Activate your Azure subscription (whether a trial version, MSDN subscription feature, or a commercial one).
Since most of the examples are based on the .NET stack, some prior knowledge of this technology will make things easier for you, although, where possible, other technology stacks are also included, while a basic understanding of HTTP concepts (such as the protocol or communication model) will be an advantage. A basic understanding of container-related topics will also be beneficial. More advanced topics and detailed instructions will often be included in the Further reading sections. Make sure you cover them all after finishing exercises from this book.