Hello and welcome to the first course in this program, introduction to Azure core concepts and services. Before we start diving into the detail, let's take a look at an overview of the program and how you can benefit from Microsoft certification in this area. Becoming AZ- 900 Microsoft Azure Fundamental certified can be the launch path for your learning journey into Cloud computing and Azure Technologies. This certification is a good fit if you're beginning to work with Cloud-based solutions and services or are new to Azure. Acquiring the Azure Fundamental certification is also an opportunity for you to prove your knowledge of client concepts and Azure's main features. These include, Azure services, Azure workloads, Azure security and privacy, and finally, Azure pricing and support. This course will help you to develop these skills and prepare you to pass the official Azure AZ-900 exam. To get the most out of this course, it helps if you are familiar with the general technology concepts, including concepts of networking, storage, compute, application support, and application development. Microsoft certifications provide globally recognized and industry endorsed evidence of mastering technical skills. Microsoft certification provides you with the pathway to upgrade your skills, validate your abilities, enhance your professional performance, and develop your career. Microsoft certifications validate your skills and capabilities, and leads you to success. Achieving certification shows employers that you have drive an initiative, if you get hired in a new role or promoted or change your career, your certification speaks volumes about you and what you know. In this course, you will explore various modules related to Azure core concepts and services. You'll start off with an introduction to Azure Fundamentals. Here, you'll explore basic Cloud concepts, get a streamlined overview of many Azure services, and be able to access hands-on exercises to deploy your very first services for free. As you navigate this module, you'll become familiar with Cloud concepts, Cloud models and platforms such as infrastructure as a service, platform as a Service, and software as a service. You'll also cover all the core things you need to know about Cloud computing, such as elasticity, scalability, and agility. Next, you'll work through Azure fundamental concepts and architectural components. In this module, you'll learn about the advantages of using Cloud computing services and how to differentiate between the categories and types of Cloud computing. You'll also examine the various concepts, resources, and terminology that are necessary to work with the Azure Architecture. As you dive deeper, you'll explore Azure Database Analytics and Compute Services. In this module, you will identify several of the database services that are available on Microsoft Azure, such as Azure Cosmos DB, Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Managed Instance, Azure Database for MySQL, and Azure Database for PostgreSQL. In addition, you'll learn about several of the big data and analysis services in Azure. You'll also learn how to take advantage of several virtualization services in Azure Compute, which can help your applications scale out quickly and efficiently to meet increasing demands. As things become even more exciting, you will navigate the different storage options that are available in Azure Storage and Networking Services. As you complete the individual units in this module, you'll learn about Azure Blob Storage, Azure Disk Storage, Azure Files, and Blob Access Tiers. You'll also take a look at several of the core networking resources that are available in Azure. You'll learn about Azure Virtual Network, which can configure into a customized network environment that meets your company's needs. You'll also learn how you can use Azure VPN Gateway and Azure Express Right to create secure communication tunnels between your company's different locations. Throughout this course, you will have an opportunity to get your hands-on experience with Azure through interactive exercises, practice quizzes, and practice exams. The interactive exercises offer opportunities to practice and implement what you are learning. As an example, when you learn about creating a SQL database, you'll work in a temporary Azure environment called the Sandbox. The beauty about this, is that you will be working with real technology, but in a controlled environment, which allows you to apply what you learn and at your own pace. As you explore the concepts and services that are available through Azure, you'll be given a case study to apply what you're learning to real-world examples. In the case study, you'll assume the role of an IT specialist and address the technology challenges of Tailwind Traders so that you can help them conduct business more efficiently. Using real-world examples helps you to reinforce concepts, prepare you for the exam, and gives you confidence in your approach. Now that you have a good idea of what you'll cover in this course, you can review what you learn through the modules in more detail. Good luck.