Tutorials – Azure

In the previous chapters, we introduced you to the Azure cloud platform and the Azure Portal. Now, let’s dive deeper into the world of Azure services. Microsoft Azure offers a vast and ever-expanding array of cloud services, each designed to address specific business needs and technical challenges. In this chapter, we will provide an overview of some of the core Azure services across various categories.

Azure Service Categories

Azure services can be categorized into several key areas, each catering to specific use cases and needs. Here are the primary categories of Azure services:

1. Compute Services

Azure provides a variety of compute services, allowing you to run virtual machines, containers, and serverless functions. Some key services include:

• Azure Virtual Machines (VMs): These are scalable, on-demand virtualized Windows or Linux servers.
• Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS): A managed Kubernetes container orchestration service for deploying, managing, and scaling containerized applications.
• Azure Functions: Serverless compute that enables you to run code in response to events without managing infrastructure.

2. Storage Services

Azure’s storage services offer scalable, secure, and cost-effective storage solutions. Key services include:

• Azure Blob Storage: Ideal for storing unstructured data such as images, videos, and documents.
• Azure File Storage: A fully managed file share in the cloud, suitable for various use cases.
• Azure Table Storage: A NoSQL data store for semi-structured data.
• Azure Queue Storage: A messaging store for queuing messages between applications.

3. Networking Services

Azure networking services enable you to connect and secure your resources. Some key services include:

• Azure Virtual Network: Isolate your Azure resources and securely connect to on-premises data centers.
• Azure Load Balancer: Distribute incoming network traffic across multiple resources.
• Azure VPN Gateway: Securely connect your on-premises network to Azure over an IPsec VPN or ExpressRoute.

4. Identity and Access Management

Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) is a comprehensive identity and access management solution that provides secure sign-in, identity protection, and access management.

5. Database Services

Azure offers various database services, including:

• Azure SQL Database: A fully managed relational database service based on SQL Server.
• Azure Cosmos DB: A globally distributed, multi-model database service.
• Azure Database for MySQL/PostgreSQL: Fully managed and secure database services for open-source databases.

6. Development Tools

Azure provides a range of tools for developers, including:

• Azure DevOps: A set of services for planning, developing, testing, and delivering software.
• Visual Studio Team Services: A set of cloud-based collaboration tools for software development.

7. AI and Machine Learning

Azure’s AI and machine learning services include:

• Azure Machine Learning: A cloud-based machine learning service for building, training, and deploying machine learning models.
• Azure Cognitive Services: A suite of AI services and APIs that enable you to build intelligent applications.

8. IoT Services

Azure IoT services help you connect, monitor, and manage IoT assets. Key services include Azure IoT Hub and Azure IoT Central.

9. Security and Compliance

Azure provides a wide range of security and compliance services, including Azure Security Center, Azure Policy, and Azure Monitor.

10. Analytics and Big Data

Azure services for analytics and big data include:

• Azure HDInsight: A cloud-based service for big data analytics.
• Azure Databricks: An Apache Spark-based analytics platform.
• Azure Data Lake Storage: A secure and scalable data lake.

11. Serverless Computing

Azure Functions and Logic Apps offer serverless computing options for building event-driven, scalable applications.

12. Internet of Things (IoT)

Azure IoT services help you connect, monitor, and manage IoT devices and data.

13. Hybrid Cloud Solutions

Azure offers hybrid cloud solutions for integrating on-premises data centers with Azure resources, including Azure Stack and Azure Arc.

A Deeper Dive into Core Services

Now, let’s take a closer look at a few core Azure services to better understand their use cases:

Azure Virtual Machines (VMs)

Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) allow you to run Windows or Linux servers in the cloud. You can choose from a wide range of VM sizes and types to match your workload’s requirements. VMs are suitable for various scenarios, including web hosting, application development, and running business-critical applications.

Azure Blob Storage

Azure Blob Storage is ideal for storing unstructured data, such as images, videos, and documents. It is highly scalable, and you can choose between hot, cool, and archive storage tiers to optimize costs.

Azure SQL Database

Azure SQL Database is a fully managed relational database service based on SQL Server. It offers high availability, security, and automatic backups. It’s a great choice for modern applications that require a relational database.

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)

AKS is a managed Kubernetes container orchestration service. It simplifies the deployment, management, and scaling of containerized applications. AKS is a popular choice for organizations looking to leverage containers and microservices architecture.

Azure Functions

Azure Functions is a serverless compute service that allows you to run code in response to events. It’s perfect for building event-driven applications, such as data processing, file management, and automation.

Conclusion

Microsoft Azure offers a wide spectrum of cloud services to cater to the diverse needs of developers, IT professionals, and businesses. This chapter provided an overview of Azure’s core service categories, including compute, storage, networking, identity, and many others. We also delved into a few essential Azure services to help you understand their practical applications. In the following chapters, we will explore these services in more detail and guide you through their usage in various scenarios, empowering you to harness the full potential of Azure.