Zentraler Informatikdienst

Using AI models via Microsoft Foundry

For:  students    employees

This user guide will help you to use AI models via Microsoft Foundry (New Foundry). New Foundry is selected by default by Microsoft.

If you are still using the old version of Foundry, follow the user guide Using AI models via Microsoft Foundry (old portal).

Requirements

You have ordered Microsoft Azure and already have access to the Microsoft Azure portal and the services it includes.

Hinweis

Diese Anleitung basiert auf der englischsprachigen Oberfläche von Microsoft Azure. Um zu dieser Spracheinstellung zu wechseln:

  1. Klicken Sie im Azure Portal in der blauen Leiste oben auf das Zahnrad-Symbol ⚙.
  2. Wählen Sie im Menü links Sprache und Region.
  3. Wählen Sie im Drop-down Sprache den Eintrag English.

  1. Open Azure portal – Microsoft Foundry – Create a resource
  2. Enter Subscription, Resource group, Name, Region, Default project name – tab Review + create
  3. Open resource – Go to Foundry portal
  4. Discover – Models – select model
  5. Deploy – Custom settings
  6. Change Deployment type (must not contain Global) – Deploy
  7. Use model in playground or key icon for API key

Detailed user guide

1. Creating Foundry resource

  1. Open the Azure portal.
  2. Enter the term Microsoft Foundry in the search bar at the top.
  3. Select the Microsoft Foundry service under Services in the search results.
  4. In the Create a Foundry Resource box click Create a resource.

2. Configuring Foundry resource

  1. Select the Subscription and the Resource group in which the resource is to be created.
  2. Enter a Name for the Foundry resource.
  3. Select the Region, i.e. the Azure data centre in which the resource is to be created.
    Due to data protection and data security measures, only some European Azure regions are available within the University of Vienna’s Azure environment. Depending on the selected region, the available models may vary. If you wish to use the latest models, such as ChatGPT-5.2, the ZID currently recommends the Sweden Central region.
  4. Enter a Default project name.
  5. The other tabs (Storage, Network etc.) can be configured if you require a specific setup. Otherwise, click the last tab Review + create and create the resource.

3. Opening Foundry resource and portal

  1. After a few seconds, a notification will appear indicating that the resource has been created successfully.
  2. Open the newly created Foundry resource.
  3. Click Go to Foundry portal.

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4. Selecting model

Note

The models are updated by Microsoft on a regular basis.

  1. The Foundry portal will open in a new browser tab.
  2. To deploy a model, either search for the model you want in the search bar and select it or click on the Discover menu item in the top right corner.
  1. Click the Models menu item on the left. A model catalogue containing all available models will open.
  2. Select a model to deploy by clicking its name. You can also use the search bar to discover available models.

After you have selected the desired model, you can view further details on the specific model page.

5. Deploying model

  1. To deploy the model to your Foundry project, click the downward-pointing arrow within the button to the right of Deploy.
  2. Select the Custom settings option.

6. Configuring model

  1. A configuration menu will open.
  2. Change the deployment type via Deployment type to one whose name does not contain Global, such as Data Zone Standard. This ensures that data is processed exclusively within the European Union. 
    Deployment types that do not guarantee data processing within the EU are blocked by a technical guideline of the ZID and cannot be used.
  3. Select the other settings according to your requirements and then click Deploy.

Note

If you need to use a model that is only available with the deployment type Global Standard and you don’t intend to process any sensitive data: Contact digital.zid(at)univie.ac.at describing your use case. The use case will be sent to the Data Protection officer of the University of Vienna. 

Only after receiving approval can the blocking policy be deactivated for your Azure subscription.

7. Using model

  1. Once deployment is complete, the new model opens in the Playground. You can use the model here in your active browser session.
  2. Alternatively, you can retrieve the Endpoint and API key to integrate the model into an external application. To do this, click on the key icon.

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