Microsoft Azure - What is it?
Microsoft launched Azure in 2010 to offer cloud services that enable customers to design, test, deploy, and manage their applications on Microsoft's data centers. These data centers are located in 54 different worldwide areas. Microsoft provides a variety of services in a variety of sectors, including compute, database, content delivery, and networking.
Azure Architecture by Microsoft
Let us attempt to comprehend the Microsoft Azure Architecture using the figure below:
AppFabric is a middleware platform that integrates computation, storage, networking, and identity management services. Azure is hosted by Microsoft in its data centers and may be accessed through the Microsoft Azure Management Portal. Following that, we'll discuss middleware in-depth as services.
Now, in the part below, we'll look at some of the services offered by this cloud computing provider.
Services provided by Microsoft Azure
By this time, you should have a general understanding of cloud computing and what Microsoft Azure is. Let us take a closer look at its offerings.
This cloud computing service offers an infinite number of services. We will concentrate on all of the critical services that are usually examined in certification tests.
To facilitate comprehension, let us divide them into the following domains:
- Azure Compute
- Azure Networking
- Azure Storage
- Azure Database
Azure Compute
It provides building-level components that control the execution of an application installed on the Azure platform. The following are the many services that it offers:
- Azure Virtual Machine: This is an environment that simulates the experience of utilizing specialized hardware.
- Azure Virtual Machine Set: They are used to quickly construct thousands of identical virtual computers using the Azure Virtual Machine Set.
- Azure Container Service: Containers are packages that do not need virtual machines and instead rely on virtual isolation to execute programs that share an operating system kernel. Additionally, the Azure container service enables the creation of a container hosting solution.
- Container Registry(Azure): It is used to store and manage container images.
- Functions(Azure): This service does not need a server and enables you to execute code on-demand without requiring any infrastructure.
- Azure Batch: This feature is used to scale an unlimited number of virtual machines concurrently.
- Service Fabric By Azure: It is a distributed platform that facilitates the deployment and maintenance of small service-based applications.
- Azure Cloud Services: They are focused on applications and support Java, Node.js, PHP, Python,.Net, and Ruby.
- Azure Web Apps: They enable rapid development and deployment of web applications at scale.
- Azure Mobile App: It is used to develop and host the backend for any mobile application.
- API Apps: It is used to quickly create cloud APIs.
- Azure Search: It delivers completely managed search-as-a-service.
- Notification Hubs: They are used to effortlessly deliver push alerts to any platform from any backend.
- Azure Logic Apps: This is a cloud-based solution that enables the automation of workflows, corporate processes, and so on.
- Event Hub By Azure: It is a collection of events that may be saved in Azure.
Microsoft Azure Networking
These networks enable companies to securely connect to Azure ExpressRoute-enabled cloud services. Additionally, it is used to administer private virtual networks and to build many virtual networks.
- Azure Virtual Network: It isolates and segments the network using filters to route traffic. It includes Azure Connect, which simplifies the configuration of IP-based and Azure Traffic Manager.
- Azure Load Balancer: It distributes traffic to virtual machines while isolating external traffic on another virtual machine.
- Azure Traffic Manager: It has load balancing capabilities.
- Azure Express Route: It is a network that enables you to expand your existing network into the Microsoft cloud through a secure connection.
- Azure DNS: This service converts a website's URL to an IP address.
- Azure Content Delivery Network (CDN): Azure CDN improves content delivery and enables content streaming by using 24 distinct locations scattered across the globe.
- Azure VPN Gateway: This component transmits encrypted data over a public connection.
Storage in Azure
Azure storage offers more durable storage options, enables you to construct large-scale applications and scale them up as required, and dynamically balances data depending on traffic.
- Azure Blob Storage: Azure's blob service provides storage for binary big items (BLOBs). It enables users to characterize their data via the addition of metadata.
- Azure Queue Storage: It enables apps to interact by exchanging messages on a queue, which prevents communications from being lost or unprocessed.
- Azure File Storage: It enables cloud-based file sharing using a common protocol.
- Azure Table Storage: It is a cloud-based service that stores semi-structured NoSQL data.
Microsoft Azure Database
Azure Database is a highly dependable and secure relational database-as-a-service that provides great performance without requiring any kind of infrastructure.
- SQL Database(Azure): It is a relational database that is hosted on Azure and is based on SQL server technology. It offers a fault-tolerant, scalable, and highly available database.
- Azure DocumentDB: It is a NoSQL database-as-a-service that supports transactional processing over unstructured data, sophisticated querying and query processing, and transaction semantics comparable to those found in relational databases.
- Redis Cache(Azure): It is a data structure that implements a key-value database with the capacity to extend its durability.
Microsoft Azure Features
Now that we understand what Azure is, let us examine its features.
- Catastrophe Recovery: Because data is not kept on a single physical computer but is spread over several geographical locations, it is far safer in the event of a disaster. Even if one site is impacted by a natural disaster, the other locations remain unaffected, ensuring the safety of your data.
- Security: Azure is constantly updated, which ensures its security. The Security Development Lifecycle ensures the safety and security of each development step.
- Scalability: Azure enables you to expand your storage capacity. Microsoft's service has announced additional flexibility in terms of virtual machine size. These reserved instances may help down the cost of Cloud Computing.
- Cost: Using physical hardware to deliver apps results in a financial drain. Training employees on how to use it takes a significant amount of time and money. There is fierce rivalry in today's fast-paced technology environment. And if you wait too long to produce the final product, your organization will undoubtedly suffer a significant loss. Azure is the answer to all of those concerns because of its low hardware and staff costs.
After familiarizing yourself with Microsoft Azure's services and capabilities, let's have a look at how to log in to Microsoft Azure.
Login to Microsoft Azure
Continuing with our 'what is Azure' article, let us learn how to establish a free Microsoft Azure account. On successful enrollment, you'll get Rs.13,300 in credit to your Microsoft Azure free-tier account, as well as lifelong access to 25+ free services.
The procedures for establishing your own Azure free trial account are as follows:
Step 1: Navigate to https://www.azure.com and click the green Begin your free trial button.
Step 2: Click the Start free button once again.
Step 3: If you already have a Microsoft account, log in using your existing credentials.
Step 4: Verify your account by phone SMS.
Step 5: Enter your legitimate credit/debit card information; however, you will not be charged.
Step 6: Next, check the box next to I agree and click Sign Up. Your account will be available in a few seconds. Your dashboard is shown below.
That is all there is to it!
Conclusion
Thus, we have reached the conclusion of this article. We hope you found this post interesting. If you are reading this, allow us to express our congratulations. Due to the fact that you are no longer a newbie to Azure! Practice makes perfect, and the more you practice, the more you will learn.
