Awesome new features for Azure

Today ScottGu announces lots of new features that make Microsoft Azure even better. Here’s the short list:

Virtual Machines: Integrated Security Extensions including Built-in Anti-Virus Support and Support for Capturing VM images in the portal

Networking: ExpressRoute General Availability, Multiple Site-to-Site VPNs, VNET-to-VNET Secure Connectivity, Reserved IPs, Internal Load Balancing

Storage: General Availability of Import/Export service and preview of new SMB file sharing support

Remote App: Public preview of Remote App Service – run client apps in the cloud

API Management: Preview of the new Azure API Management Service

Hybrid Connections: Easily integrate Azure Web Sites and Mobile Services with on-premises data+apps (free tier included)

Cache: Preview of new Redis Cache Service

Store: Support for Enterprise Agreement customers and channel partners

I love the enhanced security for the VMs. There’s even a special treat in there, Now you can run PowerShell Scripts on the VM immediately after startup, automatically. So you can do any sort of custom configuration of the VM as soon as a new one starts up. That is very cool.

The data Import/Export Service has gone GA and now INCLUDES AUSTRALIA!!!!! 

And the feature you’ve all been waiting for, Azure Remote App. Apps can be run from Azure with the Remote Desktop Client.

Check out ScottGu’s Post for the details!