Creating a Windows 10 or Windows 11 virtual machine (VM) in the Azure portal involves a series of steps. But before then understanding the meaning and uses of virtual machine is important.

What is virtual machine?

A virtual machine (VM) is a software-based simulation of a physical computer. It runs an operating system and applications just like a physical computer but operates within a virtual environment created by virtualization software. Think of a virtual machine (VM) as a computer inside your computer. It's a bit like having a computer program that pretends to be a real computer that you can always have access to virtually. Here’s a breakdown of the uses of Virtual Machine:

1. Development and Testing Isolated Environments: Developers can create isolated environments to test applications and software without affecting their primary system. Multi-OS Testing: Test applications on different operating systems and configurations without needing multiple physical machines.
2. Server Consolidation Efficiency: Run multiple virtual servers on a single physical server, which helps in maximizing hardware utilization and reducing costs. Reduced Footprint: Decrease the physical space needed by consolidating many servers into fewer physical machines.
3. Disaster Recovery and Backup Snapshots: Take snapshots of VMs to capture their current state. If something goes wrong, you can revert to a previous snapshot. Replicas: Create replicas of critical VMs to ensure you have a backup ready in case of hardware failure or other issues.
4. Training and Education Controlled Environments: Provide learners with access to various software and operating systems in a controlled environment without needing physical hardware. Hands-On Labs: Create labs for students or trainees to practice with different setups and configurations safely.
5. Cloud Computing Scalability: Provision VMs in the cloud to quickly scale resources up or down based on demand, providing flexibility and efficiency. Pay-as-You-Go: Use cloud-based VMs to pay only for the resources you consume, which can be more cost-effective than maintaining physical servers.
6. Software Development Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD): Use VMs in CI/CD pipelines to build, test, and deploy software in consistent environments. Cross-Platform Development: Develop and test software for different platforms (e.g., Windows, Linux) without needing multiple physical machines.
7. Remote Work and Virtual Desktops Virtual Desktops: Provide employees with virtual desktops that can be accessed remotely, allowing them to work from anywhere with a consistent environment. Centralized Management: Manage and update virtual desktops centrally, which can simplify IT administration.
8. Research and Experimentation Controlled Experimentation: Use VMs to conduct research and experiments with different configurations, operating systems, or software without risking your primary system. e.t.c

Here are the series of Steps to follow when creating Windows 10 or Windows 11 using Virtual Machine.

1. Sign in to Azure Portal Go to Azure Portal and sign in with your Microsoft account.
2. Create a New Virtual Machine

• Navigate to Virtual Machines: In the Azure portal, select "Virtual machines" from the left-hand menu or use the search bar to find it.

• Create a New VM: Click "Create" and then select "Azure virtual machine" from the dropdown.

• Choose a Subscription and Resource Group:

Select your Azure subscription and choose an existing resource group or create a new one. (in my previous blog, i have post on how to create a resource group)

• Configure Basic Settings:

Virtual machine name: Enter a name for your VM.
Region: Choose the region where you want your VM to be located.

Availability options: Select the desired availability options (e.g., Availability zone or Availability set).

Image: Click on the "Browse all public and private images" and search for "Windows 10" or "Windows 11". Select the appropriate image.

Size: Choose a VM size that fits your requirements (e.g., number of CPUs and amount of memory).

Authentication type: Choose "Password" or "SSH public key". If you select "Password", enter a username and password for the VM.

• Configure Disks:

OS disk type: Choose the type of disk for the operating system (Standard SSD, Premium SSD, etc.).
Data disks (if needed): You can add additional data disks if required.

• Configure Networking:

• Virtual network: Select an existing virtual network or create a new one.
  _Subnet: Choose a subnet within the virtual network.

• Public IP: You can create a new public IP or use an existing one if you need remote access.

• Network security group (NSG): Select an existing NSG or create a new one. This will control the inbound and outbound traffic rules. Configure Management, Security, and Advanced Options:

You can configure settings like monitoring, backup, and auto-shutdown in this section. Adjust these settings according to your needs.
Review + Create:

Review all your settings on the final page. If everything looks good, click "Create" to start the deployment process.

1. Access Your Virtual Machine Once the deployment is complete, go to the "Virtual machines" section in the Azure portal. Select your VM from the list. Click on "Connect" and choose "RDP" (for Windows) to download an RDP file or get the IP address and use Remote Desktop Connection to access your VM.