Phase 2: Core Azure Architecture and Services

Welcome to Phase 2, where we explore the core architectural components and services that make up the Microsoft Azure platform. Building upon the foundational cloud concepts from Phase 1, this section introduces you to the specific building blocks you will use to create solutions in Azure.

This phase is crucial for the AZ-900 exam, which requires you to identify and describe key Azure services and their purposes. We will cover Azure's global infrastructure, how resources are organized, and the primary services for compute, networking, storage, and identity.

Scenario: You are tasked with selecting the right Azure services for a new application. This involves choosing a compute option to run the code, a storage solution for data, and a network configuration to enable secure communication.

Reflection Question: How does understanding the purpose of each core Azure service (e.g., VMs vs. App Service, Blob Storage vs. Azure Files) enable you to make informed architectural decisions that balance cost, performance, and management overhead?

💡 Tip: For the AZ-900, focus on what each service is and its primary use case. You don't need to know how to configure them in detail, but you must be able to match a service to a given business need.