How it works
Azure covers the same ground as AWS and Google Cloud: virtual machines, App Service for web apps, Azure Functions, Azure SQL and Cosmos DB, Blob Storage, Kubernetes (AKS) and Static Web Apps for frontends. Its identity service, Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory), links cloud resources to the accounts a company already uses for Outlook and Teams.
That fit with Microsoft's world is its main draw: enterprise agreements, Windows Server and SQL Server licences, and GitHub, which Microsoft also owns. It also hosts OpenAI's models for companies that want them under Microsoft's contracts and data rules. Azure has several regions in India, including Pune, Chennai and Mumbai.
Microsoft Azure pros and cons
Pros
- Smooth fit with Microsoft 365, Entra ID and Windows
- A strong choice for .NET and SQL Server workloads
- OpenAI models available under enterprise contracts
- Free Static Web Apps plan for small frontends
Cons
- The portal and naming can confuse, with many overlapping services
- Pricing pages and calculators take time to decode
- Less common in startup tutorials than AWS or Vercel
When to use Microsoft Azure
Pick it when
- Companies already on Microsoft 365 and Entra ID
- .NET, C# and SQL Server applications
- Enterprise customers who require Azure
Skip it when
- A small project with no tie to Microsoft's ecosystem
Microsoft Azure pricing
Pay as you go
Pay per use. A free account gives $200 of credit for 30 days, 12 months of popular services free, and a set of always-free services within monthly limits.
Microsoft Azure pricing page (opens in a new tab)Approximate, checked September 2026.What the other tools cost
Microsoft Azure vs the alternatives
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