2.6. Reflection Checkpoint: Core Services Mastery

You’ve now surveyed the core architectural components and services of Microsoft Azure. This is the heart of the AZ-900 exam. Take a moment to consolidate your understanding.

Scenario: You are explaining to a new team member the basic building blocks needed to deploy a simple web application in Azure. You need to describe a compute option, a storage option, a networking option, and how to manage identity.

Reflection Question: Can you confidently select an appropriate Azure service for a given need (e.g., "I need to run a web app without managing servers" -> App Service; "I need to store user-uploaded videos" -> Blob Storage)? How do these services fit together to form a complete solution?

Key Concepts Review:

• Architecture: Can you explain the difference between a Region and an Availability Zone? What is the purpose of a Resource Group?
• Compute: What is the main difference between a VM, an App Service, a Container, and a Function?
• Networking: When would you use a VPN Gateway versus ExpressRoute? What is a VNet for?
• Storage: What type of data goes into Blob Storage versus Azure Files?
• Identity & Security: What is the role of Microsoft Entra ID? Why is MFA important? What does Defender for Cloud do?

This phase covered a lot of ground. Revisit any areas that feel unclear. A solid understanding of these core services is essential for both the exam and any future work with Azure.

Storytelling Checksum: You’ve now toured the Azure workshop and seen the primary tools. You know what they are and what they’re for. Next, we’ll learn how to manage and govern this powerful toolkit.