Microsoft has long been one of the computing heavyweights alongside Apple, and it continues to be so today. Alongside its various software and hardware offerings, Microsoft also offers a comprehensive cloud service called Azure. First launched all the way back in 2010 – under the name Windows Azure – this cloud service now offers a huge variety of computing services, including SaaS (software as a service), IaaS (infrastructure as a service) and PaaS (platform as a service).
The team here at Nutbourne, a UK managed service provider who utilise Microsoft Azure in a variety of ways, wanted to unpack its various services (which number over a staggering 600, in total) in more detail.
Microsoft Azure Backup
Data loss/corruption, whether through physical damage or something more insidious like a cyberattack, can be incredibly damaging for a company, both financially and from a customer trust perspective as well. It’s crucial, therefore, that businesses implement a sound data backup policy to help safeguard against the risk of lost or damaged data. The Microsoft Azure Backup service is comprehensive, to say the least.
Using its highly sophisticated MARS (Microsoft Azure Recovery Services) agent, on-premise information can be stored and backed up completely safe and securely. This includes the backup of files, folders and system states. Azure Backup also comes with an Instant Restore feature, meaning that should a corruption of data occur for whatever reason, you’ll typically be able to get back up and running again in no time at all.
The Risk of No Backup
Sometimes, we hear about the benefits of something, and whilst it sounds great, we think we’re just fine the way things are. It’s understandable, human even. And even though you might see the statistic that over 90% of firms backup their data, you might still think it’s ok to chance it. When it comes to data loss, though, you simply don’t want to take that risk; to illustrate the importance of this issue, we’ve highlighted – not the benefits of utilising data backup – but the huge risks associated with not utilising it.
- 40-60% of small businesses will never reopen following a data loss incident.
- Taking an average across businesses of all sizes, downtime stemming from data loss events costs over £3,000 per minute.
If one thing’s clear, then? You don’t want to mess around when it comes to backing up your company’s data. Trust us, it’s worth doing.
Microsoft Azure AI
Artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have become indispensable parts of the digital landscape over the past few years, with businesses (across all sectors) increasingly looking to make the most of the many benefits that such software provides. Azure features three separate AI models as part of its offering, Azure Applied AI services, Azure Machine Learning and Azure Cognitive Services.
This extensive suite has something for everyone, with the obvious target audience of developers extending to everyday businesses, who can make use of its various practical solutions. These include its bot service, form recogniser, cognitive search and immersive reader functions.
The Main Differences Between Azure and AWS?
When compared with Amazon’s cloud offering – Amazon Web Services (AWS) – you find that in many ways the two are much of a muchness. Both offer cloud services, both providing backup options and various other services, with the major differences (such as market share) stemming from factors such as when the products were launched. AWS was launched in 2006 and holds 31% of the global market share, whilst Azure, which was launched later in 2010, holds 11% of the global share market.
For small-to-medium-sized businesses, in particular, Azure is just as good an option when it comes to data backup and other business applications, as AWS, and firms should seriously consider its implementation in order to stay both protected and also forwards-thinking.
Contact Us
Microsoft Azure is an industry-leading package, but it’s not the only one we can help implement here at Nutbourne. We also offer a comprehensive range of cybersecurity solutions – from industry big-hitters like Mimecast and Barracuda – to help protect your entire network from whatever threats may arise. We also provide network infrastructure services, such as structural cabling and network setups.
So, if you’d like to find out more about our services as a managed service provider, and how we can implement Microsoft Azure within your business, then get in touch! Contact us today on +44 (0) 203 137 7273 or by filling out one of our online enquiry forms. Alternatively, you can message us via Live Chat and one of our team will be there to help you out. However you wish to get in touch, we look forward to hearing from you! We also offer consultancy services, so even if you’re not sure what you’re after, then not to worry! We can help you unpick what’s right (and what’s not) for your company.