3:00 PM - 4:00 PM EST
Microsoft Azure can feel overwhelming because it’s not one product - it’s an ecosystem. In this session, we'll start with the foundational Cloud concepts, then build a practical mental model of Azure fundamentals that you can apply immediately, whether you’re new to cloud or transitioning from on-prem. You’ll learn how Azure is organized (subscriptions, resource groups, regions), how identity and access work (Entra ID, RBAC), and how core services fit together for real workloads: compute, storage, networking, and security.
Instead of memorizing service names, we’ll focus on decision points: when to use IaaS vs PaaS, how to think about availability, resiliency, and cost, and what “secure by default” looks like in Azure. You’ll walk away able to explain Azure clearly, navigate the Azure portal with confidence, and make sensible first choices for a pilot or learning path - including what to study next if you’re aiming for the Azure Fundamentals Certification Exam (AZ-900) or beyond.
You'll walk away with:
- A clear Azure mental model: regions, subscriptions, resource groups, and how services connect in real architectures.
- Practical decision framework: IaaS vs PaaS, security basics, resiliency, and cost considerations for common scenarios.
- Your “first 30 days” Azure plan: what to try hands-on, what to learn next, and how to build confidence fast without overload.
Meet Sucheta Gawade
Sucheta Gawade is a technology leader with nearly two decades of experience designing and engineering endpoint and security solutions that protect enterprise devices, applications, and data. She currently serves as Manager, Client Infrastructure Design at a U.S. healthcare organization, where she leads secure, scalable endpoint architecture and engineering in a regulated environment - strengthening device reliability, security posture, and operational resilience at scale.
A global speaker, tech-content creator, and tech-mentor, Sucheta holds 20+ technical certifications and has presented at Microsoft Ignite, while also speaking at and co-organizing industry-leading technology conferences.
She is a two-time Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) award winner in Azure and Security, and an Omnissa Tech Insider - recognized for technical expertise and community contribution. She is also the WomenTech “Software Engineering Leader of the Year” Gold award recipient for inclusive leadership and mentorship - advancing women in tech through structured, formal mentoring that helps professionals build technical skills, confidence, visibility, and measurable career momentum.
Tuesday, July 21, 2026
3:00-4:00 p.m. Eastern Time
| 7/21/2026 |    |