Microsoft Azure Deployment and Management Services
This site is dedicated to providing you the most information possible to help you locate the perfect Microsoft Azure Expert. Winning Solutions, Inc. is a Microsoft Cloud Solutions Provider and part of the Microsoft Partner Network.
We hope you'll find the information in these pages valuable in making your decision, but if at any time you do not find the information you need to make your decision, we have a number of ways you can contact us:
If Microsoft Azure help isn't quite what you need, please be sure and visit our main site, www.winningsolutionsinc.com for a complete presentation of all the services that Winning Solutions, Inc. can provide to you.
Our programming expertise and support with Microsoft Azure began way back in 1990’s when our talented team began working with early versions of Windows Server products long before Azure was conceived by Microsoft. Over the years, we've grown with the Microsoft Server family, as Windows Server has gone through many new versions up to the latest version of Microsoft Windows Server 2012, we also have grown our skill sets and services to better help our customers. This attention to detail helps us deliver what you want, when you want it at the budget you set.
During this time, we have worked on hundreds of projects. Sometimes, just a few minutes or hours are needed to help accomplish your goals, while other times days, weeks or months are needed. Either way, you can rest assured that our expert Windows Server administrators will be able to deliver what you need.
What is Windows Azure
Azure is Microsoft’s answer to Amazon Web Services (AWS). Azure is Microsoft’s cloud. It is a very powerful, reliable and cost effective cloud computing platform. It is so good that Apple’s iCloud service is built on Windows Azure. Source Just because big companies like Apple use it does not mean that it is not priced affordably for small and medium size business. WSI has priced out solutions for small clients that are less than $600.00 per month including two virtual servers, backup storage, a VPN and transfer.
According to Wikipedia, Microsoft Azure (formerly
Windows Azure before March, 25th 2014) is a cloud
computing platform and infrastructure, created by Microsoft,
for building, deploying and managing applications and services through a global
network of Microsoft-managed datacenters. It provides both PaaS and IaaS services
and supports many different programming languages, tools and frameworks,
including both Microsoft-specific and third-party software and systems. Azure
was released on February 1, 2010.
Microsoft Azure is Microsoft's cloud application platform. In June 2012, Microsoft
Azure released the following new features:
- Websites allows
developers to build sites using ASP.NET, PHP, or Node.js and
can be deployed using FTP, Git, Mercurial
or Team Foundation Server.
- Virtual
machines let developers migrate applications and infrastructure without
changing existing code, and can run both Windows
Server and Linux virtual machines.
- Cloud
services - Microsoft's Platform as a Service (PaaS)
environment that is used to create scalable applications and services.
Supports multi-tier scenarios and automated deployments.
- Data
management - SQL Database, formerly known as SQL Azure
Database, works to create, scale and extend applications into the cloud
using Microsoft SQL Server technology.
Integrates with Active Directory and Microsoft System Center and Hadoop.
- Media
services - A PaaS offering that can be used for
encoding, content protection, streaming, and/or
analytics.
The Microsoft Azure Platform provides an API built on REST, HTTP, and XML that allows a
developer to interact with the services provided by Microsoft Azure. Microsoft
also provides a client-side managed class library which encapsulates the
functions of interacting with the services. It also integrates with Microsoft Visual Studio, Git, and Eclipse.
While anyone can contract directly with Azure, setting everything up including security, group policies and active directory can be very challenging. WSI can provide an Azure expert for you to work with that will provide you with as much or as little support as you need. If you need help planning an Azure deployment or even determining if Azure is suitable for your needs WSI can help.
Azure supports many non-Microsoft technologies. At Winning Solutions, Inc. we specialize in the Microsoft technology Azure is based on and running Microsoft technology on it, like Access, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Exchange Server, and Microsoft Active Directory.
Azure Deployment Planning
Whether you are in a regulated industry such as healthcare or banking; carefully planning your Azure deployment is critical to your business success. A WSI Azure expert can be a big help in getting you through this process. They have the experience and Microsoft skills necessary to help you do everything from determining if Azure is a good fit to deploying and managing/maintaining your Azure deployment. If Azure is not right for you we will tell you.
They will listen to your needs and requirements, then they can set up a trial environment for you to see how your complete Azure solution will function. If you need training on how to support and self-manage your Azure deployment we can provide that too. WSI can also provide written documentation that is specific to your Azure deployment.
WSI Azure experts have designed, deployed and supported small and large Windows networks long before Azure was launched. They have updated their skills and made their transition to the Cloud. This allows you to benefit from their experience. WSI can save you time, money and grief by helping you make a better Azure Deployment plan.
Your WSI Azure expert is not a Microsoft employee. They are part of the Winning Solutions, Inc. team. At WSI our motto is we strive to be your most valuable employee. This means that each WSI persons knows that at the end of the day we are working for you. Therefore what is in your best interest is in our best interest. So we are not afraid to tell you when Azure is not a good fit for your organization.
Azure Documentation
While many organizations overlook documentation, you may be required to have it. Producing solid documentation can be a real chore. You can outsource this to a WSI Azure expert. Documentation is critical when the chips are down and you need to fix or modify your Azure configuration. We all know how many years it was possible to make an on premise server last. Imagine how long an Azure deployment may last. This means that decisions and steps you followed today will be long forgotten years from now when your Azure system is still in use.
Having documentation about what you did and why you did it a particular way can be invaluable and maybe save your job.
Azure Design
Azure offers numerous services. Coming up with the right cost effective blend of these services to meet your business requirements is critical. Let a WSI Azure expert help you make this happen. Our experts are skilled in both on premise and cloud systems. The best solution for your organization may be to have part of network in the cloud and part of it running at your office. WSI’s design process will help determine this. Using their experience in both on premise and cloud based solutions your WSI Azure expert will work with you to come up with the right technology at the right price.
Azure VPN
Setting up a secure VPN between your office and Azure is very important. WSI can configure a firewall for you at our facility and ship it to your location ready for it to be plugged in to your network and ISP to connect your office securely to Azure.
We are experienced with Cisco firewalls, the industry leader. WSI knows how configure the Azure side of the firewall as well. Your WSI Azure expert can help you select the right Cisco model for your office or offices.
We are able to work with our client’s existing IT staff or IT services provider to ensure a smooth connection to Azure. In almost all cases we can do 100% of the work offsite. However, having a member of our team come to your office is an option.
Azure Management
WSI Azure expert can set-up monitoring of some or all of Azure services if the technology exists to do it. If not other WSI experts are available to custom program a monitoring solution to meet your needs. WSI can meet with you on a schedule you determine to go over the health, performance, and other key metrics of your Azure deployment. These meetings can be cost effectively held using screen sharing technology of your choice. It may be beneficial to get a second set of eyes on your Azure deployment to spot pending trouble or to let you know that things really are running smoothly.
Contact us today to get started on moving from an Access Backend Database to operating with a Microsoft SQL Server Database!