☁️ How to Create a Virtual Machine on Azure Using Windows (Beginner’s Guide)
Are you interested in creating a virtual machine (VM) on Microsoft Azure? Whether you're learning cloud computing or need a Windows server for development or testing, Azure makes it easy to set up a VM in just a few steps.
In this tutorial, I’ll walk you through creating a Windows-based virtual machine on Azure—no advanced skills required!
📌 What You'll Need
- A Microsoft Azure account 👉 Sign up here if you don't have one. You’ll get 12 months of free services and $200 credit for 30 days.
🚀 Step 1: Log in to Azure Portal
- Go to https://portal.azure.com.
- Sign in with your Microsoft account.
- You’ll land on the Azure Dashboard.
🧱 Step 2: Create a New Virtual Machine
- On the left menu, click "Virtual Machines" or search for it in the top search bar.
- Click “+ Create” > “Azure virtual machine”.
📝 Step 3: Configure Basic Settings
Under the Basics tab:
- Subscription: Choose your default subscription.
-
Resource Group: Click Create new and give it a name (e.g.,
virtualmrg). -
Virtual Machine Name: Example:
virtualm-vm. - Region: Choose the nearest data center (e.g., UK East).
- Availability options: Leave as default.
- Image: Choose Windows 11 Pro, Windows Server 2022, etc.
-
Size: Click "See all sizes" to select a size like
Standard_B1s(free tier eligible). - Username: Create a username for remote login.
- Password: Choose a strong password.
- Inbound Port Rules: Allow RDP (port 3389).
Click Next or go straight to Review + create.
🌐 Step 4: Networking (Optional)
Azure will create:
- A virtual network
- A subnet
- A public IP address
You can leave these settings as default unless you have custom requirements.
✅ Step 5: Review and Create
- Click Review + create.
- Azure validates your configuration.
- Click Create to deploy the VM.
The deployment may take a few minutes.
🔗 Step 6: Connect to Your Virtual Machine
- Go to your Virtual Machine resource.
- Click Connect > RDP.
- Download the .rdp file.
- Open it and enter your username/password.
🎉 You’re now connected to your Windows VM running in the Azure cloud!
🔒 Security Tip
After your VM is live:
- Consider changing the RDP port.
- Restrict RDP access using Network Security Groups (NSG).
- Enable Just-In-Time VM Access for added protection.
💡 Why Use Azure Virtual Machines?
- ✅ Scalable resources
- ✅ Global availability
- ✅ Fast deployment
- ✅ Perfect for dev/test environments
📣 Final Thoughts
Creating a Windows virtual machine on Azure is a powerful way to explore the cloud. You can test apps, learn server management, or run remote environments—all from your browser.
Have you tried deploying a VM yet? Let me know your experience or ask questions in the comments! 👇
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