---
title: Preparing the Azure cloud environment
---

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Before you start installing a Kentico project for Microsoft Azure, it can be convenient to configure the cloud environment using the [Microsoft Azure Management Portal](https://portal.azure.com/) and create parts of the system you will need. It is not necessary to create all the parts in advance, but doing so all at once can save you time later.

To run a Kentico project on Microsoft Azure, you will need to create:

- [Azure Storage](#creating-a-microsoft-azure-storage)
- [Azure Cloud Service](#creating-a-microsoft-azure-cloud-service)

An Azure project can use either a standard on premise SQL Server or a cloud server. If you want to use a database service hosted on the Microsoft Azure platform, you also need to create an [Azure SQL Server and a database](#creating-a-microsoft-azure-sql-server-and-a-database)

## Creating a Microsoft Azure Storage

The [Microsoft Azure Storage](https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/storage/) account serves as a file system for your cloud based project. It provides access to the blob, queue and table services.

1. Open the [Azure Management portal](https://portal.azure.com/).
2. Click **Create a resource -> Storage -> Storage account - blob, file, table, queue**.
3. Type a URL (name) of your new Azure storage.
4. Set your preferred security settings
5. Select the Azure subscription under which the storage will be created.
6. Select a Resource Group for the storage or create a new one.
7. Select the location for your storage. We recommend using the same location for all created services.
8. Click **Create**.

Microsoft Azure creates the storage. You can see it listed in the list of storages.

## Creating a Microsoft Azure Cloud service

The [Microsoft Azure Cloud Service](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/cloud-services/) provides an infrastructure for the code and configuration of your project.

1. Open the [Azure Management portal](https://portal.azure.com/).
2. Click **Create a resource -> Compute -> Cloud service**.
3. Type a URL (name) of your new Azure cloud service.
4. Select the Azure subscription under which the Cloud service will be created.
5. Select a Resource Group for the service or create a new one.
6. Select the location of your storage. We recommend using the same location for all created services.
7. Click **Create**.

Microsoft Azure creates the cloud service.

## Creating a Microsoft Azure SQL Server and a database

The Azure SQL Server is a virtual server you can create in the cloud. You will need the server to create databases for your cloud services.

1. Open the [Azure Management portal](https://portal.azure.com/).
2. Click **Create a resource** **->** **Databases -> SQL Database**.
3. Fill out the SQL Database form.
   1. Enter the database name.
   2. Select the Azure subscription under which the database will be created.
   3. Select a Resource Group for the database or create a new one.
4. Click **Server** and fill out the SQL server (logical server) form to create a new Azure SQL database server.
   1. Enter the server name.
   2. Specify server admin credentials.
   3. Select the Azure subscription under which the SQL server will be created.
   4. Select a Resource Group for the server or create a new one.
   5. Select the location of your database. We recommend using the same location for all created services.
   6. Ensure that **Allow Windows Azure services to access the server** is selected.

      - This option adds special firewall rules to allow your deployed Kentico project to access the server and its databases.
   7. Create the Azure SQL server
5. Select a [pricing tier](https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/sql-database/) for the database.
6. Use the default _SQL\_Latin1\_General\_CP1\_CI\_AS_ database collation.
7. **Create** the database.

The portal creates a new server and the associated database. If you want to manage this server locally or use a local emulator, add firewall rules for IP ranges of your development and administration machines:

### Adding firewall rules for a server

1. Select the server.
2. Switch to the **Firewall**tab.
3. Create a new access rule for your desired IP range.

You have now configured the server to be locally accessible.

Proceed to [Installing Kentico Azure projects](https://docs.kentico.com/k11/running-kentico-on-microsoft-azure/running-kentico-in-azure-cloud-services/installing-kentico-azure-projects.md).