Azure is Microsoft’s cloud computing platform, a growing collection of integrated services—analytics, computing, database, mobile, networking, storage, and web—for moving faster, achieving more and saving money.
1. Delivers unmatched productivity
Any developer or IT professional can be productive with Azure. Azure’s integrated tools, pre-built templates, and managed services make it easier to build and manage an enterprise, mobile, web and Internet of Things (IoT) apps faster, using skills developers and IT professionals already have and technologies they already know. Microsoft is also the only vendor positioned as a Leader in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Cloud Infrastructure as a Service, Application Platform as a Service and Cloud Storage Services for the second consecutive year.
2. Open and flexible
Azure supports the broadest selection of operating systems, programming languages, frameworks, tools, databases, and devices. Run Linux and Docker containers; build apps with JavaScript, Python, NET, PHP, Java, Node.js; build backends for iOS, Android and Windows devices. Azure supports the same technologies millions of developers and IT professionals already rely on and trust.
3. Works with existing IT
Some cloud providers make you choose between your datacenter and the cloud. Not Azure, which easily integrates with your existing IT environment through the largest network of secure private connections, hybrid database and storage solutions and data residency and encryption features—so your assets stay right where you need them. You can even run Azure in your own data center with Azura Stack. Azure’s hybrid cloud solutions give you the best of both worlds: more IT options, less complexity, and cost.
4. Built to protect your data
We know some organizations are still wary of the cloud. That is why Microsoft has made an industry-leading commitment to the protection and privacy of your data. We were the first cloud provider recognized by the European Union’s data protection authorities for our commitment to rigorous EU privacy laws. Microsoft was also the first major cloud provider to adopt the new international cloud privacy standard, ISO 27018. We also launched Azure Government, a stand-alone version of Azure designed to meet the rigorous compliance requirements of U.S. public agencies.
5. It is everywhere
Azure runs on a worldwide network of Microsoft-managed data centers across 19 regions—more countries and regions than Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud combined. This fast-growing global footprint gives you lots of options for running applications and ensuring great customer performance. Azure is also the first multinational cloud provider in mainland China.
6. Ready for any business
From small dev-test projects to global product launches, Azure is engineered to handle any workload. More than 57% of Fortune 500 companies rely on Azure, which offers enterprise-grade SLA’s on services, 24×7 tech support, and round-the-clock service health monitoring. Customers include 3M, AccuWeather, Condé Nast, Diebold, GE Healthcare, HarperCollins, Heineken, LG, NBC, Pier 1 Imports, Real Madrid, Saab, Samsung, Trek, Xerox…and much, much more.
7. Economical and scalable
Azure’s pay-as-you-go services can quickly scale up or down to match demand, so you only pay for what you use. Per-minute billing and a commitment to match competitor prices for popular infrastructure services like computer storage and bandwidth mean you are always getting an unbeatable price for performance.
8. Enables you to unlock insights
Azure’s predictive analytics services like Machine Learning, Power BI and Stream Analytics are redefining business intelligence. Make smarter decisions, improve customer service and uncover new business possibilities from your structured, unstructured and streaming Internet of Things data.