How to Create Virtual Machine in Azure Step by Step

Creating a virtual machine in Azure is one of the first hands-on tasks for anyone learning the platform. Here's a step-by-step walkthrough using the Azure Portal.

Step 1: Sign in to the Azure Portal

Go to the Azure Portal and sign in with your Azure account credentials.

Step 2: Create a New Resource

Click "Create a resource," then search for and select "Virtual Machine."

Step 3: Configure Basic Settings

• Choose a Subscription and Resource Group (or create a new one)
• Enter a Virtual Machine name
• Select a Region close to your target users
• Choose an Image (e.g., Windows Server or a Linux distribution)
• Select a VM size based on your workload's CPU, memory, and cost requirements

Step 4: Configure Administrator Account

Set up an administrator username and choose an authentication method — SSH public key (for Linux) or password (for Windows).

Step 5: Configure Networking

Choose an existing Virtual Network and subnet, or let Azure create one automatically. Configure inbound port rules (e.g., allow RDP for Windows or SSH for Linux).

Step 6: Review and Create

1. Review all configuration settings
2. Click "Review + create"
3. Wait for validation to pass
4. Click "Create" to deploy the VM

Step 7: Connect to Your VM

Once deployment completes, go to the VM's overview page and click "Connect" to access it via RDP (Windows) or SSH (Linux).