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IRON IT Group | Microsoft Azure

Your business. Powered by Microsoft Azure.

Give your organisation the flexibility to modernise applications, connect infrastructure and explore new ways of working with Microsoft's cloud computing platform.

From Azure Virtual Machines and virtual desktops to cloud networking, security, backup and hybrid infrastructure, Microsoft Azure offers a wide range of technologies for today's business workloads.

IRON IT Group helps businesses assess, plan, implement and manage appropriate Microsoft Azure solutions with an emphasis on security, operational requirements and cost visibility.

Azure Virtual Machines Azure Virtual Desktop Azure Networking Cloud Security
Microsoft Azure product photography showing a professional working at a computer
Azure solutions for the way your business works. Compute, networking, storage, desktops and security within the Microsoft cloud ecosystem.
01 Flexible infrastructure Explore suitable computing and storage services.
02 Connected workplaces Support cloud and hybrid access to business systems.
03 Security and governance Plan identity, access and workload protection.
04 Cost visibility Review consumption, resource sizing and licensing.
Discover Microsoft Azure

A cloud platform for today's business technology.

Microsoft Azure provides cloud services for running applications, hosting infrastructure, storing information and supporting modern digital workloads.

Businesses can choose from services for computing, networking, databases, virtual desktops, monitoring, security and other technical requirements.

Azure can also work alongside existing infrastructure, allowing suitable workloads to remain on-premises while other systems use cloud services.

A successful implementation should begin with an assessment of your business needs. Not every workload requires the same hosting model, security controls or amount of computing capacity.

IRON IT Group approaches Microsoft Azure as part of your wider IT environment, considering existing networks, employees, applications, data and operational responsibilities.

Explore Azure for Your Organisation →
Microsoft Azure product photography showing workplace technology collaboration
Cloud technology with a business purpose. Choose the Microsoft Azure services that align with your people, applications and infrastructure.
Microsoft Azure Capabilities

Explore what Microsoft Azure can do for your business.

Azure includes a broad set of technologies that can support different workloads. These eight areas are useful starting points for a business cloud discussion.

02

Azure Virtual Desktop

Deliver compatible Windows desktops and applications to authorised users through a centrally managed Azure-hosted virtual desktop environment.

03

Azure Networking

Connect resources using suitable virtual networks, VPN gateways, routing, private connectivity and related network services.

04

Azure Storage

Explore cloud file, object and disk storage options based on access requirements, workloads, security and performance.

05

Azure Backup & Recovery

Evaluate Azure Backup and Azure Site Recovery capabilities for supported business continuity and workload recovery scenarios.

06

Security & Governance

Plan relevant access policies, workload protection, administrative controls and supported Azure governance capabilities.

07

Azure Arc & Hybrid Cloud

Explore supported options for managing compatible infrastructure beyond Azure while considering hybrid networking and identity.

08

Azure Monitoring & Optimisation

Review cloud resource health, operational telemetry, configuration and costs through suitable Azure management tools.

Azure Compute Services

Run business applications on flexible Azure infrastructure.

Azure Virtual Machines provide on-demand computing resources for supported operating systems and applications.

They may be suitable for certain business servers, application workloads, databases, development systems and other infrastructure requirements.

Choosing the correct VM involves understanding the required processor, memory, storage, networking, performance and availability characteristics.

Operating system patching, application security, backups and monitoring also need clear ownership under Microsoft's shared-responsibility model.

  • Windows and Linux virtual machines
  • Compute sizing and suitability
  • Azure managed disk requirements
  • Virtual networking and connectivity
  • Identity and administrative access
  • VM backup and recovery
  • Performance monitoring
  • Cost and usage reviews
Discuss Azure Virtual Machines →
Azure Compute Planning

Build around the workload, not the technology.

Applications Determine operating system, software and compatibility requirements.
Capacity Choose appropriate processing, memory and storage resources.
Security Plan access permissions, network controls and workload protection.
Operations Define monitoring, system updates, backups and support responsibilities.
Microsoft Azure workplace imagery showing professionals using a laptop
Business applications beyond the office. Explore centrally managed desktop and application experiences with Azure Virtual Desktop.
Azure Virtual Desktop

Give your team access to the right desktop and applications.

Azure Virtual Desktop is Microsoft's cloud-based desktop and application virtualisation service.

It allows eligible organisations to deliver Windows desktops and compatible applications from supported Azure infrastructure.

This can be useful for organisations with remote employees, multiple locations or business applications that benefit from centralised desktop management.

A suitable design needs to consider network performance, user identity, profiles, application compatibility, security, licensing and the cost of the infrastructure supporting desktop sessions.

  • Windows desktop virtualisation
  • Published application experiences
  • Remote employee access
  • Microsoft 365 Apps compatibility
  • Host pool and session host planning
  • User profiles and storage
  • Authentication and access controls
  • Licensing and resource optimisation
Discuss Azure Virtual Desktop →
Azure Networking & Architecture

Connect your Azure environment with the right network design.

Azure networking provides the foundations for communication between cloud workloads, existing infrastructure and authorised users.

Plan secure connectivity between systems.

Many Azure environments need networking that supports virtual machines, applications, storage, identity services and connections to existing business locations.

Microsoft Azure offers services including Azure Virtual Network, VPN Gateway, ExpressRoute, Firewall, Private Link and networking management capabilities.

For more complex deployments, a hub-and-spoke topology may allow shared networking services to be organised centrally while individual workloads operate in separate spoke networks.

The architecture should be selected according to connectivity requirements, performance, security, complexity and cost.

  • Azure Virtual Network
  • Network addressing and segmentation
  • Virtual network peering
  • Azure VPN Gateway
  • Azure ExpressRoute considerations
  • Azure Firewall and traffic controls
  • Private connectivity options
  • Network monitoring and diagnostics
Discuss Azure Networking →
Microsoft Azure Networking Architecture MICROSOFT ARCHITECTURE CENTER
Official Microsoft Azure hub-and-spoke networking architecture showing a hub virtual network, connected workload spokes, firewall, gateway and monitoring services
Microsoft Azure Architecture Center reference diagram, shown for technical explanation—not an IRON IT Group deployment. View Microsoft's architecture documentation →
Azure Security & Governance

Make security part of the design from the beginning.

Microsoft Azure provides security services, but organisations still have responsibility for securing their own information, identities, configurations and workloads.

Incorrectly configured permissions, publicly accessible resources or unmanaged infrastructure can increase operational and cyber security risks.

An appropriate Azure governance approach considers identity, access, resource organisation, configuration, logging and ongoing management.

Services such as Microsoft Defender for Cloud, Azure Policy and Azure Monitor can form part of the wider security and operational approach.

  • Microsoft Entra ID integration
  • Role-based access control
  • Least-privilege administration
  • Azure Policy considerations
  • Microsoft Defender for Cloud
  • Network security controls
  • Monitoring and audit requirements
  • Data protection and encryption
Discuss Azure Security →
Azure Governance Foundations

Protect access, workloads and operational resources.

Identity Manage relevant users, administrators and authentication policies.
Workloads Review operating systems, applications, data and infrastructure configuration.
Policies Establish suitable resource standards and access restrictions.
Oversight Plan operational monitoring, alerts, incident processes and security reviews.
Hybrid Microsoft Cloud

Azure can work alongside your existing infrastructure.

Not every business workload has to move into the cloud at the same time. Azure provides technologies that can support hybrid infrastructure and gradual modernisation.

02 / AZURE ARC

Hybrid Management

Explore Azure Arc capabilities for managing compatible servers and other supported resources across different environments.

03 / MODERNISATION

Gradual Cloud Adoption

Review which applications should be migrated, modernised, replaced or retained according to technical and business requirements.

Azure Backup & Disaster Recovery

Plan for outages, disruption and data recovery.

Business-critical workloads need appropriate recovery arrangements, whether they run on-premises or in Microsoft Azure.

Azure Backup provides protection and restoration capabilities for supported data sources and workloads.

Azure Site Recovery offers replication and recovery orchestration options for certain virtual machines and infrastructure scenarios.

These technologies serve different purposes. A suitable solution depends on the workload's Recovery Time Objective (RTO), Recovery Point Objective (RPO), compatibility and operational requirements.

  • Critical workload assessment
  • Azure Backup planning
  • Azure Site Recovery suitability
  • Protected recovery points
  • Failover and restoration procedures
  • Recovery objectives
  • Disaster recovery testing
  • Ongoing recovery management
Explore Disaster Recovery →
Azure Resilience Planning

Different business requirements need different recovery approaches.

Backup Retain appropriate recovery points for protected business workloads.
Recovery Plan how affected systems will be restored or failed over when required.
Validation Confirm recovered data, application operation and access requirements.
Continuous Review Revisit recovery arrangements as applications and infrastructure change.
Microsoft Azure promotional photography featuring a professional using a tablet
People-First Microsoft Cloud

Technology should make it easier for your team to work.

Azure is about more than virtual servers or technical infrastructure.

It can support access to business applications, enable suitable virtual desktop environments and help IT teams manage selected workloads through cloud services.

The right approach considers how employees work, which applications they need and how the organisation will secure, support and maintain those systems.

Discuss Your Microsoft Cloud Goals →
Azure Operations & Optimisation

An Azure environment needs attention beyond deployment.

Good cloud management involves understanding your resources, applying appropriate operational controls and keeping expenditure visible.

01 / MONITORING

Azure Monitor

Explore suitable telemetry, logging and alerting to support visibility into selected workloads and infrastructure.

02 / SECURITY

Security Reviews

Review relevant identity, workload access, network settings and security recommendations.

03 / GOVERNANCE

Resource Management

Establish appropriate subscriptions, resource groups, ownership and policy arrangements.

04 / FINANCIAL

Azure Cost Management

Review consumption, budgets, unused resources and opportunities for more appropriate resource sizing.

05 / OPERATIONS

Workload Maintenance

Define responsibilities for updates, configuration changes, backups and support.

06 / IMPROVEMENT

Infrastructure Optimisation

Reassess resource requirements and architecture as business and application needs change.

Microsoft Azure Financial Planning

Cloud flexibility needs cost management.

Azure uses multiple pricing models depending on the resources and services selected. Many infrastructure services are charged according to consumption.

Costs can be affected by virtual machine size, operating hours, storage, network transfer, backup, licensing and other components.

Azure offers purchasing options that may reduce eligible costs, including reservations, savings plans and Azure Hybrid Benefit.

These arrangements should be assessed carefully because discounts, commitments and licensing eligibility vary.

  • Azure pricing estimates
  • Compute and storage sizing
  • Budget and usage visibility
  • Azure Reservations considerations
  • Azure savings plan options
  • Azure Hybrid Benefit eligibility
  • Azure Virtual Desktop licensing
  • Ongoing financial reviews
Discuss Azure Cost Optimisation →
Azure Spending Considerations

Plan for more than the virtual server.

Computing Consider VM sizes, active hours, capacity and eligible pricing options.
Storage & Networking Include disk performance, storage consumption, connectivity and data transfer charges.
Protection Account for relevant backup, security, monitoring and recovery services.
Management Include the operational costs of administration, support, licensing and maintenance.
Our Microsoft Azure Approach

From cloud planning to ongoing operation.

A successful Azure project should consider business requirements, architecture, implementation, security and ongoing responsibilities.

STAGE 01

Discover

Understand workloads, business goals, existing infrastructure and technical dependencies.

STAGE 02

Assess

Evaluate suitability, risks, security, licensing, resource needs and cost.

STAGE 03

Design

Plan the Azure architecture, identity, networking, governance and resilience.

STAGE 04

Implement

Deploy or migrate the agreed workloads with appropriate testing and change controls.

STAGE 05

Manage

Review operation, performance, costs, security and future improvements.

Why Microsoft Azure?

Cloud capabilities for different business requirements.

The value of Azure depends on selecting appropriate services and implementing them to meet your organisation's actual needs.

01 / COMPUTE

Flexible Infrastructure

Choose from Azure computing options suited to compatible business applications and processing needs.

02 / WORKPLACE

Virtual Desktops

Explore centralised desktop and application access for eligible users and supported environments.

03 / CONNECTIVITY

Hybrid Integration

Connect suitable existing infrastructure and cloud resources through supported networking options.

04 / SECURITY

Security Capabilities

Use relevant identity, network and workload protection tools as part of an appropriately configured environment.

05 / RESILIENCE

Recovery Options

Evaluate backup, replication and availability solutions for critical workloads.

06 / OPERATIONS

Resource Visibility

Explore monitoring, governance and cost management across suitable Azure services.

Frequently Asked Questions

Microsoft Azure FAQs.

Answers to common questions about Azure infrastructure, virtual desktops, networking, security, managed services and pricing.

What is Microsoft Azure?

Microsoft Azure is Microsoft's cloud computing platform. It offers infrastructure, networking, storage, application, data, security, analytics and other services that organisations can use to support different workloads.

What is Microsoft Azure used for?

Azure can be used for virtual servers, application hosting, virtual desktops, data storage, databases, hybrid infrastructure, backup, disaster recovery and other supported computing scenarios.

What are managed Microsoft Azure services?

Managed Azure services involve a provider carrying out agreed responsibilities such as administration, monitoring, security reviews, troubleshooting, configuration and optimisation. Exact responsibilities, support hours and service levels depend on the agreement.

What are Azure Virtual Machines?

Azure Virtual Machines are on-demand computing resources that run supported operating systems and applications. Customers retain responsibility for the management of many aspects of the deployed virtual machine.

What is Azure Virtual Desktop?

Azure Virtual Desktop is a Microsoft service for delivering supported Windows desktops and applications through Azure infrastructure. Its suitability depends on user entitlements, application compatibility, networking, infrastructure and security requirements.

Can Azure Virtual Desktop support remote working?

Yes. It can provide authorised users with remote access to compatible desktops and applications. The experience depends on device support, network connectivity, licensing and the configured environment.

Can Azure work with our existing servers?

Yes. Azure supports various hybrid networking and infrastructure capabilities. Some workloads can remain on-premises while others use Azure services, subject to technical compatibility and appropriate design.

What is Azure Arc?

Azure Arc provides management and governance capabilities for supported resources operating outside Azure, including certain on-premises and multicloud environments.

What is Azure Virtual Network?

Azure Virtual Network provides private networking capabilities for Azure resources, including communication between supported services and connections to other networks.

Can Azure connect to our office network?

Yes. Supported methods include site-to-site VPN and private connectivity options such as ExpressRoute. The correct approach depends on network requirements, availability, security and cost.

Is Microsoft Azure secure?

Azure provides a wide range of security services and infrastructure protections, but organisations must still configure and maintain appropriate access permissions, workload settings, data protection, networking and operational controls.

What is Microsoft Defender for Cloud?

Microsoft Defender for Cloud provides cloud security posture management and workload protection capabilities for supported environments, depending on the selected plans and configuration.

What is Azure Backup?

Azure Backup is a service for protecting and restoring supported workloads and information through configured backup policies and recovery points.

What is Azure Site Recovery?

Azure Site Recovery provides replication and disaster recovery orchestration capabilities for supported virtual machine scenarios. It is distinct from traditional backup and should be evaluated against recovery requirements.

Does Azure guarantee no downtime?

No. Azure services have different availability features and service-level agreements, but application availability also depends on architecture, dependencies, configuration and operational circumstances.

Can Microsoft Azure reduce IT costs?

Azure may offer flexible infrastructure and eligible pricing options, but savings are not guaranteed. Total costs depend on compute, storage, networking, licensing, workload configuration and operational management.

What is Azure Hybrid Benefit?

Azure Hybrid Benefit is a Microsoft licensing benefit that may reduce the cost of certain eligible Azure workloads when qualifying licences and programme requirements are met.

What are Azure Reservations and savings plans?

These are purchasing options that may offer eligible compute cost reductions in exchange for specified usage commitments or terms. Suitability and savings vary by service, configuration and agreement.

How is Azure priced?

Azure uses different pricing arrangements across its services, including consumption-based and commitment-based options. Costs depend on resource selection, region, usage, storage, networking and additional features.

Can IRON IT Group review an existing Azure environment?

An Azure review can be scoped to examine architecture, workload requirements, identity, networking, security, operations and cost. The exact services available should be confirmed as part of the engagement.

Does IRON IT Group offer 24/7 Azure support?

Monitoring arrangements, support hours, response targets and emergency coverage depend on the agreed service contract. The availability of Azure monitoring tools does not automatically mean around-the-clock human support.

How long does an Azure deployment take?

Timescales depend on the workload, complexity, existing infrastructure, networking, security, data migration and testing requirements.

How much do Microsoft Azure services cost?

Costs vary according to the chosen services, architecture, resource requirements, Microsoft charges, implementation and ongoing support. Contact IRON IT Group to discuss a suitable solution.

Related Cloud Services

Make Microsoft Azure part of your wider cloud strategy.

Explore services that complement Azure planning, implementation and operational resilience.

01 / CLOUD PLANNING

Cloud Strategy

Explore cloud roadmaps, readiness assessments, architecture, governance and cost planning.

Explore Cloud Strategy →
02 / CLOUD DELIVERY

Cloud Migration

Explore workload migration, technical assessments, cutover planning and post-migration support.

Explore Cloud Migration →
03 / CLOUD RECOVERY

Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery

Explore recovery objectives, cloud backup, failover planning and disaster recovery testing.

Explore Disaster Recovery →

View All Cloud Services →

Your Microsoft Cloud Journey

Ready to make more of Microsoft Azure?

Talk to IRON IT Group about Azure Virtual Machines, Azure Virtual Desktop, networking, cloud storage, security, hybrid infrastructure, disaster recovery and Azure cost management.