Azure Cloud Basics
Contents
Introduction
Cloud services offer on-demand access to computing resources such as servers, storage, and databases over the internet, eliminating the need to maintain physical hardware. These services provide flexibility, scalability, and cost-efficiency, making them a popular choice for businesses worldwide.
Why Use the Cloud?
- Cost-effective: Pay only for what you use.
- Scalable: Easily scale up or down based on your needs.
- Accessible: Access your data and applications from anywhere.
Categories of Cloud
There are three types of cloud services:
- IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service): Provides virtualized computing resources over the internet.
- Examples: CPU, RAM, storage, virtual machines (VMs)
- PaaS (Platform as a Service): Offers hardware and software tools over the internet, typically used for application development.
- Examples: SQL Server, operating systems, development frameworks
- SaaS (Software as a Service): Delivers software applications over the internet on a subscription basis.
- Examples: Office 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce
Deployment Modes
When adopting cloud technologies, selecting the right deployment mode is crucial. Below are the three types of deployment modes:
- Public: Services and infrastructure are hosted by third-party cloud providers and shared across multiple tenants.
Examples: Azure, AWS, GCP
- Private: Dedicated to a single organization, hosted on-premises or by a third-party provider, offering enhanced security and control.
Examples: TCS, On-premises data centers
- Hybrid: Combines public and private clouds, sharing data and applications between them. Provides flexibility and varied deployment options.
Examples: Public + Private
Azure Cloud
Azure Cloud is Microsoft’s cloud computing platform, offering a wide range of services such as computing power, storage, analytics, and networking. Azure enables businesses to build, deploy, and manage applications through Microsoft-managed data centers.
Some Key Uses of Azure:
- Data Storage: Options like Azure Blob Storage and Azure Data Lake.
- Data Analytics: Services like Azure Databricks, Azure Synapse Analytics, and Power BI.
- Compute Power: Azure Virtual Machines and Azure Kubernetes Service for application hosting.
- Security: Advanced features like Azure Key Vault for managing sensitive information.
Resource Group in Azure
In Azure, a resource group is a logical container that holds all Azure resources such as virtual machines, storage accounts, and more. Grouping resources together simplifies management, deployment, and monitoring.
- Simplified Management: Organize related resources together.
- Enhanced Security: Apply access control and policies at the resource group level.
- Efficient Monitoring: View resource usage and health at the resource group level.
Azure Services
To excel as an Azure Data Engineer, here are some key services you'll need to work with:
A cloud-based data integration service to create data-driven workflows for orchestrating and automating data movement and transformation.
A fast, easy, and collaborative Apache Spark-based analytics platform, optimized for Azure. PySpark is used for working with large datasets in a distributed computing environment.
A cloud storage solution to store and manage data. It supports multiple types of storage such as blobs, files, and queues.
A fully managed relational database service that offers scalable and high-performance data storage and querying.
A secure cloud service for storing and accessing secrets, such as API keys and passwords.
A service that helps automate workflows and integrates apps, data, and services to work seamlessly across systems.
Creating an Azure Subscription
To use any Azure service, having an Azure subscription is essential. Follow this straightforward guide to set up your subscription and get started with Azure.
Step 1: Sign Up for an Azure Account
Visit the Azure Portal to begin the process.
- Start the Signup Process: Click "Start Free" or "Create an Azure Account". New users can sign up for the Azure Free Trial, which includes $200 in credit valid for the first 30 days.
- Sign In or Create a Microsoft Account: Use an existing Microsoft account or create a new one to proceed.
Step 2: Provide Billing Information
- Enter Your Contact Information: Fill in your name, email address, and other required personal details.
- Add Payment Information: A credit or debit card is required for verification. Note: Microsoft won’t charge your card unless you choose to upgrade to a paid subscription.
- Identity Verification: Microsoft may perform a small authorization hold (refundable) on your card to confirm your identity.
Step 3: Select Your Subscription Type
- Choose a Plan:
- Free Trial: Best for beginners exploring Azure services.
- Pay-As-You-Go: Charges are based on resource usage, offering flexibility.
- Other options: Includes Student Plans or enterprise-specific subscriptions.
- Agree to the Terms and Conditions: Review and accept the Microsoft Customer Agreement to continue.
Step 4: Complete the Subscription Setup
- Access the Azure Portal: After activation, log in to the Azure Portal to begin using Azure services.
- Manage Roles and Permissions (Optional): Use Azure Active Directory (AAD) to assign user roles and control access.
Step 5: Add or Upgrade Subscriptions (Optional)
- To create additional subscriptions: Navigate to the Subscriptions section in the Azure Portal. Select "Add a Subscription" and choose the desired subscription type.
- To upgrade your current subscription: Select Pay-As-You-Go or other options to continue accessing services beyond the free trial.
Step 6: Explore Azure Services
- Start creating and managing resources like:
- Virtual Machines
- Storage Accounts
- Databases
- Monitor your usage and spending: Use the Cost Management + Billing section to track your usage.
Azure Free Trial: Benefits and Limitations
If you're new to Azure, the Free Trial is an excellent way to get hands-on experience. However, it comes with some limitations:
Key Benefits
- $200 Credit: Explore any Azure services for the first 30 days.
- Access to Free Tier Services for 12 Months:
- Compute: 750 hours/month of B1S virtual machines (Linux/Windows).
- Storage: 5 GB of Azure Blob Storage.
- Databases: 250 GB of SQL Database storage.
- Bandwidth: 15 GB/month for outbound data transfer.
- AI + Machine Learning: 5,000 transactions for APIs like text analysis.
Limitations
- Time and Credit Cap: The trial lasts 30 days or until you exhaust the $200 credit, whichever comes first. After this, you must upgrade to continue using Azure services.
- Service Restrictions: Premium services like advanced analytics or high-performance virtual machines are not included.
- Regional Limitations: Some services may only be available in specific Azure regions.
Important Notes
- A credit card is required for verification, but no charges will occur during the trial unless you upgrade.
- Each credit card can activate only one subscription.
- Use the trial subscription wisely, as resources are limited to $200 credits and free-tier quotas.