In this article, we’ll explore the top Azure management tools that professionals should be familiar with in 2024. We’ll dive into the Azure Portal, the central hub for management, and examine command-line options like Azure PowerShell and Azure CLI. Additionally, we’ll look at the browser-based Azure Cloud Shell and touch on other essential tools that help to simplify Azure resource management. By the end, readers will have a solid understanding of the key tools available to streamline their Azure operations.
Azure Portal: The Central Hub for Management
The Azure Portal serves as the central hub for managing cloud-based resources, offering a web-based, unified console that enables users to create, monitor, and manage all their Azure resources. This graphical user interface allows administrators to handle everything from simple web apps to complex cloud deployments, providing a comprehensive view of the Azure environment.
One of the key features of the Azure Portal is its ability to organize resources effectively. Users can define management group hierarchies, implement naming conventions, and apply resource tagging to secure, manage, and track costs related to workloads. Management groups are particularly useful for managing access, policy, and compliance across multiple subscriptions, with all subscriptions in a group automatically inheriting the applied conditions.
The portal also offers customizable dashboards, providing a focused and organized view of cloud resources. Users can create up to 100 private dashboards and share dashboards with other users in their organization. These shared dashboards are implemented as Azure resources and don’t count towards the private dashboard limit.
Azure PowerShell and CLI: Command-line Management
Azure PowerShell and Azure CLI are powerful command-line tools for managing Azure resources. Both are cross-platform, installable on Windows, macOS, and Linux, offering flexibility for administrators and developers. Azure PowerShell operates within Windows PowerShell or PowerShell Core, while Azure CLI runs in various environments, including Windows PowerShell, CMD, Bash, and other Unix shells.
The choice between Azure PowerShell and Azure CLI often depends on one’s experience and work environment. Azure CLI’s syntax resembles Bash scripting, making it more intuitive for Linux users. Conversely, Azure PowerShell follows a verb-noun naming scheme, aligning with Windows-centric workflows. For complex tasks, Azure PowerShell’s ability to work with .NET objects and OOP principles gives it an edge over Azure CLI’s JSON-based output.
Both tools use Azure’s REST API, allowing users to choose based on preference. However, Azure PowerShell offers advantages in certain scenarios, such as Azure Functions, Azure Automation Runbooks, and hybrid workload orchestration.
Azure Cloud Shell: Browser-based Management
Azure Cloud Shell offers a browser-based command-line experience for managing Azure resources. It provides a modern interface accessible from multiple points, including the Azure portal, shell.azure.com, and the Azure mobile app. Users can choose between Bash and PowerShell environments, catering to different preferences and workflows.
Cloud Shell comes pre-equipped with commonly used CLI tools, Azure tools, text editors, and language support for Node.js, .NET, and Python. It automatically authenticates with each session and attaches an Azure Files share to persist data across sessions. Users can create or attach an existing file share on first use.
To get started, users must register the Microsoft.CloudShell resource provider. Launching Cloud Shell from the Azure portal prompts users to create an Azure Storage account, allocating 5 GB of storage for the file share. Cloud Shell also features an integrated file editor based on the open-source Monaco Editor, accessible by running “code.” in the shell.
Azure Advisor
Azure Advisor is a powerful tool within the Azure portal that provides personalized recommendations to optimize Azure deployments. It analyses resource configuration and usage telemetry, offering solutions to enhance cost-effectiveness, performance, reliability, and security of Azure resources.
To access Azure Advisor, users can sign in to the Azure portal and select the Advisor icon or use the search bar. The Advisor Overview page displays personalized recommendations across different categories, including a score for each. Users can philtre recommendations by subscription, status, resource group, and type.
Azure Advisor uses built-in roles provided by Azure role-based access control (RBAC) to manage access. Different roles have varying permissions to view, dismiss, and postpone recommendations, as well as edit rules and configurations.
The tool offers various features, including zone-redundant storage recommendations for Azure managed discs, availability zone recommendations for virtual machines, and a Reliability workbook template. It also provides cost-optimisation recommendations for virtual machine scale sets and personalized best practices for Azure Database for MySQL – Flexible Server instances.
Azure Advisor offers valuable performance recommendations to enhance the speed and responsiveness of critical applications. These insights are accessible through the Performance tab on the Advisor dashboard. One key recommendation is to upgrade to the latest Cognitive Service Text Analytics API and SDK versions. This upgrade ensures improved model quality, performance, and service availability, along with access to new features such as personal data recognition and entity linking.
Conclusion
Azure management tools have a significant impact on streamlining cloud operations and enhancing efficiency. From the all-encompassing Azure Portal to specialized command-line interfaces like Azure PowerShell and Azure CLI, these tools offer IT professionals a wide array of options to manage their cloud resources effectively. The browser-based Azure Cloud Shell further simplifies management tasks by providing a ready-to-use environment accessible from various platforms.
As cloud computing continues to evolve, mastering these Azure management tools becomes crucial for organizations to optimize their cloud strategies. By leveraging these tools, businesses can improve their resource management, boost security, and cut costs in their Azure environments. This knowledge empowers IT professionals to navigate the complex world of cloud computing with confidence, setting the stage for continued innovation and growth in the Azure ecosystem.
FAQs
What is the primary management service for Azure resources?
Azure Resource Manager serves as the key deployment and management service within Azure. It provides a management layer that allows you to create, update, and delete resources in your Azure account. Post-deployment, you can utilise management features such as access control, locks, and tags to secure and organize your resources.
Which Azure service is most frequently used?
The most commonly used Microsoft Azure services include Azure DevOps, Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Blob Storage, Azure Active Directory (AD), Azure Cosmos DB, Logic Apps, Azure Data Factory, and Azure Content Delivery Network (CDN).
What is the Azure configuration review tool?
The Azure Quick Review (azqr) is a command-line interface (CLI) tool that analyses Azure resources to determine their compliance with Azure’s best practices and recommendations.
References
[1] – https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-portal/azure-portal-overview
[2] – https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cloud-adoption-framework/ready/azure-setup-guide/organise-resources
[3] – https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-portal/azure-portal-dashboards
[4] – https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/cli/azure/choose-the-right-azure-command-line-tool
