback to work.
Building on personalized search introduced at Microsoft Ignite 2017, the new Microsoft Searchcapability pulls together the power of the Microsoft Graph and AI technology from Bing for the firsttime. A preview of the capability is now rolling out to Office.com, including start pages and Bing.com.
Go to Microsoft 365 Blog and contact WE Modern Work team to learn more.
2.1.7 New AI-powered meeting features in Microsoft 365
Advancing the company’s vision for intelligent communications, new AI-powered features for video
meetings are now available in Microsoft Teams. Background blur uses facial detection to blur yourbackground during video calls, so people can focus on you and not what’s behind you, and intelligent
meeting recording automatically generates captions and a searchable, time-coded transcript.
Background blur and meeting recording are now rolling out to Office 365 commercial customers.
General availability of new live event capabilities will begin to roll out worldwide in Microsoft 365 later
this year. These new tools allow customers to create and stream live and on-demand events in Teams,
Yammer and Microsoft Stream to inform and engage customers and employees, wherever they are.
Users can stream directly from their desktop or a professional studio.
Go to Microsoft 365 Blog and contact WE Modern Work team to learn more.

9artificial intelligence and data | 10

2.1.8 Ideas in Office
Ideas is a new feature in Office that consolidates powerful AI features into a simplified experience across
Office 365. A single click launches Ideas, which follows along as you create a document and makes
intelligent suggestions tailored to what you’re doing. For instance, in PowerPoint, Ideas recommends
designs, layouts and images. And in Excel, it recognizes trends, suggests charts and identifies outliers inyour data. Ideas is generally available in Excel today and will begin rolling out in preview soon to the otherapps starting with PowerPoint Online.
Go to Microsoft 365 Blog and contact WE Modern Work team to learn more.
2.1.9 Intelligent enhancements in Excel
Data Types in Excel is now generally available. Launched in public preview in March 2018, this AI-powered
tool turns references to stocks and geographies into rich entities that can be used to build powerful,interactive spreadsheets, making it easy to get updated stock prices, company information, population,area and more.
In addition, a new image recognition capability in Excel lets you quickly convert a picture of a data table
into an Excel file that can be edited, analyzed and shared. That capability — called Insert Data from Picture— is now available in public preview. Other Excel improvements include faster lookup-type functions, which
now take seconds, instead of minutes.
Go to Microsoft 365 Blog and contact WE Modern Work team to learn more.
2.2 Data
2.2.1 SQL Server 2019 public preview
SQL Server 2019, now launching in preview, is bringing big data capabilities with this new release. You caningest, store and analyze vast amounts of data with a built-in Spark and Hadoop distributed file system.
And new connectors let you query databases like Oracle, Teradata and MongoDB directly from SQL Server,
breaking down data silos for faster insights.
Go to SQL Server Blog and contact WE Commercial Data team to learn more.
2.2.2 Azure SQL Database Hyperscale and Managed Instance
Azure SQL Database is introducing two new features to cost-effectively migrate workloads to the cloud.
SQL Database Hyperscale for single databases, available in preview on Oct. 1, is a highly scalable service
tier that adapts on demand to workload needs. It auto-scales up to 100 TB per database to significantly
expand potential for app growth.
Azure SQL Database Managed Instance will also be generally available on Oct. 1. The solution provides
near-full compatibility with SQL Server, allowing you to migrate on-premises workloads to the cloud withminimal changes.
Go to SQL Server Blog and contact WE Commercial Data team to learn more.
2.2.3 Azure Data Explorer public preview
Azure Data Explorer, a lightning-fast indexing and querying service, is now available in public preview.
Optimized for ad-hoc data exploration, the solution helps you discover insights from large volumes of
event data, which typically originate from apps, servers and edge devices. Customers have different options
to interactively explore near-real-time data to quickly analyze performance and diagnose issues.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Commercial Data team to learn more.

artificial intelligence and data | 11

2.2.4 Azure Cosmos DB Multi-master general availability
Three updates to Azure Cosmos DB are now generally available to help customers build mission-critical,
globally distributed apps.
Multi-master support, launched in preview at Build 2018, provides high levels of availability and singledigit millisecond latency with built-in flexible conflict resolution. The Cassandra API, launched in preview
in 2017, expands Cosmos DB into a multimodel, multi-API database. And the Reserved Capacity feature
reduces cost barriers to entry.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Commercial Data team to learn more.
2.2.5 Azure Databricks Delta preview
Azure Databricks Delta is a new solution available in preview as part of the premium pricing tier in Azure
Databricks. Delta increases data reliability, improves performance for jobs and queries, and simplifies
data pipelines.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Commercial Data team to learn more.
2.2.6 Azure SQL Database intelligent features
Optimizing query performance is easy with the latest additions to our intelligent query processing
feature family. We are announcing three new preview offerings: row mode memory grant feedback,approximate query processing and table variable deferred compilation. With minimal effort, thesefeatures can collectively optimize your memory usage and improve overall query performance.
Go to SQL Server Blog and contact WE Commercial Data team to learn more.
2.2.7 New Azure SQL Data Warehouse pricing tier
Azure SQL Data Warehouse, a fast, flexible and secure analytics platform, now offers a lower entry point
to help customers get started with powerful analytics and elastic scalability. Now available in 23 Azure
regions, the lower pricing tier decouples storage and compute.
Go to SQL Server Blog and contact WE Commercial Data team to learn more.

internet of things and edge computing | 12internet ofthings and edge
computing3

3.1 Internet of things
3.1.1 Azure Digital Twins
Azure Digital Twins is a new IoT platform to build comprehensive digital models of any physicalenvironment. Available in public preview on Oct. 15, the platform will provide a way to virtually
represent the physical world and enable partners to build custom solutions that address people’s
needs who occupy and manage these spaces by bringing together the full picture — people, placesand devices.
Go to Microsoft IoT Blog and contact WE Azure IoT team to learn more.
3.1.2 Azure IoT Central general availability
Azure IoT Central, a new solution for getting started quickly with IoT, is now generally available.
Launched in public preview in December 2017, the solution simplifies the journey to IoT with thesecurity and global scale of Azure, allowing organizations to build enterprise-grade, secured IoTapplications without having to manage back-end infrastructure.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Azure IoT team to learn more.
3.1.3 Azure Maps: Map Control update
An improved Map Control API in Azure Maps is now available, with new features for intuitive,
insightful data layering and visualizations. The experience has new layers for different forms fordifferent entities, such as tiles, symbols, polygons and lines.
It also supports HTML-based icons on the map and provides new functions for data-driven
styling. And it has a new spatial math library for easy developer access, equipped with commonlyused spatial math calculations for global geometry.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Azure IoT team to learn more.
3.1.4 New Azure IoT Edge features and capabilities
Microsoft partners can now submit third-party IoT Edge modules for certification and showcase in the
Azure Marketplace. In July, Microsoft announced that the marketplace will showcase third-party
modules to help customers discover prebuilt edge solutions and reduce development time. Partners
showcasing modules will also have monetization capabilities in the future.
Also new this week is a public preview launch of IoT Edge extended offline.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Azure IoT team to learn more.

internet of things and edge computing | 13

3.1.5 Azure IoT Hub Device Provisioning Service updates
New capabilities in the Azure IoT Hub Device Provisioning Service will be available by the end of
September to help customers more easily provision, register and scale millions of IoT devices. The
capabilities will include support for registering and re-provisioning devices from one IoT solution toanother, and enrollment-level allocation rules that give customers more control.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Azure IoT team to learn more.
3.1.6 Azure IoT Hub message routing update
Azure IoT Hub Message Routing simplifies IoT solution development, by enabling you to send
messages from your devices to cloud services in an automated, scalable and reliable way. The service
now has a new capability that allows customers to query on device twin tags and properties, inaddition to previously available capabilities to query on message properties and message body. Only
standard-tier IoT Hubs can utilize queries on device twin.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Azure IoT team to learn more.
3.1.7 Azure IoT platform support for Android and Android Things
We are announcing that Azure IoT Hub will support Android and the Android Things platform via theJava SDK. Customers can use the Java SDK to turn Android and Android Things devices into IoT
devices. All features in Java SDK will be available, including the Azure IoT Hub features we support
and SDK-specific features such as retry policy for network reliability. This continues our commitment
to enabling greater choice and flexibility in IoT deployments.
Contact WE Azure IoT team to learn more.
3.1.8 Azure Sphere public preview
Azure Sphere, a holistic solution to create secured, connected, microcontroller devices, is now
available in public preview. The solution provides security that starts with secured microcontrollers
and extends to a turnkey cloud service that guards every Azure Sphere device. Development kits are
now universally available.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Azure IoT team to learn more.
3.1.9 New Dynamics 365 connected field service offering
Available Oct. 1, a new Dynamics 365 connected field service offering integrates Dynamics 365 forField Service with Azure IoT Central to help customers become proactive, predictive and most costeffective with their connected devices. The SaaS solution supports bi-directional flows of alerts andcommands between devices and Dynamics 365 for Field Service.
Go to Microsoft Dynamics 365 and contact WE Business Applications PR team to learn more.

internet of things and edge computing | 14

3.2 Edge
3.2.1 Azure Data Box Edge preview
Azure Data Box Edge, a new product to transport data in and out of Azure, is now available in publicpreview. The solution is a physical network appliance equipped with AI-enabled edge computing
capabilities to help you analyze, process and transform on-premises data before uploading it to thecloud. It’s shipped by Microsoft and part of the Azure Data Box family.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
3.2.2 Azure Data Box Gateway preview
Azure Data Box Gateway, a new product for easy deployment of a data transfer gateway, is now
available in public preview.
Part of the Azure Data Box family, the solution is a virtual appliance that runs on Hyper-V andVMWare, enabling customers to quickly deploy a data transfer gateway for moving data to Azure
Storage.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
3.2.3 Azure Data Box general availability
Azure Data Box, a rugged, tamper-resistant, nearly 50-pound device to transport customer data to an
Azure Data Center, is now generally available.
Launched in preview during Ignite 2017, the appliance contains 100 terabytes of storage for secure,offline transfer of large data sets to Azure.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
3.2.4 Azure Data Box Heavy preview
Azure Data Box Heavy, a larger version of Azure Data Box, is now available in preview. The rugged,
secure, tamper-resistant appliance contains 1 petabyte of storage for transporting customer data to
an Azure Data Center.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
3.2.5 Azure Event Hubs on Azure Stack in development
Microsoft is developing Azure Event Hubs for Azure Stack to enable cloud-style telemetry ingestion
from websites, apps and other streams of data. The work will empower modern app development, IoT
on-premises and scenarios that are disconnected from public internet.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
3.2.6 Consistent blockchain deployment for Azure and Azure Stack preview
A consistent blockchain deployment that works across Azure and Azure Stack is now available inpreview.
Consistent deployment means customers will get the same outcome and be able to use the same
tools they’re familiar with for running blockchain, whether they’re running in Azure or Azure Stack.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.

internet of things and edge computing | 15

3.2.7 Expanded capacity for Azure Stack
The ability to expand a single Azure Stack to 16 nodes will be available in the coming weeks via
integrated systems from these hardware partners: Avanade, Cisco, Dell, HPE, Huawei and Lenovo. The
capability ensures that customers can increase the capacity of an Azure Stack integrated system tomeet their business needs.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.

more Azure news | 16

more Azure
news

4

4.1 Azure infrastructure
4.1.1 Windows Server 2019 and Windows Server, version 1809 availability
Windows Server 2019 will be generally available in October 2018. Windows Server 2019 is the latest
Long-Term Servicing Channel release, which means it will be supported for five years with additional five
years of extended support and will accrue the value from the previous Semi-Annual Channel releases(version 1709 and 1803). Windows Server, version 1809 is the latest Semi-Annual Channel release and will
be available with Windows Server 2019, focusing on customers who want to innovate with containers andmicro-services.
Windows Server 2019 bridges on-premises environments with Azure services for hybrid scenarios, hasbuilt-in layers of protection for increased security, and provides hyper-converged infrastructure forgreater efficiency and scale. Windows Admin Center (version 1809) will also be generally available to lightup these and other platform features.
Go to Windows Server Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.1.2 Azure Ultra SSD Managed Disks public preview
Ultra Solid State Drives (SSDs), a new Azure Managed Disks offering for latency-sensitive workloads, is
now available in public preview.
This new offering enables organizations to transition additional data-intensive and business-critical
workloads to Azure without impacting their customers’ experience. It delivers unprecedented andextremely scalable performance with sub-millisecond latency and is ideal for next-gen, data-driven
applications.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Azure IoT team to learn more.
4.1.3 Azure Standard SSD Managed Disks general availability
Azure Standard SSD Managed Disks — an offering for workloads with low input/output operations per
second (IOPS) and that need consistent performance — is now generally available.
Launched in preview in June 2018, Azure Standard SSDs (Solid State Drives) deliver better availability,
consistency, reliability and latency than Hard Disk Drive Disks. The service is suited for web servers, lowIOPS application servers, lightly used enterprise applications and dev/test workloads.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.1.4 Azure Premium Files public preview
Azure Premium Files, a high-performance, SSD-backed storage tier for Azure Files, is now available inpublic preview. The service provides a high-throughput, low-latency option for SMB Cloud file sharing.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.

more Azure news | 17

4.1.5 Larger Azure Managed Disks sizes
New tiers for Azure Managed Disks that significantly expand storage capacity are now available inpublic preview in specific regions.
The offerings for Premium SSD, Standard SSD and Standard HDD will now feature 8, 16 and 32TB
storage capacity to enable better performance and simpler management.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.1.6 New GPU-enabled Azure Virtual Machines
Microsoft is announcing two new N-series Azure Virtual Machines with GPU capabilities. GPUs are ideal
for compute and graphics-intensive workloads in innovative scenarios like high-end remotevisualization, machine learning, high-performance computing simulations and predictive analytics.
The first offering is part of the NV-series, available in public preview and architected for powerful
remote visualization workloads and other graphics-intensive applications. The second offering is part of
the ND-series focused on machine learning, high-performance computing and inference scenarios. The
public preview is planned for later this year.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.1.7 Azure Serial Console general availability
Now generally available, Azure Serial Console allows you to access and interact with your virtual
machines (VMs) independently of the VM’s network or operating system state, so you can easily debug
an unreachable VM. Built for developers and system administrators, the self-service diagnosis andtroubleshooting tool launched in public preview in March 2018.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.1.8 Azure Virtual WAN general availability
Azure Virtual WAN, launched in public preview in July 2018, is now generally available. It provides asimple, unified and global distributed connectivity-and-security platform for deploying large-scalebranch office infrastructure to help customers with massive modernization efforts. The service works
with existing on-premises routers and firewalls as well as newer SD WAN systems from a growing list ofpartners.
Azure ExpressRoute now also connects to Azure Virtual WAN, allowing customers to access corporate
resources, such as an on-premises datacenter, that are connected to an Azure ExpressRoute circuit.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.

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4.1.9 Azure Front Door Service preview
Azure Front Door Service (AFD), Microsoft’s application acceleration platform used internally by services
including Bing, Office 365 and Xbox, is now available to customers in public preview. It is a scalable,
secure entry point for fast delivery of global, microservice-based web applications, with dashboard tools
for controlling and monitoring service traffic and global backends from dozens of edge locations aroundthe world.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.1.10 Azure Firewall general availability
Azure Firewall, a new firewall-as-a-service offering, is now generally available. Launched in public preview
in July, it offers a managed, cloud-native network security service to protect application resources withbuilt-in high availability and unrestricted cloud scalability. Customers can centrally create, enforce and log
policies for application and network connectivity across subscriptions and virtual networks. The service
now also supports inbound and outbound connectivity, hybrid networks (ExpressRoute/VPN), deeper
platform integration with Azure Monitor, Azure Security Center, Azure Application Services, Network
Watcher and more.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.1.11 Azure ExpressRoute Direct public preview
Azure ExpressRoute Direct, the world’s fastest private edge connectivity with 100Gbps capacity, is now
available in public preview. The feature adds to the existing ExpressRoute service and enables connectivity
to Microsoft’s global backbone for such scenarios as massive data ingestion to storage, physical isolation,
dedicated capacity and burst capacity, all with access to Azure regions at tremendous scale.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.1.12 Azure ExpressRoute Global Reach public preview
Now in public preview, Azure ExpressRoute Global Reach connects ExpressRoute circuits together so thaton-premises locations can communicate with each other using Microsoft's global network. For example, if
you have a private datacenter in California connected to ExpressRoute in Silicon Valley, and anotherprivate datacenter in the United Kingdom connected to ExpressRoute in London, ExpressRoute Global
Reach can connect the datacenters together using the two ExpressRoute connections. The crossdatacenter traffic traverses through Microsoft’s network backbone. ExpressRoute Global Reach is a uniquesolution not available from other cloud providers.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.1.13 New Azure DDoS Protection Standard features
New features in Azure DDoS Protection Standard are now generally available, providing attack insights
and visualization for customers protecting their virtual network against DDoS attacks. The services include
detailed attack-mitigation reports and flow logs, via diagnostic settings in Azure Monitor.
Azure Security Center also now provides recommendations to protect virtual networks against DDoS
attacks.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.

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4.1.14 H-series Virtual Machines for High-Performance Computing public preview
Two new H-series Virtual Machines for High-Performance Computing, the HB and HC, have beenarchitected to handle high-end computational needs. These new VMs are performance and costoptimized for large scale HPC workloads such as fluid dynamics, structural mechanics, energy exploration,
weather forecasting, risk analysis, and more.
The new H-series will be available broadly with a public preview later this year.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.1.15 Microsoft Learn and role-based Microsoft Certifications
Microsoft Learn is a new, free, interactive web-based training with step-by-step bite-size tutorials toquickly learn Azure and Business Applications. Sign-in to track progress, earn achievements withknowledge checks and use free Azure resources for hands-on learning.
New role-based Microsoft Certifications — validate skills and be recognized as a leader with industry
recognized Microsoft certifications now aligned to job roles. Learning content across modalities, includingfrom Microsoft Learning Partners, will align to the new role-based certifications.
Go to Microsoft Docs and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.

4.2 Governance and management
4.2.1 Azure Blueprints public preview
Azure Blueprints, now in public preview, provides a one-click solution for setting up governedsubscriptions with preconfigured resources, policies, management, security and user access controls.
Customers evaluating public clouds want modern governance capabilities to deploy resources faster andwith more control. Azure recognizes the needs by including industry-leading governance capabilities —like Azure Blueprints — in the platform for no additional cost.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.2.2 Azure Resource Graph public preview
Azure Resource Graph, now in public preview, enables customers to explore their Azure resources at scale
for more efficient inventory management. Used through the Azure Portal, PowerShell or CLI, it provides
powerful querying and parsing capabilities to gather insights on environment resources.
The service is included in the Azure platform for no additional charge.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.2.3 Azure Policy for DevOps public preview
Azure Policy is now in public preview to Azure and Azure DevOps customers. The service enables
development teams to ship more quickly while ensuring compliance and auditability for workloads using
Azure cloud resources.
Paired with Azure App Insights and Azure Monitoring, Azure Policy provides visibility and tooling acrossthe infrastructure, network and application, all backed by the same data pipelines and analytics engines.
Building on the recent launch of Azure DevOps, Azure Policy is a key step to unifying Cloud and DevOps
governance.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.

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4.2.4 Azure Cost Management within Azure Portal public preview
Azure Cost Management is now in public preview directly inside the Azure Portal for Enterprise Agreement
customers, providing real-time cost analysis and budgets in an improved experience.
The capabilities were launched in 2017 via Cloudyn, a different platform that requires customer opt-in.
Providing the service directly in the Azure Portal greatly enhances the experience.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.2.5 Azure Monitor general availability
Azure Monitor now brings all end-to-end monitoring experiences together for customer applications andinfrastructure. This provides rich analytics and insights into issues for customers to keep up with thegrowing complexity of modern applications.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.3 Developer
4.3.1 Azure SignalR Service general availability
The Azure SignalR Service is now generally available to all Azure customers. The service, launched in publicpreview in May, enables developers to build apps that support real-time experiences such as chat, stocktickers and live dashboards without worrying about capacity provisioning, scaling or persistent connections.
With about 3 million downloads to date, SignalR is a popular ASP.NET library that makes it simple to add
real-time functionality to web applications.
Contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.3.2 Intune MAM Wrappers for line of business apps
The Intune MAM Wrapper for line of business apps is now available for iOS in beta. It provides IT
administrators with an enterprise compliance capability through a simple plug-in with Visual Studio App
Center, enabling them to enforce automatic “MAM wrapping” of applications during the development
process and easily apply company policies via the Intune blade on the Azure portal.
Go to Visual Studio App Center Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.3.3
Azure Functions 2.0 runtime, which brings the power of functions-based computing to more developers, is
now generally available. Runtime and other platform improvements allow you to now use your crossplatform .NET Core assets within your Functions apps. Updates also include support for Python
development and a consumption plan for Functions built on top of Linux OS. Azure Functions also now
shows HTTP dependencies on the Application Insights App Map, enabling support for Function triggers
and any HTTP connections for richer monitoring experience.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.

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4.3.4
New features in Azure Event Grid will be available in the coming weeks. They include the new Event
Domains concept, which allows customers to become their own event publishers, and advanced filtering
based on fields on the data payload attribute, and a preview of a Time-To-Live setting for Event
Subscriptions to set up a maximum time of retention for events.
Contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.3.5
ACR tasks, previously also known as ACR build, enables inner-loop development in the cloud with ondemand container image builds. You can trigger container image builds automatically when code iscommitted to a Git repository or when a container’s base image is updated. With base image update
triggers, you can also automate your OS and application framework patching workflow, only available with
Azure, to maintain secure environments.
Go to Azure Container Registry and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.3.6
Using ACR tasks, you can define a series of steps to build, test and validate your containers before they are
deployed.
Go to Azure Container Registry and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.3.7

Docker content trust model support, public preview

Content trust in ACR provides you with the ability to verify both the integrity and the publisher of all thedata that goes into a container image. Authorized users or services can push signed images to ACR andvalidate them at the point of deployment.
Go to Azure Container Registry and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.3.8
As customers deploy multicontainer applications, Helm has evolved as the de facto standard to describe
Kubernetes-based applications. With Helm repositories, customers can push their Helm Charts to ACR,
providing a single source of truth for their images and deployment definitions running in Kubernetes.
Go to Azure Container Registry and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.3.9

Open Container Initiative (OCI) support, public preview

Using projects like BuildKit, customers can build and push OCI-formatted container images.
Go to Azure Container Registry and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.

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4.3.10
Two new enhancements for Azure LogicApps are now in public preview. They include support for an Azure
Logic Apps SAP Connector for bi-directional integration between Logic Apps and SAP.
A new Logic Apps extension for Visual Studio Code is also in preview, enabling developers to do more withpartners and first-party tools.
Contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.3.11
New updates to Azure Service Fabric are now available in preview. They include Simplified configuration ofservice-to-service communication, a Runtime independent Reliable Collections library and new Service
Fabric Volume Disks.
Other updates include open sourcing of Service Fabric Windows Builds and general availability of a new
backup restore service.
Contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.3.12 Kubernetes on Azure Stack public preview
We now support Kubernetes clusters deployment on Azure Stack, a certified Kubernetes Cloud
Provider. You can install Kubernetes using Azure Resource Manager templates generated by the ACSEngine on Azure Stack.
Contact the WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.4 Quantum
4.4.1 Microsoft Quantum to add chemical simulation library for tackling real-world challenges
The Microsoft Quantum Development Kit will release an update this fall that adds a new chemical
simulation library in collaboration with computational chemistry leader Pacific Northwest National Labs.
The library will enable developers and organizations to create quantum-inspired solutions that can be
simulated on classical computers today and quantum computers in the future — helping them tackle big
chemistry challenges in such fields as agriculture and climate.
Go to Microsoft Quantum Blog on Tuesday, Sept. 25 starting at 9 a.m. ET and contact WE Cloud Infra &Apps team to learn more.

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4.5 Migration
4.5.1 Hyper-V assessments in Azure Migrate
Hyper-V assessments will be available in Azure Migrate in a few weeks, enabling customers to discover andassess Hyper-V environments for Azure migration.
Many Windows Server customers use Hyper-V as their virtualization platform. Hyper-V assessments willallow them to plan migrations of Hyper-V virtualized workloads to Azure.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.
4.5.2
Azure VM Image Builder, now available in private preview, allows you to submit a template describing yourVM source image, customizations and where to distribute a bootable image. The feature enables
organizations to migrate their image-building pipeline to Azure and use their existing OS licenses andcustomizations, without needing to configure infrastructure.
Go to Azure Blog and contact WE Cloud Infra & Apps team to learn more.

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more
Microsoft 365
news

5

5.1 Microsoft Teams expands to empower workers in all roles, and across industries
Microsoft is extending the power of Teams with new experiences tailored to industry-specific androle-based workflows. New capabilities in Teams help empower Firstline Workers to do their best
work. With new schedule management tools, managers can now create and share schedules, andemployees can easily swap shifts, request time off, and see who else is working as well as importantannouncements. These new features will be available in October.
As an example of how Teams can enable secure workflows for regulated industries, we’re deliveringa new patient care coordination solution that integrates with electronic health records (EHR) systems
and leverages two new secure messaging features, image annotation and priority messaging, which
are now available to all Teams customers but have particular relevance in healthcare settings. Now,
doctors, nurses and other clinicians can coordinate patient care while staying HIPAA-compliant andavoid the privacy risks that arise when healthcare professionals use consumer chat apps. The newhealthcare solution is now in private preview.
Go to Microsoft 365 Blog and contact WE Modern Work team to learn more.
5.2 LinkedIn integration with Outlook and Office apps
The integration between LinkedIn and Office 365 continues to deepen. Coming soon, when you
connect your LinkedIn account to Office 365, you’ll be able to coauthor documents with people inyour LinkedIn network in Word, Excel and PowerPoint and send emails to them directly from Outlook.
This brings your corporate directory and your LinkedIn network together, so you never lose touchwith the contacts who can help you succeed, inside or outside your organization.
You’ll also see LinkedIn highlights about the people in your meeting invites, providing you withinsights about attendees so you can prep for important meetings quickly and easily. These features
help you focus on what’s important by providing information and connections, directly in your flow ofwork, and will be coming soon in a staged rollout.
Go to Microsoft 365 Blog and contact WE Modern Work team to learn more.

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5.3 Microsoft Stream mobile app
The new Microsoft Stream mobile app is coming next month for iOS and Android with support for offline
viewing, making it easy to access recordings on the go.
Go to Microsoft SharePoint Blog and contact WE Modern Work team to learn more.
5.4 Microsoft Teams integrates new Yammer and SharePoint features
Microsoft Teams is more deeply integrating with Yammer and SharePoint for stronger collaboration with
the new Yammer tab in Teams that connects your team to relevant conversations across the organization,and tabs for SharePoint lists and apps coming early next year.
Easily work with and manage files with a new files experience in Microsoft Teams rolling out later this yearthat supports metadata, custom views and formatting, as well as process automation with Microsoft Flowand syncing files to Windows with OneDrive Files On-Demand.
Go to Microsoft SharePoint Blog and contact WE Modern Work team to learn more.
5.5 Bringing OneDrive innovation to Mac
With OneDrive Files On-Demand for Mac, now in public preview for Mac Office Insiders, access all
your team and personal files in the cloud without having to download them and use storage space on
your device. All files can be seen in Finder and work just like every other file on your Mac.
Go to Microsoft SharePoint Blog and contact WE Modern Work team to learn more.
5.6 Surface Hub 2 arrives in 2019
The next-generation Surface Hub 2 will ship in Q2 of calendar year 2019. Unveiled in May 2018, Surface
Hub 2 is perfect for dynamic teamwork with a light, sleek and intelligent design that makes the device
easier to move and fit in any workspace.
Surface Hub 2 will have a phased introduction with two unique experiences. The first, Surface Hub 2S, isdesigned to meet the needs of our current Surface Hub customers. Built for an on-premised or hybrid
environment, Surface Hub 2S runs the current Hub software experience customers know and love. We
designed Surface Hub 2S to be “future-proofed” with a modular design that allows customers to upgrade
to a second experience — Surface Hub 2X. Surface Hub 2X will enable features and functionality likedynamic rotation, multiuser authentication, tiling and more, which will be available in 2020. Surface Hub
2S and Surface Hub 2X features a 50.5-inch, 4K+ resolution screen and incorporates the 3:2 aspect ratiothat people have come to love and expect from their Surface devices.
Go to Windows Devices Blog and contact WE Devices team to learn more.
5.7 Windows Virtual Desktop
The new Windows Virtual Desktop provides the best virtualized Windows and Office experience, deliveredon Azure. Windows Virtual Desktop is the only cloud-based service that delivers a multiuser Windows 10
experience, is optimized for Office 365 ProPlus and includes free Windows 7 Extended Security Updates.
With Windows Virtual Desktop, customers can deploy and scale Windows and Office on Azure in minutes,
with built-in security and compliance.
We are currently targeting to be in preview by end of 2018.
Go to Microsoft 365 Blog and contact WE Modern Work team to learn more.

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5.8 Integrated Microsoft 365 admin center
A new Microsoft 365 admin center is now live and available to all Microsoft 365 and Office 365 admins.
The center simplifies the admin experience with an integrated location for monitoring and managing
applications, services, data, devices and users across Microsoft 365 and Office 365 subscriptions.
Go to Microsoft 365 Blog and contact WE Modern Work team to learn more.
5.9 Windows Autopilot extends to existing devices
Three new features in Windows Autopilot will support a smooth upgrade to Windows 10 for existing
devices. Available with the Windows 10 October Update, the features will include hybrid Azure AD
support for user-driven deployments, so you can join devices to Azure Active Directory or Azure
Directory.
They’ll also include configuration support for taking existing devices from Windows 7 to Windows 10 withnormal Autopilot user-driven deployment. The third feature, a self-deploying mode announced in June,
will automate device-provisioning — great for shared devices, kiosks and digital signage devices. Just
plug them in, turn them on, and they’re automatically provisioned.
Contact WE Modern Work team to learn more.

resources | 27

resources
All materials will be live on the press microsite at the Microsoft News Center.