Introduction

  • 2 minutes

This module explores Azure Resource Manager templates (ARM templates) and their components, teaching you how to implement infrastructure as code (IaC) for Azure deployments. You'll learn about template structure, dependency management, modularization techniques, and secure secrets handling through Azure Key Vault integration.

ARM templates provide a declarative way to define Azure resources using JSON syntax, enabling consistent and repeatable deployments. You'll also discover Bicep, a modern domain-specific language that simplifies ARM template authoring with cleaner syntax while maintaining the same capabilities.

Learning objectives

After completing this module, you'll be able to:

  • Create and deploy Azure resources: Use ARM templates and Bicep syntax to define infrastructure as code.
  • Understand template components: Work with parameters, variables, functions, resources, and outputs sections.
  • Manage resource dependencies: Define deployment order using dependsOn elements and reference functions.
  • Organize and modularize templates: Create reusable components with linked and nested templates.
  • Secure sensitive data: Integrate Azure Key Vault to manage secrets, passwords, and certificates securely.
  • Choose deployment modes: Apply incremental or complete deployment modes based on your scenario.

Prerequisites

  • DevOps understanding: Familiarity with continuous deployment and automation concepts.
  • Azure services knowledge: Basic understanding of Azure resources like virtual machines, storage accounts, and networking.
  • JSON basics: Ability to read and understand JSON structure and syntax.
  • Version control: Experience with Git or other version control systems is beneficial.
  • Infrastructure as code concepts: Understanding of declarative vs. imperative approaches is helpful.ores Azure Resource Manager templates and their components and details dependencies and modularized templates with secrets.

Learning objectives

After completing this module, students and professionals can:

  • Create Azure resources using Azure Resource Manager templates.
  • Understand Azure Resource Manager templates and template components.
  • Manage dependencies and secrets in templates.
  • Organize and modularize templates.

Prerequisites

  • Understanding of what DevOps is and its concepts.
  • Familiarity with version control principles is helpful but isn't necessary.
  • Beneficial to have experience in an organization that delivers software.