Microsoft Azure
As Microsoft Cloud Technology experts, Ghost IT provides intelligent planning, deployment and future development services to local Organisations that are looking to improve their business efficiency and fully realise their key business goals by embracing the capabilities and features of Microsoft Azure.
We also provide ongoing support and strategic advisory services that will give you a competitive edge by developing your knowledge of Microsoft Azure.
What is Microsoft Azure?
Microsoft Azure is an all-inclusive set of integrated Cloud services that can be used to create, deploy and manage applications and services in the Cloud, from Mobile Apps and websites to Big Data and Virtual Machines.
Microsoft Azure is an incredibly flexible and fully scalable Cloud platform that empowers you with the services, tools and applications for reducing your IT infrastructure costs and greatly enhancing your business operations by making the transition to the Azure platform.
What is Microsoft Azure used for?
Microsoft typically categorises Azure services under the four following headings:
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
Software Developers can use the Microsoft Azure platform to build and deploy applications. The development and hosting tools are provided directly from the Azure platform and are purchased through a subscription model.
On the Azure platform, applications run on Virtual Machines that already have an Operating System installed. These Virtual Machines are automatically updated and maintained by the vendor. The number of users can be scaled up and down as required and you can also create different roles for users.
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS)
Azure gives you the capacity to create Virtual Machines (VMs) by simply choosing the size of the Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) that you wish to use. You can choose to use either a Windows or Linux-based VHD depending on your requirements.
Virtual Machines can be used to host your business applications and operating systems, or they can be used as a form of Disaster Recovery by replicating your existing on premise servers in the Cloud. In addition, developers can also use Virtual Machines as a safe and secure isolated environment to test their applications.
Websites
Microsoft Azure can be used to create and host Websites and other web-based applications. Azure supports numerous development tools and content management systems.
Microsoft Azure provides a cost-effective way to host your website without having to worry about spikes in traffic because of Auto-scaling.
Auto-scaling increases the usage capacity automatically to accommodate spikes in traffic, then scales back once traffic usage returns to normal. With Auto-scaling, you only pay for the capacity you actually use.
Mobile App Services (mBaaS)
Microsoft Azures Mobile Service gives you the tools to create and deploy mobile apps for Windows, IOS and Android quickly and efficiently. The information accessed by the mobile app is stored in a back-end database on Azure, which is referred to ‘Mobile back-end as a Service’.
Here’s a sample of the most popular services and solutions that can be created, deployed and maintained on the Microsoft Azure platform.
Mobile App development
Digital Marketing
Microsoft SharePoint
Microsoft Dynamics
Business Intelligence
Big Data and Analytics
Internet of Things (IoT)
High Performance Computing (HPC)
Data storage, Backup and Archive.
Hybrid data and app Integration.
Line of Business applications (LOB)
SQL database as a Service
Virtual Machines
Websites
Our Azure Consultancy, Deployment and Migration services.
Microsoft Azure migration services – We’ll fully manage the successful transition of one or more applications or services from your existing infrastructure to Microsoft Azure. A successful migration is typically completed in five stages:
- Planning - We’ll provide you with a detailed migration plan that includes realistic timings and the resources needed to successfully complete the migration.
- Preparation – We’ll conduct any preparation that’s necessary to ensure a successful migration before work commences.
- Test migration – We’ll perform a dummy run to ensure that the migration process works and all of the expected data and functionality has been successfully transferred.
- Migration - Live migration is conducted by our Microsoft Cloud experts.
- Post-migration validation – We’ll run a series of tests to ensure that the migration project was completed successfully and all data/functionality has been retained.
Consultancy services – Our Microsoft Cloud experts will seek to gain a clear understanding of your current and future challenges and objectives in order to ensure that Microsoft Azure is the right platform to achieve your key business goals. Once this is agreed, we will move onto the planning and development stage.
We also offer post-deployment support and strategic advisory services, giving you a competitive edge by developing your in-house skills and knowledge of Microsoft Azure.
Planning and development services - Our highly experienced Microsoft Cloud experts will plan and design an infrastructure or service that meets your key business objectives. We’ll apply decades of experience, knowledge and best practice frameworks in order to ensure a successful project outcome.
Deployment and configuration services - We’ll fully manage the deployment of your service or infrastructure into Azure from end-to-end. We’ll anticipate all considerations in order to avoid any disruption to your business operations and our Project Management team will keep you fully updated with our progress at all times, ensuring your deployment and configuration project is completed on-time and within budget.
Take the first step towards reducing your infrastructure costs and improving your business efficiency with Microsoft Azure.
Contact a Ghost IT Cloud Services expert today by calling 01708 390 370 and find out how your business can do amazing things with Microsoft Azure. Alternatively, you can provide us with more information by completing our online contact form.