Azure free account and credits - Mini Project: Build & Apply

Azure Free Account and Credits Setup

📖 Scenario: You want to start learning cloud computing with Microsoft Azure without paying anything initially. Azure offers a free account with credits to explore its services.In this project, you will simulate the process of setting up an Azure free account and managing your free credits.

🎯 Goal: Create a simple data structure to represent your Azure free account details and credits. Then, configure your monthly credit limit, calculate remaining credits after usage, and finalize your account setup.

📋 What You'll Learn

Create a dictionary to store Azure free account details including 'account_id', 'subscription_type', and 'initial_credits'.

Add a variable to set the monthly credit limit.

Calculate the remaining credits after a given usage amount.

Add a final confirmation flag to indicate the account setup is complete.

💡 Why This Matters

🌍 Real World

Cloud beginners often start with free accounts to explore services without cost. Managing credits helps avoid unexpected charges.

💼 Career

Understanding how to track and manage cloud credits is essential for cloud administrators and developers to optimize resource usage and budget.

1

Create Azure Free Account Details

Create a dictionary called azure_account with these exact entries: 'account_id': 'AZ12345', 'subscription_type': 'Free', and 'initial_credits': 200.

Azure

# Create the azure_account dictionary with specified keys and values
# Your code here

Hint

Use curly braces to create a dictionary and separate key-value pairs with commas.

2

Set Monthly Credit Limit

Add a variable called monthly_credit_limit and set it to 50 to represent the monthly spending limit from your free credits.

Azure

azure_account = {'account_id': 'AZ12345', 'subscription_type': 'Free', 'initial_credits': 200}
# Set the monthly_credit_limit variable to 50
# Your code here

Hint

Just assign the number 50 to the variable monthly_credit_limit.

3

Calculate Remaining Credits After Usage

Create a variable called used_credits and set it to 20. Then create another variable called remaining_credits that subtracts used_credits from azure_account['initial_credits'].

Azure

azure_account = {'account_id': 'AZ12345', 'subscription_type': 'Free', 'initial_credits': 200}
monthly_credit_limit = 50
# Set used_credits to 20 and calculate remaining_credits
# Your code here

Hint

Subtract used_credits from the initial_credits value in the dictionary.

4

Finalize Account Setup

Add a boolean variable called account_setup_complete and set it to True to indicate the Azure free account setup is finished.

Azure

azure_account = {'account_id': 'AZ12345', 'subscription_type': 'Free', 'initial_credits': 200}
monthly_credit_limit = 50
used_credits = 20
remaining_credits = azure_account['initial_credits'] - used_credits
# Set account_setup_complete to true
# Your code here

Hint

Use True (capital T) to set the boolean variable.

Practice

1. What is the initial credit amount provided by an Azure free account for new users?

easy

A. $300 credits for 15 days

B. $100 credits for 60 days

C. $200 credits for 30 days

D. $50 credits for 90 days

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand Azure free account benefits

   Azure free account offers a credit amount to new users to try services without cost.

2. Step 2: Recall the exact credit and duration

   The free account provides $200 credits valid for 30 days after signup.

3. Final Answer:

   $200 credits for 30 days -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   Azure free account credit = $200 for 30 days [OK]

Hint: Remember $200 credit lasts 30 days for new Azure accounts [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing credit amount with other cloud providers
• Mixing up credit duration with 12-month free services
• Assuming credits renew automatically after 30 days

2. Which of the following statements correctly describes the Azure free account signup process?

easy

A. You must provide a credit card to verify your identity, but you won't be charged initially.

B. You can sign up anonymously without any payment method.

C. You must pay a small fee to activate the free account.

D. You need to provide a phone number only, no credit card required.

Solution

1. Step 1: Review Azure signup requirements

   Azure requires a credit card to verify identity during free account signup.

2. Step 2: Confirm no initial charges

   The credit card is for verification only; no charges occur unless you upgrade.

3. Final Answer:

   You must provide a credit card to verify your identity, but you won't be charged initially. -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Credit card required for verification, no initial charge [OK]

Hint: Azure needs credit card for signup but no immediate charge [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking signup is anonymous without payment info
• Assuming a fee is required to activate free account
• Believing phone number alone is enough for signup

3. After signing up for an Azure free account, which of these services remains free for 12 months?

medium

A. Azure Active Directory Premium

B. Unlimited SQL Database storage

C. All Azure services without limits

D. Virtual Machines with 750 hours monthly

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify free services duration

   Azure free account offers some services free for 12 months after signup.

2. Step 2: Recall specific free service limits

   Virtual Machines are free up to 750 hours monthly for 12 months; other options are incorrect.

3. Final Answer:

   Virtual Machines with 750 hours monthly -> Option D

4. Quick Check:

   VMs free 750 hours/month for 12 months [OK]

Hint: Remember 750 VM hours free monthly for 12 months [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming all services are free without limits
• Confusing SQL Database free tier with unlimited storage
• Thinking Azure AD Premium is free in the trial

4. You signed up for an Azure free account but see a message saying your $200 credit expired after 30 days. What is the likely cause?

medium

A. You used all $200 credits before 30 days

B. You did not upgrade to a paid subscription after 30 days

C. You signed up with an invalid email

D. You did not verify your phone number

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand credit expiration rules

   Azure free credits expire 30 days after signup regardless of usage.

2. Step 2: Identify upgrade requirement

   To continue using services after 30 days, you must upgrade to a paid subscription.

3. Final Answer:

   You did not upgrade to a paid subscription after 30 days -> Option B

4. Quick Check:

   Credits expire after 30 days without upgrade [OK]

Hint: Upgrade subscription to continue after 30 days [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Assuming credits expire only when fully used
• Blaming email or phone verification for credit expiry
• Thinking credits renew automatically monthly

5. You want to maximize your Azure free account benefits. Which strategy correctly uses both the $200 credit and the 12-month free services?

hard

A. Use $200 credit for paid services first, then use 12-month free services after credit expires

B. Use 12-month free services first, then spend $200 credit on other services

C. Spend $200 credit only on 12-month free services to extend their free period

D. Ignore $200 credit and rely only on 12-month free services

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand credit and free service timelines

   $200 credit lasts 30 days; 12-month free services last longer but have usage limits.

2. Step 2: Plan usage to maximize benefits

   Use $200 credit for services not covered by 12-month free tier first, then use free services after credit expires.

3. Final Answer:

   Use $200 credit for paid services first, then use 12-month free services after credit expires -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   Spend credit first, then use 12-month free services [OK]

Hint: Spend credit first, then use free 12-month services [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Trying to extend free services by spending credit on them
• Ignoring credit and missing early trial benefits
• Using free services before credit, losing paid service trial