Top 12 Microsoft Azure Project Ideas for Beginners & Experts

Azure Projects for Beginners

These beginner's projects are designed to help you get comfortable with the basics, build your skills and confidence, and avoid feeling overwhelmed.

Project 1: Basic web app deployment

Try deploying a simple web application using Azure App Service. For this project, you’ll create a basic HTML or ASP.NET app and then publish it to Azure. 

You'll need to set up an App Service plan, adjust the application settings, and deploy your code through Azure DevOps or GitHub. It’s a straightforward way to get hands-on with deploying apps in the cloud.

• Skills developed: Azure App Service, Azure Resource Management, and basic deployment practices.
• Start here: Hosting Your First Web Application on Azure App Service

Project 2: Azure Storage for file management

Set up an Azure Storage Account to manage and store your files. In this project, you’ll create a storage account, set up blob storage containers, and upload files. 

You’ll use Azure Storage Explorer to interact with your storage account, and if you’re up for it, you can even build a simple app to upload and retrieve files programmatically. It's a great way to get familiar with Azure’s storage capabilities.

• Skills developed: Azure Blob Storage, Azure Storage Explorer, and data management. 
• Start here: A Beginners Guide to Azure Blob Storage

Project 3: Virtual machine setup

Try creating and configuring a virtual machine in Azure. For this project, you’ll pick a VM image, set the right size, set up networking, and install any software you need. 

You'll also learn how to connect to your VM remotely—using Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) if you’re working with Windows or Secure Shell (SSH) if you’re using Linux.

• Skills developed: Azure Virtual Machines, VM configuration, and remote connectivity. 
• Start here: Create a Windows Virtual Machine in the Azure Portal

Intermediate Azure Projects

These intermediate projects are a step up, designed to build on your basic knowledge and dive into more complex scenarios. They’ll push you to combine multiple Azure services and tackle more challenging problems.

Project 4: Implementing a virtual network

For this project, you’ll create a VNet, set up subnets to handle different workloads and configure Network Security Groups (NSGs) to manage traffic coming in and out. You’ll also learn how to connect different VNets using virtual network peering.

• Skills developed: Azure Virtual Network, Subnet configuration, and network security.
• Start here: Use the Azure Portal to Create a Virtual Network

Project 5: Setting up an SQL database

Setup and configure an Azure SQL database – this is a great way to get familiar with SQL and database management in Azure. In this project, you’ll create an SQL Database server and set up your database instances. 

You’ll handle tasks like creating tables, adding data, and running queries. Plus, you’ll learn how to scale and manage your SQL databases effectively.

• Skills developed: Azure SQL Database, SQL querying, and database management. 
• Start here: Azure SQL Database Step-by-Step Setup and Management

Project 6: Creating a CI/CD Pipeline

CI/CD is a practical way to streamline your development and deployment workflow. It defines a set of practices that automate the process of integrating code changes, testing, and deploying applications to ensure faster and more reliable software delivery.

For an in-depth guide on this topic, check out DataCamp’s CI/CD for Machine Learning course, which covers essential concepts and tools outside Azure to help you get started.

For this project, you will use Azure DevOps to create a repository, set up build and release pipelines, and automate deploying your app to Azure App Service. You will also add automated testing to ensure smooth operation throughout the process.

• Skills developed: Azure DevOps, CI/CD, and automated deployment. 
• Start here: Azure DevOps Tutorial for Beginners

Advanced Azure Projects

Of course, advanced projects are meant for experienced users! They tackle complex scenarios that demand a deep understanding of Azure services and their integration. These projects are great if you want to deepen your expertise with Azure in preparation for certification exams. 

Project 7: Building a serverless architecture

Build a serverless app with Azure Functions. In this project, you’ll design and set up Azure Functions to handle tasks like processing events from Azure Event Grid or Azure Service Bus. 

You’ll also connect it with Azure Logic Apps to automate workflows and use Azure Cosmos DB to store your data.

• Skills developed: Azure Functions, serverless architecture, and integration with Azure services. 
• Start here: Building a Serverless REST API With Azure Functions 

Project 8: Designing a multi-region disaster recovery plan

Sometimes, things happen, and your systems may go down. In this project, you’ll learn how to prevent this from happening to you (and your team)! 

The goal is to set up a disaster recovery plan using Azure Site Recovery. You’ll start by replicating your virtual machines and setting up failover to another Azure region. Then, you'll create a recovery plan to keep downtime to a minimum if something goes wrong. 

• Skills developed: Azure Site Recovery, multi-region architecture, and disaster recovery planning.
• Start here: Azure Site Recovery Setup Step-by-Step

Project 9: Implementing advanced security solutions

Cyber threats are a significant issue in the digital age. In this project, you will use some of Azure’s security features (e.g., Azure Security Center and Azure Sentinel) to fight against them. 

You will work on configuring threat protection, tracking security alerts, and using Azure Key Vault to manage sensitive information. If you wish to dive deeper into security, you could also link these security tools with other Azure services to strengthen your overall security.

• Skills developed: Azure Security Center, Azure Sentinel, and key vault management.
• Start here: Defender for Cloud (Azure Security Center) and Azure Sentinel Overview

Project 10: Developing a big data solution

Big data enables teams to analyze vast amounts of information to derive actionable insights and drive strategic decisions. Your ability to help businesses harness their data makes you an extremely attractive candidate! 

Thus, for this project, you will create a big data solution with Azure Synapse Analytics. Specifically, you will:

• Set up a data lake to store large amounts of data
• Use Synapse Analytics to process it
• Build dashboards to visualize the results

If you’re completely new to data warehousing in Azure, consider exploring DataCamp’s tutorial on Azure Synapse, which provides a hands-on guide to getting started.

• Skills developed: Azure Synapse Analytics, Azure Data Lake, and data visualization.
• Start here: Build A Data Lake Solution using Azure Synapse Analytics

Project 11: Building a machine learning pipeline with Azure Machine Learning

In this project, you’ll start by setting up an Azure Machine Learning workspace and get acquainted with its core components (e.g., datasets, compute resources, and models). For a comprehensive introduction, DataCamp's guide to Azure Machine Learning covers essential setup steps and tools to help you get started effectively.

Next, you’ll build, train, and deploy a machine learning model using the Azure Machine Learning designer or the Python SDK. This project will help you automate the training and deployment steps, and you'll also learn how to monitor your model’s performance and make adjustments as needed in Azure.  

You can integrate Azure Databricks or Azure Synapse to tackle advanced data processing and enhance your machine learning workflows for an extra boost!

• Skills developed: Azure Machine Learning, model training, and deployment, automated ML pipelines, integration with Azure Databricks or Synapse, and data processing for machine learning.
• Start here: Create and Run Machine Learning Pipelines with Azure Machine Learning

Project 12: Manage and Govern Data in Azure

Managing cloud resources effectively is essential for cost control and ensuring secure access. 

In this project, you'll monitor usage, manage access, and control spending on Azure. This project will help you explore Azure services for data governance, resource management, and compliance, making your cloud environment efficient and secure.

• Skills developed: Azure Resource Management, Cost Control, Data Governance
• Start here: Data Governance with Azure

Azure Projects: A Summary

Here’s a table summarizing the projects by level, objectives, and skills, helping you quickly find projects that match your experience and goals:

Tips for Working on Azure Projects

Once you’ve selected your project, here’s how to maximize your success with Azure.

Start small and build up

Kick things off with smaller projects to grasp the basics before tackling more complex tasks. As you gradually take on more challenging projects, you’ll better understand Azure services. For a strong foundation, explore courses like Understanding Microsoft Azure Architecture and Services to familiarize yourself with core Azure concepts.

Leverage Azure documentation and resources

Use Azure’s official documentation, tutorials, and learning paths to guide you. These resources contain valuable information and tips to support your project work.

Join the Azure community

Get involved in Azure forums, communities, and meetups to get feedback, ask questions, and share your progress. Being part of the community can provide support and keep you motivated. Check out places like the Microsoft Tech Community or Stack Overflow for Azure.

Document your work

Create content about what you’re building – or at least share it on GitHub! A well-documented project can boost your professional portfolio and showcase your skills. There have been many instances of people building a lucrative career for themselves through sharing their work (I’m an example).

Conclusion

Hands-on experience is vital for mastering Azure and advancing your skills in the cloud computing space. Working on Azure projects is also extremely handy when preparing for certification exams on the platform. For those starting their certification journey, DataCamp’s Microsoft Azure Fundamentals (AZ-900) track offers a comprehensive foundation to help you succeed.

Beyond certifications, these projects are essential for building practical skills. In the process, you develop a robust (and attractive) portfolio that can open doors in your career!