Microsoft is leaving no stone unturned when it comes to Azure. Microsoft’s flagship cloud platform is the second biggest cloud, and it continues to expand its footprint for the right reasons. Known for its inclusiveness and flexibility, clients are increasingly leaning towards Azure for their business solutions.
Azure is scaling new heights with the inclusion of various new features which allow the clients to be versatile with their infrastructure. Furthermore, as the demand for Azure continues to rise, Microsoft has ingrained new features with its hybrid capabilities.
Although various clouds support hybridization, no cloud has nailed this aspect as Azure did. Microsoft has gone the extra mile to make the cloud the best in the class regarding hybridization.
So, what lends Azure an edge over its competition? Let’s dive in.
1) Arc
Aptly named, Azure Arc is a feature that allows clients to implement Azure services on any other cloud or infrastructure. This multi-cloud feature, which was introduced in 2019, has won rave reviews. It is one of the USPs of Azure as no other cloud is fully inclined to multi-cloud support. Arc allows its customers to easily manage their business solutions which are spread out across various clouds.
Doubling down on its multi-cloud setup, Azure has enabled database services for Arc. The customers can leverage enhanced agility with the Azure SQL and PostgreSQL database provisioning (or decommissioning). They can achieve better results by exploiting Azure’s high availability and unified management.
Although Arc-enabled data services are in preview, the general Arc feature is available for all. Customers can manage their solutions on both Windows and Linux servers. All this management can be done swiftly from the Azure portal.
2) Stack
Azure has stocked up its Stack portfolio with new features. Introduced in 2017, the Stack allows customers to operationalize Azure applications on their on-premises data servers. This feature is a boon to customers across the globe as this storage option allows the clients to craft a cloud data solution that adheres to the law of the land.
The feature enables seamless workload implementation, although the cloud resides at the on-premises servers. Additionally, the clients can run their cloud applications offline, thanks to Azure Stack. This hybrid feature has gained enough traction that Microsoft has revitalized the Stack portfolio with new features.
Taking cognizance of Kubernetes’s popularity, Microsoft has created a dedicated Azure Kubernetes Services (AKS). This feature allows customers to deploy and maintain Kubernetes on Azure Stack HCI. Although this feature is in preview, Azure Stack Hub is available for all. This Hub feature development saw Azure partnering with AMD. The feature essentially powers the Graphics Processing Units by making them more efficient.
3) Edge
Azure Edge is all about lending an edge to its clients over their competition. By allowing clients to run their massive workloads, Azure gleans off valuable, actionable insights (or intelligence, as Azure calls it). This feature is exploited by companies that run their operations on a real-time basis. Edge assess which area needs to be optimized, and it empowers the enterprise with the insights.
For instance, a retailer with Edge would know which section needs to be stockpiled. Likewise, the manufacturing industry would know which area is lacking due to which reason. The feature is sometimes termed as an intelligent edge by Azure, and rightly so.
Microsoft has integrated Edge with SQL and made it available for all. With SQL, Azure propels innovation and productivity. The integration allows the cloud to optimize workload implementation and supports data streaming in both online and offline environments. With no dissimilarities, SQL Edge provides the same developer experience that one finds in the programming industry.
Also Read: An In-Depth Comparison of Azure vs. Google Cloud vs. AWS Services
In a nutshell
Azure is firing on all cylinders to provide the best it can. With Arc, Stack, and Edge, Azure is propelling innovation like no other cloud. With its perpetual refinement and inclusion of new features, the second-biggest cloud is a force that most enterprises are swearing by.
Its growing cloud presence vindicates that adopting innovation is assured with Azure.
However, hiring a helmsman is wise, for Azure is an ocean with unchartered expanses. Often, companies employ a cloud service provider as their experienced staff churns out an optimal solution.
Effiniti, a leading Azure provider, has tendered its top-notch services to many enterprises. Our clients range from Fortune 500 companies to various enterprises. So, let’s collaborate and propel your innovation to new heights with Azure.
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