Connected-Seth explores Azure Event Grid’s latest advancements, such as stronger MQTT security, broad event integration, and Sparkplug B support for smart factories, offering secure and scalable event-driven architectures on Azure.

What’s New in Azure Event Grid: Security, MQTT, and Smart Factory Integration

Azure Event Grid introduces significant enhancements designed to elevate security, scalability, and interoperability for modern event-driven architectures. These improvements address the needs of real-time telemetry, automation, hybrid workloads, and industrial IoT scenarios.

Key Feature Updates

1. Enhanced Security Models

  • OAuth 2.0 Authentication for MQTT
    • Authenticate MQTT clients using JWTs from any OpenID Connect (OIDC)-compliant provider.
    • Integrate with Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure AD) and custom/third-party IAM.
    • Learn more
  • Custom Webhook Authentication
    • Use Azure Functions or external services to validate clients.
    • Support SAS, API keys, credentials, and X.509 fingerprint verification.
    • Fits dynamic device fleets and multitenant architectures.
    • Learn more

2. Operational and Device Management Improvements

  • Assigned Client Identifiers (Preview)
    • Deterministically assign pre-approved IDs for MQTT clients.
    • Improves session continuity, device tracking, diagnostics, and audits in regulated or large-scale environments.
    • More info
  • HTTP Publish (Public Preview)
    • Allow HTTP-based services and legacy applications to publish directly to Event Grid topics.
    • Enables smooth integration of RESTful and webhook-based workflows.
    • Details
  • MQTT Retain Support (Public Preview)
    • Store and deliver the last known message on topic subscription.
    • Useful for telemetry, stateful dashboards, and device shadows.
    • Details

3. Tight Integration with Microsoft Fabric

  • First-Class Fabric Integration
    • Route MQTT and Cloud Events from Event Grid directly to Fabric Event Streams for analytics, storage, and visualization—without intermediate hops through Event Hub.
    • Learn more

Smart Factories with Azure Event Grid MQTT Broker and Sparkplug B

Industrial organizations embracing Industry 4.0 can now leverage:

  • Sparkplug B Protocol
    • Purpose-built for industrial IoT, Sparkplug B ensures standardized data exchange and device lifecycle monitoring (e.g., BIRTH, DEATH events).
  • Reliable Messaging
    • QoS 1 for at-least-once delivery, Last Will & Testament for device state changes.
    • Retained messages so new subscribers get the latest machine data.
  • Edge-to-Cloud Data Flow
    • Connect sensors and gateways via MQTT to Event Grid, supporting real-time dashboards, predictive analytics, and automated alerts in Azure Data Explorer or Fabric.
    • Sparkplug B support

Industry Use Cases

  • Real-time machine monitoring across plants
  • Predictive maintenance through trend insights
  • Seamless integration with Ignition SCADA via Cirrus Link
  • Secure, scalable data pipelines for factory floors

Getting Started

Authored by Connected-Seth, updated October 1, 2025. For more Azure messaging updates, follow the Messaging on Azure Blog.

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