Unable to access sandbox, told that I need an active Azure subscription

Question

Hello,

I am trying to do the exercises at the end of the training modules, but instead of seeing a button that reads "Activate Sandbox" like other members of my team do, I see a purple box that reads "Note: To complete this lab, you will need an Azure subscription in which you have administrative access". I thought the purpose of the sandbox was that I didn't have to use a real Azure subscription where I could be charged.

I have tried logging into a Microsoft account where I pay for Microsoft 365, and I have tried making an Azure account. If I try to get an Azure subscription, I have to enter a credit card number.

Any insight is helpful, thank you!

I'm aware this has nothing to do with the things I tagged, but tags are required for questions, and there is no formal support for Microsoft learn.

Answer 1

Hi,

What you are seeing is normal and expected for AI Fundamentals. Please complete the exercises/labs according to the instructions provided. You will need to sign up for an Azure Free subscription if you don't already have an Azure subscription that you can use.

Not all learning paths and modules are the same. For yours, you are required to have an Azure subscription so that you can create a Machine Learning workspace and complete the labs/exercises. For others, you connect to a lab VM that has the tools you need to work with your Azure subscription.

Still others provide a sandbox. You will know when you get to a module that has a sandbox because it will mention it.

Please click Accept Answer if the above is useful.

Thanks.

-TP

Answer 2

You need an MS Azure account to work in the sandbox. The Sandbox is just a time limit, free "sandbox" that is provided for you to test with. It is automatically cleaned up and you aren't charged for the resources it uses. Furthermore you are limited in what you can do in the sandbox so that someone doesn't create a dummy account, create the sandbox and then start doing things they shouldn't.

You can create a free Azure account here. It might require a CC just in case you ever start to use Azure services (so it doesn't have to ask again) but you shouldn't see any charges from Azure while using the sandbox. Alternatively you can use any Azure account you already have. The sandbox is just a special subscription that is created temporarily for you and won't interact with any other Azure stuff you already have.