Before starting any troubleshooting on an Azure VM, what is a recommended first action?

Taking a snapshot of the VM is a vital first action before starting any troubleshooting process on an Azure VM. This approach allows you to create a backup of the system in its current state, which acts as a restore point. If something goes wrong during troubleshooting—like changes that inadvertently lead to further issues—you can revert to the snapshot and restore the VM to its previously stable condition.

By having a snapshot, you provide yourself with a protective measure against data loss or disruptions that might occur during the troubleshooting process. This is especially important when working with production environments, where uptime and data integrity are critical.

While documenting current settings, checking billing status, or reviewing user access permissions are also important steps in managing Azure VMs, they do not provide the same level of immediate protection against potential mistakes made during troubleshooting. Hence, prioritizing the snapshot gives you a safety net that enables more confident and risk-free diagnostic efforts.