Custom Software and Web Solutions | The CSW Solutions Blog

Windows Azure - The Basics

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What is Windows Azure?

Windows Azure is an application platform in the cloud that allows application to be hosted on the Microsoft data centers. Basically, Windows Azure lets organizations to boost and scale their computing resources that they could have at their disposal.

What is it for me?

As with most cloud computing platforms, the main advantage is flexibility and cost. On the flexibility side, hosting your custom application on the cloud makes it easier for the businesses to scale their computing needs up and down than having the infrastructure on-site.

On the cost side, there are obvious potential for savings from running application on someone's else server. The savings could be from the energy bill to the hardware to the cost of labor.

What can Windows Azure can used for?

Developers can build custom software application using the .NET Services, test and debug them using Visual Studio which integrates with the Windows Azure platform. Windows Azure could also be used with SQL Azure Services and can be used to store databases and information

What are the benefits?

• Agility:  Azure allows you to take advantage of development tools, automated service management and global datacenter presence to respond faster and focus on your competitive differentiators.
• Efficiency: The Windows Azure platform allows to improves productivity and increases operational efficiency by lowering upfront capital costs.
• Simplicity: Windows Azure allows you to utilize the existing skills of your development team in familiar languages such as .NET and PHP to create and manage web applications and services, whether in the cloud or on premises.

What is the cost?

Windows Azure has different payment plans. From consumption based pricing to monthly fixed. More information can be found here.

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