Azure Verified Modules (AVM) are a collection of pre-built, reusable Infrastructure as Code (IaC) components that have been thoroughly vetted by Microsoft and its partners. These modules are designed to streamline the deployment of cloud resources on Azure, ensuring that they adhere to industry best practices and security standards.

What Are Azure Verified Modules?

Azure Verified Modules serve as standardized building blocks for deploying Azure resources. They are:

• Pre-built: Ready to use without the need for extensive custom coding.
• Tested and Verified: Each module undergoes rigorous testing to ensure functionality and security.
• Compliant with Best Practices: They align with the Azure Well-Architected Framework, ensuring deployments are secure, reliable, and efficient.

These modules can be utilized in various IaC tools, primarily Bicep and Terraform, allowing for consistent deployment strategies across different environments.

Key Benefits of Azure Verified Modules

• Time Efficiency: Developers can rapidly deploy infrastructure without needing to write extensive custom code, reducing development time significantly.
• Security and Compliance: Each module is designed with security in mind, minimizing the risk of misconfigurations that could lead to vulnerabilities or downtime.
• Consistency Across Deployments: Using AVM ensures uniformity in how resources are deployed, which is crucial for maintaining operational efficiency across development, staging, and production environments.
• Active Maintenance and Support: These modules are regularly updated by Microsoft and community contributors, ensuring they remain relevant with the latest features and best practices.

Types of Modules

Azure Verified Modules can be categorized into two main types:

• Resource Modules: These modules focus on individual Azure services. For instance, a resource module could set up a virtual machine along with its necessary configurations.
• Pattern Modules: These provide a more comprehensive solution by bundling multiple resources together. For example, a pattern module might deploy an entire application environment that includes load balancers, virtual machines, and security features.

Getting Started with Azure Verified Modules

To begin using Azure Verified Modules:

1. Explore Available Modules: Visit the Azure Verified Modules repository on GitHub or the official Azure documentation to browse available modules.
2. Integrate into Your Project: Select the modules that fit your project requirements and integrate them into your IaC configurations using Bicep or Terraform.
3. Test Before Full Deployment: It’s advisable to test the selected modules in a controlled environment to validate their functionality before deploying them in production.

Conclusion

Azure Verified Modules represent a significant advancement in simplifying cloud infrastructure deployment. By leveraging these pre-built components, organizations can accelerate their cloud adoption while ensuring compliance with best practices and maintaining high security standards. This initiative not only reduces the burden on developers but also enhances collaboration across teams by providing a unified approach to resource management in Azure.