Data is fundamentally changing the world we live in today. The explosion of digital information has led companies across industries to recognize the urgent need for efficient and flexible storage solutions. As businesses strive to collect relevant data rapidly and process it effectively, they are better equipped to meet customer demands and remain competitive. This growing reliance on data has contributed to the rising demand for cloud platforms that provide scalable, reliable, and secure environments. Among these, Microsoft Azure stands out as one of the largest and most influential cloud computing platforms worldwide, serving a vast range of enterprises.
Organizations are adopting cloud technologies to leverage their flexibility, scalability, and cost efficiency. The cloud allows businesses to access computing power, storage, and various services on-demand, eliminating the need for heavy upfront investment in physical infrastructure. This shift is creating significant opportunities for professionals skilled in managing cloud environments, particularly those focused on Microsoft Azure.
Understanding Microsoft Azure
Microsoft Azure is a comprehensive cloud computing platform that enables businesses to access and manage a broad array of cloud services. These services include computing power, storage options, networking capabilities, analytics, and much more. Azure supports various service models, including Software as a Service (SaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), catering to different business needs.
By utilizing Azure, companies can deploy applications rapidly, scale resources dynamically, and integrate diverse systems while maintaining security and compliance. The platform’s global data center footprint ensures high availability and resilience. Its extensive product offerings allow businesses to choose solutions tailored to their specific requirements, from mobile backend development to advanced AI and machine learning applications.
Key Azure Products and Services
Azure’s wide array of products and services addresses various aspects of cloud computing. Understanding some of the core offerings helps clarify the scope of responsibilities an Azure administrator might encounter.
Mobile Services
Azure provides developers with tools to build cloud-connected applications for mobile devices. These services support backend operations, including notification hubs to send push notifications, data synchronization across devices, and geospatial capabilities to manage location-based data. Azure’s mobile services also offer API creation tools that facilitate the integration of mobile apps with other cloud or on-premises services.
Storage Solutions
Storage is a fundamental component of cloud infrastructure, and Azure offers scalable storage options suitable for both structured and unstructured data. These storage services accommodate persistent data storage needs, archive capabilities for long-term retention, and support for handling large files. Administrators must manage these storage resources efficiently to ensure availability and performance while optimizing costs.
Web Services
Azure’s web services support the deployment and development of web applications. This includes features for hosting websites and web APIs, delivering content through content delivery networks (CDNs), providing search capabilities, and generating reports. Web services in Azure also include API management tools that help in publishing, securing, and analyzing APIs.
Networking Capabilities
Networking in Azure encompasses a broad range of components such as virtual private networks (VPNs), virtual network gateways, and private virtual networks (VNETs). It also includes DNS hosting services, protection mechanisms against distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, traffic management tools, network diagnostics, and load balancing. Effective networking is critical to ensure secure and reliable communication between cloud resources and on-premises environments.
DevOps Tools
Azure DevOps is a suite of services that facilitates collaboration and automation throughout the software development lifecycle. It integrates version control, build and release pipelines, testing labs, and monitoring capabilities. These tools help streamline continuous integration and continuous delivery (CI/CD) processes, enabling teams to deliver software efficiently and with high quality.
The Role of a Microsoft Azure Administrator
A Microsoft Azure Administrator is responsible for managing, monitoring, and maintaining cloud infrastructure built on the Azure platform. Their role is crucial in ensuring the availability, performance, security, and efficiency of cloud resources that support business operations. Azure administrators serve as the bridge between the technical capabilities of the Azure platform and the organization’s business needs.
Core Responsibilities of an Azure Administrator
Azure administrators handle a variety of tasks that encompass the lifecycle of cloud resources. Their day-to-day duties typically include:
- Provisioning and Managing Azure Resources: Creating and configuring virtual machines, storage accounts, and networking components to meet application and user demands.
- Implementing Security Controls: Configuring role-based access control (RBAC), managing identity and access through Azure Active Directory, and enforcing security policies to protect cloud resources.
- Monitoring and Performance Tuning: Using Azure Monitor, alerts, and diagnostics to track resource health and optimize performance.
- Backup and Disaster Recovery: Establishing backup policies and configuring recovery services to ensure data protection and business continuity.
- Automation: Writing scripts and leveraging tools such as Azure PowerShell, Azure CLI, or Azure Automation to streamline repetitive tasks.
- Cost Management: Tracking resource usage and optimizing costs by right-sizing resources and eliminating unused assets.
- Troubleshooting and Support: Diagnosing and resolving issues related to Azure services, collaborating with development and operations teams to ensure smooth deployments.
Collaboration and Communication
Besides technical responsibilities, Azure administrators frequently collaborate with cloud architects, developers, security teams, and business stakeholders. Effective communication is vital to align cloud operations with organizational goals and compliance requirements.
Essential Skills for a Microsoft Azure Administrator
To succeed as a Microsoft Azure Administrator, professionals need more than just familiarity with cloud computing. The role demands a well-rounded combination of technical expertise, critical thinking, communication, and continuous learning to effectively design, implement, and manage Azure environments that meet business goals while ensuring security, performance, and cost-efficiency.
This section outlines the essential skills required, categorized into technical competencies and soft skills, along with practical advice for developing and applying these abilities in real-world scenarios.
Technical Skills
Mastering Azure’s technical landscape is fundamental for administrators to deliver reliable cloud services. The breadth of Azure services and tools means administrators must develop deep knowledge and hands-on experience in several key areas.
Deep Understanding of Core Azure Services
An Azure administrator must be well-versed in core services such as:
- Virtual Machines (VMs): Knowledge of VM provisioning, scaling, security, and maintenance, including operating system updates and performance tuning.
- Storage Solutions: Familiarity with Blob Storage, File Storage, Queue Storage, and Table Storage, as well as managing access and replication.
- Networking: Designing and managing virtual networks (VNets), subnets, VPN gateways, ExpressRoute, network security groups (NSGs), and load balancers.
- Identity and Access Management: Managing Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), configuring user and group policies, implementing conditional access, and integrating with on-premises AD.
- Security Tools: Utilizing Azure Security Center, Azure Defender, and integrating third-party security solutions to protect resources.
- Azure Monitoring Tools: Implementing Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and Application Insights to gain insights into system health and diagnose issues.
Understanding how these services interconnect enables administrators to build secure, scalable, and efficient cloud architectures.
Scripting and Automation Proficiency
Automation is critical for managing large-scale Azure environments efficiently and consistently. Administrators should be proficient in scripting languages such as:
- PowerShell: The most widely used scripting tool for Azure administration, enabling automation of resource provisioning, configuration, and maintenance.
- Azure CLI: Cross-platform command-line interface for interacting with Azure resources.
- Bash: Useful in Linux-based Azure environments for scripting tasks and automation.
- Infrastructure as Code (IaC): Experience with tools like Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates, Terraform, or Bicep to automate deployment and enforce configuration standards.
Automation reduces human error, accelerates deployment, and supports compliance by ensuring repeatable, auditable infrastructure management.
Networking Knowledge
Strong networking skills are vital since Azure environments rely heavily on virtual networking components to ensure connectivity and security.
Administrators need to understand:
- Virtual Networks and Subnets: How to segment environments and isolate workloads.
- Network Security Groups and Firewalls: Configuring inbound and outbound traffic rules to protect resources.
- VPNs and ExpressRoute: Setting up secure site-to-site and point-to-site connections between on-premises networks and Azure.
- Load Balancing: Distributing traffic efficiently using Azure Load Balancer and Application Gateway.
- DNS and Traffic Management: Configuring Azure DNS, Traffic Manager, and Front Door for global load balancing and failover.
This knowledge ensures that applications are accessible, performant, and secure.
Security Best Practices
Security is foundational in any cloud role. Azure administrators must implement identity and access management policies, encryption, and proactive monitoring to protect organizational assets.
Key areas include:
- Identity Management: Enforcing least privilege access, managing service principals, and implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
- Data Encryption: Utilizing Azure Storage Service Encryption, Azure Disk Encryption, and TLS for data in transit.
- Security Monitoring: Using Azure Security Center alerts and recommendations to identify vulnerabilities and threats.
- Compliance Management: Aligning cloud architecture with regulatory requirements using Azure Policy and Compliance Manager.
A secure environment reduces risks and ensures business continuity.
Monitoring and Diagnostics
Maintaining system health and troubleshooting issues relies on effective monitoring.
Azure administrators should:
- Configure Azure Monitor: Collect metrics and logs across resources.
- Use Log Analytics: Query logs to identify trends or anomalies.
- Implement Application Insights: Monitor application performance and user experiences.
- Set Alerts and Actions: Automate notifications and remediation workflows based on thresholds.
Proactive monitoring helps prevent downtime and quickly resolves performance bottlenecks.
Backup and Recovery Expertise
Data protection and disaster recovery are critical responsibilities.
Administrators must:
- Implement Azure Backup: Schedule regular backups of VMs, databases, and files.
- Configure Site Recovery: Enable replication and failover for critical workloads.
- Design Disaster Recovery Plans: Establish Recovery Time Objectives (RTO) and Recovery Point Objectives (RPO).
- Test Recovery Procedures: Conduct regular drills to ensure preparedness.
Effective backup and recovery strategies minimize data loss and service disruption during failures.
Soft Skills
Beyond technical proficiency, Azure administrators require a range of soft skills to collaborate effectively, solve complex problems, and adapt to rapid changes.
Analytical Thinking
The ability to analyze complex problems and develop effective solutions is essential. Azure administrators often encounter issues involving multiple components—networking, identity, storage, and compute—and must diagnose root causes quickly.
Analytical skills enable administrators to:
- Break down problems into manageable parts.
- Interpret monitoring data and logs.
- Identify patterns or anomalies.
- Develop logical troubleshooting approaches.
For example, if an application experiences intermittent failures, an analytical administrator investigates dependencies, resource usage, network traffic, and recent configuration changes to pinpoint the source.
Attention to Detail
Small misconfigurations can have significant impacts on security, performance, and cost. Administrators must apply rigorous attention to detail when:
- Writing scripts and templates.
- Configuring security rules.
- Assigning access permissions.
- Monitoring resource usage.
A single misapplied firewall rule or incorrectly assigned role can create vulnerabilities or service interruptions. Precision helps maintain reliability and compliance.
Communication Skills
Azure administrators often act as a bridge between technical teams and business stakeholders. Clear communication is crucial for:
- Explaining technical concepts in understandable terms.
- Documenting configurations and procedures.
- Collaborating with developers, security teams, and management.
- Reporting status, incidents, and recommendations.
Effective communication fosters alignment and ensures that cloud strategies meet organizational needs.
Team Collaboration
Cloud projects typically involve cross-functional teams. Administrators must work collaboratively with developers, architects, security professionals, and operations teams.
This involves:
- Coordinating deployments and updates.
- Sharing knowledge and best practices.
- Participating in agile or DevOps workflows.
- Supporting training and mentorship.
Strong teamwork improves efficiency and accelerates cloud adoption.
Continuous Learning
Azure is a fast-evolving platform with frequent updates and new features. Administrators must maintain a growth mindset and dedicate time to:
- Following Microsoft Azure blogs and release notes.
- Participating in webinars, conferences, and training.
- Pursuing certifications and advanced courses.
- Experimenting in sandbox environments.
Continuous learning ensures skills remain relevant and enables administrators to leverage new capabilities effectively.
Additional Skills and Competencies
To excel further, Azure administrators should develop expertise in related areas that enhance their effectiveness and career prospects.
Cloud Architecture and Design Principles
Understanding cloud design patterns such as scalability, high availability, fault tolerance, and cost optimization helps administrators contribute to architecture discussions and decisions.
DevOps and CI/CD Integration
Familiarity with DevOps principles, pipelines, and tools such as Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions allows administrators to support automated deployments and infrastructure management.
Cost Management and Optimization
Beyond basic budgeting, skills in analyzing cost drivers, forecasting expenses, and implementing optimization strategies add significant value.
Incident Management and Problem Resolution
Experience with ITIL practices and incident response frameworks strengthens the ability to handle outages and minimize business impact.
Soft Skills: Adaptability and Resilience
The cloud environment often presents unexpected challenges. Being adaptable and resilient helps administrators manage stress and rapidly adjust to changes.
Developing Essential Azure Administrator Skills
To build these skills, aspiring administrators can:
- Engage in Hands-On Labs: Use Azure free tier or sandbox environments to practice real-world scenarios.
- Follow Structured Learning Paths: Microsoft Learn offers role-based learning paths tailored to Azure administration.
- Pursue Certifications: Certifications such as AZ-104 validate skills and increase credibility.
- Join Community Forums: Participate in forums like Microsoft Tech Community, Stack Overflow, or LinkedIn groups to exchange knowledge.
- Work on Projects: Apply skills in practical projects, either professionally or through personal initiatives.
Becoming an effective Microsoft Azure Administrator requires a balanced mix of technical knowledge, practical skills, and interpersonal abilities. Mastery of Azure core services, automation, networking, security, monitoring, and recovery form the foundation. Complemented by analytical thinking, attention to detail, communication, teamwork, and a commitment to lifelong learning, these skills empower administrators to manage cloud environments that drive business success.
Continuous development and adaptation to emerging technologies will ensure that Azure administrators remain indispensable in the evolving cloud landscape.
Best Practices for Microsoft Azure Administrators
Adhering to best practices ensures that Azure environments remain secure, efficient, and resilient. Experienced Azure administrators follow established guidelines to optimize cloud operations.
Security Best Practices
Implementing Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) is essential to grant permissions based on roles, minimizing security risks. Enabling Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adds an additional layer of account protection. Security policies should be regularly updated to address emerging threats. Additionally, monitoring security logs with tools like Azure Security Center and Azure Sentinel helps detect suspicious activities early.
Performance Optimization
Right-sizing resources by allocating appropriate compute and storage prevents overprovisioning. Configuring auto-scaling enables dynamic resource adjustment based on demand. Implementing caching using Azure Cache for Redis improves application responsiveness. Optimizing network traffic through Azure Traffic Manager and Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) reduces latency and enhances user experience.
Cost Management
Tracking resource consumption and costs through Azure Cost Management tools provides visibility into spending. Setting budgets and alerts helps avoid budget overruns by notifying administrators when spending approaches limits. Regularly reviewing and decommissioning unused or idle resources helps control unnecessary expenses.
Common Challenges Faced by Azure Administrators
Managing cloud environments, especially within Microsoft Azure’s expansive ecosystem, is a complex endeavor. Azure administrators face a broad range of challenges that require not only technical expertise but also strategic thinking and continuous adaptation. Below, we explore the most common obstacles in detail and discuss best practices and strategies to address them.
Complexity of Services
Microsoft Azure offers hundreds of services ranging from simple virtual machines to advanced AI and machine learning platforms. This breadth and depth provide tremendous flexibility but also introduce significant complexity for administrators.
The challenge begins with service selection. Different workloads require different Azure services; choosing the right combination that aligns with business goals, cost constraints, and technical requirements can be overwhelming. For example, deciding between using Azure App Services, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), or Azure Functions for hosting applications involves understanding the strengths and limitations of each.
In addition, Azure continuously evolves, with new services and updates rolling out frequently. Staying current with these changes demands a strong commitment to learning. Administrators must invest time in studying release notes, attending webinars, and participating in training programs to ensure they leverage Azure’s latest capabilities and avoid deprecated or inefficient practices.
The configuration of services adds another layer of complexity. Many Azure services have numerous parameters and settings that impact security, performance, and cost. Misconfigurations can lead to vulnerabilities, suboptimal performance, or unexpected expenses. For instance, improper network security group (NSG) rules can unintentionally expose resources, while incorrectly configured autoscaling can result in resource shortages or unnecessary cost spikes.
Furthermore, integration between different Azure services often requires careful planning. Connecting storage accounts, databases, identity services, and compute resources into a seamless architecture that meets business objectives while maintaining security and compliance is a non-trivial task.
Strategies to Manage Service Complexity
- Documentation and Standardization: Maintaining detailed documentation of deployed services and configurations helps prevent errors and facilitates troubleshooting.
- Use of Azure Blueprints and ARM Templates: Automating deployments through Infrastructure as Code (IaC) reduces manual configuration errors and ensures consistency.
- Training and Certification: Regularly updating skills through Microsoft Learn, certification paths, and community engagement.
- Pilot Testing: Before full-scale deployment, pilot testing services and configurations in sandbox environments can identify issues early.
Security and Compliance
Security remains a top concern for Azure administrators. The shared responsibility model means Microsoft secures the infrastructure, but customers must secure their applications, data, and configurations. This division requires administrators to implement robust security controls and maintain continuous vigilance.
Security challenges include:
- Identity and Access Management: Managing identities, assigning least privilege access, and implementing multifactor authentication (MFA) to prevent unauthorized access.
- Data Protection: Encrypting data at rest and in transit, managing keys securely using Azure Key Vault, and ensuring data backup and recovery.
- Threat Detection: Using Azure Security Center and Azure Sentinel to detect and respond to threats in real-time.
- Vulnerability Management: Keeping software and services up-to-date to avoid exploitation of known vulnerabilities.
- Network Security: Properly configuring virtual networks, firewalls, and NSGs to control traffic flow and prevent attacks.
Compliance adds further challenges. Depending on the industry, organizations must adhere to regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS, or FedRAMP. Administrators must ensure that cloud architectures and processes meet these regulatory requirements, which often involves detailed documentation, audit readiness, and sometimes additional tooling.
Failure to meet security and compliance standards can result in data breaches, financial penalties, and damage to organizational reputation.
Approaches to Enhance Security and Compliance
- Implement Zero Trust Architecture: Assume no implicit trust; verify every access request continuously.
- Continuous Monitoring and Incident Response: Utilize Azure-native tools for proactive threat detection and establish clear incident response plans.
- Regular Security Audits and Penetration Testing: Identify weaknesses before attackers do.
- Automate Compliance Reporting: Use Azure Policy and Compliance Manager to automate compliance checks and reporting.
- User Education: Train staff on security best practices to reduce risks from social engineering or user errors.
Cost Control
While cloud platforms like Azure offer flexibility and scalability, cost management is a significant challenge. Without strict controls, organizations can incur unexpectedly high bills due to overprovisioning, unused resources, or inefficient designs.
Common cost issues include:
- Overprovisioning Resources: Allocating more CPU, memory, or storage than necessary leads to wasted budget.
- Unused or Idle Resources: Resources left running but not used, such as forgotten virtual machines or unattached disks.
- Unoptimized Architectures: Inefficient application designs or data transfer patterns causing excessive consumption.
- Complex Pricing Models: Azure’s pricing can be intricate, with different tiers, reserved instances, and spot pricing options.
Administrators must constantly balance performance and availability requirements with budget constraints. Unexpected spikes can arise from auto-scaling misconfigurations, data egress charges, or unmonitored usage by different teams.
Techniques for Effective Cost Management
- Azure Cost Management + Billing: Utilize built-in dashboards to monitor spending and set budgets and alerts.
- Resource Tagging: Apply tags to track costs by department, project, or environment.
- Rightsizing: Regularly review usage metrics and adjust resource sizes accordingly.
- Reserved Instances and Savings Plans: Commit to longer-term use for discounts.
- Automated Shutdown: Schedule non-production environments to shut down during off-hours.
- Governance Policies: Enforce spending limits and approval processes to control provisioning.
Troubleshooting and Incident Response
When issues arise in the cloud, rapid diagnosis and resolution are critical to minimizing downtime and business impact. However, troubleshooting Azure environments is often challenging due to their distributed nature, diverse services, and shared responsibility model.
Common problems administrators face include connectivity failures, performance bottlenecks, authentication issues, and service outages. Identifying root causes requires analyzing logs, metrics, and alerts from multiple sources. Azure provides tools such as Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, Application Insights, and Network Watcher, but mastering their use takes skill and experience.
Incident response also involves coordination with other teams, such as developers, security analysts, and support engineers. Communication must be clear and efficient to resolve problems swiftly.
Improving Troubleshooting and Response
- Implement Centralized Monitoring: Aggregate logs and metrics in a single platform for comprehensive visibility.
- Establish Runbooks and Playbooks: Document standard operating procedures for common incidents.
- Use Alerts and Automation: Configure alerts for critical events and automate routine responses using Azure Automation or Logic Apps.
- Conduct Post-Incident Reviews: Analyze incidents to identify root causes and improve processes.
- Foster Cross-Team Collaboration: Encourage open communication and shared responsibilities across teams.
Additional Challenges
Beyond the core areas above, Azure administrators may encounter other difficulties, including:
Managing Hybrid Environments
Many organizations operate hybrid cloud models combining on-premises infrastructure with Azure resources. Managing connectivity, identity synchronization, and consistent policies across these environments adds complexity. Tools like Azure Arc and Azure Site Recovery help but require additional expertise.
Skills Shortage and Training
The rapid pace of cloud innovation means many administrators face skill gaps. Organizations must invest in ongoing training and certification programs. Recruiting and retaining talent with the right Azure skills is also competitive.
Vendor Lock-in Concerns
While Azure offers extensive services, some businesses worry about dependence on a single cloud provider. Designing applications to be cloud-agnostic or multi-cloud compatible introduces design and operational challenges.
Governance and Policy Enforcement
Maintaining governance at scale requires automated policies to control resource creation, naming conventions, security baselines, and compliance enforcement. Manual governance is impractical in large environments.
Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
Ensuring data resilience and application availability in case of outages requires careful planning. Azure offers backup and site recovery tools, but administrators must architect solutions tailored to recovery time objectives (RTO) and recovery point objectives (RPO).
Real-World Scenario Examples
- Security Breach Due to Misconfigured NSG: An administrator inadvertently allowed unrestricted inbound access to a critical virtual machine by misconfiguring the Network Security Group rules. The breach was detected after unusual traffic patterns were flagged by Azure Sentinel. The incident prompted an immediate lockdown of the affected resources and a review of security policies.
- Unexpected Cost Spike from Test Environments: A development team spun up multiple high-spec virtual machines for testing but forgot to shut them down after project completion. The billing team noticed a significant cost increase. Azure Cost Management alerts were configured afterward to prevent recurrence.
- Service Outage Impacting Customer-Facing Application: A misconfiguration in an Azure Application Gateway caused intermittent downtime. The administrator used Azure Monitor logs and Application Insights to trace the problem to a misrouted backend pool. Quick remediation restored service availability.
The role of an Azure administrator is multifaceted and challenging. Successfully navigating the complexity of services, maintaining robust security and compliance, managing costs, and responding effectively to incidents demands a comprehensive skill set and strategic mindset.
Administrators who embrace continuous learning, leverage automation and governance tools, and foster strong collaboration are best positioned to overcome these challenges. As Azure and cloud technologies evolve, so too will the responsibilities and opportunities for administrators dedicated to mastering the platform.
Emerging Trends in Azure Administration
The cloud landscape is evolving rapidly, and Azure administrators need to anticipate future developments to stay ahead.
Increased Automation
The growing adoption of Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like Azure Resource Manager templates and Terraform enables more consistent, repeatable, and automated deployments, reducing manual effort.
Integration with AI and Machine Learning
Azure administrators are increasingly leveraging AI-powered tools for predictive analytics, anomaly detection, and automated remediation, enhancing operational efficiency.
Hybrid and Multi-Cloud Environments
Supporting hybrid cloud architectures and integrating with multiple cloud providers is becoming more common, requiring administrators to adopt flexible and comprehensive management strategies.
Focus on Sustainability
Cloud providers and users alike are prioritizing energy-efficient operations and strategies to reduce carbon footprints, reflecting a growing commitment to environmental responsibility.
Final Thoughts
The role of a Microsoft Azure Administrator is both dynamic and vital in today’s cloud-driven world. As organizations continue to migrate workloads to the cloud, the demand for skilled professionals who can efficiently manage Azure environments will only increase. Mastering the core responsibilities, keeping pace with evolving technologies, and adhering to best practices are essential for success in this field.
Continuous learning, hands-on experience, and obtaining relevant certifications pave the way for career growth and opportunities in diverse industries. While challenges such as service complexity, security, and cost management persist, they also offer chances to innovate and develop robust solutions.
Looking ahead, Azure administrators will play a key role in shaping cloud strategies that incorporate automation, AI integration, hybrid environments, and sustainability. Embracing these trends will not only enhance technical expertise but also contribute to the broader goals of business agility and environmental responsibility.
For those aspiring to enter this rewarding field or advance their careers, dedication to skill development and adaptability are the cornerstones to thriving as a Microsoft Azure Administrator.