Integrating ARM Templates with Azure Blueprints | Azure ARM Tutorial

Welcome to the tutorial on integrating ARM templates with Azure Blueprints in Azure Resource Manager (ARM). Azure Blueprints provide a powerful way to enforce governance and compliance policies during infrastructure deployments by combining ARM templates with predefined artifacts, policies, and access controls. In this tutorial, you will learn how to integrate ARM templates with Azure Blueprints to create repeatable, standardized, and governed infrastructure deployments.

Introduction to Azure Blueprints

Azure Blueprints is a service in Azure that allows you to define a repeatable set of resources, policies, and roles that can be applied to multiple environments. By using Azure Blueprints, you can enforce standards and compliance requirements across your organization while providing a consistent deployment experience.

Integrating ARM templates with Azure Blueprints provides several benefits:

Standardization: Azure Blueprints enable you to define a set of standardized resources and configurations that can be consistently deployed across environments.
Governance: With Azure Blueprints, you can enforce policies and access controls to ensure compliance with organizational requirements and security standards.
Repeatability: By combining ARM templates with Azure Blueprints, you can create reusable and repeatable deployment scenarios, simplifying the provisioning process.

Example of Integrating ARM Templates with Azure Blueprints

Let's explore an example to understand how ARM templates can be integrated with Azure Blueprints:

1. Create an Azure Blueprint

Create an Azure Blueprint by defining the desired set of resources, policies, and access controls that need to be deployed. This can include VMs, storage accounts, networking configurations, RBAC roles, and more.

2. Add ARM Template Artifacts

Add ARM template artifacts to the Azure Blueprint. These artifacts will reference your ARM templates and specify the deployment configurations, such as parameter values and resource group locations.


{
  "$schema": "https://schema.management.azure.com/schemas/2018-05-01/subscriptionDeploymentTemplate.json#",
  "contentVersion": "1.0.0.0",
  "parameters": {
    "resourceGroupName": {
      "type": "string",
      "metadata": {
        "displayName": "Resource Group Name",
        "description": "The name of the resource group."
      }
    }
  },
  "variables": {},
  "resources": [
    {
      "type": "Microsoft.Resources/deployments",
      "apiVersion": "2019-10-01",
      "name": "armDeployment1",
      "properties": {
        "mode": "Incremental",
        "templateLink": {
          "uri": "https://myblobstorage.blob.core.windows.net/templates/myarmtemplate.json",
          "contentVersion": "1.0.0.0"
        },
        "parameters": {
          "resourceGroupName": {
            "value": "[parameters('resourceGroupName')]"
          }
        }
      }
    }
  ]
}

3. Assign the Azure Blueprint

Assign the Azure Blueprint to a subscription or management group to initiate the deployment. During the assignment, you can provide input parameters required by the ARM templates and specify any additional policies or access controls.

Steps for Integrating ARM Templates with Azure Blueprints

Follow these steps to integrate your ARM templates with Azure Blueprints:

1. Prepare the ARM Templates

Create or modify your ARM templates to align with the infrastructure configurations and resources defined in the Azure Blueprint. Ensure that the templates are parameterized and flexible enough to accommodate different environments.

2. Create an Azure Blueprint

Create an Azure Blueprint by defining the desired set of resources, policies, and access controls that need to be deployed. Specify the artifacts that reference your ARM templates and define any required parameters.

3. Assign the Azure Blueprint

Assign the Azure Blueprint to a subscription or management group. During the assignment, provide the required parameter values for the ARM templates and configure any additional policies or access controls as needed.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Not properly aligning the ARM templates with the Azure Blueprint artifacts, leading to deployment errors and inconsistencies.
Not considering the dependencies between the resources defined in the ARM templates and the policies defined in the Azure Blueprint, resulting in conflicts or compliance issues.
Forgetting to update the ARM template artifact references in the Azure Blueprint when making changes to the template's location or content.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Can I update an assigned Azure Blueprint with new ARM templates?
A: Yes, you can update an assigned Azure Blueprint by adding or modifying the ARM template artifacts. However, be cautious when making changes that affect already deployed resources, as they may require manual intervention or remediation.
Q: Can I assign an Azure Blueprint to multiple subscriptions?
A: Yes, Azure Blueprints can be assigned to multiple subscriptions or management groups, allowing for consistent deployments and governance across multiple environments.
Q: Can I use parameters in the ARM templates referenced by Azure Blueprint artifacts?
A: Yes, you can use parameters in the ARM templates referenced by Azure Blueprint artifacts. This enables you to provide dynamic values during the assignment process, allowing for customization and flexibility.
Q: Can I use Azure Policy with Azure Blueprints?
A: Yes, you can use Azure Policy alongside Azure Blueprints to enforce compliance and governance. Azure Policy can be applied to the resources deployed through the ARM templates referenced by the Azure Blueprint artifacts.
Q: Can I track the compliance status of Azure Blueprint deployments?
A: Yes, Azure Blueprints provide built-in compliance tracking and reporting. You can monitor the compliance status of your deployments and take corrective actions if any resources are non-compliant.

Summary

In this tutorial, you learned how to integrate ARM templates with Azure Blueprints to create standardized and governed infrastructure deployments. By combining ARM templates with Azure Blueprints, you can enforce governance policies, ensure compliance, and streamline the deployment process. Avoid common mistakes, follow the steps provided, and refer to the FAQs to effectively integrate ARM templates with Azure Blueprints. Start leveraging the power of Azure Blueprints to achieve consistency, compliance, and repeatability in your infrastructure deployments.