Azure Update 7th August 2026

Key insights

• Trusted Launch default
  Trusted Launch is now the default for new Gen2 VMs and VM scale sets, bringing secure boot and virtual TPM protections by default. This raises the security baseline and reduces the manual setup customers previously needed for VM hardening.
• cc_v5 VM retirement
  Microsoft announced retirement of nested confidential cc_v5 VMs on 2026-09-01. Customers using cc_v5 should plan migrations to supported confidential VM families before that date to avoid service disruption.
• Route-Maps for Azure Route Server
  Route-Maps entered public preview to give operators finer control over route import/export and path selection. This helps complex network scenarios and integrations with network virtual appliances.
• Azure Firewall explicit proxy
  Azure Firewall added an explicit proxy option to manage outbound web traffic with better visibility and control for HTTP/HTTPS flows. Use it to enforce inspection and centralize outbound security policies.
• AI platform observability & agent features
  Azure introduced agent-focused updates: Markdown-for-agents in App Service preview and built-in observability for serverless AI agents on Azure Functions, plus Databricks Unity AI Gateway and agent tooling updates. These changes simplify building, tracing, and operating AI-driven apps.
• Data, migration and platform tooling updates
  Key items include Azure Storage Mover support for AWS FSx to simplify file migrations, Azure SQL improvements (regex-based dynamic data masking and immutable 7-day backups), and Terraform AzureRM provider 5.0 reaching GA for IaC workflows.

Keywords

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