Microsoft Azure is an extensive set of cloud services that IT professionals and developers use to build, deploy, and manage applications through a global network of data centers. When it comes to your company’s infrastructure needs, you want the flexibility and choice to buy, build, or rent. All companies have a cloud strategy; some even have a cloud-first strategy. However, this sometimes creates challenges related to controlling costs. Is Azure the right S3 provider for your business?

Below are some key advantages and disadvantages to help you make your decision.

Pros

• Leverage your existing relationship and contracts with Microsoft to place your data in Azure. In most cases, Azure is free with your Microsoft ELA, so as you look at Office 365, Sharepoint, and other platforms, it may make sense for you to leverage your agreement to test Azure.
• It’s Op-Ex friendly. Many company’s financial mandates are to reduce capital expenditures on the balance sheet to help with cash flow.  Azure provides company’s with a consumption model that is essentially, “pay as you go.”
• Redundant & Resilient. Azure offers a wide area of global data centers which ensures continuous availability.
• Security and privacy is a top priority. Microsoft has made leading advances to data privacy and protection by meeting compliance standards and implementing strict regulations and policies. Azure also has several security tools and capabilities built into the platform.

Cons

• Although it’s affordable to put data into Azure, it’s more expensive to take data out. Often times, there are hidden and unexpected costs related to recovering data from a cloud provider that can grow exponentially if not researched first.
• Single Vendor strategy. Using a single vendor can be akin to putting all your eggs in one basket, which brings unnecessary risk to your business.
• Credit Card Cloud Strategy. Opening an S3 or cloud account is fairly easy and the business may not have to approve this if an individual application owner is empowered to do this.

The advantages of Microsoft Azure are compelling – 90% of Fortune 500 companies seem to think so. But you need to make the right decision for your company. Talk to your current vendors, experts in the industry and competitors to see what they’re doing. A multi-cloud strategy is always an option for your business needs. Whatever you decide, it’s a good idea to consult a third-party resource or a solution provider like IMPEX for additional information.