Cloud computing provides researchers with powerful computing resources, scalable storage, and access to specialized tools and datasets—collectively known as Research IT—while allowing them to pay only for what they use. However, navigating the Azure portal and configuring secure environments can be challenging for researchers unfamiliar with cloud infrastructure.

Relevance Lab addresses this challenge with a streamlined solution: RStudio on Azure Linux VM. This offering enables scientific researchers to quickly launch secure and cost-effective RStudio environments on the Azure cloud without requiring deep cloud expertise. RStudio is a widely used tool in the research community, but setting it up securely and efficiently in the cloud can be complex. This solution simplifies the process, allowing researchers to focus on their work instead of infrastructure, thus improving both productivity and accessibility to cloud-based research computing.

Steps to Access the RStudio Server on Azure:

1. Allow Port 8787 in Network Security Settings
   Navigate to the Network settings of your Azure VM. In the Inbound port rules, ensure that TCP port 8787 is open to allow web access to RStudio Server.
2. Reset the Password for the VM User (azureuser)
   Go to the Azure Portal and open your Virtual Machine's Overview page. Under the Help section, click "Reset password". Select the Reset password tab, enter a new password for the azureuser, and confirm the change.
3. Find the Public IP of the VM
   In the Overview section of your VM in the Azure Portal, locate the Public IP address assigned to the VM.
4. Access RStudio Server in Your Browser
   Open a web browser and enter the following address:
   http://<Public-IP>:8787
   Replace <Public-IP> with the actual public IP of your Azure VM.
5. Login to the RStudio Web Interface
   When prompted, use the following credentials:
   Username: azureuser
   Password: the new password you just set via the Azure portal
   Upon successful login, you will be redirected to the RStudio Server homepage.