1. Introduction to Azure Cloud 2026

1.1 What is Azure?

The short version: Azure can be anything. It can include all cloud services available on the market. You can put a virtual machine in the Azure cloud, files, file servers, websites, and your computer network, if you need it and can afford it.

Microsoft Azure is therefore a powerful cloud computing platform that offers you a wide range of services to develop, deploy, and manage your applications. From Azure Virtual Machines to Azure SQL Database to Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) -> Azure has everything you need.

Definition and Overview of Microsoft Azure

Advantages of Using Azure - Key Points

Benefits of Using Microsoft Azure

Scalability Automatic adjustment of resources to demand, both up and down.
Availability High availability and reliability through a global network of data centers.
Security Comprehensive security measures and compliance certifications to protect data and applications.
Cost Optimization Pay-as-you-go pricing model and cost-effective resource management.
Flexibility Support for various operating systems, programming languages, frameworks, and tools.
Integration Seamless integration with other Microsoft services and third-party tools.
Global Reach Access to global infrastructure to deploy applications worldwide.
Innovation Access to the latest technologies and innovations in areas such as AI, machine learning, and IoT.
Developer-Friendly Powerful development and DevOps tools to increase productivity.
Support and Community Comprehensive support and a large community for knowledge sharing and problem solving.

1.2 Overview of Azure Services

Overview of various Azure services
Examples of popular Azure services

In this overview, we try to describe the respective functions of a service in a few words. The goal is to be able to establish a connection with the name. Each Azure service has countless functionalities, so we link our content to the respective learning paths of Azure. After reviewing, you should have read all Azure services and can sort them accordingly.

Important key services such as Azure Data Factory have their own subpage. We strive to document all services comprehensively.

The Azure Services!

Azure Virtual Machines

Create and manage virtual computers in the cloud.

Azure App Service

Quickly deploy and scale web and mobile applications.

Azure Functions

Develop and run serverless applications without worrying about infrastructure.

Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)

Container orchestration and management with Kubernetes.

Azure SQL Database

Managed, highly available relational database.

Azure Cosmos DB

Global, distributed multi-model database with low latency.

Azure Blob Storage

Store unstructured data such as text or binary data.

Azure Data Lake Storage

Store and analyze large amounts of data in their native format.

Azure Files

Provide and manage file shares in the cloud.

Azure Queue Storage

Reliably store and transfer messages between application services.

Azure Table Storage

Store structured NoSQL data in table form.

Azure Disk Storage

Managed disks for virtual machines.

Azure Data Factory

Orchestration and automation of data integration and transformation.

Complete explanation of Azure Data Factory (ADF)

Azure Synapse Analytics

Analytics and data warehousing in a comprehensive solution.

Azure Machine Learning

Create, train, and deploy machine learning models.

Azure Cognitive Services

Integrate AI capabilities into applications, such as speech, vision, and search.

Azure IoT Hub

Connect and manage IoT devices.

Azure DevOps

Tools and services for developing, deploying, and monitoring applications.

Azure Active Directory

Identity and access management for users and applications.

Azure Security Center

Unified security management and threat detection.

Azure Policy

Policies for managing and ensuring compliance of Azure resources.

Azure Key Vault

Securely store and manage keys, secrets, and certificates.

Azure Monitor

Monitor the performance and availability of applications and services.

Azure Log Analytics

Data analysis from logs for troubleshooting and monitoring.

Azure Backup

Secure backup and recovery of data in the cloud.

Azure Site Recovery

Disaster recovery for applications and data.

Azure CDN

Content Delivery Network for accelerating content delivery.

Azure API Management

Create, manage, and protect APIs.

Azure Logic Apps

Automate workflows and integrate applications and data.

Azure Event Grid

Event-driven architecture for responding to events in real time.

Azure Service Bus

Message-based communication between applications and services.

Azure Event Hubs

Real-time data stream processing and analysis.

Azure Stream Analytics

Real-time analysis of data streams.

Azure Search

Full-text search and analysis for applications.

Azure Lab Services

Easy setup and management of development and test environments.

Azure Arc

Manage Azure services on any infrastructure.

Azure VMware Solution

Run VMware environments natively in Azure.

Azure Bastion

Secure and seamless RDP and SSH access to virtual machines.

Azure Firewall

Cloud-native, intelligent network security solution.

Azure Front Door

Global, scalable web application acceleration and security platform.

Azure Traffic Manager

Load balancing service for optimal traffic flow.

Azure Load Balancer

Load balancing for applications to improve availability and scalability.

Azure VPN Gateway

Secure connection of on-premises networks to Azure.

Azure ExpressRoute

Private, dedicated connection to Azure for higher security and reliability.

Azure Application Gateway

Application layer load balancing and web application firewall.

Azure DDoS Protection

Protection against DDoS attacks on applications.

Azure Sentinel

Cloud-native SIEM service for intelligent security analytics and threat defense.

Azure Lighthouse

Centralized management and monitoring of Azure resources.

Azure Bot Services

Create, deploy, and manage intelligent bots.

Azure Media Services

End-to-end platform for media and video streaming.

Azure Data Factory: Introduction and Key Features

1.3 Use Cases and Areas of Application

Typical Use Cases for Microsoft Azure

Typical Use Cases for Azure

Web and Mobile Applications With Azure App Service, you can quickly develop and deploy scalable web and mobile applications.
Data Analytics and Big Data Azure Synapse Analytics and Azure Data Lake Storage provide powerful solutions for processing and analyzing large amounts of data.
Machine Learning and AI Use Azure Machine Learning and Azure Cognitive Services to create intelligent applications with machine learning and AI capabilities.
IoT Solutions Azure IoT Hub enables connection, monitoring, and management of IoT devices at scale.
Container Orchestration With Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), you can efficiently manage and orchestrate container-based applications.

Databases Azure SQL Database and Azure Cosmos DB provide managed database solutions for relational and NoSQL data.

Serverless Applications Azure Functions allows you to develop and run serverless applications that respond to events.

DevOps and Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) Azure DevOps provides tools for automating and managing the entire development cycle.
Security and Identity Management Azure Active Directory and Azure Security Center protect applications and data through comprehensive security features.
Backup and Disaster Recovery With Azure Backup and Azure Site Recovery, you secure your data and restore it in case of emergency.
Network Management Azure Traffic Manager and Azure Load Balancer optimize traffic and increase the availability of your applications.
Content Delivery Azure CDN accelerates content delivery worldwide.
API Management Azure API Management helps you securely create, manage, and protect APIs.
Automation and Workflows Azure Logic Apps enables automation of business processes and integration of various systems.
Event-Driven Architecture Azure Event Grid and Azure Event Hubs provide solutions for processing and responding to events in real time.
Media and Video Services Azure Media Services provides end-to-end solutions for media processing and video streaming.
Development and Testing Azure Lab Services simplifies the setup and management of development and testing environments.

Industries and Companies Using Azure

The short version: All industries are well represented, and the world’s top companies are already using Microsoft Azure. Anyone not using it risks falling behind.

Financial Services Banks and insurance companies use Azure for secure data processing and compliance.
Healthcare Hospitals and research institutions use Azure for data analytics, patient management, and telemedicine.
Retail Retailers use Azure for e-commerce platforms, inventory management, and customer data analysis.
Manufacturing Manufacturers use Azure for IoT solutions, predictive maintenance, and supply chain management.
Media and Entertainment Media companies use Azure for video streaming, content delivery, and production workflows.
Education Schools and universities use Azure for e-learning platforms, data analytics, and management systems.
Technology and IT IT companies use Azure for cloud services, development environments, and software deployment.
Government Agencies Public institutions use Azure for secure data management, citizen services, and digital transformation.
Energy and Utilities Energy providers use Azure for smart grid solutions, data analytics, and asset management.

1.4 Azure Accounts and Subscriptions

Overview of Subscription Types and Models

Azure Accounts:

To get started with Microsoft Azure, you need an Azure account. An Azure account is your entry point to access the various cloud services and resources of Azure. You can sign in with an existing Microsoft ID or create a new one.

Azure Subscriptions:

An Azure subscription is a unit that contains a group of Azure resources. It helps you organize and monitor the billing, management, and usage of services. You can have multiple subscriptions under a single Azure account, which is particularly useful for separating different projects, environments (e.g., development, test, production), or billing purposes.

Subscription Types:

Free Account Azure offers a free account that gives you access to a variety of services for 12 months as well as credit for the first 30 days. Ideal for trying out and learning Azure.
Pay-As-You-Go This model allows you to pay only for the resources you actually use. There are no upfront costs or long-term commitments.
Enterprise Agreement (EA) A customized solution for large enterprises with high usage that offers individual pricing and contract terms.
Microsoft Partner Network (MPN) For Microsoft partners who want to use Azure services at reduced prices.

Pricing Models

Usage-Based Billing Azure uses a usage-based billing model where you pay only for the resources and services you actually use. This provides flexibility and helps optimize costs.

Prices per Service:

Each Azure service has its own pricing model that varies based on usage, storage space, data transfer, and other factors. For example:

Azure Virtual Machines Billed by compute power (vCPUs), storage type, and runtime.

Azure Storage Costs are based on storage space used and data transfers.

Azure SQL Database Billed by performance tier, database size, and number of transactions.

Cost Management Tools Azure provides several tools to monitor and manage your spending:

Azure Cost Management + Billing A central dashboard for tracking your expenses, budget planning, and cost optimization.

Pricing Calculator An online tool that lets you calculate the estimated costs for your planned Azure resources.

Reports and Alerts Automated reports and alerts help you stick to your budget and avoid unexpected costs.

Discounts and Savings Plans Reserved Instances: Get significant discounts by booking compute capacity for one or three years in advance.

Spot Instances Use unused capacity at heavily reduced prices for non-mission-critical workloads.

1.5 Azure Portal and User Interface

Azure offers a very well-structured user interface: Therefore, we link to the respective MS page here: https://azure.microsoft.com/de-de/get-started/azure-portal/

1.8 Security and Compliance in Azure

Introduction to Azure’s Security Features Overview of Compliance Certifications and Standards