Azure Landing Zone is a set of guidelines, best practices, and resources provided by Microsoft to help organizations set up a secure, scalable, and well-architected foundation in Microsoft Azure. It aims to accelerate the adoption of Azure by providing a set of modular and prescriptive guidance.
Setting up an Azure Landing Zone involves several steps, and Microsoft provides the Cloud Adoption Framework for Azure, which includes guidance on the landing zone implementation. Keep in mind that specific details may evolve, and it's essential to refer to the most recent Azure documentation for the latest information.
Here's a general guide based on the principles as of my last update:
1. Understand Azure Landing Zone Concepts:
- Familiarize yourself with the Azure Architecture Center, specifically the Cloud Adoption Framework for Azure. Understand the core concepts, such as management groups, subscriptions, resource groups, and naming conventions.
2. Define Your Strategy:
- Identify and document your organization's goals, compliance requirements, and other considerations.
- Determine the scope of your landing zone, such as the number of subscriptions, regions, and resource groups you'll need.
3. Plan Identity and Access Management (IAM):
- Design your Azure Active Directory (AAD) structure.
- Plan role-based access control (RBAC) and define access policies.
- Implement secure identity management practices.
4. Governance and Policies:
- Establish governance policies to enforce compliance and security standards.
- Implement Azure Policy to enforce organizational standards.
5. Networking:
- Design the network architecture, including virtual networks, subnets, and security groups.
- Implement Network Security Groups (NSGs) and firewalls.
- Plan for connectivity, such as ExpressRoute or VPN connections.
6. Resource Organization:
- Define resource group structures based on your organizational needs.
- Implement a resource naming convention for consistency.
7. Security and Compliance:
- Implement security best practices, such as encryption, Key Vault usage, and monitoring.
- Ensure compliance with industry and organizational standards.
8. Operations and Monitoring:
- Set up monitoring and logging using Azure Monitor and Azure Security Center.
- Define operational processes, including backup and disaster recovery.
9. Implement Using Terraform, ARM Templates, or Azure Portal:
- Use Infrastructure as Code (IaC) tools like Terraform or Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates to deploy your landing zone.
- Alternatively, you can use the Azure Portal for manual deployment.
10. Review and Iterate:
- Regularly review and update your landing zone based on changes in your organization's requirements or Azure best practices.
11. Documentation and Training:
- Document your Azure Landing Zone architecture and configurations.
- Train your team members on the implemented practices.
Remember, these are general steps, and the specific details may vary based on your organization's requirements and the evolving Azure features. Always refer to the latest Azure documentation and follow best practices for security and compliance.