Microsoft Events presents a deep dive into Azure Compute innovations at Ignite 2025, featuring Stefanie Lemon and Max Uritsky, highlighting VM advancements and secure, AI-optimized cloud workloads.

Powering Modern Cloud Workloads with Azure Compute

Speakers: Stefanie Lemon, Max Uritsky Event: Microsoft Ignite 2025 – Breakout Session BRK172 (Advanced, Level 300)

Overview

This session provides a comprehensive update on Azure IaaS compute innovation. It covers new Azure Virtual Machine (VM) announcements, advanced processors, improvements to scalability, performance, cost optimization, reliability, and enhanced security.

Recent Azure VM Announcements

• Review of post-Build Conference VM updates
• Performance comparison between DADS V6 and V7 series (V7 achieves a 34% improvement)

Next-Generation Compute Hardware

• Introduction of Cobalt 200 processors, arriving next year
• Transition to storage topics: introduction of V4L series VMs, tailored for high-demand workloads

AI Inference Optimization

• Highlight of Silk partnership and its role in optimizing AI inference on Azure
• Custom AI inference scenarios for enterprise use cases on customer VMs

Reliability and Performance Practices

• Advice for customers to update drivers and OS images for best results
• Strategies for cost optimization and running secure, mission-critical applications

Security Advances

• Preview upcoming confidential computing features, strengthening privacy and data protection in Azure

Scalability and Future Innovations

• Ongoing investments in VM scalability and reliability
• Tease of major features coming soon to confidential computing

Resources

• Migrate App Workloads & Data to Azure
• Microsoft Ignite Sessions On-Demand

For further detail, visit official session links or Microsoft Ignite resources. Advanced technical insights enable practitioners to modernize estates and unlock new value from Azure compute.