Add comprehensive AZ-400 course plan with structured segments covering DevOps foundations, CI/CD practices, security, and exam preparation. Includes interactive demos and key features for enhanced learning experience.

Author: timothywarner

az400-course-plan.md

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+# AZ-400 Course Plan
+
+---
+
+## Segment 1: DevOps Foundations, Source Control, and Artifacts
+- **DevOps Overview**
+  - Core principles: CI/CD, collaboration, automation, monitoring.
+  - Azure DevOps vs. GitHub: when to use each.
+- **Setting Up Projects**
+  - Create a project in Azure DevOps and link it to GitHub.
+  - Sync Azure Boards with GitHub Issues.
+- **Source Control Basics**
+  - Branching strategies: GitFlow, trunk-based, feature flags.
+  - Create branches and enforce policies in Azure Repos and GitHub.
+- **Pull Requests (PRs)**
+  - Create, review, and automate PR workflows.
+  - Link PRs to work items for traceability.
+- **Artifacts**
+  - Publish and manage artifacts in Azure Pipelines and GitHub Packages.
+  - Use artifact feeds for package storage (NuGet, npm).
+- **Interactive Demos**
+  - Use VS Code and GitHub Desktop for workflows.
+  - Publish a package to Azure Artifacts and GitHub Packages.
+
+---
+
+## Segment 2: Continuous Integration (CI)
+- **CI Basics**
+  - Automate build pipelines for code validation and integration.
+- **Azure Pipelines**
+  - Create a YAML-based CI pipeline for a Node.js/.NET app.
+  - Add build steps, triggers, and notifications.
+- **GitHub Actions**
+  - Build a CI workflow using reusable Actions.
+  - Compare YAML workflows in GitHub and Azure Pipelines.
+- **Testing in CI**
+  - Add unit and static analysis tests to pipelines (e.g., NUnit, Jest, SonarCloud).
+- **Pipeline Optimization**
+  - Enable caching to reduce build times.
+  - Analyze build outputs and logs for debugging.
+- **Interactive Demos**
+  - Run a pipeline, view test results, and resolve issues live.
+
+---
+
+## Segment 3: Continuous Delivery (CD)
+- **CD Basics**
+  - Automate deployments with release pipelines and GitHub Actions.
+- **Release Pipelines**
+  - Create release pipelines in Azure DevOps.
+  - Add dev, staging, and production environments.
+- **Deployment Strategies**
+  - Demo blue-green and canary deployments.
+  - Configure rollback steps for fail-safe deployments.
+- **Infrastructure as Code (IaC)**
+  - Use ARM templates, Bicep, or Terraform for automated deployments.
+- **GitHub Environments**
+  - Manage deployment stages and secrets with GitHub Environments.
+- **Interactive Demos**
+  - Deploy an app to Azure App Service using pipelines and GitHub Actions.
+
+---
+
+## Segment 4: Security, Compliance, and Monitoring
+- **DevSecOps**
+  - Shift-left security: early integration into CI/CD pipelines.
+- **Code Analysis**
+  - Use SonarCloud and GitHub Advanced Security for scans.
+- **Secure Secrets**
+  - Manage sensitive data with Azure Key Vault and GitHub Secrets.
+- **Compliance**
+  - Enforce Azure Policy and GitHub branch protection rules.
+- **Monitoring Deployments**
+  - Set up Azure Monitor and Application Insights.
+  - Add alerts and dashboards for live feedback.
+- **Feedback Loops**
+  - Track post-deployment feedback in Azure Boards and GitHub Discussions.
+- **Interactive Demos**
+  - Show a monitored deployment with live telemetry and issue tracking.
+
+---
+
+## Segment 5: Exam Prep and Strategy
+- **Objective Domain Overview**
+  - Recap exam topics: CI/CD, testing, artifacts, monitoring, and IaC.
+- **Practice Questions**
+  - Solve AZ-400-style case studies, drag-and-drop, and multiple-choice questions.
+- **Hands-On Labs**
+  - Explore practice labs in Microsoft Learn (CI/CD and IaC scenarios).
+- **Exam Tips**
+  - Manage time effectively; focus on key tasks during labs.
+- **Resources**
+  - Provide links to Microsoft Learn, sandbox labs, and study guides.
+- **Closing Q&A**
+  - Address final questions and ensure learners are exam-ready.
+
+---
+
+**Key Features**:
+- **Flow**: Logical and compact progression from foundations to advanced topics.
+- **Hands-On**: Demos in every segment using Azure DevOps and GitHub.
+- **Exam-Focused**: Ends with a dedicated segment for AZ-400 exam readiness.