Azure
Microsoft Azure is Microsoft's cloud platform: over 200 services, tightly integrated with Microsoft 365, with German data centers.
Microsoft Azure is Microsoft's cloud platform and the second largest in the market after AWS. You rent servers, databases, and over 200 other services instead of operating and depreciating your own hardware.
Companies use Azure for web applications, data platforms, and increasingly for AI via Microsoft Foundry, formerly Azure OpenAI. Its standout strength is the Microsoft ecosystem: those who work with Microsoft 365, Entra ID, and Windows servers get cloud services that integrate seamlessly, including centralized user management.
AWS offers a broader service portfolio and often more mature documentation, while Google Cloud is strong in data analytics. Azure's weakness: The portal can seem cluttered, and its pricing is difficult to understand without prior experience. Cost control here requires just as much discipline as with AWS.
Ideal for companies already operating within the Microsoft ecosystem and prioritizing German data centers. Without an IT team or an external partner, you won't be happy with Azure; factor in consulting from the start.
Functions
- Close integration with Microsoft 365, Teams, and the Power Platform
- Microsoft Foundry (formerly Azure OpenAI): GPT and Claude models with enterprise agreement and EU data residency
- Data Center Regions in Germany
- Credit for existing Microsoft license agreements
- Over 200 services, from IoT to data analytics
Core Functions
- Virtual Machines, Containers, and App Hosting in Microsoft data centers
- Managed Databases from Azure SQL to Cosmos DB
- AI services via Microsoft Foundry with models from OpenAI, Anthropic, and others
- Identity and Access Management via Microsoft Entra ID
- Hybrid Operations: on-premises infrastructure and cloud combined
Alternatives to
Azure
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Jira
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Vercel
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Nvidia
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IONOS
IONOS is Europe's largest hosting provider for domains, websites, and cloud services, and now features its own AI ecosystem, Momentum.