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All about Microsoft Azure: the benefits of cloud computing

Microsoft Azure has been making a lot of headlines lately. Formerly Windows Azure, the cloud platform has been around since 2010 but in recent years has gone through a series of updates for additional functionality to emerge as the market leader in 2014. No mean feat considering stiff competition from the likes of Google and Amazon.

How does cloud computing work?

Cloud computing is where large groups of remote servers are networked to allow centralised data storage and online access to computer services or resources. This means that resources are shared over a network – so that instead of each company having a team of people managing a server and using their own on-premise software solutions, the resources are managed centrally and not only shared by multiple users, but also reallocated depending on where the demand is, i.e. Australian and UK companies using a shared cloud facility (but not necessarily similar applications) may be allocated the same resources, depending on when they require it (probably opposite hours considering the time zones). This cloud system offers companies high capacity networks and low upfront infrastructure costs as well as the opportunity to save with a pay-as-you-use it model called ‘utility computing’. With cloud computing, multiple users can access a single server to retrieve and update their data without purchasing licenses for different applications, saving on costs while also helping to reduce environmental damage (because less power, air conditioning, etc. are required for various functions).

 

So what exactly is Microsoft Azure? 

In a nutshell, Azure is Microsoft’s cloud platform which offers a collection of services such as compute, storage, data, networking and app, helping suppliers to do more with their products, in a shorter timeframe and save money while they’re at it.

 

Why would suppliers need a service like Azure?

Well, you first need to consider what it takes to run an application on the internet: Anyone offering an app to market has to deal with the same administrative issues.

  • Which operating system to use and how to keep patches up to date
  • The network – load bouncers, routers, DNS and how those will interact with the system
  • Storage needs – how to manage all the data
  • Scale – how to scale to the many users and their geographical distribution

The downside to all this admin is that it has nothing to do with the app that you were inspired to build in the first place.

Azure has been created to deal with all this annoying admin: the operating system, the networking, the storage and the scale so that suppliers can focus on what matters most – their application!

Azure takes an application-centric view of cloud computing by aiming to manage the entire life-cycle of that application – from the initial design, development and testing of your application, to deploying it to the cloud at the touch of a button, to monitoring and scaling that application when it’s running on the internet.

Azure also helps developers to analyse their application so that they can make a better version of it to deploy to the cloud without incurring any downtime.

Windows Azure consists of 3 main components:

The Fabric: the abstract set of compute resources in the data centre. Inside are many computers running virtual machines, running windows.

The Storage Service:  there to help your app manage all of its data in a reliable and scalable way.

The Developer Experience: packages the fabric, the storage and all of the APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) in the cloud. All of this is delivered to the developer within a file which they can download for free and run on their desktop. This means that they can develop and test their application locally before deploying it to the cloud.

Azure uses the utility model of payment, where you only pay for the computing resources in their data centres as you use it.

What can you do with Azure? 

  • Build infrastructure
  • Develop modern applications
  • Gain insights from data
  • Manage identity and access

Cloud computing will significantly change the way we create and deploy applications.

In the same way that the early days of the light bulb required you to host your own power generators, today’s equivalent process of buying, configuring, and hosting software locally will be the exception rather than the rule. What’s more, the pricing structure of Cloud computing will convert application hosting into a utility, just like electricity or water – services where we don’t really know where it comes from or how it is produced, but are just happy it’s there when we want it, and that it is seemingly unlimited.

The utility company (in this case Microsoft) is able to provide the services in a much more cost effective and reliable manner than any one company could provide on their own.

 

So what is Azure Marketplace?

Azure Marketplace aims to connect startup and independent software vendors (ISVs) with Azure customers around the world.

It offers a unified marketplace for Azure’s partners and customers and makes it easier to search, purchase, and deploy a wide range of solutions. The platform helps connect companies who happen to be seeking innovative cloud-based solutions with partners who have developed applications that are ready to use.

Azure Marketplace only offers services that are Microsoft Azure Certified. This certification gives clients the confidence that a solution has been thoroughly vetted for compatibility with Azure.

Because the online marketplace connects different partner systems to one uniform platform, Azure customers can host, purchase and manage their various applications via this one-stop-shop.

 

And how does IMC work with Azure?

For customers who want to lower their total costs of ownership, IMC provides several cloud solutions. IMC’s Process Guidance Suite and Learning Suite software can be hosted in either a public or a private cloud, using Microsoft Azure.

Customers can now also purchase the Process Guidance Suite directly from the Azure Marketplace.

“With this new distribution channel, we hope to meet the needs of new market segments — for example small and medium enterprises, or consultancies who would like to deploy our Process Guidance Suite as part of their ready-to-use content”, says Dr. Helko Lehmann, product manager for IMC´s Business Process Guidance solutions.

The customers can choose a suitable package from a range of different “T-shirt sizes” – ranging from XS, where five users can work simultaneously (targeting specifically content creators), up to L, where 150 users can simultaneously use the application. Fees are paid once a month in advance.

“As new cloud scenarios emerge, companies like IMC are harnessing the power of the cloud to help their customers with innovative options”, explains Garth Fort, General Manager of Enterprise Partners at Microsoft. “The Azure Marketplace makes it easy for our partners to connect and offer their solutions to enterprises and Azure customers. With just a few clicks customers can quickly select and deploy solutions that meet their environment and business needs.”

 

 

 

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