John Savill's Technical Training presents an in-depth Ignite 2025 Azure update, highlighting major releases, improvements, security upgrades, AI and ML advancements, and DevOps innovations across the Microsoft cloud ecosystem.

Azure Update – Ignite Special – 21st November 2025

By John Savill's Technical Training

Overview

This Ignite Special Azure Update provides a comprehensive recap of significant new features, updates, and releases across the Azure and Microsoft cloud ecosystem announced during Ignite 2025. The session highlights updates to compute, networking, storage, databases, AI platforms, security, DevOps tooling, and more, organized by service area.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Compute & Containers
• Application Services
• Networking & Security
• Storage & Backup
• Databases & Data
• AI & Microsoft Fabric
• Identity & Governance
• DevOps & Monitoring
• Other Notable Updates

Introduction

• Covers all key Azure and related innovations released or previewed during Ignite 2025.
• Ideal for consultants, developers, and admins tracking Microsoft's cloud roadmap.

Compute & Containers

• AKS (Azure Kubernetes Service): Multiple upgrade cycles, automatic updates, network improvements, and KAITO MCP support.
• App Service & Logic Apps: Service updates including managed instances, Arm64 trusted launch, custom error pages, and new language/runtime support.
• Azure Functions: Node.js 24, Java 25 support, integration improvements.
• OpenShift Virtualization: Enhanced capabilities for running VM workloads on AKS.
• App Gateway (App GW): New WAF v2 HTTP DDoS rules, container support, slow start, managed instance support.

Networking & Security

• VM scheduled actions and new Ebsv6/NCv6 SKUs.
• Azure Boost: Confidential device improvements.
• ACR (Azure Container Registry): Granular ABAC controls.
• ExpressRoute: Scalable gateways, advanced NAT, and AVNM updates.
• Azure DNS: Threat intelligence feed, new filtering options.

Storage & Backup

• Azure Files: Entra-only auth, smart tiering, single file restore.
• Managed Lustre, Blob Storage (archival expansion, smart tiering).
• Azure VM backup: Threat detection.

Databases & Data

• Cosmos DB & DocumentDB: Major feature and performance updates.
• Microsoft Fabric databases: Integration advances and analytics improvements.
• PostgreSQL & HorizonDB: Expanded support and performance enhancements.
• Azure SQL/SQL MI: Next-gen GP, more SQL DB updates, SQL Server 2025 features.

AI & Microsoft Fabric

• Microsoft Foundry: Major new naming conventions and platform controls for deploying, fine-tuning, and managing AI models.
• Foundry IQ, LLM Speech, Agent Service: Durable AI agents, model routing, content understanding.
• Durable AI agents: Work IQ, Fabric IQ tools.
• Azure Copilot: New agents, SRE support (AI integration with operational tooling).
• Microsoft Fabric DB, advanced connectors: Improved analytics and data integrations.

Identity & Governance

• Entra ID (Azure AD): Agent ID registry, passkey/account recovery, new/updated agents.
• APIM MCP Governance: Policy and management updates.
• Foundry Control Plane: Expanded governance and security for AI workloads.

DevOps & Monitoring

• Application Gateway, APIM v2: Integration and governance enhancements.
• Azure Monitor: OpenTelemetry SDK support, query-based metrics, dynamic thresholds, and log improvements.
• Marketplace, APIC Standard: Platform integrations for deploying new cloud resources.

Other Notable Updates

• Learning & Certification: Links shared for Azure Master Class, DevOps training, PowerShell content, and certification resources.

For a full list of all Ignite Book of News announcements, visit: Book of News - Ignite 2025

Stay tuned for weekly Azure updates and continuous learning content. See the channel and playlists for deep dives into these new features.