Common Mistakes in Azure And How to Avoid Them

Welcome, welcome, Azure enthusiasts, to the beginners guide on how to avoid common mistakes in Azure!

As someone who's been in the trenches of Azure management, let me tell you, there are a lot of mistakes just begging to be made. But don't worry, I've got your back. We'll be going over the top five mistakes I see all the time and giving you some quick tips on how to avoid them.

And let's be real here, we've all made mistakes before. "Oops, I deleted the production database" or "crikey, I accidentally deployed the staging environment to the live servers." But when it comes to managing an Azure tenancy, laying a solid foundation is really important! After all, the stakes are high. Without laying this foundation, Azure is like a game of Jenga, it’s just waiting to fall.

So, without further ado, let's dive in and learn how to avoid these mistakes like the pros we are! And hey, if you need a break from all the Azure talk, I've got a quick joke for you. Why was the computer cold? Because it left its Windows open! Next time I’ll tell you a joke about HTTP, then again, I feel slightly insecure 😊.

Alright, alright, enough with the jokes. Let's get started.

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1. Over-provisioning Resources: Firstly, don't go overboard with resource allocation – no one wants to pay for resources that aren't even being used. So, let's not act like we are at a buffet and pile on more than we can handle! – FYI… This also leads into number two!
2. Lack of Monitoring and Optimization: Azure is like a gym – you’ve got to put in the work to see results! We can't afford to neglect these important tasks. Keep an eye on your resources with AzureMonitor, and you'll be able to spot issues and optimise performance before they become big problems. Azure Monitor provides insights into your resources -Scale up? Scale down? Scale out? Let it help you make those important decisions.
3. Poor Security Practices:  Don't be that person who uses "password123" as their password, or who  doesn't encrypt their data. Come on, don't be a sitting duck! Use Azure's security features and tools to protect your resources and data from cyber threats. Beef up your security with strong passwords, encryption, and access controls.
4. Inadequate Back-Up and Disaster Recovery: We all know the importance of backing up our data, but sometimes we forget to do it. Don't let a disaster or outage catch you off guard - set up proper backup and disaster recovery measures with Azure policies and sleep easy  knowing your data is safe.
5. Poorly Designed Networks: Finally, I've seen one too many flat network topologies. Let's be real – it's like trying to navigate a maze blindfolded! Instead, try a hub-spoke model with a firewall – you'll feel like you've been given a map and compass to find your way out. You'll have a central point of control and the ability to     filter and block unwanted traffic.

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In short, Azure management is all about avoiding mistakes and taking advantage of the awesome features and tools available to us. So don't be afraid to dig in and learn all you can - your Azure tenancy (and your sanity) will thank you!

Reach out if you want to talk!

Cheers,

Chris.

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