An interactive Azure guide
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Applying cloud computing with Microsoft Azure

Applying Cloud Computing with Microsoft Azure

Follow the ideas of cloud computing into real Microsoft Azure services: elastic virtual machines, managed app platforms, secure storage and one intelligent portal. Scroll as each diagram assembles from a wireframe skeleton into its full form, then dive into the Azure portal dashboard.

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Elastic scale
Secure by design
Global regions
Always available

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Cloud computing, applied with Azure

Microsoft Azure turns cloud computing into concrete services. Instead of buying servers, you provision virtual machines, databases, storage and AI from a global network of Microsoft data centers, and you pay only for what you use.

On-demand self-serviceCreate resources yourself in the Azure portal, CLI or Bicep.

Broad network accessReach Azure services from any device, anywhere.

Resource poolingMicrosoft regions and zones safely share hardware across customers.

Rapid elasticityAutoscale and scale sets grow or shrink in seconds.

Measured serviceAzure Cost Management meters usage and enforces budgets.

How Azure grew

2008
Microsoft announces Windows Azure at its developer conference.
2010
Azure becomes generally available as a commercial cloud platform.
Today
60+ regions, AI services and hybrid management with Azure Arc.

Inside Microsoft Azure

Regions and availability zones: Azure runs in more than 60 regions. Each region groups datacenters into availability zones, so a workload survives the failure of a single zone.
Virtualization and compute: Hyper-V-based virtualization powers Azure Virtual Machines. The same platform runs containers in Azure Kubernetes Service and serverless code in Azure Functions.
Networking and storage: Azure Virtual Network, Front Door and load balancing connect services. Managed disks, Blob Storage and Azure SQL replicate data across zones and regions.

Follow a request through Azure

Press the button to trace a request through Azure.

Inside Azure's infrastructure

Datacenters and regions

Microsoft runs warehouse-sized datacenters with backup power, cooling and strict physical security, organised into regions and zones.

Cost management

Pay as you go, reserve capacity for a discount, or use Azure Hybrid Benefit. Budgets and cost analysis keep spending visible.

Infrastructure as code

Azure Resource Manager, Bicep and Terraform describe environments as files, so deployments are repeatable and reviewable.

Reliability

Availability zones, geo-redundant storage and Azure Site Recovery keep services running when something fails.

Three ways to build on Azure

Finished applications you use in a browser. Microsoft runs everything; you sign in and get to work.

Azure examples Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365, Power BI

You manage only your data and settings.

A managed platform for building and deploying apps. You write code; Azure handles servers, scaling and updates.

Azure examples Azure App Service, Azure Functions, Azure SQL Database

You manage your application and its data.

Raw virtual machines, storage and networks. You install and run everything on top, with full control.

Azure examples Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Disk Storage, Azure Virtual Network

You manage the operating system, runtime, apps and data.

Where your Azure workloads live

Best for

Advantages and disadvantages

Drag to simulate traffic. Azure autoscale adds instances automatically.

Advantages

Cost efficiency Pay as you go with no hardware up front.

Scalability Autoscale through a rush, then scale back.

Flexibility Try new services without long commitments.

Accessibility Reach Azure from anywhere online.

Disadvantages

Configuration risk Misconfigured resources can expose data.

Connectivity dependency No connection, no access.

Governance Cost sprawl and skills gaps need guardrails.

Vendor lock-in Moving away can be hard and costly.

Azure compute

Virtual Machines for full control, Azure Kubernetes Service for containers, and Azure Functions for serverless code.

Azure data

Azure SQL Database, Cosmos DB and Blob Storage keep structured, global and object data close to users.

Azure AI

Azure OpenAI, Azure AI Search and Azure Machine Learning apply models without owning a supercomputer.

Layers of protection in Azure

Azure security is layered, so one failure does not expose everything. Hover a layer to light its ring.

Microsoft Entra IDSign-in, multi-factor authentication and conditional access.
Azure RBACGive people only the permissions they need, scoped to resources.
Azure Key VaultStore keys, secrets and certificates away from application code.
Microsoft Defender for CloudContinuously assess posture and detect threats across workloads.
Azure Backup and Site RecoveryKeep copies in other regions so services restart fast.

Azure in the real world

Dive into the Azure portal

Keep scrolling and the camera flies into the portal dashboard. Resource groups, virtual machines, App Service, storage and cost insights appear as the Azure workspace builds around you.

Meet our contributors

The people who helped create this Azure project.

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