Think Ahead with Azure

​Businesses can't ask where they want to be in 5 years without considering where they want their tech to be as well. The way we handle our IT solutions has a direct impact on how we handle business, growth, and disaster.

How do we build solutions now that will work later? By building solutions that can evolve over time! The need to build forward-thinking solutions with existing hardware is why understanding Azure is key to your next step.​

In our last post, we talked about "Why Azure?"​, discussing why Azure is our cloud solution of choice and the merits of its security, support and cost. This post, we're getting a little more technical and talking about IaaS and PaaS, the two basic services Azure offers users. ​​

​

Azure is Microsoft's cloud platform. Users can buy service for storage, hosting, or running application on-demand from its global network of datacenters houses servers, storage, and software. It supports the largest number of operating systems, devices, databases languages, and tools. Azure's primary options are IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service) and PaaS (Platform as a Service)

---

IaaS: What you get​​	Why it matters​	How to use it​
No on-premises server that you have to manage and maintain Access to Microsoft datacenters, servers, storage and software. Run your applications, operating system, and manage your data​	Increased security Business as usual if on-premises servers fail Hybrid IT options (on-premises and off) Cost + flexibility Scalability for growth and/or use​​	Increase your blob storage and power Create hybrid solution for on-premises and off Integrate Azure with your IT and use as much or as little cloud as you need. Add security through secure private connections, data residency, and encryption features Disaster recovery:  have data on site and in the ​cloud​

---

PaaS: What you get​​	Why it matters​	How to use it​
Off-premises​​​ platform for building, testing, deploying, and managing cloud based applications Developme​​​nt tools, business analytics features, and workflow, security, or scheduling features Ability to p​​rovide the CPU, memory, and storage for applications as-needed​	IaaS benefits+ Cut development time for applications Add development capabilities Application lifecycle management improve remote development​​	Manage you service/product while PaaS handles your network and infrastructure. Improve development, testing, and deployment speed Streamline development, deployment, and management through one platform instead of buying software licenses for each application Improve access and stability by scaling usage as needed ​

---

​ ​

Making Moves

​

​

Depending on your business, one of the above may be more appealing than the other. Learning about both should help you see how your current solutions can benefit from Azure's features.

Even for those of us with infrastructure in place, there are excellent options to leverage our on-site assets, benefit from off-site infrastructure and still be thinking five years ahead.

Learn more about Azure as you think ahead! We recommend reading about Microsoft Azure Solutions and Office 365 for more info!

You can also ​​ contact us ​​with questions or to discuss an azure-readiness assessment!​