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An enterprise guide to Microsoft Azure cloud
Editor's note
When it comes to cloud computing, Microsoft is a big fish in a growing pond. Widely considered one of the top three cloud providers alongside Amazon Web Services and Google, Microsoft Azure is a force to be reckoned with. However, the cloud market remains highly competitive -- and shows no signs of slowing down.
Microsoft's cloud platform, formerly known as Windows Azure, includes infrastructure as a service (IaaS) and platform as a service (PaaS), as well as other features for management, security controls, mobility, networking, analytics and more. Azure also supports third-party software.
Despite Azure's benefits and strong service offerings, nothing is perfect. In addition to a reputation for being difficult to manage, outages have been an issue for Azure. And while no cloud provider can boast 100% uptime, Azure experienced nearly 40 hours of downtime last year. So for enterprises considering Azure, there's a lot to know before deciding if it's the cloud for you.
1Developing and managing in Microsoft Azure cloud
Choosing a provider is only the beginning for enterprises adopting cloud. Cloud management, for example, is crucial, so enterprises need to ensure the proper management tools and services are in place. And while managing the Azure cloud platform can be challenging, third-party services, along with Microsoft's own tools, can help. But to manage Azure cloud effectively, users need to stay up-to-date with its latest capabilities, services and more. What development and management strategies do Azure users need to know?
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Navigating the maze of Azure management tools
Microsoft Azure has a bad rap when it comes to cloud management. And while there are a variety of tools to help, choosing the right one is a challenge. Read Now
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Arming cloud developers with essential Azure knowledge
Before using the Azure cloud platform, developers must arm themselves with these best practices for resiliency, availability, coding, security and management. Read Now
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Azure capitalizing on the value of video in the cloud
With YouTube becoming a hit, enterprises are hungry for video. And Microsoft is satisfying their appetites with Windows Azure Media Services -- a business-friendly video service in the cloud. Read Now
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Microsoft Azure cloud jumps on Docker container bandwagon
Docker-mania continues to spread, and Microsoft has joined the movement. The cloud giant will support Docker containers both on-premises and in its Azure cloud platform. Read Now
2Microsoft Azure cloud suffers outages, other issues
While cloud computing offers a range of benefits from scalability and cost-efficiency, nothing is perfect. For cloud providers, outages are an unavoidable plague, and Microsoft Azure cloud has certainly had its share of disruptions. Although some customers accept outages and other issues as an unfortunate part of the cloud package, providers must minimize and respond to downtime to maintain user satisfaction. In order to shore up its place among the top cloud vendors, Microsoft needs to limit Azure's downtime going forward.
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Microsoft Azure's cloud outage felt 'round the world
Microsoft's credibility took a hit following a major Azure cloud outage, leaving customers around the globe scrambling for service. Read Now
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Microsoft slow to respond to Azure cloud outage
As if the cloud outage wasn't frustrating enough for Azure customers, Microsoft's slow response fueled the fire. IT pros stress the need for improvement. Read Now
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Microsoft struggles with Azure uptime in 2014
Cloud outages happen to every provider, but some major vendors -- such as Microsoft Azure -- suffered more downtime than others in 2014. Read Now
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Clearing Microsoft Azure cloud migration hurdles, step-by-step
Migrating an existing application to the Azure cloud platform can be a challenge for users. However, none of these roadblocks are impossible to clear. Read Now