Azure (Microsoft Azure)

Azure offers deep integration with Microsoft's enterprise ecosystem, making it the preferred cloud for organizations already invested in Windows Server, Active Directory, and Microsoft 365.

Why it matters

• Seamless integration with on-premises Active Directory and hybrid identity.
• Native support for Windows workloads, .NET applications, and SQL Server.
• Strong enterprise compliance portfolio with 90+ certifications worldwide.
• Unified billing and management for Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, and cloud infrastructure.

Core service categories

• Compute: Virtual Machines, Azure Functions serverless, Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS).
• Storage: Blob Storage, Azure Files, managed disks.
• Database: Azure SQL Database, Cosmos DB multi-model NoSQL, PostgreSQL/MySQL.
• Networking: Virtual Network, Azure Front Door CDN, ExpressRoute private connectivity.
• Security: Azure AD (Entra ID), Key Vault, Microsoft Defender for Cloud.

When to use Azure

• Your organization runs primarily on Microsoft technologies.
• You need hybrid cloud capabilities connecting on-premises to cloud.
• Compliance requirements align with Azure's government and industry certifications.
• You want to leverage AI and machine learning with Azure OpenAI and Cognitive Services.

Common pitfalls

• Not leveraging Azure Policy for governance at scale.
• Misconfiguring Network Security Groups leading to exposure.
• Overlooking cost optimization with Reserved Instances and Azure Hybrid Benefit.
• Failing to implement proper resource tagging and management groups.