There are many public and private cloud computing platforms available today. While you evaluate the features and abilities of each of these platforms for your business, it is important to keep in mind the cost element. You want a platform which allows you to make the most of its resources while reducing your costs for computing resources and cost of IT administration. And which is the cloud platform which helps you achieve this and much more? Well, Microsoft Azure, is clearly ahead in the race now!
Microsoft Azure scores over other platforms because of its flexible per-minute billing options which allows businesses, big and small, the best returns for their spends. You only pay for what you use with Azure, which is different from other leading cloud providers who charge on different units of measurements. Microsoft does not charge any upfront costs and allows you to quickly deploy cloud infrastructure and services.
Azure also comes with plenty of great flexible purchase options such as prepaid subscriptions and pay-as-you-go subscriptions among others. Enterprises can opt for the cost-efficient Microsoft Enterprise Agreement (EA) which help it receive great benefits at exciting prices. Businesses can also opt for the Microsoft Azure Pre-Purchase Option which delivers cost savings of close to 63%. Windows Server Customers with Software Assurance also have the option of Microsoft Azure Hybrid User Benefit which allows you to run Windows Server Virtual machines at base compute pricing.
Microsoft also understands the complexities involved in moving to the cloud. That’s why the company offers a free online calculator to help companies estimate their Azure cloud requirements with costs. The calculator delivers pretty good results and can be used to factor in discounts such as EA to get an accurate assessment.
Moreover, there are lots of third party software which help you to monitor and analyze your cloud. They help you to track your spending and optimize your cloud costs. These tools can supplement the calculator provided by Microsoft and give you detailed insights into your consumption patterns.
Purely on the cost front, Microsoft Azure is ahead of its peers. However, Azure is more than just about dollars. Its hybrid capabilities are a huge hit among companies who are utilizing it to leverage their existing technology systems. Businesses across the globe are using Azure to respond quickly to changing business needs and get an edge over their competitors. Apart from the obvious cost advantage, Azure offers a comprehensive cloud solution which is ideally positioned to be the centerpiece of your digital transformation strategy.
