Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing platform and infrastructure service.

Created by Microsoft, it offers Infrastructure-as-a-Service, Platform-as-a-Service and Software-as-a-Service.

The offering is designed to be used for building, deploying, and managing applications and services through a cloud network running from a global network of data centres managed by Microsoft.

The cloud offering is typically offered and used in a public cloud method, but it can also be used in a hybrid style of deployment.

Azure is considered to be the second most deployed public cloud, behind Amazon Web Services.

Do you know what Azure’s product types are?

Microsoft categorises Azure as having 11 main product types, these are; Compute, web and mobile, data storage, analytics, networking, media and content delivery network (CDN), hybrid integration, identity and access management, Internet of Things, development, management and security.

Although there are 11 main categories, the company is constantly adding new services and products to the platform.

Azure was first introduced in 2008 as Windows Azure, later rebranded to Microsoft Azure in 2014.