What is Microsoft Azure – A Complete Beginners Guide [2021]

What is Cloud Computing?

Cloud computing is a high demand delivery of pay-as-you-need IT services over the internet. Cloud computing allows users to store data in servers instead of buying, maintaining and securing it on data servers.

Cloud computing also allows you to access computing technology services, provides faster innovations, easy digital transformation and flexible resources, and securing data. Cloud computing is cost-efficient as you only pay for what you use. This makes cloud computing help your organisation run smoothly, build IT solutions for your business and scale your business accordingly.

What is Microsoft Azure?

Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing platform launched by Microsoft. Microsoft Azure is a free, open, global, economic and flexible platform that helps IT businesses scaling, developing and smooth the running of the organisations.

Microsoft Azure can be used for services like analytics, Virtual computing, Networking and security, along with being used as supplement or organisation servers. The azure cloud platform is the culmination of more than 200 products that help businesses build solutions that bring the most out of current systems and increase the output of the business to bring stronger ROIs for the organisation.

Types of Azure Clouds

Microsoft Azure is categorised in mainly three types. These types are different from each other based on the service they provide to the organisations. These three types are mainly use-specific for different organisations.

The types include:

1. IaaS

Iaas, also known as the infrastructure as a service, is a platform layer on the basis of foundational aspect. IaaS offers efficient portability of design time. It is recommended for the organisation’s request that requires full control. IaaS provides rapid cloud-based services. It seems that IaaS releases you from the worries that several physical or virtual devices are installed. IaaS helps you connect, monitor, and maintain data centres.

IaaS comes with its limitations, though; it involves a number of security risks due to unpatched servers. IaaS cannot be used in testing and updating servers of organisations that have a defined and set method of organisations.

2. PaaS

PaaS or Platform as a Service is a cloud computing platform that includes an operating system, programming language execution environment, database or web services. Platforms as a service are most commonly used by developers and application service providers. As the name indicates, software development and deployment framework are offered to the client. One of the basic principles of Azure enables the customer to concentrate on application growth instead of being concerned about hardware and infrastructure. It also addresses issues with operating systems, networking, and servers.

The basic advantages of PaaS include low total costs since resources are allocated on request and servers are added or subtracted automatically. Azure is less insecure because all known security issues are automatically reviewed on servers. The creator cannot see the whole process, so there is no chance of data being violated.

PaaS drawbacks include that there may be portability problems when using PaaS services. The environment at Azure could be different, and the programme needs to be adapted to suit the developers choice.

3. SaaS

SaaS is Software as a Service, includes providing software services to organizations that are managed and hosted centrally. The technology is used as a single version for all customers. There are several instances you can scale up. This helps to ensure the best possible results at all places. The app has a monthly or an annual licence. Dynamics are available as a SaaS, Office, MS Exchange.

In comparison to the conventional models for business installation, SaaS provides several possible advantages such as Lower upfront cost, Quick setup and deployment, Easy upgrades, Accessibility and scalability. While these are the certain pros of SaaS, it comes with its snags like lack of control, security and data concern due to access management, limited range of applications due to certain amounts of application that don’t provide hosting. Connectivity issue that occurs as SaaS is a web delivery service. SaaS can run a little slower than on-site client or server applications, so having the programme out of a local machine in mind is worthwhile.

Azure Key Concepts

 There are a plethora of concepts required to learn in Azure. Below is a list of crucial concepts that one needs to be well-versed with.

Regions

Azure is an international cloud-based platform that is offered around the world in different regions. Initially, you have to define a region when requesting a service, application or VM in Azure. The area chosen for the application is a datacenter.

Datacenter

You deploy applications in Azure in a number of data locations globally. It is therefore recommended that you pick an area closer to most of your customers. It significantly reduces network demand latency.

Azure Portal

The Azure portal is a system of web service framework for creating, managing and removing Azure resources and services.

Resources

Azure resource is an entity, independently charged device, networking data or application-hosting services. Some popular tools are VM, storage accounts or SQL databases.

Resources Groups

Azure is a group of resources that contains a brand leading resolution for Azure. It can contain any resource or resource you want to handle.

Resource Manager Templates

It is a JSON that describes an asset to use in a resource category. Dependence among deployed resources is also created.

Automation

Azure enables you to automate the development, management and removal of resources through PowerShell or the Azure interface (CLI).

Azure PowerShells

PowerShell is a series of plugins that provide Azure management cmdlets. The command cmdlets for almost similar tasks you carry out on the Azure portal is most often allowed to use.

Azure command-line interface(CLI)

The Azure CLI is a command-line tool you can use to build, manage and eliminate Azure resources.

REST APIs

Azure has a collection of REST APIs which will allow you to do the same work as in the Ul portal of Azure. It enables the manipulation of your Azure resources and apps through any software application by third parties.

Azure Domains (Components)

Controlled domain services such as domain access, group policies and Lighter Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), and Kerberos/NTLM Authentication, are provided by Azure Active Directory Domain Services (AD-DS). Without using, managing, and patching domain controllers (DCS), you use these domain services in the cloud. The Azure Domains is as follows:

Compute:

Compute domain offers computing operations like development, app hosting, and deployment in Azure Platform. It has the following components:

1. Virtual Machine: This allows you to use any language, workload in any OS
2. Virtual Scale Sets: enables you to build thousands of virtual machines of the same kind in minutes
3. Service of Azure Container: Create an integrated container hosting solution for Azure. Use Kube, DC/OS, Swarm or Docker to scale and organise applications
4. Azure Registry Container: Save and handle pictures of containers across all types of applications
5. Functions: Let’s write code irrespective of server resources. In the case of upgrading your call rate features.
6. Batch: Batches allow you to measure and execute device pipelines on five, hundreds or thousands of virtual machines.
7. Service manufacture: Simplify the production and management of microservices centred applications. It is compatible with Java, PHP, Node.js, Python and Ruby.

Storage

1. Storage of blob: Azure Blob storage is a service that stores unstructured data as objects/blobs in the cloud. Any text or binary data, including a document, media file, or device installer, may be stored.
2. Queue Store: Cloud messaging between app components is available. It provides asynchronous messages for communication between applications.
3. File Storage: You can migrate legacy applications with Azure File Storage. It relies easily and without expensive rewriting on file shares in Azure.
4. Storage table: Blue. Semi-structured NoSQL data are stored in the cloud in table storage. It provides a design-free key/attribute shop.

Database

Database as a service (DBaaS) which offers SQL and NoSQL tools, is part of this group. It also contains Azure Cosmos DB and Azure PostgreSQL databases. The components are as follows:

1. SQL Database: A structured database service built on Microsoft’s leading Microsoft SQL Server engine in the Microsoft cloud.
2. DocumentDB: It was designed for quick and predictable performance and easy development by a fully managed NoSQL database service.
3. Redis Cache: A secure, state-of-the-art key-value store. It saves structures such as strings, hashes, lists and so on.

Content Delivery Network

In geographically positioned locations, the content delivery network (CDN) stores static Web contents. This allows you to deliver content to users quickly. The components are as follows:

1. VPN Gateway: VPN Gateway provides publicly connected encrypted traffic.
2. Traffic Manager: It enables you to manage and distribute the traffic in various data centres for services such as WebApps, VM, Azure and cloud.
3. Express Route: Help to expand your local network to Microsoft cloud through a private Microsoft Azure, Office 365 and CRM Online link.

Security And Identifying Services

It offers the ability to detect cloud security threats and respond to them. It also supports the management of encryption keys and other vulnerable properties. The components are as follows:

1. Key Vault: Azure Key Vault enables you to protect cryptographic keys and lets you build cloud-related secrets.
2. Azure Active Directory: the Azure Active Directory Services. This includes authenticating multiple factors, registering devices, etc.
3. Azure AD B2C: Azure AD B2C is a solution for cloud identity management for your smartphone and web applications. You can measure hundreds of millions of customer identities.

Enterprise Integration Services

1. Service Bus: Service Bus is a third party communication system provider of information.
2. SQL Server Database: This service lets you safely and transparently migrate any cold data to the Microsoft Azure cloud
3. Azure AD domain services. Azure AD domain services. It provides managed domain resources such as domain membership, community policies, LDAP, etc. This Windows Server Active Directory compliant authentication.
4. Authentication multi-factor: Authentication multi-factor azure (MFA) is verification in two stages. It allows you to view data and software so that you can easily sign in.

 Monitoring and Management services

 Allowing easy management services

1. Azure Resource Manager: It makes managing and visualising your application simple. You can also monitor who the company is and how the services are used.
2. Automation: Microsoft Azure Automation is a way to automate long-term, manual and repeat tasks without errors. Automation: These activities are usually carried out in a cloud and business setting.

Azure Networking

1. Virtual network: isolate and segment the network. It provides network traffic filter and path.
2. Load Balancer: Provides high availability of any programme and its network performance. Load Internet traffic balancing information to virtual machines.
3. Application Gateway: It is a dedicated virtual device that provides a service with the ADC (Application Delivery Controller).
4. Azure DNS: The hosting service Azure DNS provides name resolution using Microsoft Azure.

Web And Mobile Services

1. Web apps: Web apps enable you, without the need to handle its infrastructure, to setup and host websites in the programming language of your choice.
2. Mobile Apps: Mobile Apps provides a highly flexible mobile app development framework for devices globally available.
3. API apps: API apps simplify the creation, hosting and consumption of APIs in the cloud and on-site.
4. Logic applications: Logic applications help to make scalable integrations simple and execute them

Workflows in the cloud

Providing a graphic designer to build and automate the workflow as a number of measures.

1. Hubs: Azure Notification Hubs provides a scaled-out push motor that is simple to use.
2. Hubs of Event: Azure Event Hubs is a network for data streaming that can handle millions of events per second. Data sent to an event centre can be transformed and processed by batching/storage adapters using any real-time analytics.
3. Azure Search: This approach provides server management and infrastructure management for cloud search as a service. It provides user-friendly services that can be filled with your info. You can add search to your website or mobile app.

Migration

Migration software assists an enterprise in estimating migration workload costs. It also helps to migrate workloads to the Azure cloud from your local data centres.

1. Traditional vs Azure Cloud Model

2. Applications of Azure

Microsoft Azure is used in a wide set of applications, these applications include

Infrasturcture services

Mobile Apps

Web applications

Cloud services

Storage, Backup, and recovery

Data Management

Media Services.

3. Advantages of Azure

• The advantages of Azure cover the points below:
  Azure infrastructure improves the business continuity plan cost-effectively
• You can access the application without purchasing a licence for each computer
• From SQL databases to tables, Windows Azure provides the best solutions for your data needs.
• Provides scalability, versatility and economic efficiency
• Help you keep the tools and resources known across clouds
• Enables the data centre to be expanded with a consistent toolset and familiar identity and growth solutions.
• In minutes, you can deploy virtual premium machines with Linux and Windows servers.
• Help you measure your IT resources according to your needs
• To operate web-based cloud services, you do not have to run a powerful and costly machine.
• If you are using Azure Cloud computing, you won’t need processing power or hard drive space.
• All your information is still in the cloud if your own personal computer or laptop crashes; this is still available.
• Sharing documents leads to improved cooperation directly.
• If you change your device, you’ll be followed by cloud apps and documents.

4. Disadvantages of Azure

Azure comes with its own set of limitations, and If you cannot link to the Internet, cloud computing is prohibited.

Azure is a web-based programme that requires a lot of bandwidth and large documents to be downloaded.

Web-based programmes can be slower than using equivalent apps on your desktop PC often.

Why Should You Get Azure Certified?

The qualification of Microsoft Azure plays a key role in looking for a job in cloud computing and providing versatile career opportunities. Cloud managers, developers, security engineers, AI engineers, data engineers, architects and DevOps engineers are guaranteed reliability with certification.

How to pursue AZURE if you are a beginner or fresher in cloud computing?

If you are fresh out of college, Microsoft suggests taking the certification exam AZ-900 as a beginner. Microsoft states that Azure tests aim to demonstrate basic cloud services awareness and how Azure delivers these services. There is no requirement for prior IT experience to take the exam, which is open to candidates with both technical and non-technical backgrounds.

How to prepare for AZ-900?

We suggest taking the basic training videos in the beginning. All the services provided by Azure are essential to memorise. Logging into the Portal would be an ideal way to do so and take it for a spin. You are highly recommended to familiarize yourself with topics such as Azure Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), Azure Virtual Network, Azure Apps, Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Functions, Azure Active Directory, Azure Storage, and Azure SQL Databases.

Please remember to open your Azure Test Account for one month. Free credits are provided, and most Azure services are available. You will take some Azure Resources to get a feel for them if you want to go one step further and get the most out of their free loans. Practical examinations will allow you to get a feel for the type of Azure examinations and training required and help you to pass the Azure certificates successfully.

 How to decide which Azure Certification to go for?

When it comes to certifications, Microsoft does not make it convenient. The way certifications are done by Microsoft is always changing.

The organisation has published certifications based on the .following position

Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator Associate

Microsoft Certified Azure Developer Associate

Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect Expert.

 You need to follow the below steps to make the most of the career-journey feature:

It can be exhausting to go through Google, find and read all the way, and after all this effort, we are not sure whether or not we will get the response that Azure certification is with us.

In light of this issue, Reviewer Prep developed the Career Journey tool to help you determine which qualification is better suited for you in simple steps.

 Microsoft Azure Certification Path

Step 1: Choose your level of difficulty

Step 2: Choose the positions or the areas of interest you want

The Azure Certifications tool is available regardless of the job; you need to start with the basics to become certified by Microsoft Azure.

The path Microsoft proposes is basic certifications and, ultimately, associated certifications.

Most In-Demand Azure Certifications:

The most in-demand certifications include AZ-900 – Microsoft Azure Fundamentals, AZ 104 – Microsoft Azure Administrator, AZ-204 – Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure, AZ-500 – Microsoft Azure Security Technologies, AZ-303 – Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies, AZ-304 – Microsoft Azure Architect Design, AZ-400 – Microsoft Azure DevOps Solutions.

AZ-900 Exam – Microsoft Azure Fundamentals:

This is a new qualification to show the fundamental awareness of Azure-based cloud services.

It aims at people in non-technical roles, such as sales and purchases, or at people in technology positions who want to validate basic cloud-based services expertise.

Benefits of AZ-900: Microsoft Azure Fundamentals:

This is a certification to show the fundamental awareness of Azure-based cloud services.

People in non-technical roles, such as sales and purchases, or people in technology positions who want to validate basic cloud-based services expertise, are the target audience.

AZ-900 Examination Topics:

Cloud Concepts (15-20%)

Core Azure Services (30-35%)

Security, Privacy, Compliance, and Trust (25-30%)

Azure Pricing and Support (20-25%)

 Associate-level

AZ 104 Exam – Microsoft Azure Administrator

Azure administrators are candidates for this examination and manage cloud services that cover storage, security, networking and cloud computing capabilities.

Candidates have a profound understanding of each service over the entire IT lifecycle and receive technology, application and environment requirements. They suggest utilizing services to achieve optimal efficiency, scale, and delivery, as well as for sizing, monitoring, and adjusting resources accordingly.

Azure administrators are candidates for this examination and manage cloud services that cover storage, security, networking and cloud computing capabilities. Candidates have a profound understanding of each service over the full IT lifecycle and receive technology, application and environment requirements. They suggest using services for best efficiency, scale, and delivery, sizing, monitoring, and adjusting resources accordingly.

AZ-204 Exam – Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure

Azure administrators are candidates for this examination and manage cloud services that cover storage, security, networking and cloud computing capabilities.

Candidates have a profound understanding of each service over the full IT lifecycle and receive technology, application and environment requirements.They suggest using services for best efficiency, scale, and delivery, sizing, monitoring, and adjusting resources accordingly.

AZ-500 Exam – Microsoft Azure Security Technologies

Microsoft Azure security engineers are candidates for this test, who are monitoring security, maintaining a security position, managing identity and access and protecting data, applications and networks. By means of a range of security tools, Candidates detect and correct vulnerabilities, enforce threat management and respond to the escalation of security incidents.

As a security engineer with Microsoft Azure, applicants also work as part of a broader team for cloud-based administration and security. As part of an end-to-end system, they are also stable hybrid environments. AZ-104 applicants should strongly automate and script the Microsoft Azure administrator exams, deeply network, virtualize, and utilize cloud-specific N-tier architectures, cloud features, Microsoft Azure products and services, and other Microsoft products and services. Candidates should have a good understanding.

Expert-level

AZ-304 Exam – Microsoft Azure Architect Design and AZ-303 Exam – Microsoft Azure Architect Technologies:

Azure Solution Architects are candidates for this review, providing advice to stakeholders and transforming business needs into secure, scalable and effective solutions. Applicants should have specialised experience and expertise in many areas of IT operations, which include networking, virtualisation, identity, security, business continuity, recovery of disasters, data processing, budgeting and administration. This position includes the management of the overall impact of decisions in each region. Candidates must be competent in Azure, Azure and DevOps administration and have expert know-how in at least one of these areas.

AZ-400 Exam – Microsoft Azure DevOps Solutions:

DevOps practitioners, who integrate individuals, processes and technology to produce useful goods and services continuously that meet end-user needs and business goals, are the candidates for the review. Professionals from DevOps simplify distribution by practise optimisation, connectivity and coordination improvement and automation. They develop and implement application code and infrastructure strategies that permit continuous integration, ongoing testing, ongoing distribution and ongoing monitoring and feedback. Candidates must skill Agile DevOps techniques. They have to be familiar with at least one of the fields of Azure management and Azure growth, as well as experts. Professionals in Azure DevOps must be able to design and execute DevOps version control, enforcement, code infrastructure, settings management, builds, releases and tests using Azure technologies.

Want to know the best part of Azure?

It is free to start Microsoft Azure and follows a pay-per-use model. If you do not meet the quota allotted, you can open an account and use your services free of charge for one month. So remember to demolish environments after every use.

Which companies are using Azure?

Companies that need centrally managed and hosted datacenters widely use Azure.. These companies include Verizon, MSI Computer, LG Electronics, CenturyLink, NTT America, Wikimedia foundation, LinkedIn Corp, News Corp, Adobe, and Intel.

Conclusion

Cloud computing is an internet-specific concept for data storage and access.

Microsoft introduced Azure, a cloud computing platform, in February 2010.

Microsoft Azure primarily consists of three kinds of clouds: PAAS, IAAS, SAAS.

The fundamental layer of the cloud platform is IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service).

PaaS is a calculation platform with an operating system, a language programming environment, a database or a web server. SaaS is a centrally hosting and operated software (Software as a service).

Some of the main words Azure use include Datacenters and regions, Azure portal, Resources, Resource classes, Resource Manager models, Azure PowerShell, Azure Command Line Interface(CLI). Computing, storage, database, monitoring, maintenance systems, content delivery networks, azure networking, Web and Mobile services, etc., are key components of Microsoft Azure. The traditional model used specifically constructed hardware,+

while the Azure cloud model used standard Industry hardware. SaaS is a centrally hosting and operated software (Software as a service). Some of the main words Azure use include Datacenters and regions, Azure portal, Resources, Resource classes, Resource Manager models, Azure PowerShell, Azure Command Line Interface(CLI). Computing, storage, database, monitoring, maintenance systems, content delivery networks, azure networking, Web and Mobile services, etc., are key components of Microsoft Azure. The traditional model used specifically constructed hardware, while the Azure cloud model used standard Industry hardware