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We are honored to announce that Gartner® has recognized Microsoft as a Leader in the 2023 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS)—this is the fifth consecutive year we’ve received this recognition.
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Greetings, Azure enthusiasts and PostgreSQL pros! As November draws to a close, we’re excited to unveil the latest enhancements to Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible Server. This month, we’ve rolled out a suite of features that bolster your database’s security, optimize storage scalability, and streamline the migration process, among other improvements. Join us as we delve into these November highlights that are set to elevate your Azure PostgreSQL experience.
Feature Highlights of the Month:
Server Logs for Azure PostgreSQL Flexible Server.
Support for TLS Version 1.3 – Enhanced Connectivity Security.
Introducing Pre-Migration Validations for Single Server to Flexible Server Migration Tool.
Enhanced User and Role Migration Capabilities in Azure Postgres Flexible Server.
Microsoft Defender support **
Server Logs for Azure PostgreSQL Flexible Server
In the November update, we have introduced a significant enhancement to the Server Logs feature for Azure Database for PostgreSQL – Flexible Server. This feature is crucial for monitoring, troubleshooting, and gaining detailed insights into your server activities. Key aspects of this updated feature include:
Easy Enablement: Initially disabled by default, you can now easily enable / disable server logs through the Azure portal.
Customizable Retention Period: Configure the retention period for your logs, with options ranging from 1 to 7 days.
Convenient Log Access and Download: Once enabled and logs are generated, they can be readily accessed and downloaded from the Azure portal or via Azure CLI (command-line interfaces), providing a straightforward way to analyze server activities.
Support for TLS Version 1.3 – Enhanced Connectivity Security
This November, we’re excited to announce the support for TLS version 1.3, the most secure and current version of the TLS protocol, for Azure Database for PostgreSQL – Flexible Server. This update is crucial in strengthening the security of client-server communications. Here’s what this enhancement entails:
Advanced Security Protocol: By setting `ssl_min_protocol_version` to 1.3, Azure Database for PostgreSQL – Flexible Server now mandates the use of TLS 1.3 for all client connections. This ensures that the data transmitted between clients and the server is protected using the latest and most secure encryption standards.
Improved Connection Security: TLS 1.3 not only offers enhanced security but also provides improved performance during the encryption process, making your database interactions both safer and more efficient.
With the support for TLS version 1.3, Azure Database for PostgreSQL – Flexible Server takes a significant leap forward in ensuring the highest standards of security and reliability for your database communications. For more details on this feature, please refer Azure PostgreSQL TLS versions.
Introducing Pre-Migration Validations for Single Server to Flexible Server Migration Tool
Single to Flexible server migration just got easier! We are excited to introduce the Pre-Migration Validation feature for the Single Server to Flexible Server Migration tool. After a thorough analysis of past migrations, the team identified that a considerable number of attempts faced setup-related hurdles. To tackle this, Pre-Migration Validation has been crafted to thoroughly check the readiness of both your source and target servers. The process is neatly integrated into the Azure Portal experience, offering you flexibility to:
Validate – Examines server and database preparedness for the migration.
Migrate – Proceeds directly to migration without prior validations.
Validate and Migrate – Combines both steps, triggering migration only if validation passes without critical issues.
Each rule within the validation set is designed to return a status of ‘Succeeded’, ‘Failed’, or ‘Warning’, providing clear indicators of your migration path and any obstacles that may need your attention. This feature not only enhances the predictability of migrations but also significantly reduces stress by preemptively addressing potential issues. We are committed to evolving this tool, with more comprehensive validation rules in the pipeline to ensure your databases are primed for migration. For a deep dive into Pre-Migration Validations and to get started, explore our detailed documentation Pre-Migration Validations.
Enhanced User and Role Migration Capabilities in Azure Postgres Flexible Server
We’ve further upgraded the Azure Postgres Flexible Server Migration tool by adding the ability to automatically migrate users, roles, permissions, and ownerships from a Single Server to Flexible Server. Post successful migration you will observe the following:
All users/roles from your source server have been copied to the target server.
Database ownership and its associated objects are consistently maintained between the source and target servers.
Permissions, including GRANT/REVOKE, on all database objects are identical on the target server compared to the source server.
This new feature underscores our commitment to making the transition to Flexible Server as seamless and accurate as possible. To make the most of these features, please refer to our customer guide.
Microsoft Defender support
In our ongoing effort to enhance database security, we are proud to introduce Microsoft Defender for Cloud support for Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible Server. This new feature brings a robust layer of security to your database operations:
Proactive Anomaly Detection: It actively monitors unusual access and query patterns, helping to identify potential security threats before they escalate.
Real-Time Security Alerts: On detecting any anomalous activities, the system generates comprehensive alerts. These are accessible through Defender for Cloud’s security alerts page and provide essential details about the detected threats.
Guided Resolution Steps: Each alert is accompanied by recommended actions for investigating and mitigating the threat, thereby enabling quick and effective resolution.
Integration with Microsoft Sentinel: For deeper security analysis, the feature offers seamless integration with Microsoft Sentinel, expanding your capabilities for managing database security.
This feature represents a significant step forward in safeguarding your databases against evolving cyber threats and ensuring a secure environment for your critical data on Azure.
** this feature is scheduled to be available in December.
Ignite Feature Spotlight: Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible Server Enhancements
This November, Microsoft Ignite unveiled several exciting enhancements to Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible Server, solidifying its position as an enterprise-ready, fully managed PostgreSQL service. Here is a snapshot of the key features announced:
Postgres 16 Support: Now generally available, Flexible Server supports PostgreSQL 16, providing users with the latest database features and improvements. Learn more about Postgres 16 in Flexible Server.
Near-Zero Downtime Scaling: Scale your compute and storage resources with less than 30 seconds of downtime, enabling more dynamic adjustment to workload demands. Discover Near Zero Downtime Scaling.
pgvector 0.5.1 Support: General availability of pgvector 0.5.1 allows for storing AI-generated embeddings and performing similarity searches, enhancing AI (ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE) capabilities within the database. Explore pgvector in Azure Database for PostgreSQL.
New Extensions – azure_storage & tds_fdw: Load and export data between Azure storage and PostgreSQL with the azure_storage extension. Access Microsoft SQL data seamlessly within PostgreSQL using tds_fdw. Learn about Postgres extension support.
Premium SSD (solid state hard drives) v2: A new storage offering supporting up to 80K IOPS (input/output per second) and 64 TB storage capacity, adjustable to workload requirements. Introducing Premium SSD v2.
Azure_AI Extension: Integrate Azure OpenAI directly with PostgreSQL for AI-powered app development using simple SQL. Read Integration with Azure OpenAI.
Private Link: Enhance security with Private Link, allowing private network database connections without exposure to the public internet. Using Private Link with Flexible Server.
Multi-Region Disaster Recovery (GeoDR): Achieve high availability and disaster recovery with GeoDR, allowing failover across regions under a single virtual endpoint. Introducing Multi-Region Disaster Recovery.
IOPS Separation for Premium SSD v1: Tailor your storage configuration to your workload’s specific IOPS and size requirements. Read Storage IOPS Separation.
Long-Term Backup Retention: Meet compliance standards and bolster disaster recovery strategies with backup retention for up to 10 years. Explore Long-term backup retention details.
As we wrap up this November recap, we also find ourselves reflecting on the incredible journey throughout 2023. It’s been a year filled with substantial growth, innovation, and community engagement in the realm of Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible Server. Each update and enhancement we’ve shared today not only marks the progress of this month but also contributes to the cumulative advancements we’ve achieved this year.
As the holiday season approaches, we want to take a moment to express our deepest gratitude for your ongoing support and engagement. Your feedback and involvement have been instrumental in shaping the evolution of our services. On behalf of the entire Azure Postgres Team, we wish you a joyful and safe holiday season.
Happy holidays, and here’s to a new year filled with more success and breakthroughs! Stay connected with us and keep an eye on this space for more updates. We cherish your thoughts and experiences, so please don’t hesitate to share them in the comments below. Your insights are invaluable to us.
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As the calendar turns its page to a new year, the roles of chief financial officers (CFOs) and finance teams take center stage as they review business performance and tackle updating strategic plans. The fresh new year of 2024 will bring with it a multitude of opportunities, challenges, and transformative possibilities for financial leaders navigating the ever-evolving landscape of the global economy. In this dynamic arena, where precision meets strategy, the CFO becomes the architect of fiscal success, and finance teams are the craftspersons shaping the financial future of their organizations. And yet, many leaders struggle with the complexity involved in navigating uncertainties, taking advantage of emerging trends, and driving business performance. We’re introducing the latest advancements in our enterprise resource planning (ERP) portfolio that address these challenges to simplify how you activate business insights at every level of your organization.
Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance
Begin your AI-guided business performance management journey today.
Let’s break this down based on the following top business performance management challenges we’ve heard from our customers as they turn to their planning, analytics, and insights tools, then we’ll cover our new year’s resolutions for each.
Data accuracy, consistency, and integration: Poor data quality, reconciliation processes, and the integration of disparate data sources hinder accurate analysis and planning. Resolve to create a connected enterprise in 2024; our new business process-centric data models in the business performance analytics capabilities of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance will pave the way.
Complexity for users: Financial planning and analytics (FP&A) and corporate performance management solutions often have a steep learning curve, lack a user-friendly design, and are difficult for users to navigate. Resolve to empower your teams with easy-to-use tools; our business performance planning capabilities in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance, generally available on December 31, 2023, will help.
Total cost of ownership: Most financial management and ERP solutions do not include business performance management capabilities as part of their core solution, and these tools need to be purchased separately, which minimizes who can use them. Resolve to lower your total cost of ownership, while maximizing business performance management; our new Dynamics 365 Finance Premium offering will provide an easy way to acquire and deploy advanced business management capabilities.
Resolution 1: Create a single source of truth for planning, analytics, and insights, making it easy to get started.
Unlocking the true potential of your finance department requires addressing the common data-related challenges and tool limitations that hinder productivity, and getting actionable business performance insights in a timely manner.
We introduced business performance analytics in February 2023 to help you analyze and improve business performance by unifying data from Microsoft Dynamics 365, Microsoft Dataverse, and other sources into an easy-to-use, business process-centric data model. You can use business performance analytics to create reports, dashboards, and insights that help you make informed decisions and optimize your operational workflow.
Business performance analytics aims to revolutionize how finance departments handle complex data by streamlining data ingestion, cleansing, and enrichment. By automating data hygiene, teams can reduce manual work, minimize reliance on IT, and lay the foundation for advanced capabilities like copilot and AI.
Create a unified data model for better planning, analytics, and insights.Analytics dashboard from Dynamics 365 Finance
Business performance analytics capabilities are currently available in preview and your administrator can request installation; your current Dynamics 365 Finance licenses allow you to try it out today.
Resolution 2: Empower people with planning and analytics tools that are easy to use.
Finance teams often face challenges with outdated data and complex tools, resulting in slow, manual processes when extracting integral information. The complexity of analytical tools often demands advanced data science skills or falls short with outdated features, hindering the discovery of valuable insights crucial for enhancing business performance. In the pursuit of agile decision-making, finance leaders must overcome these hurdles and ensure access to robust, timely insights that drive action.
We introduced our vision for extended planning and analysis (xP&A) back on May 31, 2023. On December 31, 2023, we’ll deliver on this vision with the general availability (GA) of business performance planning capabilities that equip our Dynamics 365 Finance customers with a comprehensive view of financial and operational performance. These capabilities simplify and automate planning, budgeting, forecasting, reporting, and analytics by integrating with familiar Microsoft Power BI and Excel environments.
Create strategic financial plans with Dynamics 365 Finance.
Your administrator will be able to access these capabilities for installation after the GA date from the Power Platform admin center.
Resolution 3: Optimize costs while ensuring people have the tools they need and that they’re easy to buy.
The total cost of ownership for many business performance management solutions can be notably high due to various factors such as initial software licensing fees, implementation costs, and customization expenses. Integration challenges with existing systems may necessitate additional resources, and the need for skilled personnel to manage and optimize the solution can incur ongoing labor costs.
Our approach is to include planning, analytics, and insights as capabilities within Dynamics 365 Finance, while providing interoperability with familiar tools like Excel and Microsoft Power BI. This strategy allows our customers to minimize the high costs associated with many FP&A and xP&A solutions. This ensures that individual users have access to the capabilities they need to successfully complete their work, while not having to pay for unnecessary functionalities. We’re introducing a new offering to help realize this goal. Dynamics 365 Finance Premium will equip users with the tools needed to build advanced financial plans, budgets, analytics, and insights. This license will only be needed for roles within the organization that are responsible for creating strategic plans, budgets, reports, and insights. Welcome to a new era of financial empowerment, where success is not just measured but strategically crafted.
Modernize business performance management
In navigating the complexities of today’s economic landscape, CFOs recognize the indispensable need for advanced planning and analytical tools to effectively steer their organizations through uncertainties, foster innovation, and ensure both short-term resilience and long-term prosperity. With these new capabilities in Dynamics 365 Finance, CFOs can empower finance and business leaders with the essential tools to not only anticipate risks but also drive strategic innovation. In the face of modern economic challenges, more advanced corporate performance management becomes essential for financial leaders, offering a robust foundation to fortify their organizations, ensuring they not only weather the current storms but emerge stronger and more resilient for the challenges of tomorrow.
We’ve made planning and analytics easy for customers to get started, in familiar tools that are easy for finance users to use, and we’ve made the buying process simple with the Dynamics 365 Finance Premium offering. Ensure your organization is ready to adopt the new business performance planning capabilities and start 2024 with a better view of your strategic plans.
Learn more about Dynamics 365 Finance
Begin your AI-guided business performance management journey today. Learn more about Dynamics 365 Finance and our finance solutions to get a better understanding of how this new offering will add additional business performance management capabilities for our customers.
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