A Beginner's Guide to Understanding Azure Cloud Computing

What is Microsoft Azure?

Microsoft Azure, more commonly referred to as simply Azure, is a comprehensive and trusted cloud computing platform and suite of cloud services provided by Microsoft. It offers a vast range of cloud services that can bring significant benefits to businesses of all shapes and sizes. Services include (not are not limited to!) computing, analytics, storage and networking. Users can choose some or all of these services based on their specific business environment and the outcomes they want to achieve by using Azure cloud.

What Does Azure Offer?

Cloud Computing -

Virtual Machines (VMs) - Gives users the ability to create and manage VMs that run across various operating systems.
Application Services - Enables the development and hosting of web & mobile apps
Azure Functions - Provides a serverless computing service that allows users to run code on-demand without managing infrastructure.

Azure Storage -

File Storage - Managed file shares accessible via the SMB Server Message Block (SMB) protocol.
Blob Storage - Object storage solution.
Disk Storage - Persistent, managed disks for Azure VMs.

Networking -

Virtual Network - Provides networking capabilities including DNS, routing and access control.
Load Balancer - Distributes network traffic across multiple servers to ensure high availability.
Content Delivery Network (CDN) - Delivers high-bandwidth content to users globally.

Database Services -

Azure SQL Database - Managed database service that uses Microsoft SQL Server.
Azure Database for MySQL/PostgreSQL - Managed database services for open-source databases.
Cosmos DB - Globally distributed database service.

AI & Machine Learning -

Azure Machine Learning - Platform for developing, training and deploying machine learning models.
Cognitive Services - Ready to use API services that give developers access to intelligent features including vision, speech and language understanding.

Analytics -

HDInsight - Managed Hadoop, Spark and other big data services.
Azure Synapse Analytics - Integrated analytics that combines big data and data warehousing.

Developer/DevOps Tools -

Azure DevOps - Services for continuous integration and/or continuous delivery (CI/CD).
Visual Studio App Center - Developer tools that allow the build, testing and monitoring of mobile and desktop apps.

Why Might You Use Azure?

Flexibility - Azure supports a wide variety of operating systems, programming languages, frameworks, databases and devices meaning it is attractive to a wider range of individuals and suitable for a wide range of use cases.
Scalability - Azure provides access to scalable resources which allows businesses to scale up or down based on demand at any given time without investing in physical infrastructure which can be time consuming and expensive, particularly when talking about scaling.
Cost Efficiencies - Azure offers a pay-as-you-go model which means businesses only pay for what they consume. This can reduce CAPEX on hardware and software.
Security - Azure offers robust security measures including advanced threat detection capabilities as well as widely recognised compliance certifications. This not only provides your own business with peace of mind but also that of your clients.
Disaster Recovery and Backup Capabilities - Azure offers powerful disaster recovery and backup solutions to ensure business continuity in case of unforeseen events.
Global Reach - Azure has data centres in multiple locations around the world providing global reach, local presence and a high level of availability.
Integration Capabilities - It integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft products and services including Office 365, Dynamics 365 and Windows Server. This is particularly beneficial for businesses who are already involved with the Microsoft ecosystem.
Innovation - Azure offers cutting-edge services in AI, machine learning, IoT and analytics. This allows businesses to innovate and ultimately stay ahead of th3e competition.

Considering Azure?

If you're in the process of considering whether or not you want to utilise Azure and it's vast array of services, here are some things to do before making your decision.

Map Out Business Objectives and Requirements

First and foremost, it is important to fully identify and map out what you aim to achieve by using Azure e.g, cost reduction, scalability, enhanced security, improved performance. If you're in a heavily regulated industry, it may also be a good idea to determine any compliance requirements you have.

Evaluate Current Environment

You should then fully define your current IT infrastructure environment including hardware, software and any network components. Taking stock of your applications, data management and storage requirements is also essential. You should take the time to assess whether Azure is compatible with your existing applications and systems or can offer alternatives.

Determine Costs

Azure has a handy cost calculator that can help you estimate the costs associated with migrating to and using it's services. It may also be prudent to compare this to your current infrastructure costs over an extended period of time to ensure it is a worthy investment.

Familiarise Yourself With Azure's Services

This goes without saying, but it is worth making sure you understand everything that Azure has to offer from basic compute and storage services, data and analytics to advanced AI and IoT solutions, particularly, if you anticipate adding services in the future so you can build and scale your business. Azure may also offer industry specific solutions that can be beneficial to your company.

Security

Ensure that Azure security standards are in line with your expectations and that in-built security products such as Microsoft defender offer the tools that you need to align with your own security standards and protocols.

Review SLAs

Review the SLAs that are going to be relevant to you, particularly around uptime and reliability. You might also want to check and ensure there are datacenters in the regions where your business will be impacted to ensure high availability and low latency.

Understand the Migration Journey

You should ensure you're comfortable with the tools on offer for your migration to Azure which will facilitate your move and then create a detailed migration plan.

To Conclude

As we can conclude from the above, Microsoft Azure is used by organisations of all sizes and for a range of different purposes from hosting websites and databases to running complex AI models and big data analytics. It’s robustness and versatility, combined with Microsoft’s renowned support and security services, make it a popular and trusted choice for many businesses worldwide.

What is Azure and why is it used?