Microsoft Azure, the second-largest cloud provider globally, has been outpacing its competitors in recent years. With a market share of 21% (according to Statista Q3 2021), Azure focuses on offering an all-inclusive cloud experience through a vast ecosystem of partnerships and integrations. Its dedication to innovation, particularly in the data management and analytics space, sets it apart from the competition.
As a leader in the Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS) market, Azure enjoys a market share of more than 25%, as reported by Lara Greden, research director for IDC’s PaaS practice. Azure's rapid success can be attributed to its continued expansion supported by existing customers and its appeal to small and medium-sized businesses poised for growth. The adoption of Kubernetes and cloud-native architectures enables applications to be developed and executed in a digital-first environment.
One of Azure's key strengths is its commitment to meeting developers where they already are. Many developers have skills in .NET, and Azure provides the robust tools needed to create rich integrations. This approach helps support scalability and flexibility for customers during their cloud journey. Azure's integration with Power Apps, Microsoft's low-code offering, empowers citizen developers and enhances the overall platform experience.
Additionally, Azure has a strong focus on artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities, which are bundled into the Azure Applied AI Service, enabling more people to develop high-quality applications. Its comprehensive support for Linux and open-source technologies has expanded the platform's customizability and allowed for hybrid cloud models and data integration.
Though some users have expressed concerns about Azure's security and governance models, the platform continues to rapidly evolve and offer a wide range of features, such as Azure Cosmos DB, Azure Container Apps, and Azure Synapse Analytics. We discuss some of the most recent and notable features introduced by Azure:
In a rapidly evolving landscape, Microsoft Azure not only maintains its position as a leader in PaaS but also innovates in areas like AI, IoT, and data analytics. For businesses considering a transition to the cloud, Azure's feature-rich platform and successful track record make it an attractive choice. At the same time, platforms like AppMaster provide no-code app development solutions to facilitate a smooth transition to Azure's cloud-native world.
