🧱 1. Typical Full Stack .NET Architecture on Azure
A Full Stack .NET application usually has three layers:
Layer Technology Azure Service
Frontend React, Angular, or Blazor Azure App Service (Web App) or Azure Static Web Apps
Backend / API ASP.NET Core Web API Azure App Service (API App), Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), or Azure Functions (Serverless)
Database / Data Layer SQL Server, Cosmos DB, Blob Storage Azure SQL Database, Azure Cosmos DB, Azure Storage
Optionally, you can integrate Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, and Application Insights for CI/CD, versioning, and monitoring.
⚙️ 2. Preparing Your Full Stack .NET Application
Assume your project looks like this:
/FullStackApp
│
├── /ClientApp → React, Angular, or Blazor WebAssembly (Frontend)
│
├── /ServerApp → ASP.NET Core API (Backend)
│
└── /Shared → Shared DTOs or libraries
Build Locally
Use Visual Studio / VS Code to build both frontend and backend.
Test API endpoints and frontend UI locally before deploying.
Command examples:
dotnet build
dotnet test
dotnet publish -c Release
☁️ 3. Choosing the Right Azure Hosting Services
You have several options depending on your needs:
Scenario Recommended Azure Service
Small/Medium app with minimal ops Azure App Service (PaaS)
Microservices or containerized app Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)
Serverless architecture Azure Functions
Static frontend + API backend Azure Static Web Apps + Azure Functions / API App
🚀 4. Deploying Backend (ASP.NET Core API)
Option 1: Deploy to Azure App Service
Azure App Service is the easiest way to host .NET APIs.
Steps:
Publish directly from Visual Studio
Right-click on your API project → Publish → Azure → Azure App Service.
Choose or create a Resource Group and App Service Plan.
Click Publish → Visual Studio handles the deployment.
Using Azure CLI
az login
az webapp up --name mydotnetapi --resource-group MyResourceGroup --runtime "DOTNETCORE:8.0"
Configure Environment Variables
az webapp config appsettings set --name mydotnetapi --resource-group MyResourceGroup --settings "ASPNETCORE_ENVIRONMENT=Production"
✅ The API is now live on:
https://mydotnetapi.azurewebsites.net
Option 2: Deploy as Containers (AKS or Azure Container Apps)
If your .NET backend runs in Docker:
Dockerize the API
FROM mcr.microsoft.com/dotnet/aspnet:8.0 AS base
WORKDIR /app
COPY . .
ENTRYPOINT ["dotnet", "ServerApp.dll"]
Push to Azure Container Registry (ACR)
az acr create --name myacr --resource-group MyResourceGroup --sku Basic
az acr login --name myacr
docker tag serverapp myacr.azurecr.io/serverapp:v1
docker push myacr.azurecr.io/serverapp:v1
Deploy to AKS
az aks create --resource-group MyResourceGroup --name myAKS --node-count 2 --enable-addons monitoring --generate-ssh-keys
kubectl apply -f deployment.yaml
🎨 5. Deploying the Frontend (React, Angular, or Blazor)
Option 1: Azure Static Web Apps (Best for React/Angular)
Azure Static Web Apps automatically builds and deploys your frontend and backend (if using Azure Functions).
Push code to GitHub
In the Azure Portal → Create Resource → Static Web App
Link your GitHub repository.
Choose:
App location: /ClientApp
API location: /ServerApp
Build output: build or dist
Azure automatically:
Builds the frontend via GitHub Actions.
Deploys it globally with CDN caching.
Connects your backend API.
Option 2: Azure App Service for Full Stack App
If you want both backend and frontend hosted in one App Service:
Publish frontend build files into a wwwroot folder in the API project.
Modify your Program.cs in .NET API to serve static files:
app.UseDefaultFiles();
app.UseStaticFiles();
Deploy via Visual Studio or Azure CLI.
🧩 6. Setting Up the Database
Option 1: Azure SQL Database
For relational data and Entity Framework Core:
Create an Azure SQL Database:
az sql server create --name mydbserver --resource-group MyResourceGroup --location eastus --admin-user adminuser --admin-password P@ssword123!
az sql db create --resource-group MyResourceGroup --server mydbserver --name myappdb --service-objective S0
Update connection string in Azure App Service:
az webapp config connection-string set --resource-group MyResourceGroup \
--name mydotnetapi --settings "DefaultConnection=Server=tcp:mydbserver.database.windows.net;Database=myappdb;User ID=adminuser;Password=P@ssword123!;" \
--connection-string-type SQLAzure
Option 2: Azure Cosmos DB
If you need NoSQL (document-based) storage:
az cosmosdb create --name mycosmos --resource-group MyResourceGroup --kind MongoDB
Use the connection string in your .NET app.
🔄 7. Continuous Integration / Continuous Deployment (CI/CD)
Option 1: Azure DevOps Pipelines
Create a new Pipeline → connect to your Git repository.
Add build and release stages:
Build Stage: Restore, build, and test .NET code.
Release Stage: Deploy to Azure App Service using the Azure WebApp Deploy task.
Example YAML:
trigger:
- main
pool:
vmImage: 'windows-latest'
steps:
- task: UseDotNet@2
inputs:
packageType: 'sdk'
version: '8.x'
- script: dotnet build --configuration Release
displayName: 'Build Project'
- task: AzureWebApp@1
inputs:
azureSubscription: '<ServiceConnection>'
appName: 'mydotnetapi'
package: '$(System.DefaultWorkingDirectory)/**/*.zip'
Option 2: GitHub Actions
Add .github/workflows/deploy.yml:
name: Deploy .NET to Azure
on:
push:
branches: [ "main" ]
jobs:
build-and-deploy:
runs-on: ubuntu-latest
steps:
- uses: actions/checkout@v3
- name: Setup .NET
uses: actions/setup-dotnet@v3
with:
dotnet-version: '8.x'
- name: Publish
run: dotnet publish -c Release -o ./publish
- name: Deploy to Azure Web App
uses: azure/webapps-deploy@v3
with:
app-name: mydotnetapi
publish-profile: ${{ secrets.AZURE_WEBAPP_PUBLISH_PROFILE }}
package: ./publish
📊 8. Monitoring and Logging
Azure Application Insights: Automatically integrates with .NET applications.
builder.Services.AddApplicationInsightsTelemetry();
Provides:
Request and dependency tracking
Error logs
Performance metrics
Distributed tracing
You can view metrics in the Azure Portal → Application Insights.
🔐 9. Security Best Practices
Use Managed Identity instead of storing credentials.
Enable HTTPS Only in App Service settings.
Store secrets in Azure Key Vault.
Restrict public database access (use Private Endpoints).
Enable App Service Authentication (e.g., Azure AD, Microsoft Entra ID).
⚡ 10. Scaling and Optimization
Scaling: Enable Auto-scaling in App Service based on CPU or requests.
Caching: Use Azure Front Door or Azure CDN for frontend.
Queueing: Use Azure Service Bus or Storage Queues for background processing.
Performance Monitoring: Application Insights + Azure Monitor.
✅ Summary
Component Azure Service Purpose
Frontend (React/Blazor) Static Web Apps / App Service Host UI
Backend (ASP.NET Core API) App Service / AKS / Functions Serve business logic
Database Azure SQL / Cosmos DB Store data
CI/CD Azure DevOps / GitHub Actions Automate deployment
Monitoring Application Insights Track health and performance
Security Key Vault, Managed Identity Protect credentials and data
🚀 Bottom Line
Deploying a Full Stack .NET application on Azure is smooth, especially if you:
Use Azure App Service (for simplicity and scalability),
Azure SQL Database (for data),
Automate via Azure DevOps or GitHub Actions, and
Monitor with Application Insights.
You get a fully managed, end-to-end, secure, and scalable .NET environment — ideal for modern DevOps workflows.
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Continuous Integration and Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) in .NET
Using Azure Services for Full Stack .NET Development
Integrating External APIs in Full Stack .NET Applications
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