Top 7 essential checks after deploying your Web Application in Azure Cloud

Congratulations on deploying your web application to the Azure cloud! As you embark on this cloud journey, it’s crucial to conduct thorough checks to ensure the performance, security, and reliability of your application.

In this blog, we’ll explore major checks and considerations after deploying your web application in Azure, providing insights for beginners to understand and navigate the Azure cloud ecosystem.

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1. Health and Monitoring Checks: Is Your Application Performing Well?

a. Azure Monitor:

• What to Check: Verify that Azure Monitor is set up to collect and analyze performance data.
• Why It Matters: Monitoring enables early detection of issues, ensuring a proactive approach to maintaining application health.

Action Steps:

• Check Azure Monitor settings.
• Configure alerts for critical metrics.
• Review performance trends over time.

2. Security Checks: Is Your Application Secure and Compliant?

a. Azure Security Center:

• What to Check: Confirm that Azure Security Center is active and configured.
• Why It Matters: The Security Center provides a centralized view of security status and recommendations.

Action Steps:

• Check Security Centre recommendations.
• Address high-priority security alerts.

b. SSL/TLS Certificates:

• What to Check: Ensure that SSL/TLS certificates are configured and valid.
• Why It Matters: SSL/TLS encryption is vital for securing data in transit.

Action Steps:

• Check certificate expiration dates.
• Renew certificates as needed.

3. Scalability Checks: Is Your Application Ready for Growth?

a. Azure Autoscaling:

• What to Check: Verify that autoscaling is configured based on performance metrics.
• Why It Matters: Autoscaling ensures that your application can handle varying workloads.

Action Steps:

• Review autoscaling policies.
• Simulate traffic spikes to test scalability.

4. Backup and Disaster Recovery: Is Your Data Safe?

a. Azure Backup:

• What to Check: Confirm that Azure Backup is set up for critical data.
• Why It Matters: Regular backups protect against data loss.

Action Steps:

• Test data restoration from backups.
• Ensure backup schedules align with data changes.

b. Site Recovery:

• What to Check: Set up Azure Site Recovery for disaster recovery.
• Why It Matters: Site Recovery ensures application availability in case of a regional outage.

Action Steps:

• Conduct disaster recovery drills.

5. Cost Management: Are You Optimizing Your Resources?

a. Azure Cost Management and Billing:

• What to Check: Monitor and manage costs using Azure Cost Management.
• Why It Matters: Efficient cost management maximizes resource utilization.

Action Steps:

• Analyse cost reports.
• Identify opportunities for cost optimization.

6. Compliance Checks: Are You Meeting Regulatory Requirements?

a. Azure Policy:

• What to Check: Ensure Azure Policy is configured to enforce compliance.
• Why It Matters: Policy enforcement helps meet regulatory and internal requirements.

Action Steps:

• Review and update Azure Policy definitions.

7. User Experience Checks: Are Users Satisfied with Your Application?

a. Azure Application Insights:

• What to Check: Leverage Azure Application Insights for end-to-end visibility.
• Why It Matters: Monitoring user experience helps identify and resolve issues promptly.

Action Steps:

• Set up user experience monitoring.
• Analyse user behaviour and performance metrics.

Conclusion: Nurturing Your Azure-Hosted Web Application

By conducting these essential checks, you’re not only ensuring the immediate health and security of your web application but also fostering a culture of continuous improvement and optimization. The Azure cloud offers a rich set of tools, and understanding how to navigate and leverage them will empower you to build robust, scalable, and secure applications. As you embark on this Azure journey, remember that the cloud is dynamic, and staying vigilant with these checks will contribute to the long-term success of your web application.

Happy deploying !