What's new with SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines?
Applies to: 
SQL Server on Azure VM
When you deploy an Azure virtual machine (VM) with SQL Server installed on it, either manually, or through a built-in image, you can use Azure features to improve your experience. This article summarizes the documentation changes associated with new features and improvements in the recent releases of SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines (VMs). To learn more about SQL Server on Azure VMs, see the overview.
For updates made in previous years, see the What's new archive.
Note
Microsoft Entra ID was previously known as Azure Active Directory (Azure AD).
General availability (GA)
The following table lists features of SQL Server on Azure VMs that have been made generally available (GA) within the last 12 months:
| Changes | Month | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Azure Update Manager | April 2024 | Automatically patch multiple SQL Server VMs at scale with the Azure Update Manager integrated in to the SQL virtual machines resource in the Azure portal, including Cumulative Updates. |
| Azure SQL triggers for Azure Functions | March 2024 | Azure Functions supports function triggers for SQL Server on Azure VMs. |
| SQL VM health notifications | September 2023 | The Overview page of the SQL virtual machines resource in the Azure portal now displays information about the health of the SQL IaaS Agent extension, as well as error conditions when the state is unhealthy or failed. Review Troubleshoot the extension to learn more. |
| Configure AG from Azure portal | August 2023 | Deploy an Always On availability group to multiple subnets by using the Azure portal. |
| Azure SQL bindings for Azure Functions | May 2023 | Azure Functions supports input bindings, and output bindings for the Azure SQL and SQL Server products. |
Documentation changes
Learn about significant changes to the SQL Server on Azure VMs documentation. For previous years, see the What's new archive.
September 2024
| Changes | Details |
|---|---|
| Automated patching retirement | The automated patching feature will retire. Currently scheduled for September 17, 2027. Migrate to Azure Update Manager as soon as possible to continue receiving new updates to the patching feature for your SQL Server on Azure VM and avoid future service disruptions. |
April 2024
| Changes | Details |
|---|---|
| Azure Update Manager GA | Automatically patch multiple SQL Server VMs at scale with the Azure Update Manager integrated in to the SQL virtual machines resource in the Azure portal, including Cumulative Updates, which isn't currently possible with the existing Automated Patching feature. This feature is now generally available. To learn more, review Azure Update Manager for SQL Server on Azure VMs. |
| Deploy multi-subnet AG with commandline tools | You can deploy an Always On availability group to multiple subnets by using PowerShell and the Azure CLI. Review Deploy multi-subnet AG to get started. |
March 2024
| Changes | Details |
|---|---|
| Azure SQL triggers for Azure Functions GA | Azure Functions supports function triggers for SQL Server on Azure VMs. This feature is now generally available. Review SQL triggers for Azure Functions to learn more. |
February 2024
| Changes | Details |
|---|---|
| Configure log shipping | Learn to configure log shipping between two SQL Server on Azure VMs. Review Configure log shipping to learn more. |
Archive
For updates made in previous years, see the What's new archive.
Additional resources
Windows VMs:
- Overview of SQL Server on Windows VMs
- Provision SQL Server on Windows VMs
- High availability and disaster recovery for SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines
- Performance best practices for SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines
- Application patterns and development strategies for SQL Server on Azure Virtual Machines
Linux VMs: