Microsoft Azure and IBM Public Cloud are major competitors in the cloud service industry. Azure often has the upper hand due to its integration with Microsoft products, while IBM is favored for its affordability and AI capabilities.
Features: Microsoft Azure offers seamless integration with Microsoft products, robust security features, and AI/ML services. Its intuitive dashboards and compatibility with Windows applications are key advantages. IBM Public Cloud is known for its affordable pricing, straightforward AI integrations, and flexible data permissions.
Room for Improvement: Microsoft Azure users seek better documentation, more transparent pricing, and enhanced integration capabilities. There are complaints about complex billing and the need for improved security features. IBM Public Cloud could improve by expanding its feature set, enhancing user documentation, and simplifying setup complexity.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Azure is praised for its easy deployment, especially within the Microsoft ecosystem, with a straightforward interface and comprehensive tutorials. Yet, some users note slow support response times. IBM offers reliable deployment but is more complex, with valued hands-on support that could be quicker and more accessible.
Pricing and ROI: Azure's pricing is competitive but can be more expensive than GCP or AWS for some services. It offers financial flexibility through a pay-as-you-go model. IBM Public Cloud stands out for its affordability, with lower initial costs and transparent pricing, appealing to medium-sized businesses.
IBM Cloud is a full-stack cloud platform that spans public, private and hybrid environments. Build with a robust suite of advanced data and AI tools, and draw on deep industry expertise to help you on your journey to the cloud.
Windows Azure is Microsoft's cloud platform, where developers can create, deploy, and maintain their apps. This cloud application platform allows developers to concentrate on the actual applications, while it takes care of all the elements behind the apps.
Windows Azure works across multiple frameworks and languages. It is fully scalable, localized in that it is hosted globally in many datacenters, and has widespread capabilities with elements of application development, deployment, and management.
Azure is comprised of several different service modules, including Infrastructure; Web; Mobile; Dev & Test; Big Data; Media;Storage, Backup & Recovery; and Identity & Access Management.
Microsoft Azure works as a:
Platform as a service (PaaS)
Software as a service (SaaS)
Infrastructure as a service (IaaS)
Microsoft Azure is available:
On-premises
Hybrid
Multi-cloud
At the edge
Compared to its competitors, Microsoft Azure:
Has more affordable features
Has easier migration for organizations already using other Microsoft tools
Has several educational resources available
Provides robust support
Is ideal for small and large businesses
Microsoft Azure Features:
Scalability
Stability
Flexibility
Azure Site Recovery
Active Directory
Monitoring features
Cloud-based
Automated tasks
Change capability cadence
Showback capabilities
Information protection
Azure Data Lake
Excellent portal
Intuitive user interface
Remote desktop
Fast provisioning
Data security
Data resiliency
Speed of service
Integrated delivery pipeline
Disaster recovery
Robust templates
Flexible coding languages
Virtual systems testing
Benefits of Microsoft Azure:
Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS): Because Microsoft Azure is an IaaS, organizations can deploy as well as manage applications easily and quickly. Azure also provides you with the ability to customize the cloud software to meet your specific business needs.
Seamless integration: Microsoft Azure is built to seamlessly integrate with existing IT departments via hybrid databases, secure private connections, and storage solutions.
Cost-effective: Because Azure can harmoniously exist in your business environment with your data center, it is a very cost-effective solution.
Analytics support: Azure is designed with built-in support that is used to analyze data and provide key insights. Azure offers Cortana Analytics, Stream Analytics, Machine Learning, and SQL services.
Unique storage system: Compared to other cloud services, Microsoft Azure has more data centers and delivery points, which helps create an optimal user experience and also helps deliver content faster. In addition, Microsoft Azure makes it possible for organizations to exchange content across several virtual machines.
Enhanced flexibility: Azure provides extreme flexibility by allowing you to choose any level of functionality you require. It also supports many of the same technologies IT teams and developers usually depend on, making it easier for them to manage.
Easy implementation: Microsoft Azure is easy and quick to deploy. If necessary, you can change web apps to Azure with almost zero downtime.
Reviews from Real Users:
"It is a flexible solution that is straightforward to use," says the principal consultant at a computer software company.
OmarJ., future datacenter consultant: Microsoft Azure Cloud at a tech company, adds that "The user interface is very nice and makes everything easy to use."
“You can build an environment in minutes. It's very good in terms of being an infrastructure as a service, and I found that really fascinating,” says an information technology consultant at a computer software company.
"I think Azure's level of automation to achieve efficiency or agility is valuable. I also like the change capability cadence, the showback capabilities, and understanding what our costs are," says an enterprise architect at an energy/utilities company.
Marco C., Ing. at Wolters Kluwer, says "The valuable features of Microsoft Azure are that it is cloud-based and has good storage. The storage is completely managed by Azure. We do not need to do any patching of security because it is handled by Azure which is a benefit. The solution is fully compatible with the Microsoft technology stack and is very scalable."
"The most valuable feature of Microsoft Azure is it has everything together in one place. It is one large tool with lots of small tools that are updated often," says the owner of a media company.
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