AZ-204 Objective 1.1: Implement Containerized Solutions

September 17, 2025•32 min read•Microsoft Azure Developer Associate

AZ-204 Exam Focus: This objective covers containerized solutions in Azure, focusing on practical development skills for creating, managing, and deploying containerized applications. You need to understand container image creation and management, Azure Container Registry for image storage and distribution, Azure Container Instances for simple container deployment, and Azure Container Apps for modern containerized applications. This knowledge is essential for developing scalable, portable applications using container technologies in Azure.

Understanding Containerized Solutions in Azure

Containerized solutions represent a modern approach to application development and deployment that provides consistency, portability, and scalability across different environments. Azure provides comprehensive container services that enable developers to build, deploy, and manage containerized applications using industry-standard tools and practices. Understanding container technologies and Azure's container services is essential for modern cloud development, as containers offer significant advantages over traditional deployment methods including improved resource utilization, faster deployment times, and better application isolation. Azure's container ecosystem supports various deployment scenarios from simple single-container applications to complex microservices architectures.

Azure's container services are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing development workflows and provide both managed and self-managed options for different use cases and requirements. The services support popular container technologies including Docker and Kubernetes, enabling developers to leverage existing skills and tools while benefiting from Azure's cloud capabilities. Containerized solutions in Azure provide benefits such as improved scalability, better resource utilization, simplified deployment and rollback processes, and enhanced development and testing consistency. Understanding how to implement containerized solutions effectively is crucial for building modern, scalable applications that can adapt to changing business requirements and user demands.

Create and Manage Container Images for Solutions

Understanding Container Images

Container images are lightweight, standalone packages that contain everything needed to run an application, including code, runtime, system tools, libraries, and settings. Images are built from Dockerfiles, which are text files containing instructions for creating the image, and they provide a consistent, reproducible way to package applications for deployment across different environments. Container images are immutable, meaning they cannot be changed after creation, which ensures consistency and reliability in deployments. Understanding how to create and manage container images effectively is fundamental to implementing containerized solutions, as images serve as the foundation for all container deployments and provide the consistency and portability that make containers valuable for modern application development.

Container image management involves various aspects including image creation, optimization, versioning, security scanning, and lifecycle management. Effective image management practices help ensure that applications are deployed consistently, securely, and efficiently across different environments. Images should be optimized for size and security, properly versioned for tracking changes, and regularly updated to include security patches and application updates. Understanding image management best practices is essential for maintaining reliable, secure containerized applications and implementing effective DevOps workflows that support continuous integration and deployment processes.

Dockerfile Best Practices

Dockerfiles are the foundation of container image creation and following best practices is essential for creating efficient, secure, and maintainable container images. Best practices include using appropriate base images, minimizing the number of layers, leveraging multi-stage builds for optimization, and implementing proper security measures. Base images should be chosen carefully, preferring official images from trusted sources and using minimal distributions when possible to reduce attack surface and image size. Multi-stage builds enable developers to separate build dependencies from runtime dependencies, resulting in smaller, more secure production images. Understanding and implementing these best practices is crucial for creating production-ready container images that are efficient, secure, and maintainable.

Security considerations in Dockerfile creation include running containers as non-root users, using specific image tags rather than latest, and implementing proper secret management practices. Images should be regularly updated to include security patches and should be scanned for vulnerabilities before deployment. Resource optimization techniques include using .dockerignore files to exclude unnecessary files, combining RUN commands to reduce layers, and using appropriate caching strategies to improve build performance. These practices help ensure that container images are secure, efficient, and suitable for production deployment while supporting effective development and deployment workflows.

Image Optimization and Security

Container image optimization involves reducing image size, improving build performance, and enhancing security while maintaining functionality and reliability. Size optimization techniques include using minimal base images, implementing multi-stage builds, and removing unnecessary files and dependencies. Smaller images result in faster deployment times, reduced storage costs, and improved security by reducing the attack surface. Build performance can be improved through proper layer caching, efficient Dockerfile structure, and the use of build tools and techniques that minimize build time. Security optimization includes regular vulnerability scanning, using trusted base images, and implementing security best practices throughout the image creation process.

Image security is a critical aspect of container image management and involves various practices including vulnerability scanning, secure base image selection, and proper secret management. Images should be regularly scanned for known vulnerabilities and updated to address security issues. Base images should be chosen from trusted sources and should be regularly updated to include security patches. Secrets and sensitive information should never be included in container images and should be managed through secure mechanisms such as Azure Key Vault or container orchestration platform secret management. Understanding and implementing these security practices is essential for maintaining secure containerized applications and protecting against potential security threats.

Container Image Management Strategies

Key Container Image Management Practices:

Version control and tagging: Implement consistent tagging strategies using semantic versioning and meaningful tags that indicate image purpose, version, and environment. This approach enables proper tracking of image changes, supports rollback capabilities, and ensures that the correct image versions are deployed to different environments.
Automated builds and testing: Integrate image creation into CI/CD pipelines with automated testing and quality gates to ensure that only tested, validated images are deployed. This automation reduces manual errors, improves consistency, and enables rapid, reliable deployment of containerized applications.
Security scanning and compliance: Implement automated vulnerability scanning and compliance checking as part of the image creation process to identify and address security issues before deployment. This proactive approach helps maintain security standards and reduces the risk of deploying vulnerable images.
Lifecycle management: Establish policies for image retention, cleanup, and updates to manage storage costs and ensure that only current, supported images are maintained. This lifecycle management helps optimize costs and maintain security by removing outdated or vulnerable images.
Multi-environment support: Create image variants for different environments and use configuration management to adapt images for specific deployment contexts. This approach enables consistent application behavior across environments while supporting environment-specific requirements.
Documentation and metadata: Maintain comprehensive documentation and metadata for images including build information, dependencies, and deployment instructions. This documentation supports team collaboration, troubleshooting, and maintenance activities.

Publish an Image to Azure Container Registry

Understanding Azure Container Registry

Azure Container Registry (ACR) is a managed Docker registry service that provides secure, scalable storage and distribution of container images for Azure deployments. ACR integrates seamlessly with Azure services and provides enterprise-grade features including geo-replication, webhook support, and integration with Azure Active Directory for authentication and authorization. The service supports both public and private registries, enabling organizations to choose the appropriate level of access control for their container images. ACR provides a centralized location for storing and managing container images, supporting team collaboration and consistent deployment processes across different environments and applications.

ACR offers various service tiers with different performance characteristics and features, enabling organizations to choose the appropriate tier based on their requirements for throughput, storage, and advanced features. The service provides comprehensive security features including encryption at rest and in transit, vulnerability scanning, and integration with Azure security services. ACR also supports various deployment scenarios including integration with Azure Container Instances, Azure Container Apps, and Azure Kubernetes Service, making it a central component of Azure's container ecosystem. Understanding how to effectively use ACR is essential for implementing secure, scalable containerized solutions in Azure.

ACR Configuration and Management

Azure Container Registry configuration involves setting up the registry, configuring authentication and authorization, and implementing security policies and best practices. Registry setup includes choosing the appropriate service tier, configuring geo-replication for high availability, and setting up network access controls. Authentication can be configured using Azure Active Directory integration, admin credentials, or service principals, depending on the deployment scenario and security requirements. Authorization is managed through Azure RBAC, enabling fine-grained access control to registry resources and operations.

ACR management includes implementing security policies, monitoring registry usage and performance, and maintaining image lifecycle policies. Security policies should include vulnerability scanning, image signing, and access control policies that ensure only authorized users and systems can access and modify registry contents. Monitoring capabilities include usage metrics, performance monitoring, and audit logging that provide visibility into registry operations and help identify potential issues or security concerns. Lifecycle management policies help control storage costs and maintain security by automatically removing outdated or unused images based on configurable criteria.

Image Publishing and Distribution

Publishing images to Azure Container Registry involves building images locally or in CI/CD pipelines, tagging them appropriately, and pushing them to the registry. The publishing process should include proper tagging strategies, security scanning, and validation to ensure that only tested, secure images are published. Images should be tagged with meaningful names and versions that support proper tracking and deployment management. The publishing process can be automated through CI/CD pipelines that build, test, scan, and publish images automatically based on code changes or scheduled builds.

Image distribution from ACR involves pulling images to deployment environments and managing image access across different teams and environments. ACR provides various access methods including Docker CLI integration, Azure CLI commands, and programmatic access through REST APIs. Distribution strategies should consider factors such as network bandwidth, security requirements, and deployment frequency. ACR's geo-replication capabilities enable efficient distribution of images across multiple regions, reducing latency and improving availability for global deployments. Understanding effective image publishing and distribution practices is essential for implementing reliable, scalable containerized solutions.

ACR Integration and Automation

⚠️ ACR Best Practices and Integration:

CI/CD integration: Integrate ACR with Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, or other CI/CD platforms to automate image building, testing, and publishing processes. This integration enables continuous delivery of containerized applications and ensures that only tested, validated images are deployed to production environments.
Security scanning automation: Implement automated vulnerability scanning and compliance checking as part of the image publishing process to identify and address security issues before deployment. This automation helps maintain security standards and reduces the risk of deploying vulnerable images.
Access control and authentication: Use Azure Active Directory integration and RBAC to implement proper access control and authentication for registry operations. This approach ensures that only authorized users and systems can access and modify registry contents.
Network security: Configure network access controls including virtual network integration and firewall rules to restrict access to the registry and protect against unauthorized access. This network security helps protect registry contents and ensures secure image distribution.
Monitoring and alerting: Implement comprehensive monitoring and alerting for registry operations including usage metrics, performance monitoring, and security event detection. This monitoring helps identify issues early and ensures reliable registry operations.

Run Containers by Using Azure Container Instances

Understanding Azure Container Instances

Azure Container Instances (ACI) is a serverless container service that enables developers to run containers in Azure without managing virtual machines or container orchestration platforms. ACI provides a simple, fast way to deploy containers for development, testing, and production workloads that don't require the complexity of full container orchestration. The service automatically handles container lifecycle management, resource allocation, and networking, enabling developers to focus on application development rather than infrastructure management. ACI is particularly well-suited for simple applications, batch jobs, and development scenarios where the overhead of container orchestration is not justified.

ACI offers several advantages including rapid deployment, pay-per-second billing, and integration with other Azure services. Containers can be deployed in seconds without the need to provision or manage underlying infrastructure. The service provides various configuration options including CPU and memory allocation, environment variables, and volume mounting. ACI supports both Linux and Windows containers and can be deployed using Azure CLI, Azure portal, ARM templates, or programmatically through REST APIs. Understanding how to effectively use ACI is essential for implementing simple, cost-effective containerized solutions in Azure.

ACI Configuration and Deployment

Azure Container Instances configuration involves specifying container properties including image, resource requirements, environment variables, and networking options. Container groups can be configured to run single containers or multiple containers that share resources and networking. Resource allocation can be specified in terms of CPU cores and memory, with different pricing tiers available based on resource requirements. Environment variables can be set to configure application behavior, and secrets can be managed securely through Azure Key Vault integration or environment variable encryption.

ACI deployment can be accomplished through various methods including Azure CLI commands, ARM templates, and programmatic deployment through REST APIs or SDKs. Deployment automation can be integrated into CI/CD pipelines to enable continuous deployment of containerized applications. The service supports various networking options including public IP addresses, virtual network integration, and custom DNS configuration. Understanding ACI configuration and deployment options is essential for implementing effective containerized solutions that meet specific application and infrastructure requirements.

ACI Use Cases and Scenarios

Azure Container Instances is well-suited for various use cases including development and testing environments, batch processing jobs, microservices, and simple web applications. Development scenarios benefit from ACI's rapid deployment and teardown capabilities, enabling developers to quickly test applications in cloud environments. Batch processing jobs can leverage ACI's pay-per-second billing and automatic scaling to process workloads efficiently and cost-effectively. Simple web applications and APIs can be deployed quickly using ACI without the complexity of container orchestration platforms.

ACI is also suitable for scenarios that require integration with other Azure services, such as Azure Functions, Logic Apps, or Event Grid. The service can be used as part of hybrid architectures where some components run in ACI while others run in more complex orchestration platforms. ACI supports various integration patterns including HTTP endpoints, message queues, and file-based communication. Understanding ACI use cases and integration patterns is essential for choosing the appropriate container deployment strategy for different application requirements and scenarios.

ACI Monitoring and Management

Key ACI Management and Monitoring Features:

Container lifecycle management: ACI automatically handles container startup, shutdown, and resource management, enabling developers to focus on application logic rather than infrastructure concerns. This automated management simplifies deployment and reduces operational overhead for simple containerized applications.
Resource monitoring and metrics: ACI provides comprehensive monitoring capabilities including CPU and memory usage metrics, container status, and performance data that enable developers to monitor application health and performance. This monitoring helps identify performance issues and optimize resource allocation.
Logging and diagnostics: Container logs and diagnostic information are automatically collected and can be accessed through Azure portal, Azure CLI, or integrated with Azure Monitor for centralized logging and analysis. This logging capability supports troubleshooting and application monitoring.
Restart policies and health checks: ACI supports various restart policies and health check configurations that ensure application reliability and availability. These policies help maintain application health and provide automatic recovery from failures.
Integration with Azure services: ACI integrates seamlessly with other Azure services including Azure Monitor, Azure Key Vault, and Azure Storage, enabling comprehensive application management and security. This integration supports enterprise-grade application deployment and management.
Cost optimization: ACI's pay-per-second billing model and automatic resource management help optimize costs by ensuring that resources are only consumed when needed. This cost optimization is particularly beneficial for development, testing, and variable workload scenarios.

Create Solutions by Using Azure Container Apps

Understanding Azure Container Apps

Azure Container Apps is a fully managed serverless container platform that enables developers to build and deploy modern containerized applications without managing underlying infrastructure or container orchestration complexity. Container Apps provides a platform-as-a-service (PaaS) experience for containers, offering automatic scaling, integrated networking, and built-in observability features. The service is designed for modern application architectures including microservices, event-driven applications, and API backends that require flexible scaling and integration capabilities. Container Apps abstracts away the complexity of container orchestration while providing the benefits of containerized applications including consistency, portability, and resource efficiency.

Container Apps offers several advantages including automatic scaling based on HTTP traffic or custom metrics, integrated service discovery and load balancing, and built-in support for modern application patterns such as event-driven architectures and microservices. The service provides a developer-friendly experience with simplified deployment and management while supporting enterprise-grade features including security, monitoring, and integration with Azure services. Container Apps is built on Kubernetes but abstracts away the complexity, enabling developers to focus on application development rather than infrastructure management. Understanding Container Apps capabilities and use cases is essential for implementing modern, scalable containerized solutions in Azure.

Container Apps Architecture and Features

Azure Container Apps architecture is based on a microservices model where applications are composed of multiple containerized services that can be deployed, scaled, and managed independently. The platform provides automatic scaling capabilities that can respond to HTTP traffic, custom metrics, or scheduled events, ensuring that applications can handle varying workloads efficiently. Container Apps includes integrated service discovery and load balancing, enabling services to communicate with each other using simple HTTP calls or service names. The platform supports various deployment patterns including blue-green deployments, canary releases, and rolling updates.

Container Apps provides comprehensive observability features including integrated logging, metrics, and distributed tracing that enable developers to monitor and troubleshoot applications effectively. The platform includes built-in support for modern application patterns such as event-driven architectures through integration with Azure Event Grid and Azure Service Bus. Security features include network isolation, secret management, and integration with Azure Active Directory for authentication and authorization. Understanding Container Apps architecture and features is essential for designing and implementing effective containerized solutions that leverage the platform's capabilities.

Container Apps Development and Deployment

Azure Container Apps development involves creating containerized applications that can leverage the platform's features including automatic scaling, service discovery, and integrated observability. Applications should be designed as microservices with clear separation of concerns and well-defined APIs for inter-service communication. The platform supports various programming languages and frameworks, enabling developers to use their preferred technologies while benefiting from Container Apps' managed infrastructure and scaling capabilities. Development workflows can be integrated with CI/CD pipelines to enable continuous deployment and testing of containerized applications.

Container Apps deployment involves configuring application settings, scaling rules, and networking options through the Azure portal, Azure CLI, or infrastructure as code tools such as ARM templates or Terraform. The platform supports various deployment strategies including rolling updates and blue-green deployments that enable zero-downtime updates and easy rollback capabilities. Configuration management includes environment variables, secrets, and configuration files that can be managed through Azure Key Vault integration. Understanding Container Apps development and deployment practices is essential for implementing effective, scalable containerized solutions that leverage the platform's capabilities.

Container Apps Integration and Ecosystem

Azure Container Apps integrates with various Azure services and external systems to provide comprehensive application development and deployment capabilities. Integration with Azure services includes Azure Monitor for observability, Azure Key Vault for secret management, and Azure Event Grid for event-driven architectures. The platform supports integration with external systems through HTTP APIs, message queues, and database connections. Container Apps can be integrated with Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, and other CI/CD platforms to enable automated deployment and testing workflows.

The Container Apps ecosystem includes various tools and services that support development, deployment, and management of containerized applications. Development tools include Azure CLI extensions, Visual Studio Code extensions, and SDKs for various programming languages. Monitoring and observability tools include Azure Monitor integration, custom dashboards, and alerting capabilities. The platform supports integration with third-party tools and services through standard APIs and protocols, enabling organizations to use their preferred tools and workflows while benefiting from Container Apps' managed infrastructure and capabilities.

Container Apps Best Practices

⚠️ Container Apps Implementation Best Practices:

Microservices architecture: Design applications as collections of small, focused services that can be deployed and scaled independently. This architecture enables better scalability, maintainability, and fault isolation while leveraging Container Apps' automatic scaling and service discovery capabilities.
Stateless application design: Design applications to be stateless and store state in external services such as databases or cache services. This design enables effective scaling and ensures that applications can handle failures and restarts gracefully.
Health checks and monitoring: Implement comprehensive health checks and monitoring to ensure application reliability and enable effective troubleshooting. Container Apps provides built-in health check capabilities and monitoring integration that should be leveraged for application observability.
Configuration management: Use Azure Key Vault and environment variables for secure configuration management and avoid hardcoding sensitive information in container images. This approach ensures security and enables flexible configuration across different environments.
CI/CD integration: Integrate Container Apps deployment with CI/CD pipelines to enable automated testing, deployment, and rollback capabilities. This integration supports modern DevOps practices and ensures reliable, consistent deployments.

Container Solution Comparison and Selection

Choosing the Right Container Service

Selecting the appropriate Azure container service depends on various factors including application complexity, scaling requirements, operational overhead tolerance, and integration needs. Azure Container Instances is ideal for simple applications, development and testing scenarios, and batch processing jobs that don't require complex orchestration. Azure Container Apps is suitable for modern microservices applications that require automatic scaling, service discovery, and integrated observability. Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) is appropriate for complex applications that require full container orchestration capabilities and advanced networking and security features.

Decision factors include application architecture complexity, team expertise with container technologies, operational requirements, and integration needs with existing systems and processes. Simple applications with basic requirements can benefit from the simplicity of Container Instances, while modern microservices applications can leverage Container Apps' managed platform capabilities. Complex applications with specific orchestration requirements may need the full control and flexibility provided by AKS. Understanding the trade-offs between different container services is essential for making informed decisions about container deployment strategies.

Container Service Comparison

Azure Container Services Comparison:

Service	Use Case	Complexity	Scaling
Container Instances	Simple apps, batch jobs, dev/test	Low	Manual
Container Apps	Microservices, modern apps	Medium	Automatic
Azure Kubernetes Service	Complex orchestration needs	High	Advanced

Real-World Container Implementation Scenarios

Scenario 1: Microservices API Development

Situation: A development team needs to build a modern microservices API that can scale automatically and integrate with various Azure services.

Solution: Use Azure Container Apps for automatic scaling and service discovery, Azure Container Registry for image storage, and implement proper health checks and monitoring. This approach provides a modern, scalable platform for microservices development with minimal operational overhead.

Scenario 2: Batch Processing Application

Situation: An organization needs to process large datasets periodically using containerized batch jobs that can scale based on workload.

Solution: Use Azure Container Instances for cost-effective batch processing, Azure Container Registry for image management, and implement automated deployment through CI/CD pipelines. This approach provides efficient, cost-effective batch processing with pay-per-use billing.

Scenario 3: Development and Testing Environment

Situation: A development team needs a consistent, scalable environment for testing containerized applications across different scenarios.

Solution: Use Azure Container Instances for rapid deployment and teardown, Azure Container Registry for image sharing, and implement automated testing and deployment workflows. This approach provides flexible, cost-effective development and testing capabilities.

Scenario 4: Event-Driven Application

Situation: An organization needs to build an event-driven application that can process events from multiple sources and scale automatically.

Solution: Use Azure Container Apps with Event Grid integration, implement proper event handling patterns, and use Azure Container Registry for image management. This approach provides a modern, event-driven architecture with automatic scaling and integrated event processing.

Best Practices for Containerized Solutions

Development and Design

Follow container best practices: Use minimal base images, implement proper security measures, and optimize images for size and performance
Design for scalability: Create stateless applications that can scale horizontally and handle varying workloads effectively
Implement proper logging: Use structured logging and integrate with Azure Monitor for comprehensive observability
Use configuration management: Implement secure configuration management using Azure Key Vault and environment variables
Design for failure: Implement proper error handling, retry logic, and circuit breaker patterns for resilience

Security and Compliance

Implement security scanning: Use automated vulnerability scanning for container images and registry contents
Use secure base images: Choose trusted, regularly updated base images and implement proper access controls
Manage secrets securely: Use Azure Key Vault and container platform secret management capabilities
Implement network security: Use network policies, firewalls, and private endpoints for secure communication
Regular updates and patching: Implement automated update processes and regular security patching

Operations and Monitoring

Implement comprehensive monitoring: Use Azure Monitor, Application Insights, and custom metrics for observability
Automate deployment processes: Use CI/CD pipelines for automated testing, building, and deployment
Implement proper health checks: Use health check endpoints and monitoring to ensure application reliability
Plan for disaster recovery: Implement backup and recovery strategies for containerized applications
Monitor costs and optimize: Use Azure Cost Management to monitor and optimize container service costs

Exam Preparation Tips

Key Concepts to Remember

Container image management: Understand Dockerfile best practices, image optimization, and security considerations
Azure Container Registry: Know how to configure, manage, and integrate ACR with development workflows
Azure Container Instances: Understand ACI use cases, configuration, and deployment methods
Azure Container Apps: Know Container Apps architecture, features, and integration capabilities
Service selection: Understand when to use different container services based on requirements
Security and monitoring: Know how to implement security best practices and monitoring for containerized solutions
CI/CD integration: Understand how to integrate container services with development and deployment workflows

Practice Questions

Sample Exam Questions:

What are the key considerations when creating and managing container images for production deployment?
How does Azure Container Registry integrate with CI/CD pipelines for automated image management?
When would you choose Azure Container Instances over other container services?
What are the key features and benefits of Azure Container Apps for modern application development?
How do you implement security best practices for containerized solutions in Azure?
What are the different ways to deploy and manage containers using Azure container services?
How do you choose between different Azure container services for specific use cases?

AZ-204 Success Tip: Understanding containerized solutions is essential for the AZ-204 exam and modern Azure development. Focus on learning how to create efficient, secure container images, manage them through Azure Container Registry, and deploy them using appropriate Azure container services. Practice identifying which container service is most suitable for different scenarios, and understand how to integrate containerized solutions with CI/CD pipelines and monitoring systems. This knowledge will help you build scalable, maintainable applications and serve you well throughout your Azure development career.

Practice Lab: Implementing Containerized Solutions

Lab Objective

This hands-on lab is designed for AZ-204 exam candidates to gain practical experience with containerized solutions in Azure. You'll create and manage container images, publish them to Azure Container Registry, deploy containers using Azure Container Instances, and build solutions with Azure Container Apps.

Lab Setup and Prerequisites

For this lab, you'll need a free Azure account (which provides $200 in credits for new users), Docker Desktop installed locally, and a code editor. Basic knowledge of containers and Docker is helpful but not required, as the lab provides step-by-step guidance. The lab is designed to be completed in approximately 3-4 hours and provides hands-on experience with the key container technologies covered in the AZ-204 exam.

Lab Activities

Activity 1: Create and Manage Container Images

Create a sample application: Build a simple web application and create a Dockerfile following best practices. Practice implementing multi-stage builds, security measures, and image optimization techniques.
Build and test images: Use Docker commands to build container images locally and test them to ensure they work correctly. Practice using different base images and optimization techniques.
Implement security practices: Practice implementing security best practices including using non-root users, scanning for vulnerabilities, and managing secrets properly.

Activity 2: Azure Container Registry

Create and configure ACR: Set up an Azure Container Registry and configure authentication and access controls. Practice implementing security policies and monitoring capabilities.
Publish images to ACR: Build and push container images to the registry, practice tagging strategies, and implement automated publishing through CI/CD integration.
Manage registry contents: Practice image lifecycle management, implement retention policies, and use registry features for image management and distribution.

Activity 3: Azure Container Instances

Deploy containers to ACI: Deploy container images to Azure Container Instances using different configuration options. Practice setting up environment variables, resource allocation, and networking.
Configure and manage ACI: Practice configuring container groups, implementing health checks, and managing container lifecycle. Learn about ACI monitoring and logging capabilities.
Integrate with Azure services: Practice integrating ACI with other Azure services such as Azure Monitor, Azure Key Vault, and Azure Storage.

Activity 4: Azure Container Apps

Create Container Apps environment: Set up an Azure Container Apps environment and configure application settings. Practice implementing microservices architecture and service discovery.
Deploy and scale applications: Deploy containerized applications to Container Apps and practice configuring automatic scaling rules and traffic management.
Implement monitoring and observability: Practice implementing comprehensive monitoring using Azure Monitor integration, custom metrics, and distributed tracing capabilities.

Lab Outcomes and Learning Objectives

Upon completing this lab, you should be able to create and manage container images following best practices, publish images to Azure Container Registry, deploy containers using Azure Container Instances, and build solutions with Azure Container Apps. You'll have hands-on experience with container security, monitoring, and integration with Azure services. This practical experience will help you understand the real-world applications of containerized solutions covered in the AZ-204 exam.

Cleanup and Cost Management

After completing the lab activities, be sure to delete all created resources to avoid unexpected charges. The lab is designed to use minimal resources, but proper cleanup is essential when working with cloud services. Use Azure Cost Management tools to monitor spending and ensure you stay within your free tier limits.

Next: Objective 1.2 Implement Azure App Service Web Apps