Building Intelligent Apps with Azure Cache for Redis, EntraID, Azure Functions, E1 SKU, and more!

We're excited to announce the latest updates to Azure Cache for Redis that will improve your data management and application performance as we kickoff for Microsoft Build 2024. Coming soon, the Enterprise E1 SKU (Preview) will offer a lower entry price, Redis modules, and enterprise-grade features. The Azure Function Triggers and Bindings for Redis are now in general availability, simplifying your workflow with seamless integration. Microsoft EntraID in Azure Cache for Redis is now in GA, providing enhanced security management. And there's more – we are also sharing added resources for developing intelligent applications using Azure Cache for Redis Enterprise, enabling you to build smarter, more responsive apps. Read the blog below to find out more about these amazing updates and how they can enhance your Azure Cache for Redis experience. 

Building Intelligent Apps with Azure Cache for Redis 

Developers can leverage the power and versatility of Azure Cache for Redis Enterprise to build and enhance intelligent apps. In this Azure .NET session, you will learn how to use various libraries and SDKs, such as semantic kernel, Redis OM for DotNet, and .NET 8 caching abstractions, to implement scenarios such as AI chatbots, vector similarity search, semantic caching, and more. Additionally, the scenarios can also be supported across various languages such as Java, Python, Node.js, and, Go. You will also see how to integrate Azure Cache for Redis with other Azure services, such as Cognitive Services and Azure Cosmos DB, to create responsive intelligent applications. Check out the video, documentation, and demo to discover how Azure Cache for Redis Enterprise can help you take your apps to the next level of intelligence and performance.  

Enterprise E1 SKU (Preview) 

The Azure Cache for Redis Enterprise tier will have a new E1 SKU available in preview soon. The E1 SKU reduces the cost to get started with Azure Cache for Redis Enterprise. This tier will continue to support all Redis modules, such as RediSearch, RedisBloom, RedisTimeSeries, and vector search for generative AI applications. 

Azure Function Triggers and Bindings in Azure Cache for Redis (GA) 

We are also happy to announce that the Azure Functions triggers and bindings in Azure Cache for Redis are now generally available. This feature allows you to easily build serverless applications that connect with your Azure Cache for Redis data, without writing repetitive code. You can use different triggers, such as pub/sub channels, lists, streams, and key space notifications, to run your functions based on events in your cache. You can also use input and output bindings to read and write data from and to your cache within your function code. The Azure Functions Triggers and Bindings for Redis support various languages, such as C#, Java, Node, Python, and PowerShell. They work with both premium and durable functions, and support for consumption functions is being rolled out now on a regional basis. To learn more about this feature and how to get started, check out the tutorial in our documentation, or read about how to use Functions to refresh expired keys in Redis 

Read through cache using Azure Functions 

Event based architectures with Azure Cache for Redis & Azure Functions triggers 

Microsoft Entra ID for Authentication and Authorization (GA)  

Lastly, we are pleased to announce the general availability of Microsoft Entra ID for Authentication and Authorization. Microsoft Entra ID allows you to assign permissions to your Entra ID identities, to control data access policies for your cache. 

Using Microsoft Entra ID for authentication provides you with a secure and flexible way to manage your data access policies and allows you to use Microsoft Entra ID identities, such as service principals and managed identities, to authenticate to your cache. This eliminates the need to store and rotate access keys and simplifies the credential management process. It also enables you to assign permissions to your Microsoft Entra ID identities, and control which commands and keys they can access in your cache. This helps you enforce the principle of least privilege and protect your data from unauthorized access. Learn more about Microsoft Entra ID here and how to configure it for your Azure Cache for Redis here. 

Resources 

Azure Cache for Redis  

• Product page 
• Pricing page 

Building .NET Based Intelligent Apps with Azure Cache for Redis 

• Making .NET intelligent apps smarter and consistent with Redis 
• ChatGPT + Enterprise data with Azure OpenAI and Azure Cognitive Search (.NET) Demo 
• Vector similarity search in Azure Cache for Redis
  

Enterprise E1 SKU (Preview) 

• Pricing page for new SKU  

Azure Function Trigger and Bindings in Azure Cache for Redis (GA) 

• How to Refresh Expired Keys in Redis using Azure Functions 
• Get started with Azure Functions triggers and bindings in Azure Cache for Redis  
• Create a write-behind cache by using Azure Functions and Azure Cache for Redis
  

Microsoft EntraID Authentication and Authorization (GA) 

• Microsoft EntraID documentation