Why Choose Azure Cloud Server for Your Business Needs

Azure Cloud Server offers a 99.99% uptime guarantee, ensuring your business remains operational around the clock.

This level of reliability is crucial for businesses that rely on continuous operations, such as e-commerce websites or financial institutions.

With Azure Cloud Server, you can scale your resources up or down to match your business needs, without having to worry about the upfront costs of hardware and maintenance.

This flexibility allows you to focus on growing your business, rather than managing infrastructure.

Azure cloud servers offer a significant reduction in IT infrastructure complexity, from a score of 2 to 5, after adoption. This is a major advantage over traditional on-premise setups.

Azure's scalability is also a major benefit, with a score of 5, compared to a score of 2 before adoption. This means businesses can easily scale their server resources up or down based on demand.

Switching to Azure can also save businesses a significant amount of money on energy costs, with a monthly savings of £750.00. This is a major cost savings compared to traditional on-premise setups.

Here are some key benefits of Azure cloud servers at a glance:

Azure cloud servers can also save businesses a significant amount of money on capital costs, with a one-time savings of £11,500.00. This is a major advantage over traditional on-premise setups.

Azure's pay-as-you-go subscription model allows businesses to only budget for the compute resources they need at a given time. This is a game-changer for companies looking to reduce upfront costs and avoid unnecessary expenses.

The numbers don't lie - a small to medium enterprise with 31 users and 6 physical servers can save a whopping 54% by switching to Azure. This is because they no longer need to invest in upfront hardware costs, and can easily scale server resources up or down as needed.

On-premise infrastructure can be a costly affair, with monthly energy costs of £750.00. In contrast, Azure eliminates these costs altogether, saving businesses a significant chunk of change.

By reserving space on the cloud for longer periods, businesses can also take advantage of hefty discounts offered by Azure. This means they can lock in a discounted price and enjoy even greater cost savings.

Here's a breakdown of the cost savings businesses can expect to enjoy:

These figures speak for themselves - switching to Azure is a smart move for businesses looking to reduce costs and improve their bottom line.

Using Azure as a cloud server offers numerous benefits. You can create any web application in Azure, which means you have the flexibility to build and deploy your own custom applications.

One of the significant advantages of Azure is its ability to provide high availability, tight security, and protection against data loss, thanks to its DbaaS (Database as a Service) feature.

You can also test your applications on Azure before hosting them, which reduces the risk of errors and ensures a smooth deployment process. Testing is an essential step in the application development cycle, and Azure makes it easy to do so.

Azure's SaaS (Software as a Service) offerings, such as Dynamics 365 and Office 365, are built and hosted on the platform, providing users with enterprise-grade protocols and security features.

Here are some of the key uses of Azure:

By using Azure, you can also integrate and sync virtual devices and directories, which is especially useful for businesses with multiple locations or teams.

Azure's virtual hard drives provide a huge amount of data storage, making it an ideal solution for businesses with large data storage needs.

Azure provides more than 200 services, divided into 18 categories, including computing, networking, storage, and more. Azure offers a suite of server management suites that support virtual machines, physical servers, and hybrid setups.

Azure simplifies the management of IT resources, providing a consistent experience, from planning to migration to ongoing management and development. This allows you to focus on higher priorities.

Azure's IaaS offering lets customers outsource all their network and computing needs to Microsoft, removing all infrastructure from the customer's own servers. Azure offers a massive range of IaaS facilities, including compute and networking, security and storage, and more.

Here are some key Azure IaaS facilities:

Platform as a service, or PaaS, is a cloud service model that gives users a secure environment to develop and deploy various applications.

It's similar to infrastructure as a service (IaaS), but offers additional features like middleware, developer tools, and business intelligence capabilities that make PaaS more flexible and configurable for users.

PaaS sits in the middle of the cloud computing pyramid, above IaaS and below software as a service (SaaS). It provides businesses with cloud components for certain software, offering a cloud-based framework on which developers can build and deploy custom applications.

The main difference between IaaS and PaaS is that with PaaS, the customer is consuming the core service needed for their own applications, and the "under the hood" management is left to the cloud vendor.

Using PaaS, businesses can create and develop services of their own on an existing platform, using tools that they can license from a third-party vendor who'll take care of all the updates and management of that platform.

PaaS makes it faster, cheaper, and simpler for businesses to build their products and services, and scale their resources as needed without significant financial outlay.

Examples of PaaS include Heroku, Salesforce, and Google App Engine, which provide a platform on which users can build and run their own software.

Azure offers more than 200 services, divided into 18 categories, making it a versatile cloud computing platform.

You can choose from a range of services, including computing, networking, storage, IoT, migration, mobile, analytics, containers, artificial intelligence, and other machine learning, integration, management tools, developer tools, security, databases, DevOps, media identity, and web services.

Azure provides a wide range of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) services, including virtual machines, virtual networks, and storage solutions.

These services allow businesses to rent virtualised computing resources over the internet, effectively outsourcing all their network and computing needs to Microsoft.

Azure's IaaS offering lets customers host websites, store and backup data, develop and test environments, build web apps, and run high-performance computing.

Here are the three primary categories of cloud computing that Azure encompasses:

Azure offers IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS services, making it suitable for a wide range of business needs and applications.

Azure's PaaS capabilities include Azure App Services, Azure SQL Database, and Azure Kubernetes Service, providing customers a platform to develop, run and manage applications without the complexity of building and maintaining the infrastructure.

Azure also supports SaaS applications, such as Office 365, Microsoft Teams, and Dynamics 365, through Microsoft's broader cloud ecosystem.

Azure simplifies the management of IT resources, providing a consistent experience, covering both Linux and Windows, from planning to migration to ongoing management and development.

Database instances required for Azure SQL Database are determined by the SolarWinds Platform database requirements. To use Azure SQL Database, review the requirements for the SolarWinds Platform database.

For deploying a supported version of MS SQL Server on an Azure VM and using it as the database for NTA or Log Analyzer, you'll need to review the requirements in the following table.

* Azure Storage Disk volumes are not your dedicated hardware. Consider using Azure Reserved Instances of storage disk volumes for SQL servers.

For Azure SQL Database, you can either use the Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Database managed instance, or create an Azure VM instance and deploy a supported version of the MS SQL Server there. When you finish creating the database server, make sure that the database is able to communicate with the SolarWinds Platform server.

PaaS is a cloud service model that provides a secure environment to develop and deploy various applications. It's similar to IaaS, but offers additional features like middleware, developer tools, and business intelligence capabilities.

PaaS sits in the middle of the cloud computing pyramid, between IaaS and SaaS. It provides businesses with cloud components for certain software, offering a cloud-based framework on which developers can build and deploy custom applications.

The main difference between IaaS and PaaS is that with PaaS, the customer is consuming the core service needed for their own applications, and the "under the hood" management is left to the cloud vendor. This makes it faster, cheaper, and simpler for businesses to build their products and services.

Examples of PaaS include Microsoft Azure's Web Apps, AWS Elastic Beanstalk, and Google App Engine. These platforms provide a set of tools and services designed to make coding and deploying applications quicker and more efficient.

Azure PaaS offers a wide range of services, including Azure App Services, Azure SQL Database, and Azure Kubernetes Service. These services provide customers with a platform to develop, run, and manage applications without the complexity of building and maintaining the infrastructure.

Azure's PaaS offerings give developers total control over their application, allowing them the freedom to work on building, safe in the knowledge that things like OS patches or load balancing will just work.

Here are some key features of Azure PaaS:

Azure PaaS resources can be scaled up or down with ease, allowing for multiple configurations according to an organization's unique needs. This makes it an attractive option for businesses looking to build and deploy applications in the cloud.

To set up an Azure Cloud Server, you'll first need to create a virtual machine instance, choosing a recommended deployment size and instance type. This will serve as the foundation for your SolarWinds Platform server.

Sign in to your Azure VM console and launch a virtual machine according to your recommended deployment size. Choose your instance type and select the Resource Group that contains all of your SolarWinds Platform servers.

Once you've set up your virtual machine, you'll need to create a database server in Azure. You can use Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Database managed instance, or create an Azure VM instance and deploy a supported version of the MS SQL Server there. Make sure the database is able to communicate with the SolarWinds Platform server.

Here are the steps to create a database server in Azure:

After setting up your database server, you can proceed with the installation of SolarWinds Platform in the Azure cloud, which involves deploying the platform, configuring Azure IAM permissions, and deploying agents in the cloud (if necessary).

To deploy SolarWinds Platform in Azure, you'll need to review the deployment options and requirements. This will give you a clear understanding of what's involved.

First, you'll need to prepare for the installation by reviewing the requirements and preparing the environment. This includes setting up the necessary infrastructure and resources.

Next, you'll need to install SolarWinds Platform in the Azure cloud. This involves deploying the platform and configuring the necessary settings.

Here are the steps to install SolarWinds Platform in Azure:

After installing the platform, you may want to consider deploying SolarWinds Platform Agents in the cloud. This will allow you to monitor and manage your Azure resources more effectively.

You may also want to consider installing an Additional Polling Engine or additional web server to improve performance and scalability.

To create a SolarWinds VM instance in Azure, you'll want to sign in to your Azure VM console and launch a virtual machine according to your recommended deployment size.

Choose your instance type carefully, as it will impact the performance of your SolarWinds Platform server. Select the Resource Group that contains all of your SolarWinds Platform servers to ensure everything is properly set up.

A good rule of thumb is to add one CPU core per additional product if you're installing multiple products. Product requirements include reviewing port requirements, as specified in the Port Requirements for all SolarWinds products.

Here are the key steps to create a SolarWinds VM instance:

Remember to review your product licenses and gather keys before proceeding with the installation. This will ensure a smooth and successful deployment.

Creating a database is a crucial step in setting up your Azure Cloud Server. You have several options to choose from, including Azure SQL Database, Azure SQL Database managed instance, or creating an Azure VM instance and deploying a supported version of MS SQL Server.

For Azure SQL Database, you'll need to create a database server in Azure, which involves creating a SQL Server and configuring it. Then, you'll need to create an Azure SQL Database for the SolarWinds Platform database.

If you're using Azure SQL Database managed instance, you'll need to sign in to your Azure VM console and create a managed instance. Ensure connectivity between the Azure SQL Database managed instance and your SolarWinds Platform server.

Here are the steps to create an Azure SQL Database managed instance:

You can also use the Azure SQL Database managed instance service or the Azure SQL DB service, depending on your Orion Platform version.

In some cases, you may need to create a virtual private network (VPN) tunnel between the Additional Polling Engine (APE) in the Azure VM instance and your main SolarWinds Platform server and SolarWinds Platform database server. This is especially true if your monitored networks are on premises or if your hybrid environment is geographically diverse and uses different availability zones.

Azure Cloud Server Security is a top priority for any business considering a move to the cloud. Azure invests $1 billion USD per year in security R&D, ensuring that your data is protected with a multi-layered approach.

With a team of over 3,500 global cybersecurity experts actively monitoring and providing threat intelligence, you can trust that your business assets and data are secure. Azure's custom hardware and firmware components also provide an additional layer of security.

Azure's built-in controls and services allow you to quickly and intuitively protect your workloads, reducing complexity and costs. This includes features like multi-factor authentication (MFA) and conditional access policy, which can be optimized by Pinnaca to ensure the right level of protection is in place.

Here are some key security features of Azure:

Azure takes security very seriously, investing $1 billion per year in security R&D. This investment translates to a multi-layered security approach, provided across physical datacenters, infrastructure, and operations.

Azure's security-first approach is backed by a team of over 3,500 global cybersecurity experts who actively monitor to protect your business assets and data.

Data in the cloud can be a concern, but Azure has got you covered. With built-in controls and services, you can quickly and intuitively protect workloads while reducing complexity and costs.

Here are some key security features that Azure offers:

Azure's security features also include standard multi-factor authentication (MFA) and conditional access policy and identity protection. This ensures that only authorized users have access to your cloud environment.

Regular security checks are also a must, and Azure's engineers can help you assess and measure your organization's security posture using Microsoft Secure Score. This tool provides a security score out of 100, along with intelligent guidance and prioritized actions to improve the score and the security of your environment.

Accessibility is a major perk of cloud-based solutions like Azure Cloud Server, allowing developers to access the business's development environment from anywhere with an internet connection. This is particularly beneficial for distributed, hybrid, or remote teams, who can work together seamlessly without worrying about version control or security concerns.

With Azure Cloud Server, developers can access the business's development environment from their preferred location, making it easy to collaborate and work together in real-time. This flexibility is a game-changer for teams who need to work together from different parts of the world.

The ability to access Azure Cloud Server from anywhere also means that developers can work on projects from the comfort of their own homes, or from a coffee shop, without being tied to a specific office location. This is a huge advantage for teams who value flexibility and work-life balance.

When choosing an Azure cloud server, it's essential to consider the various options available. Azure offers a range of server sizes, including the B-Series, which is designed for batch jobs and high-performance computing, and the F-Series, which is optimized for high-density storage.

Azure cloud servers are highly scalable, allowing you to quickly increase or decrease resources as needed. For example, you can scale up to 32 virtual CPUs and 128 GB of RAM in a single instance.

With Azure, you can choose from a variety of operating systems, including Windows Server, Linux, and macOS. This flexibility makes it easy to deploy and manage your cloud servers.

In a hybrid deployment, you're combining the best of both worlds: a main server and database in the cloud, paired with Application Performance Experience (APE) on premises.

This setup is ideal for environments with a significant number of on-premises devices, making it easier to manage and monitor them.

When choosing a cloud platform, you'll likely come across the terms IaaS and PaaS. Azure offers both, allowing you to take advantage of infrastructure as a service and platform as a service on their cloud platform.

Azure provides IaaS, which gives you control over the underlying infrastructure, including virtual machines and storage.

Microsoft Azure also offers PaaS, which provides a platform for developing, running, and managing applications, without worrying about the underlying infrastructure.

The choice between IaaS and PaaS ultimately depends on your business needs and the type of services you're looking to utilize.