Lifecycle FAQ - Microsoft Azure

Originally published: June 6, 2016
Updated: September 1, 2021

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Microsoft software supported on Azure Virtual Machines (Infrastructure as a Service) follows the existing Mainstream and Extended Support phase of the Fixed Policy.

All other Azure services follow the Modern Lifecycle Policy

What is the policy for Azure SDKs?

Microsoft will provide notification 12 months before retiring an SDK to smooth the transition to a supported version. For more details, refer to the SDK support guidelines.

What is the policy for Azure Cloud Services (classic and extended support)?

Guest OS

Microsoft Azure Cloud Services will support no fewer than the latest two Guest OS Families for deploying new Cloud Services. Microsoft will provide notification 12 months before retiring a Guest OS family to smooth the transition to a supported Guest OS family. For more information about supported Guest OS families, please refer to Microsoft Azure Guest OS Releases and SDK Compatibility Matrix.

Azure SDK

The Microsoft Azure SDK policy covers Microsoft Azure SDK authoring tools, REST APIs, client libraries, command-line utilities, compute & storage emulators, and Azure Tools for Microsoft Visual Studio.

Microsoft Azure Cloud Services will support no fewer than the latest two SDK versions for deploying new Cloud Services. Microsoft will provide notification 12 months before retiring an SDK to smooth the transition to a supported version.