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Azure Improves Auditing, Previews PowerShell 0.8.9
Microsoft adds Azure SQL Database auditing improvements, an Azure Websites support extension, and a cloud-based PowerShell in preview.
Microsoft announced several improvements to Microsoft Azure of interest to developers: Azure SQL Database auditing improvements, support extension, and a cloud-based PowerShell.
Among the auditing improvements to Azure SQL Database is an Auditing function that's now live through the Azure portal. Previously, it had just been available in the Azure portal preview. PowerShell also can be used to audit Azure SQL Database. Examples of what can be audited include data access, schema changes, data changes, security exceptions and grant/revoke permissions. The new capability is just available with the Basic, Standard or Premium subscription plans for Azure SQL Database.
Also new is a preview of a "Support Site Extension" for Azure Websites. The extension provides diagnostics for troubleshooting Web sites hosted on Azure Websites. Site failures can be viewed within 30 seconds using the extension. Problems with apps can be analyzed, too, if an organization has either a Basic or Standard subscription to Azure Websites.
Microsoft also released Azure PowerShell 0.8.9 this month. Azure PowerShell is used to deploy, automate and manage Azure workloads, according to Microsoft's description.
On the IT side, Microsoft added new reporting capabilities to its Azure cloud computing service: Audit, Password Reset Activity, Password Reset Registration Activity and Group Activity. It's unclear when product rollout occurs, but the Audit report will be "available for free" because of its importance to organizations, according to Microsoft's Azure Active Directory announcement.
About the Author
Kurt Mackie is senior news producer for 1105 Media's Converge360 group.