AZ-104 Exam EP 48: Azure Monitor

Introduction

This tutorial provides a comprehensive guide to Azure Monitor, a key component for monitoring resources in Microsoft Azure. Understanding how to effectively utilize Azure Monitor can help you maintain the health and performance of your applications and infrastructure. This guide will walk you through the essential services, capabilities, and tools within Azure Monitor.

Step 1: Understand Azure Monitor Services

Azure Monitor offers a variety of services to ensure your applications and resources are performing optimally.

• Key Services Include:
  • Metrics: Provides real-time data about the performance of your resources.
  • Logs: Collects and analyzes log data from various sources.
  • Alerts: Sends notifications for critical conditions or performance issues.
  • Dashboards: Offers customizable views for visualizing your metrics and logs.

Step 2: Explore Key Capabilities

Familiarize yourself with Azure Monitor's key capabilities to leverage its full potential.

• Data Collection:
  • Azure Monitor can collect data from different sources, such as applications, Azure resources, and on-premises systems.
• Analytics:
  • Utilize Kusto Query Language (KQL) for advanced data analysis and querying.
• Integration:
  • Integrates seamlessly with other Azure services like Azure Log Analytics and Azure Application Insights.

Step 3: Familiarize Yourself with the Monitoring Data Platform

Understanding the monitoring data platform is crucial for efficient data management.

• Components:
  • Data Sources: Identify where your data is coming from (e.g., VMs, databases).
  • Data Ingestion: Learn how Azure Monitor ingests data from these sources.
  • Data Storage: Know where your data is stored for analysis, typically in Azure Log Analytics.

Step 4: Identify Data Types

Azure Monitor supports various data types that are essential for monitoring.

• Metrics: Numerical values that represent the performance of resources.
• Logs: Text-based information that provides detailed activity records.
• Traces: Detailed logs generated by applications, useful for debugging.

Step 5: Utilize Azure Advisor

Azure Advisor is a personalized cloud consultant that helps you follow best practices.

• Recommendations:
  • Receive insights on high availability, security, performance, and cost.
  • Implement changes based on Azure Advisor’s suggestions to optimize your resources.

Step 6: Leverage the Activity Log

The Activity Log provides a history of operations performed on your resources.

• Uses:
  • Audit changes: Track who made changes and when.
  • Monitor compliance: Ensure that changes align with your organization's policies.
• Access:
  • You can view the Activity Log directly from the Azure portal.

Conclusion

Azure Monitor is an essential tool for any Azure administrator, providing vital insights into application performance and resource health. By understanding its services, capabilities, and tools, you can enhance your monitoring practices. Consider exploring additional resources and documentation to deepen your knowledge of Azure Monitor and its applications in your environment.