Where to store SMTP server name and other arbitrary info in Production on Azure?

Chuck Roberts 45 Reputation points
2024-04-25T11:38:43.9966667+00:00
  1. My task: Make web apps to process or create Excel spreadsheets from database data. The production environment will be on the Microsoft Azure ecosystem somewhere. We don't know which tool to use quite yet. I'm still doing research on which tool is the best, perhaps Azure Function Apps. I'm also learning Python.
  2. I have been learning Python and some tools on Azure to help with my task.
  3. NOTE: we are trying not to rent a full server with CLI interface on Azure due to increased cost. So I'm looking into serverless computing options on Azure.

Question: How do people normally store stuff like the SMTP Server name, SMTP username, SMTP password in a production environment on Azure?

For testing on my laptop, and while using Python, I'm using a .env file (and environment variables) as a centralized file for this info, and for other database server IP, db username, db password, etc.

I looked into the Azure Key Vault but it looks like it does not store arbitrary information, it only stores keys/secrets that Azure generates.

So where do I store this other confidential information on Azure when my programs are in production?

Azure Functions
Azure Functions
An Azure service that provides an event-driven serverless compute platform.
4,299 questions
0 comments

1 answer

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Sander van de Velde 28,711 Reputation points MVP
    2024-04-25T13:29:52.3566667+00:00

    Hello @Chuck Roberts ,

    welcome to this moderated Azure community forum.

    An Azure function is great to execute custom logic on Azure.

    Azure Functions have a 'consumption plan' so you only pay for the compute you use.

    Azure Functions are configured using 'application settings', a configuration section in the Azure portal and read by the Azure function on startup:

    User's image

    As an extra layer of security, the application setting can be filled with just a redirection to the actual settings, stored in a key vault. Check out this blog post with an example.

    Regarding an alternative, check out Azure Logic Apps.

    This is a no-code/low-code alternative capable of mailing, reading database information etc. It is specialized in user workflows.

    If you want to work with data in flows, pipelines, check out Azure Data Factory as an no-code/low-code alternative. This is specialized in data workflows.

    If the response helped, do "Accept Answer". If it doesn't work, please let us know the progress. All community members with similar issues will benefit by doing so. Your contribution is highly appreciated.