Weekly Azure Roundup: SQL Tools, AKS Identity, and Storage Access

by TechHub

The Azure platform continues adding modern developer tools, updated security features, cloud storage improvements, and better support for hybrid and analytics workflows. Both developers and DevOps teams can expect new capabilities for daily operations and flexible architecture. New platform updates underline Microsoft’s effort toward automation, compliance, and sustainability with practical details for implementation.

Azure SQL and Developer Tooling Modernization

Microsoft provided a roadmap for SQL Server, Azure SQL, and the latest developer tools. SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) will migrate to a new Visual Studio base, now including dark mode, Arm64 builds, Fabric support, and built-in Copilot assistance. The VS Code Microsoft SQL extension includes Copilot Ask, Agent tools, and better schema and container workflows, with a unified Azure SQL experience in the portal and Fabric. VS Code now supports SDK-style SQL projects, coming soon to SSMS, and there are planned improvements across CI/CD, drivers, SDKs, CLIs, and APIs. Community input is encouraged to help prioritize features.

Azure DevOps and Repository Management

Azure Repos has a new preview with productivity, clarity, and organization updates. Teams using TFVC check-in policies should update repositories, and navigation and notification for pull requests have been reinforced. Pull request templates enable better organization with nested branch folder support. Azure DevOps MCP Server provides local tools for repo inspection and bridges between VS Code and Copilot. API improvements will simplify policy scanning, and new features aim to make PR management easier and keep repositories in good shape.

Azure Kubernetes Service: Advanced Identity & Networking

AKS rolls out Identity Bindings, providing RBAC-based multi-cluster managed identity with no practical limits on identities, and centralized authorization for simplified, secure cloud operations that suit Infrastructure as Code deployments. Full guides cover integration with Key Vault. The new Static Egress Gateway feature allows for controlled, multiple outbound IPs on AKS using dedicated node pools and CRDs, supporting both public and private traffic scenarios in compliance-heavy and multi-tenant environments.

AI and Analytics with Azure NetApp Files

Azure NetApp Files now supports an object REST API for S3-compatible data workflows, joining its file protocol support for hybrid analytics and advanced AI/HPC use cases. Integration improves with Databricks, Spark, and Fabric OneLake. Security is enforced per bucket with individual certifications. A new release (v1.1.0) of the VS Code extension includes support for tenants and subscriptions, AI-driven automation, and code generation tools for instant language-specific storage mounts.

Secure and Flexible Cloud Storage Access

User Delegation SAS (Shared Access Signatures) is now public preview for Azure Tables, Files, and Queues, adding to Blob support. This means SAS tokens can be assigned to a specific Microsoft Entra ID identity, regulated by RBAC. With SDK, PowerShell, and CLI support, it’s now safer and easier to provide time-limited access to both internal and partner services.

Integrating REST APIs with AI Agents

Easy MCP is an open source tool that makes REST APIs available to AI agents using Model Context Protocol. OpenAPI-based APIs can be translated for GitHub Copilot and similar tools without modifying original API code. Features include auto-discovery, fast onboarding with the Azure Developer CLI, and workflows for App Service/API Management.

Automated Hybrid, File Sync, and Messaging Workflows

Azure File Sync integrates with Azure Arc, managed identities, and passwordless authentication, launches in four more regions, and as of January 2026, removes per-server fees for Arc-connected servers with current agents—advancing hybrid file storage solutions. A practical walkthrough covers automated PostgreSQL deployment on Azure VMs with NetApp Files using Terraform, ARM, and PowerShell. It explains secure networking, NFS, and multiple environment deployment for scenarios like AI/ML and high-availability. Azure Service Bus Emulator has added Administration Client support, allowing for management of queues and topics through code, and improves reliability for local development and automated testing.

Azure Platform and Service Updates

AKS now supports Ubuntu 24.02 nodes, Cosmos DB can now mirror with Fabric and supports more private access options, and Azure Virtual Desktop introduces regional host pools (preview) for improved availability and compliance. The Azure Arc portal update improves onboarding and handling of multi-cloud environments. The new Cloud Hardware Emissions Methodology tracks Azure hardware through its lifecycle, supporting teams working on cloud sustainability and reporting.

Other Azure News

Azure’s storage and network engineering now use DCQCN-based congestion control for more than 85% of storage traffic, minimizing latency, CPU load, and reducing packet loss on RDMA workloads. Insights and network best practices are available. A guide for Microsoft Fabric Eventstream breaks down Capacity Unit costs for ingesting, processing, and output, helping teams estimate and plan for analytics costs.