Azure Automation and Optimization Essentials

1h 18mIntermediate2025-05-12

Authors

Robin Smorenburg

Cloud Solution Architect, Cofounder of StreamingClouds

Course details

In order to take full advantage of the benefits offered by shifting workloads to the cloud, it's vital to understand how process automation factors into your management efforts. In this course, Robin Smorenburg provides cloud admins and Azure DevOps engineers with a comprehensive overview of the fundamental benefits of automation and optimization using specific Azure services. Get hands-on instruction for optimizing your virtual machines and navigating services like the Pricing Calculator. By the end of this course, you’ll be equipped with the skills you need to understand and apply Azure assessments to your optimization efforts.

Learning objectives
Understand the financial and performance benefits behind automating services in the cloud.
Demonstrate a familiarity with and work with the automation services offered by Azure.
Apply Azure assessments to optimization efforts.

Skills covered

Cloud AdministrationAzureCloud PlatformsCloud ComputingMicrosoftDeep Dive (X:Y)

Concepts

0. Introduction

01 - Automation and optimization in Azure

1. Optimize Virtual Machine Costs

02 - Understanding virtual machines
03 - Azure Spot virtual machines
04 - Azure Hybrid Benefit
05 - Savings plans
06 - Azure Reservations
07 - Capacity reservation

2. Automatic Scaling

08 - Understanding Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets
09 - Orchestration modes
10 - Creating and managing a scale set

3. Azure Functions

11 - Understanding Azure Functions
12 - Creating and managing a function app
13 - Creating and invoking a function

4. Automating Virtual Machines

14 - Understanding Start Stop VMs v2
15 - Deploying and configuring Start Stop VMs v2
16 - Managing Start Stop VMs v2

5. Cost Management

17 - Understanding cost management
18 - Azure pricing calculator
19 - Cost analysis and reporting
20 - Cost allocation
21 - Creating and managing budgets

6. Azure Advisor

22 - Understanding Azure Advisor
23 - Recommendations and alerts
24 - Azure Advisor workbooks
25 - Applying assessments

Conclusion

26 - Learn more about automation and optimization