If you were to answer “What is Microsoft Azure?” in one sentence, it would likely be: Microsoft Azure is Microsoft’s cloud platform. But what does this entail? Azure delivers a range of cloud services including **IaaS**, **PaaS**, and **SaaS** to its users. Since its official launch in 2010, Azure has expanded to offer over 200 products and services.

From this range of options, you can select the services that suit your needs and book them through the Azure portal Beyond Azure’s offerings, a wide variety of third-party software is also available. Billing operates on a pay-as-you-go basis meaning you only pay for what you use.

Familiar examples of comparable public clouds include AWS (Amazon Web Services) and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

Regions and Availability Zones: How is Azure architected?

To effectively navigate Azure and accurately create resources, understanding Azure’s architecture and terminology is crucial. Below, we briefly clarify two key architectural concepts.

Regions

An Azure region consists of a group of data centers strategically placed within a specific area defined by latency requirements. These data centers are interconnected through a dedicated regional network designed to ensure low latency. Currently, there are over 60 of these data center clusters globally. Some examples of these regions include Germany West Central, West Europe, and UK South.

Availability Zones

Availability Zones are strategically designed to safeguard data and applications against potential outages. Located within an Azure region, each zone is fortified with independent power, cooling, and networking resources. To enhance resilience, every active region includes a minimum of three Availability Zones.

When choosing a cloud provider, one crucial factor is the breadth of functionality offered. Azure provides an extensive array of applications and products that extend beyond the Microsoft ecosystem. It supports not only Windows but also Linux as an operating system. To gain a comprehensive understanding of Azure’s capabilities, consider categorizing the available resources as follows:

Compute

Azure Compute offers scalable cloud computing capabilities, delivering precisely the computing power required for your project. This category includes not only traditional virtual machines but also Kubernetes services and function apps.

Memory

The Azure Storage category, commonly referred to as Azure Storage, encompasses various storage types, including file, disk, object, table, and queue storage. This category integrates these diverse storage solutions into a unified system. For instance, it includes storage accounts, Data Lake Storage, and Azure Stack Edge.

Databases

Beyond storage, Azure provides an array of cloud database services. Infrastructure management, encompassing scalability, availability, and security, is fully automated. This category features SQL databases, Azure Cosmos DB, and Azure Database for MySQL or MariaDB servers.

Network

Azure network services offer a diverse array of network functions that can be utilized individually or in combination. This category includes load balancers, virtual WANs, and ExpressRoute connections. Firewalls and firewall managers are also part of this suite of services.

Azure Active Directory

Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) serves as Microsoft’s cloud-based authentication solution. It allows you to manage user accounts and control access seamlessly. If you’re already utilizing a local Azure Active Directory, you can synchronize it with the cloud to maintain it as your central authentication system.

Beyond its main categories, Azure provides a wealth of additional services, including those in AI + Machine Learning, the Internet of Things, DevOps, and security.

For many companies, the shift to relinquishing control of their data and moving away from on-premise servers represents a significant change. To transition to the cloud with confidence, it’s crucial to verify that the new cloud provider aligns with your security standards.

Determining the overall security of Azure can be challenging, as it largely depends on individual requirements and the configuration of resources and security features. However, it’s important to recognize that Microsoft, as a global leader, has extensive capabilities to invest in system security. The company claims to have invested over $1 billion in Azure security research and development, with 3,500 cybersecurity experts continuously enhancing Azure’s security.

This investment leads to a diverse array of security solutions. Alongside Unified Security Management and Azure Threat Protection for cloud environments, Azure also extends these solutions to your on-premises data centers, making it ideal for hybrid scenarios.

Moreover, Azure’s security framework is built on a multi-layered defense model, known as Defense in Depth, which encompasses every aspect from the core data security to the physical protection of data centers.

Despite Microsoft’s efforts, it’s crucial to acknowledge that security vulnerabilities, like those found in Azure Stack and Azure App Services in 2019, can still occur.

An essential aspect of using the cloud is cost. What expenses should you consider when opting for Azure? As mentioned earlier, Azure services primarily operate on a pay-as-you-go model, meaning you only pay for what you use.

There are exceptions to this model. For instance, if you plan to use certain resources long-term, reserving them for one or three years could be beneficial. This approach significantly reduces the monthly cost.

Azure costs are influenced by multiple factors, including resource performance, chosen availability, and support options. Therefore, a detailed calculation is essential beforehand to accurately estimate costs.

Finally, three tips regarding costs in Azure:

$200 test budget:

Make the most of the complimentary $200 trial budget offered for the first 30 days to explore Azure and understand its associated costs.

price calculator:

Azure provides a pricing calculator to estimate costs upfront. Access it here: the pricing calculator.

Azure Cost Management:

Azure provides a “cost tool” for managing ongoing operations. With Azure Cost Management, you can gain a comprehensive overview of your expenses and discover potential savings.

Beyond cost considerations, the general benefits of Azure for businesses are crucial. What motivates companies to switch to Azure, and what advantages does it offer over on-premises infrastructure? We address these questions below. It’s important to mention that the benefits discussed are not exclusive to Azure and may also apply to other cloud providers.

• High scalability: In Azure, you can easily scale up or down as required, with the option of implementing automated scaling. Unlike traditional on-premises infrastructure, this flexibility eliminates the need to pre-plan server purchases when existing capacity is nearing its limit.
• Save money in Azure with local licenses: If you possess local Windows Server or SQL Server licenses with Software Assurance, you can leverage them in Microsoft Azure, thereby eliminating the need to pay for the licenses twice.
• Easy resource management: The Azure Portal provides a centralized platform for efficiently managing resources.
• Possibility of using hybrid models: Azure provides numerous ways to integrate your existing infrastructure, allowing you to fully leverage the benefits of both environments.
• High availability: Microsoft guarantees 99.95% annual availability in its Azure Service Level Agreements.
• Disaster recovery with fail-over option: Even if a system fails, work can continue without any data loss. Data traffic is redirected to the resources that remain operational.
• Free choice of countries for server hosting: This benefit is especially appealing if your company operates internationally. By selecting hosting locations for individual servers near your users, you can significantly reduce latency times.
• Wide range of technological services: Thanks to its vast size, Microsoft can offer a wide array of services, including those related to artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. These offerings particularly benefit smaller companies that lack the resources to develop such solutions on their own.
• A central identity: If you’re already using Microsoft 365, you benefit from the ability to manage all your identities collectively through Azure Active Directory.

Once the decision to use Azure is made, a common question surfaces: How do we begin effectively, and what should we consider? To ensure a successful start with Azure, here are some valuable tips to guide you.

1. Get a feel for Azure: Seize the opportunity of trial offers to experience the Azure portal and explore this innovative way of working.
2. Define your goal: Achieving your goals hinges on clearly defining a unified objective and effectively communicating it to everyone involved.
3. Define your requirements in writing: Base your requirements on your objective, ensuring clarity and precision. Key areas to define include technology, data protection, integration, and security.
4. Plan the costs before you start the migration: Before embarking on your cloud journey, it’s crucial to conduct thorough cost planning to avert any unwelcome surprises. Once you’ve begun, consistently monitor and compare your projected costs with actual expenses. This vigilance enables you to implement timely countermeasures if discrepancies arise.
5. Train your employees: Transitioning from on-premises infrastructure to Azure is a significant undertaking. To facilitate a smooth transition and minimize potential errors, it’s crucial to provide thorough training for your employees.