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Microsoft

This course is designed to help you gain insights into the fundamentals of cloud computing, understanding its advantages and the strategic selection of Microsoft Azure solutions for diverse business scenarios.

Delve into the intricacies of Azure Compute, covering Virtual Machines, App Service, and Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS). Learn troubleshooting techniques specific to operating systems on Azure Virtual Machines, ensuring smooth operation in practical scenarios.

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This course is designed to help you gain insights into the fundamentals of cloud computing, understanding its advantages and the strategic selection of Microsoft Azure solutions for diverse business scenarios.

Delve into the intricacies of Azure Compute, covering Virtual Machines, App Service, and Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS). Learn troubleshooting techniques specific to operating systems on Azure Virtual Machines, ensuring smooth operation in practical scenarios.

Explore the realm of Azure Networking, encompassing Virtual Networks, Load Balancing, and Routes. Develop a solid understanding of Azure Security, including Identity and Access Management (IAM), Virtual Network Security Groups (NSGs), and Microsoft Sentinel, to enhance your knowledge of safeguarding Azure environments.

After completing this course, you’ll be able to:

• Describe Azure Compute, including Virtual Machines, App Service, and Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS).

• Describe Azure Networking, encompassing Virtual Networks, Load Balancing, and Routes.

• Describe Azure Security, including Identity and Access Management (IAM), Virtual Network Security Groups (NSGs), and Microsoft Sentinel.

• Apply robust solutions to deploy and manage Virtual Machines to meet project requirements efficiently.

• Apply best practices for securing Virtual Networks and Machines.

• Apply troubleshooting techniques for operating systems on Azure Virtual Machines.

• Apply scaling strategies to ensure optimal performance.

• Use key Azure networking features, including Virtual Networks, Load Balancing, NSGs, and Azure Sentinel, for enhanced management and security of Azure resources.

This is also a great way to prepare for the Microsoft AZ-900 exam. By passing the AZ-900 exam, you’ll earn the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals certification.

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Examines essential cloud computing fundamentals, which are standard in the industry
Provides practical techniques for troubleshooting operating systems on Azure Virtual Machines
Explores key networking features of Azure, enhancing management and security of Azure resources
Prepares learners for the Microsoft AZ-900 exam, leading to the Microsoft Azure Fundamentals certification
Assumes learners have foundational knowledge and experience in cloud computing concepts
May require access to specific software or tools that learners may need to acquire

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Reviews summary

Solid azure fundamentals for az-900

According to learners, this course is highly effective for AZ-900 exam preparation, providing clear explanations of core Azure concepts in a well-structured and digestible format. Students generally find the hands-on labs helpful for reinforcing understanding. While some older feedback highlighted concerns about outdated content and UI inconsistencies within the Azure portal, as well as challenging labs, recent reviews suggest a positive trend, indicating potential improvements. This course is ideal for beginners to cloud computing, though some experienced IT professionals may find it too basic for a deep dive.
Ideal for those new to cloud or Azure; less deep for experienced professionals.
"If you have some IT background, you might find it too basic. It only scratches the surface."
"As a complete beginner to cloud, this course was a godsend. It breaks down complex topics into digestible chunks."
"It probably works for exam cramming, but not for true understanding if you're not a beginner looking for depth."
Older reviews cited outdated content; recent reviews suggest improvements.
"My only critique is that some sections felt a little outdated, even though the core concepts are still relevant. Updates would be appreciated."
"Many of the demos didn't work as described, or the Azure portal UI was completely different. This made it very difficult to follow along."
"The content was mostly accurate and up-to-date. There were a couple of instances where the portal screenshots seemed older, but it wasn't a major hindrance."
Provides practical exercises essential for reinforcing theoretical knowledge.
"I particularly appreciated the hands-on labs; they truly reinforced my understanding."
"The demos were very helpful. The labs provided good hands-on experience."
"The instructor's clear articulation and the practical exercises were invaluable."
Concepts are explained clearly with a logical and easy-to-follow structure.
"The explanations of core Azure concepts were crystal clear, and the instructor's delivery made complex topics easy to digest."
"Excellent course! The structure is logical, moving from basic cloud concepts to specific Azure services like VMs and App Services."
"As a complete beginner to cloud, this course was a godsend. It breaks down complex topics into digestible chunks."
Highly effective for passing the Microsoft AZ-900 certification exam.
"This course was absolutely fantastic for preparing me for the AZ-900 exam. I passed the exam on my first try thanks to this course!"
"A very solid introduction to Azure fundamentals. It covers a lot of ground quickly, which is great for exam prep. Highly recommend."
"Highly effective for AZ-900 exam prep. The explanations are concise and to the point, covering all exam domains."
Some learners found labs confusing, lacked instructions, or had UI discrepancies.
"I found some of the explanations to be quite dry... The labs were functional but sometimes lacked clear instructions, leading to frustration."
"Extremely disappointing... Many of the demos didn't work as described, or the Azure portal UI was completely different."
"The labs were confusing and some Azure services mentioned had changed since the course was made. Needs a serious update."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Azure Cloud Services with these activities:
Review Networking Basics
This activity helps you refresh your understanding of networking basics, such as IP addressing, DNS, and routing, which are essential for understanding Azure Networking concepts.
Browse courses on Networking
Show steps
  • Review online resources or textbooks on networking basics.
  • Complete practice questions or exercises on networking concepts.
Connect with Azure Experts in the Community
By finding mentors in the Azure community, you can gain valuable insights and guidance from experienced professionals, enhancing your understanding of Azure services and best practices.
Browse courses on Azure
Show steps
  • Attend Azure community events or join online forums.
  • Engage with Azure experts on LinkedIn or other social media platforms.
  • Reach out to individuals who have publicly shared their Azure expertise.
Create a Visual Representation of a Complex Azure Architecture
By creating a visual representation of a complex Azure architecture, you can enhance your understanding of how Azure components interact and ensure that your designs are well-organized and easy to comprehend.
Browse courses on Azure Architecture
Show steps
  • Identify a complex Azure architecture for visualization.
  • Choose a visual representation tool (e.g., Visio, Lucidchart).
  • Create a diagram or flowchart representing the Azure architecture.
  • Share your visual representation for feedback.
Six other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all nine activities
Review a Tutorial on Virtual Networking
Review the concepts of Azure Virtual Networks and subnets to strengthen your understanding of network configurations in Azure.
Browse courses on Azure Virtual Networks
Show steps
  • Choose a resource on Virtual Networking
  • Follow the tutorial step-by-step
  • Create a test environment and apply the tutorial
Develop a Deployment Plan for Azure Virtual Machines
Create a comprehensive deployment plan for Azure Virtual Machines, showcasing your understanding of resource provisioning, scaling strategies, and best practices for ensuring high availability.
Browse courses on Azure Virtual Machines
Show steps
  • Gather requirements for the Azure Virtual Machine deployment.
  • Design the Azure Virtual Machine deployment.
  • Develop a deployment script or template.
  • Test and validate the deployment plan.
Design an Azure Virtual Network for a Small Business
By designing an Azure Virtual Network for a small business, you can apply your knowledge of Azure Networking to a practical scenario, enhancing your understanding of network security and resource organization.
Browse courses on Azure Virtual Networks
Show steps
  • Define the business requirements for the Azure Virtual Network.
  • Choose the appropriate Azure Virtual Network configuration.
  • Create and configure the Azure Virtual Network and its components.
  • Implement security measures to protect the Azure Virtual Network.
Walkthrough: Azure Virtual Machines Step-by-Step
This guided tutorial provides a practical step-by-step guide to creating and managing Azure Virtual Machines, reinforcing your understanding of this core Azure compute service.
Browse courses on Azure Virtual Machines
Show steps
  • Follow the Microsoft Learn guided tutorial on Azure Virtual Machines.
  • Review the provided code samples and explanations.
  • Create your own Azure Virtual Machine using the provided instructions.
Hands-on Troubleshooting for Azure Virtual Machines
This hands-on activity allows you to apply troubleshooting techniques to common operating system issues on Azure Virtual Machines, enhancing your problem-solving skills in a practical setting.
Browse courses on Azure Virtual Machines
Show steps
  • Install the required software and tools on your local machine.
  • Connect to an Azure Virtual Machine using Remote Desktop.
  • Troubleshoot common operating system issues on the Azure Virtual Machine.
  • Document your findings and solutions.
Simulations for Azure Security Threats
Engage in simulations to handle various security threats in an Azure environment. This activity reinforces your knowledge of Azure Security best practices and provides practical experience in incident response.
Browse courses on Azure Security
Show steps
  • Review the provided simulation materials.
  • Set up the lab environment for the simulations.
  • Run the simulations and respond to security incidents.
  • Analyze the results and identify areas for improvement.

Career center

Learners who complete Azure Cloud Services will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Reading list

We've selected 50 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Azure Cloud Services.
Serves as the flagship architectural and operational guide to Microsoft Sentinel, walking SOC engineers through Log Analytics workspace design, data connector ingestion, Kusto Query Language (KQL) analytics rules, incident investigation graphs, and Logic Apps SOAR playbooks.
Equips SOC analysts and detection engineers with fluency in Kusto Query Language (KQL), translating Microsoft Sentinel telemetry tables into high-fidelity analytics rules, custom threat-hunting queries, workbooks, and automated detections.
Published in 2025, this book offers a very up-to-date perspective on Azure networking, covering fundamentals to advanced topics like Virtual WAN and Private Link. It is highly relevant for contemporary understanding and provides practical skills for designing, deploying, and managing Azure networks. strong candidate for a must-read for staying current.
Foundational text in computer science, widely used in undergraduate and graduate programs. It provides a comprehensive overview of operating system principles, including processes, memory management, and virtualization. Understanding these core concepts is essential for grasping how virtual machines function at a fundamental level. It serves as an excellent prerequisite for diving deeper into virtualization technologies.
Provides a comprehensive overview of Azure networking services, covering core concepts and best practices. It valuable resource for gaining a broad understanding and is suitable for both beginners and those looking to solidify their foundational knowledge. The book is often referenced by professionals for its practical advice.
Walks security operations practitioners step by step through the Microsoft SC-200 blueprint, detailing Microsoft Sentinel workspace provisioning, data connectors, analytics rule tuning, incident response automation, and Defender XDR integration.
Aimed at experienced professionals, this book delves into advanced Azure networking topics and complex scenarios. It's suitable for those looking to achieve a mastery level in designing and implementing sophisticated network solutions in Azure. is for experienced practitioners seeking in-depth knowledge.
Translates battle-tested Security Operations Center doctrine into structured SIEM correlation workflows, telemetry onboarding priorities, alert triage metrics, and threat-hunting playbooks directly applicable to Microsoft Sentinel rules.
Focusing specifically on the security aspects of Azure networking, this book is crucial for understanding how to protect Azure resources. It covers cloud-native security solutions and best practices for building a secure network architecture. is essential for anyone involved in designing or managing secure Azure environments.
Delves into expert-level strategies for designing, securing, and automating Azure networks. It's suitable for those looking to deepen their understanding and explore advanced topics relevant to enterprise environments. This book is more focused on experienced professionals and complex scenarios.
Connects endpoint, identity, and email XDR telemetry directly to Microsoft Sentinel's unified security operations workflow, showing practitioners how to correlate alerts, hunt with KQL across Defender tables, and automate response playbooks.
Provides a comprehensive overview of Azure Compute, covering everything from the basics of creating and managing virtual machines to advanced topics such as high availability and disaster recovery.
Provides a comprehensive overview of computer networking, providing insights into routing protocols, network design, and network security. Its in-depth explanations are suitable for students and professionals alike who seek a deeper understanding of networking concepts.
This cookbook offers practical, step-by-step recipes for implementing various Azure networking solutions. It's excellent for deepening understanding through hands-on application and serves as a useful reference for specific configurations and tasks. The recipes cover a wide range of topics, making it valuable for those looking to apply their knowledge.
Provides an in-depth analysis of routing in the Internet, covering topics such as routing algorithms, network performance, and network security. It is suitable for graduate students and researchers in the field of networking.
Establishes a repeatable detection-as-code lifecycle for cloud SIEM teams, guiding engineers from adversary emulation and MITRE ATT&CK mapping through automated rule validation, false-positive suppression, and version-controlled analytics.
While aimed at exam preparation, this book provides a structured approach to understanding and implementing Azure networking solutions. It covers essential topics like VNet routing, hybrid connectivity, and Virtual WAN, making it valuable for solidifying understanding and preparing for professional roles. It can serve as a practical guide for implementation.
Teaches threat hunters how to operationalize STIX/TAXII intelligence feeds, formulate hypothesis-driven hunting campaigns aligned to MITRE ATT&CK, and query endpoint and cloud logs to uncover stealthy adversary persistence.
Applies the Cyber Kill Chain and Diamond Model methodologies to pivoting across indicators of compromise, enriching SIEM alerts with adversary infrastructure context, and orchestrating structured incident response campaigns.
Kubernetes leading container orchestration platform, often used in conjunction with virtual machines and containers. provides a comprehensive guide to Kubernetes, which is crucial for managing containerized applications at scale. Understanding Kubernetes is vital for anyone working with modern virtualized and cloud-native environments.
Frames proactive threat hunting as a disciplined, hypothesis-driven practice for modern cloud SIEM teams, walking analysts through telemetry pivoting, behavioral anomaly detection, and repeatable hunt execution across enterprise logs.
Provides a combined look at Docker and Kubernetes, reflecting the contemporary landscape where containers and orchestration are key aspects of virtualization strategies. It's valuable for understanding the broader container ecosystem and its relevance to virtualized deployments in both cloud and on-premises environments.
Focuses on routing protocols and the TCP/IP suite, offering detailed explanations of routing algorithms, network topologies, and troubleshooting techniques. It valuable resource for network engineers and administrators seeking to optimize routing configurations.
This widely-used textbook provides a comprehensive overview of computer networks, including routing protocols, network security, and network applications. It is suitable for undergraduate students and professionals seeking to build a solid foundation in networking.
Offers a collection of practical recipes for implementing common Azure security tasks.
Provides a good overview of virtualization techniques and applications from a computer architecture and design perspective. It delves into the fundamental principles behind virtual machines, making it valuable for those seeking a deeper understanding of the technology's underpinnings. While not the most recent publication, it is considered a foundational text in the field.
An updated edition focusing on a specific version of VMware vSphere, providing practical guidance for deploying, managing, and monitoring virtualized data centers. Useful for professionals working with or planning to implement VMware solutions. It offers insights into designing and planning virtual infrastructure effectively.
Aims to give foundational knowledge on how to leverage virtualization to enable the creation and deployment of networks in cloud.
Introduces readers to the field of virtual networks and provides them with a comprehensive overview.
This e-book focuses specifically on load balancing in cloud environments, which is highly relevant given the course topics. It discusses the options and considerations for implementing load balancing in a dynamic cloud infrastructure, including the use of software load balancers like NGINX. It's a practical guide for those working with cloud platforms.
While covering broader Azure security, this book includes significant content on network security within Azure, such as firewalls, security groups, and threat protection. It's a valuable resource for understanding the security implications of networking decisions in Azure. is useful for those focused on secure deployments.
Provides guidance on conducting security assessments and penetration tests on Azure resources.
Provides a comprehensive guide to designing and implementing highly scalable and reliable web applications in Azure App Service. It covers best practices for building and deploying apps, managing resources, and optimizing performance.
Focuses on managing Azure networking resources using the command line interface (CLI). It's valuable for those who prefer or need to work with automation and scripting for network management in Azure. It provides practical guidance for CLI-based operations.
Must-read for anyone interested in building scalable and reliable systems. It covers various aspects of data systems, including reliability, scalability, and maintainability, with relevant discussions on topics like replication and partitioning, which are closely related to load balancing in distributed databases and systems. It provides a deeper understanding of the challenges load balancing helps address.
Focuses on KVM, a popular open-source virtualization technology on Linux. It delves into the internals of KVM and provides guidance on building robust virtualization solutions. It is particularly relevant for those interested in Linux-based virtualization and offers insights into managing scalability, performance, and security within a KVM environment.
Situates Microsoft Sentinel within the broader Azure cloud defense architecture, detailing how Defender for Cloud, Entra ID audit streams, network security logs, and policy guardrails reinforce centralized SIEM visibility.
Specifically addresses load balancing within the Microsoft Azure cloud platform, often in conjunction with NGINX. It offers practical solutions and design considerations for implementing load balancing for applications hosted on Azure. It is highly relevant for those focusing on Azure-specific load balancing services.
Guides security architects through unifying Microsoft Defender XDR and Microsoft Sentinel into a single SecOps platform, covering Zero Trust alignment, unified incident correlation, automated remediation, and KQL hunting workflows.
Provides Microsoft's official architectural blueprint for planning and deploying Microsoft Sentinel, addressing multi-workspace governance, Log Analytics cost optimization, ASIM schema normalization, and SOAR automation patterns.
Provides practical guidance and hands-on labs for Microsoft Hyper-V, another major virtualization platform. It covers implementation and management using both GUI and PowerShell tools. It's a key resource for IT professionals working with Windows Server environments and Hyper-V.
By a Microsoft MVP offers in-depth coverage of Windows Server, including the Hyper-V role. It's a valuable resource for understanding how Hyper-V integrates with the Windows Server ecosystem and for mastering its features. It serves as a comprehensive guide for administrators.
Covers the organizational, procedural, and architectural foundations of operating a 24x7 Security Operations Center, from log retention tiers and SLA escalation matrices to automation workflows and purple-team validation exercises.
Explains the core Azure identity, networking, compute, and key management telemetry sources that feed into Microsoft Sentinel, enabling SIEM engineers to interpret Entra ID, Key Vault, and Defender for Cloud signals accurately.
This cookbook offers practical recipes and step-by-step instructions for configuring and managing VMware vSphere 6.7. It's a useful resource for gaining hands-on experience with specific vSphere tasks, including storage, networking, and high availability. While focused on a specific version, the recipes illustrate common virtualization concepts and practices applicable to VMware environments.
For those interested in practical implementation, this cookbook provides recipes for using NGINX as a load balancer. It covers various use cases, configurations, and advanced features for achieving high-performance load balancing. is particularly useful for gaining hands-on knowledge with a popular load balancing technology.
Practical guide to virtualization for business managers, covering topics such as business benefits of virtualization, virtualization technologies, and virtualization management. It great resource for those who want to learn more about virtualization from a business perspective.
Is highly relevant for understanding how load balancing fits into overall system design, particularly in the context of technical interviews at major tech companies. It provides frameworks and case studies that illustrate the role of load balancing in building scalable and reliable systems. While geared towards interviews, it offers practical insights into real-world system architecture.

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