Azure Fundamentals - Azure Service Guide
What is Azure Fundamentals?
Azure Fundamentals is the foundational layer of Microsoft Azure's cloud platform, covering its global infrastructure, core service categories (compute, storage, networking, databases, identity, security, monitoring), pricing, and governance principles. It also forms the basis of the Azure AZ‑900 certification, which validates understanding of Azure's architecture, cloud models (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), and best practices.
Simple Words Explanation:
Azure Fundamentals is the "starter kit" for learning and using Microsoft’s cloud. It explains the different building blocks you can use—like virtual servers, storage, databases, and networks—along with how Azure charges you and keeps things secure.
Key Use Cases
- Web & Mobile Applications – Quickly deploy scalable web apps and APIs without managing servers.
- Data Storage & Analytics – Store large datasets, run analytics and reporting.
- Lift‑and‑Shift Migration – Move existing workloads to Azure with minimal changes.
- Disaster Recovery – Build geo‑redundant backups and failover environments.
- IoT Solutions – Connect and monitor millions of devices securely.
Service Categories/Types
- Compute – Virtual Machines, App Services, Containers, Serverless
- Storage – Blob, Disk, File, Queue
- Networking – VNets, Gateways, Load Balancers, CDN
- Databases – SQL Database, Cosmos DB, PostgreSQL, MySQL
- Identity & Access – Azure Active Directory, RBAC
- Monitoring & Management – Azure Monitor, Cost Management, ARM
🎯 Core Concepts
Essential Terms & Definitions
| Term | Definition | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Geographical area with multiple data centers | East US, West Europe |
| Availability Zone | Physically separate datacenter within a region for resilience | Zone 1, Zone 2 |
| IaaS | Cloud model for virtualized infrastructure | Azure Virtual Machines |
| PaaS | Managed app hosting platform | Azure App Service |
| SaaS | Ready‑to‑use software in the cloud | Microsoft 365 |
| ARM | Azure deployment and management API | Deploy resources via template |
Key Features
- Multiple Service Models – IaaS, PaaS, SaaS to fit different workload designs.
- Global Reach – 60+ regions, availability zones, data residency compliance.
- Scalability – Auto‑scaling for compute and apps.
- Governance – Azure Policy, RBAC for secure and compliant usage.
- Integrated Monitoring – Native tools for telemetry and cost control.
- Hybrid Support – VPN Gateway, ExpressRoute, Azure Arc for on‑prem/cloud integration.
Technical Deep Dive
Azure Fundamentals spans the key building blocks of the Microsoft cloud:
- Compute Layer: Virtual Machines for IaaS, App Service for managed web hosting, Azure Functions for event‑driven workloads, and AKS for container orchestration.
- Storage Layer: Highly durable offerings for object (Blob), block (Disk), and file (Azure Files) storage, each with different performance tiers.
- Networking Layer: Virtual Networks for isolation, ExpressRoute/VPN Gateway for private/hybrid connectivity, Load Balancing, CDN, and global routing via Front Door.
- Identity/Security: Azure Active Directory for authentication, RBAC and Conditional Access for fine‑grained control, Defender for Cloud for threat protection, encryption at rest/in transit.
- Databases: Fully managed services like Azure SQL Database, Cosmos DB, PostgreSQL, and MySQL.
- Management/Monitoring: Azure Monitor and Log Analytics for telemetry, ARM/Bicep for templated deployments, Resource Groups/tags for organization.
- Pricing Models: Pay‑as‑you‑go, Reserved Instances for predictable cost savings, Spot pricing for interruptible workloads.
🔄 Azure Service Comparisons
Compute
| Service | Model | Best For | Key Features | Avoid When |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Azure VM | IaaS | Custom OS, lift‑and‑shift | Full control, scaling sets | For small/serverless apps |
| App Service | PaaS | Web apps, APIs | CI/CD, scaling, TLS | Heavy OS‑level compute |
| Functions | Serverless | Event/batch jobs | Trigger‑based, pay‑per‑exec | Long‑running/stateful |
| AKS | PaaS | Containers, microservices | Managed Kubernetes | Simple small apps |
Storage
| Service | Use Case | Access Model | Performance Tiers |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blob | Unstructured/object data | REST/SKD | Hot, Cool, Archive |
| Disk | VM OS/data disks | Block | HDD/SSD options |
| File | SMB/NFS file share | SMB/NFS | Standard, Premium |
| Queue | Decoupling | HTTPS | N/A |
Networking
| Service | Function | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| VNet | Isolation/connectivity | All workloads |
| VPN Gateway | Hybrid/site‑to‑site | Hybrid setups |
| ExpressRoute | Private connect | Low‑latency, compliance |
| Load Balancer | L4 dist. | TCP/UDP workloads |
| Front Door | Global LB/CDN | Multi‑region apps |
| Traffic Manager | DNS routing | Geo‑failover |
Databases
| Service | Type | Global Dist. | Scaling |
|---|---|---|---|
| SQL DB | Relational (PaaS) | Geo‑replica | Scale‑up/elastic |
| Cosmos DB | NoSQL | Multi‑region writes | Request Units |
| PostgreSQL/MySQL | Relational | Regional | vCore‑based |
Identity & Security
| Service | Purpose | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Azure AD | Auth & SSO | MFA, Conditional Access |
| Azure Policy | Governance | Compliance enforcement |
| Defender for Cloud | Security posture | Threat detection |
Monitoring
| Service | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Azure Monitor | Telemetry | Metrics, logs, alerts |
| Log Analytics | Querying | KQL support |
| Azure Advisor | Recommendations | Cost, perf, security |
Decision Points:
- Choose VMs for legacy apps, App Services for managed hosting, Functions for event‑driven, AKS for container orchestration.
- Use Blob Storage for cheap archival/object storage; File Storage for SMB/NFS shares.
- Opt for ExpressRoute for critical workloads needing private dedicated connectivity.
🌐 Networking Considerations
- VNet Peering for cross‑network traffic within Azure.
- ExpressRoute for private WAN integration.
- VPN Gateway for secure tunneling.
- Front Door or Traffic Manager for global routing and failover.
- Apply NSGs (Network Security Groups) and Azure Firewall for traffic control.
- Use Azure DDoS Protection for enhanced security.
💰 Pricing & Cost Considerations
- Pay‑As‑You‑Go for flexible workloads, billed per second/minute depending on service.
- Reserved Instances/Savings Plans for predictable workloads, large discounts.
- Spot Pricing for short‑lived, non‑critical workloads.
- Free Tier offerings (limited compute, storage, bandwidth) available.
- Tools: Azure Pricing Calculator for forecasting, Cost Management for tracking, Budgets and Alerts for enforcement.
- Cost optimization with:
- Right‑sizing resources
- Auto‑scaling
- Deallocating idle VMs
🔒 Security & Compliance
- Shared Responsibility Model: Azure secures infrastructure, customer secures data/config.
- Identity Management: Azure AD, MFA, Conditional Access.
- Access Control: RBAC, Privileged Identity Management.
- Data Protection: Encryption in transit (TLS), at rest (AES‑256).
- Compliance: ISO, SOC, GDPR, HIPAA, FedRAMP certifications.
- Governance: Azure Policy, Blueprints, Management Groups.
📊 Performance & Scalability
- VM Sizes: Choose B‑series (burstable) to N‑series (GPU) for workloads.
- Storage Tiers: Select between HDD, Standard SSD, Premium SSD based on speed/latency needs.
- Global Scalability: Use Traffic Manager or Front Door to serve globally.
- Auto Scaling: Horizontal and vertical scaling options for compute and app services.
- SLAs: Higher availability achieved with multi‑zone deployments.
📝 Interview Preparation Checklist
Quick Recap with Key Answers
- Three Cloud Models: IaaS, PaaS, SaaS.
- Core Azure Services: Compute, Storage, Networking, Databases, Identity, Monitoring.
- Pricing Models: Pay‑As‑You‑Go, Reserved, Spot.
- Security Model: Shared Responsibility Model.
Architecture Scenarios Practice
- E‑commerce Deployment
Problem: Need to run global storefront with low latency.
Solution: App Service + SQL DB + Front Door + CDN.
Trade‑off: Higher cost for global footprint. - Hybrid Backup Strategy
Problem: Back up on‑prem servers to cloud securely.
Solution: Azure Backup + Blob Storage + VPN Gateway.
Trade‑off: Requires VPN maintenance. - Serverless Processing
Problem: Process image uploads automatically.
Solution: Blob Storage Trigger + Azure Functions + Cognitive Services.
Trade‑off: Functions cold start impact.
Must-Know Topics Checklist
- [ ] Understand Azure global infrastructure
- [ ] Differences between IaaS, PaaS, SaaS
- [ ] Core Azure service categories
- [ ] Networking fundamentals in Azure
- [ ] Azure pricing and billing tools
- [ ] Security best practices
- [ ] Monitoring and logging tools
Hands-On Practice Tasks
- [ ] Create a VM and deploy a sample app
- [ ] Deploy a PaaS web app with CI/CD
- [ ] Configure a VNet and connect to on‑prem via VPN
- [ ] Implement RBAC for a Resource Group
- [ ] Set up Azure Monitor alerts
- [ ] Deploy resources with ARM/Bicep template
❓ Common Interview Questions
Got it ✅ —
Here’s your full, comprehensive Azure Fundamentals interview preparation pack following exactly the format you specified, with all fundamental, technical, and scenario-based questions, plus preparation checklist and topic coverage.
Azure Fundamentals – Interview Preparation Question Bank
❓ Common Interview Questions
Fundamental Questions
- What is Azure Fundamentals and what does it encompass?
- How does Azure Fundamentals relate to the AZ-900 certification?
- What are the main components of the Azure platform?
- Explain the differences between IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS in Azure.
- What are the benefits of using Azure’s global network of regions?
- When should an enterprise consider using Azure?
- When might Azure not be the best choice?
- What are the advantages of Azure compared to other cloud platforms like AWS and GCP?
- What are the limitations of Azure Fundamentals?
- How does Azure Fundamentals fit into a hybrid cloud strategy?
- What industries benefit most from Azure's core services?
- What are typical use cases for Azure Fundamentals?
- What is the pricing model for Azure services?
- How does the Azure free tier work?
- How do Reserved Instances and Spot Instances work in Azure?
- How does Azure ensure compliance for different industry standards?
- What are Azure’s SLAs and uptime commitments?
- How does Azure address data sovereignty requirements?
- What is the shared responsibility model in Azure?
- How is Azure evolving with current industry trends (e.g., AI, edge computing)?
Technical Questions
- How do Azure regions, availability zones, and geographies work together to provide redundancy?
- Describe how Azure Resource Groups work and their role in resource management.
- What is Azure Resource Manager (ARM) and how does it work?
- Explain the use of ARM templates and Bicep for infrastructure as code.
- How does Azure Active Directory integrate with on-prem Active Directory?
- How does RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) work in Azure?
- What security services does Azure provide out of the box?
- How can Azure Policy help with governance at scale?
- What logging and monitoring capabilities does Azure provide?
- How does Azure Monitor differ from Log Analytics?
- What are the options for connecting on-premise infrastructure to Azure?
- Explain the differences between VPN Gateway and ExpressRoute.
- How do you design for high availability in Azure?
- What backup and disaster recovery solutions does Azure offer?
- How does Azure handle scaling for compute resources?
- What is auto-scaling and how is it configured for an Azure App Service?
- How can you control and optimize costs in Azure?
- How do you secure a multi-tier application in Azure?
- How does Azure encrypt data at rest and in transit?
- What compliance standards does Azure meet natively?
- How do you troubleshoot performance issues in Azure VMs?
- How can Azure integrate with CI/CD pipelines?
- What monitoring tools can be integrated with Azure Fundamentals?
- How does Azure Front Door differ from Azure Traffic Manager?
- How do you manage Azure subscriptions in an enterprise context?
- How do you migrate workloads from on-premise to Azure?
- What are Azure’s main database service offerings and their trade-offs?
- How does the Azure Pricing Calculator help with planning?
- What are the key network security features in Azure?
- How is multi-region deployment implemented in Azure?
- Explain Azure’s resource limits/quotas and how to request increases.
- How does Microsoft Defender for Cloud enhance security posture?
Scenario-Based Questions
High-Traffic Web Application Architecture
- How would you design and deploy a highly available, globally distributed web application using Azure services?
Cost Optimization
- How would you identify cost-saving opportunities in an Azure deployment and implement them?
Troubleshooting Latency
- How do you diagnose and fix latency issues between Azure regions and customer endpoints?
Lift-and-Shift Migration
- How would you migrate a 3-tier on-prem application (database, API, UI) to Azure with minimal downtime?
Multi-Region High Availability
- How would you design a system requiring 99.99% uptime across multiple Azure regions?
Disaster Recovery
- How would you ensure RTO (Recovery Time Objective) and RPO (Recovery Point Objective) are met using Azure Site Recovery?
Securing Sensitive Workloads
- How would you secure workloads handling healthcare data in Azure to meet HIPAA compliance?
Regulatory Compliance
- How would you build and maintain compliance for a fintech company in Azure with PCI DSS requirements?
Handling Sudden Traffic Spikes
- How would you autoscale an Azure App Service to handle unpredictable and spiky global traffic?
Multi-Tenant SaaS Application
- How would you design an Azure-based SaaS application for multiple customers with strict data isolation?
Hybrid Cloud
- How would you integrate on-prem systems with Azure to create a hybrid solution?
Data Consistency
- How would you ensure data consistency for a distributed application with Azure SQL across multiple regions?
Monitoring & Alerting
- How would you implement proactive monitoring and automated alerts for a mission-critical Azure workload?
Global Rollout
- How would you deploy an application in Azure for global users minimizing latency?
Region Outage Response
- What would be your approach if a primary Azure region hosting critical workloads went offline?
Version Upgrades
- How would you execute a zero-downtime upgrade for a PaaS-based workload?
CI/CD Integration
- How would you implement a secure CI/CD pipeline for deploying to Azure from GitHub Actions?
ROI Demonstration
- How would you quantify and present the business ROI of moving workloads to Azure to stakeholders?
Proof of Concept
- How would you structure and deliver a POC for a customer to test Azure’s capabilities before migration?
Performance SLA Breach
- How would you investigate and address workloads that are not meeting Azure's performance SLAs?
📝 Interview Preparation Checklist
Quick Recap with Key Questions
Core Service Knowledge
- What is Azure Fundamentals?
- What are the primary use cases?
- What are Azure’s key differentiators?
- What are the advantages and limitations?
- What is the pricing model and free tier?
Technical Essentials
- What are the main building block services?
- What are the performance tuning options?
- How does scaling work for compute, storage, and networking?
- What are the identity and security features?
- What compliance/governance tools exist?
Integration & Architecture
- What are the most common integrations?
- What are typical architectural patterns for HA/DR?
- When should you use IaaS vs. PaaS in Azure?
- What are the trade-offs for multi-region deployments?
Architecture Scenarios Practice
Scenario 1: Deploying a Scalable E-commerce Platform
- What business problem are you solving?
- How would you design the architecture using Azure Fundamentals?
- What trade-offs in regional deployment and scaling would you consider?
Scenario 2: Achieving Regulatory Compliance for Healthcare
- What compliance requirements are in scope?
- How would you use Azure security and governance tools?
- What risks need to be mitigated?
Scenario 3: Migrating Legacy Infrastructure
- What migration strategy would you recommend?
- Which Azure migration tools would you use?
- How would you handle dependencies?
Scenario 4: Resilient Multi-Region API
- How would you deploy APIs across multiple Azure regions?
- How would you secure and load balance them?
Scenario 5: Disaster Recovery for a Financial App
- What DR target metrics are required?
- Which Azure DR services meet these targets?
Scenario 6: Auto-Scaling a Popular Mobile Backend
- How would you configure scaling to respond to daily traffic changes?
Scenario 7: Hybrid Integration with On-Prem Systems
- How would you link on-prem resources to Azure workloads?
Scenario 8: Optimizing Costs for a SaaS Startup
- How would you select services and pricing tiers to minimize spend?
Scenario 9: Zero-Downtime Deployment
- How would you roll out updates without impacting users?
Scenario 10: Global Low-Latency Rollout
- How would you ensure minimal latency for global users?
Must-Know Topics Checklist
- [ ] Core concepts and service definitions
- [ ] Key Azure components (Compute, Storage, Networking)
- [ ] Use cases and industries
- [ ] Pricing model & free tier
- [ ] Security architecture & best practices
- [ ] Compliance and governance
- [ ] Scaling and performance
- [ ] Monitoring & troubleshooting
- [ ] High availability and disaster recovery
- [ ] Integration patterns
- [ ] Cost optimization
- [ ] Migration strategies
If you want, I can also prepare a visual “Azure Fundamentals Architecture Map” showing all major services and their relationships for better architecture interview visuals — would you like me to create that next?