After a long battle with local computing, businesses are taking off to the cloud. The cloud is an integral part of businesses and is also present in our personal lives. Students use cloud applications like Microsoft and Google for school, while companies use the cloud for collaboration and data backup. With that said, the possibilities are endless when it comes to cloud computing.
What is Microsoft Azure?
Microsoft Azure is one of the many cloud computing platforms that allow companies to access and manage resources to bring solutions to life. Microsoft offers businesses over 18 categories with over 200 services to choose from. This cloud computing platform is well-known internationally, with almost 70% of all organizations worldwide using Azure’s cloud services. For the healthcare, finance, legal, and other sectors, the cloud platform’s services are tailored to fit each company’s needs, no matter the industry. So, where should you begin?
How can Azure benefit my business?
No matter your industry, Microsoft Azure’s software can be tailored to industries like healthcare, financial services, government, retail, and more. Knowing how to use Microsoft Azure for your business can help your organization grow. These are 3 features of Microsoft Azure that can benefit your business:
1. Secure cloud foundation
With over data centers in over 42 regions of the world and 3,500 global cybersecurity experts internationally, Azure is protected with multi-layered security. Microsoft’s cloud platform is built on customized hardware to resist distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) threats. Security and privacy should be implemented in every business – data can be easily compromised or stolen without the proper security measures.
Over the past few years, Microsoft data scientists have analyzed many sources to solidify cybersecurity intelligence. This enables users to detect threats early on in their systems, and it incorporates the use of machine learning, behavioral analytics, and application-based intelligence. In other words, Microsoft Azure’s advanced technology helps businesses detect threats faster to protect data and eliminate downtime.
2. Open-source technology
Azure supports open-source technologies, which makes it easier to integrate applications to use with Azure. This technology gives businesses more choices so that they’re not restricted to using only certain types of software or applications. As a result, there’s more collaboration, security, and flexibility for your company. Collaboration allows employees to work together on projects in the cloud and share information seamlessly. Businesses that depend on Azure’s cloud services also have more robust security since their information is stored in a highly secure cloud platform. An open-source cloud also makes it easy to manage and move your application elastically, whether that’s on-site, remote, or in multi-cloud environments.
3. Hybrid cloud infrastructure
Azure is recognized by businesses worldwide as the most trusted cloud for enterprise and hybrid infrastructure. Organizations rank Azure higher than Amazon Web Services (AWS), a cloud computing services platform created by Amazon. Microsoft Azure’s hybrid infrastructure allows employees to work remotely while still being able to innovate in the cloud. Some of the hybrid cloud solutions offered include:
- Apps – allows users to build and deploy applications everywhere in the cloud
- Data – migration, management, and analysis are available at the user’s reach
- Management – maintains the security of IT resources from a single application
- Security – advanced threat protection for your cloud environments
- Identity – ensures a seamless sign-on experience across multiple devices
- Networking – extends your existing network by connecting your work to the cloud
4. Popular services
Microsoft Azure has over 200 products that fall into different categories. These categories include artificial intelligence and machine learning, containers, hybrid and multi-cloud, Internet of Things (IoT), and more. Although Microsoft Azure’s product list may seem endless, these are the most popular applications Azure offers:
- Azure DevOps – Monitors an application’s lifecycle from beginning to end, from planning and developing to its release and operations.
- Azure Arc -Bridges together Azure platforms to build and develop cloud-native applications
- Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) – Offers the quickest way to begin developing and deploying cloud-native apps
- Azure Backup – Stores data in a centralized location and protects sensitive data from ransomware
Our Final Thoughts
Integrating cloud computing software is a big step for businesses and is the next step in having a more secure and flexible digital environment. At Parried, we help small to medium-sized businesses with the setup of Microsoft Azure to enable them to reach their business objectives. There are over hundreds of products with Azure, so having professional guidance on implementing the best practices for your company is essential. Schedule a free IT consultation to learn how Microsoft Azure can help streamline your business’s operations today.
