Azure AZ-900 Fundamentals Exam

Introduction to Azure Architecture

Azure is a cloud computing platform and service created by Microsoft. It provides a wide range of services, including those for computing, analytics, storage, and networking. Understanding the core architectural components of Azure is essential for anyone looking to leverage its capabilities effectively. These components form the backbone of Azure and enable it to deliver scalable, reliable, and secure cloud services.

Azure Regions and Availability Zones

Azure is organized into regions, which are physical locations around the world where data centers are located. Each region contains multiple data centers to ensure redundancy and reliability. Regions are important because they allow users to deploy resources close to their users, reducing latency and improving performance. Within each region, there are Availability Zones. These are physically separate locations within a region that are designed to be isolated from failures in other zones. By deploying resources across multiple Availability Zones, users can ensure high availability and protect their applications from data center failures.

Resource Groups and Resource Management

In Azure, resources such as virtual machines, databases, and storage accounts are organized into Resource Groups. A Resource Group is a container that holds related resources for an Azure solution. This makes it easier to manage and organize resources based on their lifecycle and permissions. Azure also provides a powerful tool called Azure Resource Manager (ARM). ARM allows users to deploy, manage, and monitor all the resources for a solution as a single entity. It uses templates to define the infrastructure and dependencies, making it easier to automate and replicate deployments.

Virtual Networks and Subnets

Virtual Networks (VNets) are fundamental building blocks in Azure. They enable Azure resources to securely communicate with each other, the internet, and on-premises networks. VNets provide isolation, segmentation, and security for resources within Azure. Within a VNet, users can create Subnets to further segment the network. Subnets allow users to organize and secure resources by dividing the VNet into smaller, manageable sections. This helps in controlling traffic flow and applying network security policies.

Azure Compute Services

Azure offers a variety of compute services to run applications and workloads. The most common compute service is Virtual Machines (VMs), which provide on-demand, scalable computing resources. VMs can run various operating systems and host different applications, making them versatile for many use cases. Another important compute service is Azure App Services, which allows users to build, deploy, and scale web apps and APIs quickly. App Services provide a fully managed platform, reducing the need for infrastructure management and allowing developers to focus on their applications.

Azure Storage Services

Azure provides several storage options to meet different needs.

Azure Blob Storage is designed for storing large amounts of unstructured data, such as text or binary data. It is ideal for serving images, documents, and other files over the internet.

Azure Disk Storage offers high-performance, durable block storage for Azure VMs. It is suitable for applications that require consistent and low-latency data access. Additionally,

Azure File Storage provides fully managed file shares in the cloud, accessible via the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol.

Conclusion

Understanding the core architectural components of Azure is crucial for effectively utilizing its cloud services. By familiarizing yourself with regions, availability zones, resource groups, virtual networks, compute services, and storage options, you can design and deploy robust, scalable, and secure solutions on Azure. These components work together to provide a flexible and powerful cloud platform that meets a wide range of business needs.