Many businesses are still afraid to shift their applications to the cloud. Concerns about network security, availability, and potential downtime immobilize CEOs, causing them to cling to archaic technology even as it becomes obsolete by the minute.

Microsoft Azure, the industry leader's cloud-based architectural solution, is now available for purchase. In the sections below, you can learn more about Azure, the benefits of collaborating with Microsoft on cloud or hybrid solutions, and how to gain a comprehensive insight into aggregated logs and infrastructure data so your firm can respond quickly when opportunities occur.

Understanding Microsoft Azure

When someone asks what Microsoft Azure is, this is SSI’s standard response: Azure is a comprehensive cloud computing platform that includes servers, storage, databases, networking, and analytics. It can handle any company's computing needs.

As a result, to run their operations, enterprises had to install and maintain their servers, disk storage, and Ethernet switches. While this was once true, organizations may now employ a public cloud computing platform like Azure, which purchases and maintains all processing equipment. As a result, businesses may "rent" hardware resources as needed.

You may select from several Azure services to help your business's operations, including application development, deployment, and administration. Furthermore, renting computer resources reduces the associated costs and inefficiencies of the actual hardware (such as specialist IT workers).

Who uses Microsoft Azure?

Businesses of all kinds are reaping the benefits of the public cloud, and Azure is a popular option for many of them. Further, 85 Fortune 500 companies presently use Azure.

Many small and medium-sized businesses are also interested in Azure. It saves money on equipment purchases and relieves the load of updates and maintenance on smaller companies that may not have access to in-house personnel. Adding or withdrawing computing resources through Azure takes minutes rather than hours or days, allowing organizations greater flexibility than an on-premise data center would.

What capabilities does Microsoft's Azure platform offer?

Azure services are continuously being added to Microsoft's ever-expanding portfolio. Everything you need to set up a virtual network and offer services or apps to people all over the world is available, including:

If you want to get started with Microsoft or Linux virtual machines (VMs) quickly and easily, this is the solution for you. Using these cloud-based VMs, your applications and services will function as if they were housed in your own data center.

SQL databases
On Azure, an infinite number of SQL database instances may be created. Thus, you may save money on equipment, software, and the need for in-house knowledge.

Azure Active Directory domain services
The Azure solution for group policy, authentication, and everything else is based on the same tried-and-true technology as Windows Active Directory. Moving an existing security framework to the cloud is as simple as a few mouse clicks.

Application services
Thanks to Azure, it is now easier than ever to design and deploy web and mobile apps interoperable with all of the most popular online and mobile platforms. You may save time and money by responding quickly to your organization's ups and downs with dependable, scalable cloud access. Because of the addition of WebApps to Azure Marketplace, cloud-based web apps may now be designed, tested, and deployed more efficiently. Pre-built APIs for popular cloud services such as Office 365, Salesforce, and others drastically shorten development time.

Visual Studio team services
You can manage your whole application's lifecycle from start to completion with Visual Studio team services, a Microsoft cloud-based ALM add-on. Working with Azure allows developers to share and monitor code changes, do load testing, and push programs to production from anywhere in the world. In addition, Visual Studio team services simplify the design and delivery of service portfolios for new and expanding organizations.

Microsoft's global network of data centers guarantees that your data is always secure and accessible. The immense scalability of Microsoft Azure and its ingenious pricing structure makes it simple to build a safe and cost-effective storage plan that is both scalable and cost-effective.

Where will my data be stored in Azure?

If you use cloud computing, you will no longer store your data on your servers. So, where exactly is it stored?

Data from Azure customers will be stored in one or more of Microsoft's 100+ data centers worldwide, which Microsoft manages. Microsoft now runs data centers in 36 locations, with the number likely to expand in the future.

In most cases, you have complete control over where your data is stored. As a general guideline, it's best to keep your data near to where your consumers are. The more significant the delay your users will experience, the further your data is stored from them. Azure uses replication to save and maintain multiple copies of your data to guarantee that it is always available. For example, do you want two copies in the same area or numerous copies scattered over other geographic locations?

Because so many firms are tied to precise standards for their data, Azure introduced the GDPR to its range of compliance choices on May 25, 2018.

It's difficult to comprehend why so many people are putting their workloads in Microsoft Azure.
Some believe that the on-premises data center is bound to perish. Self-hosted data centers, like mainframes and dial-up modems before them, are being replaced by more accessible and affordable cloud technologies. Amazon Web Services (AWS), IBM, and Apple's ubiquitous iCloud, which stores the photo memories and music preferences of hundreds of millions of smartphone users, are just a few of the big cloud service providers that have emerged. In other words, why are 3M, BMW, and GE migrating their workloads to Microsoft Azure? Among the numerous reasons:

Flexibility
With Microsoft Azure, you can quickly and easily create new services while exponentially boosting your data storage capacity. Before it could be utilized to solve your IT problems, a static data center would need to be purchased, procured, and deployed with new hardware and software. Azure's modern flexibility makes it an appealing alternative for businesses of all sizes.

Cost
Azure solutions not only make it easier and faster to build and develop infrastructure, but they also save money. Infrastructure equipment like routers, load balancing systems, and other components may easily cost thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars. Because of the requirement for IT competence, this equipment comes with a hefty cost. By using Microsoft's massive infrastructure and expertise, Azure has the potential to reduce our yearly IT spending significantly.

Applications
Microsoft's Visual Studio Team Services, Application Insights, and Azure's scalable, on-demand storage for both frequently used and "cold" data make it easy to create and test mission-critical programs. Over a global network, you may switch between testing and production mode in real-time. Microsoft offers significant licensing cost discounts if you migrate your existing programs to Azure.

The unthinkable may happen in the aftermath of a calamity in the blink of an eye. Microsoft Azure features a high-speed, globally distributed architecture that offers a variety of disaster recovery options. Ensure that your critical apps and data can be accessed from redundant sites during recovery timeframes of minutes or hours rather than days.

When a disaster strikes, you may be confident that your services will remain operational even if you lose electricity. Because of its enormous infrastructure, ongoing application and service development, and significant presence in the global IT market, Microsoft Azure is used by more than two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies. Azure, on the other side, offers limitless scalability, making it excellent for small organizations.

Is Azure going to keep my data safe?

Microsoft Azure, like other primary public cloud services, prioritizes security. Microsoft's Azure Security Center's recent expansion is a prime illustration of this.

You may utilize Azure Security Center, a management tool, to secure your Azure resources. A hybrid cloud security system that uses advanced analytics to detect potentially hazardous activities and provide recommendations for remediation. After that, you may evaluate these procedures and take relevant action. You may access Microsoft Azure's Security Center from your subscription's leading site.

Keep in mind, however, that just a tiny portion of the Security Center is free. The free plan has significant limitations, including a limited capacity to monitor the security of your cloud resources. For more extensive threat detection capabilities, upgrade to the premium "standard" tier.

Final thought

There may come a day when the on-premise data center, with its pricey hardware and legions of on-staff locals, will be sent to technology's tomb. If cloud-based technologies such as Microsoft Azure are deployed intelligently, they will make the difficulties and opportunities of the future more bearable.

Don't hesitate to get in touch with us if you'd like to learn more about how managed IT services may help your company or even request a proposal.