Azure DNS is a service that allows you to manage your domain name records using Microsoft Azure. It is used to translate human-readable domain names into machine-readable IP addresses. This is essential for users to access your services via friendly URLs, such as www.IDoData.com.
What is DNS?
DNS stands for Domain Name System. It acts like a phonebook for the internet. When you enter a domain name in your browser, DNS finds the corresponding IP address so your browser knows where to go.
For example, when someone enters www.IDoData.com, DNS helps the request reach the right server behind the scenes.
What is Azure DNS?
Azure DNS is a domain hosting service built on Microsoft’s global infrastructure. While Azure does not sell domain names, it allows you to manage DNS records for domains you’ve purchased from providers such as GoDaddy or Namecheap.
Once a domain is linked to Azure DNS, you can manage its records efficiently using Azure’s tools.
Benefits of Using Azure DNS
There are several advantages to using Azure DNS:
- Performance and Reliability: Azure DNS is hosted on Microsoft’s global network of data centers, helping your domain respond quickly and reliably worldwide.
- Security: You can secure your DNS resources with features like:
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), which lets you define who can manage DNS records.
- Activity Logs, which track changes made to DNS settings.
- Resource Locks, which prevent accidental changes or deletions.
These capabilities align with Azure’s broader governance tools discussed in #45# and #48#.
- Integration: DNS management is integrated directly into the Azure portal, PowerShell, and the Azure Command Line Interface (CLI). This makes it easy to manage from any location and through automation.
Pricing
Azure DNS has a simple pricing structure:
- You are charged $6 per zone per year.
- There is also a small cost based on the number of DNS queries handled.
This pricing fits into Azure’s broader consumption-based model and cost management strategy (see #42).
Azure DNS vs. Private DNS
It’s important to know that Azure DNS is used for public domains that are accessible from the internet.
If you need DNS for internal use within an Azure Virtual Network (VNet), then Private DNS is the appropriate service. This allows name resolution within your cloud infrastructure.
Conclusion
Azure DNS is a powerful, secure, and integrated solution for managing public domain names in Azure. With global performance and enterprise-grade governance, it supports both small applications and large-scale deployments.
Want to explore Azure DNS hands-on? Watch our AZ-900 video course for guided lessons and practical examples – or click here to go back to the AZ-900 list of requirements.
Please click here to find out more about Microsoft’s AZ-900 exam.
