Microsoft Azure: Affordable, secure cloud service for developers
Cloud computing has now become an essential for both leading companies around the world and startups due to many reasons.
Commercial cloud annualized revenue run rate exceeds $18.9 billion in the last quarter of FY 17, as the use of cloud technology continues to take a sharp rise across the world.
Recently, Microsoft Bangladesh hosted a seminar marking “Azure Discovery Day” for a group of developers in Dhaka to explain what is possible with Microsoft Azure, according to press release of the Microsoft Bangladesh.
Microsoft Azure is a public cloud platform that companies can use to build, deploy, and manage applications quickly across a global network of Microsoft-managed datacenters.
Azure provides both lower level infrastructure services (also known as infrastructure as a service [IaaS]) as well as higher level platform services (platform as a service [PaaS]), said the press release.
IaaS provides the basic components needed to build a virtual IT infrastructure with a focus on the virtual functions instead of the physical machines. This can cut down the need for investing massive CAPEX budgets and operational costs in maintaining them.
Data security is now the most important aspect of cloud computing more than ever. Companies, offering cloud computing services, are working 24/7 to protect user data and their privacy.
As per its privacy strategy Microsoft has promised users the safest and most secured cloud computing platforms, said the press release.
“With the introduction of new cloud regions in Canberra, Microsoft has now announced 42 regions around the world - more than any major cloud provider - to provide access to innovation and opportunity across the globe,” it said.
Anyone can subscribe to Azure in personal or organisational level and customize the service based on their requirement. The services of Azure include virtual machines, app service, SQL Database, storage, cloud service, Azure Cosmos DB, Azure Active Directory, backup, Azure DNS, virtual network, stream analytics etc.
Microsoft Bangladesh said with Azure one can afford to have unlimited supercomputing service with pay-as-you-go method. The service is integrated with Microsoft’s data centres and servers. However, there is option to use own data centres through Azure Stacks.
As discussed at the Azure Discovery Day seminar, in order to take this service one need to follow two simple steps. First, any person or company need to buy one or more Azure Stack. The second step is to connect the systems with their own data centres. Through these two simple steps users can avail Azure Stack services on their own servers. The cost of Azure Stack depends on how much computing capacity one needs and they will have to pay the bills accordingly, said the press release.
Interest towards Cloud computing is rapidly increasing in Bangladesh. From big local and international organisations to small companies and developers, using cloud services based on their needs is a value addition.
The popularity of Microsoft Azure is also increasing with time thanks to the pay-as-you-go method. Microsoft is offering this facility considering the interest of the users and cost-effectiveness. People often end up paying more to take cloud services, but Microsoft Azure ensures a cost effective and secure service at flexible pricing plans for everyone, added the press release.