In an announcement, Microsoft says current deployments on Azure Blockchain will be supported until the cut off date. However, the company is not accepting any new deployments or members starting from May 10: “On September 10, 2021, Azure Blockchain will be retired. Please migrate ledger data from Azure Blockchain Service to an alternative offering based on your development status in production or evaluation.” Azure Blockchain was launched in 2015 as a Blockchain as a Service (BaaS). Microsoft spend several years backing the service with partnerships and updates. That included the launch of Blockchain Tokens at Ignite 2019. At the same event, Microsoft expanded its Azure Blockchain Service with Blockchain Data Manager. Elsewhere in Blockchain Service, Microsoft introduced managed Corda Enterprise support to boost ledger integration. Finally, the platform is also got a Hyperledger template in the Azure Marketplace.
Saying Goodbye
So, just two years ago Azure Blockchain looked to be at the forefront of Microsoft’s plans. In fact, Microsoft seemed to believe blockchain to have scope beyond simply being the underpinning of Bitcoin. Many companies, Microsoft among them, through blockchain could power other kinds of transactions. It seems in recent times Microsoft has been losing interest in the idea. Azure Blockchain updates have become less frequent. Still, the service has some major partners, including Singapore Headlines, GE, and Starbucks. Those giants will be among users now seeking an alternative to Microsoft’s platform. Tip of the day: To prevent attackers from capturing your password, Secure Sign-in asks the user to perform a physical action that activates the sign-in screen. In some cases, this is a dedicated “Windows Security” button, but the most common case in Windows 10 is the Ctrl+Alt Del hotkey. In our tutorial, we show you how to activate this feature.
