Microsoft Azure#Storage services

Microsoft Azure uses large-scale virtualization at Microsoft data centers worldwide and offers more than 600 services.{{Cite web|url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/products/|title=Directory of Azure Cloud Services | Microsoft Azure|website=azure.microsoft.com|accessdate=May 9, 2023|archive-date=May 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230511035409/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/products/|url-status=live}} Microsoft Azure offers a service level agreement (SLA) that guarantees 99.9% availability for applications and data hosted on its platform, subject to specific terms and conditions outlined in the SLA documentation.{{Cite web |title=Azure Service Level Agreements |url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/support/legal/sla/ |website=Microsoft Azure SLA}}

• Virtual machines, infrastructure as a service (IaaS), allowing users to launch general-purpose Microsoft Windows and Linux virtual machines, software as a service (SaaS), as well as preconfigured machine images for popular software packages.{{cite web |title=How to monitor Microsoft Azure VMs |date=August 13, 2015 |url=https://www.datadoghq.com/blog/how-to-monitor-microsoft-azure-vms/ |publisher=Datadog |access-date=March 19, 2019 |archive-date=February 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190222041838/https://www.datadoghq.com/blog/how-to-monitor-microsoft-azure-vms/ |url-status=live }}
• Starting in 2022, these virtual machines are now powered by Ampere Cloud-native processors.{{Cite web |last=Chiappetta |first=Marco |title=Ampere Continues Blazing A Trail For Efficient, High-Performance Cloud Native Processors |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/marcochiappetta/2022/09/07/ampere-continues-blazing-a-trail-for-efficient-high-performance-cloud-native-processors/ |access-date=2023-01-26 |website=Forbes |language=en |archive-date=January 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230126164019/https://www.forbes.com/sites/marcochiappetta/2022/09/07/ampere-continues-blazing-a-trail-for-efficient-high-performance-cloud-native-processors/ |url-status=live }}
• Most users run Linux on Azure, some of the many Linux distributions offered, including Microsoft's own Linux-based Azure Sphere.{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-developer-reveals-linux-is-now-more-used-on-azure-than-windows-server/|title=Microsoft developer reveals Linux is now more used on Azure than Windows Server|last=Vaughan-Nichols|first=Steven J.|website=ZDNet|language=en|access-date=2019-07-02|archive-date=July 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702063243/https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-developer-reveals-linux-is-now-more-used-on-azure-than-windows-server/|url-status=live}}
• App services, platform as a service (PaaS) environment, letting developers easily publish and manage websites.
• Azure Web Sites allows developers to build sites using ASP.NET, PHP, Node.js, Java, or Python, which can be deployed using FTP, Git, Mercurial, Azure DevOps, or uploaded through the user portal. This feature was announced in preview form in June 2012 at the Meet Microsoft Azure event.{{cite web | url=http://weblogs.asp.net/scottgu/archive/2012/06/07/meet-the-new-windows-azure.aspx | title=Meet Windows Azure event June 2012 | publisher=Weblogs.asp.net | date=June 7, 2012 | access-date=June 27, 2013 | archive-date=July 31, 2013 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731181137/http://weblogs.asp.net/scottgu/archive/2012/06/07/meet-the-new-windows-azure.aspx | url-status=live }} Customers can create websites in PHP, ASP.NET, Node.js, or Python, or select from several open-source applications from a gallery to deploy. This comprises one aspect of the platform as a service (PaaS) offerings for the Microsoft Azure Platform. It was renamed Web Apps in April 2015.{{cite web | url=http://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/app-service/web/ | title=Web App Service – Microsoft Azure | publisher=Microsoft | access-date=May 2, 2015 | archive-date=May 6, 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150506112101/http://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/app-service/web/ | url-status=live }}
• Web Jobs are applications that can be deployed to an App Service environment to implement background processing that can be invoked on a schedule, on-demand, or run continuously. The Blob, Table, and Queue services can be used to communicate between Web Apps and Web Jobs and to provide state.
• Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) provides the capability to deploy production-ready Kubernetes clusters in Azure.{{cite web | url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/ | title=Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS) | publisher=Microsoft | access-date=June 18, 2022 | archive-date=July 2, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702143350/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/aks/ | url-status=live }}
• In July 2023, watermarking support on Azure Virtual Desktop was announced as an optional feature of Screen Capture to provide additional security against data leakage.{{Cite web |last= |title=Azure Virtual Desktop Watermarking Support |url=https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/azure-virtual-desktop-blog/azure-virtual-desktop-watermarking-support/ba-p/3878912 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802095152/https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/azure-virtual-desktop-blog/azure-virtual-desktop-watermarking-support/ba-p/3878912 |archive-date=August 2, 2023 |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=Microsoft Tech Community |language=en}}

• Entra ID connect is used to synchronize on-premises directories and enable SSO (Single Sign On).{{Cite web|url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/products/category/identity|title=Azure Identity and Access Management Solutions | Microsoft Azure|website=azure.microsoft.com|accessdate=May 9, 2023|archive-date=May 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509063755/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/products/category/identity|url-status=live}}
• Entra ID B2C allows the use of consumer identity and access management in the cloud.
• Entra Domain Services is used to join Azure virtual machines to a domain without domain controllers.
• Azure information protection can be used to protect sensitive information.
• Entra ID External Identities is a set of capabilities that allow organizations to collaborate with external users, including customers and partners.{{cite web | url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/external-identities/ | title=External Identities documentation | publisher=docs.microsoft.com | access-date=June 18, 2022 | archive-date=June 18, 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220618134019/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/active-directory/external-identities/ | url-status=live }}
• On July 11, 2023, Microsoft announced the renaming of Azure AD to Microsoft Entra ID.{{Cite web |last=Chik |first=Joy |date=2023-07-11 |title=Microsoft Entra expands into Security Service Edge and Azure AD becomes Microsoft Entra ID |url=https://www.microsoft.com/security/blog/2023/07/11/microsoft-entra-expands-into-security-service-edge-and-azure-ad-becomes-microsoft-entra-id/ |access-date=2023-07-12 |website=Microsoft Security Blog}} The name change took place four days later.

• Mobile Engagement collects real-time analytics that highlight users’ behavior. It also provides push notifications to mobile devices.{{cite web | url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/mobile-engagement/ | title=Mobile Engagement – Microsoft Azure | publisher=azure.microsoft.com | access-date=July 27, 2016 | archive-date=July 7, 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707040648/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/mobile-engagement/ | url-status=live }}
• HockeyApp can be used to develop, distribute, and beta-test mobile apps.{{cite web | url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/hockeyapp/ | title=HockeyApp – Microsoft Azure | publisher=azure.microsoft.com | access-date=July 27, 2016 | archive-date=January 26, 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126012256/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/hockeyapp/ | url-status=live }}

• Storage Services provides REST and SDK APIs for storing and accessing data on the cloud.
• Table Service lets programs store structured text in partitioned collections of entities that are accessed by the partition key and primary key. Azure Table Service is a NoSQL non-relational database.
• Blob Service allows programs to store unstructured text and binary data as object storage blobs that can be accessed by an HTTP(S) path. Blob service also provides security mechanisms to control access to data.
• Queue Service lets programs communicate asynchronously by message using queues.
• File Service allows storing and access of data on the cloud using the REST APIs or the SMB protocol.{{cite web|url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/storage/files/|title=File Storage|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=January 7, 2017|archive-date=May 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531131434/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/storage/files/|url-status=live}}

• Azure Communication Services offers an SDK for creating web and mobile communications applications that include SMS, video calling, VOIP and PSTN calling, and web-based chat.

• Azure Data Explorer provides big data analytics and data-exploration capabilities.
• Azure Search provides text search and a subset of OData's structured filters using REST or SDK APIs.
• Cosmos DB is a NoSQL database service that implements a subset of the SQL SELECT statement on JSON documents.
• Azure Cache for Redis is a managed implementation of Redis.
• StorSimple manages storage tasks between on-premises devices and cloud storage.{{cite news |url=http://www.computerworld.com/article/2600208/cloud-storage-microsofts-storsimple-a-first-look-at-the-8000-series.html |first=Jonathan |last=Hassell |title=Microsoft's StorSimple: A first look at the 8000 series |publisher=Computerworld |date=September 3, 2014 |access-date=July 23, 2016 |archive-date=July 25, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160725103005/http://www.computerworld.com/article/2600208/cloud-storage-microsofts-storsimple-a-first-look-at-the-8000-series.html |url-status=live }}
• Azure SQL Database works to create, scale, and extend applications into the cloud using Microsoft SQL Server technology. It also integrates with Active Directory, Microsoft System Center, and Hadoop.{{cite web |url=http://www.connx.com/products/azure.html |title=Azure and CONNX |publisher=CONNX |access-date=October 30, 2014 |archive-date=May 2, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150502212404/http://www.connx.com/products/azure.html |url-status=live }}
• Azure Synapse Analytics is a fully managed cloud data warehouse.{{Cite web|url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/products/synapse-analytics|title=Azure Synapse Analytics | Microsoft Azure|website=azure.microsoft.com|accessdate=May 9, 2023|archive-date=May 9, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509070802/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/products/synapse-analytics|url-status=live}}{{cite web |url = https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/sql-data-warehouse/ |title = SQL Data Warehouse {{!}} Microsoft Azure |website = azure.microsoft.com |language = en |access-date = 2019-05-23 |archive-date = May 30, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190530162527/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/sql-data-warehouse/ |url-status = live }}
• Azure Data Factory is a data integration service that allows creation of data-driven workflows in the cloud for orchestrating and automating data movement and data transformation.{{cite web |url = https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-factory/introduction/ |title = Introduction to Azure Data Factory |website = microsoft.com |access-date = 2018-08-16 |archive-date = October 16, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191016030736/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/data-factory/introduction |url-status = live }}
• Azure Data Lake is a scalable data storage and analytic service for big data analytics workloads that require developers to run massively parallel queries.
• Azure HDInsight{{cite web |url = http://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/hdinsight/ |title = HDInsight | Cloud Hadoop |website = Azure.microsoft.com |access-date = 2014-07-22 |archive-date = July 26, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140726145235/http://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/hdinsight/ |url-status = live }} is a big data-relevant service that deploys Hortonworks Hadoop on Microsoft Azure and supports the creation of Hadoop clusters using Linux with Ubuntu.
• Azure Stream Analytics is a Serverless scalable event-processing engine that enables users to develop and run real-time analytics on multiple streams of data from sources such as devices, sensors, websites, social media, and other applications.

The Microsoft Azure Service Bus allows applications running on Azure premises or off-premises devices to communicate with Azure. This helps to build scalable and reliable applications in a service-oriented architecture (SOA). The Azure service bus supports four different types of communication mechanisms:{{cite web |title=Sanitization |url=https://docs.particular.net/transports/azure-service-bus/sanitization |website=docs.particular.net |access-date=21 November 2018 |archive-date=November 22, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181122005424/https://docs.particular.net/transports/azure-service-bus/sanitization |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/service-bus-messaging/service-bus-fundamentals-hybrid-solutions |title=Overview of Azure Service Bus fundamentals |last=sethmanheim |website=docs.microsoft.com |language=en-US |access-date=2017-12-12 |archive-date=December 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171212193601/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/service-bus-messaging/service-bus-fundamentals-hybrid-solutions |url-status=live }}

• Event Hubs, which provides event and telemetry ingress to the cloud at a massive scale, with low latency and high reliability. For example, an event hub can be used to track data from cell phones such as coordinating with a GPS in real time.{{cite web |title = Event Hubs |url = https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/event-hubs/ |website = azure.microsoft.com |access-date = 21 November 2018 |archive-date = November 21, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181121204243/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/event-hubs/ |url-status = live }}
• Queues, which allows one-directional communication. A sender application would send the message to the service bus queue and a receiver would read from the queue. Though there can be multiple readers for the queue, only one would process a single message.
• Topics, which provides one-directional communication using a subscriber pattern. It is similar to a queue; however, each subscriber will receive a copy of the message sent to a Topic. Optionally, the subscriber can filter out messages based on specific criteria defined by the subscriber.
• Relays, which provides bi-directional communication. Unlike queues and topics, a relay does not store in-flight messages in its memory; instead, it just passes them on to the destination application.

A PaaS offering that can be used for encoding, content protection, streaming, or analytics.{{Cite web |title=Top 37 Cloud Platform as a Service (PaaS) Tools |url=https://startupstash.com/cloud-platform-as-a-service-tools/ |access-date=2023-08-01 |website=Startup Stash |language=en-US |archive-date=August 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230801111543/https://startupstash.com/cloud-platform-as-a-service-tools/ |url-status=live }}

Azure has a worldwide content delivery network (CDN) designed to efficiently deliver audio, video, applications, images, and other static files. It improves the performance of websites by caching static files closer to users, based on their geographic location. Users can manage the network using a REST-based HTTP API.{{Cite web|last=BryanLa|title=Azure REST API Reference|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/gettingstarted/|access-date=2021-09-15|website=docs.microsoft.com|language=en-us|archive-date=September 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210915203527/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/rest/api/gettingstarted/|url-status=live}}

Azure has 118 point-of-presence locations across 100 cities worldwide (also known as Edge locations) as of January 2023.{{Cite web |url = https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cdn/cdn-pop-locations |title = Azure CDN Coverage by Metro {{!}} Microsoft Azure |website = azure.microsoft.com |access-date = January 20, 2023 |archive-date = September 4, 2022 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220904232023/https://docs.microsoft.com/EN-US/azure/cdn/cdn-pop-locations |url-status = live }}

• Application Insights{{Cite web |last=AaronMaxwell |date=2023-03-01 |title=Monitor Azure App Service performance – Azure Monitor |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-monitor/app/azure-web-apps |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=learn.microsoft.com |language=en-us |archive-date=August 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802101905/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/azure-monitor/app/azure-web-apps |url-status=live }}
• Azure DevOps{{Cite web |last=chcomley |date=2022-10-10 |title=What is Azure DevOps? – Azure DevOps |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/user-guide/what-is-azure-devops?view=azure-devops |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=learn.microsoft.com |language=en-us |archive-date=August 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802101905/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/devops/user-guide/what-is-azure-devops?view=azure-devops |url-status=live }}

• With Azure Automation, users can easily automate repetitive and time-consuming tasks, often prone to cloud or enterprise setting errors. They can accomplish it using runbooks or desired state configurations for process automation.{{cite web |url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-in/documentation/articles/automation-intro/ |title=Azure Automation Overview |author=eamonoreilly |website=azure.microsoft.com |access-date=September 6, 2018 |archive-date=March 4, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304193312/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-in/documentation/articles/automation-intro/ |url-status=live }}
• Microsoft SMA

• Microsoft Azure Machine Learning (Azure ML) provides tools and frameworks for developers to create their own machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI) services.
• Azure AI Services by Microsoft comprises prebuilt APIs, SDKs, and services developers can customize. These services encompass perceptual and cognitive intelligence features such as speech recognition, speaker recognition, neural speech synthesis, face recognition, computer vision, OCR/form understanding, natural language processing, machine translation, and business decision services. Many AI characteristics in Microsoft's products and services, namely Bing, Office, Teams, Xbox, and Windows, are driven by Azure AI Services.{{Cite web|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cognitive-services/face/overview#find-similar-faces|title=What is the Azure Face API?|date=2019-07-02|website=Microsoft|access-date=2019-11-29|archive-date=September 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190926180338/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cognitive-services/face/overview#find-similar-faces|url-status=live}}
  {{Cite web|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cognitive-services/computer-vision/concept-detecting-domain-content|title=Detect domain-specific content|date=2019-02-07|website=Microsoft|access-date=2019-11-29|archive-date=May 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200514042924/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cognitive-services/computer-vision/concept-detecting-domain-content|url-status=live}}
  {{Cite web|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cognitive-services/computer-vision/concept-tagging-images|title=Applying content tags to images|date=2019-02-07|website=Microsoft|access-date=2019-11-29|archive-date=March 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329195807/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cognitive-services/computer-vision/concept-tagging-images|url-status=live}}
  {{Cite web|url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cognitive-services/computer-vision/concept-detecting-image-types|title=Detecting image types with Computer Vision|date=2019-03-10|website=Microsoft|access-date=2019-11-29|archive-date=May 14, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200514062438/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/cognitive-services/computer-vision/concept-detecting-image-types|url-status=live}}{{Cite news|url=https://techcrunch.com/2019/05/02/microsoft-extends-its-cognitive-services-with-personalization-and-handwriting-recognition-apis/|title=Microsoft extends its Cognitive Services with personalization service, handwriting recognition APIs and more|last=Lardinois|first=Frederic|date=2019-05-02|work=TechCrunch|access-date=2019-11-29|quote=the Computer Vision API can now understand more than 10,000 concepts, scenes and objects, together with 1 million celebrities|archive-date=November 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191113180445/https://techcrunch.com/2019/05/02/microsoft-extends-its-cognitive-services-with-personalization-and-handwriting-recognition-apis/|url-status=live}}
• Azure AI Studio can be used for building and deploying generative AI applications, notably using OpenAI's foundation model GPT-4o.{{Cite web |last=Yeung |first=Ken |date=2024-05-21 |title=Microsoft's AI Azure Studio is now generally available and supports OpenAI's GPT-4o |url=https://venturebeat.com/ai/microsofts-ai-azure-studio-is-now-generally-available-and-supports-openais-gpt-4o/ |access-date=2024-06-24 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US}}

{{See also|Confidential Consortium Framework}}

Through Azure{{cite web |url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-in/features/blockchain-workbench/ |title=Azure |access-date=2019-06-13 |publisher=Azure |archive-date=May 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503163327/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-in/features/blockchain-workbench/ |url-status=live }} Blockchain Workbench, Microsoft is providing the required infrastructure to set up a consortium network in multiple topologies using a variety of consensus mechanisms. Microsoft provides integration from these blockchain platforms to other Microsoft services to streamline the development of distributed applications. Microsoft supports many general-purpose blockchains, including Ethereum and Hyperledger Fabric and purpose-built blockchains like Corda.

Azure functions are used in serverless computing architectures, where subscribers can execute code as an event-driven Function-as-a-Service (FaaS) without managing the underlying server resources.{{cite news|url=https://searchcloudcomputing.techtarget.com/definition/Microsoft-Azure-Functions|title=What is Microsoft Azure Functions? - Definition from WhatIs.com|work=SearchCloudComputing|access-date=2018-11-24|language=en-US|archive-date=November 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181124220300/https://searchcloudcomputing.techtarget.com/definition/Microsoft-Azure-Functions|url-status=live}} Customers using Azure functions are billed based on per-second resource consumption and executions.{{cite news|url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/functions/|title=Azure Functions pricing|work=SearchCloudComputing|access-date=2022-06-18|language=en-US|archive-date=November 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201112021909/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/pricing/details/functions/|url-status=live}}

• Azure IoT Hub enables the connection, monitoring, and management of a large number of IoT assets. On February 4, 2016, Microsoft announced the General Availability of the Azure IoT Hub service.{{cite web |title=Azure IoT Hub general availability overview |url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-iot-hub-ga-capability-overview/ |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=4 February 2016 |archive-date=January 10, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190110125202/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-iot-hub-ga-capability-overview/ |url-status=live }}
• Azure IoT Edge is a fully managed service built on IoT Hub that allows for cloud intelligence deployed locally on IoT edge devices.
• Azure IoT Central is a fully managed SaaS app that makes it easy to connect, monitor, and manage IoT assets at scale.{{cite web|url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/iot-central/|title=IoT Central {{!}} Microsoft Azure|website=azure.microsoft.com|language=en|access-date=2019-05-23|archive-date=May 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190524094725/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/iot-central/|url-status=live}} On December 5, 2017, Microsoft announced the Public Preview of Azure IoT Central, its Azure IoT SaaS service.{{cite web |last = Foley |first = Mary Jo |title = Microsoft delivers public preview of its new Azure IoT software as a service |url = https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-delivers-public-preview-of-its-new-azure-iot-software-as-a-service/ |website = ZDNet |access-date = 5 December 2017 |archive-date = March 15, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180315172947/http://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-delivers-public-preview-of-its-new-azure-iot-software-as-a-service/? |url-status = live }}
• On October 4, 2017, Microsoft began shipping GA versions of the official Microsoft Azure IoT Developer Kit (Devkit) board, manufactured by MX Chip.{{Cite web |last=timlt |date=2023-06-27 |title=Connect an MXCHIP AZ3166 to Azure IoT Hub quickstart |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/iot-develop/quickstart-devkit-mxchip-az3166-iot-hub |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=learn.microsoft.com |language=en-us |archive-date=August 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802101905/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/iot-develop/quickstart-devkit-mxchip-az3166-iot-hub |url-status=live }}
• On April 16, 2018, Microsoft announced the launch of the Azure Sphere, an end-to-end IoT product that focuses on microcontroller-based devices and uses Linux.{{cite web|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/04/16/microsoft-built-its-own-custom-linux-kernel-for-its-new-iot-service/|title=Microsoft built its own custom Linux kernel for its new IoT service – TechCrunch|website=techcrunch.com|date=April 16, 2018|language=en-US|access-date=2018-04-17|archive-date=April 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417141547/https://techcrunch.com/2018/04/16/microsoft-built-its-own-custom-linux-kernel-for-its-new-iot-service/|url-status=live}}
• On May 7, 2018, Microsoft announced the launch of Azure Maps, an enterprise maps API and SDK platform.
• On June 27, 2018, Microsoft launched Azure IoT Edge, used to run Azure services and artificial intelligence on IoT devices.{{cite news|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsofts-azure-iot-edge-now-generally-available-is-key-to-redmonds-iot-strategy/|title=Microsoft's Azure IoT Edge, now generally available, is key to Redmond's IoT strategy|last=Foley|first=Mary Jo|work=ZDNet|access-date=2018-08-15|language=en|archive-date=July 3, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180703123853/https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsofts-azure-iot-edge-now-generally-available-is-key-to-redmonds-iot-strategy/|url-status=live}}
• On November 20, 2018, Microsoft launched the Open Enclave SDK for cross-platform systems such as ARM Trust Zone and Intel SGX.{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/11/20/azure_iot_edge_open_enclave/ |title=Microsoft's edgy Open Enclave SDK goes cross platform |website=The Register |access-date=November 20, 2018 |archive-date=November 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181120233401/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/11/20/azure_iot_edge_open_enclave/ |url-status=live }}

Azure Stack HCI is a hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) product that uses validated hardware to run virtualized workloads on-premises to consolidate aging infrastructure and connect to Azure for cloud services.{{Cite web |last=JasonGerend |date=2023-04-17 |title=Azure Stack HCI solution overview – Azure Stack HCI |url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure-stack/hci/overview |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=learn.microsoft.com |language=en-us |archive-date=August 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802101905/https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure-stack/hci/overview |url-status=live }}

Launched in September 2020, Azure Orbital lets private industries and government agencies process satellite data quickly by connecting directly to cloud computing networks. Mobile cloud computing ground stations are also available to provide connectivity to remote locations without ground infrastructure. Third-party satellite systems, like SpaceX's Starlink and SES' O3b constellation, can be employed.[https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/introducing-azure-orbital-process-satellite-data-at-cloudscale/ Introducing Azure Orbital] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816234903/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/introducing-azure-orbital-process-satellite-data-at-cloudscale/ |date=August 16, 2021 }} Microsoft. September 22, 2020. Accessed July 30, 2021{{Cite web |title=Azure Space partners bring deep expertise to new venture |url=https://news.microsoft.com/source/features/digital-transformation/azure-space-partners-bring-deep-expertise-to-new-venture/ |access-date=2023-08-02 |website=Source |language=en-US |archive-date=August 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230802101905/https://news.microsoft.com/source/features/digital-transformation/azure-space-partners-bring-deep-expertise-to-new-venture/ |url-status=live }}

SES plans to use Microsoft's data centers to provide cloud connectivity to remote areas through its next generation O3b mPOWER MEO satellites alongside Microsoft's data centers.{{cite press release |publisher=SES |date=September 22, 2020 |url=https://www.ses.com/press-release/ses-becomes-microsoft-azure-orbital-founding-connectivity-partner |title=SES Becomes Microsoft Azure Orbital Founding Connectivity Partner |access-date=July 30, 2021 |archive-date=August 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210804103138/https://www.ses.com/press-release/ses-becomes-microsoft-azure-orbital-founding-connectivity-partner |url-status=live }} The company will deploy satellite control and uplink ground stations to achieve this. SES launched the first two O3b mPOWER satellites in December 2022; nine more are scheduled between 2023 and 2024. The service should begin in Q3 2023.[https://spacenews.com/spacex-launches-first-pair-of-o3b-mpower-satellites/ SpaceX launches first pair of O3b mPower satellites] SpaceNews. 16 December 2022. Accessed 27 December 2022

According to Microsoft, using satellites to connect to cloud data centers may provide faster speeds than complex fiber routes. For online media, entertainment, or gaming activities, connecting from home to the cloud can involve longer routes with multiple hops. Through their experiments with Xbox Cloud, Microsoft has discovered that satellite connections are faster than terrestrial networks in certain parts of the world, including specific locations in the USA.[https://spacenews.com/microsoft-keane-interview/ Moving space into the cloud] Space News. June 23, 2021. Accessed July 30, 2021

In August 2024, Azure introduced the industry’s first platform-managed container-native storage solution in the public cloud. This service supports Ephemeral Disks (Local NVMe/Temp SSD) and Azure Disks, offering a robust storage solution tailored for containerized applications.{{Cite web |title=Azure updates {{!}} Microsoft Azure |url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=azure.microsoft.com |language=en-US}}

Released for public preview in 2021. Azure Quantum provides access to quantum hardware and software.{{Cite web |title=Microsoft's quantum cloud computing plans take another big step forward |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsofts-quantum-cloud-computing-plans-take-another-big-step-forward/ |date=1 Feb 2021 |last1=Leprince-Ringuet |first1=Daphne |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=ZDNet |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=What is Azure Quantum?|url=https://www.techtarget.com/whatis/definition/Azure-Quantum |last1=Gillis |first1=Alexander |website=Tech Target |access-date=2024-09-04}} The public cloud computing platform includes multiple quantum hardware modalities including trapped ion, neutral atom, and superconducting systems.{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Debuts Azure Quantum Elements and Azure Quantum Copilot LLM |url=https://www.hpcwire.com/2023/06/22/microsoft-debuts-azure-quantum-elements-and-azure-quantum-copilot-llm/|date=22 Jun 2023 |last1=Russell |first1=John |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=HPCwire |language=en-US}}

Azure Quantum Elements software for computational chemistry and materials science combines AI, high-performance computing and quantum processors to run molecular simulations and calculations. The service includes Copilot, a GPT-4 based large language model tool to query and visualize data, write code, and initiate simulations.

In 2021, Microsoft developed the quantum programming language Q# (pronounced Q Sharp) and an open-source quantum development kit for algorithm development and simulation.

In 2023, Microsoft developed Quantum Intermediate Representation (QIR) from LLVM as a common interface between programming languages and target quantum processors.{{Cite web |title=Microsoft taps LLVM for quantum computing |url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/2260508/microsoft-taps-llvm-for-quantum-computing.html |access-date=2024-09-04 |date=29 Sep 2020 |last1=Krill |first1=Paul |website=InfoWorld |language=en-US}}

The Azure Quantum Resource Estimator estimates the resources required to execute a given quantum algorithm on a fault-tolerant quantum computer.{{Cite web |title=The Azure Quantum Resource Estimator: An In-Depth Look at an Important Quantum Tool |url=https://thequantuminsider.com/2024/06/29/the-azure-quantum-resource-estimator-an-in-depth-look-at-an-important-quantum-tool/ |date=29 Jun 2024 |last1=Swayne |first1=Matt |access-date=2024-09-04 |website=The Quantum Insider |language=en-US}} It can also show how future quantum computers will impact today’s encryption algorithms.

As of 2018, Azure was available in 54 regions,{{cite web |title=Azure Regions {{!}} Microsoft Azure |url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/regions/ |access-date=July 17, 2017 |website=azure.microsoft.com |archive-date=July 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170714013511/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/regions/ |url-status=live }} and Microsoft was the first primary cloud provider to establish facilities in Africa, with two regions in South Africa.{{Cite web |last=Azure |first=Microsoft |date=2019-03-06 |title=Microsoft opens first datacenters in Africa with general availability of Microsoft Azure {{!}} Azure Blog {{!}} Microsoft Azure |url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/microsoft-opens-first-datacenters-in-africa-with-general-availability-of-microsoft-azure/ |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=Azure Blog |language=en-US |archive-date=August 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230804123456/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/microsoft-opens-first-datacenters-in-africa-with-general-availability-of-microsoft-azure/ |url-status=live }} Azure geographies consist of multiple Azure Regions, like "North Europe" (located in Dublin, Ireland) and "West Europe" (located in Amsterdam, Netherlands).

On June 19, 2019, Microsoft announced the launch of two new cloud regions in the United Arab Emirates – Microsoft's first in the Middle East.{{Cite web |title=Microsoft Cloud datacenter regions now available in the UAE to help fuel the Middle East's future economic ambitions – Middle East & Africa News Center |url=https://news.microsoft.com/en-xm/2019/06/19/microsoft-cloud-datacenter-regions-now-available-in-the-uae-to-help-fuel-the-middle-easts-future-economic-ambitions/ |access-date=2022-03-10 |website=news.microsoft.com |archive-date=March 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220325032749/https://news.microsoft.com/en-xm/2019/06/19/microsoft-cloud-datacenter-regions-now-available-in-the-uae-to-help-fuel-the-middle-easts-future-economic-ambitions/ |url-status=live }} On March 6, 2025, the company announced a strategic partnership with the Government of Kuwait, represented by the Central Agency for Information Technology (CAIT) and the Communication and Information Technology Regulatory Authority (CITRA).{{Cite web |title=Microsoft strengthens partnership with Kuwait Government, announces intent to establish AI powered Azure Region to accelerate AI transformation and drive economic growth – Middle East & Africa News Center |url=https://news.microsoft.com/en-xm/2025/03/06/microsoft-strengthens-partnership-with-kuwait-government-announces-intent-to-establish-ai-powered-azure-region-to-accelerate-ai-transformation-and-drive-economic-growth/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=news.microsoft.com}} This collaboration aims to accelerate digital transformation efforts aligned with Kuwait’s Vision 2035.{{Cite web |date=2025-03-08 |title=Microsoft to Develop AI-Powered Azure Cloud Region in Kuwait |url=https://hostdean.com/news/microsoft-ai-azure-cloud-region-kuwait/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=HostDean |language=en-US}} The partnership will focus on creating an AI-powered Azure Region to enhance local AI capabilities, stimulate economic growth, and drive innovation across various industries.{{Cite web |last=Comment |first=Georgia Butler |date=2025-03-07 |title=Microsoft to develop Azure cloud region in Kuwait |url=https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/microsoft-to-develop-azure-cloud-region-in-kuwait/ |access-date=2025-03-08 |website=www.datacenterdynamics.com |language=en}}

Microsoft has partners that sell its products. In August 2018, Toyota Tsusho began a partnership with Microsoft to create fish farming tools using the Microsoft Azure application suite for IoT technologies related to water management. Developed in part by researchers from Kindai University, the water pump mechanisms use artificial intelligence to count the number of fish on a conveyor belt, analyze the number of fish, and deduce the effectiveness of water flow from the data the fish provide. The specific computer programs used in the process fall under the Azure Machine Learning and the Azure IoT Hub platforms.{{cite web |title=Google goes bilingual, Facebook fleshes out translation and TensorFlow is dope – And, Microsoft is assisting fish farmers in Japan |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/09/01/ai_roundup_310818/ |website=The Register |access-date=September 2, 2018 |archive-date=September 2, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180902114415/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/09/01/ai_roundup_310818/ |url-status=live }}

Microsoft Azure utilizes a specialized operating system with the same name to power its "fabric layer". This cluster is hosted at Microsoft's data centers and is responsible for managing computing and storage resources and allocating them to applications running on the Microsoft Azure platform. It is a "cloud layer" built upon various Windows Server systems, including the customized Microsoft Azure Hypervisor, which is based on Windows Server 2008 and enables the virtualization of services.{{cite web |author=Petertaylor9999 |title=Enterprise Cloud Adoption: How does Azure work? |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/cloud-adoption/getting-started/what-is-azure |access-date=2018-10-29 |website=docs.microsoft.com |language=en-US |archive-date=October 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029191639/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/architecture/cloud-adoption/getting-started/what-is-azure |url-status=live }}

The Microsoft Azure Fabric Controller maintains the scalability and dependability of services and environments in the data center. It prevents failure in server malfunction and manages users' web applications, including memory allocation and load balancing.

Azure provides an API built on REST, HTTP, and XML that allows a developer to interact with the services offered by Microsoft Azure. Microsoft also provides a client-side managed class library that encapsulates the functions of interacting with the services. It also integrates with Microsoft Visual Studio, Git, and Eclipse.{{cite web |url = https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/devops/repos/ |title = Azure Repos – Git Repositories {{!}} Microsoft Azure |website = azure.microsoft.com |language = en |access-date = 2018-10-29 |archive-date = September 12, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20180912220247/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/services/devops/repos/ |url-status = live }}{{cite web |url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/tools/ |title=Microsoft Azure Developer Tools {{!}} Microsoft Azure |website=azure.microsoft.com |language=en |access-date=2018-10-29 |archive-date=November 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181126164428/http://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/tools/ |url-status=live }}{{cite web |url=https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/java/azure/eclipse/azure-toolkit-for-eclipse?view=azure-java-stable |title=Azure Toolkit for Eclipse |author=rmcmurray |website=docs.microsoft.com |language=en-US |access-date=2018-10-29 |archive-date=October 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181029191537/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/java/azure/eclipse/azure-toolkit-for-eclipse?view=azure-java-stable |url-status=live }}

Users can manage Azure services in multiple ways, one of which is through the Web-based Azure Portal, which became generally available in December 2015.{{cite web |last=Welicki |first=Leon |title=Announcing Azure Portal general availability |date=December 2, 2015 |url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/announcing-azure-portal-general-availability/ |access-date=December 23, 2015 |publisher=Microsoft |archive-date=December 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151223191129/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/announcing-azure-portal-general-availability/ |url-status=live }} Apart from accessing services via API, users can browse active resources, adjust settings, launch new resources, and view primary monitoring data of functional virtual machines and services using the portal.

Regarding cloud resources, Microsoft Azure offers two deployment models: the "classic" model and the Azure Resource Manager.{{cite web |last=FitzMacken |first=Tom |title=Azure Resource Manager vs. classic deployment |url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/articles/resource-manager-deployment-model/ |access-date=September 16, 2016 |publisher=Microsoft |archive-date=October 29, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161029053752/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/articles/resource-manager-deployment-model/ |url-status=live }} In the classic model, each resource, like a virtual machine or SQL database, had to be managed separately, but in 2014, Azure introduced the Azure Resource Manager, which allows users to group related services. This update makes it easier and more efficient to deploy, manage, and monitor resources that work closely together.{{cite web |last=FitzMacken |first=Tom |title=Azure Resource Manager overview |url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/articles/resource-group-overview/ |access-date=September 16, 2016 |publisher=Microsoft |archive-date=August 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830095155/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/documentation/articles/resource-group-overview/ |url-status=live }} The classic model will eventually be phased out.

In January 2025, Microsoft announced plans to invest $80 billion in AI and data centers as part of its fiscal year 2025 budget. This investment would enhance the scalability and performance of Azure's cloud infrastructure, which supports AI-driven applications, including services developed through Microsoft's partnership with OpenAI.{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2025/01/03/microsoft-expects-to-spend-80-billion-on-ai-data-centers-in-fy-2025.html |title=Microsoft expects to spend $80 billion on AI, data centers in FY 2025 |author= |date=January 3, 2025 |website=CNBC |access-date=January 5, 2025}}

File:Windows Azure logo (2010—2012).png

In 2005, Microsoft took over Groove Networks, and Bill Gates made Groove's founder Ray Ozzie one of his 5 direct reports as one of 3 chief technology officers. Ozzie met with Amitabh Srivastava, which let Srivastava change course. They convinced Dave Cutler to postpone his retirement, and their teams developed a cloud operating system.[https://redmondmag.com/articles/2005/03/15/ray-ozzie-bill-gates-fifth-guy.aspx Ray Ozzie: Bill Gates' Fifth Guy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210120004601/https://redmondmag.com/articles/2005/03/15/ray-ozzie-bill-gates-fifth-guy.aspx |date=January 20, 2021 }}, redmondmag, 2005-03-15.[https://www.zdnet.com/article/red-dog-five-questions-with-microsoft-mystery-man-dave-cutler/ Red Dog: Five questions with Microsoft mystery man Dave Cutler] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805052551/https://www.zdnet.com/article/red-dog-five-questions-with-microsoft-mystery-man-dave-cutler/ |date=August 5, 2020 }}, ZDNet, 2009-02-25.[https://news.microsoft.com/features/the-engineers-engineer-computer-industry-luminaries-salute-dave-cutlers-five-decade-long-quest-for-quality/ The engineer’s engineer: Computer industry luminaries salute Dave Cutler’s five-decade-long quest for quality] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108200946/https://news.microsoft.com/features/the-engineers-engineer-computer-industry-luminaries-salute-dave-cutlers-five-decade-long-quest-for-quality/ |date=November 8, 2020 }}, Microsoft News Center, 2016-04-15.

• October 2008 (PDC LA) – Announced the Windows Azure Platform.{{cite web |url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/ray-ozzie-announces-windows-azure/ |website=ZDNet |access-date=28 October 2008 |title=Ray Ozzie announces Windows Azure |archive-date=August 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803230806/https://www.zdnet.com/article/ray-ozzie-announces-windows-azure/ |url-status=live }}
• March 2009 – Announced SQL Azure Relational Database.
• November 2009 – Updated Windows Azure CTP, Enabled full trust, PHP, Java, CDN CTP, and more.
• February 1, 2010 – Windows Azure Platform commercially available.{{cite web |url = https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2010/02/01/windows-azure-general-availability/ |title = Windows Azure General Availability |website = blogs.microsoft.com |date = February 1, 2010 |access-date = March 26, 2018 |archive-date = February 8, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190208112459/https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2010/02/01/windows-azure-general-availability/ |url-status = live }}
• June 2010 – Windows Azure Update, .NET Framework 4, OS Versioning, CDN, SQL Azure Update.{{cite web |url = http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlazure/archive/2010/06/25/10030461.aspx |title=SQL Azure SU3 is Now Live and Available in 6 Datacenters Worldwide |work=SQL Azure Team Blog |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=May 28, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130620102005/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/sqlazure/archive/2010/06/25/10030461.aspx |archive-date=June 20, 2013 }}
• October 2010 (PDC) – Platform enhancements, Windows Azure Connect, improved Dev / IT Pro Experience.
• December 2011 – Traffic manager, SQL Azure reporting, HPC scheduler.
• June 2012 – Websites, Virtual machines for Windows and Linux, Python SDK, new portal, locally redundant storage.
• April 2014 – Windows Azure renamed Microsoft Azure, ARM Portal introduced at Build 2014.
• July 2014 – Azure Machine Learning public preview.{{cite web |url = http://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2014/06/16/microsoft-azure-machine-learning-combines-power-of-comprehensive-machine-learning-with-benefits-of-cloud/ |title = Microsoft Azure Machine Learning combines power of comprehensive machine learning with benefits of cloud |website = blogs.microsoft.com |date = June 16, 2014 |access-date = August 4, 2014 |archive-date = August 8, 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140808234538/http://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2014/06/16/microsoft-azure-machine-learning-combines-power-of-comprehensive-machine-learning-with-benefits-of-cloud/ |url-status = live }}
• November 2014 – Outage affecting major websites, including MSN.com.{{Cite journal |date=December 2014 |title=Microsoft's Azure Cloud Goes Down – Again |url=https://availabilitydigest.com/public_articles/0912/azure_outage.pdf |journal=The Availability Digest |access-date=August 7, 2023 |archive-date=August 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230807121343/https://availabilitydigest.com/public_articles/0912/azure_outage.pdf |url-status=live }}
• September 2015 – Azure Cloud Switch introduced as a cross-platform Linux distribution. Currently known as SONiC.{{cite web|url=https://github.com/Azure/SONiC/wiki/FAQ|title=What is the relationship between Azure Cloud Switch and SONiC?|date=February 15, 2020|website=Github.com|access-date=February 15, 2020|archive-date=May 27, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200527224031/https://github.com/Azure/SONiC/wiki/FAQ|url-status=live}}
• December 2015 – Azure ARM Portal (codename "Ibiza") released.{{cite web |url = https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/announcing-azure-portal-general-availability/ |title = Announcing Azure Portal general availability |website = Azure.microsoft.com |date = December 2, 2015 |access-date = December 23, 2015 |archive-date = December 23, 2015 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20151223191129/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/announcing-azure-portal-general-availability/ |url-status = live }}
• March 2016 – Azure Service Fabric is Generally Available (GA).{{cite web |last = Fussell |first = Mark |title = Azure Service Fabric is GA! |date = March 31, 2016 |url = https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-service-fabric-is-ga/ |publisher = Microsoft |access-date = 31 March 2016 |archive-date = December 30, 2018 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181230183715/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-service-fabric-is-ga/ |url-status = live }}
• November 15, 2016 – Azure Functions is Generally Available (GA).{{Cite web |last=Azure |first=Microsoft |date=2016-11-15 |title=Announcing general availability of Azure Functions |url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/announcing-general-availability-of-azure-functions/ |access-date=2024-01-09 |website=Microsoft Azure Blog |language=en-US |archive-date=January 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109233637/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/announcing-general-availability-of-azure-functions/ |url-status=live }}
• May 10, 2017 – Azure Cosmos DB is Generally Available (GA).{{Cite web |last=Shukla |first=Dharma |date=2017-05-10 |title=Azure Cosmos DB: The industry's first globally-distributed, multi-model database service |url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-cosmos-db-microsofts-globally-distributed-multi-model-database-service/ |access-date=2024-01-09 |website=Microsoft Azure Blog |language=en-US |archive-date=January 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109233638/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-cosmos-db-microsofts-globally-distributed-multi-model-database-service/ |url-status=live }}
• May 7, 2018 – Azure Maps is Generally Available (GA).{{Cite web |title=Azure Maps now Generally Available {{!}} Azure updates {{!}} Microsoft Azure |url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/azure-maps-now-generally-available/ |access-date=2023-07-21 |website=azure.microsoft.com |language=en |archive-date=July 21, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230721172517/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/azure-maps-now-generally-available/ |url-status=live }}
• July 16, 2018 – Azure Service Fabric Mesh public preview.{{cite web |last=Daniel |first=Chacko |title=Azure Service Fabric is now in public preview |url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-service-fabric-mesh-is-now-in-public-preview/ |website=Microsoft Azure |date=July 16, 2018 |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=16 July 2018 |archive-date=July 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180718113953/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/azure-service-fabric-mesh-is-now-in-public-preview/ |url-status=live }}
• September 24, 2018 – Microsoft Azure IoT Central is Generally Available (GA).{{cite web |title=Azure IoT Central is now available |url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/azure-iot-central-is-now-available/ |website=Microsoft Azure |publisher=Microsoft |access-date=24 September 2018 |archive-date=September 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190904173022/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/azure-iot-central-is-now-available/ |url-status=live }}
• October 10, 2018 – Microsoft joins the Linux-oriented group Open Invention Network.{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/10/10/microsoft_open_invention_network/ |title=Microsoft has signed up to the Open Invention Network. We repeat. Microsoft has signed up to the OIN |website=The Register |access-date=October 10, 2018 |archive-date=October 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181011123124/https://www.theregister.co.uk/2018/10/10/microsoft_open_invention_network/ |url-status=live }}
• April 17, 2019 – Azure Front Door Service is now available.{{cite web |url = https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/azure-front-door-service-is-now-available/ |title = Azure Front Door Service is now available |access-date = June 5, 2019 |archive-date = June 5, 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190605194714/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/updates/azure-front-door-service-is-now-available/ |url-status = live }}
• March 2020 – Microsoft said that there was a 775% increase in Microsoft Teams usage in Italy due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The company estimates there are now 44 million daily active users of Teams worldwide.{{cite web|url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/update-2-on-microsoft-cloud-services-continuity/|title=Microsoft cloud services continuity|date=March 28, 2020|access-date=March 28, 2020|archive-date=March 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329132906/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/update-2-on-microsoft-cloud-services-continuity/|url-status=live}}
• January 17, 2023 – Azure OpenAI Service is Generally Available (GA).{{Cite web |last=Boyd |first=Eric |date=2023-01-17 |title=General availability of Azure OpenAI Service expands access to large, advanced AI models with added enterprise benefits |url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/general-availability-of-azure-openai-service-expands-access-to-large-advanced-ai-models-with-added-enterprise-benefits/ |access-date=2024-01-09 |website=Microsoft Azure Blog |language=en-US |archive-date=January 9, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240109233636/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/general-availability-of-azure-openai-service-expands-access-to-large-advanced-ai-models-with-added-enterprise-benefits/ |url-status=live }}

According to the Patriot Act, Microsoft has acknowledged that the U.S. government can access data even if the hosting company is not American and the data is outside the U.S.[http://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2015/10/20/the-collapse-of-the-us-eu-safe-harbor-solving-the-new-privacy-rubiks-cube/ "The collapse of the US-EU Safe Harbor"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160224023815/http://blogs.microsoft.com/on-the-issues/2015/10/20/the-collapse-of-the-us-eu-safe-harbor-solving-the-new-privacy-rubiks-cube/ |date=February 24, 2016 }}, October 20, 2015, Brad Smith, President and Chief Legal Officer, Microsoft.com To address concerns related to privacy and security, Microsoft has established the Microsoft Azure Trust Center.{{cite web |title=Microsoft Azure Trust Center |url=http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/support/trust-center/ |access-date=June 27, 2013 |website=Windowsazure.com |archive-date=June 27, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627032842/http://www.windowsazure.com/en-us/support/trust-center/ |url-status=live }} Microsoft Azure offers services that comply with multiple compliance programs, including ISO 27001:2005 and HIPAA. A comprehensive and up-to-date list of these services is available on the Microsoft Azure Trust Center Compliance page.{{cite web |title=Microsoft Azure Trust Center Compliance |url=http://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/support/trust-center/compliance/ |access-date=June 27, 2013 |website=Windowsazure.com |archive-date=April 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140405030412/http://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/support/trust-center/compliance/ |url-status=live }} Microsoft Azure received JAB Provisional Authority to Operate (P-ATO) from the U.S. government under the Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) guidelines. This program provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud services used by the federal government.{{cite web |title=FedRAMP Compliant Cloud Systems |url=http://cloud.cio.gov/fedramp/cloud-systems |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022020746/http://cloud.cio.gov/fedramp/cloud-systems |archive-date=October 22, 2014 |access-date=October 15, 2014 |website=cloud.cio.gov}}

The following is a list of Microsoft Azure outages and service disruptions.

A large variety of Azure certifications can be attained, each requiring one or multiple successfully completed examinations. Certification levels range from beginner, intermediate to expert.

Examples of common certifications include:

• Azure Fundamentals
• Azure Data Fundamentals
• Azure AI Engineer Associate
• Azure AI Fundamentals
• Azure Cosmos DB Developer Specialty
• Azure Administrator Associate
• Azure Data Engineer Associate
• Azure Data Scientist Associate
• Azure Database Administrator Associate
• Azure Developer Associate
• Azure Enterprise Data Analyst Associate
• Azure Security Engineer Associate
• Azure Security Operations Analyst Associate
• Azure Identity and Access Administrator Associate
• Azure Security, Compliance, and Identity Fundamentals
• Azure Network Engineer Associate
• Azure Windows Server Hybrid Administrator Associate
• Azure Virtual Desktop Specialty
• Azure for SAP Workloads Specialty
• Azure Customer Data Platform Specialty
• Azure Cybersecurity Architect Expert
• Azure Solutions Architect Expert
• Azure Power Platform Solution Architect Expert
• Azure DevOps Engineer Expert
• Azure IoT Developer Specialty
• Azure Stack Hub Operator Associate
• Azure Machine Learning Specialty

• Dave Cutler, Lead Developer, Microsoft Azure{{Cite web|title=The engineer's engineer: Computer industry luminaries salute Dave Cutler's five-decade-long quest for quality|url=https://news.microsoft.com/features/the-engineers-engineer-computer-industry-luminaries-salute-dave-cutlers-five-decade-long-quest-for-quality/|access-date=2020-11-19|website=Stories|date=April 15, 2016|language=en-US|archive-date=November 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108200946/https://news.microsoft.com/features/the-engineers-engineer-computer-industry-luminaries-salute-dave-cutlers-five-decade-long-quest-for-quality/|url-status=live}}
• Mark Russinovich, CTO, Microsoft Azure{{cite web|url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/author/markruss/|title=Mark Russinovich – Blog – Microsoft Azure|website=azure.microsoft.com|access-date=June 7, 2018|archive-date=December 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181214001456/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/author/markruss/|url-status=live}}
• Scott Guthrie, Executive Vice President of the Cloud and AI group in Microsoft
• Jason Zander, Executive Vice President, Microsoft Azure{{cite web|url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/author/jasonz/|title=Jason Zander – Blog – Microsoft Azure|website=azure.microsoft.com|access-date=November 4, 2017|archive-date=July 1, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701082608/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/author/jasonz/|url-status=live}}
• Julia White, Corporate Vice President, Microsoft Azure{{cite web|url=https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/author/julwhite/|title=Julia White – Blog – Microsoft Azure|website=azure.microsoft.com|access-date=October 30, 2018|archive-date=February 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190206204525/https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/blog/author/julwhite/|url-status=live}}

Microsoft Azure's services can have varied and complex pricing models.{{Cite book |title=Microsoft Power Platform Enterprise Architecture Design Tailor-made Solutions for Architects and Decision Makers to Meet Complex Business Requirements |isbn=9781804618349 |last1=Rybaric |first1=Robert |date=January 31, 2023 |publisher=Packt Publishing }}{{Cite book |title=Engineering Data Mesh in Azure Cloud Implement Data Mesh Using Microsoft Azure's Cloud Adoption Framework |isbn=9781805128946 |last1=Deswandikar |first1=Aniruddha |date=March 29, 2024 |publisher=Packt Publishing }} The Azure Portal can be slow and prone to user errors.{{Cite book |title=Microsoft Azure Infrastructure Services for Architects |isbn=9781119596530 |last1=Savill |first1=John |date=October 2019 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons }}

In August 2021, researchers from Wiz Research claimed to have discovered a vulnerability in the Azure Cosmos DB database, referred to as "ChaosDB." They claimed that they had gained complete unrestricted access to the accounts and databases of several thousand Microsoft Azure customers.{{Cite web |date=2021-08-26 |title=ChaosDB: How we hacked thousands of Azure customers' databases {{!}} Wiz Blog |url=https://www.wiz.io/blog/chaosdb-how-we-hacked-thousands-of-azure-customers-databases |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=wiz.io |language=en-us}} In August 2021, Microsoft claimed they mitigated the vulnerability and no customer data was accessed.{{Cite web |title=Update on the vulnerability in the Azure Cosmos DB Jupyter Notebook Feature {{!}} MSRC Blog {{!}} Microsoft Security Response Center |url=https://msrc.microsoft.com/blog/2021/08/update-on-vulnerability-in-the-azure-cosmos-db-jupyter-notebook-feature/ |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=msrc.microsoft.com}}

In September 2021, researchers from Palo Alto Networks claimed to discover a significant cross-account takeover vulnerability in Azure Container Instances, named "Azurescape". According to Palo Alto Networks' researchers, this vulnerability is the first known instance that allows one user of a public cloud service to escape their environment and execute code on other users' environments within the same service. Although Microsoft quickly patched the issue, Palo Alto Networks advised Azure customers to revoke any privileged credentials deployed before August 31, 2021, as a precaution.{{Cite web |date=Sep 9, 2021 |title=What You Need to Know About Azurescape |url=https://www.paloaltonetworks.com/blog/2021/09/azurescape/ |access-date=Nov 11, 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Avrahami |first=Yuval |date=2021-09-09 |title=Finding Azurescape – Cross-Account Container Takeover in Azure Container Instances |url=https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/azure-container-instances/ |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=Unit 42 |language=en-US}} In September 2021, Microsoft claimed they fixed the vulnerability.{{Cite web |title=Coordinated disclosure of vulnerability in Azure Container Instances Service {{!}} MSRC Blog {{!}} Microsoft Security Response Center |url=https://msrc.microsoft.com/blog/2021/09/coordinated-disclosure-of-vulnerability-in-azure-container-instances-service/ |access-date=2024-11-14 |website=msrc.microsoft.com}}

In September 2021, researchers from Wiz Research claimed they found four critical vulnerabilities in the Open Management Infrastructure (OMI), which is Azure's software agent deployed on a large portion of Linux VMs in Azure. The researchers named it "OMIGOD" and claimed that these vulnerabilities allowed for remote code execution within the Azure network and could escalate privileges to root. They claimed that the vulnerabilities affected various Azure services, including Azure Log Analytics, Azure Diagnostics, and Azure Security Center.{{Cite web |date=2021-09-14 |title="Secret" Agent Exposes Azure Customers To Unauthorized Code Execution {{!}} Wiz Blog |url=https://www.wiz.io/blog/secret-agent-exposes-azure-customers-to-unauthorized-code-execution |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=wiz.io |language=en-us}}{{Cite web |date=2021-09-14 |title=OMIGOD: Critical Vulnerabilities in OMI Affecting Countless Azure Customers {{!}} Wiz Blog |url=https://www.wiz.io/blog/omigod-critical-vulnerabilities-in-omi-azure |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=wiz.io |language=en-us}} In response, Microsoft announced that it had released fixes for the aforementioned vulnerabilities in September 2021.{{Cite web |title=Additional Guidance Regarding OMI Vulnerabilities within Azure VM Management Extensions {{!}} MSRC Blog {{!}} Microsoft Security Response Center |url=https://msrc.microsoft.com/blog/2021/09/additional-guidance-regarding-omi-vulnerabilities-within-azure-vm-management-extensions/ |access-date=2024-11-15 |website=msrc.microsoft.com}}

In July 2023, U.S. Senator Ron Wyden called on the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), the Justice Department, and the Federal Trade Commission to hold Microsoft accountable for what he described as "negligent cybersecurity practices." This came in the wake of an alleged cyberattack orchestrated by Chinese hackers, who exploited a vulnerability in Microsoft's software to compromise U.S. government email systems.{{Cite news |last=Starks |first=Tim |date=2023-08-03 |title=Analysis {{!}} Congressional Scrutiny of Microsoft Hack Intensifies |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/08/03/congressional-scrutiny-microsoft-hack-picks-up-steam/ |access-date=2023-09-18 |newspaper=Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}} Similarly, Amit Yoran, the CEO of cybersecurity firm Tenable, Inc., lambasted Microsoft for what he termed "grossly irresponsible" actions, accusing the company of fostering a "culture of toxic obfuscation."{{Cite web |last=Goodin |first=Dan |date=2023-08-02 |title=Microsoft Faces Harsh Criticism for "Grossly Irresponsible" Security Practices |url=https://arstechnica.com/security/2023/08/microsoft-cloud-security-blasted-for-its-culture-of-toxic-obfuscation/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230912203347/https://arstechnica.com/security/2023/08/microsoft-cloud-security-blasted-for-its-culture-of-toxic-obfuscation/ |archive-date=September 12, 2023 |access-date=2023-09-18 |website=Ars Technica |language=en-us}} The Cyber Safety Review Board produced a report that blamed Microsoft about a cascade of security failures that allowed the intrusion to succeed. Microsoft's security culture was called inadequate.[https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2024/04/microsoft-blamed-for-a-cascade-of-security-failures-in-exchange-breach-report/ Microsoft blamed for “a cascade of security failures” in Exchange breach report]

• Cloud-computing comparison
• Comparison of file hosting services
• Microsoft Azure Dev Tools for Teaching
• Azure Linux

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• [https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/ Azure Documentation] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211182349/https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/ |date=December 11, 2017 }}
• [https://azure.microsoft.com/en-us/ Microsoft Azure] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711202852/http://www.microsoft.com/windowsazure/sqlazure/database/ |date=July 11, 2011 }}

{{refend}}

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• {{cite web|url=http://download.microsoft.com/download/e/4/3/e43bb484-3b52-4fa8-a9f9-ec60a32954bc/Azure_Services_Platform.pdf|title=Introducing Windows Azure|last=Chappell|first=David|date=October 2008|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=February 24, 2009|archive-date=January 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090117114613/http://download.microsoft.com/download/e/4/3/e43bb484-3b52-4fa8-a9f9-ec60a32954bc/Azure_Services_Platform.pdf|url-status=live}}
• {{Cite web|url=https://sharegate.com/modern-business-azure-volume-1|title=Modern Business Powered by Microsoft Azure|last=Roine|first=Jussi|year=2019|publisher=ShareGate|type=downloadable ebook|format=PDF|url-access=registration|access-date=November 19, 2019|archive-date=August 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803225056/https://sharegate.com/modern-business-azure-volume-1|url-status=live}}
• {{Cite web|url=http://blogs.msdn.com/b/warnov/archive/2009/11/19/stairway-to-azure-3.aspx|title=Stairway to Azure (3): Componentes de Cómputo y Almacenamiento|date=November 19, 2009|work=WarNov Developer Evangelist|publisher=Microsoft|access-date=December 20, 2013|archive-date=February 2, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120202004327/http://blogs.msdn.com/b/warnov/archive/2009/11/19/stairway-to-azure-3.aspx|url-status=live}}
• {{cite web|url=http://www.dotnetcurry.com/windows-azure/1299/microsoft-azure-platform-services-overview|title=Microsoft Azure platform Demystified – Part 1 & 2|date=August 2016|work=DNC Magazine|access-date=September 22, 2016|archive-date=September 23, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160923045957/http://www.dotnetcurry.com/windows-azure/1299/microsoft-azure-platform-services-overview|url-status=live}}
• {{Cite web|url=https://saketa.com/blog/azure-multi-factor-authentication/|title=Get to know Azure Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)|last=Kranthi|first=Kiran|year=2020|publisher=Saketa|date=May 2020|access-date=July 13, 2021|archive-date=August 26, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210826133552/https://saketa.com/blog/azure-multi-factor-authentication/|url-status=live}}

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