You may have heard of Microsoft Azure, but do you know what it’s about?
Are your aware of the benefits for business that come with Microsoft Azure?
This blog will provide the information you need to know about Microsoft Azure, we’ll explain the ways Microsoft Azure secures and manages your data , as well as what the Microsoft Azure Cloud works.
To begin, we’d like to assure you that we’ve worked on Microsoft Azure for years. We’ve had ample time to study the possibilities and draw conclusions about what works and what isn’t working, so you’re in good in our hands.
We’ve assisted many companies successfully move their corporate infrastructure and networks to the cloud , either completely or through the hybrid cloud (a combination of cloud and local-based options).
We’re aware that people are cautious about cloud-based services and it’s not uncommon for users to initially choose to keep their data and servers in-house but for security disaster recovery, backup of data cloud services are the safest and most reliable alternative.
What exactly is Microsoft Azure?
Microsoft Azure is a cloud platform.
Microsoft Azure consists of ‘building blocks’ that enable IT designers and developers to create any IT connected products that they require or desire to. These building blocks consist of hundreds of products and services that are able to be blended together in order to make customized cloud-based solutions.
This can be networks, servers phones, applications websites, back-up systems, operating systems storage of data and much more. The main difference between these is the fact that they are all constructed using “the cloud”, i.e. on the internet, not using hardware that is located in a home, office or at the workplace.
What are the benefits for business that come from Microsoft Azure?
There are, without doubt, three main benefits to Azure Cloud; security, backup, and the capability to work with the existing IT infrastructure.
Benefits of security with Azure
Security is without doubt going to be among the top benefits for companies using Microsoft Azure. The reason is the way in which data can be saved…
Microsoft has a worldwide database of warehouses for data, where the entirety of data is stored. These data centres have the highest levels of security in terms of fire safety, power and backups. The data centres are extremely safe, and you aren’t able to access them without an entry pass. Some of them include biometrics, facial/finger print recognition, etc.
In this way, every data centre could house thousands of computers. The set-up is replicated across multiple locations throughout the world. The data that is stored in your system will be kept in one of these centres , however, Azure back up means that your data is replicated to other data centres for backup. This means that if one of your data centres goes down the data is stored in a different data centre, which can be easily (if properly configured) accessible quickly to ensure minimal (if any) interruption.
Cloud networks are highly secure, much more so than local networks. Local networks (those that are either on the device you use or servers located within your home) do not have this level of security. If you experience an incident like a fire, break-in or flood, data stored in this manner is vulnerable. When you store your data in the Cloud all risk are taken care of.
Setting up is crucial…
The Cloud needs to be built secure to allow access to it remotely. This is accomplished by incorporating secure access as well as security to data If one hardware component fails it is automatically transferred to a different component of the hardware. It has redundancy and security built-in.
Due to the security provided by the cloud it is safer for data and nothing is able to get into the cloud unless we allow it to be opened.
The Cloud is more secure than on-premise options due to the fact that more features are readily available. Take, for instance, dual authentication. You can install it on your premises, but it’s more straightforward to implement in the Cloud and it’s less expensive to implement that type of technology.
Data Backup and Disaster recovery
If you work in the Cloud backup is immediate. One common error makes people is that if they have an individual PC and they’ve backed it into the Cloud They think that they’re in good hands. When working this way , it may take up to three days for the first backup to transfer to the Cloud.
All well and great, but if the network is down, the likely need to wait the same amount of time to recover it. Imagine the amount of disruption this can cause and what it could cost an organization through interruptions.
This is especially important for businesses that use devices to generate cash , such as cash tills. How much time can a retailer be able to afford to lose if its technology fails… each minute could cost the company cash. Thus, if these systems have been properly set up and backup via cloud storage, recovery and getting them back to normal can take a few minutes instead of days.
In what ways Microsoft Azure can complement existing IT structures
Implementing Azure isn’t an issue of creating the IT systems or network from scratch. It is possible to use an hybrid system in which parts of your IT processes are carried out in the cloud.
Examples include:
Backup your data – if you’d rather, keep your data locally, but frequently back it up in the cloud. If an event occur that is catastrophic, recovery is relatively swift and easy.
Set up your departmental setup You can set up an internal setup for your accounts or admin teams, but then replicate these to an Cloud product to allow sales employees working remotely to access the information they require securely.
Azure Information Protection (AIP). AIP is a very useful service that allows users to secure data and emails so that you can send encrypted email with the click of the button. You can also program the system to ensure that, when you enter your email addresses of a person only the person who is submitting it can view the email. The person receiving the email isn’t able to print it, copy or forward it, and you could even set a an expiration date on being available. AIP costs only PS1.50 per user per month. AIP is affordable even for small-sized businesses.
All that technology and more is integrated in Azure and 365. They connect all cloud-based technologies and gives you the service, which is just one aspect we could put in the Cloud and make available to our customers.
Azure allows small-scale businesses to benefit of the same technology that the Fortune 100 company – it’s the same data centre, using the same equipment. It will cost, but it’s relatively low for the technology that they’re benefiting from.
Utilizing Microsoft Azure architecture to manage applications
Microsoft Azure allows you to remotely access all your applications from any place around the globe.
It’s how the system operates. Within Azure we have access to the Microsoft Cloud Solution Provider Program (CSP). If one of our staff members logins, they will view the list of all our customers. Our technicians can click one of our customers to gain access to their particular portal and also manage the entire network. Everything – discs included and network equipment Remote Access, Servers and computers all from one location.
This lets us manage applications in the Cloud for clients who are located in the UK and Hong Kong or anywhere in the world. The administration of the network is greatly simplified and, as a result, costs are reduced, without having to travel. Additionally, response times are quicker and the entire process is is much easier to manage.
MS Azure – IAAS – Infrastructure as a Service
What ever your current infrastructure installed it is possible to move whatever you would like us to from your premises to the Cloud.
It could also include phones (which assists with security) computers, servers, and servers as well as specific company programs or applications.
What we are unable to transfer to Cloud Cloud is cables that connect your home and Wi-Fi since you’ll need cables or Wi-Fi that is on premises. But, once there’s no data flowing through wires in your local network there is no cost and you’ll be able to enjoy plenty more Wi-Fi. You don’t require expensive switches since there’s little data moving through cables. The primary limitation is the bandwidth in the area you are located.
Microsoft Azure Accreditation
We’re an Microsoft Gold Platform specialist, this means we’re experts of Cloud Infrastructure, as such we’re included on the Microsoft Azure Marketplace which is the official directory for Microsoft partners.
What are the warning signs or indicators that might indicate that it’s time to move to Cloud Infrastructure? Cloud Infrastructure?
If you’re part of a business which earns money through your computer, then it’s probably the right moment to think about onto the Cloud to reap these benefits and ensure you never lose access to the computer that’s generating the revenue.
If you have a large-scale network an ideal moment to make an upgrade the time to upgrade servers or other hardware. (Servers generally get replaced every 5 years roughly, while PCs are upgraded each 3 years.) This is a great time to make a change, since we can discuss the possibilities of what could be transferred into the Cloud. Many companies know that they will spend money in the coming months, therefore it is advisable to research the most efficient option to fund the IT system of their organization. If you’ve already got an IT review scheduled or budgeted now is the moment to look at your options and think about the Cloud.
To summarise…
The three major advantages that Microsoft Azure offers Microsoft Azure for businesses are:
Security The Azure cloud is safer and more secure than local servers or networks.
Backup-Up The Azure cloud provides a range of backup options which means that should anything occur, IT systems and networks are back up and operating with minimal disruption in extremely short amount of period of time.
It can be integrated into existing IT structures. With the in-built services, products and capabilities Microsoft Azure is able to work in conjunction with or integrate existing systems.
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