Top Advantages and Drawbacks of Using Microsoft Azure for DevOps Projects

Microsoft Azure is one of the most popular public cloud platforms worldwide and is used by Fortune 500 companies and SMBs alike. Thanks to its many benefits, Azure is also one of the most preferred tools and technologies of DevOps professionals. 

 

If your business has DevOps projects in store, having the right tool stack can help you develop competitive solutions, remain on budget, and meet project deadlines. Let’s take a look at how you can benefit from Microsoft Azure and what you should watch out for. 

 

What Is Microsoft Azure?

 

Microsoft Azure, formerly known as Windows Azure, is a public cloud computing platform that helps to effectively develop IT solutions. It can either supplement or completely replace on-premises servers, allowing a wide range of businesses to manage their projects and achieve organizational goals. 

 

Azure offers a collection of over 200 various solutions that facilitate tasks such as storage, virtual computing, analytics, mobile networking, integration, and more. Azure also offers four distinct types of cloud computing:

• Platform as a service (PaaS),
• Infrastructure as a service (IaaS),
• Software as a service (SaaS), as well as
• Serverless computing.

 

Businesses that subscribe to Azure gain access to all services in its porta and can select specific tools and services that are relevant to their projects. Microsoft charges them on a pay-as-you-go basis. So, their clients only have to pay for the specific solutions they have used. 

 

In addition to that, Azure is compatible with different open-source technologies and third-party tools.

 

What Is Azure DevOps?

 

Azure DevOps is Microsoft’s Software as a service (SaaS) platform providing an end-to-end toolchain that allows IT companies to develop and deploy software solutions. 

 

It facilitates collaborative culture and supports a wide range of processes that allow developers, project managers, and other contributors to develop and improve software products faster than when using traditional approaches to software development. 

 

The Advantages of Using Azure for DevOps Projects

 

1. High Availability

 

When compared with other vendors, Azure possesses a significantly higher availability of data centers on a global scale. This allows Azure to offer a service level agreement (SLA) of 99.95%, which results in less than five hours of downtime per year. 

 

Most vendors are unable to provide such an uptime guarantee. In most cases, you can expect 98%, 95%, or even lower for the same price as Azure. 

 

Because of the sheer availability of data centers, downtime may not affect you at all. Even when certain data centers need to go down for maintenance, you will still be able to access other data centers to store or take out data.

 

Due to this high availability, Azure is highly advantageous for IT businesses that work with remote DevOps engineers. Companies can work with highly skilled developers regardless of what their location is. As a result, they can tap into a much wider talent pool and are able to access a greater number of qualified professionals.

 

2. Network Security

 

The Microsoft Azure platform has a strong focus on security. It follows the standard DADSC approach to security: detect, access, diagnose, and close. Additionally, Azure has strong cybersecurity controls, which allows DevOps teams to enjoy the platform’s multiple compliance certifications. Not only is the Azure platform itself protected, but it also covers the end user. 

 

With such a strong security profile, remote DevOps teams face reduced risk of data loss and other cybersecurity concerns. Since cybercrime is continuously becoming more advanced, Azure empowers DevOps teams with the competitive ability to deliver highly secure services.

 

3.  Scalability 

 

DevOps projects are not linear. There will be occasions when you need to max out your data usage or use specific applications. Azure does not force DevOps teams to commit to fixed data packets or upgrades. So, if you expect fluctuating data use or the need to use specific upgrades for a limited time, you will only pay for what you use.

 

Due to this, Azure can be extremely beneficial for DevOps projects that work with tight budgets. DevOps professionals can ensure that they only pay for what’s needed and do not waste their clients’ budgets. 

 

4. Cost-Effective Solutions

 

Cloud providers require a much smaller investment when developing and maintaining your IT infrastructure. With a cloud environment such as Azure, you do not need to cover hardware and maintenance costs. Instead, you only pay for what you use and when you use it. 

 

This flexibility allows start-ups and SMBs to compete with corporations and large enterprises without needing massive capital. So, IT companies with limited staff and budgets can lead successful and secure DevOps projects in the Azure infrastructure. 

 

5. Language, Framework, and Tool Flexibility

 

Azure allows DevOps teams to use any language, framework, or tool, allowing them to quickly and effectively materialize ideas into functional solutions. DevOps engineers can build software solutions in their language of choice and remain productive. They can fully focus on the code rather than waste their time and energy on figuring out how to manage it. 

 

Moreover, Microsoft Azure offers over 150+ connectors that enable DevOps teams to connect their devices, applications, and data. Examples include Office 365, Salesforce, Dropbox, and more. So, you can manage administrative duties and code within the same platform. 

 

6. Manual Task Automation

 

Azure allows DevOps professionals to reduce the time they spend on infrastructure management by allowing them to automate repetitive, time-consuming tasks. You can gain access to tools like BASH, PowerShell, Rest API, and more. Moreover, you can also benefit from built-in support for monitoring, analytics, patching, backups, site recovery, and much more.  

 

As a result, with Azure, DevOps teams can optimize project delivery times without compromising product quality. They are able to adhere to budget constraints and deliver solutions within the expected time frame.

 

7. Hybrid Infrastructure

 

Azure is highly advantageous for businesses that rely on both cloud and on-premises infrastructure. Unlike other cloud providers, you are not required to migrate everything at once when you subscribe to Azure. So, you can opt for a migration path that best supports your DevOps projects. 

 

Azure also enables DevOps professionals to detect and respond to security threats in the cloud as well as on-premises significantly faster. Azure’s back-up and recovery tools also work to protect your data in the cloud and locally. 

 

8. Access to AI Services

 

Artificial intelligence keeps evolving and becoming more and more common. AI-powered solutions or features that Azure offers can give your DevOps project a competitive edge. You can develop both that engage with customers, make strategic, data-driven, and faster predictions, as well as boost your service capabilities. 

 

Since labor shortages persist and businesses often work with a limited workforce, AI-powered solutions can help them serve a wider customer base and boost the brand experience. This can increase business resilience and make them less susceptible to labor fluctuations.

 

Drawbacks of Azure for DevOps Projects

 

1. Management Requirements

 

While highly scalable and advantageous, Microsoft Azure doesn’t assist you with data center management. You’ll need a dedicated professional who will manage your data, including server monitoring and patching. Because of that, you will either need to learn it yourself or contract dedicated professionals to do this for you. 

 

2. Expertise Requirements

 

Azure isn’t a platform for a rookie. It requires expertise to ensure that everything works together efficiently and you aren’t overspending on tools and features that you aren’t using or taking full advantage of. 

 

It’s common for businesses to overprovision cloud services and fail to adequately manage cloud servers. Computing power on-premise and in the cloud is not the same, and wrong estimates can lead businesses to overspend and waste thousands of dollars in the process. 

 

3. Possible Speed Issues in Some Regions

 

Despite its high availability, not all regions that Azure services benefit from the same speedy data access. Azure has a presence in over 60 regions globally and offers availability to 140 countries. The United States, Europe, Japan, Australia, India, and China are well-serviced. In the meantime, Canada, South America, and Africa have comparatively few regions, and data access there can be slower. 

 

While Azure keeps expanding its presence and availability worldwide, some speed issues may persist in specific regions. 

 

Overall Look

 

Microsoft Azure is an extremely beneficial platform for DevOps projects. Its high availability, security, and scalability allow you to work virtually uninterrupted with skilled DevOps engineers globally. Nonetheless, it requires expertise to ensure skillful maintenance. 

 

If you plan to work with remote DevOps engineers, it can be extremely beneficial to hire a remote DevOps team that has extensive experience working with Azure. This will ensure that not only your software project gets effectively completed, but you will also not need to hire anyone additional to manage Azure. Remote DevOps teams have well-established work processes, which include Azure infrastructure management. 

 

Datrick can help you with that. Our remote DevOps team consists of expert engineers who have extensive experience managing software development projects with Azure. Schedule a complimentary call to discuss your project idea and business goals.