azure

I walk you through my hands-on experience testing Microsoft’s new free SSL certificate feature for Azure Web Apps, a capability I was eager to try after its announcement at Ignite 2019. Following my excitement about avoiding third-party certificate costs, I demonstrate how to provision a test web app using Azure CLI and prepare the necessary DNS settings to secure a custom domain.

Discover how I navigated the complexity of running MongoDB in Azure while strictly adhering to a no-virtual-machine policy. This post chronicles my journey from early container experimentation to solving a specific business challenge by leveraging PaaS offerings instead of traditional IaaS services.

If you are navigating the complex shifts in the Microsoft Partner program, this post breaks down the 2022 updates through my personal experience as a business owner. I explain how the traditional Gold competencies have been replaced by Solutions partner designations and what these sweeping changes mean for your strategy and bottom line.

If you are navigating the shifting landscape of Microsoft certifications, this update clarifies the recent extension of expiration dates for role-based exams due to the pandemic. I share my personal experience with expiring Azure and Microsoft 365 credentials and outline the ambiguous renewal process, advising readers to prepare for at least one exam before the extended deadline in July 2021.

If you are concerned about the recent announcement that Microsoft is retiring the MCSA, MCSD, and MCSE certifications by June 30, 2020, this post explains why this shift toward role-based training is actually a positive evolution in the IT industry. I break down exactly which credentials are being phased out, what the new certification paths look like, and what steps you should take now to ensure your professional development remains on track.