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[HEADING=1][ATTACH=full]61914[/ATTACH][/HEADING] GitHub Repository: azure-ai-vision-search [HEADING=1] [/HEADING] [HEADING=1]Introduction[/HEADING] Vector image search uses AI to revolutionize how we find and retrieve images. This article explains how to combine Azure OpenAI and Azure AI Search for an efficient solution. We'll cover setup, deployment, and usage to guide AI developers and engineers. We'll focus on the search and vectorize methods in the function_app.py Python file, crucial for integrating Azure's AI services for vector image searches. This technology is ideal for applications like e-commerce and digital asset management. We dive into the c…

Welcome to the July 2024 update. This month, use Copilot in Excel to unlock insights from data, work on data ranges resembling tables, and prompt for step-by-step instructions including formula examples! And not only is the Python Editor now available as an in-the-box option but also support for additional libraries to continue enhancing your data analysis and visualization capabilities directly in Excel is here for Insider users of Excel for Windows. Excel for web, Windows, and Mac: - Copilot in Excel: Unlocking insights from data - Copilot in Excel: Expanded data structure support and comprehensive answers Excel for web: - Modernized Excel grid (par…

Our June GCCH M365 Webinar: Connect - Collaborate - Create included a discussion around Microsoft Information Protection, the Purview Roadmap, and new Teams. Recording here: Video Player [ATTACH=full]61905[/ATTACH] Continue reading...

A data source (Azure SQL / MI / Fabric) may generate a report, eg. an annual report. In this episode, MVP Kay Sauter will demo how far you can get with this, as well as discuss the data source (Azure SQL / MI / Fabric) using WideWorldImporters or AdventureWorks. Resources: Microsoft Azure AI Fundamentals: Generative AI Github About Kay Sauter: Kay Sauter has been working with SQL Server since 2013. His expertise covers SQL Server, Azure, Data Visualization, and Power BI. He is a Microsoft Data Platform MVP. Kay blogs on kayondata.com and is actively involved in various community projects like Data TGIF, databash.live, data-conference.ch, and …

The past few months have been a whirlwind of innovation, collaboration, and inspiring conversations. We announced a wave of new innovations and participated at multiple events including Open Source Summit North America, Red Hat Summit, and LinuxFest Northwest. Let's dive into some of the highlights! [HEADING=1]What’s new with Linux on Azure [/HEADING] ED25519 SSH key support for Linux VMs (Public Preview) We recently announced ED25519 SSH key support for Linux VMs (in preview), providing customers with better security and performance with a smaller key size. Now customers can choose between RSA and ED25519 based SSH keys. New Azure VMs based on the Az…

It’s time to explore the latest in Windows security, device management, Windows Server, productivity, and collaboration, plus some important lifecycle updates. First, in response to the CrowdStrike issue impacting endpoints and servers, we issued a statement, released a signed Microsoft Recovery Tool, and followed up to share more on Windows resiliency: Best practices and the path forward. We then released an analysis of CrowdStrike's outage report, offering details on how security vendors and organizations can use the flexibility and integrated capabilities of Windows for increased security and reliability. (For more information on Windows 11 security, see the Windows…

[ATTACH=full]61900[/ATTACH] Azure Stack HCI is a hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI) solution that provides storage, network, and compute resources in on-premises or edge locations. It supports the creation and management of Windows and Linux virtual machines (Arc VMs), AKS clusters for containerized workloads, and other Azure Arc-enabled services, such as SQL Managed Instance (MI) and Arc-enabled machine learning (ML). Azure Stack HCI is connected to Azure for streamlined deployment and management, which provides a unified and consistent management experience using Azure portal and Azure Update Manager for updates, and the Arc Resource Bridge for workload orchestr…

By Regina Johnson, Senior Manager, Partner Engagement In the dynamic and rapidly evolving world of technology, collaboration and community are vital to driving innovation. Working together and connecting with like-minded individuals and organizations unlocks immense growth potential. Microsoft partners enjoy a unique advantage through dedicated associations and networks that offer essential support, resources, and unparalleled networking opportunities. These partner-led organizations are more than just groups—they are vital catalysts for business enhancement, technological advancement, and collective success. This blog will highlight the Microsoft Partner …

[HEADING=2]Barracuda Networks, a Microsoft security partner removing barriers to cloud adoption[/HEADING] Barracuda is committed to bringing cloud-engineered, enterprise-grade security solutions that are easy to buy, deploy and use. The company believes in providing innovative cloud solutions that grow and adapt with its customers. Barracuda engineering teams collaborate extensively with Microsoft development teams, leveraging the Microsoft Azure platform to deliver client solutions. More than 200,000 customers worldwide trust Barracuda to protect them from advanced and emerging risks. "Thanks to Barracuda, we no longer have any security-related concerns about d…

The server threat landscape is constantly evolving with cybercriminals becoming more ambitious and sophisticated in their attacks, and the damage is becoming more costly to those targeted. In April 2022, the ransomware group Conti carried out two massive ransomware attacks that breached the Costa Rican government and affected nearly 30 different ministries and different essential services within the country. This attack was so disruptive that the President of Costa Rica had to declare a state of National Emergency, the first ever such instance in response to a cyberattack. In different incidents, Shields Health Care Group had a data breach where nearly 2 million patient r…

Keeping pace with technology can sometimes feel like an uphill marathon with a shifting finish line. From AI breakthroughs to cloud optimization strategies, data analytics advancements, and beyond, IT skills require continuous renewal. To that end, we’re pleased to share this quarterly recap of the latest Azure learning resources—your curated guide to upskilling on Azure. Read on to find current training opportunities to help elevate your cloud skills and open career doors. [HEADING=1]Become an AI trailblazer with Azure Cosmos DB[/HEADING] Azure AI capabilities offer a unique opportunity to make the most of cloud-based intelligent solutions. Learn to crea…

Viva Connections serves as a gateway to a modern employee experience. From streamlining tasks to enhancing communication, dashboard cards bring in actionable tasks and information from virtually anywhere into a single dynamic app for employees. We have seen growing adoption of Viva Connections, making us one of the most popular apps in Microsoft Teams. We are continuing to invest in Viva Connections, addressing customer feedback and enhancing capabilities. Here are the latest and greatest highlights. [HEADING=1] [/HEADING] [HEADING=1]Staying Connected[/HEADING] Viva Connections is all about connecting you to the things you need, and now, you can get Desk…

[HEADING=1]Ad-Hoc Data Exploration Feature[/HEADING] We are excited to introduce the new Data Exploration feature, designed to enhance your ability to delve deeper into the data presented on any Dashboard. If the information you're seeking isn't readily available on the dashboard, this feature allows you to extend your exploration beyond the data displayed in the tiles, potentially uncovering new insights. Directly from a dashboard, you can refine your exploration using a user-friendly, form-like interface. This intuitive and dynamic experience is tailored for insights explorers seeking insights based on high volumes of data in near real time. You can add …

We continue to expand the Azure Marketplace ecosystem. For this volume, 345 new offers successfully met the onboarding criteria and went live. See details of the new offers below: [TABLE width=95%] [TR] [th width=100%] [HEADING=2]Get it now in our marketplace[/HEADING][/th] [/TR] [TR] [td width=15%][ATTACH=full]61648[/ATTACH][/td] [td width=85%]1000minds Agribusiness: 1000minds helps identify desirable traits for breeding plants and animals in the agriculture industry and enables experts from various fields to collaborate to improve the usefulness of cultivated species.[/td] [/TR] [TR] [td width=15%][ATTACH=full]61649[/ATTACH][/td] [td width=85%]Access Certifi…

Designing network connectivity in public cloud can very quickly become a daunting task. Of course, public cloud providers do offer native networking services, and with those it is fairly easy. This should always be your primary route (pun intended). For example, in the case of Azure, using Virtual WAN and its native integration with both Microsoft and third-party connectivity appliances. However, some times you have requirements that justify not using those native networking services, for example when you require more flexibility and control, or when your networking vendors of choice are not supported by the cloud provider solution. By the way, before I cont…

If you haven't heard about the FinOps Open Cost and Usage Specification (FOCUS), check out our FOCUS 1.0 introduction blog post. But if you're here, I'm guessing you've at least looked into the FOCUS 1.0 preview which we announced in November 2023. We were diligently working alongside the FOCUS community to implement feedback and solidify the general availability release of the specification, which we were excited to finally release at FinOps X this year. But you probably know all that by now, so let's focus on the core changes you'll find if you're already using FOCUS 1.0 preview: Resource region Usage amounts Contracted (on-demand) cost Charge categorization …

[ATTACH=full]61625[/ATTACH] At the last Azure Static Web Apps Community Standup through the Youtube - Microsoft Azure Developers channel, it was demonstrated how to create a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) application using Azure Static Web Apps and App Spaces. The event was led by Dheeraj Bandaru, who is Product Manager of Azure Static Web Apps at Microsoft. Dheeraj was joined by Skyler Hartle, who is Senior Manager of Apps Spaces at Microsoft. Skyler presented a practical guide on the integration between these services and the implementation of a RAG (Retrieval Augmented Generation) application. Next, I will share with you what was covered …

Hey everyone! We're Chanchal Kuntal and Shivam Goyal, both Microsoft Learn Student Ambassadors, excited to explore the world of AI and its impact on how we build applications. Today, we're diving into Azure AI Services a set of powerful pre-built AI capabilities designed to simplify adding intelligence to your apps. What are Azure Cognitive Services? Imagine wanting to add features like image recognition, language translation, or sentiment analysis to your application. Building these capabilities from scratch would require significant time, expertise, and resources. That's where Azure AI Services come in. They provide developers with ready-to-use AI models …

Have you ever heard of "CrystalDiskMark" or "CrystalDiskInfo"? Many of you reading this blog might have used these tools or at least know what they are. These widely used open-source benchmarking tools, now recognized globally, began with the idea of a Japanese developer. Instead of focusing on developing commercial products as paid work, he chose to support users for years by offering these tools as part of a community effort. In this blog, we will look back at the journey of Developer Technologies MVP Noriyuki Miyazaki, who has significantly influenced the world as the developer of these software tools. We will explore how he overcame challenges and share his mes…

Author: Benjamin Flamm – Product Manager 2 | Microsoft Intune Activation Lock on Apple devices helps keep the device secure if it falls into the wrong hands and works to prevent unauthorized access to data on devices that are owned by your organization. While Intune has a feature to disable Activation Lock, we wanted to highlight that Apple has also made this functionality available in Apple School Manager (ASM) and Apple Business Manager (ABM), keep reading to learn more! [HEADING=1]Allowing Activation Lock using Intune[/HEADING] First, devices need to be enrolled through Automated Device Enrollment, which will enable supervision and generate an Activati…

Windows Package Manager (WinGet) 1.8 now allows IT professionals to download Microsoft Store apps. [HEADING=1]What is WinGet?[/HEADING] WinGet is a command-line tool that enables you to install and manage applications on Windows 10 and Windows 11 devices. WinGet supports a variety of sources, and it allows you to automate the installation and update process of applications, as well as to search and discover new apps. [HEADING=1]What is WinGet Download?[/HEADING] WinGet Download provides the ability to download Microsoft Store apps for offline distribution to other devices in your network. This feature replaces the Enterprise Offline feature from the Microsoft …

Today we’re announcing the public preview of Auxiliary Logs, a new inexpensive Azure Monitor plan for verbose logs used in compliance and security scenarios. Together with the recent public preview of Summary Rules and improved capabilities of Basic Logs, Azure Monitor Logs is evolving into a new multi-tier logging vision. Most organizations have many different needs for logging. This is because not all logs are the same - some are very frequently accessed, some are needed for investigation when issues arise, and some are kept mostly for audit and compliance purposes. When we talk to customers, we often hear that they use multiple logging services or products sid…

It’s been seven months since we released the last Public Preview for our “Modernized Gateway” (known as v2) -- today, we’re updating the Public Preview build with new functionality and bug fixes. As we get closer to officially releasing this version to general availability (GA), we want to hear from you first so that we proactively address any feedback you may have! Please note that this is still a Public Preview version of Windows Admin Center, so it is not recommended to install this build in your production environment. This preview version will no longer be able to be installed side-by-side with the last GA release (version 2311, or any of the previous releases…

The Azure Container Apps and .NET team have made it easier than ever to deploy your .NET application by supporting automatic configuration for data protection. This support is currently available as an opt-in feature in the Container Apps API version 2024-02-02-preview. This blog post will discuss the feature and what it enables, how to determine if your application is correctly configured, and how to enable configuration for data protection across a variety of .NET versions. [HEADING=1]What is data protection?[/HEADING] Many ASP.NET Core apps rely on a feature called data protection, which is a cryptographic API to protect data using methods like key…