10 Azure Features Every Business Should Know About

02.03.2023
Office workers at laptops

You may have already heard how Microsoft Azure is transforming businesses of all sizes in all industries.

But just how is that transformation taking place?

In this guide, you’ll learn about 10 of Azure’s most incredible features… and how they can supercharge your business.

1. Azure Virtual Machines

Azure Virtual Machines are virtual computers that can be set up to run your applications in the cloud. There are over 200 configuration combinations enabling you to specify the ideal set up for your requirements including processing power, memory, operating system, etc. This service provides businesses with a flexible infrastructure that can be easily adjusted to meet changing demands. Azure Virtual Machines offer a range of benefits such as high availability, fast deployment, and automated updates.

Virtual Machines are extremely scalable, which means businesses can quickly and easily add or remove resources as needed. This makes it ideal for businesses with fluctuating workloads or seasonal demand. Additionally, Azure Virtual Machines offer flexibility in terms of operating system and application support, making it a great choice for businesses with diverse workloads.

Businesses can use Azure Virtual Machines for a wide range of applications such as hosting websites, running databases, and running custom business applications. It provides a secure and reliable environment that ensures the seamless delivery of services to customers. 

2. Azure Storage

Azure Storage is a cloud-based storage solution that provides businesses with secure and scalable storage for their data. Azure storage objects  can be accessed from anywhere in the world through a web interface or REST API.

Azure Storage offers several types of storage options, including:

  • Azure Blobs: A massively scalable object store for unstructured data.
  • Azure Files: Managed file shares for cloud or on-premises deployments.
  • Azure Elastic SAN: A fully integrated solution that simplifies deploying, scaling, managing, and configuring a SAN in Azure.
  • Azure Queues: A messaging store for reliable messaging between application components.
  • Azure Tables: A NoSQL store ideal for storing structured data like customer information.
  • Azure Disks: Block-level storage volumes for Azure VMs.

One of the key benefits of using Azure Storage is its cost-effectiveness. Businesses can choose from a range of pricing tiers and storage options to match their specific needs and only pay for what they use. Additionally, Azure Storage is highly reliable, with built-in redundancy and automatic data replication, ensuring that data is always available when it is needed.

3. Azure Database Services

Azure Database Services is a database management service that enables businesses to store, manage and analyse their data more efficiently. It works by providing a secure and reliable infrastructure that allows businesses to deploy and manage their databases in the cloud.

Azure Database Services offers several types of database services such as SQL Database, Cosmos DB, and more. SQL Database is a fully-managed relational database service that provides secure and scalable data storage for web and mobile applications, while Cosmos DB is a globally distributed database that enables businesses to scale their data globally.

Azure Database Services is useful because of its scalability, which enables businesses to scale their databases up or down depending on their specific needs. Additionally, Azure Database Services offer high availability, ensuring that databases are always available and that data is never lost. Security is another key benefit, with features like built-in encryption and advanced threat protection.

4. Azure App Services

Azure App Services allows businesses to develop, deploy, and manage web and mobile applications in the cloud. It works by providing a fully-managed platform that takes care of the infrastructure and deployment process, leaving businesses free to focus on building and scaling their applications.

One of the key benefits of using Azure App Services is its ease of deployment and management, which makes it ideal for businesses looking to quickly and easily deploy web and mobile applications. With Azure App Services, businesses can easily deploy their applications to the cloud, scale their resources up or down as needed, and monitor and manage their applications from a single dashboard.

Azure App Services offers a range of features that enable businesses to develop and deploy applications more efficiently. It provides support for multiple programming languages, frameworks, and platforms, making it a flexible and versatile solution for businesses with diverse development needs.

5. Azure Functions

Azure Functions enables businesses to run small pieces of code in the cloud without having to manage the underlying infrastructure. It works by allowing developers to write code and upload it to the cloud, where it is executed in response to various events such as HTTP requests or messages in a queue.

One of the main advantages of using Azure Functions is its scalability. Businesses can easily scale their functions up or down depending on their specific needs, ensuring that they only pay for what they use. Additionally, Azure Functions are cost-effective, as businesses are only charged for the amount of time their code is running.

Azure Functions are ideal for event-driven computing, such as processing data from IoT devices, integrating with third-party services, or building serverless web applications. They can also be used for tasks such as image processing, data manipulation, and more.

6. Azure DevOps

Azure DevOps enables businesses to manage their software development projects more efficiently. It works by providing a suite of tools that enable developers to collaborate on code, track project progress, and automate the development, testing, and delivery process.

One of the key benefits of using Azure DevOps is its efficient collaboration features. Businesses can use it to create and manage code repositories, track issues, and manage projects more effectively, all while working together in real-time.

Azure DevOps also offers continuous integration and deployment, which enables businesses to automate their software delivery process. This allows developers to quickly and easily build, test, and deploy their code, reducing the time it takes to get their applications to market.

7. Azure Virtual Network

Azure Virtual Network (VNet) is a cloud-based service that allows businesses to manage and secure their network infrastructure in the cloud. It works by providing a range of networking solutions that enable businesses to connect their cloud resources to their on-premises infrastructure, as well as to the internet.

Azure Virtual Network is highly secure, meaning businesses can use it to create virtual private networks (VPNs) to securely connect their cloud resources to their on-premises infrastructure. Additionally, VNet offers features such as distributed denial of service (DDoS) protection and network security groups, which help protect businesses from network-based attacks.

VNet is also highly flexible, allowing businesses to create and manage virtual networks, load balancers, and other networking components to meet their specific needs. This makes it an ideal solution for businesses looking to build scalable and secure network infrastructure in the cloud.

8. Azure Identity and Access Management

Azure Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a cloud-based service that enables businesses to manage user identities and access to cloud resources. It works by providing a range of identity and access management solutions that enable businesses to control who can access their cloud resources, and what they can do with those resources.

Amongst the advantages of Azure IAM is improved security and compliance. Businesses can use Azure IAM to enforce security policies and manage user access to their cloud resources, reducing the risk of unauthorised access or data breaches. Additionally, Azure IAM supports compliance with various regulatory requirements, such as HIPAA and GDPR.

Azure IAM allows businesses to manage user identities and access to resources using a range of authentication and authorization methods, including multi-factor authentication and role-based access control. This makes it an ideal solution for businesses looking to manage user access to their cloud resources more securely and efficiently.

9. Azure Internet of Things (IoT)

Azure Internet of Things (IoT) is a cloud-based service that allows businesses to connect, manage, and analyse data from their IoT devices. It works by providing a range of IoT solutions that enable businesses to securely and reliably connect their devices to the cloud and analyse data from those devices in real-time.

One of the most useful things about Azure IoT is improved efficiency and real-time data insights. Businesses can use Azure IoT to monitor and analyse data from their devices, enabling them to make more informed decisions and optimise their operations in real time. Additionally, Azure IoT supports features such as predictive maintenance, which can help businesses reduce downtime and improve operational efficiency.

Azure IoT enables businesses to manage their IoT devices and data using a range of tools, including device management and data analytics. This makes it an ideal solution for businesses looking to harness the power of IoT to optimise their operations and drive innovation. 

10. Azure Cognitive Services

Azure Cognitive Services provides pre-built APIs and tools to help businesses build intelligent applications. It works by providing a range of cognitive services that allow businesses to process and analyse data in new and innovative ways.

One of the key benefits of using Azure Cognitive Services is improved decision-making and automation. Businesses can use Azure Cognitive Services to analyse data, identify patterns, and make predictions, enabling them to automate decision-making processes and make more informed decisions. Additionally, Azure Cognitive Services supports features such as natural language processing and computer vision, which can help businesses extract insights from unstructured data and automate routine tasks.

Azure Cognitive Services allows businesses to use a range of pre-built APIs and tools to add intelligent capabilities to their applications. This makes it an ideal solution for businesses looking to harness the power of AI to drive innovation and improve their operations.

Harness the power of Azure

From virtual machines and storage to identity and access management and cognitive services, Microsoft Azure provides businesses with the tools and infrastructure they need to succeed in today's digital age.

Whether businesses are looking to develop and deploy applications, manage their data and resources, or harness the power of AI and IoT, Azure offers a flexible and scalable solution that can be customised to meet their specific needs. With its ease of use, cost-effectiveness, and reliability, Azure is an ideal choice for businesses of all sizes and across a range of industries.

Overall, Microsoft Azure is a powerful and versatile platform that can help businesses thrive in today's digital landscape. By leveraging the benefits of Azure, businesses can improve their operations, gain new insights, and stay ahead of the competition.

Contact us today to book a free consultation with our team. We'll provide you with a comprehensive overview of Azure's capabilities, help you pinpoint opportunities and create a tailored roadmap to take full advantage of Azure's benefits for your organisation. Connect with us now to unleash your potential with Microsoft Azure.