Azure is a cloud computing platform from Microsoft that provides a wide range of services for building, deploying, and managing applications and services. Here are some of the core services offered by Azure:
Compute Services
a) Virtual Machines
Azure provides virtual machines (VMs) that allow users to run their own operating systems and applications in the cloud. Users can choose from a variety of operating systems and pre-configured images, or they can create their own custom images.
b) Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS)
AKS is a managed Kubernetes service that allows users to deploy and manage containerized applications using Kubernetes. AKS automates many of the tasks associated with managing a Kubernetes cluster, such as scaling, upgrading, and patching.
c) Azure Container Instances (ACI)
ACI provides a serverless computing service that allows users to run containers without having to manage any infrastructure. ACI is ideal for running short-lived tasks, batch jobs, or as part of a larger container-based application.
d) Azure Functions
Azure Functions is a serverless computing service that allows users to run their code without having to manage any infrastructure. Functions can be triggered by events such as a message arriving in a queue, a file being uploaded to a storage account, or an HTTP request.
Storage Services:
a) Blob Storage
Azure Blob Storage is designed for storing unstructured data such as text, images, and videos. Blob storage provides high availability, durability, and scalability for large-scale data storage.
b) File Storage
Azure File Storage provides a file share that can be accessed from anywhere using the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol. File Storage is ideal for applications that require shared file access, such as enterprise applications and media workflows.
c) Queue Storage
Azure Queue Storage is a cloud-based message queue service offered by Microsoft Azure. It provides an easy-to-use, scalable, and cost-effective solution for asynchronously passing messages between different components of a distributed application.
c) Disk Storage
Azure Disk Storage provides durable and high-performance storage for VMs. Users can choose from several types of disks, including Premium SSD, Standard SSD, and Standard HDD.
d) Archive Storage
Azure Archive Storage is designed for storing rarely accessed data for long-term retention. Archive Storage provides a low-cost storage option for data that is infrequently accessed but needs to be retained for compliance or regulatory reasons.
e) Table Storage
Table Storage is a NoSQL key-value store that allows you to store and query large amounts of structured data. It is optimized for large-scale data ingestion and can handle massive volumes of data.
Networking Services:
a) Virtual Networks
Azure Virtual Networks allow users to create private networks in the cloud. Users can configure subnets, network security groups, and virtual private networks (VPNs) to create a secure network environment.
b) Load Balancers
Azure Load Balancer distribute traffic across multiple VMs or instances, providing high availability and scalability for applications. Load Balancers can be configured for different types of traffic, including HTTP, HTTPS, and TCP.
c) Application Gateways
Azure Application Gateways provide a layer 7 load balancing and web application firewall service. Application Gateways are ideal for load balancing web applications and protecting against common web-based attacks. For more details
d) Azure VPN Gateway
Azure VPN Gateway allows users to connect their on-premises networks to Azure securely. VPN Gateway provides a secure and reliable connection that is ideal for hybrid cloud scenarios. More details
Database Services:
a) SQL Database
Azure SQL Database is a managed relational database service that is based on SQL Server. SQL Database provides high availability, automatic backup and restore, and easy scaling.
b) Cosmos DB
Azure Cosmos DB is a globally distributed database service that supports multiple data models, including document, key-value, and graph. Cosmos DB provides high availability, low latency, and automatic scaling.
c) Azure Database for MySQL
Azure Database for MySQL is a fully managed MySQL database service. Azure Database for MySQL provides high availability, automatic backup and restore, and easy scaling.
d) Azure Database for PostgreSQL
Azure Database for PostgreSQL is a fully managed PostgreSQL database service. Azure Database for PostgreSQL provides high availability, automatic backup and restore, and easy scaling.
Identity and Access Management
a) Azure Active Directory (AD)
Azure Active Directory provides a single sign-on service that allows users to access multiple cloud applications using a single set of credentials. Azure AD also provides identity and access management services such as user and group management, password management, and multi-factor authentication.
b) Azure AD B2C
Azure AD B2C is a cloud-based identity and access management service that provides authentication and authorization for consumer-facing applications. Azure AD B2C supports social identity providers such as Facebook and Google, and allows users to sign up and sign in using their social media accounts.
c) Azure AD Domain Services
Azure AD Domain Services provides managed domain services such as domain join, group policy, and LDAP support for Azure VMs and applications. Azure AD Domain Services allows users to manage their virtual network and domain services in the cloud.
Analytics Services
a) Azure Stream Analytics
Azure Stream Analytics provides real-time analytics for streaming data. Stream Analytics can process data from a variety of sources including Azure Event Hubs, IoT Hub, and Blob Storage.
b) Azure HDInsight
Azure HDInsight is a fully managed big data platform that provides Hadoop, Spark, and other open-source big data frameworks. HDInsight allows users to process large amounts of data quickly and easily using familiar tools such as Jupyter notebooks and Visual Studio Code.
c) Azure Databricks
Azure Databricks is a collaborative, cloud-based platform for big data and machine learning. Databricks provides a unified analytics platform that integrates with popular data science and machine learning frameworks such as Python, R, and TensorFlow.
Internet of Things (IoT) Services:
a) Azure IoT Hub
Azure IoT Hub provides a scalable and secure way to connect, monitor, and manage IoT devices. IoT Hub allows users to collect telemetry data from devices, monitor device health, and send commands to devices.
b) Azure IoT Central
Azure IoT Central is a fully managed SaaS solution for IoT applications. IoT Central provides a pre-configured and customizable application platform for building and managing IoT solutions.
c) Azure Sphere
Azure Sphere is a comprehensive IoT security solution that includes a secured, connected microcontroller unit (MCU), an operating system optimized for IoT, and a cloud-based security service. Azure Sphere provides end-to-end security for IoT devices.
These are just some of the many services offered by Azure. Each service is designed to help users build, deploy, and manage their applications and infrastructure in the cloud. With Azure, users can choose the services that best meet their needs and scale up or down as their requirements change over time.