An Introductory Guide to Microsoft Azure Cloud

Cloud computing.

You might’ve heard of this term several times before.

With the cloud computing market growing fast, most enterprises have jumped on the bandwagon to adopt cloud solutions.

By revolutionizing the way we access computational resources, these solutions have powered businesses with a multitude of benefits, including –

• Cost Savings
• Mobility
• Security
• Flexibility
• Data Loss Prevention
• Sustainability

In this blog post, we’ll be exploring one such revolutionary computing technology – Microsoft Azure – to understand how it helps businesses optimize their IT infrastructure and power new-age digital experience.

Let’s get started.

What is Microsoft Azure?

Microsoft Azure is an open-source cloud computing environment. It was launched in February 2010 as a compilation of different cloud computing settings, including remote-based Microsoft technologies and public technologies such as Linux distributions configurable inside a virtual machine.

Azure powers the agile development of solutions by enabling you to break free from limiting on-premise servers. It also provided access to advanced settings that help you execute a variety of programs seamlessly.

Advantages of Microsoft Azure

Here are three main reasons why Microsoft Azure is a top cloud computing platform –

Backup and Disaster Recovery Tools

Be it a natural disaster or a technical glitch, it’s important to prepare for the worst when it comes to your data protection. Azure offers scalable cloud storage and connects with your existing on-premise IT infrastructure. You can use Azure web services to store emergency backups in locally redundant storage (LRS), geo-redundant storage (GRS), and zone-redundant storage (ZRS).

On-Demand Development and Test

Microsoft Azure offers the flexibility to develop almost any kind of web application. While Azure cloud services provide platform-as-a-service (PaaS) capabilities, Azure virtual machines equip you with infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) offerings to create and manage applications. It also provides in-depth monitoring to check how your application is doing.

Adaptable Data Storage

The cloud-based storage of Microsoft Azure provides you with anytime, anywhere access. It is easily available, highly durable, and massively scalable. The system follows a pay-per-use model, hence, you pay for only what you use and when you use it. This makes it an attractive option for all types of businesses alike.

Key Services of Microsoft Azure Cloud

Now that you know the basics of Microsoft Azure, let’s take a look at its services –

Azure Storage

File Storage: Move your on-premise files and other file-based applications to Azure

Blob Storage: Store a copious amount of unstructured data for analytics

Queue Storage: Provide a stable messaging queue and carry information between applications

Azure Databases

Cosmos DB: Offer a complete set of SLAs globally for transparent data scaling

Database for MySQL: Automate the administration and monitor large-scale deployments

Database for PostgreSQL: Handle mission-critical workloads to create and execute robust applications

Compute

Virtual Machine: Create virtual machines in Windows and Linux in seconds

Functions: Create applications in any programming language without worrying about hardware requirements

Service Fabric: Expand and maintain microservices easily and resolve any issues with running applications

Networking

DNS (Domain Name System): Host DNS domains and control records using equivalent credentials

Virtual Network: Access Virtual Private Network (VPN) to communicate with any other Azure services securely

Express Route: Build private connections within data centers that are on-premise or in a different environment

VPN Gateway: Transmit encrypted transactions between Azure virtual network and on-premise application through a public web connection

Traffic Manager: Share traffic in various Azure regions to balance the load of the application

Key Takeaway

Microsoft Azure is a powerful cloud platform to develop and manage various business applications. It is a cost-effective, fast, and secure solution that can help you scale your business seamlessly for higher growth.

Learn How Microsoft Azure Can Benefit Your Business. Schedule a Free Consultation!