diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index c678ad2c..2c325e2d 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
             },
             "devDependencies": {
                 "@microsoft/eslint-config-azuretools": "^0.2.2",
-                "@microsoft/vscode-azext-dev": "^2.0.0",
+                "@microsoft/vscode-azext-dev": "^2.0.4",
                 "@types/fs-extra": "^8.1.1",
                 "@types/gulp": "^4.0.8",
                 "@types/mocha": "^8.2.2",
@@ -609,9 +609,9 @@
             }
         },
         "node_modules/@microsoft/vscode-azext-dev": {
-            "version": "2.0.0",
-            "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@microsoft/vscode-azext-dev/-/vscode-azext-dev-2.0.0.tgz",
-            "integrity": "sha512-fnj7UqLAHgLgLewPixzU4s20W+cEFHdLQ0CXsgCDdwQ2zw8ToyB9bn9HGr93UfWvQtktCPaPDgUmwXWpdd9ocg==",
+            "version": "2.0.4",
+            "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@microsoft/vscode-azext-dev/-/vscode-azext-dev-2.0.4.tgz",
+            "integrity": "sha512-+XZenjPrfsEc3OPMOdPBVCgPsTvx6h1BVItf5mUoRC3lfN3Gv8OZF80VIETnC9Gj5nB+9nDpQWDzj9V/+2ZS/g==",
             "dev": true,
             "dependencies": {
                 "assert": "^2.0.0",
@@ -11876,9 +11876,9 @@
             }
         },
         "@microsoft/vscode-azext-dev": {
-            "version": "2.0.0",
-            "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@microsoft/vscode-azext-dev/-/vscode-azext-dev-2.0.0.tgz",
-            "integrity": "sha512-fnj7UqLAHgLgLewPixzU4s20W+cEFHdLQ0CXsgCDdwQ2zw8ToyB9bn9HGr93UfWvQtktCPaPDgUmwXWpdd9ocg==",
+            "version": "2.0.4",
+            "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/@microsoft/vscode-azext-dev/-/vscode-azext-dev-2.0.4.tgz",
+            "integrity": "sha512-+XZenjPrfsEc3OPMOdPBVCgPsTvx6h1BVItf5mUoRC3lfN3Gv8OZF80VIETnC9Gj5nB+9nDpQWDzj9V/+2ZS/g==",
             "dev": true,
             "requires": {
                 "assert": "^2.0.0",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index c171b1d5..d72dbfc0 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@
     },
     "devDependencies": {
         "@microsoft/eslint-config-azuretools": "^0.2.2",
-        "@microsoft/vscode-azext-dev": "^2.0.0",
+        "@microsoft/vscode-azext-dev": "^2.0.4",
         "@types/fs-extra": "^8.1.1",
         "@types/gulp": "^4.0.8",
         "@types/mocha": "^8.2.2",
diff --git a/src/commands/AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep.ts b/src/commands/AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ab9e9dcc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/commands/AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,67 @@
+/*---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+ *  Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
+ *  Licensed under the MIT License. See License.txt in the project root for license information.
+ *--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
+
+import { activityFailContext, activityFailIcon, activityProgressContext, activityProgressIcon, activitySuccessContext, activitySuccessIcon, AzureWizardExecuteStep, createUniversallyUniqueContextValue, GenericParentTreeItem, GenericTreeItem, type ExecuteActivityOutput, type IActionContext } from "@microsoft/vscode-azext-utils";
+
+export abstract class AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep<T extends IActionContext> extends AzureWizardExecuteStep<T> {
+    protected abstract getSuccessString(context: T): string;
+    protected abstract getProgressString(context: T): string;
+    protected abstract getFailString(context: T): string;
+    abstract stepName: string;
+
+    public createSuccessOutput(context: T): ExecuteActivityOutput {
+        return createExecuteActivityOutput(context, {
+            activityStatus: 'Success',
+            label: this.getSuccessString(context),
+            stepName: this.stepName
+        });
+    }
+
+    public createProgressOutput(context: T): ExecuteActivityOutput {
+        return createExecuteActivityOutput(context, {
+            activityStatus: 'Progress',
+            label: this.getProgressString(context),
+            stepName: this.stepName
+        });
+    }
+
+    public createFailOutput(context: T): ExecuteActivityOutput {
+        return createExecuteActivityOutput(context, {
+            activityStatus: 'Fail',
+            label: this.getFailString(context),
+            stepName: this.stepName
+        });
+    }
+
+}
+
+function createExecuteActivityOutput(context: IActionContext, options: {
+    stepName: string
+    activityStatus: 'Success' | 'Fail' | 'Progress',
+    label: string
+}): ExecuteActivityOutput {
+    const activityContext = options.activityStatus === 'Success' ? activitySuccessContext : options.activityStatus === 'Fail' ? activityFailContext : activityProgressContext;
+    const contextValue = createUniversallyUniqueContextValue([`nsgCreateStep${options.activityStatus}Item`, activityContext]);
+    const label = options.label;
+    const iconPath = options.activityStatus === 'Success' ? activitySuccessIcon : options.activityStatus === 'Fail' ? activityFailIcon : activityProgressIcon;
+
+    const item = options.activityStatus === 'Fail' ?
+        // there is logic that will automatically tack on error items as children if thrown in that step so return a parent tree item
+        new GenericParentTreeItem(undefined, {
+            contextValue,
+            label,
+            iconPath
+        }) :
+        new GenericTreeItem(undefined, {
+            contextValue,
+            label,
+            iconPath
+        });
+
+    return {
+        item,
+        message: options.label
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/NetworkInterfaceCreateStep.ts b/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/NetworkInterfaceCreateStep.ts
index 15965833..1897b0d5 100644
--- a/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/NetworkInterfaceCreateStep.ts
+++ b/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/NetworkInterfaceCreateStep.ts
@@ -5,15 +5,17 @@
 
 import { type NetworkInterface, type NetworkManagementClient, type PublicIPAddress, type Subnet } from '@azure/arm-network';
 import { LocationListStep, type AzExtLocation } from '@microsoft/vscode-azext-azureutils';
-import { AzureWizardExecuteStep, nonNullProp, nonNullValueAndProp } from "@microsoft/vscode-azext-utils";
+import { nonNullProp, nonNullValueAndProp } from "@microsoft/vscode-azext-utils";
 import { type Progress } from "vscode";
 import { ext } from '../../extensionVariables';
 import { localize } from '../../localize';
 import { createNetworkClient } from '../../utils/azureClients';
+import { AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep } from '../AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep';
 import { type IVirtualMachineWizardContext } from './IVirtualMachineWizardContext';
 
-export class NetworkInterfaceCreateStep extends AzureWizardExecuteStep<IVirtualMachineWizardContext> {
+export class NetworkInterfaceCreateStep extends AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep<IVirtualMachineWizardContext> {
     public priority: number = 250;
+    stepName: string = 'networkInterfaceCreateStep';
 
     public async execute(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext, progress: Progress<{ message?: string | undefined; increment?: number | undefined }>): Promise<void> {
         const networkClient: NetworkManagementClient = await createNetworkClient(context);
@@ -33,15 +35,15 @@ export class NetworkInterfaceCreateStep extends AzureWizardExecuteStep<IVirtualM
             location, extendedLocation, ipConfigurations: [{ name: context.newNetworkInterfaceName, publicIPAddress: publicIpAddress, subnet: subnet }]
         };
 
-        const creatingNi: string = localize('creatingNi', `Creating new network interface "${context.newNetworkInterfaceName}"...`);
-        progress.report({ message: creatingNi });
-        ext.outputChannel.appendLog(creatingNi);
+        progress.report({ message: this.getProgressString(context) });
+        ext.outputChannel.appendLog(this.getProgressString(context));
 
         const rgName: string = nonNullValueAndProp(context.resourceGroup, 'name');
-        await networkClient.networkInterfaces.beginCreateOrUpdateAndWait(rgName, context.newNetworkInterfaceName, networkInterfaceProps);
+        const vnName = context.newNetworkInterfaceName;
+        await networkClient.networkInterfaces.beginCreateOrUpdateAndWait(rgName, vnName, networkInterfaceProps);
         // workaround for https://github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-js/issues/20249
-        context.networkInterface = await networkClient.networkInterfaces.get(rgName, context.newNetworkInterfaceName);
-        ext.outputChannel.appendLog(localize('createdNi', `Created new network interface "${context.newNetworkInterfaceName}".`));
+        context.networkInterface = await networkClient.networkInterfaces.get(rgName, vnName);
+        ext.outputChannel.appendLog(this.getSuccessString(context));
     }
 
     public shouldExecute(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext): boolean {
@@ -60,4 +62,16 @@ export class NetworkInterfaceCreateStep extends AzureWizardExecuteStep<IVirtualM
 
         return niName;
     }
+
+    protected getSuccessString(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext): string {
+        return localize('createdNi', 'Created new virtual network "{0}".', context.newNetworkInterfaceName);
+    }
+
+    protected getProgressString(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext): string {
+        return localize('creatingNi', 'Creating new virtual network "{0}"...', context.newNetworkInterfaceName);
+    }
+
+    protected getFailString(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext): string {
+        return this.getSuccessString(context);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/NetworkSecurityGroupCreateStep.ts b/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/NetworkSecurityGroupCreateStep.ts
index 695a3dc7..1465391e 100644
--- a/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/NetworkSecurityGroupCreateStep.ts
+++ b/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/NetworkSecurityGroupCreateStep.ts
@@ -5,15 +5,17 @@
 
 import { type NetworkManagementClient, type NetworkSecurityGroup, type SecurityRule } from '@azure/arm-network';
 import { LocationListStep } from "@microsoft/vscode-azext-azureutils";
-import { AzureWizardExecuteStep, nonNullProp, nonNullValueAndProp } from "@microsoft/vscode-azext-utils";
+import { nonNullProp, nonNullValueAndProp } from "@microsoft/vscode-azext-utils";
 import { type Progress } from "vscode";
 import { ext } from '../../extensionVariables';
 import { localize } from '../../localize';
 import { createNetworkClient } from '../../utils/azureClients';
+import { AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep } from '../AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep';
 import { type IVirtualMachineWizardContext } from './IVirtualMachineWizardContext';
 
-export class NetworkSecurityGroupCreateStep extends AzureWizardExecuteStep<IVirtualMachineWizardContext> {
+export class NetworkSecurityGroupCreateStep extends AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep<IVirtualMachineWizardContext> {
     public priority: number = 220;
+    stepName: string = 'nsgCreateStep';
 
     public async execute(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext, progress: Progress<{ message?: string | undefined; increment?: number | undefined }>): Promise<void> {
         const networkClient: NetworkManagementClient = await createNetworkClient(context);
@@ -43,10 +45,24 @@ export class NetworkSecurityGroupCreateStep extends AzureWizardExecuteStep<IVirt
         await networkClient.networkSecurityGroups.beginCreateOrUpdateAndWait(rgName, nsgName, networkSecurityGroupProps);
         // workaround for https://github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-js/issues/20249
         context.networkSecurityGroup = await networkClient.networkSecurityGroups.get(rgName, nsgName);
-        ext.outputChannel.appendLog(localize('createdNsg', `Created new network security group "${nsgName}".`));
+        ext.outputChannel.appendLog(this.getSuccessString(context));
     }
 
     public shouldExecute(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext): boolean {
         return !context.networkSecurityGroup;
     }
+
+    protected getProgressString(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext): string {
+        const nsgName: string = nonNullProp(context, 'newVirtualMachineName') + '-nsg';
+        return localize('createdNsg', 'Creating new network security group "{0}"...', nsgName);
+    }
+
+    protected getSuccessString(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext): string {
+        const nsgName: string = nonNullProp(context, 'newVirtualMachineName') + '-nsg';
+        return localize('createdNsg', 'Created new network security group "{0}".', nsgName);
+    }
+
+    protected getFailString(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext): string {
+        return this.getSuccessString(context);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/PublicIpCreateStep.ts b/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/PublicIpCreateStep.ts
index 1b8ac883..44be374e 100644
--- a/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/PublicIpCreateStep.ts
+++ b/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/PublicIpCreateStep.ts
@@ -5,15 +5,17 @@
 
 import { type NetworkManagementClient, type PublicIPAddress } from '@azure/arm-network';
 import { LocationListStep } from '@microsoft/vscode-azext-azureutils';
-import { AzureWizardExecuteStep, nonNullProp, nonNullValueAndProp } from "@microsoft/vscode-azext-utils";
+import { nonNullProp, nonNullValueAndProp } from "@microsoft/vscode-azext-utils";
 import { type Progress } from "vscode";
 import { ext } from '../../extensionVariables';
 import { localize } from '../../localize';
 import { createNetworkClient } from '../../utils/azureClients';
+import { AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep } from '../AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep';
 import { type IVirtualMachineWizardContext } from './IVirtualMachineWizardContext';
 
-export class PublicIpCreateStep extends AzureWizardExecuteStep<IVirtualMachineWizardContext> {
+export class PublicIpCreateStep extends AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep<IVirtualMachineWizardContext> {
     public priority: number = 210;
+    stepName: string = 'publicIpCreateStep';
 
     public async execute(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext, progress: Progress<{ message?: string | undefined; increment?: number | undefined }>): Promise<void> {
         const networkClient: NetworkManagementClient = await createNetworkClient(context);
@@ -34,9 +36,8 @@ export class PublicIpCreateStep extends AzureWizardExecuteStep<IVirtualMachineWi
         // when creating a VM on the portal, this is the suffix that is added to the public IP address
         const ipName: string = nonNullProp(context, 'newVirtualMachineName') + '-ip';
 
-        const creatingIp: string = localize('creatingIp', `Creating new public IP addresss "${ipName}"...`);
-        progress.report({ message: creatingIp });
-        ext.outputChannel.appendLog(creatingIp);
+        progress.report({ message: this.getProgressString(context) });
+        ext.outputChannel.appendLog(this.getProgressString(context));
 
         try {
             await networkClient.publicIPAddresses.beginCreateOrUpdateAndWait(rgName, ipName, publicIpProps);
@@ -48,10 +49,24 @@ export class PublicIpCreateStep extends AzureWizardExecuteStep<IVirtualMachineWi
             }
             throw e;
         }
-        ext.outputChannel.appendLog(localize('creatingIp', `Created new public IP addresss "${ipName}".`));
+        ext.outputChannel.appendLog(this.getSuccessString(context));
     }
 
     public shouldExecute(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext): boolean {
         return !context.publicIpAddress;
     }
+
+    protected getSuccessString(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext): string {
+        const ipName: string = nonNullProp(context, 'newVirtualMachineName') + '-ip';
+        return localize('createdIp', 'Created new public IP addresss "{0}".', ipName);
+    }
+
+    protected getProgressString(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext): string {
+        const ipName: string = nonNullProp(context, 'newVirtualMachineName') + '-ip';
+        return localize('creatingIp', 'Creating new public IP addresss "{0}"...', ipName);
+    }
+
+    protected getFailString(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext): string {
+        return this.getSuccessString(context);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/SubnetCreateStep.ts b/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/SubnetCreateStep.ts
index 48b6b6ef..f45106ab 100644
--- a/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/SubnetCreateStep.ts
+++ b/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/SubnetCreateStep.ts
@@ -4,15 +4,18 @@
  *--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 
 import { type NetworkManagementClient, type Subnet } from '@azure/arm-network';
-import { AzureWizardExecuteStep, nonNullProp, nonNullValueAndProp } from "@microsoft/vscode-azext-utils";
+import { nonNullProp, nonNullValueAndProp } from "@microsoft/vscode-azext-utils";
 import { type Progress } from "vscode";
 import { ext } from '../../extensionVariables';
 import { localize } from '../../localize';
 import { createNetworkClient } from '../../utils/azureClients';
+import { AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep } from '../AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep';
 import { type IVirtualMachineWizardContext } from './IVirtualMachineWizardContext';
 
-export class SubnetCreateStep extends AzureWizardExecuteStep<IVirtualMachineWizardContext> {
+export class SubnetCreateStep extends AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep<IVirtualMachineWizardContext> {
     public priority: number = 240;
+    private _subnetName: string = 'default';
+    stepName: string = 'subnetCreateStep';
 
     public async execute(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext, progress: Progress<{ message?: string | undefined; increment?: number | undefined }>): Promise<void> {
         const networkClient: NetworkManagementClient = await createNetworkClient(context);
@@ -20,21 +23,30 @@ export class SubnetCreateStep extends AzureWizardExecuteStep<IVirtualMachineWiza
         const rgName: string = nonNullValueAndProp(context.resourceGroup, 'name');
         const vnetName: string = nonNullValueAndProp(context.virtualNetwork, 'name');
         // this is the name the portal uses
-        const subnetName: string = 'default';
 
-        const creatingSubnet: string = localize('creatingSubnet', `Creating new subnet "${subnetName}"...`);
-        const subnetProps: Subnet = { addressPrefix: nonNullProp(context, 'addressPrefix'), name: subnetName, networkSecurityGroup: context.networkSecurityGroup };
+        const subnetProps: Subnet = { addressPrefix: nonNullProp(context, 'addressPrefix'), name: this._subnetName, networkSecurityGroup: context.networkSecurityGroup };
 
-        progress.report({ message: creatingSubnet });
-        ext.outputChannel.appendLog(creatingSubnet);
+        progress.report({ message: this.getProgressString() });
+        ext.outputChannel.appendLog(this.getProgressString());
 
-        await networkClient.subnets.beginCreateOrUpdateAndWait(rgName, vnetName, subnetName, subnetProps);
+        await networkClient.subnets.beginCreateOrUpdateAndWait(rgName, vnetName, this._subnetName, subnetProps);
         // workaround for https://github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-js/issues/20249
-        context.subnet = await networkClient.subnets.get(rgName, vnetName, subnetName);
-        ext.outputChannel.appendLog(localize('createdSubnet', `Created new subnet "${subnetName}".`));
+        context.subnet = await networkClient.subnets.get(rgName, vnetName, this._subnetName);
+        ext.outputChannel.appendLog(this.getSuccessString());
     }
 
     public shouldExecute(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext): boolean {
         return !context.subnet;
     }
+    public getSuccessString(): string {
+        return localize('createdVm', 'Created new subnet "{0}".', this._subnetName);
+    }
+
+    public getProgressString(): string {
+        return localize('creatingVm', 'Creating new subnet "{0}"...', this._subnetName);
+    }
+
+    protected getFailString(): string {
+        return this.getSuccessString();
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/VirtualMachineCreateStep.ts b/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/VirtualMachineCreateStep.ts
index 3556a1be..e488509a 100644
--- a/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/VirtualMachineCreateStep.ts
+++ b/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/VirtualMachineCreateStep.ts
@@ -6,17 +6,19 @@
 import { type ComputeManagementClient, type HardwareProfile, type LinuxConfiguration, type NetworkProfile, type OSProfile, type StorageProfile, type VirtualMachine, type WindowsConfiguration } from '@azure/arm-compute';
 import { type NetworkInterface } from '@azure/arm-network';
 import { LocationListStep } from '@microsoft/vscode-azext-azureutils';
-import { AzureWizardExecuteStep, callWithTelemetryAndErrorHandling, nonNullProp, nonNullValueAndProp, type IActionContext } from "@microsoft/vscode-azext-utils";
+import { callWithTelemetryAndErrorHandling, nonNullProp, nonNullValueAndProp, type IActionContext } from "@microsoft/vscode-azext-utils";
 import { window, type MessageItem, type Progress } from "vscode";
 import { viewOutput } from '../../constants';
 import { ext } from '../../extensionVariables';
 import { localize } from '../../localize';
 import { createComputeClient } from '../../utils/azureClients';
 import { createSshKey } from '../../utils/sshUtils';
+import { AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep } from '../AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep';
 import { type IVirtualMachineWizardContext } from './IVirtualMachineWizardContext';
 
-export class VirtualMachineCreateStep extends AzureWizardExecuteStep<IVirtualMachineWizardContext> {
+export class VirtualMachineCreateStep extends AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep<IVirtualMachineWizardContext> {
     public priority: number = 260;
+    stepName: string = 'virtualMachineCreateStep';
 
     public async execute(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext, progress: Progress<{ message?: string | undefined; increment?: number | undefined }>): Promise<void> {
         const newLocation = await LocationListStep.getLocation(context, undefined, true);
@@ -68,7 +70,6 @@ export class VirtualMachineCreateStep extends AzureWizardExecuteStep<IVirtualMac
 
         const rgName: string = nonNullValueAndProp(context.resourceGroup, 'name');
 
-        const creatingVm: string = localize('creatingVm', 'Creating new virtual machine "{0}"...', vmName);
         const creatingVmDetails: string = localize(
             'creatingVmDetails',
             'Creating new virtual machine "{0}" with size "{1}" and image "{2}"',
@@ -76,10 +77,8 @@ export class VirtualMachineCreateStep extends AzureWizardExecuteStep<IVirtualMac
             nonNullProp(hardwareProfile, 'vmSize').replace(/_/g, ' '), // sizes are written with underscores as spaces
             `${nonNullProp(storageProfile, 'imageReference').offer} ${nonNullProp(storageProfile, 'imageReference').sku}`);
 
-        const createdVm: string = localize('creatingVm', 'Created new virtual machine "{0}".', vmName);
-
         ext.outputChannel.appendLog(creatingVmDetails);
-        progress.report({ message: creatingVm });
+        progress.report({ message: this.getProgressString(context) });
         context.virtualMachine = await computeClient.virtualMachines.beginCreateOrUpdateAndWait(rgName, vmName, virtualMachineProps);
 
         context.activityResult = {
@@ -88,10 +87,10 @@ export class VirtualMachineCreateStep extends AzureWizardExecuteStep<IVirtualMac
             type: nonNullProp(context.virtualMachine, 'type'),
         };
 
-        ext.outputChannel.appendLog(createdVm);
+        ext.outputChannel.appendLog(this.getSuccessString(context));
 
         // Note: intentionally not waiting for the result of this before returning
-        void window.showInformationMessage(createdVm, viewOutput).then(async (result: MessageItem | undefined) => {
+        void window.showInformationMessage(this.getSuccessString(context), viewOutput).then(async (result: MessageItem | undefined) => {
             await callWithTelemetryAndErrorHandling('postCreateVM', async (c: IActionContext) => {
                 c.telemetry.properties.dialogResult = result?.title;
                 if (result === viewOutput) {
@@ -104,4 +103,18 @@ export class VirtualMachineCreateStep extends AzureWizardExecuteStep<IVirtualMac
     public shouldExecute(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext): boolean {
         return !context.virtualMachine && !!context.newVirtualMachineName;
     }
+
+    public getSuccessString(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext): string {
+        const vmName: string = nonNullProp(context, 'newVirtualMachineName');
+        return localize('createdVm', 'Created new virtual machine "{0}".', vmName);
+    }
+
+    public getProgressString(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext): string {
+        const vmName: string = nonNullProp(context, 'newVirtualMachineName');
+        return localize('creatingVm', 'Creating new virtual machine "{0}".', vmName);
+    }
+
+    protected getFailString(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext): string {
+        return this.getSuccessString(context);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/VirtualNetworkCreateStep.ts b/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/VirtualNetworkCreateStep.ts
index 5fb421a9..7d850a61 100644
--- a/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/VirtualNetworkCreateStep.ts
+++ b/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/VirtualNetworkCreateStep.ts
@@ -5,15 +5,17 @@
 
 import { type NetworkManagementClient, type VirtualNetwork } from '@azure/arm-network';
 import { LocationListStep } from '@microsoft/vscode-azext-azureutils';
-import { AzureWizardExecuteStep, nonNullProp, nonNullValueAndProp } from "@microsoft/vscode-azext-utils";
+import { nonNullProp, nonNullValueAndProp } from "@microsoft/vscode-azext-utils";
 import { type Progress } from "vscode";
 import { ext } from '../../extensionVariables';
 import { localize } from '../../localize';
 import { createNetworkClient } from '../../utils/azureClients';
+import { AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep } from '../AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep';
 import { type IVirtualMachineWizardContext } from './IVirtualMachineWizardContext';
 
-export class VirtualNetworkCreateStep extends AzureWizardExecuteStep<IVirtualMachineWizardContext> {
+export class VirtualNetworkCreateStep extends AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep<IVirtualMachineWizardContext> {
     public priority: number = 230;
+    stepName: string = 'virtualNetworkCreateStep';
 
     public async execute(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext, progress: Progress<{ message?: string | undefined; increment?: number | undefined }>): Promise<void> {
         const networkClient: NetworkManagementClient = await createNetworkClient(context);
@@ -27,16 +29,31 @@ export class VirtualNetworkCreateStep extends AzureWizardExecuteStep<IVirtualMac
         // network names can't be 1 character and will fail the creation
         const vnName: string = vmName.length === 1 ? `${vmName}-vnet` : vmName;
 
-        const creatingVn: string = localize('creatingVn', `Creating new virtual network "${vnName}"...`);
-        ext.outputChannel.appendLog(creatingVn);
-        progress.report({ message: creatingVn });
+        ext.outputChannel.appendLog(this.getProgressString(context));
+        progress.report({ message: this.getProgressString(context) });
         await networkClient.virtualNetworks.beginCreateOrUpdateAndWait(rgName, vnName, virtualNetworkProps);
         // workaround for https://github.com/Azure/azure-sdk-for-js/issues/20249
         context.virtualNetwork = await networkClient.virtualNetworks.get(rgName, vnName);
-        ext.outputChannel.appendLog(localize('creatingVn', `Created new virtual network "${vnName}".`));
+        ext.outputChannel.appendLog(this.getSuccessString(context));
     }
 
     public shouldExecute(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext): boolean {
         return !context.virtualNetwork;
     }
+
+    public getSuccessString(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext): string {
+        const vmName: string = nonNullProp(context, 'newVirtualMachineName');
+        const vnName: string = vmName.length === 1 ? `${vmName}-vnet` : vmName;
+        return localize('createdVm', 'Created new virtual network "{0}".', vnName);
+    }
+
+    public getProgressString(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext): string {
+        const vmName: string = nonNullProp(context, 'newVirtualMachineName');
+        const vnName: string = vmName.length === 1 ? `${vmName}-vnet` : vmName;
+        return localize('creatingVm', 'Creating new virtual network "{0}".', vnName);
+    }
+
+    protected getFailString(context: IVirtualMachineWizardContext): string {
+        return this.getSuccessString(context);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/createVirtualMachine.ts b/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/createVirtualMachine.ts
index c830a466..50f14edb 100644
--- a/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/createVirtualMachine.ts
+++ b/src/commands/createVirtualMachine/createVirtualMachine.ts
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ export async function createVirtualMachine(context: IActionContext & Partial<ICr
         addressPrefix: '10.1.0.0/24',
         size,
         includeExtendedLocations: true,
-        ...(await createActivityContext())
+        ...(await createActivityContext(true))
     });
 
     const computeProvider: string = 'Microsoft.Compute';
diff --git a/src/commands/deleteVirtualMachine/ConfirmDeleteStep.ts b/src/commands/deleteVirtualMachine/ConfirmDeleteStep.ts
index 33400f3a..4d7c3f09 100644
--- a/src/commands/deleteVirtualMachine/ConfirmDeleteStep.ts
+++ b/src/commands/deleteVirtualMachine/ConfirmDeleteStep.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@ export class ConfirmDeleteStep extends AzureWizardPromptStep<IDeleteChildImplCon
         context.telemetry.properties.deleteVm = String(deleteVm);
     }
 
-
     public shouldPrompt(): boolean {
         return true;
     }
diff --git a/src/commands/deleteVirtualMachine/DeleteVirtualMachineStep.ts b/src/commands/deleteVirtualMachine/DeleteVirtualMachineStep.ts
index ded18bd1..050d2fda 100644
--- a/src/commands/deleteVirtualMachine/DeleteVirtualMachineStep.ts
+++ b/src/commands/deleteVirtualMachine/DeleteVirtualMachineStep.ts
@@ -3,16 +3,18 @@
 *  Licensed under the MIT License. See License.txt in the project root for license information.
 *--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
 
-import { AzureWizardExecuteStep, nonNullProp, type AzExtErrorButton } from "@microsoft/vscode-azext-utils";
+import { nonNullProp, type AzExtErrorButton } from "@microsoft/vscode-azext-utils";
 import { type Progress } from "vscode";
 import { viewOutput, virtualMachineLabel } from "../../constants";
 import { ext } from "../../extensionVariables";
 import { localize } from "../../localize";
+import { AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep } from "../AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep";
 import { deleteAllResources } from "./deleteAllResources";
 import { type IDeleteChildImplContext, type ResourceToDelete } from "./deleteConstants";
 
-export class DeleteVirtualMachineStep extends AzureWizardExecuteStep<IDeleteChildImplContext> {
+export class DeleteVirtualMachineStep extends AzureWizardActivityOutputExecuteStep<IDeleteChildImplContext> {
     public priority: number = 100;
+    stepName: string = 'deleteVirtualMachineStep';
 
     public async execute(context: IDeleteChildImplContext, progress: Progress<{ message?: string | undefined; increment?: number | undefined; }>): Promise<void> {
 
@@ -59,4 +61,16 @@ export class DeleteVirtualMachineStep extends AzureWizardExecuteStep<IDeleteChil
     public shouldExecute(): boolean {
         return true;
     }
+
+    protected getSuccessString(context: IDeleteChildImplContext): string {
+        return localize('deletedVm', 'Deleted virtual machine "{0}".', context.resourceList);
+    }
+
+    protected getProgressString(context: IDeleteChildImplContext): string {
+        return localize('deletingVm', 'Deleting virtual machine "{0}"...', context.resourceList);
+    }
+
+    protected getFailString(context: IDeleteChildImplContext): string {
+        return this.getSuccessString(context);
+    }
 }
diff --git a/src/tree/VirtualMachineTreeItem.ts b/src/tree/VirtualMachineTreeItem.ts
index ea226294..69e0bda3 100644
--- a/src/tree/VirtualMachineTreeItem.ts
+++ b/src/tree/VirtualMachineTreeItem.ts
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ export class VirtualMachineTreeItem implements ResolvedVirtualMachine {
 
         const wizardContext: IDeleteChildImplContext = Object.assign(context, {
             node: this as ResolvedVirtualMachineTreeItem,
-            ...(await createActivityContext()),
+            ...(await createActivityContext(true)),
         });
 
         const wizard = new AzureWizard<IDeleteChildImplContext>(wizardContext, {
diff --git a/src/utils/activityUtils.ts b/src/utils/activityUtils.ts
index 12f68986..d1b417c2 100644
--- a/src/utils/activityUtils.ts
+++ b/src/utils/activityUtils.ts
@@ -7,9 +7,10 @@ import { type ExecuteActivityContext } from "@microsoft/vscode-azext-utils";
 import { ext } from "../extensionVariables";
 import { getWorkspaceSetting } from "../vsCodeConfig/settings";
 
-export async function createActivityContext(): Promise<ExecuteActivityContext> {
+export async function createActivityContext(withChildren?: boolean): Promise<ExecuteActivityContext> {
     return {
         registerActivity: async (activity) => ext.rgApi.registerActivity(activity),
         suppressNotification: await getWorkspaceSetting('suppressActivityNotifications', undefined, 'azureResourceGroups'),
+        activityChildren: withChildren ? [] : undefined
     };
 }