Azure VPS setup notes » History » Revision 64
Revision 63 (Jon Goldberg, 12/19/2025 06:18 PM) → Revision 64/65 (Jon Goldberg, 01/06/2026 09:18 PM)
# Microsoft Azure - Initial Setup
Hi there! Microsoft frequently changes their interface, so sometimes the instructions don't match up exactly. Feel free to ask me if you run into trouble! -Jon
[**NOTE**: Most of Microsoft's pages break with an ad blocker enabled.]
### Get a Sponsorship
* [Go to the Nonprofit Microsoft Getting Started page](https://nonprofit.microsoft.com/en-us/getting-started). Fill out the paperwork to be approved as a 501c3. Approval can take 1 day or 3-4 weeks - I've seen both multiple times.
* Once approved, go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/nonprofits/azure to claim credits (or go directly to [Claiming Your Credits](https://nonprofit.microsoft.com/en-us/offers/azure).
* Wait for an email saying you're approved for credits. Click **Activate** in the email.
* You should see a message saying your credits are now active.
* You'll be asked for contact and credit card info - but we won't exceed the $2,000 credit so it should never be charged.
* If when pressing Activate it says you're ineligible for the credits, you're not signed in with the same account you signed up with, log in with the new account.
### Create a Subscription
[NOTE: As of December 2025 it looks like this step can be skipped! Please go to https://portal.azure.com, click the **Subscriptions** icon and ensure you see *Azure subscription 1* listed.
* Check that you have credits in your sponsored account: https://www.microsoftazuresponsorships.com/Balance
* Visit the [Azure Portal](https://portal.azure.com).
* Click the **Subscriptions** icon.
* Click the **Add** button.
* Add a subscription of type "Microsoft Azure Sponsorship" from the Azure portal. You will likely need to select **Show other subscription types** to see it.
* **Note**: Even sponsored subscriptions require a credit card, make sure you have one available.
### Grant access to other users
Microsoft has made recent changes to this system, so these are experimental instructions. I may ask you to take additional steps!
#### Create a user
* Log in to https://entra.microsoft.com.
* Select **Users** from the left navigation menu.
* Click **New User » Invite External User**.
* Add my email (jon@megaphonetech.com) and display name (Jon Goldberg).
* On the *Assignments* tab, click **Add Role**, then grant me the **Global Administrator** role.
* Go to the *Review and Invite* tab, and click **Invite** at the bottom of the screen.
#### Grant access to the subscription
* Go back to https://portal.azure.com
* Open the new subscription by clicking on it from the Subscriptions page.
* Click Access Control (IAM) in the left navigation bar.
* At the top, press Add » Add role assignment
* On the Role tab, go to the Privileged administrator roles subtab.
* Click Owner and press Next.
* On the Members tab, set Assign Access to User, group, or service principal, and click Select Members.
* In the Search by name or email address box, put the email of the new user and press Select. Press Next.
* On the Conditions tab, select Allow user to assign all roles except privileged administrator roles Owner, UAA, RBAC (Recommended).
* Click Review and Assign, then click Review and Assign again. At this point, they'll receive an email to either log in with an existing Microsoft account or to create a new one.
### On Renewals
You will need to renew every year. Instructions for this are incomplete - but you should go to your [Azure portal](https://portal.azure.com) and click the **Subscriptions** button (see screenshot 1 below). Find the subscription ID (screenshot 2) - it's a string of numbers and letters. Then go to https://www.microsoftazuresponsorships.com/Balance and assign your new credits to the existing subscription.
If you did not do this in time, you should be able to open a support ticket with Microsoft to request a refund.
**Screenshot 1**
**Screenshot 2**
