Azure Virtual Machines Archives

Winsage

July 1, 2026

Steve Ballmer once trashed Linux as “a cancer” — now it’s saving Windows 10 holdouts

In 2001, Steve Ballmer, then CEO of Microsoft, referred to Linux as a "cancer" threatening Microsoft's intellectual property and likened its users to "communist thieves." By 2016, after Microsoft ported SQL Server to Linux, Ballmer expressed enthusiasm for the change and acknowledged that the conflict with open-source had benefited Microsoft's financial success. In 2020, Microsoft President Brad Smith admitted the company had been on the wrong side of history regarding open source and noted the need for change. Microsoft has since embraced open-source technologies, introducing products like Azure Linux 4.0, built on Fedora. As Windows 11's transition becomes difficult for users, advocacy groups have criticized Microsoft for ending support for Windows 10, which could lead to millions of discarded computers. Microsoft extended Windows 10's life through an Extended Security Updates program until October 14, 2026, with a recent announcement pushing it to 2027. Rising hardware costs and design flaws in Windows 11 have led some users to consider alternatives like Linux. A survey revealed that 30% of PCs are still running Windows 10, and a poll showed that 68% of respondents plan to stick with Windows 10 through 2027.

Winsage

May 7, 2026

Upwind expands runtime protection to Windows Server VMs

Upwind has expanded its runtime protection and visibility offerings to include Windows Server virtual machines (VMs) on major cloud platforms such as Amazon Web Services, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure. This integration applies to Windows Server 2016 and later versions and enhances runtime monitoring and detection workflows. Upwind's Windows Sensor provides visibility into host activities, including process executions, network connections, and DNS requests, while also conducting continuous assessments for vulnerabilities and configuration issues. The telemetry collected aids in real-time detection of potential security threats and supports ongoing vulnerability scanning. The integration of Windows Server VMs into Upwind's Runtime Map, Detections, and Sensor components allows for unified monitoring and risk prioritization across cloud environments. This expansion aims to address the critical need for runtime behavior insights in cloud security, particularly for businesses relying on Windows Server for essential applications.

Winsage

August 12, 2025

Microsoft August 2025 Patch Tuesday fixes one zero-day, 107 flaws

A series of vulnerabilities have been identified across various Microsoft platforms, categorized by severity. Critical Vulnerabilities: - CVE-2025-49707: Azure Virtual Machines Spoofing Vulnerability - CVE-2025-53781: Azure Virtual Machines Information Disclosure Vulnerability - CVE-2025-53793: Azure Stack Hub Information Disclosure Vulnerability - CVE-2025-50176: DirectX Graphics Kernel Remote Code Execution Vulnerability - CVE-2025-50165: Windows Graphics Component Remote Code Execution Vulnerability Important Vulnerabilities: - CVE-2025-53729: Microsoft Azure File Sync Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability - CVE-2025-53152: Desktop Windows Manager Remote Code Execution Vulnerability - CVE-2025-53732: Microsoft Office Remote Code Execution Vulnerability - CVE-2025-53740: Microsoft Office Remote Code Execution Vulnerability - CVE-2025-53738: Microsoft Word Remote Code Execution Vulnerability Windows Operating System Vulnerabilities: - CVE-2025-50170: Windows Cloud Files Mini Filter Driver Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability - CVE-2025-53131: Windows Media Remote Code Execution Vulnerability - CVE-2025-50158: Windows NTFS Information Disclosure Vulnerability

Winsage

July 16, 2025

Windows Secure Boot Certificate Expired in June, Microsoft Issues Warning

Microsoft has announced that Secure Boot certificates for Windows devices will begin to expire in June 2026, which may affect device functionality and security. An out-of-band update (KB5064489) was released on July 13, 2025, to address immediate security concerns and prepare systems for the certificate transition. This update includes essential quality improvements and fixes issues related to the startup of certain Azure Virtual Machines when Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) is enabled. The update is cumulative and incorporates previous security fixes. Users are advised to install the update promptly and review guidance for updating their certificates before the expiration deadline.

Winsage

July 16, 2025

Microsoft releases emergency fix for Azure Virtual Machines issue caused by Windows 11 update

Microsoft released the KB5062553 update for Windows, which caused boot failures in some Generation 2 Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) with Trusted Launch disabled. In response, Microsoft issued an emergency patch, KB5064489, applicable to Windows 11 and Windows Server 2025, to address these issues. Affected VMs may experience boot failures if Virtualization-Based Security (VBS) is enforced via registry key. Users are advised to check if their VMs are created as “Standard” and if VBS is enabled. The KB5064489 update is not automatically deployed and must be manually downloaded from the Microsoft Update Catalog, with specific installation methods outlined.