Google spam + Azure updates matter

Google logged the March 24, 2026 spam update at 12:18 PM PT on its Search Status Dashboard and posted a completion note the morning of March 25 after a rollout that took under 20 hours. (status.search.google.com) Google characterized the release as a routine “spam update” aimed at enforcement of its webspam policies — specifically calling out issues like cloaking, scraped or auto‑generated content, doorway pages, and link spam in its public notices and Search Central posts. (searchengineland.com) Third‑party monitoring recorded near‑maximum volatility during the window (SEMrush Sensor readings reported around 9.5/10) and multiple SEO outlets logged rapid ranking shifts within hours of the deployment. (pikaseo.com) SEO practitioners reported demotions and index removals for sites running mass‑produced local doorway pages, low‑value AI‑generated content, or large volumes of scraped immigration material during the update’s active period. (ignitedigital.com) On Azure, Microsoft pushed compliance‑relevant changes this month: Fabric SQL Database announced GA support for customer‑managed keys (CMK) on March 26, 2026, while a preview for Premium SSD v2 with CMK in Azure Database for PostgreSQL appeared in mid‑March. (azurecharts.com) Azure also moved features that reduce cross‑border exposure into GA/preview — including Fabric mirroring and Cosmos DB mirroring with private endpoints and managed cross‑region replication that keep replication traffic on private Azure backbones between paired regions. (azurecharts.com) Microsoft’s EU Data Boundary and Trust Center documentation state that any transfers of Customer Data outside the boundary are subject to contractual safeguards, transparency reporting, and technical controls (CMKs, in‑region storage, Private Link/VNet isolation) to support GDPR/Schrems II‑style compliance requirements. (cdn-dynmedia-1.microsoft.com)