Azure Microservices

Here are the major services other than core services;

Service Fabric

Azure Functions

Small piece of code that we can write. There is a small editor build-in to the browser that we can use.

Azure Logic Apps

Logic apps are pretty much similar to SQL Server integration services or windows workflow where we have some logical steps that executes in parallel or sequential to perform a task.

API Management

Can be used to throttle or secure API. We can put this in front take advantage.

Azure Kubernetes Services

Azure Core Service

There are 3 core services. This is the foundation of cloud; Every Azure service is built on one or all of these. for example, if we are learning Machine Learning, its a combination of Virtual Machine and Storage.

Virtual Machines

Windows or Linus OS. Can be created in few minutes. Can be remotely connected. Install whatever software you want.

Virtual Machine is a foundation on top of which other compute services provide service;

a) Azure Batch

b) Virtual Machine Scale Sets

It’s a way to have load-balancer where virtual machine are setup with some auto-scaling rules.

c) Azure Kubernetes Services (AKS)

Working on AKS cluster is basically working with VM. AKS is abstraction to underlying VM.

d) Service Fabric

A different paradigm to Virtual Machine is App Services.

1- App Services;

Web apps or container apps, Windows or Linux OS, fully-managed servers, no ability to remote control and others

Virtual Networking

Refer to this article.

Storage

a) Storage can be upto 5 pb, Storage types are Blobs, queues, tables, files – Various levels of replication including from local to global. Storage account charges are based on size of the storage (currently 1.8 cents per GB).

Storage tiers are hot, cool and archive

Azure Networking

Azure Networking can be broken in 4 categories;

Networking – Connectivity

Items under this category are;

a) Virtual Network (VNet)

These are cables, routers, switches in a physical network. In Azure, these are software services and it’s called Virtual Network because it’s all database entries. Microsoft has their own physical devices and they are not plugging/unplugging base of our commands.

b) Virtual WAN

Wide area Networks allow offices to connect to each other being Azure as the middleman.

c) Express Route

Express route is the fastest way to connec over the internet. It cost more but its encrypted and fast.

e) VPN Gateway

If Express route is not an option, then traditional VPN can be used. Their are point to site and site to site VPN. Helps to connect office computer to Azure network securely.

f) Azure DNS

Public and private domain can be managed in the name server in Azure.

g) Peering

Peering is a way for connecting multiple virtual networks together. This help to communicate one region service to a different region. By default, these services are cut off. You will need to configure these.

h) Bastion

This allows you to remote into a server without opening any ports. It’s a more secure version of RDP.

Networking – Security

To restrict unauthorized access, Items under this category are;

a) Network Security groups (NSG)

Very simple Access Control List Style e.g. We can restrict certain IP addresses to connect to Database or VM.

b) Azure Private Link

c) DDoS Protection

e) Azure Firewall

f) Web Application Firewall (WAF)

This can prevent cross site scripting or SQL injection attacks.

g) Virtual Network Endpoints

Networking – Delivery

This is traffic shaping and load balancing. Items under this category are;

a) CDN

b) Azure Front Door

Global load-balancer

c) Traffic Manager

d) Application Gateway

Application level load balancer – This is software level-6 gateway.

e) Load Balancer

Transport level load balancer – This is hardware level-4 device.

Networking – Monitoring

Debug problems, Investigate traffic issues. Items under this list are;

a) Network Watcher

b) ExpressRoute Monitor

c) Azure Monitor

d) VNet Terminal Access Point