Lab answer key: Deploying and configuring Windows Server on Azure VMs

Note: An interactive lab simulation is available that allows you to click through this lab at your own pace. You may find slight differences between the interactive simulation and the hosted lab, but the core concepts and ideas being demonstrated are the same.

Exercise 1: Authoring Azure Resource Manager (ARM) templates for Azure VM deployment

Task 1: Connect to your Azure subscription and enable enhanced security of Microsoft Defender for Cloud

In this task, you will connect to your Azure subscription and enable enhanced security features of Microsoft Defender for Cloud.

1. Connect to SEA-ADM1, and then, if needed, sign in as CONTOSO\Administrator with a password of Pa55w.rd.
2. On SEA-ADM1, start Microsoft Edge, go to the Azure portal at https://portal.azure.com, and sign in by using the credentials of a user account with the Owner role in the subscription you’ll be using in this lab.

Note: Skip the remaining steps in this task and proceed directly to the next one if you have already enabled Microsoft Defender for Cloud in your Azure subscription.

1. In the Azure portal, in the Search resources, services, and docs text box, on the toolbar, search for and select Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
2. On the Microsoft Defender for Cloud | Getting started page, select Upgrade, and then select Install agents.

Task 2: Generate an ARM template and parameters files by using the Azure portal

In this task, you will use the Azure portal to create resource groups and create a disk in the resource group.

1. On SEA-ADM1, in the Azure portal, in the Search resources, services, and docs text box, on the toolbar, search for and select Virtual machines. In the Virtual machines page, select + Create, and then select Azure virtual machine.
2. In the Create a virtual machine page, on the Basics tab, specify the following settings and leave all other settings with their default values, but do not deploy it:
   

   Setting	Value
   Subscription	the name of the Azure subscription you will be using in this lab.
   Resource group	the name of a new resource group AZ800-L0601-RG
   Virtual machine name	az800L06-vm0
   Region	Use the name of an Azure region in which you can provision Azure virtual machines
   Availability options	No infrastructure redundancy required
   Image	Windows Server 2022 Datacenter: Azure Edition – Gen2
   Run with Azure Spot discount	No
   Size	Standard_D2s_v3
   Username	Student
   Password	Pa55w.rd1234
   Public inbound ports	None
   Would you like to use an existing Windows Server license	Off

3. Select Next: Disks >, and then on the Create a virtual machine page, on the Disks tab, specify the following settings, leaving all other settings with their default values:
   

   Setting	Value
   OS disk type	Standard HDD

4. Select Next: Networking >, and in the Create a virtual machine page, on the Networking tab, select the Create new hyperlink that follows the Virtual network text box.
5. On the Create virtual network page, specify the following settings, leaving all other settings with their default values, and then select OK:
   

   Setting	Value
   Name	az800L06-vnet
   Address range	10.60.0.0/20
   Subnet name	subnet0
   Subnet range	10.60.0.0/24

6. Back on the Create a virtual machine page, on the Networking tab, specify the following settings, leaving all other settings with their default values:
   

   Setting	Value
   Public IP	None
   NIC network security group	None
   Enable accelerated networking	Off
   Load balancing options	None

7. Select Next: Management >, leaving all settings with their default values.
8. Select Next: Monitoring >, and on the Create a virtual machine page, on the Monitoring tab, specify the following settings, leaving all other settings with their default values:
   

   Setting	Value
   Boot diagnostics	Enable with managed storage account (recommended)

9. Select Next: Advanced >, on the Advanced tab of the Create a virtual machine page, review the available settings without modifying any of them, and then select Review + Create.
   

   Note: Do not create the virtual machine. You will use for this purpose the autogenerated template.

Task 3: Download the ARM template and parameters files from the Azure portal

1. In the Azure portal, on the Create a virtual machine page, select Download a template for automation.
2. On the Template page, select Download.
3. Select the ellipsis button next to the template.zip, and then in the pop-up menu, select Show in folder. This will automatically open File Explorer displaying the content of the Downloads folder.
4. In File Explorer, copy template.zip to the C:\Labfiles\Lab06 folder on SEA-ADM1 (create a new folder if needed).
5. From the Template page, browse back to the Create a virtual machine page, and close it without completing the deployment.

Exercise 2: Modifying ARM templates to include VM extension-based configuration

Task 1: Review the ARM template and parameters files for Azure VM deployment

1. On SEA-ADM1, start File Explorer, and then browse to the C:\Labfiles\Lab06 folder.
2. Extract the content of the template.zip file into the same folder.
3. Open the template.json file in Notepad, and review its content. Keep the Notepad window open.
4. From File Explorer, open the C:\Labfiles\Lab06\parameters.json file in Notepad and review its content.
5. Close the Notepad window displaying the parameters.json file.

Task 2: Add an Azure VM extension section to the existing template

1. On SEA-ADM1, in the Notepad window displaying the content of the template.json file, insert the following code directly after the ` “resources”: [` line):
   

   Note: If you are using a tool that pastes the code in line by line, intellisense may add extra brackets causing validation errors. You may want to paste the code into notepad first and then paste it into the JSON file.

   CodeCopy

        {
           "type": "Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/extensions",
           "name": "[concat(parameters('virtualMachineName'), '/customScriptExtension')]",
           "apiVersion": "2018-06-01",
           "location": "[resourceGroup().location]",
           "dependsOn": [
               "[concat('Microsoft.Compute/virtualMachines/', parameters('virtualMachineName'))]"
           ],
           "properties": {
               "publisher": "Microsoft.Compute",
               "type": "CustomScriptExtension",
               "typeHandlerVersion": "1.7",
               "autoUpgradeMinorVersion": true,
               "settings": {
                   "commandToExecute": "powershell.exe Install-WindowsFeature -name Web-Server -IncludeManagementTools && powershell.exe remove-item 'C:\\inetpub\\wwwroot\\iisstart.htm' && powershell.exe Add-Content -Path 'C:\\inetpub\\wwwroot\\iisstart.htm' -Value $('Hello World from ' + $env:computername)"
              }
           }
        },
   

2. Save the change and close the file.

Exercise 3: Deploying Azure VMs running Windows Server by using ARM templates

Task 1: Deploy an Azure VM by using an ARM template

1. On SEA-ADM1, switch to the browser window displaying the Azure portal.
2. In the Azure portal, on the toolbar, in the Search resources, services, and docs text box, search for and select Deploy a Custom Template.
3. In the Custom deployment page, select Build your own template in the editor.
4. On the Edit template page, select Load file, upload the template file template.json that you edited in the previous exercise, and then select Save.
5. On the Custom deployment page, select Edit parameters.
6. On the Edit parameters page, select Load file, upload the parameters file parameters.json that you reviewed in the previous exercise, and then select Save.
7. Back on the Custom deployment page, specify the following settings, and leave the other settings with their default values:
   

   Setting	Value
   Subscription	the name of the Azure subscription you are using in this lab
   Resource group	AZ800-L0601-RG
   Region	the name of the Azure region into which you can provision Azure VMs
   Admin Password	Pa55w.rd1234

8. Select Review + create, and then select Create.
   

   Note: The deployment might take about 10 minutes.

9. Verify that the deployment completed successfully.

Task 2: Review results of the Azure VM deployment

1. In the Azure portal, on the toolbar, in the Search resources, services, and docs text box, search for and select Resource groups.
2. On the Resource groups page, select the AZ800-L0601-RG entry.
3. On the AZ800-L0601-RG page, on the Overview page, review the list of resources, including the Azure VM az800L06-vm0.
4. Within the list of resources, select the Azure VM az800L06-vm0 entry.
5. On the az800L06-vm0 page, select Extensions + applications, and on the list of extensions, verify that the customScriptExtension has been provisioned successfully.
6. Browse back to the AZ800-L0601-RG page, and in the Settings section, select Deployments.
7. On the AZ800-L0601-RG | Deployments page, select the Microsoft.Template link.
8. On the Microsoft.Template | Overview page, select Template, and note that this is the same template you used for deployment.

Exercise 4: Configuring administrative access to Azure VMs running Windows Server

Task 1: Verify the status of Azure Microsoft Defender for Cloud

1. In the Azure portal, on the toolbar, in the Search resources, services, and docs text box, search for and select Microsoft Defender for Cloud.
2. On the Overview page of Microsoft Defender for Cloud, on the vertical menu on the left side, in the Management section, select Environment settings.
3. On the Environment settings page, select the entry representing your Azure subscription.
4. On the Settings | Defender plans page, verify that the tile Enable all Microsoft Defender for Cloud plans is selected and, on the top side, select Settings & monitoring.
5. On the Settings & monitoring page, in the list of extensions, to the right side of the Log Analytics agent/Azure Monitor agent entry, select the Edit configuration link.
6. On the Auto-provisioning configuration, in the Workspace selection ensure that the Default workspace(s) entry is selected, select Apply, and back on the Settings & monitoring page, select Continue.
7. On the Settings | Defender plans page, select Save.

Task 2: Review the Just-in-time VM access settings

1. Browse back to the Overview page of Microsoft Defender for Cloud, and then, in the Cloud Security section, select Workload protections.
2. On the Microsoft Defender for Cloud | Workload protections page, select Just-in-time VM access.
3. On the Just-in-time VM access page, review the Configured, Not Configured, and Unsupported tabs.
   

   Note: It might take up to 24 hours for the newly deployed VM to appear on the Unsupported tab. Rather than wait, continue to the next exercise.

Exercise 5: Configuring Windows Server security in Azure VMs

Task 1: Create and configure an NSG

1. In the Azure portal, on the toolbar, in the Search resources, services, and docs text box, search for and select Network security groups.
2. On the Network security groups page, select + Create.
3. On the Basics tab of the Create network security group page, specify the following settings (leave others with their default values):
   

   Setting	Value
   Subscription	the name of the Azure subscription you are using in this lab
   Resource group	AZ800-L0601-RG
   Name	az800L06-vm0-nsg1
   Region	the name of the Azure region into which you provisioned the Azure VM az800L06-vm0

4. On the Create network security group page, on the Basics tab, select Review + create, and then select Create.
5. In the Azure portal, browse back to the AZ800-L0601-RG page, and then in the list of resources, select the entry representing the newly created network security group az800L06-vm0-nsg1.
6. On the az800L06-vm0-nsg1 page, review the listing of the default inbound and outbound security rules, and then in the Settings section, select Inbound security rules.
7. On the az800L06-vm0-nsg1 | Inbound security rules page, select + Add.
8. On the Add inbound security rule page, specify the following settings, leaving all others with their default values, and then select Add:
   

   Setting	Value
   Source	Any
   Source port ranges	*
   Destination	Any
   Service	HTTP
   Action	Allow
   Priority	300
   Name	AllowHTTPInBound

Task 2: Configure Inbound HTTP access to an Azure VM

1. In the Azure portal, on the toolbar, in the Search resources, services, and docs text box, search for and select Public IP address.
2. On the Public IP address page, select + Create.
3. On the Basics tab of the Create public IP address page, specify the following settings (leave others with their default values):
   

   Setting	Value
   Subscription	the name of the Azure subscription you are using in this lab
   Resource group	AZ800-L0601-RG
   Name	az800l06-vm0-pip1
   Region	the name of the Azure region into which you provisioned the Azure VM az800l06-vm0
   SKU	Standard

4. On the Create public IP address page, on the Basics tab, select Review + create, and then select Create.
5. Verify that the deployment completed successfully.
6. In the Azure portal, browse back to the AZ800-L0601-RG page, and then in the list of resources, select the entry representing the Azure VM az800l06-vm0.
7. On the az800l06-vm0 page, select Networking.
8. On the az800l06-vm0 | Networking page, select the link designating the network interface attached to az800l06-vm0.
9. On the page displaying the network interface properties, in the vertical menu on the left side, in the Settings section, select Network security group.
10. On the Network security group page, in the drop-down list, select az800l06-vm0-nsg1, and then select Save.
11. Back on the page displaying the properties of the network interface, select IP configurations, and then select the ipconfig1 entry.
12. On the ipconfig1 page, in the Public IP address section, select Associate, and then select az800l06-vm0-pip1 from the Public IP address drop-down list.
13. On the ipconfig1 page, select Save.
14. Browse back to the page displaying the network interface properties and select Overview. Note the value of the public IP address assigned to the interface.
15. Open another browser tab, browse to that IP address, and verify that a webpage opens, displaying Hello World from az800L06-vm0.
16. From the lab computer, start the Remote Desktop app, and try connecting to the same IP address. Verify that the connection fails.
    

    Note: This is expected because the Azure VM is currently not accessible from the Internet via TCP port 3389. It is accessible only via TCP port 80.

Task 3: Trigger re-evaluation of the JIT status of an Azure VM

Note: This task is necessary to trigger re-evaluation of the JIT status of the Azure VM. By default, this might take up to 24 hours.

1. In the Azure portal, browse back to the AZ800-L0601-RG page, and then in the list of resources, select the entry representing the Azure VM az800L06-vm0.
2. On the az800L06-vm0 page, select Configuration.
3. On the az800L06-vm0 | Configuration page, select Enable just-in-time VM access and select the Open Microsoft Defender for Cloud link.
4. On the Just-in-time VM access page, verify that the entry representing the az800L06-vm0 Azure VM appears on the Configured tab.

Task 4: Connect to the Azure VM via JIT VM access

1. Browse back to the az800L06-vm0 page, select Connect, and then in the drop-down list, select RDP.
2. On the az800L06-vm0 | Connect page, in the Source IP section, select My IP, and then select Request access.
3. Wait for the notification stating that your request has been approved, select Download RDP File and follow prompts to connect to the target Azure VM.
4. When prompted for credentials, specify the following values, and then select OK:
   

   Setting	Value
   Username	Student
   Password	Pa55w.rd1234

5. Verify that you can successfully access via Remote Desktop the operating system running in the Azure VM and close the Remote Desktop session.

Exercise 6: Deprovisioning the Azure environment

Task 1: Start a PowerShell session in Cloud Shell

1. On SEA-ADM1, in the Microsoft Edge window displaying the Azure portal, open the Azure Cloud Shell pane by selecting the Cloud Shell icon.
2. If prompted to select either Bash or PowerShell, select PowerShell.
   

   Note: If this is the first time you’re starting Cloud Shell and you’re presented with the You have no storage mounted message, select the subscription you are using in this lab, and then select Create storage.

Task 2: Identify all Azure resources provisioned in the lab

1. From the Cloud Shell pane, run the following command to list all resource groups created throughout this lab:
   CodeCopy

   Get-AzResourceGroup -Name 'AZ800-L06*'
   

2. Run the following command to delete all resource groups created throughout this lab:
   CodeCopy

   Get-AzResourceGroup -Name 'AZ800-L06*' | Remove-AzResourceGroup -Force -AsJob
   

   Note: The command executes asynchronously (as determined by the -AsJob parameter). So, while you will be able to run another PowerShell command immediately after within the same PowerShell session, it will take a few minutes before the resource groups are actually removed.