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Hybrid and Multicloud
premium
Azure Local
Azure Local is Microsoft’s distributed infrastructure solution that extends Azure capabilities to customer-owned environments for local VMs, containers, and selected Azure services through Azure Arc.
Distributed infrastructure
advanced
6 commands
Aliases: Azure Stack HCI, Azure Local infrastructure, Arc-enabled local infrastructure
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Compute
premium
Azure Update Manager
Azure Update Manager is a unified service for managing and governing operating system updates across Azure virtual machines, on-premises servers, and other cloud servers connected through Azure Arc.
Virtual Machines
intermediate
4 commands
Aliases: No aliases yet
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Storage
field-manual-complete
Azure Files
Azure Files provides managed SMB and NFS file shares in Azure for applications, users, containers, and virtual machines that still need file-system access.
Managed file shares
fundamentals
5 commands
Aliases: Azure file shares, Azure managed file shares, cloud file shares
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Compute
field-manual-complete
Virtual machine
An Azure compute resource that runs a full guest operating system for workloads needing server-level control.
Azure Virtual Machines
beginner
5 commands
Aliases: Azure VM, VM, cloud virtual server, IaaS virtual machine, virtual machine
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Compute
premium
Accelerated networking for VM
Accelerated networking is a VM network performance feature. When the VM size and OS support it, Azure can send packets through a faster path that reduces CPU work, latency, and jitter. It is most useful for network-intensive workloads.
Virtual Machines
intermediate
5 commands
Aliases: No aliases yet
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Compute
premium
Capacity reservation group
A capacity reservation group is the Azure Compute container that holds one or more on-demand capacity reservations for virtual machines.
Virtual Machines
intermediate
5 commands
Aliases: No aliases yet
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Web
premium
Shared App Service tier
The Shared App Service tier is a base App Service plan option where apps run on shared Azure virtual machines and receive CPU-minute quotas. It is intended for development and testing, not production workloads that need dedicated compute, autoscale, or predictable performance isolation.
App Service plans
intermediate
5 commands
Aliases: App Service Shared tier, Shared App Service plan, D1 App Service plan, shared compute App Service, App Service D1
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Compute
premium
Availability set
Availability set is a placement group for Azure virtual machines that spreads instances across separate fault and update domains inside one datacenter. In Azure, teams encounter it when architects deploy two or more classic VM instances for an application tier that still needs datacenter-level hardware separation. The useful question is what behavior it proves, who
Availability
fundamentals
4 commands
Aliases: VM availability set, fault domain set, update domain set
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Compute
premium
Disk attachment
Disk attachment is the association between a managed disk and a virtual machine or compatible scale set instance, allowing the workload to use the disk as OS or data storage.
Managed disks
fundamentals
4 commands
Aliases: VM disk attachment, data disk attachment, attach managed disk, attached disk
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Compute
premium
Disk bursting
Disk bursting is an Azure managed disk capability that lets supported disks temporarily exceed baseline IOPS or throughput targets to handle short workload spikes.
Managed disk performance
intermediate
4 commands
Aliases: managed disk bursting, Premium SSD bursting, Standard SSD bursting, on-demand disk bursting
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Compute
premium
Disk encryption set
A disk encryption set is an Azure resource that connects managed disks, snapshots, or images to a customer-managed key used for server-side encryption.
Managed disk encryption
intermediate
4 commands
Aliases: DES, managed disk encryption set, disk CMK set, customer-managed key disk encryption set
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Compute
premium
Image
Image is a captured virtual machine operating system and configuration used to create new Azure virtual machines or image versions.
Images
beginner
4 commands
Aliases: Azure VM image, image, Image, virtual machine image, VM image
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Compute
field-manual-complete
VM auto-shutdown
VM auto-shutdown is an Azure Virtual Machines setting that schedules a virtual machine to shut down at a chosen time. Teams use it mainly for non-production VMs to reduce compute charges when machines are idle outside working hours or training windows.
Virtual Machines
intermediate
5 commands
Aliases: auto-shutdown, scheduled shutdown, VM scheduled shutdown, Azure VM auto shutdown
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Compute
complete
Standard HDD disk
Microsoft Learn lists Standard HDD as an Azure managed disk type that uses hard disk storage and is available for Azure VMs. It is designed for cost-sensitive, low-IO workloads, with more variable performance than SSD-backed disks, and can often be converted when workload needs change.
Disks and images
intermediate
5 commands
Aliases: standard-hdd-disk, Standard HDD disk, Azure Standard HDD, Standard_LRS disk, HDD managed disk, standard hard disk
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Compute
premium field-manual
Managed disk
A managed disk is an Azure-managed block storage resource used as an operating system disk or data disk for a virtual machine. Teams use it when VM storage needs durable disks without manually managing storage accounts or page blobs. In plain English, it gives operators a named control for clear disk ownership, backup evidence, encryption control, and repeatable VM recovery instead of leaving the decision hidden in a portal setting, script, or deployment file. Treat it as production-ready only when the owner, dependencies, permission boundary, monitoring signal, and rollback evidence are clear.
Azure Disk Storage
intermediate
3 commands
Aliases: Managed disk, Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Disk Storage
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Virtual Desktop Infrastructure
premium
Azure Virtual Desktop
Azure Virtual Desktop is a desktop and app virtualization service that runs on Azure, delivering Windows desktops and RemoteApp experiences with host pools, session hosts, and flexible control.
Virtual desktops
fundamentals
5 commands
Aliases: AVD
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Compute
premium
Azure Functions
Azure Functions is Azure serverless compute for running code from triggers such as HTTP requests, queues, timers, events, and service integrations without managing servers.
Serverless compute
intermediate
6 commands
Aliases: Functions, Function App, serverless functions
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Storage
premium
Azure Elastic SAN
A cloud-native Azure storage area network service that provides scalable, cost-effective, high-performance block storage volumes for compute workloads.
Block storage
intermediate
5 commands
Aliases: Elastic SAN
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Storage
premium
Azure file share
An Azure file share is a managed cloud share hosted by Azure Files. It behaves like a network file share, but Microsoft runs the storage service instead of your team maintaining file servers, disks, operating systems, and failover.
Files, queues, and tables
fundamentals
5 commands
Aliases: Azure Files share
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Migration
premium
Azure Site Recovery
Azure Site Recovery helps provide disaster recovery by managing replication, failover, and failback for supported workloads.
Disaster recovery
fundamentals
5 commands
Aliases: ASR, Azure Site Recovery, Azure disaster recovery, Site Recovery
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Databases
premium
Azure SQL Database
Azure SQL Database is a fully managed relational database service in Azure that provides SQL Server-compatible engines as single databases, elastic pools, and serverless or provisioned compute choices. Microsoft Learn presents it as platform as a service with built-in availability, backups, patching, scaling, and security integration.
Database
intermediate
5 commands
Aliases: Azure SQL DB, Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL pooled database, Azure SQL single database, SQL Database
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Networking
premium
Azure Bastion
A fully managed Azure service that provides secure RDP and SSH access to virtual machines without exposing VM public IP addresses.
Remote access
fundamentals
4 commands
Aliases: Azure Bastion host, Bastion, RDP SSH over Bastion, managed jump box
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Compute
premium
Azure Compute Gallery
A service for organizing, versioning, replicating, and sharing VM images and application packages across Azure subscriptions, tenants, and regions.
Disks and images
intermediate
4 commands
Aliases: Shared Image Gallery
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Databases
premium
Azure SQL logical server
An Azure SQL logical server is a logical administrative construct for Azure SQL Database and related SQL resources. Microsoft Learn describes it as the central point for managing a collection of databases, including logins, firewall rules, auditing, threat detection policies, and failover groups.
Azure SQL Database
fundamentals
16 commands
Aliases: No aliases yet
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Compute
field-manual-complete
Virtual machine scale set
A managed group of VM instances that can scale and update as a fleet.
Azure Virtual Machine Scale Sets
intermediate
5 commands
Aliases: VM scale set, Azure VMSS, Virtual Machine Scale Set, scale set, virtual machine scale set
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Databases
complete
SQL managed instance virtual cluster
Microsoft Learn describes the SQL Managed Instance virtual cluster as service-managed infrastructure that hosts managed instances inside a customer virtual network subnet. The virtual cluster contains isolated virtual machines and VM groups, supports management operations, and is created or changed as instances are deployed, scaled, or removed.
SQL Managed Instance
intermediate
5 commands
Aliases: SQL MI virtual cluster, Azure SQL Managed Instance virtual cluster, managed instance platform cluster
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Containers
premium
Azure Kubernetes Service
Azure Kubernetes Service is Azure’s managed Kubernetes service for deploying, scaling, and operating containerized applications while Azure manages much of the cluster control plane.
Managed Kubernetes
advanced
6 commands
Aliases: AKS, managed Kubernetes
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Databases
premium
Azure Database for MySQL Flexible Server
A fully managed Azure database service for MySQL workloads with configurable compute, storage, backups, networking, maintenance, and high availability options.
Managed MySQL
intermediate
5 commands
Aliases: MySQL Flexible Server
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Analytics
premium
Azure integration runtime
Azure integration runtime is the compute infrastructure used by Azure Data Factory and Synapse pipelines to move data, dispatch activities, and connect across network environments.
Data integration compute
intermediate
5 commands
Aliases: Integration Runtime, IR, ADF integration runtime
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Migration
premium
Azure Migrate
Azure Migrate helps organizations discover, assess, plan, and migrate servers, databases, web apps, virtual desktops, and other workloads to Azure with reduced risk.
Migration planning
intermediate
5 commands
Aliases: Migrate, Azure Migrate hub, migration assessment
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Hybrid and Multicloud
premium
Azure Arc-enabled server
A Windows or Linux physical server or virtual machine outside Azure that is connected to Azure Arc and managed as an Azure resource.
Hybrid management
fundamentals
4 commands
Aliases: Arc-enabled server, Azure Arc server, connected machine, hybrid machine
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Containers
premium
Azure CNI
An AKS networking approach where CNI plugins assign pod addresses, route pod traffic, and integrate Kubernetes networking with Azure virtual networks.
Kubernetes networking
fundamentals
4 commands
Aliases: Azure Container Networking Interface
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Containers
premium
Azure CNI Overlay
An AKS networking mode that assigns pods private overlay CIDR addresses while nodes use VNet IPs, conserving subnet address space.
Azure Kubernetes Service
intermediate
4 commands
Aliases: AKS overlay networking
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Management and Governance
premium
Azure control plane
The Azure control plane is the part of Azure you use to manage resources rather than consume the application or data inside them. Microsoft Learn anchors this term in Azure control plane and data plane, but this field-manual definition is intentionally wider than an older short glossary entry because the page must teach what to inspect, what can break, who owns the decision, and which evidence proves the Azure environment is behaving as intended. In field use, start with the technical boundary: Technically, the Azure control plane is handled by.
Azure Resource Manager
intermediate
4 commands
Aliases: No aliases yet
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Management and Governance
premium
Azure data plane
The Azure data plane is the part of Azure you use after a resource exists, when you interact with the capability that resource provides. Microsoft Learn anchors this term in Azure control plane and data plane, but this field-manual definition is intentionally wider than an older short glossary entry because the page must teach what to inspect, what can break, who owns the decision, and which evidence proves the Azure environment is behaving as intended. In field use, start with the technical boundary: Technically, data-plane operations are service-specific operations against.
Azure Resource Manager
fundamentals
4 commands
Aliases: No aliases yet
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Storage
premium
Azure Files private endpoint
Azure Files private endpoint connects Azure file share traffic to a storage account through a private IP address in a virtual network. It helps network, security, and storage teams keep SMB or NFS access on private network paths without exposing file access directly over public endpoints. You see it when regulated workloads need private access, branch users connect through VPN, or applications must mount shares without public storage exposure. It still needs ownership, network design, monitoring, and recovery planning. Operators need repeatable evidence for deployment, protection, troubleshooting, and reviews, not screenshots or tribal knowledge.
Private connectivity
intermediate
4 commands
Aliases: Private endpoint for Azure Files, Azure Files Private Link
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Networking
premium
Azure Firewall
Azure Firewall is a managed, stateful network firewall service for filtering traffic to and from Azure virtual network resources. It helps network security and platform teams centralize traffic control, logging, and threat protection across workloads without deploying self-managed firewall appliances for every landing zone. You see it when hub-spoke networks need egress control, applications require segmentation, regulated workloads need inspection, or teams need consistent firewall policy logging. It still needs ownership, network design, monitoring, and recovery planning. Operators need repeatable evidence for deployment, protection, troubleshooting, and reviews, not screenshots or tribal knowledge.
Network security
intermediate
4 commands
Aliases: Azure network firewall
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Databases
premium
Azure SQL vCore model
The Azure SQL vCore purchasing model lets customers independently choose compute, storage, service tier, and hardware configuration for Azure SQL Database workloads.
Azure SQL Database
intermediate
4 commands
Aliases: No aliases yet
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Analytics
premium
Data Factory managed virtual network
A Microsoft-managed network boundary used by Azure Integration Runtime to isolate data integration traffic and connect through managed private endpoints.
Data integration and orchestration
Intermediate
4 commands
Aliases: Data Factory managed virtual network, ADF managed virtual network, data factory managed virtual network
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DevOps
premium
Environment in Azure DevOps
An Azure DevOps environment is a logical collection of resources that a pipeline can target for deployments, approvals, checks, and deployment history.
Azure Pipelines
fundamentals
4 commands
Aliases: environment in azure devops
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AI and Machine Learning
field-manual-complete
Azure OpenAI private endpoint
An Azure OpenAI private endpoint gives your model-calling applications a private network path to an Azure OpenAI resource. Instead of reaching the resource over its public endpoint, approved clients in a virtual network resolve the service name to a private IP address. This is useful for sensitive prompts, internal copilots, and retrieval systems that must stay inside controlled network boundaries. It still requires identity, DNS, and application configuration to be correct. Test callers before lockdown.
Azure OpenAI
intermediate
5 commands
Aliases: OpenAI private endpoint, Azure OpenAI Private Link, private model endpoint, private endpoint for Azure OpenAI
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Databases
field-manual-complete
Azure SQL private endpoint
A database capability or setting in Azure SQL Database that helps teams store, query, scale, secure, and recover application data with clearer ownership, safety, and operational context.
Azure SQL Database
intermediate
5 commands
Aliases: Azure SQL private endpoint, azure-sql-private-endpoint, azure-sql-database, azure-sql-logical-server, private-endpoint, private-dns-zone, vnet-peering, managed-identity, app-service-vnet-integration, azure-sql-firewall-rule, service-endpoint
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Storage
field-manual-complete
Private endpoint for Azure Files
A private endpoint for Azure Files is the private network path to file shares in a storage account. Instead of mounting or accessing the share through the public file endpoint, clients in approved networks reach a private IP tied to the file service. The share, authentication model, and storage account still matter; the endpoint only changes network reachability. It is especially important for SMB access from Azure workloads, virtual desktops, build systems, and hybrid clients connected through VPN or ExpressRoute.
Azure Files
advanced
5 commands
Aliases: No aliases yet
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AI and Machine Learning
field-manual-complete
Private endpoint for Azure OpenAI
A private endpoint for Azure OpenAI is the private network doorway to an Azure OpenAI resource. Your application still calls the Azure OpenAI endpoint and authenticates normally, but from approved networks the name can resolve to a private IP instead of a public address. It is commonly used for enterprise chat, RAG, summarization, and agent workloads that handle sensitive prompts or documents. It protects the network path, not the prompt content by itself, so identity, logging, safety, and data controls still matter.
Azure OpenAI
advanced
5 commands
Aliases: No aliases yet
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Analytics
field-manual-complete
Synapse managed virtual network
A Synapse managed virtual network is the Azure-managed network boundary associated with a Synapse workspace. It isolates workspace data integration and Spark resources, enables managed private endpoints, and can restrict outbound connectivity to approved targets when data exfiltration protection is enabled at workspace creation.
Synapse Analytics
intermediate
5 commands
Aliases: Azure Synapse managed virtual network, Synapse managed VNet, managed workspace virtual network, Synapse workspace managed VNet
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Networking
field-manual-complete
Virtual network
An Azure private network boundary for subnets, routing, filtering, peering, and private connectivity.
Azure Virtual Network
beginner
5 commands
Aliases: Azure VNet, VNet, virtual network in Azure, private Azure network, virtual network
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AI and Machine Learning
premium
Azure OpenAI resource
An Azure OpenAI resource is the Azure control-plane boundary that hosts deployments, endpoints, access, networking, and billing context.
Azure OpenAI
fundamentals
12 commands
Aliases: No aliases yet
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AI and Machine Learning
premium
Azure OpenAI Service
Azure OpenAI Service provides managed access to OpenAI model capabilities through Azure endpoints and enterprise controls.
Generative AI
fundamentals
11 commands
Aliases: Azure OpenAI
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Databases
premium field-manual
Managed instance virtual cluster
Managed Instance virtual cluster is an Azure-managed infrastructure grouping that hosts one or more SQL Managed Instances inside a subnet. Teams use it when teams deploy, scale, move, or delete managed instances and need to understand the hidden infrastructure boundary. In plain English, it gives operators a named control for clearer expectations for provisioning time, subnet planning, instance placement, and cleanup behavior instead of leaving the decision hidden in a portal setting, script, or deployment file. Treat it as production-ready only when the owner, dependencies, permission boundary, monitoring signal, and rollback evidence are clear.
Azure SQL Managed Instance
intermediate
3 commands
Aliases: Managed instance virtual cluster, Azure SQL Managed Instance
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AI and Machine Learning
premium
Azure OpenAI
Azure OpenAI provides OpenAI model capabilities through Azure resources, deployments, identity, networking, quota, and monitoring controls.
Azure OpenAI
intermediate
8 commands
Aliases: Azure OpenAI Service
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