Windows Azure Platform Training Roadmap

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This training roadmap is based on internal work done by Fred Pace, Danny Garber and others at Microsoft. However all the material is publicly accessible.

Do not be put off by some of the session titles that imply that this is only for Microsoft partners. It is for everyone who wants to learn about the Windows Azure Platform. smile_regular

You can approach learning the Windows Azure Platform at all levels of proficiency (100, 200, 300) across all of the Windows Azure Platform skills to be learned:

Windows Azure

Windows Azure AppFabric

SQL Azure

Or you can focus on a single topic through all three levels.

Prerequisites

Proficiency with the Microsoft developer technologies including .NET, Visual Studio, C#, WCF, SQL Server, Windows Server; familiarity with general development topics such as XML, web services, software testing and source control.

NOTE: Many of the development labs in this curriculum can be done without having an account in Windows Azure by using the Windows Azure simulator that is part of the Windows Azure Software Development kit. To deploy applications into the public Windows Azure cloud you must first establish your own Windows Azure account. If you do not already have a Windows Azure Account, you can find out how to get one here.

References

These are general references where you can find supporting information:

The following is a listing, by level of the study units for each topic. Time for each unit is listed in hours (Ex: .5h)

Level 100 – Basic

After completing the units recommended for this level, you should be able to articulate the Microsoft strategy for the Windows Azure Platform and the value proposition it brings to you.

Windows Azure
Windows Azure Fundamentals (.75h)

Windows Azure AppFabric
Windows Azure Platform: Azure AppFabric Fundamentals (.75h)

SQL Azure
Microsoft SQL Azure Overview (.75h)

Level 200 – Intermediate

After completing the units recommended for this level, you should be able to describe the architecture of the Windows Azure Platform, have an understanding of its capabilities and limitations, and understand its deployment scenarios and requirements.

Windows Azure
Developing a Windows Azure Application (1h)

Service Bus
Windows Azure Platform: Introducing the Service Bus (.5h)

SQL Azure
Microsoft SQL Azure Overview for Developers (.75h)

In addition:

Download the Windows Azure Platform Training Kit (Hands on Labs)

Download the Windows Azure Tools for Microsoft Visual Studio

View PDC 2009 Azure videos

Level 300 – Advanced 

After completing the units recommended for this level, you should be able to build, deploy and troubleshoot solutions based on the Windows Azure platform.

Windows Azure
Windows Azure Blob & Table Storage (1h)

Windows Azure – Worker Roles and Queue Storage (1h)

Windows Azure AppFabric
Windows Azure Platform: the Access Control Service (.5h)

SQL Azure
Microsoft SQL Azure RDBMS Support (.5h)

SQL Azure Programmability (.5h)

Microsoft SQL Azure tooling (.5h)

SQL Azure Security Model (.5h)

In addition:

Attend an Azure Readiness Training provided by a Microsoft Certified Partner:

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