Overview of Learning Azure in 2022

Introduction

• Azure is a vast platform with numerous services and technologies.
• Everyone learns differently: reading, watching, hands-on practice.
• A few key foundational areas in Azure to understand:
  • Identity
  • Governance
  • Infrastructure

Key Areas to Focus On

Identity

• Azure Active Directory (AD)
• Conditional Access
• Authentication and Authorization
• Seamless Sign-On

Governance

• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)
• Policy
• Budgets
• Tagging and Naming
• Management groups, subscriptions, resource groups

Infrastructure

• Networking
• Compute resources
• Storage

Learning Resources

• Website: learn.onboardtoazure.com provides a curated path with videos and resources.
• Hands-on experience is crucial: use free accounts, Azure credits from Visual Studio or MSDN subscriptions.

Tips for Hands-on Practice

• Create resources in their own resource groups for easy management.
• De-allocate resources to save costs; simply stopping may still incur charges.
• Optimize spend by choosing the right resources (e.g., burstable VMs, standard HDDs).
• Use the Azure portal for a beginner-friendly interface.

Microsoft Documentation and Certification

• Microsoft has excellent docs and learning modules.
• Certifications can provide structured learning paths.
  • AZ-900: Azure Fundamentals
  • SC-900: Identity and Security basics

Certifications and Learning Paths

• Different certifications based on roles (Admin, DevOps, Architect, etc.).
• Certification Poster as a guide for options and paths.
• Continuous learning: stay updated with Microsoft blogs and weekly update videos.
• Example paths:
  • Admin: AZ-104, then AZ-305 (Architect)
  • Specific roles: Security Engineer, Developer, AI, Data, etc.

Final Thoughts

• Importance of hands-on learning and continuous updates.
• Start with fundamental certifications like AZ-900 and SC-900.
• Choose a path based on interest (Admin, Data, DevOps, etc.).
• Good luck with your Azure learning journey!