Microsoft Azure Fundamentals AZ-900: General Security and Network Security Features

Welcome! Getting ready for the AZ-900 exam or just starting your journey into Microsoft Azure’s cloud security landscape? You’re in the right place. With eight years of hands-on Azure security experience—helping teams, mentoring clients, and untangling cloud hiccups—I know that security can seem like a maze. But honestly, once you get the hang of Azure’s security and networking tools—and actually put them to use the right way—they become your safety net. They’ll keep you out of trouble, whether you’re facing a pop quiz from an auditor or tackling those unexpected questions on exam day. So here’s the plan: we’re going to slice through Azure’s security galaxy together, one piece at a time. I’ll share real stories, walk you through hands-on labs, and throw in the kind of tips I wish someone had given me. By the end, you won’t just know what these Azure features do—you’ll actually know when to reach for them, both in the exam and out there in the real, occasionally chaotic, world of cloud.

What’s on Our Security Playlist?

• Introduction: Why Security and Network Security Matter in Azure
• Who’s Actually in Charge of Security? The Shared Responsibility Model Demystified
• Let’s Meet the All-Stars: Azure’s Main Security Features (a.k.a. Your Defensive Line-Up)
• Zero Trust in Azure
• Getting Hands-On with Azure Network Security: The Basics and How-To’s
• Who’s Who in Your Cloud: Identity, Governance, Privacy & Compliance—The Cornerstones
• Protecting Your Data Like a Pro: Encryption and Beyond
• Keeping an Eye on Things: Monitoring, Logging, and SIEM (a.k.a. Your Cloud Security Radar)
• Azure Security Baselines, Blueprints, and Resource Governance
• How This All Looks in Real Life: Azure Security Scenarios You’ll Actually Face
• Roll Up Your Sleeves: Hands-On Labs & Try-It-Now Challenges
• Uh-Oh Moments: Troubleshooting and the Gotchas Everyone Falls Into
• Tuning, Tweaking, and Staying on the Right Side of Compliance
• Vendor-Specific & Azure-Unique Security Features
• Nail That Exam: AZ-900 Study Hacks & Sample Scenarios
• Quick Jargon Buster: Key Security Terms in Plain English
• Wrapping It All Up: Big Takeaways and Where to Go from Here

Introduction: Why Security and Network Security Matter in Azure

When most folks think about cloud security, they picture beefing up defenses and slamming every virtual door shut to keep out the bad guys. But honestly, that’s just the start. Truth is, it’s just as much about protecting your company’s good name, letting your customers sleep soundly at night (not worrying about where their data’s gone), and—my favorite—sailing through compliance audits without breaking a sweat or losing any hair. Azure’s always changing—blink and you’ll miss a new security feature! But I can tell you from experience, folks who take the time to stay updated and nail the basics save themselves from huge headaches, unexpected bills, and those long ‘oh no’ nights when something goes wrong. Here’s a little secret—the stuff you’re studying for the AZ-900 isn’t just for the test. These are the building blocks that keep actual Azure setups locked down and on the right side of compliance every single day.

Who’s Actually in Charge of Security? The Shared Responsibility Model Demystified

Confusion about “who owns what” in cloud security is common, especially in hybrid or complex deployments. Microsoft’s shared responsibility model clarifies this:

• Microsoft’s Responsibility (Bottom Layer): Secures physical infrastructure, data centers, and underlying network/hardware.
• Customer Responsibility (Top Layer): Manages data, identities, endpoints, and access policies.
• Shared Responsibility (Middle Layer): Varies by service type (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS).

Basically, the more hands-on you go (like with IaaS), the more you’ve got to handle yourself. When you move up to SaaS, Microsoft does most of the heavy lifting—except for your own data and user access!

Exam tip: Know which layer is responsible for what. If you have a mix of cloud and on-premises (or even throw in another cloud provider), don’t forget—your to-do list just got longer. You’re now juggling security across all those places, not just Azure.

Gray Areas in Practice: For managed Kubernetes, serverless, or hybrid cloud, always clarify operational hand-offs. If in doubt, Microsoft’s documentation and service agreements specify the responsibility boundary.

Let’s Meet the All-Stars: Azure’s Main Security Features (a.k.a. Your Defensive Line-Up)

Okay, let me give you my go-to rundown on the most important Azure security tools—plain English, with everyday examples and those small, lifesaving setup tricks that'll spare you from rookie errors.

Microsoft Defender for Cloud (and if you still call it Azure Security Center sometimes, you’re definitely not alone—old habits, huh?)

• Purpose: Central dashboard for security posture management and threat protection across Azure, hybrid, and multi-cloud environments.
• Here’s what stands out for me:
• Security Score: Think of this like your environment’s security report card—plus, it nudges you on which homework to tackle first.
• Regulatory Compliance Dashboard: Maps your setup against industry standards like PCI or HIPAA, so you always have a handle on what’s covered (or not!).
• Just-in-Time VM Access: Opens up VM management ports only when you actually need them—makes it much harder for the bad guys to knock on the wrong doors.
• Workflow Automation: Set it up once, and let Azure handle some of those tedious routine security tasks or alerts for you.
• Getting Started: Defender for Cloud is enabled by default. Assign “Security Reader” or “Contributor.” Review “Recommendations” and Security Score regularly.
• Troubleshooting: If recommendations don’t update, check resource onboarding and agent health. Use the “Regulatory Compliance” blade for compliance mapping.

Microsoft Sentinel (and extra credit if you still slip up and call it Azure Sentinel—happens to the best of us!)

• Purpose: SIEM and SOAR platform for collecting, analyzing, and automating security event responses.
• Here’s what stands out for me:
• Data Connectors: Plug in logs from Azure, your own data center, or even non-Microsoft services—Sentinel isn’t picky.
• Analytics Rules: These little detectives spot weird stuff, like someone hammering away at passwords or trying to grab permissions they shouldn’t have.
• Automated Playbooks: Set up once, and suddenly you have an army of bots that can isolate a VM, ping your team, or whatever else you want when something shady pops up.
• Real-World Example: Set up a connector for Azure AD logs, create an alert rule for multiple failed logins, and automate disabling the user account if triggered.
• Troubleshooting: If logs are missing, check agent configuration and data connector status. Use built-in “Workbook” dashboards for quick insights.

Azure Key Vault—think of this as your cloud’s super-fortified safety deposit box, where all your passwords, keys, and secret stuff can hunker down away from prying eyes.

• Purpose: Secure storage and management for secrets, certificates, and encryption keys.
• Integration: Supports native integration with managed identities and SDKs. Apps can access secrets without storing credentials.
• Example: Store a database password and grant your VM’s managed identity access to retrieve it.
• Secret Rotation & Auditing: Automate secret rotation using Azure Automation or Logic Apps and monitor access logs for unusual requests.
• Troubleshooting: If access fails, verify Key Vault access policies or role assignments, and ensure your app’s managed identity is enabled.

Azure DDoS Protection—look, nobody wants their server knocked over by a flood of bot traffic. This is your shield when internet trolls try to drown your app in junk requests.

• DDoS Basic: Always-on platform-level protection for Azure infrastructure; does not protect your individual workloads directly.
• DDoS Standard: Paid, resource-level protection with detailed mitigation reports, cost protection, and attack analytics. You’ll hook DDoS Standard up to the specific VNet you want to protect, and it buddies up with Defender for Cloud to give you real-time alerts and help you bounce back if something goes wrong.
• Setup Tips: Enable Standard on mission-critical VNets (e.g., high-traffic web apps). And after an incident, be sure to peek at those mitigation reports. They’re full of clues to tighten things up next time.

Azure Firewall

• Purpose: Managed, stateful firewall as a service for traffic filtering across VNets and subnets.
• Deployment Note: Must be deployed in a subnet named AzureFirewallSubnet.
• Features: Application, network, and NAT rule collections; threat intelligence integration; logging to Log Analytics.
• Troubleshooting: If traffic is blocked, check rule priority/order, confirm UDRs (User-Defined Routes) target the firewall, and review logs for drops.

Azure Bastion

• Purpose: Provides secure RDP/SSH access to VMs via the Azure portal—no public IPs needed.
• Limitations: Does not support all advanced RDP/SSH features (e.g., file transfer in all scenarios).
• Tip: NSGs must allow RDP/SSH from the Bastion subnet to your VMs (not from the public internet).

Managed Identities for Azure Resources

• Purpose: Provide Azure services (VMs, Functions, Web Apps) with automatically managed identities for secure resource access—no credentials needed.
• Types: System-assigned (tied to resource), user-assigned (shared between resources).
• Example: VM accesses Key Vault using its managed identity rather than storing secrets in code.
• Implementation: Enable via Azure Portal or CLI when creating or updating the resource. Just remember—set the right Key Vault access policies for your managed identity, or your app will be locked outside, nose pressed against the glass.

Zero Trust in Azure

Let’s talk Zero Trust. It’s the new way of thinking—trust nothing by default, check everything, and never just let someone waltz in because they’re on the right network. In the Azure world, Zero Trust shows up as strong identity checks, only giving permissions folks actually need, keeping resources separated so bad guys can’t move sideways, and keeping a watchful eye on everything, all the time.

• Identity Verification: Enforce strong authentication (MFA, Conditional Access, Identity Protection).
• Least Privilege: Apply RBAC so users and services only get the permissions they need.
• Network Segmentation: Use NSGs, Azure Firewall, and isolated VNets/subnets to restrict lateral movement.
• Continuous Monitoring: Monitor and respond to threats in real time using Defender for Cloud and Sentinel.

Example Zero Trust Policy: Require MFA for all admin access, block legacy authentication, segment production and development resources into separate VNets with restricted access, and use Private Endpoints for all PaaS services.

Getting Hands-On with Azure Network Security: The Basics and How-To’s

So, here’s the deal: Azure network security basically boils down to watching and filtering who (or what) is allowed to knock on your door, and making sure only the right folks get let inside. Let me walk you through how to set up networks that are tough for attackers, easy to manage, and crystal clear to audit:

Network Security Groups—or NSGs—are basically the club bouncers for your network: they check IDs at the door, let in the folks on the list, and turn away anyone who doesn’t belong.

• Purpose: Control inbound/outbound traffic to subnets and individual NICs via prioritized rules (lowest number = highest priority). Don’t forget: Azure throws in some default rules for free. If you want to change the traffic flow, your custom rules have to take priority.
• Best Practices: Use application security groups (ASGs) for grouping workloads, enable NSG flow logs for diagnostics, and test rules in non-prod first.
• Troubleshooting: Use “Effective Security Rules” in the portal to visualize applied NSG rules and identify conflicts.

Perimeter Security – Firewalls, DMZs, Bastion: Your Cloud Castles and Drawbridges

• Azure Firewall: Enforce centralized, scalable rules and log all allowed/denied traffic.
• DMZ Subnets: Place public-facing services in DMZs to minimize exposure if breached.
• Bastion: Limit management port exposure; no need for jump hosts or public IPs.

VPN Gateway vs. ExpressRoute

Exam tip: ExpressRoute is for compliance or high-throughput needs, but always remember: add a VPN if you require encryption on ExpressRoute.

Service Endpoints vs. Private Endpoints

• Service Endpoints: Extend your VNet identity to Azure PaaS (e.g., Storage, SQL). Traffic leaves the VNet but stays on the Azure backbone—not the public internet.
• Private Endpoints: Assign a private IP from your VNet to an Azure PaaS service. All traffic remains inside your VNet—no public exposure. Strongest isolation and access control.
• Use Case: Use Private Endpoints when strict regulatory or network segmentation is required; fall back to Service Endpoints for simpler scenarios.

Network Segmentation Best Practices

• Pro move: Separate out your subnets—keep web, app, and data on their own turf so you can lock things down tight.
• Combine NSGs and ASGs, and you’ve got laser-precise control over who can talk to whom.
• Apply route tables to steer traffic through Azure Firewall or NVA appliances.
• Always switch on things like NSG flow logs and Traffic Analytics—when someone asks, ‘who opened this door?’, you’ll have receipts.

Who’s Who in Your Cloud: Identity, Governance, Privacy & Compliance—The Cornerstones

Identity is your new perimeter in the cloud. Good governance and compliance are like double-checking your work—without them, you might be secure, but you won’t be ready when the auditors come calling or when something breaks unexpectedly.

Azure Active Directory (Azure AD)—Your cloud’s rolodex and gatekeeper

• Central identity provider for Azure, Microsoft 365, and thousands of SaaS apps.
• Hybrid Integration: Synchronize on-premises identities via Azure AD Connect.
• Best Practice: Regularly review and remove unused accounts and apply access reviews for privileged roles.

Role-Based Access Control—RBAC for short—is all about making sure folks can only do what they’re supposed to do, and nothing extra.

• Assign granular permissions at management group, subscription, resource group, or resource level.
• Custom Roles: Create if built-in roles don’t meet your needs, but document and audit them carefully.
• Troubleshooting: Use “Access Control (IAM)” blade to see effective permissions and diagnose access issues.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) & Conditional Access—Adding Extra Locks and Smarter Doors

• MFA: Baseline protection—enforce for all users, required for admins and privileged roles as a minimum.
• Conditional Access: Set policies based on user, group, device, location, or risk level. Example: block access from outside corporate network unless MFA is satisfied.
• Troubleshooting: Use sign-in logs to diagnose failed MFA or conditional access issues.

Privileged Identity Management (PIM) — JIT for admins and a trail for the auditors

• Purpose: Just-in-time elevation and approval workflow for privileged roles, with auditing.
• Implementation: Enable PIM for subscriptions and Azure AD roles; require approval and MFA for activation.

Azure Policy

• Governance tool to audit and enforce resource configurations, tagging, allowed locations, and compliance with standards.
• Policy Effects: Can “audit,” “deny,” “append,” “deployIfNotExists,” etc. Not all policies are enforceable; some only audit.
• Initiatives: Group multiple policies for unified compliance reporting and remediation.
• Troubleshooting: Use compliance dashboard to find and remediate non-compliant resources.

Resource Locks

• Purpose: Prevent accidental deletion or modification of critical resources (ReadOnly or Delete locks).
• Best Practice: Apply to production VNets, Key Vaults, and management resources. Remove with caution and audit changes.

Protecting Your Data Like a Pro: Encryption and Beyond

• Encryption at Rest: Azure Storage, SQL, and most services encrypt data by default. Verify settings, especially for legacy or imported resources.
• Customer-Managed Keys (CMK): Store your own encryption keys in Key Vault for added control (e.g., Storage, SQL, VMs).
• Transparent Data Encryption (TDE): Protects SQL databases and managed instances automatically.
• Azure Disk Encryption: Encrypt VM disks using BitLocker (Windows) or DM-Crypt (Linux).
• Double Encryption: For highly sensitive data, combine platform-managed and customer-managed keys.
• Encryption in Transit: Use TLS/SSL everywhere, including ExpressRoute with VPN overlay if encryption is needed on private circuits.
• Shared Access Signatures (SAS): Grant time-limited, granular access to storage resources. Use with care and monitor usage.

Keeping an Eye on Things: Monitoring, Logging, and SIEM (a.k.a. Your Cloud Security Radar)

• Azure Monitor: Aggregates metrics/logs from resources. Definitely set up alerts for weird stuff—spiking CPU, repeated failed logins, you name it. The sooner you spot trouble, the less pain later.
• Activity Logs: Track control-plane actions (resource creation, deletion, configuration changes).
• Diagnostic Logs: Capture data-plane operations (e.g., read/write access to storage) and send to Log Analytics, Event Hubs, or Storage Accounts for retention and analysis.
• Log Analytics: Central workspace for querying, analyzing, and visualizing logs. For extra muscle, hook Log Analytics into Microsoft Sentinel—now you’ve got a full-blown threat detection and response setup (aka SIEM/SOAR if you like acronyms).
• Log Retention & Costs: Retention past 90 days may incur costs; plan retention based on compliance needs and export to storage for long-term retention if needed.
• SIEM Integration: Use built-in connectors in Sentinel or export logs for integration with third-party SIEMs (Splunk, QRadar, etc.).

Azure Security Baselines, Blueprints, and Resource Governance

• Security Baselines: Microsoft provides baseline templates for common services—apply via Azure Policy to ensure minimum security standards.
• Azure Blueprints: Package policies, role assignments, ARM templates, and resource groups for repeatable, compliant deployments—great for regulated industries.
• Compliance Manager: Track regulatory requirements, assign controls, and download audit reports from the Service Trust Portal.
• Azure Arc: Extend governance and security policies to on-premises, hybrid, and multi-cloud resources—unify management and compliance.

How This All Looks in Real Life: Azure Security Scenarios You’ll Actually Face

Scenario 1: Securing a Healthcare Web App

• Deploy app in isolated subnet with NSG restricting inbound to HTTPS only.
• Store secrets in Key Vault, accessed by managed identity.
• Enable Defender for Cloud with regulatory compliance monitoring (HIPAA, GDPR).
• Apply Private Endpoint to connect securely to Azure SQL.
• Apply resource locks and enable DDoS Standard on public-facing VNet.
• Monitor logs in Sentinel for anomalous activity.

Scenario 2: Enabling Secure Remote Administration

• Use Azure Bastion for admin access (no public IPs on VMs).
• NSGs allow management ports only from Bastion subnet.
• Enable PIM for admin roles and enforce MFA via Conditional Access.
• Monitor sign-in and activity logs for suspicious admin activity.

Scenario 3: Regulated Financial Services Environment

• Use ExpressRoute with VPN overlay for encrypted private connectivity.
• Apply Azure Policy initiatives to enforce encryption, allowed locations, and tagging.
• Automate compliance reporting with Compliance Manager and export logs via Sentinel.

Roll Up Your Sleeves: Hands-On Labs & Try-It-Now Challenges

Lab 1: Build a Zero Trust Microsegmented Network

1. Create a VNet with separate subnets for web, app, and data tiers.
2. Apply NSGs to allow only required traffic (e.g., web-to-app on port 443, app-to-data on port 1433).
3. Deploy Azure Firewall in AzureFirewallSubnet and route all outbound traffic through it.
4. Enable Bastion for management access—no public IPs on VMs.

Lab 2: Enable and Use Managed Identity

1. Deploy a VM and enable system-assigned managed identity.
2. Create a Key Vault, add a secret, and assign access policy for the VM’s managed identity.
3. On the VM, use Azure CLI or PowerShell to fetch the secret without credentials.

Lab 3: Apply Azure Policy and Remediate Non-Compliance

1. Create a policy definition (e.g., restrict resource deployment to a specific region).
2. Assign to a subscription or resource group, then attempt to deploy a resource outside the allowed region—observe the denial.
3. Remediate existing non-compliant resources via the portal.

Lab 4: Secure Azure Storage with Private Endpoint

1. Create a storage account.
2. Configure a Private Endpoint to the storage account within your VNet.
3. Test access from a VM inside the VNet (should succeed) and from outside (should fail).

Lab 5: Investigate and Respond to Security Alert in Sentinel

1. Connect Azure AD logs to Sentinel.
2. Simulate multiple failed logins.
3. Observe generated alerts, investigate using the Incident pane, and create an automated playbook to disable compromised accounts.

Uh-Oh Moments: Troubleshooting and the Gotchas Everyone Falls Into

• For DDoS Standard, make sure alerts integrate with Defender for Cloud for rapid response.
• Regularly test backup/restore procedures for critical resources.

Tuning, Tweaking, and Staying on the Right Side of Compliance

• Optimize Rule Sets: Minimize NSG and firewall rules for performance—remove unused rules, prioritize most restrictive first.
• Automate Compliance: Use Azure Policy and Blueprints to enforce tagging, encryption, and approved images. Remediate non-compliance automatically where possible.
• Case Study: A retail firm automated PCI-DSS baseline deployment with Blueprints; policy initiatives flagged non-compliant resources, and remediation tasks fixed issues overnight—passing audit on the first attempt.
• Balance Security and Throughput: Test firewall and DDoS Standard impact on high-traffic workloads; scale accordingly and monitor with Network Watcher.
• Log Retention: Set retention policies in Log Analytics, archive long-term logs to Storage Accounts for compliance, and monitor costs.
• Azure Arc: Use for managing compliance and security posture across on-premises and multiple clouds, applying Azure Policy everywhere.

Vendor-Specific & Azure-Unique Security Features

• Global Compliance Portfolio: Azure covers more than 90 compliance certifications. Download reports from the Service Trust Portal and use Compliance Manager to track your own compliance status.
• Confidential Computing: Use hardware-based Trusted Execution Environments (TEEs) to protect data in use—unique to select Azure services.
• Integrated Security Tooling: Microsoft Defender for Cloud, Sentinel, Policy, and Monitor are natively integrated, providing a unified security and compliance ecosystem.
• Microsoft Purview: Classify and protect sensitive data across Azure, Microsoft 365, and third-party clouds. Automate data discovery and governance.
• Rapid Innovation: Monitor Azure updates and security baselines monthly—features like Private Endpoints and PIM evolve rapidly, and keeping current means stronger security and easier audits.

Nail That Exam: AZ-900 Study Hacks & Sample Scenarios

The AZ-900 focuses on fundamental concepts, not deep technical configuration. Here’s how to align your study:

Quick Reference Table: Cloud Security Responsibilities

Exam Pitfalls to Avoid

• Confusing Activity Logs (control-plane) with Diagnostic Logs (data-plane).
• Thinking DDoS Basic protects workloads directly—it only covers Azure’s backbone.
• Assuming Service Endpoints keep traffic inside the VNet—only Private Endpoints do.
• Overlooking the need to enable MFA and Conditional Access for admins.
• Assuming all Azure Policy effects are enforceable (“audit” does not block non-compliance).

Sample Scenario-Based Questions

• You want private, audited access to Azure Storage from your VNet—what feature should you use? (Answer: Private Endpoints)
• You need to enforce MFA only for users signing in from outside your corporate network. What Azure AD feature helps? (Answer: Conditional Access Policy)
• Your team must rotate secrets regularly and avoid storing them in code. Which Azure service helps? (Answer: Azure Key Vault—think of this as your cloud’s super-fortified safety deposit box, where all your passwords, keys, and secret stuff can hunker down away from prying eyes., with Managed Identities)
• A workload requires temporary, just-in-time access to VM management ports. Which feature do you enable? (Answer: Just-in-Time VM Access in Microsoft Defender for Cloud)
• To prevent accidental deletion of a mission-critical storage account, what should you configure? (Answer: Resource Lock with “Delete” permission)
• What Azure tool provides a unified view of security recommendations and compliance against standards like PCI, ISO, and HIPAA? (Answer: Microsoft Defender for Cloud)
• How do you centralize log data and connect it to a SIEM for threat analysis? (Answer: Azure Monitor/Log Analytics, then integrate with Microsoft Sentinel or export to third-party SIEM)
• You must isolate management traffic and only allow VM access via a browser. What do you deploy? (Answer: Azure Bastion)
• To enforce deployment only in a specific Azure region, what governance tool do you use? (Answer: Azure Policy)
• What model requires you to secure the guest OS and installed applications yourself? (Answer: IaaS/Virtual Machines)

Study Tips

• Focus on “what is it” and “when to use it” for each security feature.
• Use hands-on labs to reinforce concepts—muscle memory beats rote memorization.
• Review Microsoft’s cloud adoption and security documentation summary sections.
• Practice reading scenario questions—look for the “best fit” answer, not just technically possible options.
• Review the “Skills Measured” table in the AZ-900 syllabus and map each skill to the corresponding Azure service and feature.
• Stay curious—Azure is always evolving!

Quick Jargon Buster: Key Security Terms in Plain English

• Microsoft Defender for Cloud: Cloud-native security posture management and threat protection platform.
• Microsoft Sentinel: SIEM/SOAR platform for threat detection, investigation, and automated response.
• Key Vault: Secure secrets and keys management service.
• Bastion: Secure browser-based VM access without public IPs.
• NSG (Network Security Group): Traffic filtering rules applied at subnet/NIC level.
• RBAC (Role-Based Access Control): Granular permission assignments.
• MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication): Multiple proofs of identity during login.
• ExpressRoute: Private, dedicated connectivity to Azure.
• SIEM: Security information and event management system.
• SOAR: Security orchestration, automation, and response.
• PIM (Privileged Identity Management): Just-in-time privileged access management.
• ASG (Application Security Group): Tag-based NSG management for VM groups.
• CMK (Customer Managed Key): Customer-provided encryption key stored in Key Vault.
• TDE (Transparent Data Encryption): Automatic encryption for SQL databases.
• BYOK (Bring Your Own Key): Customer supplies their own encryption keys.
• Private Endpoint: Private IP address for secure Azure PaaS service access.
• Blueprint: Template for repeatable, compliant Azure deployments.
• Compliance Manager: Tool for tracking and reporting on compliance status.
• Zero Trust: Security model based on “never trust, always verify.”

Wrapping It All Up: Big Takeaways and Where to Go from Here

• Master the shared responsibility model and map your duties in every service scenario.
• Understand what each core Azure security feature does, and when to use it—Microsoft Defender for Cloud, Key Vault, Sentinel, NSGs, RBAC, and more.
• Practice configuring VNets, NSGs, managed identities, Private Endpoints, and Policy enforcement.
• Adopt a Zero Trust mindset—assume breach, verify everything, and monitor continuously.
• Automate compliance and governance with Policy, Blueprints, and Compliance Manager.
• Remember: hands-on beats theory. Try the labs, experiment, and learn from mistakes.
• Review the latest Azure documentation and updates monthly—security is a moving target.
• Use the exam tips, sample questions, and glossary to focus your AZ-900 study sessions.

Azure security is a journey, not a checkbox. By mastering these fundamentals, you’ll be prepared for the AZ-900—and even more importantly, you’ll be ready to secure real-world cloud environments. Stay curious, keep practicing, and don’t hesitate to ask questions—every security pro started where you are now. Good luck, and see you in the cloud!