Picking the right Azure service
For most business web apps, Azure App Service is the right starting point — not Azure Kubernetes Service, not Azure Functions. App Service handles scaling, SSL, and deployment slots without you managing infrastructure.
Setting up CI/CD with GitHub Actions
Connect your GitHub repo directly in the Azure Portal under Deployment Center. Azure generates a workflow file for you — but it's worth reading through it rather than trusting it blindly, especially the build step targeting the correct .NET version.
Environment variables, not appsettings.json
Never commit secrets to appsettings.json. Azure App Service has a Configuration blade for environment variables that map directly to IConfiguration in your app — the same pattern works whether you're on Azure or a simpler host like Render.
Monitoring after launch
Application Insights is bundled free at low volume and gives you real error tracking and performance data — turn it on before you need it, not after your first outage.