Lecture Notes on Azure Fundamentals

Introduction

• Instructor: Andrew Brown, Free Code Camp
• Course: Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)
• Goals:
  • Achieve Microsoft certification through lecture videos and hands-on labs
  • Free practice exams provided
  • Ideal for improving resumes and obtaining cloud roles

Additional Materials

• Support: Purchasing optional paid materials to help course production and increase exam pass rates

About Andrew Brown

• Experienced instructor in various cloud platforms:
  • AWS, Azure, GCP, Kubernetes, Terraform, etc.

Course Overview

• Certification: Azure Fundamentals (Entry-level for Microsoft Azure)
• Pronunciation: Azure or Azure, both are accepted
• Prerequisites: No formal prerequisites required, though some IT experience is beneficial
• Key Topics:
  • Basics of cloud computing
  • Benefits of cloud services
  • Core services: Computing, networking, storage, databases
  • Identity, security, governance (e.g., Entra ID)
  • Pricing, subscriptions, cost management tools
  • Tools for managing Azure resources: Azure portal, SDK, CLI

Importance of Certification

• Provider: Microsoft Azure (2nd leading) vs. AWS (1st leading)
• Role Fit: Suitable for those new to cloud, executive/management level needing strategic info, basic solution deployment
• Certification Value: Offers broad understanding of cloud architecture, fosters strategic thinking
• Exam: Not difficult, foundational for advanced roles
  • Most relevant for professionals refreshing knowledge on current trends and changes

Azure Certification Path

• Fundamentals: Starting point (e.g., AZ-900)
• Advanced Paths: Administrator (AZ-104), Developer (AZ-204), Solutions Architect, Security (SC-900), Data (DP-900)
• Study Hours: Beginners (30 hours), Experienced (6 hours), General (24 hours)
• Practice Exams: Highly recommended for preparation
• Exam Locations: Test centers or online (Pearson VUE)
• Exam Details:
  • 3 domains: Cloud Concepts, Azure Architecture, Management/Governance
  • Pass mark: 700/1000 (approx. 70%)
  • Multiple formats: Multiple choice, drag and drop, yes/no, etc.
• Durability: Valid forever for fundamentals
• Resource: learn.microsoft.com for up-to-date guides and study materials

Azure Global Infrastructure

• Regions: Groupings of multiple data centers (availability zones)
  • 58 regions in 140 countries
• Geographies: Market-specific regions for data residency and compliance
  • Examples: US, Canada, Brazil, Mexico
• Paired Regions: Connected 300 miles apart, ensuring high availability and disaster recovery
• Region Types: Recommended (broader range of services) vs. Alternate (specific functions)
• Availability Zones: Physical locations within a region ensuring high availability
  • Critical services should run in at least 3 AZs

Pricing Models

• CAPEX vs. OPEX:
  • CAPEX: Upfront physical infrastructure costs
  • OPEX: Operating costs based on service consumption
• Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Comparing on-premise vs. cloud costs, usually 75% saving on Azure
• Azure Hybrid Benefit: Discounts for using existing licenses on Azure

Management Tools

• Azure Portal: Web-based unified console
• Azure CLI: Command-line interface (install on Windows, Linux, MacOS)
• Azure Powershell: Task automation and management in Azure
• Azure Cloud Shell: Browser-based shell for managing Azure resources (supports Bash and Powershell)
• Azure Resource Manager (ARM): Management layer for Azure resources
  • Templates: Define infrastructure via JSON files
  • Policies, Resource Groups, Role-based access control

Core Azure Services

Computing Services

• Virtual Machines (VMs): Highly configurable, choose OS, memory, CPU, etc.
• Azure App Services: Platform as a Service (PaaS) for web apps
• Azure Container Instances (ACI): Docker as a Service
• Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS): Managed Kubernetes
• Azure Functions: Serverless computing functions

Storage Services

• Blob Storage: Object storage for large amounts of unstructured data
• Disk Storage: Virtual volumes for VMs
• File Storage: Shared volumes (SMB, NFS)
• Queue Storage: Messaging queue for reliable message delivery
• Data Box: Physical device for bulk data transfer to Azure

Networking Services

• Virtual Network (VNet): Isolated network segment for resources
• Load Balancer: Distribute traffic across VMs
• DNS: Manage domain names
• Virtual Network Gateway: VPN appliance for secure site-to-site connections
• ExpressRoute: Private connections with higher reliability and speed between on-premise and Azure

Security and Management

• Azure Active Directory (AAD): Identity and access management
• Azure Security Center: Unified infrastructure security management
• Key Vault: Secure storage for secrets, keys, certificates
• DDoS Protection: Protection against distributed denial-of-service attacks
• Azure Defender (Security Center): Advanced protection for workloads

Analytics and Big Data

• Azure Synapsis Analytics: Data warehousing and analytics
• HDInsight: Managed Hadoop services
• Databricks: Managed Spark services for analytics
• Data Lake: Repository for large data volumes at any scale

AI and Machine Learning

• Azure Machine Learning: Build, train, deploy ML models
• Various AI Services: Translator, Anomaly Detector, QnA Maker, etc.

DevOps and Application Integration

• Azure DevOps: Comprehensive DevOps services including boards, pipelines, repos
• Logic Apps: Automated workflows and integrations

Exam Preparation Tips

• Study Time: Recommended 1-2 hours daily for 14 days
• Practice Exams: Utilized to prepare rigorously
• Resource Guides: Use Microsoft Learn for up-to-date study material
• Hands-On Labs: Engage in practical, hands-on experience to complement studies

Final Remarks

• Azure Fundamentals is a stepping stone for more specialized certifications
• Building a solid foundation is beneficial for long-term career growth
• Utilizing all available resources (lectures, labs, practice exams) ensures better preparedness for the certification exam