The AZ-700 certification, titled Designing and Implementing Microsoft Azure Networking Solutions, stands as one of the most esteemed credentials within the Azure ecosystem. As enterprises across diverse sectors increasingly migrate to Azure cloud platforms to streamline their IT infrastructure, the demand for adept professionals capable of architecting and managing sophisticated Azure networking environments has soared. Earning the AZ-700 certification validates your expertise in planning, deploying, and troubleshooting Azure network architectures, empowering you to meet complex organizational needs.

For those eager to excel in this certification, engaging in practical, hands-on labs is indispensable. The AZ-700 exam transcends theoretical knowledge; it demands profound familiarity with orchestrating storage, computing, and networking resources on Azure. Hands-on labs simulate real-world cloud environments, allowing aspirants to cultivate the skills required to design resilient, secure, and scalable network solutions. This article delves into an array of meticulously curated hands-on labs tailored for the AZ-700 certification, providing detailed insights into each lab’s objectives and tasks.

Before exploring these practical exercises, let’s briefly understand the essence of the AZ-700 certification and the competencies it aims to build.

Comprehensive Overview of the AZ-700 Certification: Mastering Azure Networking

The AZ-700 certification, designed for network professionals, focuses on enhancing your expertise in managing and constructing robust networking infrastructures within the Azure cloud environment. This certification covers essential topics ranging from core networking principles to advanced configurations for hybrid connectivity, network security, application delivery, and private access solutions.

Professionals who earn the AZ-700 certification are recognized for their ability to optimize the scalability, reliability, and performance of Azure network architectures. As part of this certification, network engineers are tasked with utilizing a range of tools to implement and manage network configurations. These tools include the Azure Portal, Azure CLI, and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) methods such as Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates and Azure Bicep. These skills are critical in streamlining cloud operations, ensuring that enterprise-grade applications perform seamlessly.

Successful candidates of the AZ-700 exam will be proficient in network routing, virtual networking, security policies, load balancing, and private endpoint configurations. These professionals also possess a deep understanding of network protocols, IP address management, DNS configurations, and hybrid networking concepts. Given the interdisciplinary nature of cloud networking, candidates will often collaborate with other teams, including security engineers, application developers, and DevOps professionals, to optimize the network infrastructure.

The path to success in the AZ-700 exam involves not only mastering theoretical knowledge but also engaging in practical, hands-on learning experiences. This will ensure that candidates can implement and troubleshoot real-world Azure networking solutions. Below, we explore some of the most important learning strategies and hands-on labs designed to hone your networking skills in preparation for the AZ-700 certification exam.

Essential Hands-On Labs for Strengthening AZ-700 Networking Skills

To truly master the concepts required for the AZ-700 exam, engaging in practical, hands-on labs is essential. These labs provide a simulated Azure environment where learners can work with real-time configurations, experiment with solutions, and test various networking scenarios. Through interactive labs, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of Azure’s complex networking features, while reinforcing the knowledge required to pass the certification exam.

Industry experts design these labs to offer realistic networking scenarios, providing you with the experience needed to build and manage network solutions in Azure. One of the key advantages of these hands-on labs is that they allow you to practice without the risks associated with working in a live production environment. They offer an excellent opportunity to test various configurations, troubleshoot issues, and refine your skills before facing the exam.

Here are some of the top hands-on labs that will help you solidify your Azure networking expertise and sharpen the skills needed for the AZ-700 certification exam:

Deploying Azure App Services with ARM Templates

One of the most valuable labs for AZ-700 exam preparation focuses on automating the deployment of Azure App Services using ARM templates. This practical exercise helps learners become familiar with the structure and syntax of ARM templates while demonstrating how to deploy Azure services in an automated and scalable way.

In this lab, participants will learn how to register and configure an Azure App Service within the Azure portal. They will also gain hands-on experience in editing and deploying ARM templates, which are crucial for automating resource provisioning and deployment. After deploying the service, participants will check the operational status to ensure everything is functioning correctly.

Mastering this lab is an essential skill for AZ-700 candidates, as it enables you to streamline the deployment of applications and services in Azure. Familiarity with ARM templates not only makes you more proficient in managing Azure resources but also prepares you for automation tasks that are critical in large-scale environments.

Configuring Hybrid Connectivity and VPN Solutions

Hybrid networking is a key area covered in the AZ-700 certification. It involves establishing secure, reliable connections between on-premises data centers and Azure’s virtual networks. To prepare for the exam, candidates must be proficient in configuring various hybrid connectivity solutions, such as site-to-site VPNs, point-to-site (P2S) VPNs, and ExpressRoute.

Hands-on labs focused on hybrid connectivity provide learners with practical experience in configuring and managing VPNs between on-premises infrastructure and Azure. You will learn how to establish secure, encrypted connections between different environments, ensuring seamless data transfer and communication.

These labs will also cover troubleshooting hybrid connectivity issues, which is critical for maintaining the integrity of your network infrastructure. Given that hybrid networks are often deployed in enterprise environments, these skills are indispensable for passing the AZ-700 exam.

Implementing Network Security Solutions

Another crucial component of the AZ-700 certification is network security. Azure provides a variety of tools to secure network communications, such as Network Security Groups (NSGs), Azure Firewall, and Web Application Firewall (WAF). Through hands-on labs, you will learn how to implement these security features to protect network traffic, filter malicious activity, and control access to Azure resources.

In these labs, you will configure NSGs and apply them to different subnets, ensuring that only authorized traffic is allowed into your network. You will also learn how to configure Azure Firewall to protect your Azure Virtual Network (VNet) from external threats, as well as setting up WAF to safeguard web applications.

The ability to design and implement a secure network infrastructure is critical for AZ-700 candidates. Given the increasing number of cyber threats, network security is one of the most important areas of focus for any Azure professional.

Optimizing Load Balancing and Application Delivery

Azure offers several load balancing services, such as the Azure Load Balancer and Azure Application Gateway. These services ensure that traffic is distributed efficiently across your network, optimizing performance and providing redundancy.

Hands-on labs in this area will teach you how to configure and optimize load balancing solutions to improve application performance. You’ll work with both Layer 4 and Layer 7 load balancers, gaining insight into how traffic routing decisions are made based on network and application layers.

Moreover, you will learn how to implement auto-scaling solutions, which can dynamically adjust resources based on demand. This is particularly important for high-availability applications that require constant uptime and minimal latency. By mastering load balancing configurations, you will ensure that applications perform optimally in a cloud environment.

Configuring Private Endpoints and Access Solutions

Private access mechanisms, such as private endpoints, are essential for securely connecting Azure services to your network while preventing exposure to the public internet. Hands-on labs focusing on private endpoint configuration will teach you how to establish secure communication channels for Azure services such as Azure SQL Database, Azure Storage, and Azure App Services.

These labs will guide you through the process of setting up and managing private endpoints, including configuring network interfaces, DNS settings, and firewall rules. Gaining proficiency in private access solutions is crucial for ensuring that sensitive data and applications are isolated from public networks, enhancing security.

Continuous Learning and Resources

Preparing for the AZ-700 certification exam is an ongoing process that requires continuous learning and practice. Alongside the hands-on labs, it is essential to utilize resources like the official Azure documentation, tutorials, and community forums to stay updated on new features and best practices.

Platforms such as ExamLabs provide access to practice tests, mock exams, and expert insights to help you assess your progress and identify areas that need improvement. Using these resources will ensure that you are fully prepared for the exam and equipped to handle complex Azure networking scenarios.

Excelling in the AZ-700 Certification Exam

Achieving the AZ-700 certification is an excellent way to advance your career in cloud networking. By mastering hands-on labs and practical exercises, you will develop the skills needed to manage and optimize Azure networking solutions effectively. With a solid understanding of hybrid connectivity, network security, load balancing, and private access configurations, you will be well-prepared to tackle the AZ-700 exam.

By combining theoretical knowledge with practical experience, leveraging resources such as ExamLabs, and engaging in real-world scenarios, you can confidently navigate the complexities of Azure networking and earn your AZ-700 certification. This certification will not only validate your expertise but also provide you with the skills and knowledge to drive innovation in cloud networking solutions, positioning you as a leader in the rapidly evolving world of cloud technologies.

Mastering Azure Firewall and Private Link Configurations with ARM Templates

As part of preparing for the AZ-700 certification exam, mastering the use of Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates is essential for deploying and managing network resources in Microsoft Azure. One of the critical skills you will need to develop is the ability to configure and deploy Azure Firewall instances, private link services, and private endpoints through ARM templates. These tools ensure that Azure environments are secure, highly available, and able to efficiently handle traffic and access.

ARM templates provide a declarative way to define and deploy Azure resources, allowing you to manage your infrastructure as code. This makes it easier to implement repeatable deployments, automate processes, and reduce the chances of manual errors. In this guide, we’ll explore several hands-on labs that will help you master firewall configurations, private link services, and private endpoints in Azure using ARM templates.

Deploying Azure Firewalls with Multiple Public IPs Using ARM Templates

In this lab, you’ll gain experience in configuring Azure Firewalls with multiple public IP addresses using ARM templates. The deployment of a firewall with multiple public IPs is a crucial step for scenarios where you need to handle complex, public-facing applications that require highly available and redundant security measures.

Through a step-by-step guide, you’ll first learn how to register the necessary resources in the Azure portal, followed by an in-depth analysis of the ARM template structure. You’ll examine how the template specifies the configuration of the firewall, including the assignment of public IP addresses. After deploying the firewall, you’ll perform post-deployment validation to ensure that the firewall is functioning as expected.

By completing this exercise, you will be well-prepared to handle complex scenarios where public IP addresses are essential for securing Azure resources. You will also understand the importance of redundancy and availability in protecting applications that are exposed to the public internet. These skills are vital for configuring and securing applications and services in a cloud environment, making this lab an invaluable part of your Azure networking learning journey.

Implementing Private Link Services via ARM Templates

Private Link services provide secure, private access to Azure resources, ensuring that traffic between virtual networks and Azure services remains isolated from the public internet. This module is designed to teach you how to deploy and configure private link services using ARM templates, making it easier to establish secure, private connections to resources residing behind Azure Load Balancers.

The lab guides you through the entire process, starting with the registration of required resources and analyzing the ARM template’s structure. You will then deploy the private link service using the template and configure the necessary access controls to ensure that resources are only accessible through private connections. The lab concludes with a test to ensure that the configuration works as expected and that access is only granted to authorized virtual machines within the Azure environment.

This practical experience is essential for network professionals preparing for the AZ-700 certification, as private link services are often used in enterprise environments to secure critical workloads. By understanding how to deploy these services and configure them for private connectivity, you will be equipped with the knowledge to implement secure cloud architectures in Azure. This skill is particularly important for applications that handle sensitive data and require stringent security policies.

Building High Availability with Azure Firewall Using ARM Templates

Ensuring high availability and fault tolerance is one of the primary goals when configuring network security services in Azure. In this lab, you’ll learn how to deploy an Azure Firewall with availability zone support, which ensures that the firewall remains operational even in the event of a failure in one of Azure’s data centers.

You will start by examining the ARM template that has been designed to enable redundancy across Availability Zones. The template will allow you to deploy the firewall across multiple zones, ensuring that there is no single point of failure in your network security infrastructure. After deploying the firewall, you will validate its availability by simulating potential failure scenarios and confirming that the firewall continues to function seamlessly across the different zones.

This hands-on lab is a valuable experience for AZ-700 exam candidates, as it provides the necessary skills to design resilient and highly available network security solutions. High availability is critical for cloud-based architectures, especially when handling enterprise workloads or mission-critical applications. Learning how to architect such solutions using ARM templates will give you an edge in the exam and prepare you to design robust network security infrastructures in real-world Azure environments.

Provisioning Private Endpoints with ARM Templates

Private endpoints are essential for securing connections to Azure services by providing private IP connectivity, thereby avoiding the risks associated with exposing services to the public internet. This lab focuses on provisioning private endpoints to securely connect to Azure services like Azure SQL Database, ensuring that your network infrastructure remains isolated and protected from external threats.

In this exercise, you will work with ARM templates to provision private endpoints that connect to a database hosted in Azure. You will learn how to configure the network interface and DNS settings to ensure that the connection remains private, and that the database can be accessed securely from within a virtual network. Additionally, you will explore how to configure network security groups (NSGs) to control access to the private endpoint, ensuring that only authorized users can connect to the service.

This exercise is a critical component of preparing for the AZ-700 certification, as private endpoints are commonly used in enterprise scenarios to secure access to services that handle sensitive information. Understanding how to implement private connectivity to Azure resources will enable you to create secure, isolated environments for mission-critical applications, enhancing the overall security posture of the cloud infrastructure.

Best Practices for Configuring Network Security Solutions Using ARM Templates

ARM templates provide a robust mechanism for managing network security solutions in Azure. As you prepare for the AZ-700 certification, it is essential to understand the best practices for creating and managing secure network configurations. Here are a few key principles to follow when working with ARM templates for network security:

1. Use Modularity in ARM Templates: Create modular templates that are reusable across different scenarios. This will save time and reduce errors, as you can reference the same configuration across multiple projects.

2. Version Control: Always use version control for your ARM templates to keep track of changes and ensure consistency across different environments. This is especially important when collaborating with teams or working on large-scale projects.

3. Automation: Leverage the power of automation by integrating ARM templates with Azure DevOps or other CI/CD pipelines. Automating the deployment of network security solutions ensures that your configurations are deployed consistently and reliably.

4. Environment Isolation: Use separate environments (such as development, staging, and production) to test your ARM templates before deploying them to production. This helps minimize risks and ensures that configurations work as expected before they affect live workloads.

5. Security First: Always follow Azure security best practices when creating ARM templates. For instance, use Azure Key Vault for managing secrets and credentials, and ensure that your templates adhere to the principle of least privilege to restrict access to network resources.

6. Documentation: Document your ARM templates thoroughly to ensure that they are easily understood and maintained by other team members. This is particularly important when working in larger teams or when collaborating with other departments.

Mastering Azure Networking with ARM Templates

Mastering the deployment of network security solutions such as Azure Firewall, private link services, and private endpoints using ARM templates is an essential skill for anyone pursuing the AZ-700 certification. By gaining hands-on experience in configuring and managing these resources, you will develop the practical knowledge required to design secure, highly available, and resilient network infrastructures in Azure.

Through these immersive labs, you will learn to tackle real-world networking challenges and implement best practices for cloud security. By using ARM templates to automate and manage deployments, you will ensure that your Azure resources are deployed efficiently and securely. The skills you gain from these labs will not only help you pass the AZ-700 exam but will also prepare you to design and manage network solutions for enterprises utilizing Azure’s advanced networking services.

Mastering Azure Network Solutions Using ARM Templates

Azure provides a suite of tools that simplify the design, deployment, and management of network infrastructures for cloud environments. To ensure that your cloud applications are scalable, secure, and highly available, it’s crucial to understand how to use Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates. ARM templates enable you to automate the deployment of various networking resources in a declarative manner, ensuring that network configurations are consistent, repeatable, and efficient. In this guide, we’ll explore several hands-on labs that focus on deploying and configuring critical Azure networking solutions using ARM templates.

Deploying Azure Front Door for Global Traffic Management

Azure Front Door is a robust, scalable entry point for managing and securing global web applications. It provides features such as global load balancing, SSL offloading, and Web Application Firewall (WAF) integration to optimize the delivery of web traffic across various regions. In this lab, you will learn how to deploy Azure Front Door using ARM templates to efficiently manage traffic for global web applications.

The first step in the process is to understand the configuration parameters required for deploying Front Door using ARM templates. You’ll focus on configuring routing rules, setting up custom domains, enforcing SSL policies, and enabling global load balancing to distribute traffic across multiple backend pools. Once deployed, you will validate the setup by testing various traffic routes and ensuring that requests are directed to the appropriate region based on predefined rules. Additionally, you will configure SSL certificates and policies to secure data in transit and enhance application security.

By mastering the deployment of Azure Front Door with ARM templates, you’ll gain hands-on experience in optimizing traffic flow for global applications, improving user experiences by ensuring low latency and high availability. These skills are critical for network professionals tasked with managing enterprise-grade cloud applications in Azure, particularly for businesses that require global reach and security.

Configuring Internal Load Balancers for Virtual Machines Traffic Distribution

Internal Load Balancers (ILBs) are used to distribute traffic among virtual machines (VMs) within a private network. In this lab, you will learn how to deploy ILBs to efficiently distribute network traffic across multiple VMs. The lab will guide you through creating virtual networks, deploying load balancers, setting up NAT gateways, and configuring IIS on the virtual machines.

Once the initial setup is complete, you will deploy the ILB and configure it to distribute traffic evenly among your VMs. You will also learn how to configure health probes, which are essential for ensuring that traffic is only routed to healthy VMs. This process will enhance your understanding of how Azure’s internal load balancing works, and how to scale applications and services running within a private cloud.

This hands-on lab is particularly beneficial for those preparing for the AZ-700 certification, as it demonstrates how to architect internal load balancing solutions for applications hosted on virtual machines. You will gain practical knowledge of how Azure’s internal load balancers function and their role in creating highly available, fault-tolerant architectures.

Crafting Traffic Manager Profiles Using ARM Templates

Azure Traffic Manager is a DNS-based global traffic distribution solution that helps direct traffic to the most appropriate endpoints based on geographic location, performance, or other customizable criteria. This lab will walk you through the process of creating Traffic Manager profiles using ARM templates.

You will begin by registering multiple endpoints with Traffic Manager, which could include Azure App Services, virtual machines, or even external endpoints. Once the endpoints are registered, you will define traffic routing methods such as Performance, Priority, or Geographic. Each routing method allows you to optimize user experiences by directing them to the nearest or fastest available endpoint. You will also learn how to test traffic routing effectiveness by monitoring performance metrics and analyzing how traffic flows across various endpoints.

This lab is an essential exercise for mastering Azure Traffic Manager, which is often used for load balancing across regions and for disaster recovery scenarios. Through this exercise, you will gain insight into how to create scalable, fault-tolerant, and optimized network solutions that ensure consistent user experiences, no matter where your users are located globally.

Setting Up Private Link Services for Secure Connectivity

Private Link enables secure, private connectivity between your virtual network and Azure services, bypassing the need for public internet access. This lab will guide you through the process of configuring Private Link services behind Azure Load Balancers.

You will start by setting up a virtual network and provisioning a load balancer, which acts as a gateway for the private link services. The next step is to configure the private link service, ensuring that it is securely connected to the Azure resources within your virtual network. Once the configuration is complete, you will provision private endpoints that will allow clients to access services without traversing the public internet. These private endpoints are crucial for ensuring data privacy and security, particularly for sensitive workloads such as databases and storage.

This hands-on experience will equip you with the knowledge necessary to implement secure private connectivity for enterprise environments. As businesses increasingly shift to cloud-native solutions, understanding how to leverage Private Link services is crucial for ensuring that sensitive data remains protected within the confines of the private network.

Deploying NAT Gateways for Outbound Connectivity

Network Address Translation (NAT) gateways are used to manage outbound traffic from virtual networks to the internet. This lab will teach you how to deploy and configure NAT gateways using ARM templates, ensuring that virtual machines in your virtual network can communicate with external services without exposing their private IP addresses.

During the lab, you will learn how to configure the NAT gateway and associate it with specific subnets within your virtual network. You will also explore how to configure the gateway for scalability, ensuring that your network can handle large volumes of outbound traffic. Finally, you will test the gateway to ensure that it is functioning properly and that VMs can successfully connect to the internet.

NAT gateways are vital in scenarios where outbound traffic needs to be controlled or routed through a specific set of IP addresses. This knowledge is especially important for cloud architectures that require secure and reliable internet access for virtual machines without compromising the integrity of the internal network.

Best Practices for Deploying Azure Networking Solutions with ARM Templates

When working with ARM templates to deploy and manage Azure networking resources, there are several best practices to follow to ensure that your configurations are efficient, secure, and maintainable.

1. Version Control and Documentation: Always use version control (such as Git) to track changes to your ARM templates. Proper documentation ensures that others can easily understand your configurations and make adjustments when necessary.

2. Modular Templates: Break down complex configurations into smaller, reusable templates. This promotes reusability and makes it easier to manage changes across multiple environments.

3. Automation: Integrate ARM templates into your CI/CD pipeline to automate the deployment of network resources. This ensures consistency and reduces the chances of human error.

4. Security Considerations: Always adhere to security best practices by using tools like Azure Key Vault to store sensitive information such as certificates and keys. Additionally, ensure that your templates follow the principle of least privilege for resource access.

5. Monitoring and Alerts: Once your resources are deployed, ensure that monitoring and alerting are set up to track performance and security metrics. Tools like Azure Monitor and Application Insights are invaluable for maintaining the health and security of your network.

6. Testing in Staging Environments: Before deploying to production, always test your templates in staging or test environments. This helps ensure that your configurations work as expected and reduces the risk of errors affecting production systems.

Excelling in Azure Networking with ARM Templates

Mastering the deployment and management of Azure networking resources using ARM templates is an essential skill for anyone preparing for the AZ-700 certification exam. These hands-on labs offer valuable experience in configuring critical networking solutions such as Azure Front Door, internal load balancers, Traffic Manager profiles, private link services, and NAT gateways.

By applying the knowledge gained from these labs, you will be well-equipped to design, deploy, and manage secure, scalable, and highly available networking solutions in Azure. ARM templates offer an efficient, automated way to manage network resources, making them a key tool for cloud professionals. Whether you are working on large-scale enterprise deployments or smaller cloud applications, mastering these configurations will allow you to enhance network performance and ensure optimal user experiences.

Mastering Azure Networking with Advanced Infrastructure Solutions

Azure networking offers an array of tools and services designed to optimize cloud environments, improve application performance, and enhance security. To truly excel in Azure networking, especially for those pursuing the AZ-700 certification, mastering these tools through hands-on labs is essential. In this guide, we explore several advanced Azure networking concepts and labs that will help you deepen your understanding and sharpen your practical skills. These exercises range from deploying Azure Front Door for global traffic management to securing virtual network hubs with Azure Firewalls, each of which plays a vital role in cloud infrastructure.

Directing Web Traffic Using Azure Application Gateways

Azure Application Gateway is a crucial service for application-level routing and security, enabling you to direct web traffic based on detailed rules. In this lab, you will learn how to build Application Gateways using Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates. The main objective is to configure HTTP/HTTPS traffic rules, define backend pools, and set up SSL termination for secure web traffic delivery.

The lab walks you through the steps required to deploy an Application Gateway, including configuring routing rules for different traffic types, ensuring secure SSL handshakes, and using Web Application Firewall (WAF) policies for enhanced security. By the end of the exercise, you will have gained practical knowledge of how to manage web traffic efficiently while maintaining a high level of security for web applications deployed in Azure.

This hands-on practice is particularly beneficial for network engineers who need to secure and optimize application delivery at scale, especially in hybrid and multi-cloud environments.

Setting Up Azure Firewall in Hybrid Network Configurations

Hybrid networks, which combine on-premises environments with cloud resources, require advanced network security measures. Azure Firewall is a critical component in ensuring secure connectivity between these environments. This lab guides you through the process of setting up Azure Firewalls in hybrid network architectures using ARM templates.

The lab starts with the creation of virtual networks for firewall hubs and spokes, followed by the configuration of VPN gateways to establish secure tunnels between on-premises and Azure environments. You will also focus on the creation of firewall rules, including both application and network-level security policies, to ensure that traffic flows securely between your on-premises network and Azure resources.

Throughout the lab, you’ll test firewall policies to validate that the security configurations are functioning as expected. This practical exercise is indispensable for network professionals responsible for securing complex hybrid cloud architectures and managing traffic flow between on-premises data centers and Azure.

Using Azure Traffic Manager to Route Traffic Based on User Subnets

Azure Traffic Manager is a powerful tool for directing traffic across multiple endpoints based on DNS queries, helping businesses deliver better user experiences through dynamic routing. This advanced lab explores how to route traffic based on user subnets. You will configure web-enabled virtual machines (VMs) and create Traffic Manager profiles that use client IP ranges or geographic regions to distribute traffic intelligently.

The lab teaches you how to configure DNS settings, set up endpoint profiles, and leverage Traffic Manager’s geographic and performance routing methods to ensure that users are directed to the best possible endpoints. This routing strategy enhances application performance by reducing latency and improving reliability for end-users.

By mastering Azure Traffic Manager, you will be equipped to create highly available and resilient architectures for mission-critical applications in Azure. This skill is especially useful when dealing with globally distributed users or large-scale enterprise applications that require seamless load balancing and intelligent traffic management.

Managing VM Accessibility Using Inbound NAT Rules

In cloud environments, controlling the accessibility of virtual machines (VMs) is crucial for security and efficiency. This lab demonstrates how to configure inbound Network Address Translation (NAT) rules to manage external access to Azure-hosted VMs. NAT rules allow external traffic to reach VMs securely while abstracting their private IP addresses.

You will start by setting up virtual machines and creating a load balancer to distribute incoming traffic. The next step involves creating NAT gateway configurations to direct inbound traffic to the appropriate VMs based on specific port configurations. Finally, you’ll test the accessibility of the VMs to ensure the inbound rules are working as expected.

Mastering the configuration of inbound NAT rules is vital for anyone responsible for managing cloud-based workloads in Azure, especially when securing access to VMs hosting applications or services in private networks.

Building Private Link Services with Azure Bicep

Azure Bicep is a modern infrastructure-as-code (IaC) tool that simplifies the process of deploying Azure resources. This lab walks you through the creation of Private Link Services using Azure Bicep, allowing secure and private access to Azure resources from within your virtual network.

In this hands-on experience, you will define Bicep templates to deploy Private Link Services, including configuring file storage and provisioning private endpoints. You will also learn to validate that the private connection to Azure resources is working as expected, bypassing the need for public IP addresses and ensuring that all data remains within the Azure network.

This exercise is particularly important for those looking to optimize security and maintain network isolation for sensitive workloads in Azure. With Azure Bicep, you can automate the provisioning of secure private connections, reducing the complexity of manual configuration and improving operational efficiency.

Deploying Azure App Services with Bicep

Azure App Services is a popular platform for hosting web apps, APIs, and mobile backends in the cloud. This lab will teach you how to deploy Azure App Services using Bicep, helping you automate and simplify the deployment process.

You will start by defining Bicep templates to create the necessary Azure resources for hosting your web applications, including App Service plans, storage accounts, and databases. You’ll also learn how to configure deployment slots, scaling options, and environmental variables for your applications, making them more resilient and efficient in a cloud environment.

Using Bicep for infrastructure automation streamlines the deployment process, allowing you to handle more complex configurations with greater ease and less code. This lab will not only improve your efficiency but also give you hands-on experience with the latest IaC tools available in Azure.

Configuring Private Endpoints with Azure Bicep

Private endpoints are critical for securely accessing services like Azure SQL Database, without exposing your data over the public internet. In this lab, you will learn how to provision private endpoints using Bicep, ensuring secure communication between Azure resources without the need for public IPs.

You will walk through the steps of creating private endpoint configurations for Azure SQL Database, connecting your virtual network to private services, and verifying that all connections are secure. The Bicep templates you create will simplify and streamline the process, allowing you to automate the provisioning of private network access with ease.

This skill is particularly valuable when working with sensitive data, as it helps isolate resources within private networks and minimize exposure to external threats. It also aligns with best practices for maintaining compliance with regulatory standards and securing Azure-based applications.

Deploying Azure Front Door Services with Bicep

Azure Front Door provides global load balancing and secure entry points for web applications, offering features such as SSL offloading and application acceleration. In this lab, you will deploy Azure Front Door using Bicep templates, learning how to configure global traffic management, URL-based routing, and security policies for web applications.

You’ll start by defining the Bicep templates to deploy Front Door services, set up backend pools, and configure routing rules based on URL paths or domains. Additionally, you will enable SSL termination to ensure secure communication and configure custom domain settings. By the end of this lab, you will have gained the skills necessary to deliver optimized and secure web traffic globally.

Azure Front Door is an essential tool for businesses with a global user base, providing a fast and reliable way to route web traffic across regions and ensure high availability for users worldwide. Mastering its configuration will allow you to design robust web application architectures with improved performance and security.

Securing Virtual Network Hubs with Azure Firewall Managers

Azure Firewall provides advanced security features for managing traffic flow within virtual networks. In this lab, you will learn how to secure virtual network hubs using Azure Firewall Manager, which simplifies the management of firewall policies across multiple virtual networks.

You will begin by setting up a hub-and-spoke network architecture, followed by deploying firewalls in the hub network to protect traffic between spoke networks. The lab will cover the creation of custom firewall policies and the configuration of traffic flow rules. Finally, you will test the firewall configurations to ensure that traffic is filtered and protected according to security guidelines.

This lab is invaluable for network engineers who are responsible for securing large-scale Azure networks. By using Azure Firewall Manager, you can simplify the management of security policies, reduce administrative overhead, and ensure that network traffic remains protected.

Conclusion: 

Achieving the AZ-700 certification requires a comprehensive understanding of Azure’s networking capabilities. The hands-on labs outlined above offer an in-depth look at key networking solutions in Azure, including application delivery, secure traffic management, hybrid connectivity, and infrastructure automation with Bicep. By gaining practical experience in deploying and configuring these solutions, you will be well-equipped to design, implement, and troubleshoot complex Azure network architectures.

These labs not only prepare you for the AZ-700 exam but also help you build the skills needed to handle real-world cloud networking challenges. With tools like Azure Firewall, Traffic Manager, and Front Door, you can ensure that your cloud applications are secure, scalable, and performant, all while gaining expertise in the latest cloud technologies.