Cloud : 7 good reasons to chose Azure

On this fast-growing market, other options are emerging in the cloud services field, particularly the long-lasting IT giant IBM, and the omni-present Apple iCloud, which contains, among other data, the precious pics and song preferences of hundreds of millions of smartphone users. With so many options out there, why are big businesses like BMW, NETFLIX and MWW transferring their workloads to Microsoft Azure?  

If you don’t know about Azure yet, it’s time to introduce you!  

Azure is a public and private cloud platform used to create, deploy and manage services and applications, from anywhere. The Microsoft cloud platform features several solution models such as infrastructure as a service (IaaS), platform as a service (PaaS) and software as a service (SaaS) that can be used for computer analysis, virtualization, storage, networking… and much, much more! These solutions provide secure and reliable access to data hosted on the cloud, based on Microsoft’s proven architecture.  

Azure supports multiple programming languages, frameworks, operating systems, databases and devices, enabling businesses to use tools and technologies they already trust. Azure can equally well be used to replace or supplement your servers. 

By switching to Azure, you can modernize your information system and your employees can be productive anywhere, anytime. The platform encourages mobility: you can access data and work effectively from any device. Employees can get involved more effectively, and work better together using new communication and collaboration tools and features. 

If you still need convincing to pick Azure, here are 7 more reasons:   

Security:  

Azure was designed based on a cutting-edge security process, the Security Development Lifecycle (SDL). With security central to its platform and concerns, both private data and services stay safe and secure on Azure Cloud. Microsoft Azure provides the best compliance coverage out of more than 50 compliance offerings, and is the most reliable cloud platform for US governmental institutions. Plus, Azure is the first cloud to adopt the new ISO 27018 international cloud privacy standard. This means that Microsoft guarantees the best in terms of security for all data stored and processes run on Azure Cloud. 

Upgradability and extensibility: 

Using Azure, applications can be run and extended easily from 10 to 10 million users, without any additional coding or detrimental impact. Azure Storage also provides extensible, reliable, secure and effective cloud storage services. This makes it easier to modify settings and use more processors for the final application. 

Unrivalled hybrid abilities: 

Azure has unique hybrid abilities. Azure makes mobility easier, particularly by providing a platform that is equally consistent and reliable for corporate and public cloud spaces. Azure provides a wide range of hybrid connections, such as virtual private networks (VPN), caches, content delivery networks (CDN) and even ExpressRoute connections to make access and use easier, and improve performance. 

A simplified learning curve: 

Microsoft tools and services are connected: familiar tools such as Visual Studio, ASP.NET and known and recognized programming languages such as Visual Basic, C++, and even C#, are also used to develop native cloud applications. This makes it easy for consultants to develop cloud-based corporate applications, without having to learn and teach themselves to use new tools and languages.  

A profitable platform: 

Microsoft’s pay-per-use model means you only pay for what you consume to create or develop resources using Azure services. This reduces IT administration costs to the bare minimum, because infrastructure, as well as infrastructural management and maintenance, are handled by Microsoft on Azure. It doesn’t need any initial investment and effortlessly connects data centers to the cloud. N.B. Azure is available in 42 regions: its geographical coverage is unrivalled by any other cloud provider. 

Disaster recovery: 

In the event of a service outage, accidental data deletion or corruption, your  business services can be recovered. Azure provides a secure, upgradeable and value-for-money backup and disaster recovery solution, which can be built into on-site data protection solutions.  

Interoperability: 

Interoperability is the ability for two or more systems or applications to exchange information and both use the information exchanged. Cloud interoperability is the ability for a client’s system to interact with a cloud service or the ability for a cloud service to interact with other cloud services by exchanging information based on a set method to achieve foreseeable results. 

Plus, with the Azure App Service Mobile Apps feature, clients can quickly create attractive, multiplatform, native applications for iOS, Android, Windows or Mac, store application data either in the cloud or locally, authenticate clients, send Push notifications or even add custom primary logic in C# or Node.js language.  
 

In the race between the best cloud providers, it will be exciting to keep an eye on the initiatives that Microsoft will adopt for the future. The US tech giant has already proved its ability to meet compliance requirements and appears heavily invested in security and the success of both big businesses and startups. For example, Microsoft gives startups a 12-month risk-free trial period and $200 service credit: attractive advantages to try before you buy! 

More broadly, the global public cloud computing market continues to grow and Gartner estimates cloud service expenditure will hit around 482 billion US dollars in 2022. This covers business processes, platforms, infrastructure, software, management, security and advertising services provided by public cloud services. The public cloud has a bright future, and it’s clear sailing from here on out!