Did you see the Forrester study that shows a 123% return on investment for customers who migrate to Azure?
Cloud technology continued to expand in capability and affordability during the 2010s, but the numbers caught up with businesses during that decade. It’s not possible to ignore the potential benefits of cloud technology anymore.
So, is 2021 the year that your organization will move to Azure? Read this article to find out if Microsoft’s cloud platform aligns with your needs and goals.
Benefits of Migrating to Azure
Any organization can benefit from migrating to the cloud, but why do industry professionals choose one over the other? Discover these proven benefits of Azure and how it may help you with your plan to assess and migrate.
Plan for Disaster Recovery
Do you know with certainty that your organization’s data is safe from natural disasters? What would happen if most of the West Coast lost power after “The Big One” happened in California?
Migrating to Microsoft Azure means your Azure data will not live in a central hub, it can exist at data centers around the world. If the entire planet loses power, it’s reasonable to assume that everyone will have much bigger problems than recovering servers.
Give Your Organization Scalability
How much flexibility do you have with physical technology assets when your organization has to scale up or down? You’re stuck with what you have and the costs associated with buying new laptops or trying to get the most out of used ones. Before cloud technology, you couldn’t press a button and change your “subscription” to your Dell computer.
When you migrate to Microsoft Azure, you only pay for what your organization uses. When an event like a pandemic occurs, you can scale your servers to handle the new demand for online orders in seconds.
Maintain Your Security Compliance
Think about the last time you heard about a surprise security breach at a national company or organization. Now imagine that your name’s in the headlines. Are you feeling uncomfortable about your security compliance after trying this out?
It’s easy to forget about security and compliance until an unfortunate event rattles your team. Microsoft Azure includes more certifications than any other cloud provider, so your compliance will be worry-free.
How would you like to have control over access from one sign-on page? With the Enterprise Mobility and Security (EMS) service, your organization can have the confidence that comes with easier cloud accountability.
Save Money on Infrastructure
Does your organization already have significant investments into physical servers? It’s difficult to avoid feeling like you’re committed when you pass the racks on your way to the break room. Don’t allow a sense of ownership to blind you to new opportunities, be sure to investigate the potential ROI of moving to the cloud.
If you had a crystal ball for the last decade, you could have planned your IT budget and saved money. Nobody can tell the future, but you won’t have to lock yourself into buying equipment for plans that don’t pan out either.
Did you know that the IDC projects that spending on cloud solutions, like Azure, should increase from $229 billion in 2019 to $500 billion by 2023? You may have felt a shift in the air, but the numbers don’t lie: cloud technology is the future.
Improve Accessibility and Efficiency
Do you imagine traveling through a private tunnel when you use a VPN to access your organization’s data? The guard rails may exist for a reason, but it can also limit your access to vital real-time information.
One of the benefits of Microsoft Azure that organizations “feel” is a shift in scheduling. What does the freedom to access company data 24 hours a day, seven days a week, give you and your peers?
What kind of new efficiencies would you have the opportunity to create?
Don’t tether yourself, literally or figuratively, to an on-premise architecture in 2021. Take baby steps if you must, but move your servers to Azure. You don’t want to get left behind in a competitive marketplace.
Azure vs AWS
Microsoft launched Azure in 2010, and it’s one of the “Big 3” cloud platforms. While it’s easier to refer to Microsoft Azure as one entity, you can choose from over 200 products and Azure functions.
The Redmond-based mega-corporation launched cloud services in the 2010s, and it’s poised to bring innovations to the 2020s.
The competitor across Puget Sound jumped headfirst into cloud technology when it launched AWS (Amazon Web Services) in 2006. The retail giant continues to make aggressive moves to dominate the market. Jeff Bezos and his team used sucked up $11.6 billion during the third quarter of 2020.
The debate on Azure versus AWS focuses on the following differences:
Pricing
Cloud economics was once a fairly contested debate. At times there were stark differences between AWS and Azure on this particular topic.
Years ago, there was a clear-cut difference. AWS charged you by the hour, while Microsoft charged you by the minute. Now, you can find charges as low as per-second used.
With time, new instance types were added and prices have dropped. Also, a variety of discounts are often available to help with costs.
Support
AWS scales its support plans based on tiers. You choose a tier that fits your needs and can adjust accordingly
Microsoft charges a flat rate for Azure support. This means that you won’t be stuck in a tier that limits your access to the support you need if something goes wrong.
Alternatively, third-party Microsoft managed services also exist.
Cloud Networking
AWS uses its Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) for users to create networks.
Microsoft uses its Virtual Network (VNET) to create networks.
Configuration
AWS offers users pre-configured options for computing power.
Microsoft allows users, or a third party, to choose pre-configured Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) space.
Data Storage
AWS temporarily stores data for an instance of storage and destroys it after termination.
Microsoft temporarily stores data through your D drive and provides “Block Blobs”.
Compliance
AWS has long-standing relationships with government agencies that regulate data compliance.
Microsoft has over 50 compliance offerings and offers a directly comparable level of security.
So, who’s winning the cloud war? Why migrate to Azure instead of AWS? Market shares set aside, migrating to Microsoft Azure is undoubtedly cheaper and arguably easier to transition to for an organization.
Are You Migrating to Azure in 2021?
It’s clear that when you migrate to Azure, you’re free from the limitations of the past. You have to control your costs, the flexibility to change them, and the adaptability to grow beyond your wildest imagination.
Are you ready to discuss an Azure migration strategy? Request a call today, and an expert will help you get where you want to go.
