Managing and deploying Azure resources
📘Microsoft Certified: Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900)
1. What is Azure Cloud Shell?
Azure Cloud Shell is a browser-based command-line environment provided by Microsoft Azure.
It allows you to:
- Manage Azure resources
- Run scripts
- Deploy resources
- Configure services
You can use it directly from:
- Azure Portal
- Azure mobile app
- shell.azure.com
You do not need to install anything on your computer.
It already includes:
- Azure CLI
- Azure PowerShell
- Popular tools (Git, Terraform, kubectl, etc.)
- A pre-authenticated Azure account
For the AZ-900 exam, remember:
Azure Cloud Shell is a browser-based, authenticated shell environment for managing Azure resources using Azure CLI or PowerShell.
2. Why Azure Cloud Shell is Important
In an IT environment, administrators and DevOps teams often need to:
- Create virtual machines
- Configure storage accounts
- Deploy web apps
- Manage networking
- Automate deployments
- Monitor resources
Instead of installing tools on every machine, they can use Cloud Shell to perform these tasks from anywhere.
It provides:
- No setup required
- Automatic authentication
- Persistent storage
- Secure access
3. Azure CLI vs Azure PowerShell
Cloud Shell supports two command-line tools:
1️⃣ Azure CLI
- Cross-platform command-line tool
- Uses simple, short commands
- Works on Windows, Linux, macOS
- Good for automation and scripting
Command format example:
az group create --name MyResourceGroup --location eastus
Used commonly by:
- DevOps engineers
- Linux administrators
- Automation scripts
2️⃣ Azure PowerShell
- Uses PowerShell cmdlets
- Verb-Noun format
- Common in Windows environments
Command format example:
New-AzResourceGroup -Name MyResourceGroup -Location EastUS
Used commonly by:
- Windows administrators
- IT teams already using PowerShell
Key Difference for the Exam
| Feature | Azure CLI | Azure PowerShell |
|---|---|---|
| Command Style | az commands | Verb-Noun cmdlets |
| Platform | Cross-platform | PowerShell-based |
| Scripting | Bash/CLI style | PowerShell scripts |
Both tools do the same management tasks — only the syntax is different.
4. How Azure Cloud Shell Works
When you open Cloud Shell:
- Azure automatically authenticates you.
- It connects to a temporary Linux container.
- It mounts a storage account for file persistence.
Important:
- The compute container is temporary.
- The storage account is permanent (for your files).
5. Storage in Cloud Shell
When you first open Cloud Shell, Azure asks you to create:
- A Storage Account
- A File Share
Why?
Because:
- The Cloud Shell container is temporary.
- Your scripts and files must be saved somewhere persistent.
Azure uses:
- Azure Files (File Share)
- Backed by a Storage Account
This ensures:
- Your scripts remain available
- Your configurations are saved
- Your files are not lost
For the exam:
Cloud Shell requires an Azure Storage account to persist files.
6. What Can You Do with Azure Cloud Shell?
In real IT environments, Cloud Shell is used for:
Resource Management
- Create resource groups
- Deploy virtual machines
- Configure storage accounts
- Manage networking
Automation
- Run deployment scripts
- Use ARM templates
- Deploy Bicep files
- Manage infrastructure as code
Monitoring and Troubleshooting
- Check resource status
- View logs
- Restart services
- Update configurations
DevOps Tasks
- Work with Git repositories
- Use Terraform
- Manage Kubernetes (kubectl)
7. Advantages of Azure Cloud Shell
1️⃣ No Installation Required
No need to install:
- Azure CLI
- PowerShell modules
- SDKs
Everything is preinstalled.
2️⃣ Secure and Authenticated
You are automatically logged in using your Azure account.
No need to:
- Store credentials
- Re-enter passwords
3️⃣ Accessible Anywhere
You can access it from:
- Any browser
- Any computer
- Any location
This is useful for:
- Remote IT teams
- Emergency troubleshooting
4️⃣ Persistent File Storage
Files stored in:
clouddrive
are saved in Azure Files.
5️⃣ Supports Bash and PowerShell
You can switch between:
- Bash (Azure CLI)
- PowerShell
8. Limitations of Azure Cloud Shell
For AZ-900, also understand limitations:
- The session times out after inactivity.
- It is not meant for heavy production workloads.
- The compute container is temporary.
- Requires an Azure subscription (for storage).
9. How to Access Azure Cloud Shell
You can open Cloud Shell by:
- Logging into Azure Portal
- Clicking the Cloud Shell icon (top-right)
- Choosing:
- Bash (CLI)
- PowerShell
Or go directly to:
https://shell.azure.com
10. Cloud Shell vs Local Installation
| Feature | Cloud Shell | Local Installation |
|---|---|---|
| Setup Required | No | Yes |
| Runs in Browser | Yes | No |
| Auto Authentication | Yes | No |
| Works Offline | No | Yes |
| Best for | Quick management | Development environments |
11. When to Use Azure Cloud Shell
Cloud Shell is ideal for:
- Quick administrative tasks
- Learning Azure
- Running scripts temporarily
- Managing resources remotely
- Troubleshooting issues
It is not ideal for:
- Large-scale automation pipelines
- Offline environments
- Heavy development workloads
12. Key Exam Points to Remember (Very Important)
For AZ-900, remember these core facts:
- Azure Cloud Shell is browser-based.
- It supports Azure CLI and Azure PowerShell.
- It is pre-authenticated.
- It requires an Azure Storage account for persistent storage.
- The compute environment is temporary.
- Files are stored in Azure Files.
- It can be accessed from Azure Portal or shell.azure.com.
- Used for managing Azure resources from the command line.
13. Simple Explanation for Non-IT Students
Think of Azure Cloud Shell as:
- A ready-made command window inside your browser
- Already connected to your Azure account
- Already containing the tools needed to manage Azure
- Saving your files safely in Azure storage
You open it and start typing commands immediately.
Final Summary
Azure Cloud Shell is a fully managed, browser-based command-line environment used to manage Azure resources using Azure CLI or Azure PowerShell.
It:
- Requires no installation
- Automatically authenticates users
- Uses Azure Storage for file persistence
- Runs in a temporary container
- Is widely used for administration, automation, and deployment
Understanding Azure Cloud Shell is important for the AZ-900 exam because it demonstrates how Azure resources can be managed efficiently using command-line tools without local setup.
