This document provides an overview of Azure Functions, including its triggers, bindings, and design considerations for cloud development. It discusses authentication, security practices, and various Azure services integration, emphasizing the importance of efficient coding and resource allocation. Additionally, it highlights development tools and techniques while offering resources for further learning and exploration.

1. Dipping Your Toe into
Cloud Development with
Azure Functions
Brian T. Jackett
Sr. Premier Field Engineer
Microsoft

3. Sr. Premier Field Engineer at Microsoft
Office 365 Dev / Admin, Azure Dev
Stir Trek Conference Organizer
Blog: www.BrianTJackett.com
Twitter: @BrianTJackett
Email: Brian.Jackett@Microsoft.com

4. Azure Functions v1
• .Net Framework 4.7
• Windows-only
Azure Functions v2
• .Net Core 2.x
• Cross-platform
• GA at Ignite

7. Azure
Functions
Design
Considerations
Authentication
Security
Concerns
Durable
Functions
Tips and
Tricks

9. What are Azure Functions?
Code that runs in response to a triggered event
Components
• Trigger – condition to initiate function
• Input binding – (optional) additional input at start
• Output binding – (optional) where to send output

10. Trigger Input Output
Blob Storage   
Cosmos DB   
Event Grid 
Event Hubs  
HTTP / Webhook  
Mobile Apps  
Notification Hubs 
Queue Storage  
SendGrid 
Service Bus  
Table Storage  
Timer 
Twilio 

11. Two styles of functions
• Pre-compiled (ex. Visual Studio)
• Uncompiled (ex. VS Code or Azure Portal)
Supported languages Experimental languages

12. SharePoint Online
Storage queue
1) Scheduled Azure
Function
2) Read data
from SPO
3) Place records on queue
to be processed
4) Queue triggered
Azure Function
5) Perform designated
actions on targets
Azure Log Analytics
(operational run data)

13. Azure
Azure Portal
Local development (same runtime)
Visual Studio 2017 version 15.5+
-or-
Visual Studio Code + Azure Functions Core Tools

14. Optional but highly recommended
Azure Storage Explorer
• https://aka.ms/azurestorageexplorer
Azure Service Bus Explorer
• https://aka.ms/servicebusexplorer
HTTP API testing tool (Postman or similar)

15. Portal Visual Studio
Authentication +
Security
Super Special
Demo

16. https://aka.ms/BTJAFDemo

17. Portal Visual Studio
Authentication +
Security
Super Special
Demo

18. Azure
Functions
Design
Considerations
Authentication
Security
Concerns
Durable
Functions
Tips and
Tricks

19. Don’t re-invent the wheel
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/patterns/

20. Event driven programming

21. A different style of thinking
Design code to run as fast as possible with smallest footprint

22. Consumption
• Pay per use
• Auto resource allocation
• Max timeout 10 minutes (default 5)
Dedicated
• Pay monthly = App Service Plan
• No “warm up” (Always On setting)
• Flexible resource allocation
• Run > 10 minutes

23. Sample costs: www.HaveIBeenPwned.com
• Uses: 4MM hits / week
• Cost: $7.40 / week

24. Efficiency

25. Azure
Functions
Design
Considerations
Authentication
Security
Concerns
Durable
Functions
Tips and
Tricks

26. What are you
connecting to?
• SharePoint Online
• MS Graph
• Azure Storage
• …
How are you
storing credentials?
• App Settings
• Azure Key Vault

27. Connect to data source (ex. SharePoint Online)
https://aka.ms/BTJAFCertAuth

28. Authentication libraries

29. App Service “Managed Service Identity”

30. App Service App Settings
Azure Key Vault

31. Azure
Functions
Design
Considerations
Authentication
Security
Concerns
Durable
Functions
Tips and
Tricks

32. Azure Services with Public Endpoints
• App service (function)
• Storage
Secure these properly!

33. App Service (function)
• Configure authentication
• Disable anonymous access

34. App Service (function)
• Disable the default homepage
• App Setting
• AzureWebJobsDisableHomepage = True

35. Access keys = keys to the kingdom
• Read / write to entire storage account
• Rotate regularly
• Store securely
• Caution with who has access to keys

36. Shared Access Signature (SAS) token
• Use SAS tokens when possible
• Scoped to Account or Container
• Time bound
• Allowed Permissions
• Allowed IPs

37. Portal Visual Studio
Authentication +
Security
Super Special
Demo

38. Azure
Functions
Design
Considerations
Authentication
Security
Concerns
Durable
Functions
Tips and
Tricks

39. Announcements
Stateful functions

40. How to
handle
errors?

42. Function Chaining
Fan-out / fan-in Human interaction

43. Portal Visual Studio
Authentication +
Security
Super Special
Demo

44. Automatically apply retention labels in SharePoint Online
SharePoint Online
Storage queue
1) Scheduled Azure
Function
2) Read data
from SPO
3) Place records on queue
to be processed
4) Queue triggered
Azure Function
5) Perform designated
actions on targets

45. Azure
Functions
Design
Considerations
Authentication
Security
Concerns
Durable
Functions
Tips and
Tricks

46. • Azure Storage Explorer to see data in storage
• If using app service plan, enable “Always On” setting
• Run Functions locally = no money spent
• Freebies per month…

48. Date / Time Session
Thurs 3:20pm From Zero to Serverless – Chad Green
Fri 2:10pm Building an Ultra-Scalable API Using Azure Functions…
- Chad Green

49. Brian.Jackett@microsoft.com
http://aka.ms/azureicons