Azure Discounts
The latest Azure Discounts coverage — news, analysis, and updates from the WindowsNews.AI desk.
Azure Chaos Studio Workspaces Enters Public Preview with Zone Failure Simulations
Microsoft has launched Azure Chaos Studio Workspaces in public preview, a new feature that simplifies scenario-driven resilience testing for Azure workloads. With pre-built templates for simulating zone and region failures, teams can now validate their applications’ fault tolerance without complex experiment setups. The preview is available now, free of charge, across Azure public regions.
Third-Party Audit Validates IFI Techsolutions as Azure Expert MSP for Fourth Consecutive Year
IFI Techsolutions Limited renewed its Microsoft Azure Expert MSP status for a fourth year after passing an independent third-party re-audit. The rigorous certification validates advanced cloud governance, cost optimization, and 24×7 operational maturity, giving enterprise customers confidence in their Azure deployments.
Acronis Promises Higher Margins and Data Sovereignty Control to Service Providers with 2026 Partner Cloud IaaS
Acronis is preparing a Partner Cloud IaaS platform for mid-2026, targeting service providers seeking relief from hyperscaler cost unpredictability, VMware licensing upheaval, and data sovereignty demands. The offering promises higher margins, full control, and integrated cyber protection, potentially reshaping the managed services landscape by enabling providers to reclaim infrastructure ownership and profitability.
Konica Minolta Launches PKI Cloud Suite for CAC/PIV Secure Printing in GCC High
Konica Minolta released PKI Cloud Suite on July 1, 2026, enabling CAC/PIV card authentication on bizhub MFPs for Microsoft 365 GCC High customers. The solution integrates with Microsoft Entra ID and Universal Print, allowing secure release printing and encrypted scan-to-OneDrive workflows. It addresses a critical compliance need for government and defense organizations.
Windows 11 Still Demands a Microsoft Account in 2026 – Is User Choice a Thing of the Past?
In 2026, Windows 11 continues to steer users toward a Microsoft account, OneDrive, Edge, Bing, and full telemetry, making local accounts and privacy settings harder to find. This article explores the installation gauntlet, the community workarounds, and the practical steps users can take to regain control, while questioning whether Windows is still a general-purpose tool or has become a managed service.
IFI Techsolutions Earns Azure Expert MSP Status Fourth Year Running, Proving Cloud Mastery
Mumbai-based IFI Techsolutions has renewed its Microsoft Azure Expert MSP status for the fourth consecutive year, demonstrating consistent operational excellence in cloud managed services. The achievement follows rigorous annual audits by Microsoft that validate deep technical capabilities, security practices, and customer success, positioning IFI as a top-tier partner for enterprise Azure deployments.
Microsoft Azure Stores 200 Million Hours of Palestinian Phone Calls for Israeli Military Intelligence
An investigation reveals that Israel's Unit 8200 has been using Microsoft Azure to store and analyze up to a million intercepted Palestinian phone calls per hour, amassing 11,500 terabytes of data since 2022. The collaboration began after a 2021 meeting between Unit 8200's commander and Microsoft's CEO, and the intelligence has been used to direct military operations in Gaza and the West Bank. Microsoft states it was unaware of civilian surveillance, but internal records suggest otherwise, igniting debate over cloud providers' responsibilities when state clients misuse their platforms.
Windows 11 'Action Advised' Alert Deceives Users Into OneDrive Subscriptions
Microsoft has deployed a new Windows 11 Start menu notification that mimics a critical system warning to promote OneDrive subscriptions. The alert uses a yellow exclamation mark and urgent language but merely funnels users into a paid cloud backup workflow, with EU users exempt due to digital regulations.
Engineer Storms Microsoft 50th Bash to Protest Azure's Role in Palestinian Mass Surveillance
During Microsoft's 50th anniversary event, engineer Ibtihal Aboussad protested the company's Azure contract with Israeli Unit 8200, which is used for mass surveillance of Palestinians. The system processes millions of calls and stores 200 million hours of audio, sparking fierce employee activism and ethical debates. Microsoft's internal reviews found no evidence of civilian harm but acknowledged limited visibility into the deployment.
Leaked Docs: Israel Stored Millions of Palestinian Calls on Microsoft Azure
A joint investigation reveals that Israel's Unit 8200 used Microsoft Azure to store and analyze millions of intercepted Palestinian phone calls, allegedly to aid military targeting and detentions. Microsoft denies knowledge of the data's use, but the revelations spark intense debate over cloud providers' responsibility in human rights abuses.
Nearly 2 Million Hours of Palestinian Calls Stored on Microsoft’s Irish Servers for Israeli Intelligence
An investigation reveals that Microsoft's Azure cloud servers in Ireland stored nearly 2 million hours of intercepted Palestinian phone calls for Israel's Unit 8200 intelligence agency. The disclosure has sparked outrage in Ireland, with politicians accusing the government of complicity in potential war crimes and demanding immediate regulatory action. Microsoft denies involvement in civilian surveillance, claiming the partnership was solely for cybersecurity purposes.
Leaked Documents Claim Microsoft Azure Hosts Israeli Mass Surveillance Targeting Palestinians
A joint investigation reveals that Microsoft Azure was used by Israel's Unit 8200 to conduct bulk surveillance of millions of Palestinian phone calls. Leaked documents show the partnership began with a 2021 meeting between CEO Satya Nadella and the spy chief, and the system became operational in 2022. Microsoft denies knowledge of civilian targeting, but the controversy raises urgent questions about cloud accountability in conflict zones.
Satya Nadella’s 2021 Meeting with Unit 8200 Head Enabled Azure-Powered Mass Surveillance in Gaza, Investigation Shows
A joint investigation reveals that Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella met with Israel's Unit 8200 commander in 2021 to push a mass surveillance system using Azure. The system now stores millions of Palestinian phone calls, sparking internal revolt and calls for accountability.