Updated June 2026

Microsoft Azure Fundamentals

Class Duration

35 hours of live training delivered over 5 days.

Student Prerequisites

General understanding of software development concepts
Basic knowledge of networking concepts (TCP/IP, DNS)
Familiarity with command-line interfaces
Understanding of web applications and APIs
No prior Azure or cloud computing experience required

Target Audience

This course is designed for software engineers who are new to Microsoft Azure and cloud computing. It's ideal for developers transitioning to cloud-native development, engineers preparing for Azure certifications, and technical professionals seeking to understand Azure's core services and capabilities. The course provides a solid foundation for those planning to build, deploy, and manage applications in the Azure cloud environment. Engineers ready to design production infrastructure can continue with Designing Azure Infrastructure Essentials.

Description

Microsoft Azure Fundamentals is a comprehensive 5-day course that introduces software engineers to Microsoft Azure's core cloud services and concepts. Participants gain hands-on experience with Azure's global infrastructure, compute services, storage solutions, networking capabilities, and security features. The course covers essential topics from basic cloud concepts to advanced services like AI and machine learning, providing a thorough foundation for working with Azure in professional environments. Students learn to navigate Azure through multiple interfaces including the Azure Portal, CLI, and PowerShell, while understanding key concepts like resource management, identity and access control, and cost optimization. By completion, participants will be well-prepared to design, implement, and manage Azure-based solutions and will have the foundational knowledge needed for Azure certification paths.

Learning Outcomes

Understand cloud computing models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS) and navigate and manage Azure resources using Portal, CLI, and PowerShell interfaces.
Design and implement secure identity and access management solutions using Microsoft Entra ID.
Deploy and configure core compute services including VMs, App Service, and Azure Functions.
Implement storage solutions using Azure Storage accounts, databases, and data services.
Configure virtual networks, security groups, and load balancing for application connectivity.
Monitor applications and infrastructure using Azure Monitor and Log Analytics, and manage costs with Microsoft Cost Management tools.
Implement infrastructure as code using Azure Bicep templates.
Evaluate and integrate Azure AI services into applications.

Training Materials

Comprehensive courseware is distributed online at the start of class. All students receive a downloadable MP4 recording of the training.

Software Requirements

Web browser with access to Azure Portal
Azure CLI installed locally
Azure PowerShell module
Visual Studio Code or preferred code editor
Git for version control
Azure account (free tier provided)
Bicep extension for VS Code

Training Topics

Cloud Computing Fundamentals

Cloud service models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS)
Public, private, and hybrid cloud concepts
Azure global infrastructure overview
Regions, availability zones, and geography
Sovereign and government clouds

Azure Infrastructure and Management

Azure Portal navigation and customization
Azure CLI commands and scripting
Azure PowerShell modules and cmdlets
Resource groups and organization strategies
Subscriptions and management groups
Azure Resource Manager (ARM) concepts

Identity and Access Management

Microsoft Entra ID fundamentals
Users, groups, and administrative units
Role-based access control (RBAC)
Conditional access policies
Multi-factor authentication setup
Privileged Identity Management basics

Security and Compliance

Microsoft Defender for Cloud overview and recommendations
Azure Key Vault for secrets management
Network security groups and rules
Compliance frameworks in Azure
Security best practices and governance

Core Compute Services

Azure Virtual Machines and VM Scale Sets
VM sizes, pricing, and optimization
Azure App Service for web applications
Azure Functions serverless computing
Azure Container Apps for microservices
Azure Kubernetes Service overview

Storage and Data Services

Azure Storage accounts and types
Blob storage tiers and lifecycle management
Azure Files and file sync
Azure Disk Storage options
Azure SQL Database and managed instances
Azure Cosmos DB multi-model database
Data migration tools and Azure Migrate

Networking Services

Virtual Networks (VNets) and subnets
Network Security Groups (NSGs)
Azure Load Balancer configuration
Application Gateway and WAF
Azure DNS and custom domains
VPN Gateway and ExpressRoute basics

Monitoring and Management

Azure Monitor and metrics collection
Log Analytics workspace setup
Application Insights for applications
Azure Advisor recommendations
Alerts and automated responses
Diagnostic settings and log retention

Cost Management and Optimization

Azure pricing models and calculators
Microsoft Cost Management + Billing
Cost analysis and budgets
Resource tagging strategies
Azure Advisor cost recommendations
Reserved instances and savings plans

Infrastructure as Code and AI Services

Introduction to Azure Bicep
Template structure and deployment
Microsoft Foundry overview
Azure OpenAI Service capabilities
Azure AI Services integration
AI model deployment and management