# Azure product updates - 2026-09-30 **27 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 | | --- | ---: | ---: | ---: | --- | | [Databases](#databases) | 11 | 4 | 7 | Azure SQL Database, Azure Database for PostgreSQL, Azure SQL Managed Instance | | [Other](#other) | 7 | 5 | - | | | [Compute](#compute) | 3 | 1 | 2 | Virtual Machines, SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines | | [Storage](#storage) | 3 | 2 | 1 | Azure NetApp Files | | [Containers](#containers) | 1 | - | - | Azure Container Apps | | [Hybrid + multicloud](#hybrid-multicloud) | 1 | - | 1 | Azure Arc | | [Internet of Things](#internet-of-things) | 1 | - | - | Azure IoT Central | ## Databases ### [Public Preview: Azure Database for PostgreSQL Ultra Disk](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=571909) **Status:** In preview | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Products:** Azure Database for PostgreSQL | **Tags:** Feature Azure Database for PostgreSQL flexible server now supports Ultra Disk in public preview, enabling high-performance storage for I/O-intensive and transaction-heavy workloads with configurable capacity and performance. - Ultra Disk offers independently configurable capacity, IOPS, and throughput for optimized storage performance. - Ideal for workloads requiring low latency and high IOPS, such as high-volume OLTP and transaction-heavy systems. - Currently in public preview with limited regional and compute SKU availability; storage can only be scaled up during preview. - Performance depends on both disk configuration and compute SKU; customers should plan compute and storage together for best results. Documentation: [Ultra Disk - Azure Database for PostgreSQL](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/postgresql/compute-storage/concepts-storage-ultra-disk) ### [Public Preview: SQL Performance Monitoring for Azure SQL Database](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=571867) **Status:** In preview | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Products:** Azure SQL Database | **Tags:** Feature Microsoft has launched a public preview of managed performance monitoring for Azure SQL Database, simplifying telemetry collection and providing unified dashboards for better performance insights. - Automatically collects and processes performance telemetry without custom scripts. - Provides resource-level and estate-wide dashboards to identify trends and bottlenecks. - Integrates with Fabric Database Hub for unified estate-level monitoring. - Allows secure, role-based querying of telemetry data via Azure Data Explorer using Kusto Query Language. Documentation: [Microsoft documentation](https://aka.ms/PerformanceMonitoring_SQLDB) ### [Generally Available: Azure SQL updates for late-September 2026](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=571643) **Status:** Launched | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Products:** Azure SQL Database | **Tags:** Feature Azure SQL Database now supports larger Hyperscale Premium workloads with up to 192 vCores, automatic index compaction, enhanced portal and SSMS tools, improving scalability, management, and developer productivity. - New 160-vCore and 192-vCore options in Hyperscale Premium series increase compute capacity by up to 50%, enabling larger workload scaling. - Automatic index compaction reduces storage consumption and resource usage without manual index maintenance jobs. - Azure portal now includes a modern browser-based SQL Query Editor for direct querying and exploration without external tools. - SSMS enhancements include intelligent migration target recommendations, improved Results Grid customization, on-demand SQL formatting, and Schema Compare for database definitions. Documentation: [Single database vCore resource limits - Azure SQL Database](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/resource-limits-vcore-single-databases?view=azuresql) ### [Generally Available: Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible Server supports cross-tenant customer-managed keys (CMK)](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=571783) **Status:** Launched | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Products:** Azure Database for PostgreSQL | **Tags:** Feature Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible Server now supports cross-tenant customer-managed keys (CMK), enabling encryption keys to be stored in a different Microsoft Entra tenant than the database server, which enhances security and compliance for SaaS providers and ISVs. - Supports encryption keys stored in Azure Key Vault or Azure Managed HSM across different Microsoft Entra tenants. - Ideal for SaaS providers and ISVs needing separation of database operations and key ownership. - Allows full control over key lifecycle including rotation and revocation, meeting strict security and compliance requirements. - Enables separation of duties and centralized key management without impacting workload performance. Documentation: [Data Encryption at Rest in Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible Server - Azure Database for PostgreSQL](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/postgresql/security/security-data-encryption) ### [Public Preview: Azure SQL updates for late-September 2026](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=571846) **Status:** In preview | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Products:** Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance | **Tags:** Feature Azure SQL's late-September 2026 update introduces a unified Database Hub in Microsoft Fabric, increased Hyperscale elastic pool capacity, local time zone support, an improved MSSQL extension landing page, and enhanced replication capabilities to streamline database management and improve application functionality. - Database Hub in Microsoft Fabric offers a unified AI-powered control plane for managing SQL Server, Azure SQL, PostgreSQL, Cosmos DB, and Fabric SQL databases, simplifying operations and modernization. - Hyperscale Elastic pool capacity increased to support up to 50 databases, enabling better resource sharing and scalability for high-demand workloads. - Azure SQL Database now supports local time zones, allowing applications to operate with configured time zones without custom logic or workarounds. - Single Azure SQL Managed Instance link enables replication of multiple databases from SQL Server Always On Availability Groups, enhancing replication efficiency and management. Documentation: [Hyperscale elastic pools overview - Azure SQL Database](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/hyperscale-elastic-pool-overview?view=azuresql) ### [Generally Available: Database DevOps in SSMS powered by SQL projects](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=571852) **Status:** Launched | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Products:** Azure SQL Database | **Tags:** Feature SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) now generally supports database DevOps with Microsoft.Build.Sql projects, enabling integrated development, build, and deployment workflows for database schema changes. - SSMS supports SQL database projects as local representations of database schema, allowing offline development and integration with CI/CD pipelines. - Users can extract existing database schemas into organized .sql files using SqlPackage and manage schema objects within SSMS projects. - The build process validates schema and produces a .dacpac file, which can be deployed or scripted to synchronize target databases reliably. - This capability streamlines database change management, improves collaboration, and aligns database development with modern DevOps best practices. Documentation: [Database DevOps in SQL Server Management Studio](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/ssms/database-devops) ### [Public Preview: Azure SQL Database Hyperscale Serverless auto-pause and auto-resume](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=571857) **Status:** In preview | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Products:** Azure SQL Database | **Tags:** Feature Azure SQL Database Hyperscale Serverless now supports auto-pause and auto-resume in public preview, enabling cost savings by pausing compute during inactivity and resuming on demand. - Auto-pause stops compute billing during inactivity while storage charges continue, reducing costs for workloads with idle periods. - Available for new and existing Hyperscale databases using the Serverless compute tier with a minimum auto-pause delay of 60 minutes. - Certain features like geo-replication, DNS aliases, and sync databases prevent auto-pausing; auto-resume triggers on activity or management operations. - Applications must implement connection retry logic to handle transient errors during auto-resume, with typical resume latency around one minute. Documentation: [Serverless auto-pause and auto-resume - Azure SQL Database](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-sql/database/serverless-tier-auto-pause-resume?view=azuresql) ### [Generally Available: SQL Formatter](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=571872) **Status:** Launched | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Products:** Azure SQL Database | **Tags:** Feature The SQL Formatter feature in the MSSQL extension for Visual Studio Code is now generally available, providing customizable, on-demand SQL script formatting to improve code consistency and readability. - Formats T-SQL documents or selections on demand or on save with expanded style options like alignment, casing, statement style, multiline lists, and join formatting. - Available in the MSSQL extension v1.46 for Visual Studio Code across Windows, Linux, and macOS platforms. - Helps developers standardize SQL code formatting across projects, reducing manual reformatting and improving maintainability. - Additional enhancements include reusable Object Explorer filters and improved Data API builder with finer exposure and permission controls. Documentation: [MSSQL Extension for VS Code: New Getting Started Page, Agent skills, SQL Formatter, and more - Azure SQL Dev Corner](https://devblogs.microsoft.com/azure-sql/vscode-mssql-september2026/) ### [Public Preview: Migrate directly from Azure Arc to Azure SQL Database, including Hyperscale](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=571795) **Status:** In preview | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Products:** Azure SQL Database | **Tags:** Feature Azure Arc now supports direct migration of SQL Server databases, including Hyperscale, to Azure SQL Database within the Arc portal, streamlining the migration process and improving modernization efficiency. - Migration workflow integrates Azure Database Migration Service and Self-hosted Integration Runtime setup directly in Azure Arc. - Supports assessment, target selection (including Hyperscale), configuration, and monitoring without leaving the Arc portal. - Eliminates the need to use multiple tools or learn new migration methods, reducing complexity and accelerating database modernization. - Migration uses Azure Blob Storage as intermediary and requires specific permissions and managed identity configurations for secure data transfer. Documentation: [Prepare Environment for LRS Migration - SQL Server migration in Azure Arc](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/sql-server/azure-arc/migration-sql-mi-prepare-log-replay-service?view=sql-server-ver17) ### [Public Preview: Microsoft SQL Agent Skills](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=573003) **Status:** In preview | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Products:** Azure SQL Database | **Tags:** Feature Microsoft SQL Agent Skills are now in public preview, providing AI agents with SQL-specific guidance to improve development, migration, and management of SQL workloads across Azure SQL Database, containers, migrations, and Fabric Database Hub scenarios. - Provides installable agent plugins that deliver focused, product-specific guidance for AI coding agents like GitHub Copilot, Claude Code, and others. - Supports multiple scenarios including Azure SQL Database, local containers, SQL Server to Azure migration, and Fabric Database Hub workflows. - Enables easier completion of common tasks such as provisioning, schema design, query optimization, security, and application deployment with no special prompt syntax needed. - Improves productivity and accuracy in SQL workload operations by integrating with popular development environments and supporting a broad range of SQL technologies and workflows. Documentation: [GitHub - microsoft/microsoft-sql: Microsoft SQL installable agent plugins for Azure SQL development, operations, local containers, migrations, and Fabric Database Hub workflows. The plugins package focused guidance for supported coding agents and development environments. · GitHub](https://github.com/microsoft/microsoft-sql) ### [Public Preview: Long-term retention (LTR) v2 for Azure Database for PostgreSQL](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=571914) **Status:** In preview | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Products:** Azure Database for PostgreSQL | **Tags:** Feature Azure Database for PostgreSQL introduces LTR v2, a physical snapshot-based long-term backup solution in public preview, enhancing scalability and enabling daily backups for large databases. - LTR v2 replaces logical backups (pg_dump/pg_restore) with physical snapshot-based backups integrated with Azure Backup Vaults. - Supports daily backups and offers greater scalability for large PostgreSQL databases. - Currently available in public preview for Azure Database for PostgreSQL flexible server and elastic cluster v2. - Improves backup efficiency and reliability by leveraging Azure Backup service capabilities. Documentation: [Azure Backup Documentation - Azure Backup](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/backup/) ## Other ### [Generally Available: Azure Arc-enabled SQL Server in Germany West Central](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=570696) **Status:** Launched | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Tags:** Feature Azure Arc-enabled SQL Server is now generally available in Germany West Central, allowing customers to centrally manage and secure their SQL Server instances with Azure services. - Enables connection of SQL Server instances in Germany West Central to Azure Arc for unified inventory, governance, security, assessment, and license management. - Supports centralized management including detailed instance inventory, cross-instance querying, custom dashboards, and best practice assessments. - Enhances security with Microsoft Entra ID authentication, Microsoft Defender for Cloud integration, and vulnerability/threat protection. - Offers flexible licensing with pay-as-you-go options for SQL Server versions 2012 to 2022, helping optimize costs based on usage patterns. Documentation: [Overview - SQL Server enabled by Azure Arc](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/sql-server/azure-arc/overview?view=sql-server-ver17) ### [Generally Available: Azure Arc-enabled SQL Server Available in Italy North](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=570763) **Status:** Launched | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Tags:** Feature Azure Arc-enabled SQL Server is now generally available in Italy North, allowing customers to centrally manage, secure, and govern their SQL Server instances with Azure Arc capabilities. - Enables connection of SQL Server instances to Azure Arc for unified inventory, governance, security, assessment, and license management. - Supports advanced features like Microsoft Entra ID authentication, Microsoft Defender for Cloud integration, and Microsoft Purview data governance. - Offers flexible pay-as-you-go licensing model for SQL Server versions 2012 through 2022, optimizing cost for variable workloads. - Availability in Italy North expands regional support, helping enterprises manage SQL Server instances at scale from a single Azure control plane. Documentation: [Overview - SQL Server enabled by Azure Arc](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/sql-server/azure-arc/overview?view=sql-server-ver17) ### [Generally Available: SQL Server on Azure Local Disconnected (ALDO)](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=571836) **Status:** Launched | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Tags:** Feature SQL Server on Azure Local Disconnected (ALDO) is now generally available, enabling SQL Server workloads and local AI applications to run securely in disconnected, highly regulated, or remote environments without continuous cloud connectivity. - Supports SQL Server workloads and AI scenarios in environments with restricted or no internet connectivity, such as defense, government, manufacturing, and energy sectors. - Allows operational independence by running entirely on Azure Local infrastructure while maintaining local data residency and security. - Enables low-latency applications by keeping data, AI models, and workloads within the same secure infrastructure boundary, reducing data movement and inference latency. - Provides hybrid management options with connected deployments via Azure Arc and disconnected deployments using local tools, supporting governance, monitoring, backup, and disaster recovery. Documentation: [SQL Server on Azure Local overview - SQL Server](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/sql-server/azure-local/overview?view=sql-server-ver17) ### [Generally Available: SQL Server support on Azure Local connected mode](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=571841) **Status:** Launched | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Tags:** Feature SQL Server on Azure Local is now generally available, enabling customers to run SQL Server workloads on local Azure infrastructure with Azure Arc connectivity for centralized hybrid management, supporting low-latency AI and analytics while maintaining data residency and governance. - Runs SQL Server workloads on local Azure infrastructure with connected or disconnected management modes. - Leverages Azure Arc for centralized governance, monitoring, security, and licensing across hybrid environments. - Supports AI-powered applications by enabling local data processing to reduce latency and data movement. - Allows modernization of SQL Server deployments without migrating databases to the public cloud, maintaining data residency and compliance. Documentation: [SQL Server on Azure Local overview - SQL Server](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/sql-server/azure-local/overview?view=sql-server-ver17) ### [Generally Available: SQL Migration Agent Skills for assessment, migration, and validation](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=571899) **Status:** Launched | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Tags:** Feature SQL Migration Agent Skills are now generally available to automate and streamline SQL Server to Azure migrations, enhancing efficiency and confidence throughout the migration lifecycle. - Provides AI-powered reusable skills for assessment, target recommendation, migration execution, and post-migration validation. - Supports multiple Azure SQL targets including Azure SQL Database, Managed Instance, and SQL Server on Azure VMs with sizing and suitability guidance. - Automates migration workflows and offers post-migration verification and remediation to ensure workload readiness. - Integrates across various Microsoft user interfaces while preserving migration context for better control over critical decisions. Documentation: [GitHub - microsoft/microsoft-sql: Microsoft SQL installable agent plugins for Azure SQL development, operations, local containers, migrations, and Fabric Database Hub workflows. The plugins package focused guidance for supported coding agents and development environments. · GitHub](https://github.com/microsoft/microsoft-sql) ### [Retirement: Azure Arc enabled System Center Virtual Machine Manager will be retired September 30, 2029](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=570283) **Status:** Retirement | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Tags:** Retirements Microsoft announced the retirement of Azure Arc-enabled System Center Virtual Machine Manager by September 30, 2029, urging customers to transition to Azure Arc-enabled Servers or other alternatives to maintain VM management and Azure integration capabilities. - Azure Arc-enabled SCVMM will be supported until September 30, 2029, with no new capabilities added after October 2026. - New deployments of Azure Arc-enabled SCVMM will be blocked starting October 2026; customers should use Azure Arc-enabled Servers or Azure Local instead. - Customers using Azure Arc-enabled SCVMM for Azure services (monitoring, security, governance) should migrate to Azure Arc-enabled Servers; VM lifecycle management users should contact Microsoft for tailored transition paths. - Transition guidance includes validating connectivity, verifying policies and compliance, and deboarding SCVMM resources using Azure CLI and documented procedures to ensure smooth migration. Documentation: [Retirement of the Azure Arc-enabled System Center Virtual Machine Manager - Azure Arc](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-arc/system-center-virtual-machine-manager/transition-guidance) ### [Retirement: Microsoft HPC Pack](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=570046) **Status:** Retirement | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Tags:** Retirements Microsoft HPC Pack is being retired with end of support on August 27, 2027, requiring customers to transition workloads to alternative solutions like Azure Batch. - HPC Pack enters a one-year retirement period with limited support focused on security updates and existing documentation guidance. - No new features, non-security fixes, or support for new environments will be provided during or after the retirement period. - After August 27, 2027, HPC Pack will have no updates or technical support; existing deployments will operate unsupported. - Customers should begin transitioning workloads now, considering Azure Batch or other Azure services, and engage Microsoft account teams for planning. ## Compute ### [Generally Available: Storage optimized Lasv5 and Laosv5 Azure VM series](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=572630) **Status:** Launched | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Products:** Virtual Machines | **Tags:** Pricing & Offerings, Services Azure Lasv5 and Laosv5 storage optimized VM series based on 5th Gen AMD EPYC processors are now generally available, offering significantly improved local storage capacity, IOPS, CPU performance, and network bandwidth for data-intensive workloads. - Lasv5 VMs provide up to 30.7 TB local NVMe storage, 9.6M read IOPS, 200 Gbps network bandwidth, and new 128/160 vCPU sizes with up to 35% better CPU performance. - Laosv5 VMs offer up to 138 TB local NVMe storage, 20.7M read IOPS, 200 Gbps network bandwidth, and new 48-160 vCPU sizes with up to 35% CPU performance improvement. - Both VM series enable NVMe local SSD encryption by default, support NVMe remote storage interfaces with premium caching, and are ideal for distributed, scale-out, data-intensive workloads. - Lasv5 is available in five Azure regions; Laosv5 is available in East US, expanding options for customers needing high storage density and throughput. Documentation: [Announcing General Availability of Azure Lasv5 and Laosv5 VMs Based on 5th Gen AMD EPYC™ processors | Microsoft Community Hub](https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/blog/azurecompute/announcing-general-availability-of-azure-lasv5-and-laosv5-vms-based-on-5th-gen-a/4552700) ### [Public Preview: Automatic Zone Placement for Virtual Machine Scale Sets](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=571075) **Status:** In preview | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Products:** Virtual Machines | **Tags:** Features Automatic Zone Placement for VM Scale Sets in public preview enables Azure to automatically select optimal availability zones based on capacity and SKU availability, simplifying multi-region deployments and improving scale-out success. - Automatically selects best availability zones based on SKU availability, capacity, and placement requirements. - Simplifies multi-region deployments by removing the need for manual zone list management. - Supports both new and existing VM Scale Sets with Uniform or Flexible orchestration modes. - Available in public preview via Azure portal, CLI, PowerShell, and REST API with customizable zone spread and capacity controls. ### [Public preview: Script-based deployment for SQL Server on Linux Azure VM](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=571810) **Status:** In preview | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Products:** SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines | **Tags:** Feature Azure now offers a script-based deployment for SQL Server on Linux VMs, replacing legacy marketplace images to enhance flexibility and simplify management. - Introduces automated script-based provisioning for SQL Server on Linux Azure VMs. - Replaces legacy marketplace images with a more customizable deployment workflow. - Enables deployment of a standard Linux VM with automated SQL Server installation and registration. - Improves deployment flexibility and simplifies management for enterprise customers. Documentation: [Microsoft documentation](https://aka.ms/ScriptBasedDeploymentLinuxAzureVM) ## Storage ### [Generally Available: Support for large volume breakthrough mode](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=573027) **Status:** Launched | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Products:** Azure NetApp Files | **Tags:** Feature Azure NetApp Files now generally supports large volume breakthrough mode, enabling extreme performance and scalability for demanding HPC and EDA workloads by supporting volumes up to 2PiB with throughput up to 80 GiBps. - Supports large volumes up to 2PiB with throughput up to 80 GiBps depending on workload. - Uses six storage endpoints per volume to ensure consistent, high performance. - Dedicated capacity stamps reserved per customer eliminate noisy neighbor interference. - Available in all regions where dedicated capacity has been ordered and provisioned. Documentation: [Microsoft documentation](https://review.learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-netapp-files/azure-netapp-files-create-volumes-smb?branch=pr-en-us-318831) ### [Generally Available: Storage with cool access enhancement](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=573032) **Status:** Launched | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Products:** Azure NetApp Files | **Tags:** Feature Azure NetApp Files storage with cool access enhancement is now generally available for Premium and Ultra service levels, dynamically optimizing throughput based on data tiering to balance performance and cost without manual tuning. - Throughput automatically adjusts as data moves to cool storage, maintaining hot-tier performance. - Enhancement delivers predictable QoS behavior by aligning throughput with the amount of data tiered to cool access. - Available on Premium and Ultra service levels, optimizing performance and cost for mixed hot and cool workloads. - Provides a seamless experience without requiring manual tuning or reconfiguration as access patterns change. Documentation: [What's new in Azure NetApp Files](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-netapp-files/whats-new?branch=pr-en-us-311209) ### [Public Preview : Microsoft entra kerberos authentication for Azure NetApp Files](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=573041) **Status:** In preview | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Products:** Azure NetApp Files | **Tags:** Feature Azure NetApp Files now supports Microsoft Entra Kerberos authentication for SMB volumes, enabling cloud-issued Kerberos ticket authentication without requiring network line-of-sight to Active Directory domain controllers, simplifying identity management and modernizing SMB access. - Supports Microsoft Entra Kerberos authentication for SMB volumes in Azure NetApp Files. - Enables users with hybrid or cloud-only identities to authenticate via Microsoft Entra ID using cloud-issued Kerberos tickets. - Removes the need for SMB clients to have network line-of-sight to Active Directory Domain Services domain controllers. - Simplifies identity architecture, reduces infrastructure dependencies, and modernizes SMB access for hybrid and cloud-first environments. Documentation: [What's new in Azure NetApp Files](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-netapp-files/whats-new) ## Containers ### [Retirement: Azure Functions v1 hosting model on Azure Container Apps](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=570800) **Status:** Retirement | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Products:** Azure Container Apps | **Tags:** Retirements Azure Functions v1 hosting model on Azure Container Apps will be retired by September 29, 2027, requiring customers to migrate to the improved v2 hosting model to avoid service disruption and gain enhanced features. - Retirement date set for September 29, 2027; after which v1 apps on Azure Container Apps will stop processing requests and triggers. - Migration to Functions v2 hosting model is required, which uses a native Azure Container App with kind=functionapp and supports reuse of existing container images without code changes. - Functions v2 offers improved scalability, management, native features like live log streaming, granular scaling rules, multirevision deployments, and better metrics compared to v1. - Microsoft provides a migration assistant tool and detailed guidance to help customers transition smoothly, with recommendations to complete migration well before the retirement date. Documentation: [Migrate to Azure Functions v2 on Azure Container Apps](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/container-apps/migrate-functions) ## Hybrid + multicloud ### [Public Preview: Performance monitoring for Azure Arc–enabled SQL Server](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=571904) **Status:** In preview | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Products:** Azure Arc | **Tags:** Feature Azure Arc–enabled SQL Server now offers a public preview of enhanced performance monitoring with integrated Grafana dashboards and telemetry endpoints, enabling unified and flexible database performance insights. - Performance data can be queried directly via a Microsoft-managed telemetry endpoint or through custom Grafana dashboards. - Built-in Azure portal experience uses Grafana dashboards for ready-to-use views without requiring a monitoring pipeline deployment. - Integration with Fabric Database Hub provides a unified, estate-level monitoring experience across Azure database instances. - Monitoring requires specific prerequisites including Azure Extension v1.1.2504.99+, Windows OS, supported SQL Server editions, and appropriate Azure roles. Documentation: [Monitor SQL Server - SQL Server enabled by Azure Arc](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/sql/sql-server/azure-arc/sql-monitoring?view=sql-server-ver17) ## Internet of Things ### [Retirement: Azure IoT Central will be retired on September 20, 2029](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates?id=569914) **Status:** Retirement | **Published:** 2026-09-29 | **Products:** Azure IoT Central | **Tags:** Retirements Azure IoT Central will be retired on September 20, 2029, to focus on more scalable and flexible Azure IoT platform services, prompting customers to plan their transition accordingly. - Azure IoT Central retirement date set for September 20, 2029, with continued usage allowed until then. - Microsoft recommends transitioning to Azure IoT Hub, Device Provisioning Service (DPS), and Azure Device Registry for device connectivity and provisioning. - Customers should evaluate Microsoft Fabric for enhanced real-time analytics, dashboards, and AI-driven data experiences. - Migration guidance and support are available via the Azure IoT Central migration playbook, Microsoft field teams, and Azure IoT migration partners. Documentation: [How to create an Azure support request - Azure portal](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-portal/supportability/how-to-create-azure-support-request) --- _Generated automatically on 2026-09-30 01:58 UTC._