How to Get the Most Out of the Azure Cloud
- benknox2
- Feb 28
- 2 min read
The Azure Cloud offers businesses across all industries the ability to boost productivity, drive innovation, and reduce costs. Whether replacing traditional on-premises infrastructure or leveraging cutting-edge technologies like AI and machine learning, Azure provides endless possibilities.
However, simply migrating to the cloud doesn’t automatically guarantee cost savings.
Without proper management, cloud expenses can quickly spiral out of control. Fortunately, Azure provides powerful tools to help businesses manage these costs.
Take Advantage of Big Data Analytics:
As businesses become increasingly data-driven, the ability to collect, store, and analyse vast amounts of information is critical. Leveraging big data analytics can help organisations make informed decisions that drive sustainable growth. However, two major hurdles stand in the way: storage and analytics.
Storing Big Data Efficiently - Azure provides multiple scalable and flexible storage solutions, including:
Azure Data Lake Store – A hyperscale repository designed for big data analytics, allowing businesses to capture and store massive datasets in a single location.
Azure Storage Blobs – A versatile storage solution that accommodates various data types, including logs, backups, and unstructured data.
Unlocking Insights with Advanced Analytics - Once data is stored, businesses can use Azure’s advanced analytics solutions to extract valuable insights:
Azure Analysis Services – Helps businesses build enterprise-grade analytical models.
Data Lake Analytics – Allows businesses to process massive amounts of data with on-demand scalability.
Azure Synapse Analytics – Integrates big data and data warehousing for fast and efficient queries.
Maximise Savings with Azure Cost Management
To truly optimise cloud spending, businesses should take full advantage of Azure Cost Management. Here’s how:
Cost Analysis & Budgeting
Use cost analysis to track spending trends and forecast future costs based on current usage.
Set a spending budget and receive alerts when approaching budget thresholds, helping prevent unexpected overages.
Automated Cost Optimisation
Enable cost alerts to receive notifications when usage exceeds set limits.
Utilise Azure Advisor recommendations to receive personalised suggestions for reducing costs and optimising resources.
Enhance Security with Azure Active Directory (AD)
If your business uses Microsoft 365, you’re already leveraging Azure Active Directory (AD)—but are you making the most of it? Here’s how to maximise security and efficiency:
Enable Single Sign-On (SSO)
SSO allows users to access multiple SaaS applications with a single set of login credentials.
Reduces password fatigue and enhances security by eliminating the need for multiple credentials.
Strengthen Authentication with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Requires at least two authentication factors, including:
Something you know (password)
Something you have (trusted phone or security key)
Something you are (fingerprint or facial recognition)
Stops 99.9% of cyberattacks, even if credentials are compromised.
Want to Get the Most Out of the Azure Cloud?
These are just a few ways to boost productivity, optimise costs, and enhance security with Azure. If you’re looking to fully leverage Azure Cloud’s potential, contact us today to get started!
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