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--- title: Archive for What's new in Azure Automation description: The What's new release notes in the Overview section of this content set contain six months of activity. Thereafter, the items are removed from the main article and put into this article. services: automation ms.topic: overview ms.date: 08/01/2023 ms.custom: references_regions ms.author: v-rochak2 author: RochakSingh-blr --- # Archive for What's new in Azure Automation? > [!CAUTION] > This article references CentOS, a Linux distribution that has reached the End Of Life (EOL) status. Please consider your use and planning accordingly. For more information, see the [CentOS End Of Life guidance](/azure/virtual-machines/workloads/centos/centos-end-of-life). The primary [What's new in Azure Automation?](whats-new.md) article contains updates for the last six months, while this article contains all the older information. What's new in Azure Automation? provides you with information about: - The latest releases - Known issues - Bug fixes --- ## March 2021 ### New Azure Automation built-in policy definitions **Type:** New feature Azure Automation has added five new built-in policy definitions: - Automation accounts should disable public network access, - Azure Automation accounts should use customer-managed keys to encrypt data at rest - Configure Azure Automation accounts to disable public network access - Configure private endpoint connections on Azure Automation accounts - Private endpoint connections on Automation Accounts should be enabled. For more information, see [Azure Policy reference](./policy-reference.md). ### Support for Automation and State Configuration declared GA in South India **Type:** New feature Use Process Automation and State Configuration feature in South India. Read the [announcement](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates/azure-automation-in-south-india-region/) for more information. ### Support for Automation and State Configuration declared GA in UK West **Type:** New feature Use Process Automation and State Configuration feature in UK West. For more information, read [announcement](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates/azure-automation-in-uk-west-region/). ### Support for Automation and State Configuration declared GA in UAE Central **Type:** New feature Use Process Automation and State Configuration feature in UAE Central. Read the [announcement](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates/azure-automation-in-uae-central-region/) for more information. ### Support for Automation and State Configuration available in Australia Central 2, Norway West, and France South **Type:** New feature See more information on the [Data residency page](https://azure.microsoft.com/global-infrastructure/data-residency/) by selecting the geography for each region. ### New scripts added for installing Hybrid worker on Windows and Linux **Type:** New feature Two new scripts have been added to the Azure Automation [GitHub repository](https://github.com/azureautomation) addressing one of Azure Automation's key scenarios of setting up a Hybrid Runbook Worker on either a Windows or a Linux machine. The script creates a new VM or uses an existing one, creates a Log Analytics workspace if needed, installs the Log Analytics agent for Windows or Log Analytics agent for Linux, and registers the machine to the Log Analytics workspace. The Windows script is named **Create Automation Windows HybridWorker** and the Linux script is **Create Automation Linux HybridWorker**. ### Invoke runbook through an Azure Resource Manager template webhook **Type:** New feature For more information, see [Use a webhook from an ARM template](./automation-webhooks.md#create-runbook-and-webhook-with-arm-template). ### Azure Update Management now supports CentOS 8.x, Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server 8.x, and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 **Type:** New feature See the [full list](./update-management/operating-system-requirements.md) of supported Linux operating systems for more details. ### In-region data residency support for Brazil South and South East Asia **Type:** New feature In all regions except Brazil South and Southeast Asia, Azure Automation data is stored in a different region (Azure paired region) for providing Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery (BCDR). For the Brazil and Southeast Asia regions only, we now store Azure Automation data in the same region to accommodate data-residency requirements for these regions. For more information, see [Data residency](./automation-managing-data.md#data-residency). ## February 2021 ### Support for Automation and State Configuration declared GA in Japan West **Type:** New feature Automation account and State Configuration availability in Japan West region. For more information, read [announcement](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates/azure-automation-in-japan-west-region/). ### Introduced custom Azure Policy compliance to enforce runbook execution on Hybrid Worker **Type :** New feature You can use the new Azure Policy compliance rule to allow creation of jobs, webhooks, and job schedules to run only on Hybrid Worker groups. Read the details in [Use Azure Policy to enforce job execution on Hybrid Runbook Worker](./enforce-job-execution-hybrid-worker.md?tabs=azure-cli) ### Update Management availability in East US, France Central, and North Europe regions **Type:** New feature Automation Update Management feature is available in East US, France Central, and North Europe regions. See [Supported region mapping](how-to/region-mappings.md) for updates to the documentation reflecting this change. ## January 2021 ### Support for Automation and State Configuration declared GA in Switzerland West **Type:** New feature Automation account and State Configuration availability in the Switzerland West region. For more information, read the [announcement](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates/azure-automation-in-switzerland-west-region/). ### Added Python 3 script to import module with multiple dependencies **Type:** New feature The script is available for download from our [GitHub repository](https://github.com/azureautomation/runbooks/blob/master/Utility/Python/import_py3package_from_pypi.py). ### Hybrid Runbook Worker role support for CentOS 8.x/RHEL 8.x/SLES 15 **Type.** New feature The Hybrid Runbook Worker feature supports CentOS 8.x, REHL 8.x, and SLES 15 distributions for only process automation on Hybrid Runbook Workers. ### Update Management and Change Tracking availability in Australia East, East Asia, West US, and Central US regions **Type:** New feature Automation account, Change Tracking and Inventory, and Update Management are available in Australia East, East Asia, West US, and Central US regions. ### Introduced public preview of Python 3 runbooks in US Government cloud **Type:** New feature Azure Automation introduces public preview support of Python 3 cloud and hybrid runbook execution in US Government cloud regions. For more information, see the [announcement](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates/azure-automation-python-3-public-preview/). ### Azure Automation runbooks moved from TechNet Script Center to GitHub **Type:** Plan for change The TechNet Script Center is retiring and all runbooks hosted in the Runbook gallery have been moved to our [Automation GitHub organization](https://github.com/azureautomation). For more information, read [Azure Automation Runbooks moving to GitHub](https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/azure-governance-and-management/azure-automation-runbooks-moving-to-github/ba-p/2039337). ## December 2020 ### Azure Automation and Update Management Private Link GA **Type:** New feature Azure Automation and Update Management support announced as GA for Azure global and Government clouds. Azure Automation enabled Private Link support to secure execution of a runbook on a hybrid worker role, using Update Management to patch machines, invoking a runbook through a webhook, and using State Configuration service to keep your machines complaint. For more information, read [Azure Automation Private Link support](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates/azure-automation-private-link) ### Azure Automation classified as Grade-C certified on Accessibility **Type:** New feature Accessibility features of Microsoft products help agencies address global accessibility requirements. On the [blog announcement](https://cloudblogs.microsoft.com/industry-blog/government/2018/09/11/accessibility-conformance-reports/) page, search for **Azure Automation** to read the Accessibility conformance report for the Automation service. ### Support for Automation and State Configuration GA in UAE North **Type:** New feature Automation account and State Configuration availability in the UAE North region. For more information, read [announcement](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates/azure-automation-in-uae-north-region/). ### Support for Automation and State Configuration GA in Germany West Central **Type:** New feature Automation account and State Configuration availability in Germany West region. For more information, read [announcement](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates/azure-automation-in-germany-west-central-region/). ### DSC support for Oracle 6 and 7 **Type:** New feature Manage Oracle Linux 6 and 7 machines with Automation State Configuration. See [Supported Linux distros](https://github.com/Azure/azure-linux-extensions/tree/master/DSC#4-supported-linux-distributions) for updates to the documentation to reflect these changes. ### Public Preview for Python3 runbooks in Automation **Type:** New feature Azure Automation now supports Python 3 cloud and hybrid runbook execution in public preview in all regions in Azure global cloud. For more information, see the [announcement](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates/azure-automation-python-3-public-preview/). ## November 2020 ### DSC support for Ubuntu 18.04 **Type:** New feature See [Supported Linux Distros](https://github.com/Azure/azure-linux-extensions/tree/master/DSC#4-supported-linux-distributions) for updates to the documentation reflecting these changes. ## October 2020 ### Support for Automation and State Configuration GA in Switzerland North **Type:** New feature Automation account and State Configuration availability in Switzerland North. For more information, read [announcement](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates/azure-automation-in-switzerland-north-region/). ### Support for Automation and State Configuration GA in Brazil South East **Type:** New feature Automation account and State Configuration availability in Brazil South East. For more information, read [announcement](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates/azure-automation-in-brazil-southeast-region/). ### Update Management availability in South Central US **Type:** New feature Azure Automation region mapping updated to support Update Management feature in South Central US region. See [Supported region mapping](how-to/region-mappings.md#supported-mappings-for-log-analytics-and-azure-automation) for updates to the documentation to reflect this change. ## September 2020 ### Start/Stop VMs during off-hours runbooks updated to use Azure Az modules **Type:** New feature Start/Stop VM runbooks have been updated to use Az modules in place of Azure Resource Manager modules. ## August 2020 ### Published the DSC extension to support Azure Arc **Type:** New feature Use Azure Automation State Configuration to centrally store configurations and maintain the desired state of hybrid connected machines enabled through the Azure Arc enabled servers DSC VM extension. For more information, read [Arc enabled servers VM extensions overview](/azure/azure-arc/servers/manage-vm-extensions). ### July 2020 ### Introduced Public Preview of Private Link support in Automation **Type:** New feature Use Azure Private Link to securely connect virtual networks to Azure Automation using private endpoints. For more information, read the [announcement](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates/public-preview-private-link-azure-automation-is-now-available/). ### Hybrid Runbook Worker support for Windows Server 2008 R2 **Type:** New feature Automation Hybrid Runbook Worker supports the Windows Server 2008 R2 operating system. ### Update Management support for Windows Server 2008 R2 **Type:** New feature Update Management supports assessing and patching the Windows Server 2008 R2 operating system. See [Supported operating systems](update-management/operating-system-requirements.md) for updates to the documentation to reflect these changes. ### Automation diagnostic logs schema update **Type:** New feature Changed the schema of Azure Automation log data in the Log Analytics service. To learn more, see [Forward Azure Automation job data to Azure Monitor logs](automation-manage-send-joblogs-log-analytics.md#filter-job-status-output-converted-into-a-json-object). ### Azure Lighthouse supports Automation Update Management **Type:** New feature Azure Lighthouse enables delegated resource management with Update Management for service providers and customers. Read more [here](https://azure.microsoft.com/blog/how-azure-lighthouse-enables-management-at-scale-for-service-providers/). ## June 2020 ### Automation and Update Management availability in the US Gov Arizona region **Type:** New feature Automation account and Update Management are available in US Gov Arizona. For more information, see [announcement](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates/azure-automation-generally-available-in-usgov-arizona-region/). ### Hybrid Runbook Worker onboarding script updated to use Az modules **Type:** New feature The New-OnPremiseHybridWorker runbook has been updated to support Az modules. For more information, see the package in the [PowerShell Gallery](https://www.powershellgallery.com/packages/New-OnPremiseHybridWorker/1.7). ### Update Management availability in China East 2 **Type:** New feature Azure Automation region mapping updated to support Update Management feature in China East 2 region. See [Supported region mapping](how-to/region-mappings.md#supported-mappings-for-log-analytics-and-azure-automation) for updates to the documentation to reflect this change. ## May 2020 ### Updated Automation service DNS records from region-specific to Automation account-specific URLs **Type:** New feature Azure Automation DNS records have been updated to support Private Links. For more information, read the [announcement](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates/azure-automation-updateddns-records/). ### Added capability to keep Automation runbooks and DSC scripts encrypted by default **Type:** New feature In addition to improve security of assets, runbooks, and DSC scripts are also encrypted to enhance Azure Automation security. ## April 2020 ### Retirement of the Automation watcher task **Type:** Plan for change Azure Logic Apps is now the recommended and supported way to monitor for events, schedule recurring tasks, and trigger actions. There will be no further investments in Watcher task functionality. To learn more, see [Schedule and run recurring automated tasks with Logic Apps](../logic-apps/concepts-schedule-automated-recurring-tasks-workflows.md). ## March 2020 ### Support for Impact Level 5 (IL5) compute isolation in Azure commercial and Government cloud **Type:** Azure Automation Hybrid Runbook Worker can be used in Azure Government to support Impact Level 5 workloads. To learn more, see our [documentation](automation-hybrid-runbook-worker.md#support-for-impact-level-5-il5). ## February 2020 ### Introduced support for Azure virtual network service tags **Type:** New feature Automation support of service tags allows or denies the traffic for the Automation service, for a subset of scenarios. To learn more, see the [documentation](automation-hybrid-runbook-worker.md#service-tags). ### Enable TLS 1.2 support for Azure Automation service **Type:** Plan for change Azure Automation fully supports [TLS 1.2 or higher](../automation/automation-managing-data.md#tls-for-azure-automation) and all client calls (through webhooks, DSC nodes, and hybrid worker). TLS 1.1 and TLS 1.0 are still supported for backward compatibility with older clients until customers standardize and fully migrate to TLS 1.2. ## January 2020 ### Introduced Public Preview of customer-managed keys for Azure Automation **Type:** New feature Customers can manage and secure encryption of Azure Automation assets using their own managed keys. For more information, see [Use of customer-managed keys](automation-secure-asset-encryption.md#use-of-customer-managed-keys-for-an-automation-account). ### Retirement of Azure Service Management (ASM) REST APIs for Azure Automation **Type:** Retire Azure Service Management (ASM) REST APIs for Azure Automation will be retired and no longer supported after January 30, 2020. To learn more, see the [announcement](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates/azure-automation-service-management-rest-apis-are-being-retired-april-30-2019/). ## Next steps If you'd like to contribute to Azure Automation documentation, see our [contributor guide](/contribute/).