Why create a SQL Server Test premise environment in Azure cloud? One of the first steps into moving to Azure cloud, is building an environment that looks a feels like premise but only in the cloud. This session is an overview of getting started with basics of Azure environment, such as Accounts, virtual networks, Storage and creating virtual machines.. Once we fly by reviewing several building blocks, we then build Active Directory VM, SQL Server VM and App Server Tier VM using Azure portal and PowerShell.