Top 15+ Microsoft Azure Tools you Should Know

Cloud Computing Tools have become the go-to assistance for modern businesses owing to their scalable, economical, compatible, and secure nature. Out of many Cloud Computing solutions available in the market, Microsoft Azure Tools have become one of the best Cloud solutions.

This is evident from Azure’s 26 per cent growth rate in the 4th quarter of the financial year 2022-2023, according to Statista. Many businesses have gone one step ahead and are making use of Microsoft Azure Tools to take advantage of the latest advancements for efficient computing services. However, if you are still utilising the old techniques to scale your software, it’s time to learn about various tools that Azure provides. 

Read this blog to explore these essential Microsoft Azure Tools and learn how they can optimise your Cloud experience. Also learn about their capabilities in improving productivity and enhancing Azure ecosystem management.

Table of Contents

1) What are Microsoft Azure Tools?

2) Top Microsoft Azure Tools 

    a) Azure Storage Tools

    b) Azure SQL Database Tools

    c) Azure API Testing Tools

    d) Azure Visual Studio Code Tools

    e) Azure Security Tools

    f) Azure Container Service Tools

    g) Azure Portal Tools

    h) Bonus Tools For Microsoft Azure

3) Conclusion 

What are Microsoft Azure Tools? 

Azure is one of the best Cloud platforms for hosting Azure Virtual Machines (VMs) running on any Operating System (OS). Azure Cloud, part of Microsoft Azure, distinguishes itself from other cloud service providers by integrating with Visual Studio and facilitating smooth development flows. It also facilitates deployment and resource management.  

The Microsoft Azure Cloud service offers more than 600 services. These services are facilitated well by certain tools such as Azure Active Directory, Azure Data Lake, Azure Data Factory, Azure Function, Cosmos DB, Virtual Machine (VM), etc. Tools enhance the services of Azure Cloud as they facilitate the Cloud services with their speed, security, integrated delivery pipeline, flexibility, and data recovery.
 

Top Microsoft Azure Tools 

After learning about what are Microsoft Azure Tools, now, let’s discuss the top Azure tools and their pricing:

1) Azure Storage Tools

The following Azure Tools are useful in Azure Storage operations:

a) Azure Storage Explorer

Are you working hard to manage your large files, queues, and blobs? Now, creating, loading, and managing massive data is accessible with Azure Storage Explorer. Azure Storage Explorer assists you in safely managing storage and at a cheap price.This Azure Storage Tool works on Windows, macOS, and Linux seamlessly integrating with Azure Pipelines for streamlined deployment and automation processes. It uses Cross-Origin Resource Sharing (CORS)technique that enables devices on one domain to access resources located on other domains.  

b) Netreo

Netreo offers comprehensive monitoring and visualisation capabilities for all three types of Storage services within Microsoft Azure. With the ability to measure and track performance metrics through storage Analytics, you can have a clear understanding of your storage performance. Netreo also provides real-time insights into availability statistics and offers alerting mechanisms to keep you informed when any storage-related issues arise. This robust tool ensures that you can effectively manage your Azure Storage resources, making it an essential asset for Azure users.

c) SME Cloud File Explorer

The SME Cloud Dile Explorer is a valuable set of free and open-source tools designed for managing various Microsoft Azure services. This tool includes multiple modules that cater to different Azure services. The Redis Viewer module allows you to perform essential tasks with Microsoft Azure Redis, working with hash sets, sets, and string data types.

At the same time, the Tables Viewer module offers basic functionality for viewing Microsoft Azure Table Storage entities. Additionally, the Blobs Viewer module provides essential features for viewing Microsoft Azure Blob Storage entities. These modules collectively empower you to interact with and manage their Azure resources efficiently.

2) Azure SQL Database Tools

The following Microsoft Azure Tools are helpful in managing databases:

a) Azure Cosmos DB

Cosmos DB is a Cloud-based NoSQL Database offered as a Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) from Microsoft Azure. Azure Cosmos DB is automatically managed and frees you from the burden of database administration. It supports the serverless platform through its automation and scaling features. Through this process, the apps are updated to serve the user’s demands.  

b) Data Dictionary Tools

A Data Dictionary is a valuable resource that contains crucial information regarding the data used within an organisation, constituting metadata. This information encompasses data names, their definitions, various attributes, and details about the data's owners and creators. Data Dictionary Tools serve as repositories that offer insights into the meaning and purpose of each data element.

They also include additional aliases to provide a broader understanding of the scope and characteristics of these data elements. Moreover, Data Dictionaries outline the rules governing the use and application of these data elements, ensuring clarity and consistency in data management.

c) Data Modelling Tools

Data Modelling is a fundamental process that involves the development and examination of data models for resources that are stored in a database. Essentially, a data model is an abstract representation that helps in standardising the description of data, its semantics, and the consistency constraints that apply to it.

The primary objective of Data Modelling Tools is to depict the various data types existing within a system, define the relationships that connect different objects, and outline the attributes associated with each data element. Much like an architectural blueprint, a data model functions as a structured guide that aids in comprehending the necessary data and how it should be organised within the system.

d) Data Catalogue Tools

A Data Catalogue serves as a meticulously structured repository of data that an organisation utilises. Think of it as a data library where information is not only systematically organised but also securely preserved. A Data Catalogue Tool provides details about data sources, usage, and relationships between data entities. They also offer insights into data lineage, tracing the data's journey from its source to its final state. These tools offer a comprehensive narrative of a data element's journey, starting from its origin and tracing its transformations and modifications until it reaches its ultimate state.

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3) Azure API Testing Tools

Postman is an application used for Application Programming Interface (API) Testing. The Collection feature and the ability to construct several testing settings are advantages of this application. The Collection feature in API refers to the arrangement of your workspace, team collaboration, creating and testing APIs, and running the request loops. It’s an easy-to-use application that aids in time management when running tests.  

4) Azure Visual Studio Code Tools

Azure Visual Studio Code Tools are a set of extensions for Visual Studio Code that simplify the process of building, deploying, and managing applications on Microsoft's Azure cloud platform. One of them is the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure. The term "Virtual Desktop Infrastructure" (VDI) is a technology that uses virtual machines to create and maintain virtual desktops. Through Azure Virtual Desktop, you can gather data and apps from anywhere. Microsoft has developed several Virtual Desktop Infrastructures (VDI) and security best practices for your benefit.  

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5) Azure Security Tools

Azure Security Tools refer to a set of tools and services provided by Microsoft Azure to help users secure their Cloud environments and protect their data and applications from various cyber threats and vulnerabilities. Some key Azure Security Tools and services include the following:

a) Azure Security Center  

It is a set of specified tools for controlling and monitoring the security of Virtual Machines, and Cloud Computing resources. Azure Security Center plays a significant role in the "collection" and "detection" services. It helps monitor and protect Azure PaaS services, including storage accounts, database systems, Azure service fabric, and others. The Azure Security tools benefit you with their security policies, untapped resources, network map creation, and proactive threat protection. 

b) Azure Firewall

Azure Firewall is a robust and fully managed firewall service designed for safeguarding Azure workloads connected to a Virtual Network (VNet). It operates as a highly available service that can be seamlessly deployed across various availability zones, making it well-equipped to handle traffic at a Cloud scale. Its primary function is to offer centralised rule configuration across different subscriptions and networks, ensuring that only legitimate traffic is permitted.

c) Azure DDoS Protection

Azure offers always-on DDoS Protection for all workloads hosted on the platform. While basic protection is enabled by default, you can also opt for DDoS Protection Standard for enhanced protection against DDoS attacks.

Some of the additional features enabled only with DDoS Standard include logging, telemetry, alerting, mitigation reports, and cost protection. DDoS Standard offers native integration and turnkey protection for workloads deployed in Azure VNet. It protects your workloads from both Layer 3 and Layer 4 attacks, and when integrated with Azure Web Application Firewall, it enables Layer 7 (application) protection as well. The service also provides detailed attack analytics reports that can be used to derive further insights into the type and nature of attack. Azure DDoS Protection Tool delivers extensive mitigation at scale with the capability to detect and mitigate 60 different types of attacks.

6) Azure Container Service Tools

Azure Container Service Tools refer to a set of resources and utilities that facilitate the deployment, management, and orchestration of containerised applications within the Microsoft Azure Cloud ecosystem. One of the most important ones here is Kubernetes. 

Kubernetes is a rapidly expanding open-source platform for managing storage, networking, and container application components. Containers are software packages that contain all elements to run in any environment. Containers are the virtualisation-based OS. They enable programmers and System Administrators to concentrate on application workloads rather than infrastructure elements. With a robust set of APIs for administrative chores, Kubernetes offers a simple, declarative method for deploying many containers.  

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7) Azure Portal Tools

Azure Portal Tools, often referred to as the Azure Portal or Azure Portal UI, are essential components of Microsoft Azure's Cloud platform. The most prevalent amongst these is AzCopy. Using the Azure Portal, makes it difficult to copy data to and from Azure. AzCopy is a simple command-line tool that you can use to transport data across your Azure storage account's blobs, files, and tables.  All OS, such as Linux, Mac, and Windows support AzCopy. To use AzCopy, Azure membership and Azure storage account are mandatory.

8) Bonus Tools for Microsoft Azure

Here are a few more miscellaneous tools which will make your workflow on Microsoft Azure much more simplified: 

a) Azure App Service Migration Assistant 

Azure Database Migration Service tool moves your databases to Azure quickly. Your data and objects from many sources can be transferred to the cloud. With Azure App Service, you can design enterprise-ready websites and mobile apps for any platform or device more quickly and easily. These apps are deployed on a scalable and reliable cloud infrastructure.  

b) Azure Toolkit for Facebook 

Reaching potential clients can be achieved easily by developing applications for social sites. If your app is successful, Azure offers a platform that enables you to scale quickly as demand increases. You can start creating your own highly scalable Facebook app by using the Azure Toolkit for Facebook. Remeber that you are still in charge of creating the next Poker App or Farmville.

 c) Ansible Automation Platform 

Ansible is an open-source tool that streamlines application deployment, configuration management, and Cloud provisioning. Ansible modules execute system commands or control resources such as services, packages, or files. It comes with a collection of Ansible Cloud modules for interfacing with Azure services. You may build and manage your infrastructure on Azure using these modules. 

Conclusion

Hopefully, through this blog, you were able to learn about new Microsoft Azure Tools and will use them in your Azure Cloud-related tasks. While this list is not exhaustive, understanding and using the above-listed tools will make your lives a lot simpler and enhance your Azure usage experience. 

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