Microsoft Blocks Access to Cloud Products in Russia, Including Visual Studio and Visual C++

Softline has reported that Microsoft will block access to 50 cloud products in Russia, affecting services like Excel, Microsoft 365, Microsoft Teams, Azure, and more. This move will impact corporate applications, development tools, and data storage solutions. Microsoft will also restrict access to Visual Studio, Visual C++, and Visual Studio Code. The block will affect corporate clients in Russia, with data being stored for up to 24 months after subscription termination. Microsoft will reimburse prepaid services that were not provided. The decision to suspend access to cloud services in Russia is part of compliance with EU sanctions, affecting software management and design tools for Russian organizations. Softline is advising system administrators to backup data associated with cloud products from Microsoft, Amazon, and Google. The exact list of restricted products is not yet clear, but it is expected to include popular services like Teams, OneDrive, Azure, and Office 365. Microsoft has promised not to block access to its cloud services for individual users in Russia, only affecting registered companies. The situation is still evolving, with discussions ongoing about potentially delaying the suspension of services until the end of the month.