What is Microsoft Azure?

• Blockchain Council
• September 02, 2024

Summary

• Microsoft Azure is a comprehensive cloud computing platform offering over 200 products and services, empowering users to build, run, and manage applications across multiple environments.
• Azure’s hybrid cloud capabilities enable seamless integration and management of environments across various clouds, on-premises, and at the edge.
• It operates on a pay-per-use model, making it attractive for businesses of all sizes, including 80% of Fortune 500 companies.
• Azure relies on virtualization technology, utilizing physical servers located in data centers globally to run virtualized hardware for its customers.
• Getting started with Azure involves signing up, exploring the Azure portal, starting projects, and understanding Azure services and security.
• Core services offered by Azure include compute, storage, networking, security, databases, AI & ML, Blockchain, and more.
• Azure continues to innovate with services like Azure AI and Machine Learning, IoT solutions, big data analytics, and serverless computing.
• It offers support and resources for startups and enterprises through programs like Microsoft for Startups and Azure Credits.
• Azure emphasizes security and compliance, providing updates, best practices, and technical capabilities to safeguard data and infrastructure.
• Azure’s ongoing evolution reflects its commitment to technological innovation, positioning itself as a strategic partner in businesses’ digital transformation journeys.

In today’s world, cloud computing stands out as a pivotal innovation, reshaping how businesses and individuals access, compute, and store data. At the heart of this revolution is Microsoft Azure. As of 2024, Azure is not just a single product but a rich suite of more than 200 products and cloud services. It empowers users to build, run, and manage applications across multiple clouds, on-premises, and at the edge, leveraging a wide array of tools and frameworks tailored to their needs.

Notable for its hybrid cloud capabilities, Azure facilitates seamless integration and management of environments, whether on-premises, across different clouds, or at the edge. But what exactly is Microsoft Azure and how does it work?

We will answer those questions in this article. We will also provide a detailed understanding of Azure’s capabilities, its core services, how you can get started with it, and what lies ahead. Read till the end to find insights on how Azure can transform your operations and innovation strategies.

What is Microsoft Azure? Defined

Microsoft Azure, initially launched as Windows Azure in 2010 and later renamed, is a cloud computing platform developed by Microsoft. It provides a wide range of cloud services, including computing, storage, and networking, across Microsoft’s global network of data centers. Azure supports the creation, management, and deployment of applications on a massive scale, offering tools for both Windows and Linux. 

With services like virtual machines, app services, and Azure Kubernetes Service, it caters to various computing needs. Azure also emphasizes on security and identity management through services like Entra ID connect for single sign-on and Azure information protection.

It is renowned for its extensive services divided into categories such as compute, networking, storage, IoT, and more, boasting over 200 services. It supports multiple programming languages and has the highest number of data centers globally, aimed at reducing latency and improving connectivity for its users worldwide. Azure operates on a pay-per-use model, making it attractive for businesses of all sizes, including 80% of Fortune 500 companies.

Brief history of Microsoft Azure

Year	Milestones
2008	Azure announced as “Windows Azure,” entering cloud computing market to compete with Amazon EC2 and Google App Engine​.
2010	Commercially available, expanded services beyond ASP.NET to include .NET Framework 4 and support for various programming languages like Java, PHP.
2014	Transitioned to “Microsoft Azure,” broadening focus to embrace open-source software and IaaS, catering to wider audience.
Beyond 2014	Introduced over 200 advanced services focusing on big data analytics, IoT, machine learning, and AI. Expanded globally.
Recent Developments	Added new features like Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS), Azure SQL Database, and Azure Cognitive Services.

How Does Microsoft Azure Work?

At its core, Azure operates on a technology known as virtualization, where most computer hardware can be emulated in software form. This means that Azure relies on a network of physical servers located in data centers around the globe to run virtualized hardware for its customers. 

These data centers are filled with server racks that include server blades and networking hardware, which, when combined, can run millions of instances of virtualized hardware simultaneously.

The management and orchestration of these resources are handled by Azure’s cloud management software, known as the fabric controller, and the front end, which hosts web services and APIs. This structure allows Azure to provide its users with a powerful, maintenance-free computing environment​ 

Also Read: What is Microsoft Copilot?

How to Get Started with Azure? Step-by-Step Guide

To get started with Azure, you generally follow these steps:

Step 1: Sign Up and Explore the Azure Portal

First, sign in to the Azure portal. If you’re entirely new to Azure, the Azure Quickstart Center within the portal is a great place to start. It offers a guided experience, showing you how to perform basic tasks, estimate costs, and deploy various types of resources. There are helpful videos and links to get you more acquainted with Azure’s services​​.

Step 2: Start with Projects and Guides

Within the Quickstart Center, you’ll find sections for starting projects and setup guides. If you’re ready to create a resource, the “Start a project” section helps you explore your options, understand potential costs, and learn about necessary prerequisites. For IT admins and cloud architects, the “Setup guides” provide a comprehensive introduction to Azure, offering structured steps for setting up, managing, and securing your Azure environment​.

Step 3: Online Training and Courses

Azure also offers free introductory course modules to further your understanding. These modules cover cloud concepts and managing resources in Azure, perfect for self-paced learning.

Step 4: Understand Azure Services

Once you’re familiar with the Azure environment, explore various tools and services for development. Azure offers solutions for database management, storage, and application deployment. For instance, Azure Cosmos DB for document, table, or graph databases; Azure Storage for blobs, queues, files, and more; and Azure SQL Database for relational data storage. Moreover, Azure supports Docker and container-based applications, providing multiple options for deployment including Azure Kubernetes Service and Azure Container Apps​.

Step 5: Authentication and Security

Implementing strong authentication and security practices is essential. Azure offers Microsoft Entra ID for single-sign-on experiences and App Service Authentication for hosting apps with built-in authentication support. Additionally, understanding and applying Azure’s security best practices will help protect your applications and data​.

Step 6: Monitoring and DevOps Integration

Monitoring your applications for performance and potential issues is made easier with tools like Application Insights and Azure Monitor. For those integrating DevOps practices, Azure provides compatibility with tools such as Jenkins, GitHub, and Azure DevOps, supporting continuous deployment and other DevOps workflows​.

Step 7: Manage Your Applications and Projects

Keep track of your application’s performance and issues with tools like Application Insights and Azure Monitor. Azure also integrates with popular DevOps tools such as Jenkins, GitHub, Puppet, and Azure DevOps, allowing for efficient management and deployment of your applications​. It also offers command-line interfaces (CLI) and PowerShell.

Step 8: Selecting Azure Regions

When setting up services, you’ll choose a region, which is critical for performance and compliance. Azure’s global presence allows you to deploy applications close to your users to reduce latency. For business-critical and high-availability applications, consider deploying across multiple regions for failover and replication​.

Core Services Offered by Microsoft Azure

Microsoft Azure provides a broad range of services covering various categories like compute power, storage options, networking, security, and more:

• Analytics: Azure offers services to gather, store, process, analyze, and visualize data. Key services include Azure Synapse Analytics for limitless analytics service, Azure Databricks for AI-based analytics, and Azure Data Lake for scalable data storage and analytics.
• Compute: Azure provides a wide array of compute resources, allowing users to access cloud compute capacity and scale on demand. Services include Azure Virtual Machines for on-demand computing power, Azure Functions for serverless computing, and Azure Kubernetes Service for managing containerized applications.
• Storage: Azure offers secure, scalable cloud storage for your data. Services include Azure Blob Storage for REST-based object storage of unstructured data, Azure File Storage for managed file shares, and Azure Queue Storage for storing large numbers of messages that can be accessed from anywhere in the world.
• Networking: Azure provides a variety of networking tools and services. This includes Azure Virtual Network for creating private networks, Azure Load Balancer for distributing incoming traffic among services, and Azure Application Gateway for web traffic load balancing.
• Security: Azure emphasizes security through services like Azure Active Directory for identity and access management, Azure Firewall for network security, and Azure Security Center for unified security management and advanced threat protection.
• Databases: Azure supports multiple database services for different needs, including Azure SQL Database for fully managed relational databases, Azure Cosmos DB for globally distributed databases, and Azure Database for MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MariaDB for managed database services.
• AI & ML Services: Azure provides tools for analytics and machine learning such as Azure Synapse Analytics, which integrates with Azure Machine Learning and Power BI for comprehensive analytics and data exploration. These also include AI anomaly detection, Azure AI bot services, and machine learning platforms to build, train, and deploy models.
• Azure Blockchain Service: Azure Blockchain Service aims to streamline the creation and administration of Blockchain networks, enabling organizations to concentrate on their core business operations rather than infrastructure concerns. It simplifies the handling of Blockchain ledger data, supporting both public and private transaction data and allowing easy integration with existing applications. Additionally, it now supports various distributed ledger technologies besides Ethereum, such as Corda Enterprise, providing users with more options.

Also Read: How to Learn AI with GitHub Copilot?

Innovative Technologies from Azure

Technology	Description
MaaS for Llama 2	Allows developers to use large language models with an API, simplifying deployment by avoiding GPU provisioning. Offers hosted fine-tuning on Azure Marketplace.
Multimodal AI Capabilities	Includes DALL·E 3 for image generation, GPT-3.5 and GPT-4 Turbo for extended prompts, and GPT-4 Turbo with Vision for text outputs that include images or videos.
Azure AI Studio	Simplifies generative AI application development, integrating a model catalog for a unified experience.
Prompt Flow	Supports version control and collaboration on large language model operations at scale, integrating with CI/CD pipelines.
OneLake Integration	A data lakehouse platform integrated with Azure AI, optimizing data storage and retrieval for AI projects.
Managed Feature Store	Enables machine learning professionals to develop and manage features with automated serving, security, and monitoring.
Serverless Compute	Simplifies job submission in Azure Machine Learning by dynamically allocating resources for all job types.
Copilot Experiences for Retail	Offers templates for personalized shopping experiences and support store operations, using natural language interactions powered by Azure OpenAI Service and GPT-4.
Retail Data Solutions in Microsoft Fabric	Helps unify retail data, offering insights to improve customer satisfaction and operations.
Retail Media Creative Studio	Enables auto-generation and editing of banner creatives for retail media, optimizing campaign performance with AI algorithms.

Latest Developments by Azure

Azure is pushing the boundaries of technology with several innovative services across artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), big data and analytics, and serverless computing. Let’s dive into the latest developments in these areas:

Azure AI and Machine Learning Services

Azure AI continues to lead in the Cloud AI Developer Services, acknowledged for its comprehensive vision in integrating AI capabilities responsibly across a wide array of applications. The platform allows users to either use pre-built models, customize them, or create, train, deploy, and manage their models with Azure Machine Learning. 

It addresses various business needs, including document processing automation, language translation, video analysis, anomaly detection, and intelligent search, among others. With pre-trained models like ChatGPT, GPT-4, and DALL-E available through Azure OpenAI Service, developers can easily embed AI into apps to solve specific industry and organization needs. 

Azure Machine Learning enhances the model development process with features such as machine learning operations (MLOps), open-source interoperability, and integrated tools aimed at building responsible AI applications.

IoT with Azure IoT Hub and IoT Edge

Azure IoT services, particularly Azure IoT Hub and IoT Edge, offer robust frameworks for connecting, monitoring, and controlling billions of IoT assets. These services provide a secure and scalable platform that supports a wide range of protocols and enables advanced analytics on the edge, reducing the need to transmit all data to the cloud for processing.

Big Data and Analytics

For big data and analytics, Azure Synapse Analytics and Azure Databricks are at the forefront, offering powerful analytics service capabilities that break down data silos, providing insights from all data sources. Azure Synapse Analytics integrates data warehousing and big data analytics for immediate data exploration, while Azure Databricks offers a collaborative Apache Spark-based analytics platform optimized for Azure.

Serverless Computing with Azure Functions

Azure Functions support serverless computing, allowing developers to run code on-demand without having to manage infrastructure. This capability significantly reduces the complexity of managing server configurations and scales automatically to meet demand.

At Microsoft Ignite 2023, significant announcements included the public preview of Azure AI Studio, designed to be the cornerstone of Azure AI’s portfolio. It simplifies the development of generative AI applications and co-pilot development. The general availability of serverless compute in Azure Machine Learning was also announced, enabling machine learning professionals to focus more on developing models rather than managing compute infrastructure. This feature simplifies job submissions, dynamically allocates resources, and supports all Azure Machine Learning job types, including generative AI tasks​.

Also Read: Learning AI with Microsoft Copilot

Azure for Startups and Enterprises

Azure offers a range of support and resources for both startups and enterprises to foster innovation and growth. 

Program	Description
Microsoft for Startups	Designed to aid startups at every stage, offering up to $150,000 in Azure credits, free access to development tools, and startup-friendly offers from partners.
	Startups can access Microsoft Teams, Microsoft 365, and GitHub Enterprise.
Azure Credits	Available for startups looking to grow, enabling access to Azure OpenAI Service, Azure Cognitive Services, and more.
	Allows access to AI models like GPT-4 and DALL·E 3 with the security of Azure.
Founders Hub	Focuses on unlocking innovation, providing technology benefits, mentorship, and guidance for startups.
Pegasus Program	Targets growth-stage startups, providing up to $350,000 in technology credits for Azure, GitHub, and LinkedIn.
	Tailored for startups ready to scale and engage with enterprise customers, offering dedicated support.
AI Infrastructure	High-performance AI infrastructure for startups specializing in AI, providing tools for deployment and management through Azure Machine Learning.

Security and Compliance 

Azure has introduced and refined various security features and practices aimed at safeguarding data, applications, and infrastructure within its cloud environment. Here are some key points:

Updates and Retirement of Features

Azure has made updates to its security features, such as the agentless scanning for VMs, which now includes the ability to better identify encrypted disk usage. Additionally, Azure is planning to retire the Defender for Servers built-in vulnerability assessment solution powered by Qualys, moving towards an integrated Microsoft Defender vulnerability management solution. Azure is also updating its multicloud network requirements to ensure a more secure and efficient experience​.

DevOps and Developer Tools

Azure provides a comprehensive set of DevOps tools and developer resources, such as Azure DevOps, Azure Pipelines, Azure Boards, and more. These tools help in sharing code, tracking work, deploying software, and ensuring full observability into applications, infrastructure, and network​.

Security Best Practices and Patterns

Azure emphasizes the importance of following security best practices across various areas including protecting secrets, database security, data encryption, identity management, network security, and more. Implementing these best practices is crucial for designing, deploying, and managing secure cloud solutions​.

Top Security Tips by Azure

Some recommended security practices include creating activity log alerts using Azure Monitor, managing keys securely, ensuring data is encrypted both in transit and at rest, and utilizing Web Application Firewall (WAF) with Azure Traffic Manager for safeguarding web applications. These measures help in proactively managing and mitigating potential security threats​​.

IoT and Governance

Azure’s security also extends to Internet of Things (IoT) applications and governance. Solutions like Azure IoT help in connecting devices securely, analyzing data, and automating processes. Azure governance tools ensure compliance and manage user identities and access to protect against threats across devices, data, apps, and infrastructure​.

Technical Capabilities

Azure supports secure connectivity to PaaS resources through Azure Private Link, which helps in minimizing exposure to the public internet. It also offers antimalware for protecting virtual machines and Azure Backup and Site Recovery for data protection and disaster recovery. The Cloud Services Due Diligence Checklist developed by Microsoft aids organizations in ensuring compliance and making informed decisions regarding cloud adoption​. The Azure OpenAI Service and Microsoft Copilot adhere to strict data protection standards, and Azure has established the Responsible AI standard, a framework for developing and using AI systems responsibly​.

Conclusion

The recent expansion of Azure’s capabilities, especially in integrating cutting-edge technologies like generative AI and Omniverse™ technologies in collaboration with NVIDIA, underscores Microsoft’s commitment to staying at the forefront of technological innovation. This ongoing evolution reflects Azure’s role not just as a service provider but as a strategic partner in the digital transformation journeys of businesses across the globe.

Microsoft Azure has solidified its position as a cornerstone of modern cloud computing, offering an expansive and evolving suite of services that empower businesses to innovate and scale. Azure’s flexibility, global reach, and commitment to security and compliance make it an indispensable tool for companies navigating the complexities of today’s digital landscape. 

As we look ahead, Azure’s trajectory remains firmly aligned with the pulse of technological advancement, promising to deliver solutions that meet the ever-changing needs of its users. It is clear that Azure will continue to play a pivotal role in the cloud computing domain, driving innovation and enabling success in an increasingly connected world.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Microsoft Azure?

• Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing platform developed by Microsoft, offering over 200 products and services.
• It offers a wide range of cloud services, including computing, storage, and networking.
• It allows users to build, run, and manage applications across multiple environments, including various clouds, on-premises, and at the edge.
• Azure operates on a pay-per-use model, making it accessible for businesses of all sizes.
• Notable for its hybrid cloud capabilities, Azure facilitates seamless integration and management of environments.

How does Microsoft Azure work?

• Azure relies on virtualization technology, utilizing physical servers in data centers globally to run virtualized hardware for its customers.
• It operates through a network of physical servers, managed by Azure’s cloud management software and front end.
• Azure provides a powerful, maintenance-free computing environment for users to deploy their applications and services.
• Its services are accessible via the Azure portal, allowing users to manage their resources and access various tools and frameworks.

What core services does Microsoft Azure offer?

• Azure offers a wide range of core services covering categories like compute, storage, networking, security, databases, AI & ML, and Blockchain.
• Compute services include Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Functions, and Azure Kubernetes Service.
• Storage services encompass Azure Blob Storage, Azure File Storage, and Azure Queue Storage.
• Networking tools include Azure Virtual Network, Azure Load Balancer, and Azure Application Gateway.

How can I get started with Microsoft Azure?

• To get started with Azure, sign up for an account and explore the Azure portal.
• Utilize the Azure Quickstart Center within the portal for guided experiences and basic tasks.
• Start projects and follow setup guides to understand options, costs, and necessary prerequisites.
• Take advantage of online training courses and resources to further your understanding of Azure’s services and capabilities.