From ambitious SMEs looking to scale to established Enterprises, web applications offer many benefits, such as reaching customers, improving operations, and driving growth. In this article, we will discuss how Microsoft Azure, with its robust cloud infrastructure, offers several options for deploying your web apps. But as with anything in tech, there are pros, cons, and decisions to make along the way.
We’ll break down the various ways you can deploy web apps on Azure, weigh the benefits and drawbacks, and help you decide the best approach for your business.
Ways to Deploy Web Apps on Azure
Azure provides multiple tools and services to deploy web applications. But we’ve chosen to go through the most common methods we get asked about at Objective. Here they are:
Azure App Service
Azure App Service is a fully managed platform-as-a-service (PaaS) offering that makes deploying web apps quick and easy.
Best For: Businesses looking for simplicity and scalability without managing servers.
Azure Functions
For serverless applications, Azure Functions lets you deploy and run small pieces of code (functions) without worrying about the underlying infrastructure. It’s ideal for event-driven applications – for example when a customer buys a product, an event is triggered to update inventory.
Best For: Backend services triggered by events.
Azure Virtual Machines
Prefer complete control over the operating system and environment? Deploying your web app on an Azure Virtual Machine (VM) gives you the flexibility to configure everything to your needs.
Best For: Legacy apps you’re moving or businesses needing a specific environment setup.
Static Web Apps
For simpler projects like single-page applications, Azure Static Web Apps hosts static files like HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. It’s integrated with GitHub Actions for CI/CD workflows.
Best For: Frontend apps with minimal backend needs.
Pros of Deploying Web Apps on Azure
Why choose Azure for deploying your web apps? Here’s what makes it a strong contender:
1. Scalability on Demand: Azure’s infrastructure allows you to scale your application vertically (more power) or horizontally (more instances) with minimal effort. This is particularly handy for businesses experiencing fluctuating traffic, such as seasonal businesses.
2. Global Reach: With Azure’s data centres spread across the globe, you can deploy your app closer to your customers, reducing latency and improving performance.
3. Cost Efficiency: Azure offers flexible pricing models, including pay-as-you-go and reserved instances. Services like Azure Functions charge only for the resources used, making it cost-effective for smaller projects.
4. Strong Security: Azure provides built-in compliance with industry standards and enterprise-grade security features like Azure Defender and role-based access control (RBAC).
Cons of Deploying Web Apps on Azure
As with any platform, Azure has its challenges:
1. Steeper Learning Curve for Advanced Services: While tools like Azure App Service are beginner-friendly, advanced services and custom virtual machines can have a steep learning curve. Although, Objective can of course help you with this.
2. Cost Management Can Be Tricky: Without proper monitoring, costs can escalate quickly, especially if you’re scaling dynamically or using multiple services.
3. Dependency on Microsoft Ecosystem: Azure works exceptionally well with Microsoft tools and services. However, if you’re using non-Microsoft solutions, you might encounter integration hurdles initially.
How a Microsoft Partner like Objective Can Help
Deploying web apps on Azure offers incredible opportunities but also requires strategic planning and execution. That’s where we come in:
- Choosing the Right Tool: We’ll help you assess your needs and recommend whether Azure is the best service for deploying your web apps.
- Custom Deployments: Whether you need a simple App Service setup or a complex environment, we can tailor the process to suit your business needs.
- Cost Optimisation: We’ll help you or work with your IT Infrastructure provider to monitor and manage your Azure spending, ensuring you get the best value.
- Ongoing Support: From troubleshooting to scaling, we provide ongoing support to keep your app running smoothly.
When to Choose What
Hopefully, the information we have detailed above has helped inform you on what is right for your web application. But just to recap:
Choose App Service if you want a quick, hassle-free deployment for a web app without the need to manage servers. Opt for Azure Functions when building lightweight, event-driven applications that don’t require full server management. Use Virtual Machines if you need complete control over your environment or are migrating a legacy application. And lastly, go with Static Web Apps for projects that are primarily frontend-based.
How to Get Started
Deploying web apps on Azure opens the door to a world of possibilities, from global scalability to cutting-edge AI integrations. That’s why we think it’s right for Ambitious SMEs right through to Enterprises. Because, whether you’re building a simple landing page or managing a complex enterprise application, Azure has the tools to make it happen. But we get that navigating the options can feel overwhelming…
That’s where we step in! As a trusted Microsoft Partner for over 30 years, we’ll simplify the process, help you avoid the common pitfalls, and make sure your new bespoke web app performs flawlessly.
Digital transformation might sound intimidating, but it’s really about taking manageable steps to modernise your business. Start small, think big, and watch as technology takes your ambitious small business to new heights.
Remember, every app, tool, or process you adopt isn’t just an upgrade – it’s an investment in the future of your business. So go ahead, embrace the digital revolution, and make it work for you. Because let’s face it, the future isn’t just coming; it’s already here. Are you ready? Speak to our team.