🔴 LIVE
🚀 Azure AI Foundry now GA — build, evaluate & deploy AI apps at scale 📢 Windows 365 Link: Microsoft's cloud PC device now shipping 🔐 Microsoft Entra ID: Conditional Access for workload identities update 💡 AVD Insights v2.0 — enhanced diagnostics dashboard released 🌐 Azure OpenAI GPT-4o now available in 12 new regions 🛡️ Defender for Cloud: Agentless container scanning goes GA

🌟 Microsoft All Announcements Recap

AZ-500 retiring July 31, 2026 — Transition to SC-500 SC-500: Cloud & AI Security Engineer — which adds AI model security, pipeline protection, and enterprise AI governance on top of all AZ-500 content.

☁️
🧪

AVD Labs

AZ-140 · Hands-On Labs
🎓 EXAM AZ-140 — AZURE VIRTUAL DESKTOP SPECIALTY - 2026

AZ-140: Configuring & Operating Azure Virtual Desktop

The only Microsoft Specialty certification dedicated to Azure Virtual Desktop. Validates expertise in planning, deploying, managing, and optimising AVD environments for enterprise customers. Recommended by Selvakumar as the definitive AVD career milestone.

🖥️
87%
Pass Rate with Labs
🏗️
🗂️
🔐
📊
💰
🖼️
🔒
🌍
🖱️
🧪
📋
AZ-140 · Exam Details
AZ-140 Exam Overview: Skills Measured, Format, Passing Score & Registration Guide 2025
Specialty · $165 · 100-180 min · 40-60 questions
💡
AZ-140 · Tips & Strategy
AZ-140 Exam Tips from an MCT: Top 10 Focus Areas, Common Pitfalls & Last-Week Prep Plan
By Selvakumar Balakrishnan · MCT 2026
🧪 STEP BY STEP AVD IMPLEMENTATION
Selvakumar B
🌐 PRE-LAB 1
🏗️ Network & Infrastructure
Setup Network & Create Domain Controller (Active Directory)
Deploy VNet, subnets, NSG and provision a Windows Server VM as your Domain Controller foundation.
~1.5 hrs · Foundation Read more →
👑 PRE-LAB 2
👑 Domain Controller
Promote Domain Controller — Configure AD DS Role & Domain
Install AD DS role, run dcpromo, configure the new forest and domain, and validate replication health.
~1 hr · Foundation Read more →
👥 PRE-LAB 3
👥 Users & Groups
Create Users & Groups — Manual and Using PowerShell
Create AD users and security groups manually via ADUC and in bulk via PowerShell scripts with CSV import.
~1 hr · Foundation Read more →
🔌 PRE-LAB 4
🔌 DNS & Static IP
Assign DNS Server to VNet & Static IP to Domain Controller
Configure VNet custom DNS to point to DC private IP, assign static IP on the DC NIC, and validate name resolution.
~45 min · Foundation Read more →
🖥️ PRE-LAB 5
🖥️ Domain Join
Create Additional VM & Add to Domain
Provision a member VM, configure DNS to point at the DC, and domain-join it using both Portal and PowerShell methods.
~1 hr · Intermediate Read more →
🔄 PRE-LAB 6
🔄 Hybrid Identity
Install Microsoft Entra Connect (Azure AD Connect)
Download, install and configure Entra Connect on the DC to sync on-premises AD accounts to Microsoft Entra ID.
~1.5 hrs · Intermediate Read more →
PRE-LAB 7
➕ Second Domain Member
Create Additional VM & Add to Domain
Provision a second member VM (AVD session-host candidate), join it to the domain, and verify GPO application.
~1 hr · Intermediate Read more →
☁️ PRE-LAB 8
☁️ AD Sync
Create AD Users & Sync with Microsoft Entra ID
Create new on-premises AD users, trigger a delta sync via Entra Connect, and confirm accounts appear in Entra ID.
~1 hr · Intermediate Read more →
🏗️ LAB 1
🏗️ Host Pools
Deploy Host Pools & Session Hosts
Create a pooled host pool, configure application groups, deploy Windows 11 Multi-Session session hosts and register them to a workspace.
~2 hrs · Core Read more →
⚙️ LAB 2
⚙️ Management
Manage Host Pools & Session Hosts
Configure load balancing, session limits, drain mode, maintenance windows, and VM updates across pooled and personal host pools.
~1.5 hrs · Core Read more →
🔑 LAB 3
🔑 Entra ID Join
Connect to Session Hosts (Entra ID)
Configure Entra ID-joined session hosts without AD DS — set up SSO, assign VM Login roles and test Windows App connectivity.
~1.5 hrs · Identity Read more →
📈 LAB 4
📈 Autoscale
Implement Autoscaling of Session Hosts
Configure scaling plans with peak/off-peak schedules, set drain policies, enable Start VM on Connect and validate 70% cost savings.
~1.5 hrs · FinOps Read more →
🗂️ LAB 5
🗂️ FSLogix
Implement FSLogix Profile Setup for AVD
Set up Azure Files Premium with Kerberos auth, configure FSLogix registry keys, validate VHDx profile creation and roaming across hosts.
~2 hrs · Profiles Read more →
🔒 LAB 6
🔒 Private Link
Implement Azure Private Link for AVD
Deploy private endpoints for workspace and host pool, configure DNS zones, disable public access and validate private-only session connectivity.
~1.5 hrs · Network Read more →
🖼️ LAB 7
🖼️ Custom Images
Create Custom Session Host Images
Use Azure Image Builder with VDOT optimisations, M365 Apps, and FSLogix to build golden images distributed via Azure Compute Gallery.
~2.5 hrs · Imaging Read more →
📊 LAB 8
📊 Monitoring
Monitoring AVD Desktops
Enable AVD Insights v2.0, configure diagnostic tables, create KQL-based performance and logon failure alerts in Azure Monitor.
~1.5 hrs · Ops Read more →
🛡️ LAB 9
🛡️ Hardening
AVD Hardening
Apply CIS benchmark controls — screen capture protection, watermarking, clipboard restrictions, Defender for Endpoint onboarding and RDP hardening.
~2 hrs · Security Read more →
🔍 LAB 10
🔍 Vulnerability
AVD Vulnerability Reports
Run Defender CSPM attack path analysis, agentless scanning, and Secure Score remediation across AVD session hosts and storage accounts.
~1.5 hrs · Security Read more →
🔧 LAB 11
🔧 Day-2 Ops
AVD Day-2 Operations
Master image updates with zero-downtime rollouts, session host patching via Update Manager, token rotation, and break-glass procedures.
~2 hrs · Operations Read more →
💼 LAB 12
💼 Business Case
Business Case for AVD — Real Examples
Build a compelling AVD business case with TCO calculator, licensing comparison, VDI-to-AVD migration ROI analysis and executive presentation template.
~1 hr · Strategy Read more →
🧪 MICROSOFT AZ 140 LABS
GIT HUB
🏗️ LAB 1
🏗️ Host Pools
Deploy Host Pools & Session Hosts
Create a pooled host pool, configure application groups, deploy Windows 11 Multi-Session session hosts and register them to a workspace.
~2 hrs · Core Read more →
⚙️ LAB 2
⚙️ Management
Manage Host Pools & Session Hosts
Configure load balancing, session limits, drain mode, maintenance windows, and VM updates across pooled and personal host pools.
~1.5 hrs · Core Read more →
🔑 LAB 3
🔑 Entra ID Join
Connect to Session Hosts (Entra ID)
Configure Entra ID-joined session hosts without AD DS — set up SSO, assign VM Login roles and test Windows App connectivity.
~1.5 hrs · Identity Read more →
📈 LAB 4
📈 Autoscale
Implement Autoscaling of Session Hosts
Configure scaling plans with peak/off-peak schedules, set drain policies, enable Start VM on Connect and validate 70% cost savings.
~1.5 hrs · FinOps Read more →
🗂️ LAB 5
🗂️ FSLogix
Implement FSLogix Profile Setup for AVD
Set up Azure Files Premium with Kerberos auth, configure FSLogix registry keys, validate VHDx profile creation and roaming across hosts.
~2 hrs · Profiles Read more →
🔒 LAB 6
🔒 Private Link
Implement Azure Private Link for AVD
Deploy private endpoints for workspace and host pool, configure DNS zones, disable public access and validate private-only session connectivity.
~1.5 hrs · Network Read more →
🖼️ LAB 7
🖼️ Custom Images
Create Custom Session Host Images
Use Azure Image Builder with VDOT optimisations, M365 Apps, and FSLogix to build golden images distributed via Azure Compute Gallery.
~2.5 hrs · Imaging Read more →
📊 LAB 8
📊 Monitoring
Monitoring AVD Desktops
Enable AVD Insights v2.0, configure diagnostic tables, create KQL-based performance and logon failure alerts in Azure Monitor.
~1.5 hrs · Ops Read more →
🛡️ LAB 9
🛡️ Hardening
AVD Hardening
Apply CIS benchmark controls — screen capture protection, watermarking, clipboard restrictions, Defender for Endpoint onboarding and RDP hardening.
~2 hrs · Security Read more →
🔍 LAB 10
🔍 Vulnerability
AVD Vulnerability Reports
Run Defender CSPM attack path analysis, agentless scanning, and Secure Score remediation across AVD session hosts and storage accounts.
~1.5 hrs · Security Read more →
🔧 LAB 11
🔧 Day-2 Ops
AVD Day-2 Operations
Master image updates with zero-downtime rollouts, session host patching via Update Manager, token rotation, and break-glass procedures.
~2 hrs · Operations Read more →
💼 LAB 12
💼 Business Case
Business Case for AVD — Real Examples
Build a compelling AVD business case with TCO calculator, licensing comparison, VDI-to-AVD migration ROI analysis and executive presentation template.
~1 hr · Strategy Read more →
🖥️
🤖
🔐
☁️
🖥️
📊
🛡️
🧠
🌐
💰
🤖
Azure AI · 3h
Azure AI Foundry Studio: Build Custom Copilots with Zero Code Using New Template Library
General Availability · March 2025
🔐
Microsoft Security · 5h
Microsoft Entra Private Access Now Supports Split-Tunneling for AVD & Remote Desktop
Preview → GA · Feb 2025
All Azure Compute AVD / W365 AI + ML Networking Security Storage Cost Management
🔥 Top Stories
See all
☁️
Azure Updates · now
Azure Compute Fleet: Spot + On-Demand mixed workload pools now in 15 new regions
2 hours ago
🖥️
AVD Blog · 4h
Windows App (formerly RD Client) 2.0: Redesigned UI, dark mode and improved session management
4 hours ago
🛡️
Security Blog · 6h
Defender for Cloud now integrates with GitHub Advanced Security for DevSecOps pipeline scanning
6 hours ago
📊
Azure Monitor · 8h
Azure Monitor Baseline Alerts (AMBA) v2.5 — 40+ new alert policies for landing zones
8 hours ago
🧠
AI Blog · 10h
Azure OpenAI Assistants API: File Search tool now supports 20 file types including Excel & PowerPoint
10 hours ago
💾
Storage Blog · 12h
Azure NetApp Files: Cross-region replication now supports 1-minute RPO for mission-critical workloads
12 hours ago
📋 Featured Tutorials & Deep Dives
See all
📘
Microsoft Learn
Step-by-step: Deploy AVD with Azure Bicep, Entra ID join & FSLogix profiles in under 30 minutes
Tutorial · 15 min read
🔧
TechCommunity
Optimizing AVD session host images with Azure Image Builder and shared image gallery — 2025 guide
Deep Dive · 22 min read
🌐
Azure Networking
Azure Virtual Network Manager: Centralized policy enforcement for hub-spoke topologies at enterprise scale
Guide · 18 min read
💰
FinOps Hub
Azure Cost Management: Using Power BI with the FinOps toolkit to visualize and reduce cloud spend 30%
Case Study · 12 min read
🖥️ AVD & Cloud PC — Latest News
See all
🖥️
💻
🔒
🗂️
📋
🖱️
💰
🌍
🤝
🖱️
AVD Blog · 6h
AVD Watermarking & Screen Capture Protection Now Enforced at Hypervisor Level for Regulated Industries
GA · March 2025
💰
FinOps · 7h
AVD Autoscale v2: Cut Idle Host Pool Costs by Up to 65% with New Peak/Off-Peak Drain Policies
Preview → GA · Feb 2025
☁️

AZ-104 Labs

Azure Administrator Associate · 8 Labs
🔐LAB 1
🔐 Identity & Access
Manage Azure AD Users, Groups & RBAC
~1 hrRead more →
🏛️LAB 2
🏛️ Governance
Implement Azure Policy, Blueprints & Management Groups
~1 hrRead more →
💾LAB 3
💾 Storage
Configure Azure Storage Accounts, Blob & File Shares
~1 hrRead more →
🖥️LAB 4
🖥️ Compute
Deploy & Manage Azure Virtual Machines & Scale Sets
~1.5 hrsRead more →
🌐LAB 5
🌐 Networking
Implement VNet, Subnets, NSG & VNet Peering
~1.5 hrsRead more →
⚖️LAB 6
⚖️ Load Balancing
Configure Azure Load Balancer & Application Gateway
~1 hrRead more →
📊LAB 7
📊 Monitoring
Monitor Resources with Azure Monitor, Alerts & Log Analytics
~1 hrRead more →
🔄LAB 8
🔄 Backup & Recovery
Implement Azure Backup, Site Recovery & Snapshots
~1 hrRead more →
🎓
AZ-104: Azure Administrator Associate
8 hands-on labs covering identity, governance, storage, compute, networking, load balancing, monitoring and backup — fully aligned to the AZ-104 exam objectives. Click any card to open the full step-by-step lab guide.
Exam Details →
🔐

AZ-500 Labs

Azure Security Engineer · Retiring Jul 2026
👑LAB 1
👑 Privileged Identity
Manage Azure AD PIM — Just-In-Time Access & Access Reviews
~1.5 hrsRead more →
🗝️LAB 2
🗝️ Key Vault
Configure Key Vault — Secrets, Keys, Certificates & Managed Identity
~1 hrRead more →
🛡️LAB 3
🛡️ Network Security
Implement NSG, Azure Firewall, Bastion & DDoS Protection
~1.5 hrsRead more →
🔍LAB 4
🔍 Defender for Cloud
Enable Defender for Cloud, Secure Score & Vulnerability Remediation
~1 hrRead more →
📡LAB 5
📡 Sentinel
Deploy Microsoft Sentinel — Analytics Rules, KQL & Incident Response
~2 hrsRead more →
🔒LAB 6
🔒 Conditional Access
Configure Conditional Access, MFA & Identity Protection Policies
~1 hrRead more →
⚠️
AZ-500 retiring July 31, 2026 — Transition to SC-500
Complete these 6 labs before July 2026 or pivot to SC-500: Cloud & AI Security Engineer — which adds AI model security, pipeline protection, and enterprise AI governance on top of all AZ-500 content.
View SC-300 Labs →
🪪

SC-300 Labs

Identity & Access Administrator · 6 Labs
👤LAB 1
👤 User Management
Manage Entra ID Users, Groups & External B2B Identities
~1 hrRead more →
🚪LAB 2
🚪 Conditional Access
Implement Conditional Access Policies, Named Locations & MFA
~1 hrRead more →
👑LAB 3
👑 Privileged Access
Configure PIM, Access Reviews & Entitlement Management Policies
~1.5 hrsRead more →
📱LAB 4
📱 App Registration
Register Enterprise Apps, App Roles, SSPR & OAuth 2.0 Scopes
~1 hrRead more →
🌍LAB 5
🌍 External Identities
Configure Azure AD B2B, B2C & Cross-Tenant Collaboration
~1 hrRead more →
🔑LAB 6
🔑 Identity Protection
Configure Identity Protection — Risk Policies, Sign-in Logs & SSPR
~1 hrRead more →
🪪
SC-300: Microsoft Identity and Access Administrator
6 hands-on labs covering Entra ID user management, Conditional Access, PIM, app registration, external identities and Identity Protection — fully aligned to SC-300 exam objectives. Click any card to open the lab guide.
Exam Details →
🤖

AI-103 Labs

AI App & Agent Developer · 7 Labs
🏗️LAB 1
🏗️ AI Foundry Setup
Create AI Foundry Hub & Project, Deploy GPT-4o from Model Catalogue
~1 hrRead more →
💬LAB 2
💬 Generative AI App
Build a Chat App with Azure OpenAI SDK — Streaming, System Prompts & History
~1.5 hrsRead more →
🔍LAB 3
🔍 RAG Pipeline
Build RAG App with Azure AI Search — Ingest, Chunk, Embed & Retrieve Documents
~2 hrsRead more →
⚗️LAB 4
⚗️ Prompt Flow
Build & Evaluate an LLM Pipeline with Prompt Flow — DAG, Tracing & Quality Gates
~2 hrsRead more →
🤖LAB 5
🤖 Single Agent
Build an AI Agent with Tool Use — Bing Search, Code Interpreter & Azure Functions
~2 hrsRead more →
🕸️LAB 6
🕸️ Multi-Agent
Implement Multi-Agent Orchestration — Orchestrator, Specialist Agents & Handoff
~2.5 hrsRead more →
🛡️LAB 7
🛡️ Safe Deployment
Deploy Agent to Managed Endpoint with Content Safety & Responsible AI Evaluation
~1.5 hrsRead more →
🤖
AI-103: AI App & Agent Developer Associate — Beta April 2026
7 hands-on labs covering AI Foundry setup, generative AI apps, RAG pipelines, Prompt Flow, single-agent with tools, multi-agent orchestration, and safe production deployment — fully aligned to AI-103 exam objectives replacing AI-102.
Exam Details →
SB
VERIFIED PROFILE

Selvakumar Balakrishnan

MCSE · MCT · MCP
Senior Principal SRE  ·  Microsoft Cloud Architect  ·  AVD Specialist
📍 Bengaluru, India 🏢 Site Reliability Engineering 🎓 MCSE · MCT 2026  ·  MCP 2026
LinkedIn 📧 Contact Me 📥 Download CV
10+
Years in Azure
200+
AVD Deployments
5K+
Engineers Mentored
3
Global Industries Served

👤 Professional Profile

I am Selvakumar Balakrishnan, a Senior Principal SRE and seasoned Microsoft Cloud Architect based in Bengaluru, India. With over a decade of hands-on experience, I specialise in designing, deploying, and optimising enterprise-scale cloud infrastructure across financial services, healthcare, and government sectors.

My work sits at the intersection of modern workplace technology, cloud security, and digital transformation. As an Azure Virtual Desktop specialist, I lead complex AVD and Windows 365 programmes — from architecture and security hardening to cost optimisation and operational excellence.

As a Microsoft Certified Solutions Expert (MCSE), Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT 2026) and Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP 2026), I am passionate about building community knowledge — this hub reflects that mission, delivering the latest Azure, AVD, and Cloud PC insights backed by real-world deployment experience.

🎯 Areas of Expertise

Azure Virtual Desktop Windows 365 / Cloud PC Site Reliability Engineering Microsoft Entra ID Azure Landing Zones FSLogix & Profile Management Microsoft Intune & Autopilot Azure Security & Defender FinOps & Cost Optimisation DevOps · Bicep · ARM · Terraform Azure Monitor & Observability Agile & Scrum Delivery
Certifications & Credentials
MCT
Microsoft Certified Trainer
Microsoft · Valid 2026
ACTIVE
MCP
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft · Valid 2026
ACTIVE
MCSE
Most Valuable Professional
Microsoft · Azure Category
ACTIVE
PMP
Project Management Professional
PMI · Global Standard
CERTIFIED
CSM
Certified Scrum Master
Scrum Alliance · Agile
ACTIVE
✔ Verified on Credly & Microsoft Learn
🤝 Connect with Selva
linkedin.com/in/selva177
Open to speaking engagements, training workshops, cloud advisory, and community collaborations across the Microsoft ecosystem.
📍 Bengaluru, Karnataka, India