The Azure™ Services Platform offers an on-ramp to the cloud by providing the tools and building blocks that maximize what can be accomplished by combining existing on-premises systems with the cloud. With the services platform, corporate developers have new options in writing Internet-connected applications, adding new functionality to a company’s existing software solutions, and connecting with partners and customers in new ways via the Web or a multitude of connected devices.
Use what you know. Millions of developers worldwide already use Microsoft® Visual Studio® development tools and the Microsoft .NET Framework to deliver innovative solutions. Take the same skills and expertise and apply them to the cloud with the Azure Services Platform. Cloud solutions can be built, debugged, and deployed directly from the Visual Studio environment and use the .NET Framework as the common framework to run applications for the cloud, on premises, and on connected devices. Windows Azure is an open platform that will support both Microsoft and non-Microsoft languages and environments.
Don’t slow down. Start projects without the hurdles of lengthy training or waiting for new infrastructure to be delivered and installed. With a broad set of services already running on Microsoft global data centers, the services platform is ready to start prototyping and testing solutions.
Simplify capacity planning. Developers often find their best ideas only hit limits once usage spikes, and opportunities can be missed while emergency capacity is added. With the Azure Services Platform, scale-out compute and database services mean that every application you develop is ready to serve global-scale demands.
Business Ready. The Azure Services Platform can help address corporate requirements for scalability, reliability, and security. Provide single sign-on, authentication, and identity services that work seamlessly between on-premises applications and the cloud. Take advantage of communications services between on-premises and off, and between business partners and customers on any device. Use the database services to share information on a global basis.
