Microsoft defines Azure instance lifecycle without any timing details

Microsoft introduced an "enhanced lifecycle" for Azure virtual machines with four stages: Current, Extended, End of Life and Retired. The company did not disclose how long an instance type stays in each stage and declined to say whether the lifecycle is timed.

• Four stages: Current, Extended, End of Life and Retired
• Retired VMs are deallocated but data is preserved
• Microsoft did not disclose duration of each stage
• Customers are notified directly about specific VM retirements