Azure AZ-900 Fundamentals Exam

Overview of Azure Architecture

Azure is a cloud computing platform and service created by Microsoft. It provides a wide range of cloud services, including computing, analytics, storage, and networking. Users can pick and choose from these services to develop and scale new applications or run existing applications in the public cloud.

Azure architecture is designed to be flexible and scalable, allowing businesses to use as much or as little computing power as they need. Azure's architecture is built on a global network of Microsoft-managed data centers. These data centers are located in various regions around the world, ensuring that users can access their applications and data quickly and reliably.

The architecture is designed to provide high availability and redundancy, meaning that if one data center goes down, another can take over, minimizing downtime.

Core Azure Services

Azure offers a variety of core services that are essential for building and managing applications in the cloud. These services include:

• Compute Services: These services provide the processing power needed to run applications. Examples include Virtual Machines (VMs), Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), and Azure Functions.

• Storage Services: Azure provides several storage options, such as Blob Storage for unstructured data, Azure Files for file shares, and Azure Disk Storage for persistent disk storage.

• Networking Services: These services help connect and manage network resources. Examples include Virtual Networks (VNet), Azure Load Balancer, and Azure Application Gateway.

Each of these services is designed to be highly available and scalable, ensuring that applications can handle varying levels of demand.

Azure Management Tools

Azure provides several tools to help manage and monitor cloud resources. These tools include:

• Azure Portal: A web-based interface that allows users to manage their Azure resources. It provides a graphical interface for creating, configuring, and monitoring resources.

• Azure CLI: A command-line tool that allows users to manage Azure resources from the command line. It is useful for automating tasks and managing resources programmatically.

• Azure PowerShell: A set of cmdlets for managing Azure resources from the PowerShell command line. It is similar to Azure CLI but is designed for users who are familiar with PowerShell scripting.

These tools make it easier for users to manage their Azure resources and ensure that their applications are running smoothly.

Security and Compliance

Security is a top priority for Azure. The platform provides several features to help protect data and applications, including:

• Azure Security Center: A unified security management system that provides advanced threat protection across all of your Azure resources.

• Azure Active Directory (AD): A cloud-based identity and access management service that helps users securely access resources.

• Azure Key Vault: A service that helps safeguard cryptographic keys and secrets used by cloud applications and services. Azure also complies with a wide range of industry standards and regulations, ensuring that users can meet their compliance requirements.

Conclusion

Understanding Azure architecture and services is crucial for anyone looking to leverage the power of cloud computing. Azure's flexible and scalable architecture, combined with its wide range of core services, management tools, and security features, makes it a powerful platform for building and managing applications in the cloud. By familiarizing yourself with these concepts, you can better utilize Azure to meet your business needs and ensure the success of your cloud-based applications.