Azure Kubernetes Service
Introduction
Course Introduction
Welcome to Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)! I’m Pranav Holavanahalli, and in this course you’ll learn how to deploy, manage, and secure containerized applications on Microsoft Azure. As organizations embrace cloud-native architectures, proficiency with containers—and Kubernetes in particular—has become essential for DevOps, data, and cloud engineers.
Kubernetes powers a wide range of cloud workloads, from infrastructure and data services to machine learning and developer platforms. If you plan to specialize in Azure, mastering AKS is non-negotiable. This course covers core Azure concepts, containerization best practices, and end-to-end AKS operations.
What You’ll Learn
| Module | Key Topics |
|---|---|
| Azure Fundamentals Refresher | Compute, Storage, Networking, Identity, and Data Services on Azure |
| Containerizing a Web Application | Dockerfile authoring, image building, local testing, and publishing to Azure Container Registry (ACR) |
| Deploying to AKS | Creating and configuring AKS clusters, scaling workloads, integrating with ACR, and rolling updates |
| Security & Networking in AKS | Virtual Networking, Azure Active Directory integration, Azure Policy enforcement, and Azure Defender for containers |
| Monitoring & CI/CD for AKS | Azure Monitor, Log Analytics, and building GitHub/Azure DevOps pipelines tailored to AKS deployments |
Note
Hands-on practice is essential. We recommend using your own Azure free account to follow along with the labs.
Course Outline
1. Azure Fundamentals Refresher
We’ll begin with a concise review of Azure’s core services:
- Compute: Virtual Machines, VM Scale Sets, and App Services
- Storage: Blob, File, and Disk storage options
- Networking: Virtual Networks, Subnets, and Load Balancers
- Data: Azure SQL, Cosmos DB, and Data Lake Storage
2. Containerizing a Web Application
You’ll learn how to package your code into a container:
- Author and optimize a Dockerfile
- Build and test container images locally
- Publish images to Azure Container Registry
3. Deploying to AKS
Provision and manage your AKS cluster:
- Create and configure AKS clusters
- Scale pods and nodes to meet demand
- Integrate with Azure Container Registry for seamless image pulls
- Manage rolling updates to ensure zero-downtime deployments
4. Security & Networking in AKS
Protect your cluster and workloads:
- Virtual Networks: Isolate AKS in your VNet
- Azure AD Integration: Enable RBAC and pod identity
- Azure Policy: Enforce guardrails on namespaces and cluster add-ons
- Azure Defender: Runtime threat detection for containers
Warning
Always restrict API server access and enable network policies to prevent unauthorized lateral movement within your cluster.
5. Monitoring & CI/CD for AKS
Streamline observability and deployment:
- Azure Monitor & Log Analytics: Collect metrics, logs, and alerts
- CI/CD Pipelines: Set up GitHub Actions or Azure DevOps to build, test, and deploy your containers to AKS
Links and References
- Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) Overview
- Kubernetes Documentation
- Azure Container Registry
- Docker Documentation
Let's get started on your journey to mastering Azure Kubernetes Service!
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