Microsoft Azure Glossary

Companies that own massive computer centers and rent out computing power. Think of them as tech landlords.

The largest cloud providers that operate at massive global scale with millions of servers across multiple continents. Like the giants of the cloud industry that can serve billions of users simultaneously.

Virtual Private Cloud - An isolated, private network within a public cloud provider where you control IP addressing, subnets, routing, and security. Available as AWS VPC, Azure Virtual Network (VNet), Google Cloud VPC Network, and Oracle Cloud VCN. Like having your own secure, private neighborhood within a large city.

Microsoft's cloud computing platform offering hundreds of services for building, deploying, and managing applications. Like Microsoft's version of a digital toolbox.

Specialized hardware designed to speed up AI and machine learning workloads by optimizing specific AI operations. Like having custom tools built specifically for AI tasks.

Machine Learning Operations - practices and tools for deploying, monitoring, and managing AI models in production, similar to DevOps but for ML systems. Like having a complete system for keeping AI models running smoothly.

When the statistical properties of input data change over time compared to the training data, potentially degrading model performance. Like a recipe not working well when ingredient quality changes.

Continuously tracking AI model performance, data quality, and system health in production to detect issues early. Like having health checkups to catch problems before they become serious.

Azure's service for creating private, high-speed connections between your on-premises networks and Microsoft's cloud. Like having a private tunnel that connects your office directly to Azure data centers.

Azure service that creates secure, encrypted connections over the internet between your networks and Azure. Like setting up a secure tunnel through a public subway system - anyone can see the tunnel, but they can't see what's inside.

Azure's central networking point that connects multiple networks, branch offices, and VPN connections. Like a grand central station for network traffic - all routes converge here and get directed to their destinations.

Cloud services available over the internet to anyone who wants to use them, shared among multiple organizations. Like renting an apartment in a building where multiple tenants share infrastructure.

A networking component that enables resources in a virtual network to communicate with the internet. Available as AWS Internet Gateway, Azure Internet routing, and implicit in GCP VPC networks. Like the main entrance of a building connecting inside to outside.

Network Address Translation Gateway - enables private subnet resources to access the internet for outbound traffic while blocking inbound connections. Available as AWS NAT Gateway, Azure NAT Gateway, GCP Cloud NAT, and OCI NAT Gateway. Like a secure mailroom that sends packages out but rejects unsolicited deliveries.

AWS monitoring service that collects and tracks metrics, logs, and events from your applications and infrastructure. Like a security camera system that watches everything and alerts you when something unusual happens.

Azure platform for hosting web applications, REST APIs, and mobile backends. Like renting a fully-furnished office space where you can immediately start working without setup.

Azure globally distributed NoSQL database service. Like having identical copies of your database instantly available worldwide.

Microsoft's identity and access management service. Like a master key system for all your digital doors - one login for everything.

Azure service for securely storing and managing sensitive information like passwords, certificates, and encryption keys. Like a bank safety deposit box for your digital secrets.

Azure's fast and highly scalable data analytics service optimized for log and telemetry data, also known as Kusto. Like having a high-speed search engine specifically designed for finding patterns in massive amounts of time-series and log data.

Azure serverless compute service that runs code in response to events. Like having a helper that automatically does specific tasks whenever certain things happen.

Azure messaging service that enables reliable communication between distributed applications. Like a postal service specifically designed for computer applications to send messages to each other.

Azure service for creating workflows that integrate apps, data, and services across organizations. Like having a digital assistant that can connect different software tools and make them work together.

A secure computer that acts as a gateway for accessing private servers that aren't exposed to the internet. Like a security checkpoint at a building entrance - you must go through it to reach the protected areas inside.

Using services from multiple cloud providers to avoid vendor lock-in and optimize performance. Like shopping at different stores to get the best deals and products.

Open-source Infrastructure as Code tool for building, changing, and versioning infrastructure. Like having blueprints and construction management for cloud resources.

Open-source monitoring and alerting toolkit for collecting and querying metrics. Like having a health monitoring system for your applications that tracks everything and alerts you to problems.

Open-source platform for monitoring and observability with customizable dashboards. Like having a mission control center with screens showing the health of all your systems.

AWS service for coordinating multiple AWS services into serverless workflows. Like a conductor orchestrating different musicians to play a symphony together.

Azure event routing service that connects event sources to event handlers. Like a smart mail sorting system that automatically delivers messages to the right recipients.

Azure platform for building and managing microservices and container applications. Like a framework for building complex applications from many small, independent pieces.

Azure big data streaming platform for receiving and processing millions of events per second. Like a massive digital funnel that can handle enormous amounts of real-time data.

Azure real-time analytics service for processing streaming data. Like having a smart analyst that can spot patterns and trends in live data streams.

Azure cloud-based data integration service for creating data-driven workflows. Like having a data assembly line that moves and transforms information between different systems.

Package manager for Kubernetes that simplifies deploying applications. Like having an app store for Kubernetes where you can easily install and manage applications.

Service mesh platform that provides traffic management, security, and observability for microservices. Like having a smart traffic control system for communication between application components.

Kubernetes-based platform for deploying and managing serverless workloads. Like having serverless computing capabilities on your own Kubernetes infrastructure.

Internet of Things - network of physical devices embedded with sensors, software, and network connectivity that collect, exchange, and act on data. Like creating a nervous system for the physical world, enabling real-time monitoring and automation of everything from industrial equipment to consumer devices.

Azure's managed cloud service for bi-directional communication between IoT applications and devices, with built-in device identity registry and security features. Like a sophisticated switchboard operator that manages millions of simultaneous device conversations securely.

Azure service that deploys cloud workloads to run on IoT devices locally, enabling artificial intelligence and analytics at the edge. Like having a mini data center at each location that can process data instantly without waiting for cloud connectivity.

Google Cloud's serverless compute service that runs code in response to events. Like having helpers that automatically spring into action when specific things happen.

High-performance Remote Procedure Call framework that can run in any environment. Like having a super-fast telephone system for applications to call functions on other computers.

AWS service for monitoring and evaluating AWS resource configurations. Like having an audit system that tracks all changes to your cloud infrastructure.

Azure DNS-based traffic load balancer for global application availability. Like a traffic director that routes users to the best available data center.

Azure web traffic load balancer with application-level routing and security. Like a smart bouncer that directs different types of visitors to appropriate areas.

Azure application delivery service with global load balancing and site acceleration. Like having express lanes on highways that automatically route traffic for fastest delivery.

Yet Another Markup Language - human-readable data serialization standard. Like a simple format for writing configuration files that both humans and computers can easily understand.

Azure storage option that maintains 3 synchronous copies of data within a single data center. The most cost-effective redundancy option trading regional protection for lower cost.

Azure storage option that synchronously replicates data across 3 availability zones in a region. Protects against data center failures while keeping data within regional boundaries.

Azure storage option that asynchronously replicates data to a secondary region hundreds of miles away, maintaining 6 total copies across two regions. Protects against regional disasters.

Azure's GRS with read access enabled to the secondary region, allowing applications to read from either region. Provides higher availability for read operations during regional outages.

Azure's premium storage option combining zone redundancy in the primary region with geo-replication to a secondary region. Offers the highest durability and availability by protecting against both data center and regional failures.

Simple Network Management Protocol - standard for monitoring and managing network devices. Like having a universal dashboard that monitors the health of all network equipment.

Infrastructure layer that manages service-to-service communication in microservices architectures. Like having a smart postal system specifically designed for application communication.

Design pattern where helper components are deployed alongside main applications. Like having a personal assistant that helps with specific tasks while you focus on your main work.

AWS service for monitoring, storing, and accessing log files from EC2 instances and other AWS services. Like having a centralized filing system for all system messages and errors.

Azure service for collecting and analyzing telemetry data from cloud and on-premises environments. Like having a comprehensive health monitoring system for all your technology infrastructure.

Azure service for collecting and analyzing log data from various sources. Like having a detective that can analyze clues from different crime scenes to solve complex cases.

Azure application performance management service for monitoring live applications. Like having a personal trainer for your applications that tracks their health and performance.

Google Cloud service for developing, deploying, and managing APIs. Like having a professional receptionist service that handles all API requests and manages access.

AWS intelligent threat detection service that continuously monitors for malicious activity. Like having a 24/7 security guard that never sleeps and recognizes suspicious behavior.

Microsoft's cloud platform for building, training, and deploying machine learning models. Like having a complete AI laboratory in the cloud with all the tools you need.

Microsoft's unified analytics platform combining big data and data warehousing. Like having a super-powered data analysis factory that can process any amount of information.

Microsoft's business intelligence platform for creating interactive reports and dashboards with powerful data analysis capabilities. Like having a professional data storyteller that transforms complex data into compelling visual narratives.

Microsoft's AI service for analyzing images and extracting information from visual content. Like having AI eyes that can see and describe everything in pictures.

Microsoft's unified natural language processing service for understanding text. Like having an AI that can read and understand human language in all its complexity.

Microsoft's AI service for speech-to-text, text-to-speech, and speech translation. Like having a universal voice assistant that speaks and understands multiple languages.

Microsoft's neural machine translation service supporting 100+ languages. Like having a world-class interpreter available instantly for any language pair.

Azure AI service for extracting text, key-value pairs, and tables from documents. Like having an AI secretary that can read and organize any paperwork.

Microsoft's platform for building intelligent chatbots that work across multiple channels. Like having the tools to create customer service representatives that never sleep.

Microsoft's enterprise-grade access to OpenAI's powerful language models like GPT-4. Like having the world's most advanced AI assistant available for your business with enterprise security.

Azure Kubernetes Service - Microsoft's managed Kubernetes platform for container orchestration. Like having a team of experts manage your container infrastructure while you focus on applications.

Microsoft's serverless container service for running containers without managing servers. Like ordering takeout containers - you get what you need without owning a kitchen.

Microsoft's private Docker registry for storing and managing container images. Like having a secure private library for your containerized applications.

Google Cloud's managed network address translation service that allows private instances to access the internet without exposing them to incoming connections. Like having a secure one-way door that lets your private servers reach out to the internet while keeping them hidden from outside traffic.

Google's service for monitoring performance and health of cloud applications. Like having a dashboard that shows the vital signs of all your applications in real-time.

Google Cloud's security and risk management platform that provides centralized visibility into your cloud assets, vulnerabilities, and threats. Like having a security control room that monitors your entire cloud environment for potential risks and compliance issues.

Oracle's serverless compute service for running code without managing servers. Like having helpers that automatically appear to do specific tasks when needed.

Oracle's managed service mesh for microservices communication and security. Like having an intelligent traffic control system for communication between application components.

Microsoft's cloud-based omnichannel contact center platform with AI-powered Copilot assistance, voice, chat, and deep Microsoft Teams integration for customer service operations. Like transforming Teams into a full-featured call center.

Microsoft's AI-powered cloud search service with semantic ranking, vector search, and hybrid capabilities for building intelligent search experiences and RAG applications. Formerly known as Azure Cognitive Search.

Oracle's conversational AI platform for building chatbots and virtual assistants with built-in conversation flow management and multi-channel support. Unlike competitors, it includes all-in-one conversation orchestration without requiring separate workflow services.

GitOps continuous delivery tool for Kubernetes supporting multi-cluster deployments. Like having an automated deployment system that keeps your applications synchronized across multiple environments.

A logically isolated network section within a cloud provider that allows secure communication between resources.

Google Cloud's implementation of Virtual Private Cloud, providing global-by-default networking that spans all regions. Unlike AWS VPCs which are regional, GCP VPC Networks can have subnets in different regions within the same network. Equivalent to AWS VPC, Azure VNet, and OCI VCN.

Microsoft's cloud-based relational database service that provides managed SQL Server capabilities.

Azure's object storage service optimized for storing massive amounts of unstructured data like images and videos.

A service that helps organizations publish, secure, and monitor APIs in a centralized platform.

Azure's networking service that provides optimized and automated branch-to-branch connectivity through Azure.

Tools and practices for monitoring, analyzing, and optimizing cloud spending to prevent budget overruns and identify cost-saving opportunities.

Continuous tracking and analysis of application performance metrics to identify bottlenecks, errors, and optimization opportunities.

Collecting and storing log data from multiple applications and systems in one central location for easier searching, monitoring, and analysis.

Computer programs and applications that tell hardware what to do. Like instructions or recipes that make computers perform specific tasks.

When you become dependent on a specific cloud provider's proprietary services and switching to another provider becomes difficult or expensive. Like building your house with custom parts that only work with one supplier.

A personal computer designed to stay in one location, typically consisting of a separate monitor, keyboard, and main unit. Like a workstation that provides maximum power and screen space.

Function as a Service - running individual code functions in the cloud without managing servers. Like hiring a specialist to perform one specific task only when needed.

A subdivision of a virtual network that segments resources by IP range for security, organization, and routing control. Used across all cloud providers: AWS subnets within VPCs, Azure subnets within VNets, GCP subnets within VPC Networks, and OCI subnets within VCNs. Like dividing a building into floors with different access rules.

Development and Operations combined - practices that unify software development and IT operations for faster, more reliable releases. Like having builders and maintenance crews work together instead of separately.

Microsoft Azure's unified CI/CD platform that combines build execution and deployment orchestration in one YAML-based service. Like an all-in-one automation suite that handles everything from code compilation to production deployment.

Oracle Cloud's managed build service for automated code compilation, testing, and artifact creation. Like a quality control station that ensures code is properly built and tested before deployment.

Oracle Cloud's deployment orchestration service supporting automated deployments with rolling updates, blue-green strategies, and approval gates. Like a deployment coordinator that safely manages how new versions reach production.

Gradual deployment strategy that releases changes to a small subset of users first before rolling out to everyone. Like testing a new recipe on a few customers before adding it to the full menu.

Moving applications, data, or infrastructure from one environment to another, such as from on-premises servers to the cloud or between cloud providers. Like relocating a business to a new building while keeping everything running.

Application Performance Monitoring - tools that track how well your application performs and where bottlenecks occur. Like having a fitness tracker for your software that shows which parts are working hard and which are slowing down.

Recording events and activities that happen in your application for debugging and monitoring. Like keeping a detailed diary of everything your application does so you can review it later.

Google Cloud managed Apache Airflow service for orchestrating data pipelines. Like having a professional conductor for your data workflows.

Four key metrics for monitoring distributed systems: latency, traffic, errors, and saturation. Like the vital signs doctors check to assess patient health.

Security Information and Event Management - software that collects and analyzes security data from across an organization to detect threats. Like having a security command center that monitors all cameras and sensors.

Security team responsible for defending against attacks and maintaining security operations. Like the security guards and systems protecting your building.

Collecting logs from multiple sources and centralizing them in one place for analysis and monitoring. Like gathering all security camera feeds into a single control room.

Cryptographic protocols that provide secure communication over computer networks. SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) was the original protocol, now replaced by TLS (Transport Layer Security). Like a secure envelope that protects your mail from being read in transit, SSL/TLS encrypts data between your browser and websites. AWS Certificate Manager, Azure App Service Certificates, Google Cloud SSL Certificates, and OCI Certificates all provide managed TLS certificate services.

A specialized server that acts as a secure gateway for accessing private resources in a cloud network. Like a security checkpoint at a building entrance, a bastion host is the single controlled entry point for administrators to access internal servers that aren't directly exposed to the internet. AWS offers EC2 Instance Connect and Session Manager, Azure provides Azure Bastion, GCP has Identity-Aware Proxy, and OCI offers Bastion service.

A software development practice where developers frequently merge code changes into a shared repository, with each change automatically built and tested. Like a quality control checkpoint on an assembly line that catches defects early, CI ensures code changes don't break existing functionality. AWS CodeBuild, Azure Pipelines, Google Cloud Build, and OCI DevOps all provide CI services.

A centralized repository of information used to store, organize, and retrieve knowledge for users or AI systems. In cloud computing, knowledge bases power AI assistants, customer support systems, and enterprise search. AWS Kendra and Bedrock Knowledge Bases, Azure AI Search, Google Cloud Vertex AI Search, and OCI Generative AI all provide managed knowledge base services.

A messaging pattern where senders (publishers) broadcast messages to a topic without knowing who receives them, and receivers (subscribers) listen to topics they're interested in. Like a radio station broadcasting to anyone tuned in, pub/sub decouples producers from consumers. AWS SNS, Azure Service Bus Topics, Google Cloud Pub/Sub, and OCI Notifications all implement this pattern.

The practice of copying data or resources across multiple geographic regions for disaster recovery, low-latency access, or compliance requirements. Like having backup copies of important documents in different cities, regional replication ensures data survives regional outages. AWS S3 Cross-Region Replication, Azure Geo-Redundant Storage, Google Cloud multi-regional storage, and OCI Cross-Region Replication all provide this capability.

Software as a Service - a cloud delivery model where applications are hosted and managed by a provider, accessed via the internet on a subscription basis. Like renting an apartment instead of building a house, SaaS eliminates the need to install, maintain, or upgrade software. Examples include Salesforce, Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, and Oracle Cloud Applications. Cloud providers also offer SaaS marketplaces (AWS Marketplace, Azure Marketplace, Google Cloud Marketplace, OCI Marketplace).

A cloud-based collaboration platform that combines workplace chat, video meetings, file storage, and application integration. Part of the Microsoft 365 suite, Teams integrates deeply with Azure services for enterprise deployments. Similar collaboration tools exist across cloud ecosystems: AWS offers Amazon Chime, Google provides Google Meet and Chat, and Oracle offers Oracle Cloud collaboration features.

Secret tokens used to authenticate and authorize access to cloud services and APIs. Like a password for software applications, API keys identify the calling application and control what actions it can perform. AWS uses Access Keys and Secret Keys, Azure provides Subscription Keys and Service Principal credentials, GCP uses API Keys and Service Account Keys, and OCI uses API Signing Keys.

The practice of using code and tools to automatically provision, configure, and manage cloud infrastructure instead of manual processes. Like having robots build and maintain your data center, infrastructure automation ensures consistent, repeatable, and error-free deployments. Tools include Terraform, AWS CloudFormation, Azure Resource Manager, Google Cloud Deployment Manager, and OCI Resource Manager.

Strategies and practices for reducing cloud spending while maintaining performance and reliability. Like finding ways to reduce your utility bills without sacrificing comfort, cost optimization involves right-sizing resources, using reserved capacity, eliminating waste, and choosing cost-effective architectures. AWS offers Cost Explorer and Trusted Advisor, Azure provides Cost Management, GCP has Cost Management tools, and OCI offers Cost Analysis.

A network component that acts as an entry point or intermediary between different networks or services. Like a toll booth on a highway, gateways control and manage traffic flow. In cloud computing, common gateway types include API Gateway (manages API traffic), NAT Gateway (enables outbound internet access for private resources), VPN Gateway (connects on-premises networks), and Internet Gateway (connects VPCs to the internet). AWS, Azure, GCP, and OCI all offer managed gateway services.