Microsoft Azure is a platform - a service solution for building and hosting infrastructure using Microsoft's products in their data centers.
This versatile platform is often used to run applications in the cloud or just improve existing applications with cloud capabilities. Simply it is a processor, disk and RAM, which means users are still required to upload and patch the software. Azure is a fast, flexible platform with affordable pricing and capabilities, which makes it one of the best public cloud offerings on the market.
At its core, Azure is a public cloud computing platform—with solutions including Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS) that can be used for services such as analytics, virtual computing, storage, networking, and much more. While many companies have even move to Azure to replace their outdated on-premise servers. The service platform is comprised of three cloud centric products: Windows Azure, SQL Azure and Azure App Fabric controller, and acts as an online portal for users to access and manage resources and services provided by Microsoft.
Launched in February 2010, Microsoft Azure has grown significantly in size and scale in the following years.
Here are some tips and ideas on how to put Azure to work for you:
1. Enhance and Implement Backups and Disaster Recovery
Azure is a backup and disaster recovery dream tool, because of its flexibility, advanced site recovery, and built-in integration.
2. Host and Develop Web and Mobile Apps
Whether you’re looking for a platform for hosting, developing, or managing a web or mobile app, Azure makes those apps autonomous and adaptive with patch management, auto-scaling, and integration for on-premise apps.
3. Distribute and Supplement Active Directory
Azure can integrate with your Active Directory to supplement your identity and access capabilities—this gives your DNS a global reach, centralized management, and robust security.
4. Innovate with IoT Industry Solutions
The scalability, flexibility, and security of Microsoft Azure makes it the perfect resource for companies moving toward IoT solutions. You can connect your devices to the cloud using solutions that integrate with your existing infrastructure and start collecting new data about your company.
What can Microsoft Azure Do?
Microsoft maintains a growing directory of Azure services, with more being added all the time. All the elements necessary to build a virtual network and deliver services or applications to a global audience are available, including:
Virtual machines - Create Microsoft machines (VMs) in just minutes from a wide selection of marketplace templates or from your own custom machine images. VM's in the cloud let a company separate their space into sectioned servers for different uses in their host, much as you would with an on-premise Host. However, with Azure, a company is able to create a new server as needed without waiting for the purchase of hardware or installation.
SQL databases - Azure offers managed SQL relational databases an unlimited number as a service. It will save you overhead and expenses on hardware, software, and the need for in-house expertise. This feature is often used for financial data, such as Third-Party Accounting Applications like Quick Books and Sage that companies from all industries may use.
Azure Active Directory Domain services - Built on the same proven technology as Windows Active Directory, this service for Azure lets you remotely manage group policy, authentication, and user profiles. For example, having Azure AD gives more flexibility to users while working remotely. Allowing users to log into their own secure licensed account on any computer connected to Azure AD Domain services, even when not on the network at their main office.
Application services - With Azure it’s easier than ever to create and globally deploy applications that are compatible on all popular web and portable platforms. Reliable, scalable cloud access lets you respond quickly to your business’s ebb and flow, saving time and money. It is possible to integrate Azure with countless third-party applications – from Analytics to Web Hosting.
Visual Studio team services - An add-on service available under Azure, Visual Studio team services offer a complete application lifecycle management (ALM) solution in the Microsoft cloud. Developers can share and track code changes, perform load testing, and deliver applications to production while collaborating in Azure from all over the world.
Storage - Count on Microsoft’s global infrastructure to provide safe, highly accessible data storage. With massive scalability and an intelligent pricing structure that lets you store infrequently accessed data at a huge savings, building a safe and cost-effective storage plan is simple in Microsoft Azure.
Do you want to know more about Azure and how this Microsoft application can you and your company? Contact us here.
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