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Keeping Azure VMs up to date

New Models

Article from ADMIN 78/2023

By Thomas Joos

The operating system of an Azure virtual machine can be kept up to date by a number of methods; we provide an overview and look in detail at Azure Automation Update Management, the Azure Update Management Center, automation options, and other related topics.

Both Windows and Linux can be virtualized in different orientations by Microsoft Azure with the use of various prebuilt images. Azure virtual machines (VMs) can be virtualized not only in the cloud, but also directly in an on-premises data center with Azure Stack hyperconverged infrastructure (HCI), while retaining all the benefits familiar from the Azure cloud. The benefits Microsoft cites include simpler licensing, effective high availability, and a simpler update management process, all of which are discussed here.

Free Extended Security Updates

Extended Security Updates (ESUs) after the end of support (e.g., for Windows Server 2008/2008 R2 and Windows Server 2012/2012 R2) for up-to-date Azure VM operating systems have been free thus far. This point is interesting because even if companies use Windows Server 2016, they will slowly but surely have to start worrying about expiring support. Organizations migrating to Azure will therefore want to look into updating VMs right away in this context.

Even if you are not moving to the cloud, Microsoft offers customers with Software Assurance and various subscriptions the option of purchasing extended support that is valid for three years and continues to provide security updates. However, ESUs are not cheap. In the first year, 75 percent of the license fees of the current version are due, which rises to 100 percent in the second year. In the third year, costs rise to 125 percent. In comparison, if you migrate to Azure VMs, you will receive ESU security updates free of charge for the next three years, and extended support is included in the cost of ownership. This policy applies to all operating systems that are no longer supported – licenses for SQL Server 2012 and Windows Server 2012, for example, can now be used in the cloud.

Strictly speaking, organizations will benefit from the free updates if they rely on Azure VMs, Azure

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