Top 5 Reasons to Use Microsoft Azure

Over the past few weeks, I have been working on Windows Azure. I have been trying to address one of my client’s requirements to develop web and mobile cloud application that works on business intelligence. I have come across a difficulty in choosing a cloud service that is most beneficial for a small business. After analyzing various cloud platforms, I zeroed down on Windows Azure platform. I realized that Microsoft Azure is not a just a strategically priced cloud computing product, but also offers services that help in reducing the overall cost of development and operation. Here’s a list of top five benefits that make Microsoft Azure a cost-effective platform:

1.Close integration with Microsoft tools:

Most of the businesses already have a system in place that is built on Microsoft technologies. Azure service offers a collaborative work environment that allows working on existing tools and technologies, which simplifies the process of development. Windows Azure Pack is boxed with the familiar Office 365, SharePoint, and SQL Server that helps in reducing the time and cost of learning a new technology.

2. Strong BI and Analytics

From the several data analytics tools of Microsoft Power BI technology, I was easily able to integrate the tool that could help my client in collecting, managing, analyzing, and storing huge volume of data. The analytics then presented had the potential to offer maximum insights and hence, met business requirements. All this is available without any additional cost.

3. Scale quickly as per requirements

Fluctuating resource requirement is a part of any business and for this client, it was very crucial. I used Azure RemoteApp to facilitate scaling up and down as per the changing requirements relating to season, shifts, vendors, and production. I was able to program the application for auto-scaling using AzureWatch and it helped in optimizing the usage of Virtual Machines.

4. Higher protection to sensitive applications and data

Today, users require consistent access to business systems from their devices. With Microsoft Azure Rights Management System, I was able to provide access rights to users based on their roles for secure access. I was also able to offer safe file sharing by collaborating with Dropbox and OneDrive. Because of this feature, my client is able to track usage or misuse of the shared information. The system allowed remote access to users and since the data is stored centrally, it leads to no extra storage cost.

5. Reliable name

I have to admit this that I was inclined to Microsoft for its strong credibility and industrial presence. Most of the businesses today are acquainted with Microsoft offerings in the form of shared calendar and business emails, conference facility of Skype, or legacy Office applications. I have been working on Microsoft technologies for ages now and it has worked wonders for my clients. So, I trust Microsoft and after using Windows Azure platform, it surely added more inclination towards all its services.

Have you experienced some more benefits of Microsoft Azure? Tell me about it in the comments.

How to Deploy Azure Cloud Service

Microsoft Azure offers two ways to create and deploy a cloud service viz. Quick Create and Custom Create. The Quick Create approach or method is quite handy in that it makes available ready links for achieving all requirements in one go. In contrast, the Custom Create method is the right choice when the cloud service is ready for deployment right when it is being created.

Deploying an application on Azure: Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model

The following elements are needed to deploy an application on Azure as SaaS:

• Service Definition

The service definition file specifies the service model plus quantifies the roles being created.

• Service Configuration

The service configuration file provides the settings for the cloud service and discrete roles plus quantifies the role instances.

• Service Package

The service package consists of the application code and configurations along with the service definition file. Service package must be created for creating a cloud service with deployment of web/worker roles.

How to prepare the app before deploying on Azure cloud?

Before deploying a cloud service, the cloud service package must be created from the application code and a cloud service configuration file. The Azure software development kit (SDK) provisions tools for readying the deployment files. The SDK can be installed in the language preferred for developing the application code.

The following cloud service features need specific configurations prior to exporting a service package:

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) configuration would be required for cloud services that use SSL for data encryption.

Remote Desktop would need to be configured in case remote connections are required for individual role instances.

Azure Diagnostics would need to be enabled in case verbose monitoring is needed for the cloud service.

The default monitoring utilizes the performance counters taken from the host OS for role instances. In contrast, verbose monitoring takes additional values on basis of the performance data within the role instances for deeper analysis of issues that arise while application processing.

Prerequisites for deploying a cloud service on Azure

• Azure SDK installation

Click Install Azure SDK to visit the Azure Downloads page, and then download the SDK in the preferred language for writing the code.

• Creation of certificates

Create certificates for any role instances that may need one. Cloud services need a .pfx file with a private key. Upload the certificates to Azure as the cloud service is being created and deployed.

• Create the affinity group

Create the affinity group in case the cloud service is being deployed to an affinity group. The affinity group can be created in the Networks area of the Azure classic portal.

Create a cloud service and upload the deployment package

1. Sign in to the Azure portal.
2. Click New > Compute, go down and click Cloud Service.
3. Click Create on the information page.
4. Enter DNS name in the new Cloud Service
5. Create a new Resource Group.
6. Select a Location.
7. Select Package, and fill in the required details.
8. Select ‘Deploy even if one or more roles contain a single instance’ in case any of the roles consist of a single instance.
9. Ensure that ‘Start deployment’ is selected.
10. Click OK.

Once the steps are completed, verify that the deployment completed successfully by checking the cloud service instance (should display ‘Running’). As the final step, click the Site URL to open the cloud service in a web browser.

Cloud Computing and Azure: An Introduction

 

Microsoft Azure is a cloud platform built by Microsoft for Enterprise businesses. Azure offers services for creating, deploying and handling apps and services through a network of Microsoft datacenters located worldwide. It provides both platform-as-a-service (PAAS) and Infrastructure-as a-Service (IAAS), and has compatibility with a host of programming languages, developer tools and frameworks, including both Microsoft and open source utilities.

The cloud platform uses Microsoft Azure as the operating system to run its fabric overlay— a cluster hosted on Microsoft data centers to handle computing and storage resources of the devices, and provides resources to the apps running on the platform. The Azure Fabric Controller manages the scalability and reliability to ensure that the system doesn’t crash even if one of the servers within the data center faces downtime. The App Fabric Controller also provisions for managing the user’s web application in terms of memory consumption and load balancing.

 Microsoft Azure: open-source compatibility

Azure is compatible with a wide range of operating systems, programming languages, software frameworks, developer tools, databases and platforms. For instance, Azure enables one to run Linux containers with Docker; develop applications with JavaScript, Java, Python, PHP, and more; and create backend for Apple OS and Android including Windows Phone.

How Azure helps to extend your existing IT

Azure doesn’t constrain you to pick between your datacenter and the cloud, but offers you the option to keep both by seamlessly integrating with your existing IT setup through a network of secure private connections backed with encrypted hybrid database and storage solutions. Which means you’re your assets stay right where you require them to be.

Azure Stack is another key module of Microsoft Azure, which enables you to bring the Azure model of app development and deployment to your datacenter. Its hybrid cloud offers the optimal mix of both worlds viz. greater number of IT options, lesser complexity and costs.

Azure’s pay-as-you-go billing model

Azure pay-as-you-go services enable to quickly ramp up or down the service levels to meet the demand, which means subscribers need to pay exactly per the usage. ‘Per-unit billing’ and a assurance to match competitor prices for mainstream infrastructure services including computing power, storage space and bandwidth ensure that you are always getting the most competent pricing for given performance.

Make informed decisions with Azure’s predictive analytics

Microsoft Azure packs a host of predictive analytics features such as Machine Learning, Cortana Analytics and Stream Analytics, which are at the forefront of redefining BI. Going with Azure services could be a smart move towards making informed decisions, improving customer service and unravel newer business opportunities underlying your organized, unorganized IoT data.

Amid the host of unique features extended by Azure as a cloud services platform, ‘data protection and privacy’ constitutes the core of Microsoft’s commitment towards safeguarding data privacy and security. As a factual basis to its claim, Microsoft was the first cloud service provider accepted by the EU data protection authorities for commitment to the EU privacy laws. The software giant is also the first major cloud provider to adopt the new international cloud privacy standard, ISO 27018.