Summary

  • 1 minute

This module explored Azure Resource Manager templates and their components, teaching you how to implement infrastructure as code for consistent, repeatable Azure deployments.

What you learned

You now understand how to:

  • Create Azure resources using ARM templates: Define infrastructure declaratively using JSON or Bicep syntax for automated deployments.
  • Understand template components: Work with parameters, variables, functions, resources, and outputs to build flexible, reusable templates.
  • Manage resource dependencies: Use dependsOn elements and reference() functions to ensure correct deployment ordering and avoid circular dependencies.
  • Organize and modularize templates: Break large templates into linked and nested components for better maintainability and reusability.
  • Secure sensitive data: Integrate Azure Key Vault to pass passwords, API keys, and certificates securely without exposing them in code or logs.
  • Choose deployment modes: Apply incremental mode for adding resources or complete mode for achieving idempotency in production environments.

Key concepts recap

ARM templates provide:

  • Consistency: Same infrastructure every deployment across all environments.
  • Automation: Eliminate manual portal clicks and scripting errors.
  • Version control: Track infrastructure changes alongside application code.
  • Reusability: Create once, deploy many times with parameters.
  • Security: Integrate with Key Vault for secrets management.

Template structure:

  • Parameters: Configurable values for different environments.
  • Variables: Reusable values to reduce duplication.
  • Functions: Custom logic for complex operations.
  • Resources: The actual Azure resources to deploy.
  • Outputs: Return deployment information for automation.

Best practices:

  • Use Bicep for new projects (cleaner syntax than JSON).
  • Store secrets in Azure Key Vault, never in templates.
  • Use linked templates for modular, maintainable architectures.
  • Apply complete mode in production for idempotency.
  • Validate templates before deployment with az deployment group validate.

Next steps

Continue your infrastructure as code journey:

  • Explore Azure Bicep as a modern alternative to JSON ARM templates.
  • Learn about Terraform for multicloud infrastructure management.
  • Implement CI/CD pipelines for automated template deployments.
  • Study Azure Policy to enforce governance on deployed resources.
  • Practice with Azure Quickstart Templates for real-world scenarios.

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