What is Microsoft Azure?
Azure is a cloud computing platform that provides services such as cloud computing and analytics, networking, cloud storage, and other services. It also provides users access to Microsoft’s proprietary services through its cloud platform. It includes 200 products and services designed to help businesses solve their problems.
What are the benefits of Microsoft Azure?
Microsoft Azure helps you manage your data efficiently using its robust cloud architecture. It has many advantages, from low cost to ease of use. Let’s take a look at ten benefits of Microsoft Azure:
Backup and recovery
Azure is the ideal cloud computing platform and one of the easiest to use. You can easily back up and restore SQL databases and virtual machines with a single click. Azure provides data retention support for up to 99 years, meaning customers can save and restore their data for up to 99 years. With Azure, you can restore data 66% faster than the competition. Azure is certified for more than 50 global compliance certifications.
One size fits all and scalable.
Microsoft Azure was designed with scalability; it is a one-size-fits-all solution. You can increase capacity for your cloud computing needs as your business grows. Azure offers a paid service to suit all budgets. So, any business can take advantage of its services, regardless of size or budget.
Applications and databases can take up a lot of resources, and this complexity makes it challenging to find the cloud storage or capacity you need. If you don’t know this, it won’t be easy to calculate budgets and costs correctly. It can sometimes lead to you paying more money than you should. It is where Azure comes to the rescue; with its pay-as-you-go service, you only have to pay according to the resources used.
For small businesses with financial problems, it can be a lifeline. As they grow, they can easily buy more capacity from Azure.
Big data
Big data is complex, large data sets that are difficult to process with conventional data processing applications. It requires applications specifically designed to handle such vast amounts of data, which can be resource-intensive. Azure allows the processing of such massive data on its cloud platform using Azure HDInsight. You can use Apache Hadoop to process big data on Microsoft Azure using Azure HDInsight.
Security
Azure is one of the most secure cloud platforms on the market. Azure provides its customers with a state-of-the-art multi-tier security infrastructure. It is also very user-friendly, as you can customise the hardware to prevent threats.
In addition, its security controls are integrated into both hardware and software. It can protect you from dangerous cyber security threats such as distributed denial of service (DDOS) attacks.
Integration
Microsoft is a giant in the software industry, and many companies use its products and services every day. It’s ubiquitous and well-known whether it’s Microsoft Office 365, Teams, Skype, or the Windows operating system. One of the key advantages of Azure is its ability to integrate easily with these applications and tools.
It can also integrate with non-Microsoft applications, and Microsoft is constantly working with other software developers and vendors to ensure future integration with even more tools. With this level of flexibility, you can improve your business even more.
Instant deployment
With Azure, you can rapidly deploy applications to the cloud. As a software developer, you don’t have to worry about the infrastructure part because Azure takes care of it. It will help you focus on application development with a relaxed mind. You can build web applications and APIs in Azure and streamline their operations using Azure DevOps, Atlassian Bitbucket, and GitHub. Developers can work and make changes remotely using sites and tools like GitHub and Bitbucket.
Access management
Identity and Access Management (IAM) prevents unauthorized access and ensures access to the right users. Azure has its own IAM, called Active Directory. Microsoft Azure Active Directory protects your data and applications from malicious or unauthorized login attempts and protects credentials using authentication methods such as two-factor and multi-factor authentication.
These authentication methods protect data and credentials without interfering with business productivity. Preventing unauthorised login attempts at the front door helps reduce the risk of hacking and other malicious activities.
Automation
Azure’s most significant advantage is its ability to integrate automation. You can automate updates, processes, and configurations. In addition, Azure provides automation for some functional sharing capabilities.
Update automation: You can automate updates in Azure using its update management service
Process automation: Some tasks can be time-consuming and often lead to errors; this takes valuable time and attention away from your work. Azure will help you automate tedious tasks, helping you focus on your position and save valuable time and energy.
Configuration automation: you can automate configurations in Microsoft Azure using two features. These are:
1) Change tracking and inventory: helps you track changes to servers and virtual machines. It will continuously monitor your resources to help prevent any unwanted changes.
2) Azure Automation State Configuration: Helps automate and apply configurations and settings to physical and virtual machines. It is a cloud-centric feature and provides services for enterprise environments.
Sensitive data
Azure has over 50 world-class compliance certificates and many security features and tools. It makes it ideally suited for protecting sensitive data.
With features such as Active Directory and its IAM capabilities, Microsoft Azure ensures access to authorized users and prevents malicious attempts to access sensitive data.
Better understanding
With Microsoft Azure, you can gain insight into the data that matters most with the platform’s built-in support and SQL and NoSQL data services. You can also integrate MS Excel and make informed decisions using data visualization tools like Power BI.
You can expect more integrations as demand for Azure continues to grow. These unique features make Azure unique, as only some cloud platforms provide access to such a wide range of features and tools.
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