What it does
Azure Virtual Machines provides Linux and Windows VMs on Microsoft Azure. The portal quickstart creates a resource group, selects a region and Ubuntu image, chooses a VM size, sets SSH-key authentication and inbound ports, reviews the configuration, and deploys. The same product also has documented CLI and PowerShell creation paths, and supports adding application software after connecting to the VM.
Azure's portal-first quickstart is a practical route from an empty project to a reachable Linux server: create the resource group and VM, generate an SSH key, allow the required ports, connect, and install a web server. The page explicitly warns that its example size and pricing depend on region and subscription. Azure also offers reserved, savings-plan, and Spot purchase options, but the service's core pay-as-you-go cost is still shaped by VM size, operating system, and related resources.
Strengths
- The quickstart walks through creating a Linux VM, obtaining an SSH key, connecting to it, and installing a web server.
- The product supports Linux and Windows and offers multiple VM families for different workloads.
- The pricing page documents pay-as-you-go billing as well as reserved, savings-plan, and Spot purchase options.
Watch out for
- Storage disks and standard outbound data transfer are billed separately from VM compute.
- The operator must select appropriate access rules and manage the guest OS and software after deployment.
Best for
- Linux or Windows workloads that need a configurable VM in Azure.
- Teams that provision VMs through the Azure portal, CLI, or PowerShell and want to manage them alongside other Azure resources.
Sources
- Azure Virtual Machines | Microsoft Azure (Oct 25, 2026)
- Quickstart - Create a Linux VM in the Azure portal - Azure Virtual Machines | Microsoft Learn (Oct 25, 2026)
- Pricing - Linux Virtual Machines | Microsoft Azure (Oct 25, 2026)