Tips for Azure Enthusiast

Question

Hi Team,

I am currently increasing my knowledge in Azure and aiming for Solution Architect. However, I love to try things out by experimenting. Is there any plan in Azure where people can even experiment on PaaS related offerings similar to what we have for VMs (spot discounts etc.). What good an Architect is if he/she don't have hands-on experiment. How will the client even trust that architect?

Are there any recommendations or way out?

I am talking about Event Hub, Stream Analytics and maybe sometime later AI Service offerings by Azure.

I created a Stream Analytics cluster just for one day thinking to check its features out and got a bill of ~79$ where in I didn't even actually used any of its features.

Answer 1

Consider platforms such as Microsoft Learn, which frequently offer either sandboxes or recorded demos illustrating these technologies.

Btw. note that architecture focuses on high-level design and strategic decision-making, so it is distinct from implementation. Given the breadth of Azure offerings, it would be practically impossible for architects to have hands-on experience with every technology they are using in their solutions.

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hth

Marcin

Answer 2

Hi @Devesh ,

Welcome to Microsoft Q&A Platform. Thank you for reaching out & hope you are doing well.

Azure offers several options for experimenting with its services, including PaaS offerings like Event Hub and Stream Analytics. While there are no specific spot discounts for these services similar to VMs, you can still manage costs effectively through various strategies.

1. Azure Free Account: You can start with an Azure free account, which provides access to a limited number of services for free for 12 months. This includes some PaaS offerings, allowing you to experiment without incurring costs.
2. Try Azure Cosmos DB for Free: Although not directly related to Event Hub or Stream Analytics, Azure Cosmos DB offers a free trial that allows you to experiment with its features without signing up for a paid account. This can give you a feel for Azure's PaaS capabilities.
3. Azure Dev/Test Offers: If you have a Visual Studio subscription, you can benefit from Azure dev/test offers that provide monthly credits and discounted rates for various Azure services, which can help you experiment with PaaS offerings at a lower cost.
4. Monitoring and Alerts: Utilize Azure's cost management tools to set budgets and alerts to avoid unexpected charges when experimenting with services. This can help you track your spending and ensure you stay within your budget.

By leveraging these options, you can gain hands-on experience with Azure services while managing costs effectively.

Reference Links below

• Plan to manage Azure costs
• Recommendations for getting the best rates from providers
• Quick Tips to Optimize Virtual Machines on Azure

Q) Stream Analytics cluster just for one day thinking to check its features out and got a bill of ~79$ wherein I didn't even actually used any of its features.

A) The ~$79 charge likely came from the Stream Analytics cluster running (allocated streaming units) even without active usage; ensure resources are stopped to avoid such charges.

Feel free to reach out if you have any further questions or need additional information—I’m happy to assist!

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