Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Services

Azure Overview

Microsoft Azure provides on-demand access to cloud resources that help organizations reduce infrastructure costs while increasing flexibility and reliability. Azure offers built-in high availability, backup capabilities, and service-level agreements (SLAs) to support production-ready cloud workloads.

• Cloud Computing
• Azure Benefits
• Software as a Service (SaaS)
• Platform as a Service (PaaS)
• Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
• Global Azure Infrastructure
• Azure Products Overview
• SLA and Pricing
• Azure Resource Manager
• LAB: Azure Overview

Azure Management Tools

Azure resources can be managed using multiple tools, depending on the task and level of automation required. While the Azure portal is suitable for interactive management, command-line tools and scripting with PowerShell and the Azure CLI enable consistent, repeatable administration across environments.

• Azure Portal
• Managing Azure with PowerShell
• Managing Azure with the CLI
• Azure Cloud Shell
• LAB: Azure Management Tools

Azure Authoring Solutions

Azure supports a declarative approach to resource deployment, where infrastructure is defined as code and deployed in a consistent manner. Using these authoring solutions, Azure Resource Manager ensures that resources are created and maintained according to the defined configuration.

• Azure Resource Manager (ARM) Templates
• Terraform
• Bicep
• LAB: Azure Authoring Solutions

Managing Subscriptions

Managing access to Azure resources is essential for maintaining security and operational control. Azure provides a fine-grained permission model that allows you to organize resources, enforce standards, and assign permissions based on roles and responsibilities.

• Managing Azure Subscriptions
• Management Groups
• Naming Conventions, Resource Tagging and Resource Locks
• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
• LAB: Managing Azure Subscriptions

Azure Storage

Azure Storage provides scalable, durable, and highly available storage services for a wide range of data types. Storage accounts support multiple storage services and offer built-in security features to protect data while making it accessible over secure endpoints.

• Azure Storage Types: Blobs, Tables, Queues, Files and Disks
• Storage Accounts
• Secure Access to Storage
• Working with Storage
• Azure File Sync Service
• LAB: Azure Storage

Azure Networking

Azure Virtual Networks provide private network connectivity for virtual machines and other Azure resources. VNets can be connected using VNet peering, after which proper name resolution becomes essential. Azure DNS supports both internal and public name resolution scenarios.

• Virtual Network Overview
• Virtual Network Design
• VNet Peering
• Azure DNS
• LAB: Azure Networking

Azure Virtual Machines

Azure Virtual Machines provide scalable, on-demand compute resources for running Windows and Linux workloads. You can deploy predefined images or use custom virtual hard disks to build environments that meet the specific needs of your organization.

• Virtual Machines Overview, Pricing and Storage
• VM Networking
• Network Security Groups
• Creating VMs
• Connect to a VM: RDP, SSH, Bastion
• LAB: Azure Virtual Machines

Manage Azure VMs

When running virtual machines in Azure, you are responsible for their configuration, maintenance, and availability. Azure provides built-in services and tools to help manage backups, updates, and operational continuity.

• Disk Management
• Windows Admin Center
• VM Extensions
• VM Backup
• Update Management
• VM Troubleshooting Tools: Boot Diagnostics - Run Command - Serial Console
• LAB: Manage Azure VMs

Hybrid Management and Automation

When running virtual machines in Azure, you are responsible for their configuration, maintenance, and availability. Azure provides built-in services and tools to help manage backups, updates, and operational continuity.

• Hybrid Connectivity
• Azure Arc Overview
• Azure Arc-Enabled Servers
• Managed Identities
• Azure Automation Runbooks
• Deploy PowerShell or Python Scripts on Azure and Azure Arc-Enabled VMs
• LAB: Hybrid Management and Automation

Azure Load Balancing

Azure offers multiple services to distribute network traffic and improve the availability and scalability of virtual machine workloads. These services can be used independently or combined to meet different architectural requirements.

• Azure Load Balancer
• Application Gateway
• Web Application Firewall
• Virtual Machine Scale Sets
• LAB: Azure Load Balancing

Container Technology in Azure

Azure provides a range of services for running containerized workloads, from simple container execution to fully managed orchestration platforms. These services allow you to choose the level of control and complexity that best fits your application needs.

• Azure Container Registry
• Azure Container Instances
• Web App for Containers
• Azure Container Apps
• Azure Kubernetes Service
• LAB: Container Technology in Azure

Azure Web Apps

Azure Web Apps enable you to deploy, manage, and scale web applications without managing the underlying infrastructure. The platform provides built-in features for deployment, scaling, security, and backup.

• App Services and App Service Plans
• Web Apps
• Deployment
• Deployment Slots
• Web App Scaling
• Backup and Restore
• Adding a Custom Domain to your Web App
• Enabling HTTPS
• LAB: Azure Web Apps

Azure SQL Database

Azure SQL Database is a fully managed database service based on Microsoft SQL Server. It provides built-in high availability, scalability, security, and business continuity while reducing administrative overhead.

• Azure SQL Database Service
• Managed Instances
• Pricing Models
• Creating and Managing Databases
• Connecting to SQL Azure Database
• Business Continuity
• Security
• LAB: Azure SQL Database

Azure Monitor

Azure Monitor collects and analyzes telemetry data from Azure and on-premises resources. It helps administrators gain visibility into performance, availability, and health, enabling proactive issue detection and troubleshooting.

• Azure Monitoring Overview
• Azure Monitor
• Azure Advisor
• Activity Log
• Service Health
• Alerts and Metrics
• Workbooks
• LAB: Azure Monitor

Azure Log Analytics

Azure Log Analytics centralizes log and monitoring data from multiple resources into a single workspace. This data can be queried and analyzed to gain deeper insights into system behavior and operational issues.

• Azure Monitor Logs
• Log Analytics Workspace
• Data Collection
• Log Data Structure
• Workspace Design
• LAB: Azure Log Analytics

Kusto Query Language

The Kusto Query Language (KQL) is used to query and analyze log and telemetry data stored in Azure data platforms. It enables administrators to explore data, identify patterns, and investigate anomalies using a powerful yet readable query syntax.

• Kusto Query Language
• Writing Basic Log Queries
• Filter Data
• Aggregate Data
• Using Variables
• Joining Multiple Tables in a Single Query
• Functions and Computer Groups
• LAB: Kusto Query Language

Azure Governance

Azure Governance helps organizations control costs, enforce standards, and maintain compliance across Azure environments. Using services such as Azure Policy, administrators can define and enforce rules that ensure resources align with organizational and regulatory requirements.

• Azure Policy Overview
• Create Custom Azure Policies
• Cost Management
• LAB: Azure Governance