Microsoft Archives - COMIT Solutions

Azure Stack HCI delivers world-class hyperconverged infrastructure

support — Sat, 19 Dec 2020 13:13:28 +0000

As a new normal has been defined by a worldwide pandemic and economic changes this year, businesses have sought new ways to optimize the delivery of their goods and services and better IT cost efficiency in an increasingly remote work environment.

The technology that lays the foundation for remote work, hyperconverged infrastructure, has long been an ideal way for organizations to deliver key workloads such as virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI), IT for remote offices and branch offices (ROBO) and for companies to drive datacenter modernization. Azure Stack HCI delivers on these customer needs with the innovation of Azure integration. With our cloud-native approach, our goal is to help customers realize higher value HCI through quick deployment and integration that leverages familiar management and tools with flexible Azure subscription pricing.

Customers and partners benefit from Azure Stack HCI innovations today
With the general availability of Azure Stack HCI today, we’ve taken the great feedback customers provided in preview to deliver a full-featured offering that includes centralized management, stretch clustering, built in hybrid capabilities, and Azure Arc integration. Our approach is resonating with customers and partners alike, including integrated system partners DataON, Dell Technologies, and Lenovo. Customers across many verticals, including Benenden Schools, Bradley Legal, the Cherokee County School District, Florida State Medical College of Medicine, and Hendrick Motorsports have already seen success with Azure Stack HCI through participation in preview and have achieved business value from Azure Stack HCI in driving early production deployment for multiple use cases including ROBO, database workloads, and datacenter modernization in general. Read the customer experience blog.

Do more with the new Azure Stack HCI and integrated systems
The innovations delivered by Azure Stack HCI open a wide range of customer scenarios. For example, simplifying hybrid with native Azure integration provides visibility of the clusters in the Azure Portal for hybrid management. Another key innovation is the newly built-in stretched clustering capabilities to easily enhance a customer disaster recovery strategy. See this technical video to learn more.

As customers are looking to minimize their time to value when deploying new infrastructure, Microsoft has worked with its partners to deliver a new integrated system experience for Azure Stack HCI as one of the form factors available. These integrated systems are shipping as pre-racked, with software, hardware, and firmware pre-installed and a simple deployment GUI. The new Azure Stack HCI full stack updates feature is integrated with each of the partner systems, bringing one click orchestration when new features or security updates need to be applied to the cluster. The system administrator is always in control, and always gets the latest features and validated full-stack updates.

Partner ecosystem
Today’s general availability also marks multiple integrated systems from our trusted partners such as DataON, Dell Technologies, and Lenovo. These Azure Stack HCI integrated systems have been co-engineered for enterprise-ready reliability and simplicity.

“As a partner that made the “Microsoft choice” we are bullish about the new simplicity and ease of use that Azure Stack HCI integrated systems bring to our customers. We have worked hand in hand with Microsoft to deliver a seamless experience on our new DataON AZS product line with DataON MUST Pro for Windows Admin Center. MUST Pro simplifies deployment and updating on Azure Stack HCI with minimal disruption to your hybrid cloud infrastructure. We believe that all industry verticals can benefit from the innovation delivered by such a system.” —Howard Lo, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, DataON

“With a long-standing history of bringing products to market with Microsoft, we are introducing the Dell EMC Integrated System for Microsoft Azure Stack HCI built on trusted Dell EMC PowerEdge server technology. As part of our industry leading hyperconverged portfolio, this all-in-one, jointly engineered system delivers an Azure hybrid cloud consumption experience for customers with integrated deployment and full-stack automated lifecycle management.” —Jon Siegal, Vice President of Product Marketing, Dell Technologies

“Lenovo is looking forward to bringing Microsoft Azure Stack HCI integrated form factor to Lenovo’s most popular servers and Edge server lineup. Our joint partnership with Microsoft delivers a new hyperconverged infrastructure solution that helps our mutual customers accelerate their cloud journey. The hybrid capabilities and seamless integration with Azure is a perfect complement to the Lenovo ThinkAgile MX product line.” —Kamran Amini, Vice President and General Manager, Server, Storage, and Software Defined Infrastructure, Lenovo Data Center Group

Another great way to deploy Azure Stack HCI is using the Intel Select Solution offerings that deliver lots of flexibility.

“Azure Stack HCI reimagines hybrid cloud for enterprises with newfound simplicity in how IT can access Azure services based on what makes sense for their business, whether that is onpremises or in the cloud. The Intel Select Solutions for Azure Stack HCI are market-ready solutions delivered by a breadth of partners, extensively tested and performance verified to further simplify deployment while giving customers the scale and efficiency needed for a modern infrastructure to advance their business.” —Jason Grebe, Corporate Vice President, General Manager, Cloud Enterprise Solutions Group at Intel.

In addition, today’s general availability also brings new Independent Software Vendor support for Azure Stack HCI with Altaro Software, Commvault, Datadog, Veeam and Veritas—now all fully operable with Azure Stack HCI to give our customers an even broader choice of tools.

Source

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New enhanced DNS features in Azure Firewall—now generally available

support — Tue, 10 Nov 2020 15:27:18 +0000

Custom DNS, DNS proxy, and FQDN filtering in network rules (for non-HTTP/S and non-MSSQL protocols) in Azure Firewall are now generally available. In this blog, we also share an example use-case on using DNS proxy with Private Link.

Azure Firewall is a cloud-native firewall as a service (FWaaS) offering that allows you to centrally govern and log all your traffic flows using a DevOps approach. The service supports both application, NAT, and network-level filtering and is integrated with the Microsoft Threat Intelligence feed for filtering known malicious IP addresses and domains. Azure Firewall is highly available with built-in auto scaling.

Custom DNS support is now generally available

Since its launch in September 2018, Azure Firewall has been hardcoded to use Azure DNS to ensure the service can reliably resolve its outbound dependencies. Custom DNS allows you to configure Azure Firewall to use your own DNS server, while ensuring the firewall outbound dependencies are still resolved with Azure DNS. You may configure a single DNS server or multiple servers in Azure Firewall and Firewall Policy DNS settings.

Azure Firewall can also resolve names using Azure Private DNS. The Virtual Network within which the Azure Firewall resides must be linked to the Azure Private Zone.

DNS proxy is now generally available

With DNS proxy enabled, Azure Firewall can process and forward DNS queries from a Virtual Network(s) to your desired DNS server. This functionality is crucial and required to have reliable FQDN filtering in network rules. You can enable DNS proxy in Azure Firewall and Firewall Policy settings. To learn more about DNS proxy logs, see the Azure Firewall log and metrics documentation.

DNS proxy configuration requires three steps:

Enable DNS proxy in Azure Firewall DNS settings.
Optionally configure your custom DNS server or use the provided default.
Finally, you must configure the Azure Firewall’s private IP address as a custom DNS server in your virtual network DNS server settings. This ensures DNS traffic is directed to Azure Firewall.

DNS proxy listens for requests on TCP port 53 and forwards them to Azure DNS or the custom DNS specified.

Figure 1. Custom DNS and DNS proxy settings on Azure Firewall.

FQDN filtering in network rules now generally available

You can now use fully qualified domain names (FQDNs) in network rules based on DNS resolution in Azure Firewall and Firewall Policy. The specified FQDNs in your rule collections are translated to IP addresses based on your firewall DNS settings. This capability allows you to filter outbound traffic using FQDNs with any TCP/UDP protocol (including NTP, SSH, RDP, and more). As this capability is based on DNS resolution, it is highly recommended you enable the DNS proxy to ensure name resolution is consistent for your protected virtual machines and firewall.

What’s the difference between FQDN filtering in application rules verses network rules?

FQDN filtering in application rules for HTTP/S and MSSQL is based on an application level transparent proxy. As such, it can discern between two FQDNs that are resolved to the same IP address. This is not the case with FQDN filtering in network rules, so it is always recommended you use application rules when possible.

Figure 2. FQDN filtering in network rules.

Using Azure Firewall as a DNS proxy to enable private endpoints access from on-premises

Azure Private Link provides the ability to connect to Microsoft PaaS services, including storage accounts, app services, and more, over a private connection, using private endpoints. A private endpoint is a network interface that connects you privately and securely to a PaaS service powered by Azure Private Link. Private endpoints use a private IP address from your Virtual Network (VNet), effectively bringing the service inside your private network in the cloud. This approach provides additional security benefits as it removes the exposure and accessibility of public IP addresses of the PaaS service.

One of the big benefits of Azure Private Link is the ability to consume Microsoft PaaS services over privately addressed hybrid connections (for example, Azure ExpressRoute Private Peering or Site-to-Site VPN). However, this benefit also comes with the challenge of forwarding DNS requests from on-premises to Azure Private DNS to benefit from the automated lifecycle management of DNS records that map to your private endpoints.

Each Azure PaaS service that utilizes Private Link is given an FQDN that is mapped and stored in an Azure Private DNS zone. Requests sent to Azure DNS Private Zones go to the platform address of 168.63.129.16 that is only reachable from inside of Azure. Therefore, if the DNS request originates from on-premises (outside of Azure), there is a requirement to proxy the DNS request via a service inside of a Virtual Network.

With this general availability announcement, Azure Firewall DNS proxy is an option to meet this DNS forwarding requirement, applicable with a hub-and-spoke model. To do this, configure your on-premises DNS server to conditionally forward requests to Azure Firewall for the required zone name. Ensure that your private DNS zone is linked to the Virtual Network within which the Azure Firewall resides. Configure Azure Firewall to use the default Azure DNS for lookups, and enable DNS proxy in Azure Firewall DNS settings. For more information about DNS proxy, visit our DNS settings documentation.

Source : https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/new-enhanced-dns-features-in-azure-firewall-now-generally-available/

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Enhance Security with Windows and Office

support — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 13:37:53 +0000

According to the World Trade Report, it takes hackers 4 minutes to get into servers through email attacks. And that it takes an average of 286 days to detect a security breach and an additional 80 days to repair the damage.

Enhance your security and go modern with Windows 10 and Microsoft 365 Business. Check out this infographic for more industry trends and see how you can protect your company against external threats and leaks with Windows 10 and Microsoft 365 Business security and compliance tools built into your devices.

Don’t let hackers access your data. Contact us at COMIT Solutions Ltd to #GetModern today!

View: Enhance Security with Windows and Office

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Empowering Remote Work with Microsoft Teams

support — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 13:28:29 +0000

With more people working from home, fostering virtual connection is crucial. This one pager displays tips on how to empower your team to stay connected, inclusive and focused online. It also provides insights on how to share content and keep your business running smoothly using Microsoft Teams.

View: Empowering Remote Work with Microsoft Teams

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Microsoft Partner of the Year

comadmin — Thu, 07 Jun 2018 07:19:34 +0000

COMIT Solutions has won the 2018 Microsoft Partner of the Year award for Cyprus!

PRESS RELEASE

COMIT Solutions Ltd recognized as 2018 Microsoft Country Partner of the Year for Cyprus
Nicosia, Cyprus – June 7, 2018

COMIT Solutions Ltd today proudly announced it has won the 2018 Microsoft Country Partner of the Year Award for Cyprus. The company was honored among a global field of top Microsoft partners for demonstrating excellence in innovation and implementation of customer solutions based on Microsoft technology.

“We are honored and thrilled to be awarded the 2018 Microsoft Partner of the Year for Cyprus, this award recognizes all the hard work put in by our team and reinforces our commitment to delivering world class solutions based on Microsoft technologies.” said Demetris Papadopoulos, Director, COMIT Solutions Ltd

Awards were presented in several categories, with winners chosen from a set of more than 2,600 entrants from 115 countries worldwide. COMIT Solutions Ltd was recognized for providing outstanding solutions and services, as well as representing excellent subsidiary engagement in Cyprus.
The Microsoft Country Partner of the Year Awards honor partners at the country level that have demonstrated business excellence in delivering Microsoft solutions to multiple customers over the past year. This award recognizes COMIT Solutions Ltd as succeeding in effective engagement with its local Microsoft office while showcasing innovation and business impact, driving customer satisfaction, and winning new customers.

“We are honored to recognize COMIT Solutions of Cyprus as a Microsoft Country Partner of the Year,” said Gavriella Schuster, corporate vice president, One Commercial Partner, Microsoft Corp. “COMIT Solutions has distinguished itself as a top partner, exemplifying the remarkable expertise and innovation we see in our Microsoft partner community to deliver transformative solutions.”

The Microsoft Partner of the Year Awards recognize Microsoft partners that have developed and delivered exceptional Microsoft-based solutions over the past year.

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