App Service plans and pricing tiers in Azure - Cheat Sheet & Quick Revision

Recall & Review

beginner

What is an Azure App Service Plan?

An Azure App Service Plan defines the set of compute resources (like CPU, memory) that your web apps run on. It determines the performance, features, and cost of your apps.

beginner

Name the main pricing tiers available in Azure App Service Plans.

The main pricing tiers are Free, Shared, Basic, Standard, Premium, PremiumV2, PremiumV3, and Isolated. Each offers different features and resource limits.

intermediate

What feature is unique to the Isolated pricing tier in Azure App Service Plans?

The Isolated tier runs in a private, dedicated Azure Virtual Network, providing network isolation and enhanced security for your apps.

beginner

How does scaling work in Azure App Service Plans?

You can scale up by choosing a higher pricing tier with more resources or scale out by increasing the number of instances to handle more traffic.

intermediate

Why might you choose the PremiumV3 tier over the Standard tier?

PremiumV3 offers faster processors, more memory, better scaling options, and advanced features like faster storage and enhanced networking compared to Standard.

Which Azure App Service Plan tier offers a free option with limited features?

A Premium

B Basic

C Free

D Isolated

The Free tier provides limited resources and features at no cost, suitable for testing and development.

What does scaling out mean in the context of Azure App Service Plans?

A Changing the app code

B Upgrading to a higher pricing tier

C Reducing app features

D Increasing the number of app instances

Scaling out means adding more instances of your app to handle more traffic.

Which pricing tier provides network isolation by running in a private Azure Virtual Network?

A PremiumV2

B Isolated

C Standard

D Shared

The Isolated tier runs in a private network for enhanced security.

If you need faster processors and more memory for your app, which tier should you consider?

A PremiumV3

B Free

C Basic

D Shared

PremiumV3 offers better performance with faster CPUs and more memory.

Which tier is best suited for production apps requiring autoscaling and custom domains?

A Standard

B Basic

C Shared

D Free

Standard tier supports autoscaling and custom domains, suitable for production.

Explain the difference between scaling up and scaling out in Azure App Service Plans.

Think about adding power versus adding more copies.

Describe the benefits of choosing the PremiumV3 tier over lower tiers.

Focus on performance and features.

Practice

1. What does an Azure App Service plan primarily define for your web app?

easy

A. The amount of computing resources like CPU and memory allocated

B. The programming language your app uses

C. The number of users who can access your app

D. The database type your app connects to

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the role of an App Service plan

   An App Service plan defines the compute resources such as CPU, memory, and storage that your app will use.

2. Step 2: Differentiate from other app settings

   It does not control programming language, user count, or database type, which are separate configurations.

3. Final Answer:

   The amount of computing resources like CPU and memory allocated -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   App Service plan = compute resources [OK]

Hint: App Service plan = resources your app runs on [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing App Service plan with app code or database
• Thinking it controls user access limits
• Assuming it sets programming language

2. Which of the following is the correct way to specify a Standard pricing tier in an Azure App Service plan using Azure CLI?

easy

A. az appservice plan create --name MyPlan --resource-group MyGroup --plan-tier Standard

B. az appservice plan create --name MyPlan --resource-group MyGroup --sku Standard

C. az appservice plan create --name MyPlan --resource-group MyGroup --pricing-tier Standard

D. az appservice plan create --name MyPlan --resource-group MyGroup --tier Standard

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall Azure CLI syntax for App Service plan creation

   The correct parameter to specify pricing tier is '--sku' followed by the tier name like 'Standard'.

2. Step 2: Verify other options

   Options using '--tier', '--pricing-tier', or '--plan-tier' are invalid parameters and will cause errors.

3. Final Answer:

   az appservice plan create --name MyPlan --resource-group MyGroup --sku Standard -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Use --sku to set pricing tier [OK]

Hint: Use --sku to set tier in Azure CLI [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Using incorrect parameter names like --tier or --pricing-tier
• Confusing plan name with tier parameter
• Omitting the resource group

3. Given an App Service plan with pricing tier set to 'Basic', what will happen if you try to enable autoscaling for your app?

medium

A. Autoscaling is enabled by default on Basic tier

B. Autoscaling will work because Basic tier supports it

C. Autoscaling will work only during business hours

D. Autoscaling will fail because Basic tier does not support autoscale

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand autoscaling support by pricing tiers

   Autoscaling is supported starting from the Standard tier and above, not in Basic tier.

2. Step 2: Apply this to the Basic tier scenario

   Since Basic tier lacks autoscale support, attempts to enable it will fail or be blocked.

3. Final Answer:

   Autoscaling will fail because Basic tier does not support autoscale -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   Basic tier = no autoscale support [OK]

Hint: Autoscale needs Standard or higher tier [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming Basic tier supports autoscale
• Thinking autoscale is automatic on all tiers
• Confusing Basic with Standard tier features

4. You created an App Service plan with the SKU 'F1' but your app is not accessible publicly. What is the most likely cause?

medium

A. You must assign a custom domain to make it public

B. F1 tier does not support public access by default

C. F1 is a Free tier and may have limited outbound network access

D. F1 tier requires manual SSL configuration before public access

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the Free (F1) tier limitations

   The Free tier (F1) has restrictions including limited outbound network access and possible cold start delays.

2. Step 2: Relate these limits to app accessibility

   Limited network access can cause the app to be unreachable or slow, but public access is allowed.

3. Final Answer:

   F1 is a Free tier and may have limited outbound network access -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   F1 tier = limited network, possible access issues [OK]

Hint: Free tier has network limits causing access issues [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking Free tier blocks public access
• Assuming custom domain is required for public access
• Believing SSL setup is mandatory for access

5. You need to host a production web app with high traffic, custom domains, SSL, autoscaling, and daily backups. Which App Service plan pricing tier should you choose?

hard

A. Standard (S1)

B. Basic (B1)

C. Free (F1)

D. Shared (D1)

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify required features for production app

   High traffic, custom domains, SSL, autoscaling, and backups require a tier with advanced features.

2. Step 2: Match features to pricing tiers

   Standard tier supports autoscaling, custom domains, SSL, and backups. Basic lacks autoscaling and some features. Free and Shared tiers are limited.

3. Final Answer:

   Standard (S1) -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Production needs Standard tier features [OK]

Hint: Standard tier supports autoscale and backups [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Choosing Free or Shared for production needs
• Assuming Basic supports autoscale
• Ignoring backup requirements