Azure is a cloud platform (Infrastructure as a Service) from Microsoft. Like other cloud platforms like Amazon’s AWS and Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure offers a wide range of powerful tools that businesses and developers can integrate into their own services and products. These are tools that are based on the cloud: they run on remote servers and take advantage of the power and security they can offer.
What is Microsoft Azure: Services?
To better understand what Microsoft Azure can do for you, it is helpful to evaluate the exact tools and services that Microsoft offers through the platform. While there are far too many to list here, here are a few examples of the categories of services you can expect:
- AI / machine learning
- Databases
- To calculate
- Develop tools
- Networking
- security
- Windows Virtual Desktop
- Analytics
- Blockchain
- camp
- Internet of things
For example, a company can use Microsoft Azure to store user data. This allows users to seamlessly switch from using their app on one device to another while ensuring continuity.
Alternatively, businesses can use Azure’s Computer Vision to identify elements and objects in a scene captured by the camera. This can be used, for example, to extract text from a document. In this scenario, the information is sent to Microsoft’s servers, which take on the demanding task of image recognition. The result is then sent back to the end-user’s device managed by the company’s app.
See also: What is Azure Azure certification for professionals
In other use cases, companies can store data backups on Microsoft’s servers, host web and mobile apps or manage a large number of connected IoT devices.
Microsoft Azure against Google Cloud against AWS
As mentioned earlier, Microsoft Azure is only an option for businesses and developers who need these services.
In fact, Microsoft Azure is only the second most popular cloud platform. By far the largest is Amazon Web Services (AWS). In particular, AWS holds a market share of 33% compared to 16% for Microsoft. Google Cloud ranks third with 8%.
Azure’s lead is mainly due to the larger number of products it offers compared to the other two options. This begs the question: why should you focus on learning Azure?
Microsoft Azure benefits from integration with other Microsoft productivity tools
The answer, of course, is: the more platforms you learn, the more potential customers and employers you will address. Microsoft Azure is still used by a large number of companies, making it an extremely useful skillset for professionals. Not only that – – Each platform offers features that cannot be found on the other.
Microsoft Azure in particular benefits from integration with other Microsoft productivity tools (e.g. Office, Teams). Finally, Microsoft Azure is often less expensive for businesses (and has a much simpler pricing structure). Billing is largely based on usage, which means that these services are extremely scalable for growing companies.
Also read: AWS vs Azure vs Google Cloud – Which Certification is Best for Professionals?
Use of Microsoft Azure
So you can try Microsoft Azure. How are you set up and using it? The first step is to sign in, which you can do with your existing Microsoft account. You will need to verify your account with a credit or debit card.
A free account gives you access to a wide variety of Azure services for a year.
If all you want to do is learn the ropes, you’ll likely want to sign up for the free account. That way, you’ll have access to a wide variety of Azure services for a full year and you won’t be charged until you decide to upgrade. You will also receive a credit that you can use to try out some of the paid services for 30 days.
There is also a price calculator for those who want to use Azure services more extensively.
Recognition: Adam Sinicki / Android Authority
Once your account is set up, you can log in and visit the Quick Start Center. Here is a series of step-by-step guides on basic features you may want to use. For example, you can create a web app that then gives you several other options, such as: For example, “Build and host a web app with Azure Web Apps” or “Deploy a container-based web app with App Service”. ”
Alternatively, you can simply choose from features that can be accessed through a burger menu. This includes, for example, the ability to quickly create an SQL database or create a virtual machine.
Recognition: Adam Sinicki / Android Authority
Microsoft Azure training and certification for professionals
Once you have access to Microsoft Azure, you can try out services and learn what all works.
We maximum recommend finding a Microsoft Azure course. Azure is a huge platform with an even bigger amount of learning opportunities! The best Microsoft Azure courses will take you from beginner to professional in the applications you choose. In addition, they will prepare you for a certification exam. This can be a great boon on any professional resume.
See also: Microsoft Certification: A Guide for Tech Pros
With the Microsoft Azure certification, you show potential employers and customers that you have a solid understanding of these tools and that you can support them in the implementation and maintenance of optimized solutions. To confuse the matter, there are actually 12 different types of Azure certification, with the best choice depending on your particular area of expertise. For example, you can choose to become a Microsoft Certified Azure Data Scientist, or you can choose to become a Microsoft Certified Azure AI Engineer.
The exams are also divided into basics, employees and experts depending on the relative level of knowledge required. Associate exams are $ 165. Most professionals would agree that this is a wise investment.
See also: What is Azure Certification?
If you’re looking to find the best Microsoft Azure courses, be sure to check out our Tech Deals. Here, Android Authority Readers can find some of the best Azure courses, all of which are heavily discounted. For example, the Essential Microsoft Azure Certification Package is currently only $ 29.99 versus the usual $ 1,000 price!