Microsoft Azure VMs now benefit from an advanced new security feature TechRadar Skip to main content TechRadar is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here's why you can trust us. Microsoft Azure VMs now benefit from an advanced new security feature By Will McCurdy published 7 July 2022 Microsoft Azure adds additional security with new local storage features (Image credit: Shutterstock / leolintang) Audio player loading… Microsoft Azure customers will now be able to create Ephemeral OS disks, a type of disc created on local virtual machine (VM) storage that is not saved to remote Azure storage. This latest feature from the cloud giant could help ensure high levels of confidentiality for data, as information stored on these types of disks will never be sent to an offsite data center. Ephemeral disks are now currently available in all regions, and you can learn more about how to deploy them by heading here (opens in new tab). Ephemeral OS disks Microsoft says Ephemeral OS disks are ideal for stateless applications, where no client data generated in one session is used in the next session. In addition, Microsoft explained these discs can be ideal for use cases that require lower latency, similar to a temporary disk, or the ability to fast reset or reimage VMs and to scale set instances to the original boot state. Ephemeral OS disks are supported by Azure Marketplace, custom images, and Azure Compute Gallery (opens in new tab) (formerly known as Shared Image Gallery), but will not support features such as capturing VM images, disk snapshots, or OS Disk Swap.READ MORE: > Citrix brings its virtual desktops to the Microsoft Azure Marketplace > Microsoft Azure is going all in on Arm-based chips > Best virtual desktop services in 2022 If your looking for additional security, you'll be pleased to know that the disks support Microsoft Azure's Trusted Launch (opens in new tab) feature, but only in certain regions and for certain VM sizes. Ephemeral OS disks are also free, and customers incur no storage cost for making new disks. If you've still got questions about the latest feature, you head here to check out the FAQ (opens in new tab)that Microsoft has put together. This is not the only feature that Microsoft has been rolling out for virtual machine aficionados. Microsoft recently has updated its free Windows 11 virtual machines (VMs) offering, which is designed for developers, but could also give users the perfect way to try out its latest operating system before jumping in.Upgrade your work rig with the best workstations on the market Will McCurdyWill McCurdy has been writing about technology for over five years. He has a wide range of specialities including cybersecurity, fintech, cryptocurrencies, blockchain, cloud computing, payments, artificial intelligence, retail technology, and venture capital investment. He has previously written for AltFi, FStech, Retail Systems, and National Technology News and is an experienced podcast and webinar host, as well as an avid long-form feature writer. See more Computing news Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter Sign up to theTechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! Thank you for signing up to TechRadar. You will receive a verification email shortly. There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again. MOST POPULARMOST SHARED1The iPhone 14 Pro is made of the wrong stuff; the Pixel 7 proves that to me2Stop saying Mario doesn't have an accent in The Super Mario Bros. Movie3Google Pixel Tablet is what Apple should've done ages ago4RTX 4090 too expensive? Nvidia resurrects another old favorite5More than one million credit card details leaked online1The iPhone 14 Pro is made of the wrong stuff; the Pixel 7 proves that to me2iPhone 15 tipped to come with an upgraded 5G chip3If this feature succeeds for Modern Warfare 2, Microsoft can't ignore it4Apple October launches: the new devices we might see this month5The Rings of Power episode 8 trailer feels like one big Sauron misdirect Technology Magazines (opens in new tab)● (opens in new tab)The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviewsFrom$12.99 (opens in new tab)View (opens in new tab)