Azure (Microsoft Azure)

Azure is Microsoft’s cloud computing platform offering over 200 products and cloud services. It is the second-largest cloud provider by market share and is particularly strong in enterprise environments, hybrid cloud, and integration with Microsoft products.

Overview

Azure was launched in 2010 and has grown to compete directly with Aws.

Key Services

  • Compute: Virtual Machines, Azure Functions (serverless), AKS (Kubernetes)
  • Storage: Blob Storage, File Storage, Disk Storage
  • Databases: Azure SQL, Cosmos DB (NoSQL), Database for PostgreSQL/MySQL
  • Networking: Virtual Network, Load Balancer, Front Door, ExpressRoute
  • AI/ML: Azure AI, Cognitive Services, Machine Learning
  • Identity: Azure Active Directory (Entra ID)

Licensing

Azure is a commercial, proprietary cloud platform. Services are billed on a pay-as-you-go or reserved instance basis. Azure offers free tier services and credits for startups and education.

See Azure Pricing for details.

Official Resources