When deploying a project in Azure, it’s important to correctly configure virtual machines (VMs) and the network from the very beginning. Even for a single application, poor architecture can lead to security, availability, and cost issues.
1. Choosing a Virtual Machine
- VM Type: For a small application, standard sizes (e.g., B1s or B2s) are sufficient.
- Operating System: Windows or Linux depending on your stack. Linux is often cheaper and easier to scale.
- Disk: SSD for fast response; at least one disk for the system and one for data.
Tip: Enable automatic updates and backups through Azure Backup — a simple insurance against data loss.
2. Organizing the Network
- Create a Virtual Network (VNet) — an isolated network for your project.
- Divide it into subnets: for example, one for the VM and another for the database.
- Configure Network Security Groups (NSG) to allow access only to necessary ports (e.g., 22/SSH or 3389/RDP for admins, 443/HTTP for users).
Tip: For critical databases, use a private endpoint so it isn’t directly accessible from the internet.
3. Access and Security
- Avoid using default passwords — use Azure Key Vault or SSH keys.
- For managing VMs via the Azure portal, enable Just-in-Time VM Access to open access only when needed.
- Set up logging and monitoring through Azure Monitor — this helps quickly detect issues.
4. Scaling
Even for a single project, consider future growth:
- Use Availability Set or Availability Zone so your VMs aren’t dependent on a single data center node.
- If the load is inconsistent, set up Autoscale for web applications or containers to avoid paying for idle resources.
Conclusion
Even a single project in Azure requires proper VM and network architecture. Focusing on the right VM selection, network isolation, security, and monitoring creates a reliable and easily scalable foundation for your application.