Deploying and Running Your First Azure Virtual Machine

Libraries: If you want this lab, consider one of these libraries.
Cloud

Deploying and Running Your First Azure Virtual Machine

In this hands-on lab, you will use the Azure portal to create and connect to a simple Azure virtual machine. You will log in to the Azure portal and create a virtual machine, then connect to the virtual machine via RDP. Finally, you will use the Azure portal to stop the virtual machine. After completing this lab, you will have gained the experience required to create and connect to your first Azure virtual machine.

Get started Contact sales

Lab Info

Level

Beginner

Last updated

Sep 23, 2025

Duration

30m

Challenge

Log In to the Azure Portal

With a supported browser of your choice, log in to the Azure portal using the credentials provided on the lab page. We recommend that you use an incognito or private browsing window to ensure you're using the lab account, rather than your own.
Challenge

Create a New Virtual Machine

In the Azure portal, navigate to the Virtual machines dashboard and create a Windows Server 2019 Datacenter - Gen 2 virtual machine in the same region as the provisioned resource group. Choose a username and password that's easy for you to remember. (The solution video uses acg-admin as the username and Admin123456! as the password.)
Challenge

Connect to Your New Virtual Machine

In the Azure portal, download the RDP file for the virtual machine. Then, connect to it using the Remote Desktop client you have installed.
Challenge

Stop the Virtual Machine

In the Azure portal, stop the virtual machine and verify that it has been stopped.

About the author

Pluralsight Skills

Pluralsight Skills gives leaders confidence they have the skills needed to execute technology strategy. Technology teams can benchmark expertise across roles, speed up release cycles and build reliable, secure products. By leveraging our expert content, skill assessments and one-of-a-kind analytics, keep up with the pace of change, put the right people on the right projects and boost productivity. It's the most effective path to developing tech skills at scale.

Real skill practice before real-world application

Hands-on Labs are real environments created by industry experts to help you learn. These environments help you gain knowledge and experience, practice without compromising your system, test without risk, destroy without fear, and let you learn from your mistakes. Hands-on Labs: practice your skills before delivering in the real world.

Learn by doing

Engage hands-on with the tools and technologies you’re learning. You pick the skill, we provide the credentials and environment.

Follow your guide

All labs have detailed instructions and objectives, guiding you through the learning process and ensuring you understand every step.

Turn time into mastery

On average, you retain 75% more of your learning if you take time to practice. Hands-on labs set you up for success to make those skills stick.