Microsoft Sets 2027 Retirement for Azure Lab Services

Microsoft has outlined its plan to discontinue Azure Lab Services by June 28, 2027. Current users are encouraged to migrate to other services as new subscriptions have ceased since July 15, 2024. Azure Lab Services has been a key component of Microsoft’s cloud portfolio, allowing users to establish and manage virtual labs for educational activities, hackathons, training, and more. It is a cloud-based platform provided by Microsoft that simplifies the creation and management of virtual labs. It’s designed to cater to educational institutions, businesses, and individuals who need to set up secure, accessible, and scalable lab environments. Replacement Options To fill the gap left by the retiring service, Microsoft suggests alternatives like Azure Virtual Desktop, Windows 365, Azure DevTest Labs, and Microsoft Dev Box. Additionally, third-party options such as Apporto, CloudLabs by Spektra Systems, Nerdio Manager for Enterprise, and Skillable are recommended. Existing subscribers can utilize their virtual labs and resources until the specified retirement date. All labs and images created before July 15, 2024, will remain available until June 28, 2027. Post-retirement, image galleries will still be accessible. Support and Transition Guidance Support for Azure Lab Services will continue up to the retirement date. To facilitate a smooth transition, detailed guidelines and help are available on Microsoft’s support page. Users can also create support tickets through the Azure portal to address specific technical queries. The decision to retire Azure Lab Services reflects Microsoft’s strategy to optimize its virtual desktop infrastructure offerings. Users will need to assess their current use cases and potentially reconfigure systems to align with new platforms, which may involve additional considerations.