Azure
Definition
Microsoft's cloud computing platform offering hundreds of services for building, deploying, and managing applications in a scalable environment.
Use Cases
- Adobe: Run and scale customer-facing SaaS applications and services in the cloud — Adobe and Microsoft have a long-standing partnership; Adobe has publicly described using Microsoft Azure to support parts of its cloud offerings and integrations, leveraging Azure infrastructure and identity capabilities for enterprise scenarios. (Improved ability to scale services globally and support enterprise customer requirements through cloud-based deployment and integrations.)
- Walmart: Enterprise productivity and collaboration for a large workforce — Walmart has publicly discussed using Microsoft cloud services (including Microsoft 365 and Azure Active Directory/Entra ID) to support identity and productivity at scale, which commonly relies on Azure’s underlying cloud platform for management and identity services. (Streamlined identity and access management and improved collaboration capabilities across a large, distributed organization.)
- NBA (National Basketball Association): Deliver live game insights and fan experiences using data and analytics — The NBA has publicly highlighted work with Microsoft Azure to power data platforms and analytics for fan engagement experiences, using Azure services to ingest, process, and serve data-driven features. (Enhanced digital fan experiences with scalable data processing and faster delivery of insights during games.)
Provider Equivalents
- Azure: Microsoft Azure (cloud platform)
Frequently Asked Questions
- What’s the difference between Azure and AWS?
- Azure and AWS are both major cloud platforms that provide similar building blocks: virtual servers, storage, databases, networking, security, and managed services. The main differences are ecosystem and integration (Azure often fits naturally with Microsoft products like Windows Server, Active Directory/Entra ID, and Microsoft 365), service naming/UX, and pricing details. Most common workloads can run on either platform.
- When should I use Azure?
- Use Azure when you want to host applications or data in Microsoft’s cloud, especially if you already use Microsoft technologies (Windows Server, SQL Server, .NET, Active Directory/Entra ID) or need strong integration with Microsoft security and productivity tools. It’s also a good choice for hybrid setups (mix of on-premises and cloud) and for quickly using managed services like databases, Kubernetes, analytics, and AI without running the underlying infrastructure yourself.
- How much does Azure cost?
- Azure pricing is mostly pay-as-you-go: you pay for what you use (compute time, storage size, database capacity, network egress, etc.). Costs depend on region, service type, performance tier, and how long resources run. Common ways to control cost include turning off unused resources, choosing the right size, using reserved instances/savings plans for steady workloads, and monitoring with cost management tools. Many services also offer a free tier or limited free credits for getting started.
Category: cloud
Difficulty: basic
Related Terms
See Also