Complete guide to Microsoft Azure services and products: what each one does

 

Microsoft Azure has established itself over the past decade as one of the most robust, scalable, and versatile cloud computing platforms in today's technological world. This solution, which supports both large international corporations and small businesses and freelancers, is widely accepted due to its adaptability, broad service offering, and full integration with the Microsoft ecosystem and third-party applications.

If you're wondering what services and products Azure offers and what each one does, you've come to the right place. Here, we'll break down everything you need to know in detail: from the basics of Azure and how it works, to clearly listing and explaining its core services, benefits, usage models, security and compliance aspects, costs, real-world application examples, and much more. Get ready to dive into the world of Azure with an unparalleled guide, designed to answer all your questions and help you maximize its potential for your business or project.

What is Microsoft Azure and how has it evolved?

Microsoft Azure is a cloud services platform developed by Microsoft that enables you to create, deploy, and manage applications and solutions through a global network of data centers. Officially launched in 2010 under the name Windows Azure—and renamed Microsoft Azure in 2014—the platform was born as a response to the growing need of companies and professionals to migrate workloads, applications, and services to the cloud.

In its early years, Azure offered a smaller set of features, focusing primarily on platform as a service (PaaS) and enabling the development and deployment of applications based on Microsoft technologies. However, the market demanded compatibility and versatility, and Microsoft quickly expanded support for languages, frameworks, and third-party products (such as Oracle, SAP or even open source technologies), as well as integrations with our own products such as Office 365, Dynamics 365, SharePoint, Power BI and many more.

Today, Azure is a constantly expanding platform which integrates more than 200 different services and products, grouped into multiple categories ranging from storage, artificial intelligence, and data analytics to network management, advanced security, virtual machines, mixed reality, the Internet of Things (IoT), and DevOps.

Its wide distribution throughout data centers in more than 50 regions and 140 countries ensures high availability, redundancy and minimal latency, making Azure an ideal option for companies with offices in different parts of the world and projects that demand high reliability operational.

Key features of Azure: why businesses choose this cloud

The decision to adopt Azure is often motivated by a combination of strategic and technical advantages that not only facilitate the transition to the cloud, but also They provide a differential value in terms of security, flexibility and cost control.

• On-demand scalability: Azure allows you to scale resources (storage, processing, networking, etc.) up or down in minutes based on demand, without costly upfront investments. This is perfect for growing businesses or those experiencing seasonal peaks in work.
• Pay-as-you-go model: Companies only pay for the resources they actually use, optimizing their IT budget and better managing each technology project.
• High availability and global redundancy: Thanks to distributed data centers, Azure guarantees high service level agreements (up to 99,95% availability) and advanced disaster recovery solutions.
• Cybersecurity and regulatory compliance: Microsoft Azure implements advanced encryption, multi-factor authentication, 24/7 surveillance in its data centers, and has more than 35 key certifications (HIPAA, GDPR, ISO, etc.), adapting to sensitive sectors such as healthcare, finance, education, and the public sector.
• Integration and compatibility: Azure integrates seamlessly with both the Microsoft ecosystem and major third-party solutions, facilitating migration and coexistence with other platforms (hybrid or multicloud).

All of this, combined with Microsoft's expert support and its vast community of users and partners, makes Azure ideal for meeting the current and future technological demands of any organization.

How does Microsoft Azure work? Basic models and services

Azure's operation is based on the provision of services through the Internet, accessible through the Azure portal (an intuitive web console), REST APIs and service-line tools commandsUsers can create, configure, and manage cloud resources in a simple and scalable way.

The fundamental structure of Azure is based on three major cloud service delivery models:

• IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service): Users can deploy and manage virtual machines, networks and storage, delegating management to Microsoft. hardware physical and the underlying resources.
• PaaS (Platform as a Service): It allows you to create, develop, and deploy applications without worrying about the operating system, middleware, or infrastructure maintenance. It's ideal for developers who want to focus on business logic.
• SaaS (Software as a Service): Provides direct access to ready-to-use applications, such as Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365 or Power BI, eliminating software management by the company.

Azure's great flexibility allows these models to be combined according to the customer's needs., facilitating everything from gradual migration to the cloud to the implementation of hybrid solutions with existing on-premises systems.

Comprehensive catalog of Microsoft Azure services and products

Microsoft Azure brings together a vast array of services and products across a variety of categories to cover all the technological areas of modern businesses. Below, we've detailed the key services and their practical uses, grouped by category. This way, you'll always be clear about what each one is for and how you can get the most out of them in your organization.

1. Calculation and processing services

• Virtual Machines (Azure Virtual Machines): They allow you to deploy virtual servers in the cloud, choosing the operating system (Windows, Linux, etc.), sizes, and configurations based on workload. Useful for migrating physical servers, testing new applications, or creating test/development environments.
• Azure App Service: Platform for quickly creating, deploying, and scaling web and mobile applications without managing underlying infrastructure. Compatible with .NET, Java, Node.js, PHP, Python, and more.
• Azure Container Instances and Azure Kubernetes Service: Services that provide containers and orchestration with Kubernetes, facilitating the development, deployment, and management of microservices and cloud-native applications.
• AzureFunctions: It allows you to run serverless code on demand based on events, saving costs and simplifying the maintenance of reactive applications and automation.
• Azure Batch: To manage massively parallel processing of tasks, useful in scientific calculations, engineering, or large-scale image analysis.

2. Data storage and management

• Azure Blob Storage: Highly durable and scalable object storage (images, videos, backups, unstructured files, etc.). Ideal for backups, multimedia, or software distribution.
• Azure Files: It offers file shares accessible via SMB protocol, perfect for collaborative access between teams and cloud applications.
• Azure Queue Storage: Manages message queues between distributed components and applications to coordinate tasks and improve resilience.
• Azure Disk Storage: Persistent storage for virtual machines, with configurable performance and redundancy options.

These storage services are complemented by automatic encryption tools, geographic replication and advanced storage options. backup and disaster recovery.

3. Databases and data analysis

• Azure SQL Database: A scalable, secure, and always-updated SQL Server-based database as a service, perfect for storing relational information from any application without worrying about engine management.
• Azure Cosmos DB: Globally distributed NoSQL database, ideal for applications requiring low latency and global scalability.
• Azure Database for PostgreSQL and MySQL: Fully managed platforms compatible with PostgreSQL and MySQL engines, facilitating the migration of open source applications to the cloud.
• Azure Data Factory: Data integration service for moving, transforming, and orchestrating complex data flows from disparate sources (on-premises and in the cloud).
• Azure Synapse Analytics (formerly SQL Data Warehouse): Big data analytics and business intelligence platform for gaining advanced insights and making better business decisions.
• Azure HDInsight: Big Data processing service based on frameworks such as Hadoop, Spark, and Kafka, designed for advanced analysis and distributed processing.
• Azure Data Lake Storage: Data warehouse for ingestion, processing and analysis of large volumes of data, including logs, sensors and unstructured data.

4. Networks and connectivity

• Azure Virtual Network: It allows you to create private networks, subnets, and segmentations within Azure, connecting virtual machines, services, and resources in a secure and isolated manner.
• Azure ExpressRoute: It offers private, dedicated connections between on-premise infrastructure and Azure, improving security and reducing latency compared to public internet connections.
• Azure DNS: Domain name management service, resolving DNS records quickly and with high performance.
• Azure Load Balancer and Application Gateway: Load balancing solutions to distribute traffic between services and improve application availability.
• Azure VPN gateways: Creating secure virtual private networks between different offices, subsidiaries, or remote workers and the cloud.

These services ensure that businesses can interconnect resources, optimize performance, and guarantee a seamless experience from anywhere.

5. Security, identity and compliance

• Azure Active Directory: Identity and access management solution that allows you to control access to resources, implement multi-factor authentication, and connect local and cloud users.
• Azure Security Center: Security monitoring and management platform that detects threats in real time and helps remediate vulnerabilities.
• Azure Key Vault: Secure management of keys, secrets, and certificates for applications and services.
• Azure Firewall: Managed firewall with advanced access rules, monitoring, and traffic logging.
• Azure DDoS Protection: Specific protection against distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks.
• Azure Policy: Tool for defining, enforcing, and auditing security, compliance, and governance policies across your entire cloud infrastructure.

The multi-layered security approach includes physical protection at data centers, data encryption at rest and in transit, continuous auditing, and support for international regulations.

6. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning

• Azure Cognitive Services: Pre-built APIs and services to add computer vision, natural language processing, speech recognition, and sentiment analysis capabilities to your applications.
• Azure Machine Learning: Platform for creating, training, and deploying machine learning models at scale.
• Azure Databricks: Collaborative analytics environment based on Apache Spark for data science, Big Data, and machine learning.

These services democratize access to AI, allowing any company or developer to apply advanced intelligence without being a data science expert.

7. Internet of Things (IoT)

• Azure IoT Hub: Centralized node for connecting, monitoring, and managing thousands of IoT devices in real time.
• Azure IoT Central: SaaS solution for rapidly deploying IoT applications with predefined templates.
• Azure IoT Edge: It allows processing, AI, and analytics modules to run on the devices themselves, minimizing the need to send data to the cloud.

The Azure IoT cloud is suitable for both industrial projects and domestic applications, controlling everything from sensors to heavy machinery.

8. Migration and administration

• Azure Migrate: Comprehensive tool for planning, executing, and monitoring server, database, and application migrations to the Azure environment.
• Azure Automation: Automate routine tasks and IT processes, freeing up time and reducing human error.
• Azure Monitor: Real-time monitoring and alerting service on the health of cloud resources and applications.
• Azure Resource Manager: Provides centralized control and management of resources, resource groups, and associated permissions.

9. Business Intelligence and Advanced Analytics

• Power BI built into Azure: Analyze large volumes of data and create interactive dashboards for decision-making.
• Azure Analysis Services: Enterprise data analytics engine supporting large tabular models.
• Azure Stream Analytics: Process and analyze real-time data from IoT devices, logs, social networks, and other sources.

BI tools in Azure enable any business, regardless of size, to gain clear and actionable insights from their data.

10. Development, DevOps and tools for programmers

• Azure DevOps: Complete platform for software development lifecycle management (repositories, CI/CD, task management, testing, etc.).
• Azure App Service: Hosting of web applications and APIs with automatic deployment from version control systems.
• Azure DevTest Labs: On-demand testing environments, optimizing costs and accelerating development.

Azure natively integrates collaboration tools (such as Visual Studio Team Services or GitHub integration) and allows you to manage all development, deployment, and testing environments in the cloud.

11. Mixed reality, multimedia and mobility

• Azure Media Services: Processing, encoding and secure delivery of multimedia content (video/audio) in streaming or on demand.
• Azure Spatial Anchors and Azure Remote Rendering: Solutions for mixed reality and augmented reality experiences, integrating the physical and digital worlds.
• Azure Mobile Apps: Complete backend for mobile app development, with authentication, synchronization, and push notifications.

Key benefits of using Azure in your business

Aside from the breadth of services, Azure stands out for a A series of structural benefits that make companies choose it as a primary or secondary platform for their technological projects.Among the most relevant are:

• Flexibility and accessibility: Azure allows you to work from anywhere in the world, accessing resources and applications through secure connections and a variety of devices.
• Full integration with Microsoft and third-party solutions: Seamless integration with Office 365, Dynamics 365, SAP, Oracle, and many open source platforms, facilitating interoperability and smooth migration.
• High security and privacy: Data encryption solutions, advanced authentication, and compliance with the most demanding privacy and information protection standards.
• Dynamic scalability: Resources are adjusted in real time, allowing peak demand or reduced activity to be addressed without significant additional costs.
• Cost-efficient and pay-as-you-go model: Adjust technology spending to the current situation, avoiding large initial investments and allowing for comprehensive billing control.
• Support and community: 24/7 expert support, extensive knowledge bases, and a large network of certified partners.

Case Studies: Who Uses Microsoft Azure?

The range of companies and organizations using Azure is immense. From international giants to SMEs and tech startups, they've chosen it to migrate, develop, or scale their systems.

• Multinational corporations such as NBC, Iberia or EasyJet have relied on Azure for streaming services, security reinforcement, and the creation of scalable hybrid clouds.
• Pearson Education uses Azure to develop educational mobile apps and analyze large volumes of data collected in real time from users and social networks.
• Healthcare, finance, and government sectors benefit from Azure's robustness, regulatory compliance, and ability to connect locations and workforces around the world.

Azure is also perfect for small and medium-sized businesses that want to avoid large investments in hardware and delegate infrastructure management to a reliable provider, thereby achieving greater flexibility and scalability.

Security and Compliance in Azure

La Security is a priority in Microsoft AzureThe platform uses a multi-layered protection approach that ranges from physical data center security to advanced logical and administrative measures:

• Data encryption at rest and in transit: To ensure the integrity and confidentiality of the information.
• Multi-factor authentication: Prevent unauthorized access with additional verifications (password, SMS, biometrics).
• Azure Security Center: Monitors resources, detects threats, and recommends remediation solutions.
• Backups and geographic replication: They enable disaster recovery in minutes, minimizing data loss or downtime.
• Certifications and regulatory compliance: Azure has over 35 industry-specific certifications (HIPAA, ISO, GDPR, etc.), making adoption easy even for highly regulated organizations.

It is important to note that cloud security is a shared responsibilityMicrosoft secures the infrastructure, but every company should adopt good internal practices and take advantage of protection and control tools (such as Azure Policy or Key Vault).

Cost control and budget optimization

One of the great attractions of Azure is its efficient subscription model and granular spending control. Companies can:

• Hire resources on demand and only pay for actual consumption.
• Set up spending alerts, analyze usage patterns, and optimize resources with tools like Azure CostManagement.
• Reserve long-term instances (Reserved Instances) to save on constantly used resources.
• Use the Azure pricing calculator to estimate the cost of any project before launching it, comparing it with local solutions.

This model is especially useful for SMEs and startups, as it avoids high investments and reduces the operating and maintenance costs of their own hardware.

Ease of migration and support for hybrid solutions

Azure offers Integrated tools to migrate on-premises applications, data, and services to the cloud with minimal risk and without significant disruption. Solutions like Azure Migrate or Azure Site Recovery allow you to move everything from simple workloads to complex enterprise systems.

In addition, Azure makes it easy to coexistence of hybrid environments: It is possible to maintain certain critical processes on your own servers and others in the cloud, taking advantage of the flexibility and redundancy of both worlds.

Getting Started with Azure: First Steps and Recommendations

Getting started with Azure is easy. Microsoft offers access to its Azure Web Portal, where you can create users, resources, groups and initial configurations intuitively.

For those who want to start without prior knowledge, it is recommended:

• Request a free Azure trial to explore all services with no upfront commitment.
• Use templates and resources from the Azure Marketplace to accelerate the deployment of common solutions.
• Consult tutorials and official Microsoft documentation, as well as rely on the extensive user community and specialized forums.

For complex migrations or critical environments, it is ideal to have the support of certified partners, capable of planning, executing and maintaining cloud projects with full guarantees.

Best practices and tips to get the most out of Azure

• Define your objectives and needs: Before migrating or deploying services, clearly identify which processes you want to move to the cloud, your security requirements, and your business objectives.
• Start small: Implement pilot projects or move secondary workloads before a full migration, learning as you go and minimizing risk.
• Take advantage of automation and monitoring: Use automation tools (Azure Automation) and monitoring (Azure Monitor, Application Insights) to reduce workload, prevent errors, and improve performance.
• Manage access and permissions: Organize resources into groups, enforce clear roles, and utilize multi-factor authentication. Azure Active Directory makes it easy to manage users and access across your cloud and on-premises environments.
• Periodically review usage and costs: Monitor consumption, adjust resources to actual demand, and eliminate unnecessary services to optimize spending.
• Take care of safety: Keep all security policies up to date, install patches, and take advantage of the advanced protection services offered by Azure.

Frequently Asked Questions about Microsoft Azure

• Where is my data stored? Your data can be stored in any of Microsoft's data centers around the world. You can select your preferred region to minimize latency and facilitate regulatory compliance.
• Is my data private and secure? Yes, Microsoft never uses your data for any other purpose and adheres to strict privacy standards. It also offers advanced encryption, redundancy, and robust access controls.
• Can I combine Azure with other cloud providers? Of course, Azure supports hybrid and multi-cloud models, allowing seamless integration with other clouds such as AWS or Google Cloud Platform.
• Which company profile benefits most from Azure? From large enterprises with complex needs to small tech startups, Azure's scalability and pay-as-you-go model make it easy for any business, regardless of size, to take advantage of it.
• What happens if I have technical issues? Azure offers 24/7 technical support and a comprehensive knowledge base. In addition, there are certified partners capable of providing customized solutions to any technological challenge.

Microsoft Azure is positioned as one of the leading cloud platforms in the global market., offering a variety of services and products that are difficult to match. Its ability to adapt to all types of businesses, provide maximum security, control costs, and provide intelligent tools for digital transformation make it a safe bet for those seeking a reliable, flexible, and future-proof solution. Whether migrating infrastructure, developing new applications, improving productivity, analyzing data, or boosting innovation, Azure covers every possible scenario with guarantees.