Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) Study Guide

Chapter 10. Azure Networking Services

In the last chapter, we explored Azure compute services; as the foundation of any cloud-based application, these provide the necessary computational resources. However, Azure compute alone (especially in modern cloud-native and hybrid architectures) is not enough to build scalable, resilient solutions. That’s where Azure networking comes in.

Azure networking is the backbone that connects, secures, and optimizes how resources communicate, both within the cloud and with the outside world. It ensures seamless interaction between application components, enabling efficiency, security, and performance.

In this chapter, we’ll dive into the core principles of Azure networking that are essential for success on the AZ-900 Azure Fundamentals exam. We’ll break down key concepts along with common use cases and best practices to help you understand their practical applications.

We’ll start with the Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model as it’s mapped to Azure services, move to the foundational Azure Virtual Network (VNet), and then explore security, connectivity, and traffic management. By the end, you’ll have a solid grasp of Azure networking and how it integrates with other Azure services to create complete, cloud-ready solutions.

There’s a lot to cover, so let’s get started!

The OSI Model

The OSI model is a conceptual framework that standardizes how computers communicate. It organizes communication into seven layers, each performing a specific role ...