The AZ-204: Developing Solutions for Microsoft Azure course is designed for developers who want to gain expertise in designing, building, and maintaining cloud applications and services on Azure. This course provides hands-on experience with Azure compute, storage, security, API integration, and application monitoring. It aligns fully with the AZ-204 certification exam objectives, helping learners build practical development skills and prepare for industry-recognized Azure Developer Associate certification.

This course equips participants with the core skills needed to develop end-to-end cloud solutions using Microsoft Azure. Learners explore Azure App Services, serverless computing, storage options, secure authentication, API development, and application integration. Through real-world scenarios and lab exercises, the course emphasizes building scalable, resilient, and high-performance applications. Whether you're new to Azure or expanding your cloud development expertise, AZ-204 provides the technical depth required to excel as an Azure developer.

Module 1: Develop Azure Compute Solutions

Topics Covered:

• Implement IaaS solutions (VMs)
• Build Azure App Service Web Apps
• Configure deployment slots & scaling
• Develop Azure Functions (serverless)
• Implement triggers and bindings
• Build containerized applications using Azure Container Apps & AKS

Hands-On Labs:

• Create and deploy an Azure App Service Web App
• Build and test an Azure Function with HTTP and Timer triggers
• Deploy a container to Azure Container Apps
• Configure deployment slots and perform a swap
• Scale an application based on demand

Module 2: Develop for Azure Storage

Topics Covered:

• Work with Azure Blob Storage
• Data operations using SDKs & REST APIs
• Integrate Cosmos DB (SQL API) in applications
• Implement partitioning, indexing, and consistency models
• Connect and query relational databases (Azure SQL, PostgreSQL)

Hands-On Labs:

• Upload, download, and manage Blobs using Azure SDK
• Build an app that reads/writes data from Azure Cosmos DB
• Configure a container with partition keys and indexing policies
• Connect an app to Azure SQL Database and perform CRUD operations
• Implement shared access signatures (SAS)

Module 3: Implement Azure Security

Topics Covered:

• Implement authentication with Microsoft Identity Platform
• Use OAuth2, OpenID Connect for app security
• Implement Managed Identities
• Secure secrets and keys using Azure Key Vault
• Secure application configuration

Hands-On Labs:

• Integrate Azure AD authentication into a web application
• Retrieve secrets from Azure Key Vault in an app
• Configure and use Managed Identity for secure resource access
• Implement role-based access (RBAC) for application permissions

Module 4: Monitor, Troubleshoot & Optimize Azure Solutions

Topics Covered:

• Integrate Application Insights
• Implement distributed tracing and logging
• Create alerts and dashboards
• Optimize application performance
• Troubleshoot availability and runtime issues

Hands-On Labs:

• Add Application Insights telemetry to an application
• Track custom events and performance metrics
• Set up log queries in Log Analytics
• Configure alerts based on performance thresholds
• Diagnose and resolve a performance bottleneck

Module 5: Connect to & Consume Azure Services and Third-Party Services

Topics Covered:

• Build event-driven solutions (Event Grid, Event Hubs)
• Implement message-based architecture with Service Bus
• Create and consume APIs
• Use Azure API Management (APIM)
• Implement Logic Apps for workflow automation

Hands-On Labs:

• Publish and subscribe to Event Grid events
• Build a solution using Azure Service Bus queues
• Deploy an API and protect it using API Management policies
• Integrate a Logic App with Azure Functions and external connectors
• Build a message processing pipeline

Module 6: Deploy and Manage Azure Solutions

Topics Covered:

• Build CI/CD pipelines with Azure DevOps & GitHub Actions
• Implement Infrastructure as Code (ARM templates, Bicep)
• Manage configurations and environments
• Automate deployments
• Monitor application health

Hands-On Labs:

• Build a CI/CD pipeline for an Azure App Service
• Deploy resources using ARM templates or Bicep
• Store and manage app configuration in App Configuration service
• Automate deployment of an Azure Function using GitHub Actions
• Implement monitoring and health checks after deployment