Azure Services – Best Practices

Compute

Virtual Machines

  • Choose VM size based on realistic load testing.
  • Enable Accelerated Networking for low-latency workloads.
  • Use Managed Disks with appropriate performance tier.
  • Apply Azure Spot VMs for non‑critical batch jobs.

App Services

  • Leverage deployment slots for zero‑downtime releases.
  • Enable Autoscale rules tied to CPU, memory, or queue length.
  • Use Regional VNet Integration to secure outbound traffic.

Containers (AKS)

  • Employ node pools per workload class (burstable, compute‑optimized).
  • Utilize Azure Policy to enforce pod security standards.
  • Configure Cluster Autoscaler with max and min node counts.

Storage

Blob Storage

  • Use Hot tier for frequently accessed data, Cool/Archive for infrequent.
  • Enable soft delete and versioning for data protection.
  • Implement lifecycle management policies.

Azure Files & Disks

  • Select Premium SSD for high‑IOPS workloads.
  • Leverage Azure File Sync for hybrid scenarios.
  • Encrypt at rest using Microsoft-managed keys.

Networking

Virtual Networks

  • Segregate workloads using subnets and NSGs.
  • Apply Service Endpoints or Private Links for PaaS services.
  • Use Azure Firewall or Azure Bastion for secure access.

Load Balancing

  • Prefer Azure Front Door for global HTTP/HTTPS load balancing.
  • Use Standard Load Balancer for TCP/UDP internal traffic.
  • Implement health probes and session persistence wisely.

Security

  • Adopt Zero Trust: validate identity, device, and context.
  • Enable Azure AD Conditional Access and MFA.
  • Utilize Azure Policy to enforce security baselines.
  • Store secrets in Azure Key Vault, not in code.
  • Regularly run Microsoft Defender for Cloud recommendations.

Monitoring & Logging

  • Collect metrics and logs via Azure Monitor and Log Analytics.
  • Set up actionable alerts with Action Groups.
  • Implement Application Insights for end‑to‑end tracing.
  • Configure diagnostic settings for all resources.

Cost Management

  • Tag resources consistently for chargeback/reporting.
  • Use Azure Reserved Instances where usage is predictable.
  • Enable auto‑shutdown for dev/test VMs after business hours.
  • Review Advisor recommendations monthly.

DevOps Integration

  • Deploy via Azure Pipelines with IaC (Bicep/ARM/Terraform).
  • Store state files securely (e.g., Azure Storage with lock).
  • Adopt Blue‑Green or Canary deployments using feature flags.
  • Run automated security scans in CI pipelines.