Azure App Service : Quick overview

What is Azure App Service?

Azure App Service is a platform as a service (PaaS) offering from Microsoft that enables you to build, deploy, and scale web, mobile, and API apps.

What are the different types of App Services available in Azure?

Azure App Service offers several types of app services, including Web Apps, Mobile Apps, Logic Apps, and Function Apps.

Web Apps are used to host and scale web apps and APIs in multiple languages.
Mobile Apps provide a way to build, deploy, and scale mobile backends for iOS, Android, and Windows platforms.
Logic Apps allow you to automate business processes and integrate with other Azure services and SaaS solutions.
Function Apps allow you to run serverless event-driven applications using Azure Functions.

How to create a web app in Azure App Service?

The process of creating a web app in Azure App Service typically involves the following steps:

Log in to the Azure portal.
Click the « Create a resource » button.
Select « Web App » from the list of available resources.
Fill in the required information, such as the name of your app, the subscription you want to use, the resource group, and the operating system.
Choose the runtime stack for your app (e.g. .NET, Node.js).
Choose the plan for your app, either a pre-existing plan or a new one.
Configure the app’s deployment source, either by using code from a source control repository or by uploading your code directly.
Click the « Create » button to create your web app.

Once your web app is created, you can start deploying code to it and configure other settings as needed.

How to deploy code to an Azure App Service web app?

There are several ways to deploy code to an Azure App Service web app, including:

Continuous deployment: You can configure your app to automatically deploy code from a source control repository (e.g. GitHub, Bitbucket, etc.) whenever new code is pushed to the repository. This is called continuous deployment.
FTP/SFTP deployment: You can use FTP or SFTP to upload your code directly to your web app.
Web Deploy: You can use Web Deploy to deploy your code to your web app. This method requires that you install the Web Deploy tool on your local machine.
Zip file deployment: You can upload a zip file containing your code to your web app.
GitHub Actions or Jenkins: You can use GitHub Actions or Jenkins to build and deploy your code to your web app.

These are some of the most common ways to deploy code to an Azure App Service web app. The method you choose will depend on your specific requirements and the tools you already use.

How to scale an Azure App Service web app?

Azure App Service provides several options for scaling your web app:

Vertical scaling: You can scale your web app by changing the size of the underlying virtual machine that it runs on. This is known as vertical scaling.
Horizontal scaling: You can scale your web app by adding more instances of the app and distributing incoming traffic across those instances. This is known as horizontal scaling.
Autoscaling: You can configure your web app to automatically scale up or down based on specific criteria, such as the number of requests or the CPU usage of your app. This is known as autoscaling.

In addition to these options, you can also use Azure’s Traffic Manager service to distribute incoming traffic across multiple instances of your web app in different regions, for even greater scalability and reliability.

Overall, the best scaling option for your web app will depend on your specific requirements and the performance characteristics of your app. Azure provides a range of tools and options to help you achieve the right balance between performance and cost.

How to secure your web apps with Azure App Service ?

Azure App Service provides several security features for web apps, including:

SSL/TLS certificates: You can secure your web app using SSL/TLS certificates. Azure provides options for using your own certificates or obtaining a free certificate from Let’s Encrypt.
Authentication and authorization: You can use Azure Active Directory or other identity providers to authenticate users and control access to your web app.
Virtual network integration: You can integrate your web app with an Azure virtual network, allowing you to secure your app behind a firewall and control access to other resources in your network.
Network security groups: You can use network security groups to control access to your web app at the network level.
Web Application Firewall (WAF): You can use Azure’s Web Application Firewall (WAF) service to protect your web app from common web-based attacks, such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting (XSS).
Azure Security Center: You can use Azure Security Center to monitor the security of your web app and receive alerts for potential security issues.

These are some of the key security features available in Azure App Service. By using these features, you can help protect your web app from threats and ensure that your data and resources are secure.

How to monitor and diagnose issues with an Azure App Service web app?

Monitoring and diagnosing issues with an Azure App Service web app can be achieved using several built-in tools and services within the Azure platform. Here are some steps you can follow:

Use Azure Monitor: Azure Monitor provides real-time monitoring and diagnostics for your web app. You can use Azure Monitor to view performance metrics, such as CPU usage, memory usage, and response time, and to set up alerts for specific conditions, such as when the response time exceeds a certain threshold.
Use Log Analytics: Log Analytics is a part of Azure Monitor that provides log-based monitoring and diagnostics for your web app. You can use Log Analytics to view logs generated by your web app and to search and filter the logs to diagnose issues.
Use Failed Request Tracing: Failed Request Tracing is a feature of Azure App Service that provides detailed information about failed requests to your web app. You can use Failed Request Tracing to view information such as the exact request and response, the error message, and the stack trace.
Use Application Insights: Application Insights is a service within Azure that provides in-depth application performance and usage analysis. You can use Application Insights to view detailed performance metrics, monitor the availability and performance of your web app, and diagnose issues using advanced analytics and machine learning.
Use Remote Debugging: Remote Debugging is a feature of Azure App Service that allows you to attach a debugger to your web app running in the cloud. You can use Remote Debugging to diagnose issues by stepping through the code and examining the state of your web app in real-time.

By using these tools and services, you can quickly and effectively monitor and diagnose issues with your Azure App Service web app and ensure that your web app is running smoothly and performing optimally.

How to integrate an Azure App Service web app with other Azure services?

Azure App Service web apps can be integrated with a variety of other Azure services to extend their functionality and capabilities. Here are some examples of common integrations:

Azure Storage: You can use Azure Storage to store and manage large amounts of data, such as files, blobs, tables, and queues, that are used by your web app. You can easily access this data from your web app by using the Azure Storage SDK.
Azure Active Directory: You can use Azure Active Directory to authenticate users of your web app and manage access to your web app and other Azure resources. You can use the Azure Active Directory Authentication Library (ADAL) to integrate your web app with Azure Active Directory.
Azure Functions: You can use Azure Functions to run serverless, event-driven functions that can be triggered by events in other Azure services, such as Azure Event Grid or Azure Queue storage. You can use these functions to perform tasks such as image processing, data validation, and sending email notifications.
Azure Cognitive Services: You can use Azure Cognitive Services to add intelligent features to your web app, such as sentiment analysis, image recognition, and speech recognition. You can use the Azure Cognitive Services REST APIs to integrate these services into your web app.
Azure Notification Hubs: You can use Azure Notification Hubs to send push notifications to your web app users on various platforms, such as iOS, Android, and Windows. You can use the Azure Notification Hubs SDK to integrate your web app with Azure Notification Hubs.

These are just a few examples of how you can integrate an Azure App Service web app with other Azure services. The Azure platform provides a wide range of services that can be easily integrated with your web app, allowing you to build and deploy complex, scalable, and highly functional web applications.