Azure Fundamentals
Welcome to the Azure Fundamentals learning path for the MSDN Community. This section provides essential knowledge to get you started with Microsoft Azure.
What is Microsoft Azure?
Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing platform and infrastructure managed by Microsoft. It provides a wide range of cloud services, including computing, analytics, storage, and networking, to help organizations build, deploy, and manage applications and services through a global network of data centers.
Key benefits of using Azure include:
- Scalability: Easily scale your resources up or down based on demand.
- Flexibility: Choose from a vast array of services to meet your specific needs.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Pay only for what you use with flexible pricing models.
- Global Reach: Deploy applications closer to your users worldwide.
- Security: Benefit from Microsoft's robust security infrastructure and compliance standards.
Core Azure Services
Azure offers a comprehensive suite of services. Here are some of the fundamental ones:
-
Compute Services
Services that allow you to run applications and workloads. Examples include Virtual Machines, Azure App Service, and Azure Functions.
Explore Azure Compute Services
-
Storage Services
Scalable and secure storage solutions for your data. Key services include Azure Blob Storage, Azure File Storage, and Azure Queue Storage.
Explore Azure Storage Services
-
Networking Services
Services that enable secure and reliable network connectivity. This includes Azure Virtual Network, Load Balancer, and VPN Gateway.
Explore Azure Networking Services
-
Databases
Managed database services for various needs, such as Azure SQL Database, Azure Cosmos DB, and Azure Database for PostgreSQL.
Explore Azure Database Services
Getting Started with Azure
The best way to learn Azure is to start experimenting. Here's a typical first step:
- Create an Azure Account: Sign up for a free Azure account to get started with many services free for 12 months.
- Explore the Azure Portal: The Azure Portal is your central hub for managing Azure resources.
- Deploy a Simple Resource: Try deploying a simple Virtual Machine or an App Service.
Here's a quick example of how you might start a Virtual Machine using Azure CLI:
az vm create \
--resource-group myResourceGroup \
--name myVM \
--image Ubuntu2204 \
--admin-username azureuser \
--generate-ssh-keys
Sign up for Azure Free Account
Go to Azure Portal
Community Resources and Learning Paths
The MSDN Community is here to support your learning journey. Connect with other developers, find answers, and share your knowledge.
- Official Microsoft Learn: Comprehensive modules and learning paths for Azure. Microsoft Learn
- Azure Documentation: Detailed reference guides and tutorials. Azure Docs
- MSDN Community Forums: Engage in discussions and ask questions. Community Forums
- Azure Architecture Center: Best practices and reference architectures. Azure Architecture Center
Next Steps
Once you've grasped the fundamentals, consider exploring specific areas: