diff --git a/azure-devops/create-vmss.ps1 b/azure-devops/create-vmss.ps1
index 963fb7f874a..15126f5ab46 100644
--- a/azure-devops/create-vmss.ps1
+++ b/azure-devops/create-vmss.ps1
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ $ErrorActionPreference = 'Stop'
 # https://aka.ms/azps-changewarnings
 $Env:SuppressAzurePowerShellBreakingChangeWarnings = 'true'
 
-$Location = 'westus2'
+$Location = 'northeurope'
 $Prefix = 'StlBuild-' + (Get-Date -Format 'yyyy-MM-dd')
 $VMSize = 'Standard_D32as_v4'
 $ProtoVMName = 'PROTOTYPE'
diff --git a/azure-devops/cross-build.yml b/azure-devops/cross-build.yml
index 1bcae239d5b..6cbcb08adb6 100644
--- a/azure-devops/cross-build.yml
+++ b/azure-devops/cross-build.yml
@@ -48,4 +48,4 @@ jobs:
       targetPlatform: ${{ parameters.targetPlatform }}
       targetArch: ${{ parameters.vsDevCmdArch }}
       displayName: 'Build Tests'
-      publishArtifact: true
+      publishArtifact: false # disabled due to GH-1653
diff --git a/azure-pipelines.yml b/azure-pipelines.yml
index 481db224222..262f731d872 100644
--- a/azure-pipelines.yml
+++ b/azure-pipelines.yml
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ variables:
   buildOutputLocation: 'D:\build'
   vcpkgLocation: '$(Build.SourcesDirectory)/vcpkg'
 
-pool: 'StlBuild-2021-02-09'
+pool: 'StlBuild-2021-02-17'
 
 stages:
   - stage: Code_Format