Notes: Azure + Colima Forensics Setup

I’ve been trying to get my head around what cloud forensics looks like, especially in Azure. At first I was mixing up Docker, Colima, and VMs — didn’t know why I’d need them if I’m already in the cloud. Here’s how I sorted it out in my head.

Azure = the crime scene

Incidents actually happen in Azure (VMs, identities, logs).
Evidence lives there: activity logs, NSG flow logs, VM snapshots (VHDs), maybe memory dumps.
The point is: Azure holds the data I need when something suspicious happens.

Colima = my toolbox

Docker runs apps inside containers (self-contained, clean, throwaway).
Colima is what makes Docker work on my Mac (since macOS can’t do it natively).
This means I don’t have to clutter my laptop installing forensic tools. I just spin up a container, use it, then shut it down.

Containers vs VMs (the way it clicked for me)

VM = a whole house (heavy, its own OS).
Container = just an apartment (lighter, shares the foundation).
Colima = the property manager that makes apartments possible on macOS.

That analogy helped me finally stop confusing them.

Simple workflow (how I picture it)

Something bad happens in Azure → export artifacts.
On my Mac, start Colima → run a container with the tools I need.
Analyze the evidence locally (logs, snapshots, memory, network traffic).

So basically:

👉 Azure = crime scene
👉 Colima/Docker = my portable lab bench

Technical Steps (Baseline Setup)

Create an Azure account
- Sign up at azure.com/free.
- If you’re on school or work SSO, use a personal email so you can manage your own subscription.
Set a budget / spending cap
- In the Azure Portal: Cost Management + Billing → Budgets.
- Set alerts so you don’t burn through free credits or overspend.
Install Colima (macOS/Linux)
```
brew install colima
```
Start Colima
```
colima start
```
Test Docker is working
```
docker run hello-world
```

Cheat Sheet (for daily use)

Colima (engine)

colima start       # start the Docker VM
colima stop        # stop it to save resources
colima status      # check if it's running

Containers

docker run hello-world          # run a quick test
docker run -it ubuntu bash      # drop into a container shell
docker ps                       # list running containers
docker stop <id>                # stop a container
docker rm <id>                  # remove a container

Cleanup

docker system prune             # clean up unused stuff

Notes on Tooling

You don’t reinstall tools every time.
Images = reusable toolboxes.
Containers = temporary work sessions.
Later I can either:
- Pull tool-specific images (fast start), or
- Build my own forensics:baseline image (uniform + reusable).

That's my baseline mental model + quick reference for now.