10 Best Microsoft Azure Devops Courses and Certifications Online

As more organizations transition to cloud-based software development and deployment models, the demand for professionals skilled in Microsoft Azure DevOps continues to rise. To meet this demand and stay competitive in the job market, individuals seek out online courses to enhance their knowledge and skills in this area. This article will explore the top Microsoft Azure DevOps courses available online, analyzing their content, delivery methods, and overall effectiveness in providing learners with a comprehensive understanding of Azure DevOps.

Here’s a look at the Best Microsoft Azure Devops Courses and Certifications Online and what they have to offer for you!

10 Best Microsoft Azure Devops Courses and Certifications Online

1. Azure DevOps Fundamentals for Beginners by Brian Culp (Udemy) (Our Best Pick)

This course titled “Azure DevOps Fundamentals for Beginners” is designed to offer hands-on learning of Azure DevOps, Microsoft’s cloud-based, open-source tool to manage development teams, code, and application deployments. The course instructor Brian Culp, a Microsoft Certified Trainer, helps students understand DevOps by providing context and guidance on the essential Azure DevOps tools such as Boards, Repos, Pipelines, and Test Plans. The course is suitable for IT professionals, project managers, and product owners who want to learn and gain hands-on experience in managing development teams using Azure Boards, setting up Git-based workflows in Azure Repos, performing tests of code using Azure Test Plans, and deploying code artifacts.

The course is presented in an easy-to-follow, step-by-step manner, and each building block is provided the proper context at the time it’s needed. The course assumes no prior exposure to the overwhelming set of terms and technologies that are part of the DevOps landscape, and everything that needs a definition is defined along the way. The course is perfect for beginners who want to better understand a CI/CD workflow used by development teams, and even for those who just want to see if DevOps might be a good career fit.

The instructor Brian Culp has been teaching people about Microsoft solutions for over 15 years, and his courses have been selected by Microsoft as their official training for Office 365 Administrators. The course is highly rated on Udemy, and students have given hundreds of five-star reviews.

Upon completion of the course, students will have gained additional confidence and expertise in topics like managing dev teams using Azure Boards, mapping work items to your organization’s Agile or Scrum processes, connecting to existing code repos in GitHub, building code every time a commit is saved to a Master branch, and deploying a new code artifact when new builds are ready. The course also provides confidence to integrate other tools such as Docker and Maven into your team’s DevOps implementation.

2. Learn Azure DevOps CI/CD pipelines by Houssem Dellai (Udemy)

The “Learn Azure DevOps CI/CD Pipelines” course is designed to provide practical guidance for developers who want to implement Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) for various types of projects. The course covers creating CI/CD pipelines for Java, .NET, NodeJs, Docker, Terraform, Nuget, Xamarin, SQL Server, and ARM templates using Microsoft Azure Cloud, Sonar Cloud, App Center, and Azure DevOps technologies.

The course includes demonstrations for creating CI/CD pipelines for web applications, mobile apps, container-based applications, and database projects. The demos cover unit tests, functional tests, and static source code analysis with Sonar Cloud. Good practices for securing keys and secrets using Azure Key Vault are also covered.

The course is divided into several sections, starting with an introduction to Azure DevOps architecture, followed by specific sections on creating CI/CD pipelines for Java, .NET Core, SQL Server Database, ARM templates, Bicep templates, Kubernetes, Mobile app, Node.js app, GoLang, Nuget packages, and YAML Pipelines. The course also covers securing the pipelines using Azure Key Vault, validating pull requests with build and release, using Terraform for Infrastructure as Code, and using Azure DevOps CLI, Service Principal, and Azure RBAC.

The course features a list of demos that cover CI/CD pipelines for various types of projects, including Java, .NET Core, SQL Server Database, ARM templates, Kubernetes, Mobile app, and Node.js app. The course also covers good practices for securing keys and secrets, YAML pipelines with templates, custom build agents, YAML Pipelines with Stages, Jobs, and Steps, and static code analysis for Kubernetes YAML.

Overall, the “Learn Azure DevOps CI/CD Pipelines” course is a comprehensive guide on implementing CI/CD pipelines for various types of projects using Azure DevOps and related technologies.

3. Getting started with DevOps using Azure DevOps & Docker by Houssem Dellai (Udemy)

This course titled “Getting started with DevOps using Azure DevOps & Docker” is taught by Houssem Dellai. The course focuses on teaching users how to use Azure DevOps to create Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment pipelines that build and publish Docker images from Docker Hub to Azure. The course is targeted towards developers and students who are interested in learning more about Docker and DevOps tools.

The course is practical in nature and does not use slides. It takes only one hour to complete. The course covers the following topics:

1. Install Docker for Linux (or Windows)
2. Create a sample ASP.NET Core Web App
3. Run Web App on Docker
3.1 Pull Docker images from Docker Hub
3.2 Create Dockerfile
3.3 Build Docker image
3.4 Run Docker image
3.5. Dockerignore file (coming soon)
4. Tag the image
5. Push image to Docker Hub
6. Pull the image from Docker Hub
7. Create Web App for Containers on Azure
8. Continuous Integration (CI) with Azure DevOps
8.a Publish source code to Github
8.b create a CI pipeline
8.c Add task: Build Image
8.d Add task: Push Image
8.e Enable CI trigger
9. Continuous Deployment (CD) with VSTS
9.a Configuring the artifacts
9.b Enabling Continuous Deployment trigger
9.c Configuring the environments : Dev, Staging & Prod
10. Run the CI & CD pipelines
11. Working with docker-compose.yml (coming soon)
12. Adding a Database to the project (coming soon)

The course also includes a section on more resources for learning. The course is designed to be accessible and practical for users who are new to Docker and DevOps tools.

4. Azure DevOps Boards for Project Managers/Analyst/Developers by Patrick Videos (Udemy)

This course is titled “Azure DevOps Boards for Project Managers/Analysts/Developers” and is instructed by Patrick Videos. The course focuses on Microsoft’s project management tool, Azure DevOps Boards, which was formerly known as TFS/VSTS.

The course is structured as a fast-paced video tutorial that is simple and easy to follow. Participants will learn how to create Epics, Features, Product Backlogs, and Tasks using Azure DevOps Boards. Additionally, they will learn how to create queries, charts, custom work items, and other features. The video tutorial has been edited down to just 1.5 hours, despite being based on a full-day lecture.

The course has been designed to teach Azure Boards in just a few hours, although it is normally a multi-day class. The video has been edited to keep participants engaged, with no pauses or wasted time.

Reviews of Patrick Videos’ courses are overwhelmingly positive, with many praising his clear and simple explanations. The course is broken down into sections, including Azure DevOps for Project Managers and Analysts.

Overall, this course offers an efficient and thorough introduction to Azure DevOps Boards for individuals working in project management, analysis, or development.

5. CI/CD Pipelines using Azure DevOps by Charles Aylward (Udemy)

The course titled “CI/CD Pipelines using Azure DevOps” is aimed at creating end-to-end DevOps pipelines using the Azure DevOps Platform. The course consists of step-by-step instructions, demonstrations, and labs to help learners configure the pipelines. The course includes an introduction to DevOps fundamentals, the required tools, setting up a development environment, branching and source control, automated testing, DevSecOps security, Microsoft Azure cloud for deployments and Azure DevOps pipelines, creating an ASP.NET Core 3.1 web app and docker files, configuring the CI pipeline on Azure DevOps, configuring the CD/release pipeline on Azure DevOps, and theory on infrastructure as code.

The course is divided into various sections, starting with an introduction to DevOps fundamentals, followed by tools required for DevOps, setting up a development environment, branching and source control, automated testing, and DevSecOps security. The course then covers Microsoft Azure platforms for deployments, creating a web application and docker files, configuring the CI pipeline, configuring the CD/release pipeline, and theory on infrastructure as code. The course also includes advanced lectures on using YAML files on Azure DevOps and an end-to-end Azure pipelines process using YAML.

The course is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the Azure DevOps platform for creating CI/CD pipelines, and the lectures are structured in a step-by-step format. The labs and demonstrations will help learners to gain hands-on experience in configuring the pipelines. The course aims to equip learners with the necessary skills required to create end-to-end DevOps pipelines using the Azure DevOps platform.

6. Azure Devops Crash Course -Build CI/CD release pipelines by Rahul Shetty (Udemy)

This is a crash course on Azure Devops with a focus on building CI/CD release pipelines. The course is instructed by Rahul Shetty and spans 6 hours with real-time examples. The course begins with an introduction to Azure fundamentals and proceeds to cover important core concepts such as creating continuous integration and delivery pipelines, setting up an automated release cycle management, and deploying to Azure and local agent servers.

The course then delves into managing the complete project in Azure portal, including setting up work items, sprint planning, agile scrum boards, backlog, Azure code repo integration, pull requests, code reviews, and merges from Azure portal. Additionally, the course covers creating Docker images using Azure pipelines YAML script. By the end of the course, students will have a thorough understanding of Azure Devops fundamentals and will be prepared to work on related tasks.

The course outline includes an introduction to Azure Devops, deployment basics, CI/CD pipelines, build and release pipelines, Azure repositories and release components, test automation jobs, Docker Hub integration, project management using Azure Devops portal, integrating code repositories to project work boards, and getting started with GitHub basics. The course wraps up with a bonus lecture.

Overall, this course provides a step-by-step tutorial for individuals looking to understand CI/CD pipelines, release activities, Docker, code repos, and project boards in Azure.

7. GIT and Visual Studio with Azure DevOps Repos for Developers by Patrick Videos (Udemy)

The course “GIT and Visual Studio with Azure DevOps Repos for Developers” is designed to help developers transition their source control to the Microsoft cloud with ease. This video provides step-by-step instructions on using Azure DevOps Repos with GIT and Visual Studio. The course starts by introducing Azure Repos and GIT, and then covers all the necessary steps, from creating local projects to managing them in the cloud. No prior experience is required, and a quick reference guide is included for convenience.

The course can be completed in just a few hours, despite the fact that GIT is typically a multi-day class. The video has been tightly edited, with no pauses or wasted time, to keep viewers engaged. The course has been designed with a Tik-Tok style to facilitate learning and maximize retention.

Reviews for the course are overwhelmingly positive. One reviewer praised the clear narration and easy-to-understand line-by-line explanations, while another stated that the instructor had a gift for explaining difficult concepts in a simple way. The course is highly recommended for beginners and newbies.

The course covers Azure Repos with GIT and Visual Studio.

8. Azure DevOps for .NET Developer (CI/CD, Boards, Repo & Wiki) by Bhrugen Patel (Udemy)

This course, titled “Azure DevOps for .NET Developer (CI/CD, Boards, Repo & Wiki),” is instructed by Bhrugen Patel. The course aims to teach the fundamentals of Azure DevOps essential for software development as a .NET Developer.

The course will begin by exploring the need and benefits of Azure DevOps in the absence of DevOps. Following this, the course will delve into the services offered by Azure DevOps.

Designed for individuals with no prior knowledge of Azure DevOps, this course will focus on the basics of managing tickets, building pipelines, and managing Repository. The course will begin from scratch and build everything from the ground up.

The course will cover the following aspects in detail: Azure Repos (to manage all code for software), Azure Pipelines (to build automated CI/CD pipelines), Azure Boards (to manage tickets, tasks, new features, requirements for software development and track them), and Azure Wiki (to add technical documentation on the items within the project).

By the end of this course, learners will be equipped with hands-on development experience with Azure DevOps. Enrolling in this course will allow you to add experience with Azure DevOps to your skill set, making you capable and comfortable enough to use it in your next role.

The course consists of the following sections: Introduction, Organization and Project, Azure Boards, Azure Repos and Git, CI CD Pipelines, Real World Scenarios, and Test Plans.

9. Deploying .Net Microservices with K8s, AKS and Azure DevOps by Mehmet Ozkaya (Udemy)

This course, entitled “Deploying .Net Microservices with K8s, AKS and Azure DevOps,” focuses on deploying .Net microservices to Kubernetes and moving them to the cloud Azure Kubernetes Services (AKS) via Azure Container Registry (ACR). Additionally, the course covers topics such as dockerizing microservices on the docker environment, automating deployments with CI/CD pipelines on Azure DevOps and GitHub, and more. The course involves developing and deploying three microservices together: Shopping MVC Client Application, Shopping API Application, and Mongo Db Database.

The course begins with developing the Shopping MVC Client Application, which involves creating a standalone web application with its own data before adding container support with a DockerFile, pushing the Docker images to Docker hub, and exploring deployment options such as “Azure Web App for Container” resources for one web application. The Shopping API Application is next, which is developed with MongoDb and composes all Docker containers. This API project will have Products data and performs CRUD operations with exposing API methods for consuming from Shopping Client project. The API application is containerized by creating a Dockerfile and pushing images to Azure Container Registry (ACR). Finally, the course addresses the MongoDb Database, which manages product records stored in a No-SQL Mongodb database.

The course focuses on creating docker images, composing docker containers, and deploying these docker container images on local Kubernetes clusters. Participants will also learn how to push images to Azure Container Registry (ACR), shift deployment to the cloud Azure Kubernetes services (AKS), and update microservices with zero-downtime deployments. The last section of the course focuses on automation deployments by creating CI/CD pipelines on Azure DevOps tool. Participants will develop separate microservices deployment pipeline yamls using Azure Pipelines.

10. DevOps Fundamentals with Azure by Packt Publishing (Udemy)

The “DevOps Fundamentals with Azure” course, offered by Packt Publishing, aims to teach learners how to automate builds and deploy code more quickly and efficiently. This course is designed for those who want to adopt a DevOps way of working and learn about the basic tools involved.

The course addresses the common issue of slow development cycles caused by traditional infrastructure management processes, and aims to help learners reduce the time between committing a change and the change being placed into production. By using a set of automation tools, an orchestration platform, and some basic processes, learners can do more with fewer resources and become more engaged in the business process. The course explores Azure, showing various solution architectures with continuous integration and continuous deployment pipeline, which enables learners to deliver value faster to their customers.

The course uses Azure CLI 2.0, which is not the latest version available, but provides relevant and informative content for legacy users of Azure. The author of the course, David Gonzalez, is a Google Developer Expert in Kubernetes (GKE) and an enthusiastic engineer and author of the book “Developing Microservices with Node.js.” He has a skill set that includes Java, Node.js, Python, and DevOps, as well as a holistic approach to security.

The course is divided into several sections, including DevOps in the Real World, Microsoft Cloud Data Centre – Azure, Docker, Continuous Integration, Infrastructure as Code, and Server Provisioning Using Ansible. Each section provides learners with valuable information and skills they can apply in real-world scenarios.