Azure Documentation: Getting Started

Welcome to the official documentation for Microsoft Azure. This section will guide you through the fundamental concepts and initial steps to get you started with building, deploying, and managing applications and services on the Azure cloud platform.

What is Azure?

Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing platform and infrastructure that allows developers and IT professionals to build, deploy, and manage applications and services through a global network of Microsoft-managed data centers. It offers a wide range of services, including:

• Compute (Virtual Machines, Containers, Serverless Functions)
• Storage (Blob Storage, File Storage, Disk Storage)
• Databases (SQL Database, Cosmos DB, MySQL)
• Networking (Virtual Networks, Load Balancers, VPN Gateway)
• AI + Machine Learning
• Internet of Things (IoT)
• Developer Tools

Key Concepts

Understanding these core concepts is crucial for effective Azure utilization:

• Resources: Individual instances of a cloud service, like a virtual machine, a storage account, or a database.
• Resource Groups: Containers that hold related Azure resources for a solution. You can deploy, update, and delete all resources for a solution as a group.
• Subscriptions: A logical container for your Azure resources. It's often tied to billing and access control.
• Regions: Geographic locations where Azure resources are deployed. Choosing a region close to your users can improve performance.
• Availability Zones: Physically separate locations within an Azure region that protect applications and data from datacenter failures.

Your First Steps

1. Create an Azure Account

If you don't already have one, you'll need to sign up for an Azure account. Azure offers a Free account that includes credits and access to popular services for a limited time.

Sign Up for Azure Free Account

2. Access the Azure Portal

The Azure portal is a web-based interface where you can manage your Azure resources. It's your central hub for creating, configuring, and monitoring your cloud services.

Go to Azure Portal

3. Create Your First Resource Group

Resource groups help organize your Azure resources. Let's create one:

1. In the Azure portal, search for "Resource groups" and select it.
2. Click "+ Create".
3. Enter a Subscription and a Resource group name (e.g., MyFirstResourceGroup).
4. Select a Region.
5. Click "Review + create", then "Create".

4. Deploy a Simple Service (Example: Virtual Machine)

As an example, let's outline how to create a basic Virtual Machine. Refer to the Virtual Machines documentation for detailed steps.

Typically, creating a VM involves:

1. Navigating to "Virtual machines" in the Azure portal.
2. Clicking "+ Create".
3. Selecting your Subscription and Resource group.
4. Choosing a VM image (e.g., Windows Server, Ubuntu Linux).
5. Configuring VM size, username, and password/SSH key.
6. Setting up networking (VNet, Public IP, NSG).
7. Reviewing and creating the VM.

Next Steps

Now that you've got a basic understanding and completed your first steps, you can explore other Azure services:

• Dive deeper into Virtual Machines.
• Learn about hosting web applications with App Services.
• Discover Azure's database offerings in the Databases section.
• Understand how to connect your resources in the Networking guide.