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QA: Architecting Microsoft Azure Solutions

Module 1: Application Architecture Patterns in Azure

This module introduces and reviews common Azure patterns and architectures as prescribed by the Microsoft Patterns & Practices team. Each pattern is grouped into performance, resiliency, and scalability categories and described in the context of similar patterns within the category.

Lessons

Module 2: Deploying Resources with Azure Resource Manager

This module establishes a basic understanding of Azure Resource Manager and the core concepts of deployments, resources, templates, resource groups, and tags. The module will dive deeply into the automated deployment of resources using ARM templates.

Lessons

Lab : Getting Started with Azure Resource Manager*

Module 3: Building Azure IaaS-Based Server Applications

This module identifies workloads that are ideally deployed using Infrastructure-as-a-Service services in Azure. The module focuses on the VM Scale Sets and Virtual Machine services in Azure and how to best deploy workloads to these services using best practices and features such as Availability Sets.

Lessons

Lab : Deploying Infrastructure Workloads to Azure*

Module 4: Creating Managed Server Applications in Azure

This module describes services that use infrastructure but manage the infrastructure on behalf of the user instead of obfuscating the infrastructure resources. The module focuses on infrastructure-backed PaaS options such as Azure Service Fabric, Container Service, and App Service Environments. The module will explore how to deploy custom workloads to these services such as an HPC batch processing task.

Lessons

Lab : Deploying Managed Server Workloads to Azure*

Module 5: Authoring Serverless Applications in Azure

This module describes how solutions can leverage serverless application hosting services in Azure to host web applications, REST APIs, integration workflows and HPC workloads without the requirement to manage specific server resources. The module focuses on App Services-related components such as Web Apps, API Apps, Mobile Apps, Logic Apps, and Functions.

Lessons

Lab : Deploying Serverless Workloads to Azure*

Module 6: Backing Azure Solutions with Azure Storage

This module describes how many Azure services use the Azure Storage service as a backing store for other application solution in Azure. The module dives into critical considerations when using Azure Storage as a supplemental service for an all-up Azure solution.

Lessons

Lab : Deploying Azure Storage to Support Other Workloads in Azure*

Module 7: Comparing Database Options in Azure

This module compares the various relational and non-relational data storage options available in Azure. Options are explored as groups such as relational databases (Azure SQL Database, MySQL, and PostgreSQL on Azure), non-relational (Azure Cosmos DB, Storage Tables), streaming (Stream Analytics) and storage (Data Factory, Data Warehouse, Data Lake).

Lessons

Lab : Deploying Database Instances in Azure*

Module 8: Networking Azure Application Components

This module describes the various networking and connectivity options available for solutions deployed on Azure. The module explores connectivity options ranging from ad-hoc connections to long-term hybrid connectivity scenarios. The module also discusses some of the performance and security concerns related to balancing workloads across multiple compute instances, connecting on-premise infrastructure to the cloud and creating gateways for on-premise data.

Lessons

Module 9: Managing Security and Identity for Azure Solutions

This module discusses both security and identity within the context of Azure. For security, this module reviews the various options for monitoring security, the options available for securing data and the options for securing application secrets. For identity, this module focuses specifically on Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) and the various features available such as Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), Managed Service Identity, Azure AD Connect, ADFS and Azure AD B2B/B2C.

Lessons

Lab : Deploying Services to Secure Secrets in Azure

Module 10: Integrating SaaS Services Available on the Azure Platform

This module introduces multiple SaaS services available in Azure that are available for integration into existing Azure solutions. These services include Cognitive Services, Bot Service, Machine Learning and Media Services.

Lessons

Lab : Deploying Service Instances as Components of Overall Azure Solutions

Module 11: Integrating Azure Solution Components using Messaging Services

This module describes and compares the integration and messaging services available for solutions hosted on the Azure platform. Messaging services described include Azure Storage Queues, Service Bus Queues, Service Bus Relay, IoT Hubs, Event Hubs, and Notification Hubs. Integration services include Azure Functions and Logic Apps.

Lessons

Lab : Deploying Messaging Components to Facilitate Communication Between Azure Resources

Module 12: Monitoring and Automating Azure Solutions

This module covers the monitoring and automation solutions available after an Azure solution has been architected, designed and possibly deployed. The module reviews services that are used to monitor individual applications, the Azure platform, and networked components. This module also covers automation and backup options to enable business-continuity scenarios for solutions hosted in Azure.

Lessons

Lab : Deploying Configuration Management Solutions to Azure*

Additional Reading

To help you prepare for this class, review the following resources:

https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/ https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/patterns/ https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/