Azure Cloud Infrastructure

Short answer: Azure is Microsoft's cloud platform for servers, storage, networking and remote desktops, billed by usage. It differs from Microsoft 365: Microsoft 365 provides ready-made applications, whereas Azure is the infrastructure your own servers and applications run on. SMB Teknoloji assesses whether your workload suits Azure, migrates it, secures it and keeps its cost under control. Azure is not the right answer for every workload; see our comparison Azure, AWS, Google Cloud or your own server?.

What we do

• Server migration: moving physical or virtual servers (file server, accounting and ERP server, application servers) to Azure virtual machines. First an inventory and dependency analysis, then a trial migration, finally a planned cut-over.
• Azure Virtual Desktop: staff connect to the company desktop from anywhere without downloading data to their own computers; for remote teams and branches.
• Backup and disaster recovery: server and file backups with Azure Backup; bringing on-premises servers up in Azure after a disaster with Azure Site Recovery. Recovery point and recovery time objectives (RPO/RTO) are agreed in writing.
• Identity: single sign-on with Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), synchronisation with on-premises Active Directory, MFA and conditional access. If you use Microsoft 365, the same accounts are used.
• Network and security: site-to-site VPN to the company network, network security groups, no management ports left open to the internet, applying Defender for Cloud recommendations.

Cost control

On Azure the bill grows with usage; a virtual machine left running or a disk never deleted means a surprise at the end of the month. Therefore:

• Budgets and spending alerts from day one (Azure Cost Management)
• Right-sizing: VM sizes are chosen by actual usage; machines that can be off at night and at weekends are scheduled
• Reservations or savings plans assessed for long-running workloads; Azure Hybrid Benefit if you already own Windows Server and SQL Server licences
• A monthly cost report: what each resource spent and where it can be improved

Microsoft's cost management documentation is the reference for details.

Data location and privacy

On Azure you choose the region (data centre) where data is stored. For customers in Türkiye, transferring personal data to a region abroad falls under Article 9 of the Turkish data protection law (KVKK), which since 2024 provides transfer tools such as standard contracts; in the EU the GDPR rules apply. We settle the region and the legal basis with your legal adviser; on the technical side encryption, access logs and backup location are documented.

What is delivered

Architecture diagram, resource list and tagging scheme, network and access rules, backup and restore test report, budget and alert settings; subscriptions and admin accounts in your name.

What is not included

Legal opinions belong to your lawyer. The right to run your application software in the cloud is confirmed with its vendor. Azure consumption is billed by Microsoft according to usage; an estimated monthly budget is stated in the quote. Projects centred on Kubernetes, containers and continuous delivery belong to Cloud Architecture & DevOps.

FAQ