Microsoft Azure
(pronounced azh´er) brings an entirely new dynamic to the technology infrastructure space. For years companies have had to invest in redundant hardware, infrastructure to support it, and manage production systems on every level. Microsoft Azure simplifies this long-standing industry with a unified approach to deploying, managing, and updating applications.
Servers can be managed quickly and easily. Databases can be configured and deployed in a matter of minutes. With Microsoft Azure, companies can reach their target audience more effectively and simplify their IT management and reduce costs.
Managing servers with Microsoft Azure is a straightforward process once you understand the platform and functionality. After a company has the appropriate subscription in place, administrators can quickly deploy applications, create redundant systems, and view the overall health of their systems. Microsoft Azure offers several types of “roles” for deploying applications with varying specifications and resources. Each type of instance has a different pricing structure depending on the amount of resources required. Administrators can easily see the status of the deployments, manage users, and configure additional servers. Be sure to read more about Microsoft Azure pricing
here.
Microsoft Azure also has multiple environments to allow companies to deploy changes to a “staging” platform prior to deploying to production. This allows system administrators to preview changes in an application before updating their public site. Additionally, it allows developers to view how the application will run in the Azure environment.
Most enterprise applications use a database to retain and manage information. To accommodate this, Microsoft offers the SQL Azure platform for data storage and management. SQL Azure allows administrators to quickly allocate new databases to an application, configure access, and even view SQL Reporting information. Each database is assigned a unique URL to allow for easy connectivity.
SQL Azure also offers a management module to allow administrators to quickly access their data and execute SQL commands. While it is not exceptionally feature-rich, it does provide quick access to common tasks for a database.
One of the best features of Microsoft Azure is the ability to deploy applications to specific geographical regions. While all Azure applications are globally accessible, users in a particular area of the world will get faster response and better performance from a deployment close to them. Microsoft Azure allows administrators to select one of 9 locations to deploy their application.
NOTE: Some geographical locations have higher hosting rates. Please be sure to review Microsoft pricing before selecting a deployment location. Microsoft Azure Pricing
With Microsoft Azure enterprises can develop, deploy, and manage applications faster and easier. Resources can be managed much more efficiently which will help lower cost of ownership and maintenance. Microsoft has provided an entire suite of tools and resources to allow companies access and manage their applications virtually.
Through Microsoft Azure, companies can target their audiences much more effectively and ensure their applications are performing optimally and deliver an optimal experience for their users.