Azure IaaS and Azure Local: announcements and updates (May 2026 – Weeks: 17 and 18)

This article covers the latest announcements and updates for Azure IaaS and Azure Local from May 2026 (Weeks 17-18). Key highlights include the public preview of Microsoft HTTP DDoS Ruleset for Azure WAF on Front Door Premium, providing adaptive Layer 7 DDoS protection. Cross-region IPAM pool association in Azure Virtual Network Manager is now generally available, simplifying global address planning. Azure NetApp Files advanced ransomware protection (ANF ARP) reaches GA, offering proactive threat detection and recovery. Additionally, Azure Elastic SAN now supports CRC-32C checksum verification for enhanced data integrity. These updates focus on security, networking, and storage improvements for Azure infrastructure.