March 2022 has been an exciting and special month in my life. I have received an email saying that I had been awarded the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional ๐ (MVP) award. WOW !!!
Who are MVPs?
Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals, or MVPs, are technology experts who passionately share their knowledge with the community. They are always on the “bleeding edge” and have an unstoppable urge to get their hands on new, exciting technologies. They have very deep knowledge of Microsoft products and services, while also being able to bring together diverse platforms, products and solutions, to solve real world problems. MVPs make up a global community of over 4,000 technical experts and community leaders across 90 countries/regions and are driven by their passion, community spirit, and quest for knowledge. Above all and in addition to their amazing technical abilities, MVPs are always willing to help others – that’s what sets them apart.
Microsoft MVP Program
As you might know, the Microsoft MVP program rewards the “technology experts who passionately share their knowledge with the community”. ย
There are many categories of MVP awards, and I am proud to become a Microsoft Azure MVP this year. You can check the rest of the award categories here:
Artificial Intelligence
Business Applications
Cloud & Datacenter Management
Developer Technologies
Data Platform
Enterprise Mobility
Microsoft Azure
Office Development
Office Apps & Services
Windows Development
Windows & Devices for IT
Wondering what it takes to become an MVP?
Interested in becoming an MVP โ๐ค What does it take to become an MVP โ๐ค
I am still in a pleasant shock, and simply to say that “I am proud and humbled to receive this award” is an understatement.
Now, I am looking forward to taking part in this awesome event – “Microsoft MVP Global Summit 2022” and meeting legend #MVPs ๐ ๐๐
Click on an image to learn more about Microsoft MVP Global Summit 2022 ๐
I am really excited about this new journey and invite you – the Cloud Marathoners โ ๐โโ๏ธ๐โโ๏ธ to be an important part of this journey !!!
The monitoring is a skill and not a full-time job. In todayโs world of cloud-based architectures that are implemented through DevOps projects, developers, SREs, and operations staff must collectively define an effective cloud monitoring and logging strategy. This strategy should focus on identifying when service-level objectives (SLOs) and service-level agreements (SLAs) are not being met, likely negatively affecting the user experience.
Cloud monitoring is a method of reviewing, observing, and managing the operational workflow in a cloud-based IT infrastructure. Manual or automated management techniques confirm the availability and performance of websites, servers, applications, and other cloud infrastructure.
Azure Monitor helps you maximize the availability and performance of your applications and services. It delivers a comprehensive solution for collecting, analyzing, and acting on telemetry from your cloud and on-premises environments. This information helps you understand how your applications are performing and proactively identify issues affecting them and the resources they depend on.
Microsoft docs
The Azure Monitor collects the following sets of data:
I would like to take this opportunity and help all my students and followers with preparation for this important exam.
My plan is to create a blog post series that cover official and community learning materials in addition to the Microsoft Learn, self-paced learning modules.
Table of content (blog series)
*** Design Identity, Governance, and Monitoring Solutions ***
This exam is focused on designing cloud and hybrid solutions on Microsoft #Azure, and was made with #architects in mind ๐
A list of helpful reference materials that will complement your four Microsoft Learn AZ-305: XXX learning paths on the official learning site are screenshotted below for your references ๐
What is the Cloud Governance ?
The Cloud Governance is a framework that guides how end users make use of cloud services by defining and creating policies to control costs, minimize security risks, improve efficiency and accelerate deployment. Itโs imperative to have good cloud governance because itโs a foundational element to your cloud practice that provides the ability to scale and be successful.
In short, the governance in Azure is one aspect of Azure Management. This includes the tasks and processes required to maintain your business applications and the resources that support them. Azure has many services and tools that work together to provide complete management.
What you can do with Azure Governance?
Enforce and audit your policies for any Azure service
Create compliant environments using Azure Blueprints, including resources, policies, and role-access controls
Ensure that youโre compliant with external regulations by using built-in compliance controls
Monitor spend and encourage accountability across your entire organization
The references below are taken from official Microsoft docs and focused on designing Azure governance solutions.
Part 1: Design a governance solution
The references below are taken from official Microsoft docs and focused on designing Governance solutions in Azure. You could also find it helpful to check the Microsoft docs and learning paths with [Tutorials] belowย ๐
This collection of links is gathered with a focus on the exam objectives of the AZ-305 certification exam.
It is pretty common for every new student to be worried about exam software โ๏ธ and its user expereince, in addition to being prepared for the exam. However, this is not an issue anymore.
Microsoft Learn has introduced a demo exam simulator that looks, works and feels like you are having a real Microsoft exam. This news was just announced by Microsoft Learn Blog.
I believeย this is an important help for all the #cloudmarathoners and friends who are just starting their Microsoft Azure journey.
Why is it helpful?
Well, using this new exam sandbox should better prepare you for the exam experience. This should also increase your familiarity with the user interface, how to navigate between exam sections, pages and Q&A.
This simulator also shows you what actions are required to answer each of the different question types, where information about the exam is located, how to mark questions for review and how to provide comments at the end of the exam.
Important
Keep in mind that a secure browser that will be launched during a real exam will block all third-party applications running on your computer. Thus, I would strongly advise youย to install and run the exam provider’s (like, Pearson VUE or any other) simulator on your local computer a day or two before the actual exam date. This will be an additional peace of mind to have in your checklist for a pleasant exam experience.
Conclusion
I sincerely wish you Good Luck โค๏ธ in your upcoming exam(s) !
I am very happy to announce my next Microsoft certification badge!. This time, I was able to pass the DA-100: Analyzing Data with Microsoft Power ๐ BI.
If you are looking forward to get prepared for this exam, then check out the following resources:
๐ Microsoft Learn modules: โ Get started with Microsoft data analytics https://lnkd.in/g9_bfRhR
If youโve already earned the Data Analyst Associate certification, you will see the new name in your Certification Dashboard on February 28, 2022.
If youโve been studying for Exam DA-100, no worries. You have until March 31, 2022, to take it.ย
If youโve just started preparing for Exam DA-100, consider reviewing the skills requirements for new Exam PL-300 and switching your focus to the new exam because the exams are very similar.ย However, between February 28 and March 31, 2022, learners can pass either exam to earn their Power BI Data Analyst Associate certification.
Microsoft Lean blog
Conclusion
Thank you for reading this post and checking the preparation resources.
Please, feel free to share your experience, as i am planning to keep this post up to date with your valuable contributions going forward. #keeplearning
Are you looking for a simpler, more efficient way to author infrastructure resources in Azure?
Azure Bicep First Look course
If so, youโre in luck. Azure Bicep is here to help. Bicep is a new domain-specific language (DSL) for deploying resources in Azure. Itโs also a much cleaner, more concise language than ARM JSONโcloud admins and DevOps professionals, rejoice!
Every seasoned IT professional knows that sensitive information should not be exposed as a clear text on any code. This is especially true for infrastructure-as-code (aka, IaC) scenarios where passwords and keys are part of the deployment.
One way to stay compliant in accomplishing this goal is the integration of an Azure Key Vault service into your deployment code. This Azure security service is primarily intended to store sensitive information like password, keys, certificates, connections, etc.
In this post, we will look into two different ways how we could integrate Azure Key Vault services in our Azure Bicep code.
Option – 1: Using getSecret() function
Our first option is to delegate this important work to a getSecret() function. This option could be used with an existing Azure Key Vault resource that is declared in your Azure Bicep code.
Let’s look into an example where an existing Azure Key Vault service is referenced to provide administrative password for SQL server deployment.
Deploying Azure SQL instance with Azure Key Vault
This sample Bicep code is using sqldb.bicep file as a module, where parameters; such as sqlServerName and adminLogin are passed through with a secret name of ExamplePassword.
The ExamplePassword secret name should be already set and ready in the referenced Key Vault service above. Here is the view of this secret on Azure portal.
Azure Key Vault with secretes in portal
Let’s have a quick view into the sqldb.bicep file, as it is referenced in the main Bicep file.
sqldb.bicep file
Now, let’s deploy these resources with a secret value from Key Vault resource that has a secret name ExamplePassword.
What happened? I am getting an error on my first deployment execution ๐
Error on deploying Bicep code with SQL server provisioning
Upon carefully analyzing error, I see the following reason for this error:
At least one resource deployment operation failed. Please list deployment operations for details. Please see https://aka.ms/DeployOperations for usage details.”,”details”:[{“code”:”RegionDoesNotAllowProvisioning”,”message”:”Location ‘East US 2’ is not accepting creation of new Windows Azure SQL Database servers at this time.
Azure deployment error
Based on the error message, we change the location to eastus and re-run the script. Now, we got the following positive result in console and portal:
Deployment results in Azure Portal RG
Next, we will attempt to login into a SQL Server instance. A successful login will look like the following screen:
Successful login into the SQL instance
Important Note:
If you are getting an error during the login then try to check the following steps:
adminLogin name is entered correctly
your IP address is added to the SQL server firewall rules
grab a cup of coffee and check back in 5 minutes
Description of a typical login error into a SQL server instance is provided below. I checked the firewall rules and made a cup of coffee => before getting a successful log-in ๐
Requires your location IP activation
Option -2: Referencing as a secretName in parameter
The second option is pretty straightforward, if you have already used it on ARM template deployments.
We just need to reference Azure Key Vault secret like in the following example:
Using a parameter file and referencing the Key Vault secretName will do the trick in extracting the value and provisioning your resource.
Let’s run the bicep file that deploys multiple RGs and an Azure VM that uses VMPassword secret.
Running deployment with Bicep parameter file
A successful deployment provisions following RG with the VM resources:
Next, we should smoke test our deployment by locating the resource group “rg-demo-vm-1116” and using deployment parameters to RDP into Windows server:
Finally, we are able to see that secret and admin user name pair worked as expected
Azure VM deployed using Key Vault secret
Summary
In this post, we looked into two available options that harden our infrastructure code by removing hard-coded sensitive information and replacing it with Azure Key Vault reference. Thus, avoiding any potential leaks of passwords, secrets, etc.
IMHO, first option is better than the later one, because it does not expose subscription id and other small details.
I am very excited to see you all in the next Omaha Azure User Group meetup. This time we will speak about the latest advancements and use cases you could apply in your Azure resource authoring toolkit.
As it was the case last year,ย Microsoft Igniteย is back and held digitally free of charge, during Nov 2-4 ๐ ๐
Microsoft Ignite is a signature event and held virtually for a global audience across a variety of industries to experience the latest and greatest technologies. It is an event where you could get a sneak peek at new products and services that will be coming in the future.
Microsoft Ignite 2021 – Cloud Skills Challenge
Cloud Skills Challenge
This year you could choose from 12 tech challenges and select the one that is right for you. Once you complete that challenge you will earn a free Microsoft Certification exam that can be applied to your choice from a select list of options:
Azure Developer Challenge
Azure Admin Challenge
Identity + Information Protection Challenge
Teams Admin Challenge
Teams Voice Engineer Challenge
Azure Database Admin Challenge
Desktop and Device Management Challenge
Windows Server Hybrid Admin Challenge
Dynamics 365 Sales Consultant Challenge
Dynamics 365 Supply Chain Mgmt Challenge
Power Platform Developer Challenge
Security Operations Analyst Challenge
When does the challenge begin?
The listed challenges will begin on November 2, 2021 and end on November 30, 2021. You can start your registration here to join the challenge.
What happens when I complete my Cloud Skills challenge?
If you complete your challenge before it ends, one Microsoft Certification exam will be associated with your Learn profile on December 7, 2021. You will be notified via email when it becomes available.
What are the Terms and Conditions?
Check out the Official rules; including Terms and Conditions with FAQ in this web page.
Summary
Thatโs it friends, buckle up to complete your challenge before Nov 30, 2021 to earn new skills and receive a complementary Azure exam award ๐.
Good Luck ๐ค in your new Cloud Skills Challenge !
As you may know, it is that time of a year when great content will be coming to the town! You could enjoy and learn throughout the month of December, as people behind the #festivetechcalendar will be bringing you lots of new content from different communities and people around the globe.
This year, I have submitted two sessions and have been nicely surprised yesterday. Both sessions have been accepted and I am looking forward to deliver following sessions for the community:
Session # 1: What you need to know about Azure AD security defaults?
Accepted session – “What you need to know about Azure AD security defaults?“
In this session above, we will discuss about how to get started with Azure security on right foot and its challenges. We will focus on importance of a strong Identity and Access in any cloud solution that we are creating for our customers. One simple way to get started is review and adjustment of security default options in Azure AD. We will also look into the set of practices to get you started with Azure AD setup and learn about the benefits of Azure Security Benchmark.
Session # 2: All you need to know about Azure Bicep configurations
Accepted session -“All you need to know about Azure Bicep configurations”
In the second session, we will talk about Azure Bicep – a new language that aims to ease Azure resource authoring and management. This new language comes with a powerful VS Code extension and config file options. In this session, we will unveil dozens of powerful features in our config file to suit your style of coding on VS Code and cheer up our productivity skills. We will apply our fresh skills by creating several Bicep demos in the process.
Conclusion
I sincerely hope that these sessions will spark your interest and I am looking forward to see you all during this event. But most importantly, I hope you could have lots of fun during this festive month.
Stay tuned for more Azure AD, Automation & Security related posts.
