Microsoft's cloud computing platform providing infrastructure, platform, and software services.
Microsoft Azure is a comprehensive cloud computing platform offering IaaS (virtual machines, storage, networking), PaaS (databases, app services, containers), and SaaS services. Azure provides global data centre presence, hybrid cloud capabilities, and deep integration with Microsoft products. For security, Azure offers Azure Security Center, Azure Defender, and extensive compliance certifications. Azure Active Directory (now Entra ID) provides identity services across Azure and Microsoft 365.
Why It Matters
The DSC Perspective:
Azure extends Microsoft capabilities beyond productivity to infrastructure and applications. Understanding Azure basics helps evaluate cloud strategies and ensures security considerations extend to cloud workloads.