Releasesby Glyph[In preview] Public Preview: Azure SQL updates for late-July
In late-July 2026, the following update and enhancement was made to Azure SQL: Regex-based dynamic data masking (DDM) extends the built-in DDM feature with pattern‑based masking to hide sensitive data like emails, phone numbers, and identifiers, centrally
Also shipped Jul 31, 2026Microsoft in July 2026 →
Web terminal on serverless GPU compute (AI Runtime) is in Public Preview
The web terminal in notebooks connected to serverless GPU compute (AI Runtime) is now in Public Preview . Use it to run shell commands, monitor GPU usage with nvidia-smi , install libraries, and manage files directly on the compute. This requires serverless GPU environment version 5 or above. See Run shell commands in Databricks web terminal .
Packaged clean rooms are now generally available
Packaged clean rooms are now generally available. In a packaged clean room, a provider supplies notebooks, JARs, and data that a consumer runs against their own data without seeing the provider's code or data assets. See Packaged clean rooms .
OpenAI connector (Beta)
The OpenAI connector is now available in Lakeflow Connect in Beta . Workspace admins can control access to this feature from the Previews page. The connector uses the OpenAI Organization Admin API to ingest organization administration data, such as users, projects, API keys, usage, costs, and audit logs, from OpenAI into Databricks.
Upcoming August 2026 model deprecations in GitHub Copilot
We will deprecate the following models across all GitHub Copilot experiences (including Copilot Chat, inline edits, ask and agent modes, and code completions), on September 1st, 2026: Model Deprecation date Suggested alternative Gemini 3.1 Pro 9-1-2026 Gemini 3.6 Flash Claude Opus 4.5 9-1-2026 Claude Opus 4.7, Claude Opus 4.8, or Claude Opus 5 Claude Opus...
Gemini 2.5 Pro and Gemini 3 Flash deprecated
As of today, July 31, 2026, we have deprecated the following models across all GitHub Copilot experiences (including Copilot Chat, inline edits, ask and agent modes, and code completions).
Enterprise teams model policy targeting in public preview
You can now take advantage of user-based model policy targeting for GitHub Enterprise customers with Copilot Business or Copilot Enterprise licenses. This feature empowers AI administrators to set a baseline of models for the entire enterprise and then grant additional models to specific enterprise teams.
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[Launched] Generally Available: Azure Database for PostgreSQL flexible server in India South Central
Now you can deploy Azure Database for PostgreSQL flexible server in the India South Central Azure region. Learn more.
[Launched] Generally Available: Immutability to the most recent seven days of backups on Azure SQL Database and Azure SQL Managed Instance
To enhance backup protection, Azure SQL Database and Azure SQL Managed Instance now automatically apply immutability to the most recent seven days of backups. This capability is enabled by default for all databases, regardless of the configured point-in-t
[Launched] Generally Available: Claude Opus 5 on Azure Databricks
Azure Databricks now supports Anthropic Claude Opus 5 through AI Model Serving. Claude Opus 5 is Anthropic's latest model for advanced reasoning, coding, agentic workflows, and professional knowledge work. Claude Opus 5 is designed for complex tasks requi
[Launched] Generally Available: SharePoint Connector for Azure Databricks
The SharePoint connector for Azure Databricks is now generally available. Organizations can use Lakeflow Connect to ingest files from SharePoint into Azure Databricks, helping unify enterprise content with data and AI workflows on Azure. The connector sup
[Launched] Generally Available: Unity AI Gateway on Azure Databricks
Unity AI Gateway is now generally available on Azure Databricks. Unity AI Gateway provides centralized governance for AI models, agents, tools, and MCP services, helping organizations monitor usage, manage costs, apply guardrails, and enforce access contr
[Launched] Generally Available: Pre-upgrade validation checks for Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible Server
Pre-upgrade validation checks are now generally available for Azure Database for PostgreSQL flexible server, helping you proactively validate major version upgrade (MVU) readiness before initiating the actual upgrade process. With the general availability
Announcing: Azure Databricks Runtime 10.4 LTS will reach end of life on November 1, 2026
Azure Databricks Runtime 10.4 LTS, a Databricks-managed runtime available on Azure Databricks, reached end of support on March 18, 2025 and will reach end of life on November 1, 2026. After this date, Databricks Runtime 10.4 LTS will no longer be availabl
[Launched] Generally Available: Microsoft Defender security assessments for Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible Server
Microsoft Defender Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) assessments for Azure Database for PostgreSQL Flexible Server are now generally available. You can use assessments to continuously evaluate the security posture of your Azure PostgreSQL flexible