---
slug: "azure-network-watcher-nsg-flow-logs-retirement"
title: "Azure Network Watcher: NSG flow logs retirement"
summary: "Network security group (NSG) flow logs in Azure Network Watcher are retired on 30 Sep 2027. New NSG flow logs can no longer be created, and Microsoft recommends virtual network flow logs instead."
cloud: "azure"
service: "Azure Network Watcher"
service_slug: "network-watcher"
category: "feature"
type: "retirement"
announced_date: "2024-09-26"
effective_date: "2027-09-30"
effective_precision: "day"
replacement: "Virtual network flow logs"
affected_versions: []
source_url: "https://azure.microsoft.com/updates?id=azure-nsg-flow-logs-retirement"
extra_source_urls: []
vendor_ref: "azure-nsg-flow-logs-retirement"
last_checked_at: "2026-11-12T09:55:19.345Z"
created_at: "2026-11-13T13:36:44.208Z"
updated_at: "2026-11-13T13:36:44.208Z"
url: "https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-network-watcher-nsg-flow-logs-retirement"
short_url: "https://eolwatch.dev/i/7w"
markdown_url: "https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-network-watcher-nsg-flow-logs-retirement.md"
json_url: "https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-network-watcher-nsg-flow-logs-retirement.json"
source_note: null
---

# Azure Network Watcher: NSG flow logs retirement

Network security group (NSG) flow logs in Azure Network Watcher are retired on 30 Sep 2027. New NSG flow logs can no longer be created, and Microsoft recommends virtual network flow logs instead.

- Effective date: 30 Sep 2027
- Cloud: [Azure](https://eolwatch.dev/cloud/azure.md)
- Service: [Azure Network Watcher](https://eolwatch.dev/services/azure/network-watcher.md)
- Type: Retirement
- Category: [Feature](https://eolwatch.dev/categories/features.md)
- Replacement: Virtual network flow logs
- Announced: 26 Sep 2024
- Official source: [azure.microsoft.com](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates?id=azure-nsg-flow-logs-retirement)
- Last checked: 12 Nov 2026

## What breaks

Network security group (NSG) flow logs in Azure Network Watcher are retired on the retirement date. Creating new NSG flow logs has been blocked since June 30th, 2025. Microsoft states that migrating to virtual network flow logs by the retirement date avoids service disruptions.

## What to do

1. Migrate to [virtual network flow logs](https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2287108) in Network Watcher, which Microsoft recommends, before the retirement date: [migrate to virtual network flow logs](https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2287109).
2. See service retirements that may impact your resources in the [Azure Retirement Workbook](https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?linkid=2279408). A retirement can take up to two weeks after its announcement to appear there.

## Replacement

Virtual network flow logs

## Sources

- [Official source](https://azure.microsoft.com/updates?id=azure-nsg-flow-logs-retirement) (azure.microsoft.com, Official)

Last checked against this source on 12 Nov 2026.

Page: https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-network-watcher-nsg-flow-logs-retirement | JSON: https://eolwatch.dev/items/azure-network-watcher-nsg-flow-logs-retirement.json

The text on this page is drafted with AI assistance from the vendor's text, checked against the official source and approved by a person before it is published.