1. Home
  2. Infrastructure-as-a-Service Solutions
  3. Microsoft Azure Reviews
  4. User Review of Microsoft Azure
Journey with Azure
Updated February 16, 2017

Journey with Azure

Anonymous | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with Microsoft Azure

It is used across the IT department. We deploy all .NET based applications in Azure environment.
  • Azure abstracts away a lot of the complexities, But that's all part of the natural transition to cloud computing, Applications have to be completely re-engineered to take advantage of the unique benefits offered by cloud computing, including the ability to scale and quickly ramp up performance.
  • Putting an app on the Web allows remote access from nearly every conceivable point, and that means "every single component has to be strong. If one of your components is compromised, the others shouldn't fall down."
  • Azure instances each include a fixed amount of storage but with AWS, you’ll need to purchase storage separately at an additional cost. That said, many IT pros agree that AWS storage is highly customizable to their needs which is a plus, but the pricing is not as straightforward as Azure.
  • As with anything, there are a couple of potential cons with Microsoft Azure. Unlike SaaS platforms where the end-user is consuming information (for example, Office 365), IaaS (Azure) moves business’ compute power from your data center or office to the cloud. As with most cloud service providers, Azure needs to be expertly managed and maintained, which includes patching and server monitoring.
  • Unlike local servers, Azure requires expertise to ensure all moving parts work together efficiently. A common mistake by business administrators that are not fully engaged in how well (or poorly) their cloud servers are operating is to over-provision cloud services. While a common mistake, on premise servers’ compute power does not translate equivocally in the cloud, potentially costing businesses thousands of dollars per year.
  • Need to provide customized SAN storage attached to VMs like AWS
  • Unlike other vendors, the Microsoft Azure cloud offers high availability and redundancy in data centers on a global scale. Because of this, Azure can offer a service level agreement, or SLA, of 99.95% (approximately 4.38 hours of downtime per year), something that most businesses cannot achieve.
  • It’s imperative to keep IT budgets in mind when choosing a cloud provider, which is why the Microsoft Azure platform is so attractive to many organizations. Azure’s pay-as-you-go pricing allows SMBs to better manage their IT budgets, purchasing only as much as they need. Additionally, the cloud environment allows businesses to launch both customer applications and internal apps in the cloud, which saves on infrastructure costs while reducing the hardware and maintenance burdens on in-house IT management.
  • Scalability is the backbone of any good cloud provider, and Azure is no different. For example, consider the following: a firm runs SQL reports daily for 28 out of 30 days of the month, using minimal compute power. On the last two days of the month, there is an increase in report activity, requiring more compute power. Microsoft Azure makes it easy to scale compute power up or down with nothing more than the click of a button. With this scalability structure, businesses have the flexibility to pay for only what they use.
  • AWS

Azure is known for being convenient for Windows admins because they don’t have to learn a new platform. Azure also makes it simple to integrate on-premises Windows servers with cloud instances to create a hybrid cloud environment. Additionally, Azure instances work seamlessly with Microsoft cloud services such as Azure Active Directory and Azure SQL Database.

Azure support plans are billed using a flat monthly fee, but AWS support fees vary on a sliding scale tied to monthly usage, so support costs can grow quickly if you are a very heavy user.
Migrating core business applications to Azure to ensure maximum efficiency. With a seamless migration and continued usage, helped us save thousands of $$$s on licensing, hardware, and support.
Microsoft Azure has a strong focus on security, following the standard security model of Detect, Assess, Diagnose, Stabilize and Close. Paired with strong cyber security controls, this model has allowed Azure to achieve multiple compliance certifications, all of which establish Azure as a leader in IaaS security. Not only is the platform protected, the end user is also covered with Azure. This multi-level of protection is essential as security threats continue to multiply daily across the globe, targeting end users and putting your business’ data at risk. Azure provides simple, user-friendly services for increased protection, such as multi-factor authentication and application password requirements.