# Azure product updates - 2026-08-29 **2 new update(s)** — first seen in this run. The last 7 day(s) are rescanned every time so late or backdated announcements are not missed. Grouped by Azure product category. Source: [Azure Updates](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates) ## Summary by category | Category | Updates | GA | Preview | Top products | | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | --- | | [Compute](#compute) | 1 | 1 | - | Azure VM Image Builder | | [Storage](#storage) | 1 | 1 | - | Azure Files, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) | ## Compute ### [Generally Available: Azure VM Image Builder in sovereign and air-gapped clouds](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=570105) **Status:** Launched | **Published:** 2026-08-28 | **Products:** Azure VM Image Builder | **Tags:** Features, Management, Operating System, Regions & Datacenters, SDK and Tools, Services, Feature Azure VM Image Builder is now generally available in sovereign and air-gapped clouds, enabling secure, consistent, and automated image customization across regulated and isolated environments. - Available in Azure Government, China North 3, Azure Government Secret, and Azure Government Top Secret clouds. - Provides a fully managed, secure service to automate image customization without the need to manage build infrastructure. - Supports consistent image pipelines across global Azure and sovereign clouds, facilitating compliance and standardization. - Enables image distribution via Azure Compute Gallery with regional replication, supporting regulated industries and workloads with strict data residency and sovereignty requirements. Documentation: [Azure VM Image Builder overview - Azure Virtual Machines](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/virtual-machines/image-builder-overview) ## Storage ### [Generally Available: Workload identity support for Azure Files CSI driver (SMB) in Azure](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=570120) **Status:** Launched | **Published:** 2026-08-28 | **Products:** Azure Files, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) | **Tags:** Security, Feature Azure Files CSI driver for AKS now supports workload identity for SMB shares, enabling pod-level least-privilege access and enhanced security for regulated workloads. - Enables pod-level authentication to Azure Files SMB shares using workload identity, avoiding storage account keys. - Provides granular, least-privilege access control scoped to application pods rather than nodes. - Available in all Azure regions supporting Azure Files and AKS, enhancing security compliance for regulated industries. - Supports dynamic provisioning of persistent volumes with built-in storage classes for HDD and SSD Azure Files shares. Documentation: [Create and Manage Persistent Volumes with Azure Files in Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) - Azure Kubernetes Service](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-gb/azure/aks/create-volume-azure-files#use-workload-identity-to-access-azure-files-storage) --- _Generated automatically on 2026-08-29 04:04 UTC._