Creating Your Azure Account

If you do not yet have an Azure account, one will need to be created. Your Azure account can be attached to any existing Microsoft account, or to any email address, including other web services such as google. A phone number can also be used as the basis for your Azure account, as you will see deeper into the process. From the Azure Marketplace (https://azuremarketplace.microsoft.com) select Sign In to begin creating your account.

Upon clicking Sign In, select Sign up for a free account from the prompt appearing on the screen.

You will be prompted to provide an email address for your account. Here you can provide an existing microsoft account used for other services, an email from any other source, or you can choose to use a phone number.

Using an Email Address

Provide the email address you wish to use, or if you wish to create a new one, select Get a new email address. Provide the email address you wish to create. If it is not already claimed, a new account can be created.

Create a password and click next.

Provide first and last name, and click Next. 

Verify you are a real person by entering the captcha info requested.

Provide location and date of birth details. Click Next. 

Using a Phone Number

If using a phone number, select Use a phone number instead, and enter the number.

Create a password, and click Next.

Next provide a name to be associated with the account.

Provide location and date of birth and click Next. 

Next, verify your phone number. A code will be sent to the number provided. Provide the code, and the account will be verified. 

You will then be prompted to provide additional details, as with an email address based account. 

Completing the Registration

Provide personal details, such as country/region, first and last name, email address, and phone number.  Click Next.

Verify your identity by phone, you can choose to verify by text message or phone call.

Once the phone verification is done, it is time to verify your payment method. Provide your credit card information.  No charges are applied to your credit card, unless you go over the free credits supplied with your account.

Finally, agree to the terms and conditions.

Your account is created, you can now begin to create your SoftNAS virtual machine through the Azure Marketplace.