Updated: July 9, 2020 (December 20, 2010)
SidebarThe Windows Azure Platform
The Windows Azure platform can reduce the cost of purchasing and maintaining server infrastructure to support internal-use or Web-based applications by outsourcing some functions to Microsoft’s data centers. In particular, it can help organizations meet peak capacity without permanent investments in the hardware and software necessary for peak loads. However, Windows Azure platform services are not complete replacements for on-premises servers (although a beta of Windows Azure virtual machine roles became available in Dec. 2010), and SQL Server’s business intelligence features are not yet available through the SQL Azure Database hosted data management service. (Although SQL Azure Reporting is expected to be released in the first half of 2011.)
The Windows Azure platform comprises the following services:
- The Windows Azure service, which hosts applications and stores application data
- The SQL Azure Database service, which hosts relational databases using Microsoft’s SQL Server technology
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