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Anand-Shah - PeerSpot reviewer
Software Architect at Iskraemeco
Real User
Feb 28, 2024
Provides efficient features for cloud computing needs, but the technical support services need improvement
Pros and Cons
  • "Data analytics is one of the efficient features as well."
  • "While integrating services from different vendors, the perceived costs are high, with occasional confusion about specific charges, especially in data transfer scenarios between regions."

What is our primary use case?

We use the product to stream data from devices to the system, transform data, and configure web apps using SaaS services.

What needs improvement?

One significant area for improvement in Microsoft Azure is the cost associated with its services. While integrating services from different vendors, the perceived costs are high, with occasional confusion about specific charges, especially in data transfer scenarios between regions. This cost factor poses a barrier for small companies, and they could simplify the process and reevaluate pricing structures.

For how long have I used the solution?

We have been using Microsoft Azure for seven years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The platform is stable. I rate the stability an eight out of ten.

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March 2026
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What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I have worked with around 5000 Microsoft Azure users in our previous company. It is highly scalable.

In the IaaS approach, setting up virtual machines (VMs) allows for scalability adjustments based on memory and CPU consumption. Similarly, for applications developed with Azure RPA (Robotic Process Automation) or Azure Logic Apps, scalability can be efficiently managed by configuring the app service plan.

I rate the scalability a nine out of ten.

How are customer service and support?

The experience with Microsoft's customer support has been middling, neither exceptionally good nor bad. The support team takes time to respond. It is a lengthy process and could be improved.

How was the initial setup?

The complexity of implementation depends on the different setups. We can utilize the portal, CLI, or alternative providers like Terraform. The deployment process in Azure varies based on the specific build requirements and the nature of the application being deployed, whether it's through GitHub or directly in Azure. The time taken for deployment in Azure varies greatly depending on factors such as the complexity of the application, the number of integrated applications, the volume of code, and the artifacts involved.

What was our ROI?

The product generates a return on investment in terms of time savings on setup, installation, and scalability. It also depends on the specific consumption patterns and the extent to which Azure services are utilized for our compute and networking needs.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The product is expensive, particularly with services such as Microsoft SQL Server incurring significant costs. It could be more competitive in terms of pricing.

What other advice do I have?

Azure supports the development and hosting of various applications, including those built with ASP.NET. We have developed an application using ASP.NET versions 4, 6, and 7, and then deployed it to Azure for hosting. Data analytics is one of the efficient features as well.

The features I find most useful for cloud computing needs, particularly for fax services, include Azure RPA (Robotic Process Automation), Azure Logic App, and Azure Service Bus.

We can easily integrate the product with MS SQL Server and Azure SQL Database as a service. Further, we can utilize event apps within the IT infrastructure.

I have experienced significant benefits from Azure's security and compliance tools, particularly in the area of identity management. Working with Microsoft Identity, including Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), has proven valuable for operations involving customer-to-customer (CTC), business-to-customer (BTC), and business-to-business (B2B) scenarios. The customization capabilities help us with the registration of applications under Azure Active Directory, enabling robust authentication and authorization mechanisms.

I recommend the product for small companies or startups. It is also a good option for established companies planning to reach beyond certain limitations in terms of business.

I rate it a seven out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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Mohit Vohra - PeerSpot reviewer
CTO at Arevpay
Real User
Top 20
Feb 14, 2024
Useful for storing data on the server but billing model needs to be transparent
Pros and Cons
  • "We validate customer videos and speech in real-time by utilizing language translation services and image processing. This involves converting speech to text and vice versa in real-time. Customers record videos where they speak predefined text. We capture the image and speech, convert it to text, and compare it with the standardized text."
  • "Improving transparency in billing is crucial for us. Understanding how billing works only becomes clear once we start using the services. A more accurate billing calculator would help us anticipate costs associated with using specific services."

What is our primary use case?

We primarily use Microsoft Azure for data storage on the server. Additionally, we leverage Power Automate for process automation tasks. Some of our processes benefit from AI and ML capabilities, such as image processing and recognition. Specifically, we utilize the product for its Translation APIs, including language translation functionality.

What is most valuable?

We validate customer videos and speech in real-time by utilizing language translation services and image processing. This involves converting speech to text and vice versa in real-time. Customers record videos where they speak predefined text. We capture the image and speech, convert it to text, and compare it with the standardized text. Automating this process makes validation much easier compared to manual methods. On the Azure side, we primarily utilize its data storage and processing capabilities. Additionally, we leverage its AI/ML features, along with its automation capabilities.

What needs improvement?

Improving transparency in billing is crucial for us. Understanding how billing works only becomes clear once we start using the services. A more accurate billing calculator would help us anticipate costs associated with using specific services.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the product for two years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I rate the tool's stability a nine out of ten. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Scalability is a key factor, so we opt for Microsoft Azure. Being a Microsoft product, we trust its scalability. Thus far, we haven't encountered any issues related to transaction processing or other scalability concerns. I rate it a seven out of ten since we are not running enterprise workloads. My company has 50 users. The usage of these use cases will increase as our business grows because they are directly related to serving the end consumer. Therefore, we anticipate a significant rise in usage over time.

How are customer service and support?

Improvement is needed in the support process, especially for smaller and medium-sized customers who may not have existing support plans with Microsoft. Accessing support for these customers can be cumbersome, requiring additional payments before assistance is available. It is not clear when you buy the product. You will learn about additional support payments when you start using it. 

The tools' support is in multiple places, which can be complex for customers. It needs to be in one place. 

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

How was the initial setup?

I rate the tool's deployment an eight out of ten. It can be deployed in two to three hours. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Microsoft Azure's pricing is reasonable. We pay around 5000 dollars per annum. 

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

We evaluated Google Cloud, IBM Cloud, and AWS. 

What other advice do I have?

We don't face many challenges with compliance and security. We rely on Azure Stack and adhere to the security standards they implement. Compared to AWS, we find it much simpler and easier to achieve interoperability and integration when using Microsoft Azure. You must ensure you have the right competency before using the product. It can become complicated if you don't have the right person to manage it. I rate it an eight out of ten. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

Public Cloud
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
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Microsoft Azure
March 2026
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Peter Baumann - PeerSpot reviewer
Principal Consultant Data & Analytics Strategy at INFOMOTION GmbH
Consultant
Feb 2, 2024
More intuitive and easier to handle compared to other cloud platforms
Pros and Cons
  • "I would rate my experience with the initial setup an eight out of ten, with ten being easy."
  • "With a Synapse environment, we might need to switch to Databricks for better scalability."

What is most valuable?

Compared to other cloud platforms, I find the Azure portal very user-friendly. It's more intuitive and clearer than some, but it depends on your specific needs because Azure offers many services. 

For instance, working with Synapse, a complex technology with diverse processing engines, requires deep knowledge. In our experience with clients, using Databricks, a third-party service, on top of Azure can be helpful.

What needs improvement?

There's an ongoing development, particularly concerning the Data Fabric offering launched a few months ago.

Data Fabric is an additional offering which is Software as a service "as a service" application, unlike the core Azure platform initially focused on "platform as a service." It sits on top of Azure. 

We thought Azure could be more flexible and cost-effective, but our experience suggests this separation might simplify things for some customers. It's worth exploring as a potential improvement for specific needs.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using it for several years. We have used it, or we have architectures. We consult about Azure. 

We do a lot here in this area because it's also a big topic for us. But it's a more general consulting topic for me. I have some experience with it, but I do not implement it. Internally, we use some Azure services. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have all kinds of typically, ranging more towards larger size customers, midsized customers, and a lot in the financial area. 

For example, with a Synapse environment, we might need to switch to Databricks for better scalability. But overall, the platform itself scales very well. Based on my experience, I'd give it an eight out of ten.

How are customer service and support?

Azure is the best in Germany compared to AWS or Google. It has the best German footprint, so the support is better locally.

But globally, it's good, not always the best. Some users have very good experiences with Google's support as well.  

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

From the consulting perspective, we consult on every technology on the market. For example, Snowflake is a big topic on our side.  

I have a lot of history in SAP. With current or former SAP solutions.  

In our company, we are more Microsoft-based and Microsoft CRM.

How was the initial setup?

The technical part of setting up such a platform is typically the smaller part. And for an experienced consultant, it's okay. It's nothing special. It's more about the processes and organization, which is important to consider here.

So, I would rate my experience with the initial setup an eight out of ten, with ten being easy. 

Typically, in Germany, we see that setting up is very complex; enterprises work well with Azure setups if users are already experienced at different points with Azure. But it's a little bit more easy compared to Google or Amazon. But it depends a little bit on the service and the environment you need.

From a technical perspective, it can set up something in a day or in some hours. That's not a problem. 

The thing is more the organizational level here, what is allowed, who can do it, where the costs are going, and so on. The process is typically much more about the deployment or, depending on whether you have already built a platform and just have to automate the deployment process. 

For example, it works very well, typically, but the initial setup of a platform is more for organizational things, but this is not what I do. 

What other advice do I have?

Overall, I would rate the solution an eight out of ten. 

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
PeerSpot user
Ahmed_Eid - PeerSpot reviewer
Director at Java Riyadh
Real User
Jan 19, 2024
A cloud solution that helps with task management
Pros and Cons
  • "The product is a cloud solution."
  • "Microsoft Azure needs to improve its user interface. New developers and teams have difficulty understanding its lifecycle."

What is our primary use case?

We use Microsoft Azure for task management. 

What is most valuable?

The product is a cloud solution. 

What needs improvement?

Microsoft Azure needs to improve its user interface. New developers and teams have difficulty understanding its lifecycle. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with the product for 12 years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I rate the tool's stability an eight out of ten. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Microsoft Azure is very scalable, and I rate it a ten out of ten. My company has 15 users. 

How are customer service and support?

Microsoft's tech support is awful. 

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

I used Jira before Microsoft Azure. 

How was the initial setup?

I rate the product's deployment an eight out of ten. It can be completed in a few hours. 

What about the implementation team?

Our DevOps engineers manage the installation. 

What other advice do I have?

It's a positive experience for every development team to use Microsoft Azure, especially when working with Microsoft products. However, if working with open-source solutions like PHP or Google programming languages, opting for other cloud solutions such as Google Cloud or AWS is recommended. These platforms are considered more suitable for open-source solutions compared to Microsoft Azure. I rate the product an eight out of ten. 

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
AtulChaurasia - PeerSpot reviewer
Operational Technical Security at Metro Bank
Real User
Sep 10, 2023
A scalable and easy-to-deploy solution that gives a good return on investment
Pros and Cons
  • "The tool’s stability is good."
  • "The product is not user-friendly."

What is our primary use case?

We primarily use email accounts and SharePoint. We want to use AI and OCR services, but we don’t have many use cases.

What is most valuable?

It is a good solution. I can get all the tools under one roof.

What needs improvement?

There's a complexity involved in getting the subscriptions provisioned. There are too many complications. Without IT knowledge, we cannot subscribe and work. The product is not user-friendly. All the services must be available in one place so that I can get the services that I need at the right time.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using the solution for one year.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The tool’s stability is good.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The product is scalable. Around 30 people use the solution in our organization. We are trying to get projects from Europe and North America. Once it is done, we'll be scaling up.

How was the initial setup?

The setup is straightforward and easy. Since I know about infrastructure and IT, it took me around one week to set it up. Non-IT people might struggle with the setup.

What was our ROI?

The return on investment is good. Since everything is in the cloud, we save a lot on infrastructure and server costs. It is very helpful to the client, and it is very useful for us.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

I pay for a yearly subscription. Compared to other service providers, the product’s pricing is normal.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I evaluated other options, but I chose Microsoft because it is a little bit easier. We can get it right away.

What other advice do I have?

We are into data management. We deal with data consumption and data validation. So, we must use many virtual and storage solutions to process the data. We use the clients’ solution. I am into IT. I have a bit of knowledge of the infrastructure. If we need to scale up, we might need some training. I would recommend the solution to others. Overall, I rate the product a nine out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Zoran Kos - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Software Engineer at Windhoff Group
Real User
Top 5
Jul 30, 2024
A robust cloud computing solution for pipeline with automations
Pros and Cons
  • "Stability is straightforward"
  • "Pricing is high if you plan to use it on a larger scale."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution for pipelines.

How has it helped my organization?

Because of automation, everything from the beginning of the development project is stored on one side and brought from the development side to the production side.

Due to automation, the development process is streamlined from the beginning. 

What is most valuable?

The process involves understanding what is provided from the repository side, managing the code, and handling changes and responsibilities. This includes staging in the pipeline. 

What needs improvement?

Sometimes, I have issues configuring settings, setting up policies, and communicating with others on Microsoft Azure.

Pricing is high, especially if you plan to use it on a larger scale, with more teams, or want to include additional features. The costs can increase significantly as you add more features and expand usage.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Microsoft Azure for two years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Stability is straightforward when combining some Linux features or Linux kernels. Additionally, integrating with other operating systems can sometimes be challenging.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It takes time to get familiar, but after, everything is fast.

How are customer service and support?

When I experienced a crash, I received a response within a few days. The level of support depends on your user status. If you are a minimal or ultimate user, and if you pay more, you receive more support. Everything goes much faster.

How was the initial setup?

Everything is okay if you are familiar with Teams and how it works. However, combining Teams with other tools and APIs can make things much faster. Additionally, the plugins provided by the official Microsoft site can enhance its functionality.

The deployment is manageable in one day and takes only one person.

What was our ROI?

It automates and saves time. Microsoft Azure breaks entire products into modules, making it easier to implement changes. These changes can be deployed much faster compared to traditional methods.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

It is payable for what you need and how much you use.

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

I preferred Azure because it's more robust, it's easy to get around.

What other advice do I have?

Code breaks from time to time, so maintenance is required periodically, especially for extensive codebases. Regular testing and checks are necessary to ensure reliability and performance.

I use other tools that integrate Copilot, which will soon be integrated into Microsoft Azure. I rely on other sources when I need to find information. There's also the security issue, as there's always a risk concerning where company data will ultimately be stored.

Overall, I rate the solution an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
reviewer2402727 - PeerSpot reviewer
QA Manager at a transportation company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Top 10
Jul 11, 2024
Manages the sequence of tasks and sprints
Pros and Cons
  • "We use Azure DevOps' full hierarchy to manage our data workloads. From product management to development and QA stages, Azure DevOps provides tools. Additionally, we're implementing automation testing and integrating it with our CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps. This platform helps us manage all our processes."
  • "Microsoft Azure needs to improve its customization capabilities. Each organization has unique tasks and fields that it wants to use. Additionally, the search functionality could be more flexible."

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution as part of the scrum agile methodology. 

What is most valuable?

We use Azure DevOps' full hierarchy to manage our data workloads. From product management to development and QA stages, Azure DevOps provides tools. Additionally, we're implementing automation testing and integrating it with our CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps. This platform helps us manage all our processes. 

The main advantage of using it is that it supports a smooth workflow from development to QA, following the Scrum Agile methodology. It manages the sequence of tasks and sprints. The tool's integration capabilities are good. 

What needs improvement?

Microsoft Azure needs to improve its customization capabilities. Each organization has unique tasks and fields that it wants to use. Additionally, the search functionality could be more flexible. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with the product for five years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I rate the product's stability an eight out of ten. 

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I rate the solution's scalability a seven out of ten. 

How are customer service and support?

I haven't contacted technical support yet. 

How was the initial setup?

I rate Microsoft Azure's deployment ease as five out of ten. It takes around a month and a half to complete, while our sprints take two weeks. Moreover, we conduct three rounds of testing and development. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The product is expensive. 

What other advice do I have?

I rate the overall solution an eight out of ten. 

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Data engineer at Inicon S.r.l.
Real User
Mar 25, 2024
A comprehensive environment for implementing a data platform
Pros and Cons
  • "The solution provides multiple well integrated services which happen to work together seamlessly and provide flexibility and scalability for use cases all around the industry."
  • "The cost calculation for the services can be an unclear aspect which makes it difficult to estimate the expenses incurred accurately."

What is our primary use case?

We utilize various Azure services such as Azure SQL, Azure Cosmos DB, Azure Data Factory, Azure Storage, and Azure Key Vault to build our data platform.

What is most valuable?

One of the features that I really like about Azure is its comprehensive environment for implementing a data platform. The solution provides multiple well integrated services which happen to work together seamlessly and provides flexibility and scale ability for use cases all around the industry.

I also like the Key Vault and Azure Active Directory which I use as essential services to manage user authentication and authorisation for various data sets within the platform.

What needs improvement?

There are some minor aspects which require improvement but they are very technical for an explanation. For example, the cost calculation for the services can be an unclear aspect which makes it difficult to estimate the expenses incurred accurately. Therefore, it will be beneficial to have it more transparent and apply your user-friendly cost estimation process to help users plan their budgets in a more efficient manner.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Microsoft Azure for the past 5 to 6 years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I would rate it 9 out of 10 since it is stable but can get better.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I would rate the scalability 8 out of 10. The number of users on a platform is high but we do not have active engagement from all the users all the time. We have over 100 users but not all of them interact with the platform regularly. Keeping it aside, our main focus still remains on building data platforms which cater to different needs.

How are customer service and support?

I have mixed feelings about Microsoft's technical support. While they do try to assist most of the time, I believe there's room for improvement. 

How would you rate customer service and support?

Neutral

How was the initial setup?

As a data engineer, I mainly use these services rather than being involved in their implementation.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend Azure since it offers a variety of features and services which work together. This is quite rare in other platforms because they are not scalable. These features have helped us to promote our growth without any major challenges. The wide range of services make it a valuable option for implementing a data platform. However it is really difficult to quantify its value numerically. Different companies can Paradise different factors such as scalability, cost, or support which makes it different for each company.

It is important to keep in mind that there are also challenges such as the complex nature of estimating costs and no realistic expectations of savings due to the presence of hidden costs. Azure is an efficient solution but it requires improvement in terms of stability, support and pricing.

Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Implementer
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Azure Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: March 2026
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Azure Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.