Martin Rylko
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Martin Rylko

Senior Cloud Architect & DevOps Engineer. Specializing in Microsoft Azure, IaC, Cloud Security and AI.

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Architect's Blog

Notes from production – Azure, IaC tips, AI in cloud and cloud security news.

Topics:#AI Foundry#AKS#Architecture#Azure#Azure Policy#Bicep#CI/CD#CSPM#Cilium#Cloud#Compliance#Conditional Access#Container Apps#Cosmos DB#Cost Optimization#DCR#Defender for Cloud#Deployment Stacks#DevOps#Entra ID#FOCUS#FinOps#Functions#GDPR#GitHub Actions#Governance#Hub-Spoke#IaC#Kubernetes#Landing Zone#Log Analytics#Microsoft Build#NIS2#Networking#NoSQL#Private Endpoints#Reserved Instances#Security#Serverless#Terraform#Testing#Zero Trust

All articles

6/25/2026 5 min

Azure Private Endpoints Everywhere: Refactoring a Serverless Pipeline From APIM to PE-Only

A practical refactor of a serverless email pipeline from APIM-fronted architecture to a private-endpoint-only end state. Shared PE subnet, Function Apps Premium, Service Bus, and Log Analytics with no public surface.

#Azure#Networking#Private Endpoints#Serverless#Security
6/15/2026 6 min

Azure Cosmos DB Cost Optimization: 8 Levers to Cut Your RU/s Bill

A practical guide to reducing Azure Cosmos DB costs. Provisioned vs Serverless, autoscale tuning, indexing policy, TTL, and multi-region trade-offs with real numbers from running CostSentry.AI.

#Azure#Cosmos DB#FinOps#NoSQL#Cost Optimization
5/30/2026 5 min

Azure Functions Flex Consumption: When to Replace the Premium Plan in 2026

Flex Consumption is the third path between the Consumption and Premium plans for Azure Functions. A practical breakdown of the pricing model, VNet integration, and when to switch off the Premium plan.

#Azure#Functions#Serverless#FinOps
5/20/2026 5 min

Microsoft Build 2026: Foundry, FOCUS 1.3, and Agent Cost Trace

My Microsoft Build 2026 recap from a cloud architect's perspective. The Foundry rebrand, FOCUS 1.3 GA, Agent Cost Trace for AI workloads, and three practical takeaways for enterprise customers.

#Azure#Microsoft Build#AI Foundry#FOCUS#FinOps
4/28/2026 4 min

Bicep Deployment Stacks: Lifecycle Management Without Manual Cleanup

Deployment Stacks in Bicep are a way to manage Azure resources as a coherent unit with denyAssignments, auto-cleanup, and controlled deletion. Practical guide with a migration plan from classic deployments.

#Bicep#Azure#IaC#DevOps#Deployment Stacks
4/15/2026 4 min

Bicep Shared Modules: Skip-if-Exists Pattern Instead of --force

How to publish Bicep modules to ACR in enterprise environments without risking overwriting existing versions. Skip-if-exists pattern, PR validation, and semver hygiene.

#Bicep#Azure#DevOps#IaC#CI/CD
3/15/2026 4 min

AKS Breaking Changes: What Is Retiring in March 2026 and How to Migrate

Windows Server 2019, Azure Linux 2.0, and kubelet certificate rotation – three AKS retirements with March 2026 deadlines. Practical migration guide with CLI commands and Bicep templates.

#AKS#Kubernetes#Azure#DevOps
3/2/2026 5 min

AKS Cilium NetworkPolicy: Migrating From Calico Without Production Downtime

Practical playbook for migrating an AKS cluster from the Calico Network Policy engine to Azure CNI Powered by Cilium. Zero-downtime procedure, eBPF benefits, and typical rollout traps.

#AKS#Kubernetes#Cilium#Networking#Azure
2/26/2026 3 min

Azure FinOps: 7 Steps to Cut Cloud Costs by 30%

Practical Azure FinOps guide – from Cost Management through VM right-sizing to Reserved Instances and auto-scaling. Real savings from enterprise projects.

#Azure#FinOps#Cost Optimization#Cloud
2/10/2026 5 min

Azure Container Apps vs AKS: A 2026 Decision Matrix

When to choose Azure Container Apps and when AKS – cost, operations overhead, networking, and typical use cases. Real decision examples from three different projects.

#Azure#AKS#Container Apps#Kubernetes#Architecture
1/20/2026 5 min

Azure Data Collection Rules: Ingestion-Time PII Masking in Log Analytics

How to mask personal data in Azure Monitor before it is written to Log Analytics. DCR transformations, KQL limitations, and a real lab from a retail environment.

#Azure#Log Analytics#Security#DCR#GDPR
12/15/2025 5 min

Azure Reserved Instances and Savings Plans: A Fiscal Year-End Strategy

A complete guide to buying Azure Reserved Instances and Savings Plans before fiscal year-end. Coverage analysis, exchange rules, and real-world math from enterprise projects.

#Azure#FinOps#Cost Optimization#Reserved Instances
11/15/2025 3 min

Kubernetes AKS Production Checklist for Architects

Kubernetes AKS production readiness checklist covering Azure CNI networking, Workload Identity RBAC, cluster autoscaling, monitoring, and DR strategy.

#Kubernetes#Azure#AKS#DevOps
10/1/2025 6 min

Zero Trust Azure: Conditional Access Policy Design

Design Zero Trust identity architecture with Entra ID Conditional Access policies. MFA enforcement, device compliance, session controls, and named locations for Azure environments.

#Azure#Security#Zero Trust#Conditional Access#Entra ID
9/1/2025 2 min

NIS2 Azure Compliance: Checklist for Architects

NIS2 Azure compliance checklist with concrete steps: Azure Policy governance, Defender for Cloud CSPM, centralized logging, and Zero Trust identity.

#Azure#NIS2#Security#Compliance
8/15/2025 5 min

Terraform Azure Modules: Private Registry and Testing

Build reusable Terraform modules for Azure with private registry publishing, automated testing with Terratest, and versioned module consumption in production.

#Terraform#Azure#IaC#DevOps#Testing
7/1/2025 6 min

Azure Landing Zone Governance: Policy at Scale

Implement Azure Policy governance for Landing Zones at scale. Custom policy definitions, initiative assignments, compliance dashboards, and cost management guardrails.

#Azure#Landing Zone#Governance#Azure Policy#Compliance
6/1/2025 2 min

Terraform Azure Best Practices: Modules & CI/CD

Terraform Azure best practices for production projects. Covers remote state locking, module structure, drift detection, naming conventions, and testing.

#Terraform#Azure#IaC#DevOps
5/15/2025 5 min

Microsoft Defender for Cloud: CSPM Setup Guide

Configure Microsoft Defender for Cloud CSPM for Azure Landing Zones. Secure Score optimization, attack path analysis, regulatory compliance dashboards, and real cost breakdown.

#Azure#Security#Defender for Cloud#CSPM#Compliance
4/15/2025 5 min

Azure Landing Zone Networking: Hub-Spoke with Firewall

Deploy hub-spoke network topology for Azure Landing Zone with Azure Firewall, Private DNS Zones, and VNet peering automation using Bicep modules.

#Azure#Landing Zone#Networking#Hub-Spoke#Bicep
3/15/2025 2 min

Azure Landing Zone with Bicep: Enterprise Setup

Deploy an enterprise-ready Azure Landing Zone using Bicep modules. Covers hub-spoke networking, policy governance, and CI/CD pipeline integration.

#Azure#Bicep#Landing Zone#IaC
2/15/2025 5 min

Bicep CI/CD: GitHub Actions Pipeline for Azure

Build a production Bicep deployment pipeline with GitHub Actions. Covers what-if previews, environment approvals, OIDC authentication, and rollback strategies.

#Bicep#Azure#IaC#DevOps#CI/CD#GitHub Actions