How to Set Up Microsoft Azure: A Step-by-Step Guide

This guide will walk you through creating an Azure account, setting up virtual machines, storage, databases, networking, and security, and deploying applications in the cloud.

Step 1: Create an Azure Account

1. Go to the Azure Portal
   • Visit Azure’s website and click Start Free.
   • Sign in with a Microsoft account or create one.
2. Start with Free Credits
   • Azure provides a $200 free credit for new users.
   • Select Pay-As-You-Go for long-term usage after the trial period.
3. Set Up Billing & Subscription
   • Add a payment method (you won’t be charged until the free credits are used).
   • Select a subscription type (e.g., Pay-As-You-Go, Enterprise, or Student).

Step 2: Set Up a Resource Group

Azure resources are organized into resource groups for easier management.

1. Open Azure Portal and go to Resource Groups.
2. Click Create Resource Group.
3. Choose:
   • Subscription (your billing plan).
   • Resource Group Name (e.g., "MyCloudResources").
   • Region (choose the closest data center).
4. Click Create.

Step 3: Deploy a Virtual Machine (VM)

1. In the Azure Portal, go to Virtual Machines.
2. Click Create > Azure Virtual Machine.
3. Select:
   • Subscription & Resource Group (created in Step 2).
   • Virtual Machine Name (e.g., "WebServer").
   • Region (closer regions improve performance).
   • Image (Windows Server, Ubuntu, etc.).
   • Size (CPU & RAM based on workload).
4. Set Admin Username & Password.
5. Under Networking, allow RDP (for Windows) or SSH (for Linux).
6. Click Review + Create and wait for deployment to complete.
7. Connect via Remote Desktop (RDP) or SSH using the provided IP address.

Step 4: Set Up Cloud Storage

1. Go to Azure Portal > Storage Accounts.
2. Click Create Storage Account and enter:
   • Subscription & Resource Group.
   • Storage Account Name (unique globally).
   • Region (match with VM location).
   • Performance Tier (Standard or Premium).
3. Click Review + Create.
4. Once created, go to Containers > Create a New Container.
5. Upload files or connect storage to applications.

Step 5: Set Up a Managed Database (Azure SQL)

1. In the Azure Portal, go to Azure SQL.
2. Click Create a SQL Database.
3. Select:
   • Resource Group.
   • Database Name (e.g., "MyAppDB").
   • Server Name (create a new SQL Server instance).
   • Compute + Storage (basic for small workloads, premium for enterprise).
4. Set a Username & Password.
5. Click Review + Create and wait for deployment.
6. Connect using SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) or an application.

Step 6: Configure Networking & Security

Create a Virtual Network (VNet)

1. Go to Azure Portal > Virtual Networks.
2. Click Create VNet and enter:
   • Name (e.g., "MyNetwork").
   • Region (same as other resources).
   • IP Address Range (e.g., 10.0.0.0/16).
3. Click Create to deploy.

Set Up a Firewall & Access Control

1. Go to Azure Firewall in the Portal.
2. Click Create Firewall and attach it to your Virtual Network.
3. Set up inbound and outbound rules to allow necessary traffic.

Enable Azure Active Directory (Azure AD)

1. Open Azure AD in the Portal.
2. Click Users > Add User to create access controls.
3. Assign role-based access (RBAC) to restrict sensitive data access.

Step 7: Deploy a Web Application (Azure App Service)

1. Go to Azure Portal > App Services.
2. Click Create a Web App.
3. Select:
   • Resource Group & Subscription.
   • App Name (unique URL for deployment).
   • Runtime Stack (Node.js, Python, .NET, PHP, etc.).
   • Region (closest to your users).
4. Click Review + Create and wait for deployment.
5. Deploy the app using:
   • Azure DevOps CI/CD pipelines.
   • GitHub integration.
   • Manual FTP upload.

Step 8: Set Up Monitoring & Alerts

1. Go to Azure Monitor in the Portal.
2. Click Create Alert Rule and set:
   • Resource to monitor (VM, Database, or Storage).
   • Condition (e.g., CPU usage over 80%).
   • Notification (email, SMS, or webhook).
3. Save the alert to track performance and detect failures.

Step 9: Automate Backups & Disaster Recovery

1. Go to Azure Backup.
2. Click Create Backup Policy.
3. Select:
   • Backup Type (VMs, Databases, Storage).
   • Frequency (Daily, Weekly, or Custom).
   • Retention Period (e.g., keep backups for 30 days).
4. Enable Geo-Redundant Storage (GRS) for added reliability.

Final Checks Before Deployment

✔ Ensure billing alerts are set up to control costs.
✔ Test network security and firewall rules.
✔ Verify database connections and app functionality.
✔ Monitor performance metrics for optimization.
✔ Set up user access control using Azure AD.