The Azure Portal is a graphical user interface (GUI) that provides a visual, point-and-click environment for managing Azure services. It is the most common entry point for new users, offering a convenient way to explore, configure, and monitor resources.
Accessing the Portal
The Azure Portal is available through any modern web browser at https://portal.azure.com. Once signed in, users can view all of their subscriptions, resource groups, and resources at a glance.
Capabilities of the Azure Portal
Using the portal, you can:
- Create new services such as virtual machines (VMs), storage accounts, and virtual networks.
- Configure services by adjusting their settings through each resource’s Overview blade and detailed menus.
- View reports through monitoring tools like Azure Monitor (#56#) and insights available at the resource level.
Characteristics of the Azure Portal
- The portal is ideal for one-off actions, such as creating a new virtual machine for testing or applying a configuration change.
- Because it is a manual, visual interface, actions are not easily repeatable. You must carefully ensure that all settings are configured identically if you want multiple resources to be consistent.
- For repeatable or automated deployments, other tools such as Azure CLI and PowerShell (#50#) or infrastructure as code (#52# and #53#) are preferred.
Why the Azure Portal Matters
The Azure Portal is a fundamental management tool, especially for beginners preparing for the AZ-900 exam. It gives a hands-on way to understand services and complements governance tools like Azure Policy and Resource Locks.
Next Steps
For the AZ-900 exam, focus on knowing what the Azure Portal is, what it can do, and its limitations. If you want a structured overview of all the AZ-900 fundamentals, our AZ-900 video course provides clear guidance to help you prepare confidently. Alternatively, go back to the topics in the AZ-900 exam.
Please click here to find out more about Microsoft’s AZ-900 exam.
