Tweaks to the Azure Stack HCI offering, including secured-core servers that use TPM 2.0, firmware protections and hypervisor-based code integrity that together make it harder to attack a server.

Microsoft came right out and said this change is all about a desire to “lead the way in simplifying the process of buying and procuring software for enterprise customers, as well as optimising their spending”

Fees for applications sold through Microsoft’s AppSource and Azure Marketplace cut to three per cent, down from 20 per cent.

New pricing for Azure Virtual Desktops designed to make them a better option for software vendors that wish to use them to deliver streamed apps as a SaaS option.

News of the Extended Security Updates was revealed at Microsoft’s partner centric “Inspire” virtual gabfest which, in addition to the announcement of cloudy Windows 365 desktops, saw Redmond reveal: SQL Server and Windows Server 20 R2 Extended Security Updates are currently scheduled to end on July 9, 2022, and January 14, 2023, respectively. Windows Server 2008 and SQL Server has also been given a little extra love, with one more year of updates offered – but only in Azure. In year one it’ll cost three quarters of your licence costs, in year two the price will be at parity, and in year three Extended Security Updates will cost 125 per cent of the license cost. If you persist in running on-prem, Microsoft will ramp the price of the extended update offering.

Microsoft broke British and European competition laws, UK reseller tells High Court.

Hyper-V bug that could crash 'big portions of Azure cloud infrastructure': Code published.

SQL Server beta for Windows Server Containers terminated 'with immediate effect'.

Windows Server 2022: Azure Edition slips into Public Preview.Microsoft seldom tires of pointing out that the Benefit therefore makes Azure the cheapest place to run Windows Server and SQL Server in the cloud. Azure Hybrid Benefit includes lower Azure prices than are available with other offers.

Windows server extended support