3.1. Overview of Azure Core Services
Azure Core Services represent the foundational components of Microsoft Azure, one of the leading cloud platforms that enable users and businesses to harness the power of cloud computing. As we dive into the vast ocean of Azure’s offerings, it’s essential to grasp the breadth and depth of these core services, which serve as the bedrock upon which developers construct applications, IT professionals manage infrastructure, and businesses innovate in the digital space.
Understanding Azure Core Services is crucial for anyone pursuing the Azure Fundamentals certification, as these services are often the first encounter one has with Azure and lay the groundwork for more specialized solutions. The core services encompass a range of categories, from computing power and storage options to networking and databases, each designed to offer scalable, reliable, and secure solutions that meet the diverse needs of various applications and workloads.
Azure Compute Services
At the heart of Azure’s capabilities is its compute services, a category that offers raw processing power and an environment to run applications. These services are the driving force behind virtually every operation in the cloud.
Virtual Machines (VMs): These are the most fundamental of compute services, offering Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS). Users have complete control over the virtual machines, which mimic traditional on-premises servers but with the flexibility, scalability, and economic benefits of the cloud. VMs in Azure support a wide range of operating systems, configurations, and purposes – from development and testing environments to high-performance computing applications.
Azure App Services: A fully managed platform for building, deploying, and scaling web applications quickly and efficiently. App Services support multiple languages and frameworks, such as .NET, .NET Core, Java, Ruby, Node.js, PHP, or Python. It simplifies the management and deployment of web apps with features like auto-scaling, integrated performance monitoring, and security.
Azure Functions: This service is a key offering in the serverless computing space, enabling developers to run event-driven pieces of code without explicitly provisioning or managing infrastructure. It integrates seamlessly with other Azure services and external systems, allowing for the creation of responsive applications that react to events and triggers in real time.